Essential Southern Thailand

8 Days | Fall in love with southern Thailand on a nature-focused adventure

5 out of 5 based on 25 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
From
EUR €535
View dates and book
This trip is for the 18 to 35 year olds

Love beaches? Love islands? Love cocktails? Well, you’ll love this trip! Head from buzzing Bangkok to blissful Ko Samui and dynamic Phuket on this eight-day southern Thailand adventure. With loads of free time to go snorkelling, swimming and waterfall-chasing, you’ll also enjoy loads of awesome included activities, like hiking, learning about turtles, cruising, blissing out on the beach and getting your safari fix in the jungle of Khao Sok National Park. Stay in a traditional raft house and be treated to some classic Thai hospitality, then end it all in vibrant Phuket.

Trip overview

Map of Essential Southern Thailand including Thailand
Start
Bangkok, Thailand
Finish
Phuket, Thailand
Theme
18 to 35s
Destinations
Thailand
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 18 - Max 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
TTYC
This trip generates 33 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Discover a real slice of paradise in Ko Samui. Cruise the island, go chasing waterfalls and relax on the beach before heading out to one of Ko Samui's famous beach bars.
  • Step into another world in Khao Sok National Park – an essential experience in Thailand, nature-lover or not (but how could you not be?). You’ll go wildlife spotting and waterfall hiking through some of the oldest jungles in the world.
  • Eat your weight in pad Thai, mango sticky rice, roti bread, street snacks and homecooked dinners (at your raft house stay) then wash it all down with a cocktail or two – yum!
  • Explore vibrant nightlife, beach bars and beach clubs in Bangkok, Ko Samui and Phuket with new like-minded friends and a local leader who knows all the best spots.
  • Visit the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation in Phuket and learn how they work with local organisations and educational facilities to rescue leatherneck turtle eggs (and other local turtle species) and provide the community with environmental training.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, EcoThailand Foundation. Donations help educate school children on important environmental issues like climate change, nature appreciation, conservation and sustainability.

Is this trip right for you?
  • Travel with the locals! This trip involves some long stints of travel using local transport, including a 13-hour overnight train to Surat Thani. Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are a great experience and the best way to travel long distances, meet locals and maximise time at your destinations. Occasionally passengers of different genders will be required to share a compartment and/or you'll be sharing with locals or travellers from other groups.
  • As this is a Basix trip, the majority of activities are optional and you'll have lots of free time. This means you're able to do your own thing at your own pace. Accommodation will be basic but is always comfortable.
  • The weather in Thailand can be hot and sticky, so ensure that you pack accordingly. Please also wear sunscreen and a hat and drink plenty of water.

Itinerary

Map of Essential Southern Thailand including Thailand

Inclusions

Meals

3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Boat, Ferry, Public bus, Private vehicle, Overnight sleeper train, Songthaew

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night), Resort (2 nights) Rafthouse (1 night)

Activities
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
  • Ko Samui - half day guided tour
  • Khao Sok National Park – Longtail Boat Wildlife Safari
  • Khao Sok National Park - Rafthouse Stay
  • Khao Sok National Park – Waterfall Hike
  • Khao Lak - Tsunami Memorial
  • Phuket - Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation
Add on activities
  • Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB2500
  • Bangkok - Temple & River of Kings Urban Adventure - THB2900
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500
  • Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB200
  • Bangkok - Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) - THB200
  • Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
  • Ko Samui - Thai Massage - THB300
  • Ko Samui - Thai Cooking Class - THB2300
  • Ko Samui - Day trip to Koh Tao - THB2400
  • Ko Samui - Ang Thong Marine Park tour - THB2500
  • Ko Samui - Samui Elephant Sanctuary - THB3500
  • Phuket - Phi Phi & Koh Khai Island Day Trip - THB3500
  • Phuket - Banana Beach & Koh Mai Ton Day Trip - THB2500
  • Phuket - Similan Day Trip - THB3500
  • Phuket - Surin National Marine Park Day Trip - THB3500
  • Phuket - Elephant Sanctuary - THB3500

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. The Single Supplement excludes Day 2 (Overnight Train) and day 5 (Raft house). Please note that some room configurations have two single beds, although a double bed will always be requested.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 25 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

Filter by rating

Olivia · Traveled February 2024
This trip was my first trip with intrepid & my first solo trip & it was amazing! I’ve met so many friends on the trip and seen so much of Thailand it was incredible, defo booking another trip next year!
Review submitted 03 Mar 2024

Shelby · Traveled November 2023
We saw some incredibly beautiful scenery and had once in a lifetime experiences, im so glad I went!
Review submitted 08 Dec 2023

Alyssa · Traveled November 2023
This trip was an authentic experience of Thailand, we went to local restaurants and places I wouldn’t have known about if travelling alone. The Khao Sok national park was a highlight and must see if in the south of Thailand
Review submitted 04 Dec 2023

Adrien · Traveled November 2023
Being with tour guide Ole made me feel much better and more relaxed about going to Thailand. He was so knowledgeable and so happy to be our tour guide it made me a happier traveler. Thank you Ole!
Review submitted 04 Dec 2023

Anna · Traveled November 2023
This trip was such an amazing experience: the people, the activities, the group leader, the cultural background, everything was perfect. Eventhough it is listed as a basic group tour it felt like a trip with your friends in which everything has been taken care of. I can 100 % recommend this tour for every person that wants to experience another country with all its facets while meeting extraordinary new people and not having to think about anything. The only bad thing during this trip was to have to say goodbye to all the amazing people I met.
Review submitted 04 Dec 2023
Essential Southern Thailand
From
EUR €535