Thailand family vacation, tailor made

Planet

This vacation includes a visit to Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai. This ethical sanctuary is one of the best centers for rescued and retired elephants in Thailand and it provides a home for these majestic creatures as well as contributing to their welfare and development. During your visit to the park you’ll meet rescued elephants and learn their names and stories, and most importantly you’ll see elephants enjoying their freedom!

At the end of your vacation you’ll spend some time on the island of Phuket in the Andaman Sea and here you may wish to snorkel in the crystal clear waters to discover the spectacular coral reefs and colourful marine life. We are passionate about protecting Thailand’s marine environment and we urge our clients to take great care not to damage the coral when snorkelling. If you or your children have never snorkelled before or if you’re not particularly confident in the sea, we suggest that you wear life jackets as this will ensure that you remain above the coral without accidentally standing on or kicking the shallow corals.

We are dedicated to protecting the environment and we urge you to follow any environmental policies that your hotel, guest house or lodge may have in place - for example they may offer you the option not to have your towels or bed linen washed everyday and by reducing the quantity of towels/linen they wash, they reduce water consumption, energy and use of detergents.

Recycling facilities are limited in Thailand. In our detailed pre-departure travel packs we advise clients that they should take their empty shampoo and shower gel bottles back home and recycle them at home.

People

On this Thailand family vacation you’ll stay at some eco-friendly hotels, resorts and lodges that are committed to sustainable tourism and supporting their local communities. In Kanchanaburi you’ll stay at The Floathouse River Kwai an eco-resort which features 30 floating thatched-roof villas that are made entirely from local material, such as teakwood and bamboo. The resort strives to conserve the environment and enhance the wellbeing of the local people, including their culture and tradition. The majority of the staff at the resort are from the local Mon community, an ethnic minority that migrated across the border from Myanmar.

You’ll also stay at Hmong Hilltribe Lodge in Mae Rim district where you’ll have the opportunity to experience traditional Hmong culture. During your stay here you’ll visit remote hill tribe communities where you’ll have a chance to interact with the villagers and gain an insight into the lifestyle and culture of Hmong people. There will be opportunities to buy authentic handmade products, such as embroidered bags and silver jewellery, and if you choose to purchase anything here you’ll be providing an income for the families in the villages, as well as helping to preserve traditional hill tribe arts and crafts.

We recommend that your family travels with a Thai phrasebook and that you all make an effort to learn some key words and phrases. The ability to speak some basic Thai will undoubtedly win you many smiles from the friendly locals who you come into contact with during your time in Thailand.