15 Nights Exploring Thailand’s Island Gems.

Meet the group at the airport and board our direct  flight to Phuket.

Upon arrival in Phuket we will take our private transfer to our hotel the stunning 4* Sawasdee Village. Adorned with ancient Thai sculptures, the luxurious Sawasdee Village boasts strong Arabian decor and exotic Thai artwork. It has 2 outdoor pools, a spa and free internet.

Sawasdee Village provides a free hourly shuttle service to Kata Beach, which is a 10-minute walk away.

Surrounded by natural ponds and gardens, the luxurious guestrooms at Sawasdee feature rich wood furnishings and personal computers. Each is fitted with a flat-screen TV.

We can enjoy a massage at The Baray Spa, relax in the hot tub, or take a Thai cooking class. Other facilities include a tour desk and a small on-site supermarket.Restaurant Sawasdee Thai Cuisine serves authentic local food, while Fork & Spoon specialises in international dishes and seafood. Relaxing drinks can be enjoyed at the Pool Bar.

As we have booked the hotel from the 4th November our rooms will be ready to check in as soon as we arrive. We can enjoy breakfast and then have the morning and afternoon to rest and relax as we please.

The Kata area of Phuket is one of the quieter and more relaxing areas of Phuket, it has one of the prettiest beaches and an array of restaurants and bars. 

Throughout the tour we will be staying in twin rooms but there is an option to have a room to yourself for the trip. If you wish to have a room to yourself for the 15 nights the supplement will be £390. The supplement will be payable at the same time as the balance.      

The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!

Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away! 

This evening we will head out to explore Kata beach for dinner.

Today we will  take a private boat tour to visit Phi Phi Island ( Leonardo Di Caprio’s “The Beach” was filmed here) See limestone karst cliffs on this boat trip which leaves from Phuket. Watch the monkeys play on the beach, check out Viking Cave and the famous Maya Bay. We can also enjoy snorkelling (you don’t have to)  with the clown fish, rainbow fish, and all kinds of marine life, thriving in the crystal water. 

Please note that Lunch and National Park Fees of 400THB (£9) are  not included 

Return hotel transfers are included

Dinner locally

Free Morning

This afternoon we will embark on a city tour of Phuket. We will visit top attractions like the massive Big Buddha statue and sacred Wat Chalong temple., and learn all about Phuket from an informative local guide as we go.

Dinner Locally

After check out we take the land transfer towards Krabi stopping off for a wonderful half day experience where we will meet and interact with elephants in an ethical way at the Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, an award-winning elephant sanctuary.

Here, elephants roam freely, and their wellbeing comes above entertainment. While no bathing, touching, or hand feeding is permitted, you still see gentle giants up close, enjoying their natural habitat. This wholesome half-day experience includes the chance to prepare elephant food, and enjoy  lunch after taking part in a Thai cooking class. We will even discover how elephant dung is recycled. 

Our journey continues to Krabi (around 3 hours)

Here we will enjoy a beach getaway for 4 nights at the Krabi Tipa Resort. 

Nestled amidst lush greenery, it offers comfortable accommodation, friendly service and is just a stroll away from Ao Nang Beach.

Our rooms are decorated with wooden furnishings and feature a large balcony to kick-back and enjoy the scenery. Amenities offered in each room include air conditioning, free bottled water daily and room service.

Here we can cool off with a dip in the swimming pool and pamper ourselves with  traditional Thai massages . 

The restaurant offers a delicious selection of Thai favourites and international fare.

After settling in, let’s head out to explore.

This morning we will experience the beauty of Krabi during a small-group tour that takes us to visit a variety of highlights in one day. 

Relax and swim in the warm Emerald Pool after a short hike in the Namtok Ron hot spring waterfalls and Visit the meditation center and Buddhist monk retreat at the Tiger Cave Temple.

Set in a beautiful forest, Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) is one of the highlights in Krabi, for in addition to being a place of worship it is a famous meditation centre, and acts as a retreat for Buddhist monks and nuns from all over the world. You need to climb 1260 stairs to the top, with some of the stair risers being more than 30 cm high, so a degree of physical fitness is required to visit the temple. Once you make it to the top, you are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding countryside with all the limestone cliffs and beautiful lush rain forest. The view is gorgeous enough to take away what remains of your breath!

Please note that the National Park Fees and temple entrance fee of 800THB are  not included and need to be paid on the day.

Return hotel transfers are included.

Free day to enjoy at the hotel, explore  or take an additional  tour.

Dinner locally

Today we are off to explore Krabi’s stunning islands by speedboat  including Poda Island, Tup Island, Chicken Island (called this because it looks like a chicken!) and Railay Beach. A gorgeous day to soak up the sun, snorkel, swim, and relax on the white sandy beaches.

Please note that the National Park Fee of 200THB  is not included and needs to be paid on the day 

Return Hotel transfers are  included

This morning after breakfast we will take our speedboat transfer to Koh Lanta. (around 1 hour). This island paradise is where we will be spending our next 3 nights at the 4* Treeya Lanta is located a few steps from Long Beach.

Treeya Lanta in Ko Lanta offers an adults-only 4-star hotel with a swimming pool with a view, sun terrace, and lush garden. Guests enjoy free WiFi in public areas, a modern restaurant, and a bar.

The hotel features a paid shuttle service, daily housekeeping, pool bar, coffee shop, and full-day security. Additional services include bicycle parking, bike hire, car hire, tour desk, and luggage storage.

The restaurant serves British, Mediterranean, and Thai cuisines with vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Breakfast includes continental, buffet, and à la carte selections with juice, pancakes, cheese, and fruits.

Koh Lanta, a tranquil island paradise in Thailand known for its unspoiled beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and vibrant marine life. Koh Lanta is perfect for those seeking both relaxation and adventure, offering a mix of serene beaches, thrilling diving spots, and cultural experiences. From exploring hidden caves, browsing in the old town and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters to enjoying quiet sunsets and connecting with locals

Free morning for exploration

This afternoon we will embrace our creative sides as we join a colour workshop where we can explore tie-dye in a fun and relaxed way. This experience focuses on free-style color creation, allowing us to play with colors, patterns, and techniques to design our own unique fabric.

We will learn simple methods including folding, tying, and color blending, it is really easy and fun to learn. 

After the session, our handmade tie-dye pieces will be carefully finished and delivered to our hotel the next day. In addition, we  will receive a beautiful tie-dye scarf each  as part of the experience. 

This morning we venture out on a half-day kayaking tour off the coast of Ko Lanta and discover the enchanting beauty of the mangrove forests. Spot local wildlife, stop to feed monkeys from our boats, and visit a fish farm before stopping for lunch at a scenic restaurant. 

Hotel transfers are included

Afternoon to relax

Dinner locally

Today we check out after breakfast and take a land and speedboat transfer of around 90 minutes to the last of our Islands. Koh Yao Yai and our hotel, the Thiwson Beach Resort where we will be staying for 3 nights. 

There is no sharing option here so we will all have our own rooms for the 3 nights

This is the perfect island for the last part of our trip, a completely tranquil oasis. Sit back and relax! 

Offering an outdoor pool, an extensive garden and a restaurant, Thiwson Beach Resort is located 8 km from Ko Yao Yai town centre. Free WiFi access is available in all areas, it has a private beach area, a shared lounge,  and a tour desk. 

The rooms feature a private bathroom and wooden décor with a balcony and garden views. Afternoon to settle in 

We haven’t included any activities here, as this truly is the perfect spot for total relaxation, with a restaurant on site  and our cabins equipped  with balconies perfect for chilling with a good book. If you so choose there is no reason to leave the resort should you not wish to do so. 

However if you fancy exploring further and seeing some of this stunning  island here are a few ideas that can be booked and arranged directly with the hotel. We can arrange the following tours for those of us in the group that would like to get out and explore away from the resort. 

Beach Hopping & Sunsets: Visit Laem Had Beach for its stunning sandbank, Loh Paret Beach for swimming, or Ao Sai Beach for a secluded feel.

Explore via Scooter: (We did this and it was wonderful and very quiet on the roads.  Rent a scooter for roughly 200–300 THB/day to drive through the quiet interior, passing rubber plantations, palm forests, and local fishing villages. We went to the sandbank below which is truly as beautiful as it looks, then had lunch at a gorgeous little restaurant with the perfect view 🙂 it was a perfect day.

Local Culture & Cuisine: Visit local villages and restaurants to enjoy fresh seafood and authentic Thai food like Ban Rim Nam.

Muay Thai & Activities: Take a Muay Thai class, visit the Koh Yao Elephant Sanctuary, or get a spa treatment at Ayurvana Spa.

Free day.

After checking out this morning we head to the pier and take our speedboat transfer to Phuket Pier where we take a 30 minute journey to our hotel very close to Phuket Airport. The Maya Naiyang beach is  where we will be staying in Grand Deluxe double or twin rooms. 

The hotel is a short walk from Nai Yang beach and there are many beach restaurants and bars close by where we can enjoy a delicious dinner and a beautiful sunset. 

Take our private transfer to the airport for our flight home.