Sail around the totally unspoilt and extremely beautiful Khao Laem Lake in north-west Thailand close to the Burmese border. A new large houseboat accommodating up to 16 people has just been built for this purpose. The boat consists of six rooms upstairs and a very large outdoor living-room downstairs. The very first tour was on the 5. February 2008 with eight thrilled costumers, some of them considering signing up for an extra tour. The houseboat has been built as a modern version of the traditional Thai houseboat used by the locals in this area. Therefore the Lake Safari is corresponding with local tradition and culture.
You can look forward to a very unique and authentic experience in an area with very few tourists. The houseboat consists of six large rooms upstairs. Downstairs sun-beds, hammocks, comfortable chairs, dining-tables, kayaks, fishing-gear and a 1,80 meter high jumping tower. Some have found out already that it’s easier to jump from the rooms. A Thai cook is on board and you can look forward to delicious fresh food and tropical fruits. The tour is very suitable also for families with children as the houseboat gives a safe and comfortable platform for adventures.
The tour starts from a small floating fishing village with both a floating temple and a floating "convenient store". As we start sailing out into this dramatic landscape amidst rain forest and mountains you really feel far away from the modern world and the normal tourist route as well. In a very slow pace the houseboat is pulled by a smaller boat. We will literally pass hundreds of islands in this picturesque area. There will be plenty of opportunities to explore the landscape on your own. If you feel like it you will walk in dense jungle, visit a waterfall, a coconut- farm, caves, bamboo-raft down a river and sit high up in the air on the back of an elephant.
The speed of the house boat is about 5-7 km. pr. hour, but you are the one to decide the rhythm on board. Maybe you just want to relax in a sun-chair, read a book and watch the fantastic scenery slowly passing by. Maybe you want a bit more of activity! Grab the fishing gear and catch the dinner. Take a swim - or a kayak and see if you can paddle faster than the boat. At night-time it all gets very quiet and very dark indeed except from the stars that shines very bright because city-lights are so distant from here.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: From bustling Bangkok to tropical peaceful surroundings. The tour starts from your hotel in Bangkok in the morning. You will be transferred to the northern bus terminal, from where the bus leaves to the Khao Laem lake. Six hours later you arrive at the lake-shore, board the house-boat and get your "cabin". The atmosphere is so peaceful and relaxed and suddenly Bangkok seems a lot more than just six hours away. The rest of the day is free to do whatever you want to do. Jump from the tower, relax on a sun deck in the living-room or take a nap in a hammock. Meanwhile the cook will prepare a delicious Thai-dinner. There will always be dishes to choose from in case somebody doesn’t like the local fish. The breeze on the lake normally secures a pleasant night temperature securing that mosquitoes are rare guests out here.
Day 2: After breakfast consisting of eggs any style, sausages, bread, fresh fruit, cornflakes and cold milk for the kids we will by kayak paddle the small distance to the end of a small bay. From the distance you can hear the waterfall and after 20 minutes of walking in jungle we will reach Dai Chong Thong waterfall, which is worth the walking. Just bring sandals and swim-suit as you do get wet going up to the waterfall. Coming back to the good houseboat named "Wijittra" we will head towards coconut-island. We will reach the island after lunch and a couple of hours of sailing – probably after a good deal of swimming and bathing.
Coconut island is one of few islands inhabited in this area. A small village consisting of seven people makes a living out of their rare kind of coconuts- and cacao and well. Of course we will taste the local coconut and bring a couple back. We will cross the island and the boat will pick us op on the other side. Sailing slowly up the lake we will pass some tall cliffs dropping directly into the lake. We will take a break here before moving further on and find a beautiful spot for the night.
Day 3: After breakfast a short paddle tour in kayak will take you to five small caves. You can actually paddle into them. In one of the caves you can be lucky and see lots of bats flying out as you make your way in. After giving the bats some piece of mind again the houseboat will head north for some time. At 1.00 PM a longtailboat will be waiting and it will take you through a narrow river to a Karen village where you will meet the mighty elephants. You will be riding on the back of an elephant for just about an hour through a very beautiful part of the jungle. A light lunch is served before you will be rafting downstream. You can choose to steer the raft or just sit down and enjoy it.
In the rainy-season the rafting tour is not for the fainthearted as it takes a good deal of balance and strength to go all the way downriver smoothly. Back for dinner its time again to just sit and enjoy the sun fading behind the mountains only interrupted by the sound of longtailboats with fishermen going out to set up their nets. Most evenings the sky is so clear that it feels like the stars are almost down to earth. It’s a priceless experience to sit counting shooting stars while having a glass of the local whiskey.
Day 4: Swimming, fishing or sunbathing are options. For the ones who didn’t have enough of kayaking they can paddle to Sangklaburi on their own. A great kayak tour you could start on around 10.30 am. The houseboat will set out at midday after lunch and at around an hour later we say goodbye to the houseboat and anchor up at the guest house in Sangklaburi which is situated beautifully at the lake shore. The rest of the time in Sangklaburi is on your own. Use the day to explore charming Sangklaburi, which is an ethnic mix of Burmese-, Thai-, Mon-, Karen – and Laos people. Take a walk over the longest wooden bridge in Thailand and visit the Mon people who live on the other side of the river in the village of Wang Kha.
They are said to be of Indian or Mongolian heritage and are known for their traditional clothing longyi (sarong). You can also experience the beautiful temple area that you until now only have seen from the house-boat. At the temple-area there is a busy market where you can buy all sorts of art-crafts, cheap cigarettes and gems. You can rent a bicycle or a songthaew (open car) from the guest house and it could as well bring you to the three pagodas marking the border to Burma. An interesting 22 km. tour but don’t expect much of the three pagodas as they are in fact rather small.
Day 5: If you haven’t had enough stay another night in Sangklaburi or go back by bus which has been organized at 14.00 PM. Enjoy especially the first stretch of an hour or so where you drive through untouched jungle with rain forest on both sides of the road. You will see several panorama views of the lake you have just been sailing on. You can choose to go only to Kanchanaburi and "the bridge over the river kwai" or you can choose to go back to Bangkok where the bus will stop at the northern bus terminal called Morchit. From here you will go by taxi to your chosen hotel. Please note that changes might occur in the program due to weather conditions. From 1 March - 1 July there will not be water in the waterfall due to the dry season.
Note: Passport as it is a border-area. The tour starts every Tuesday at a minimum of two persons. In high season on most Fridays as well.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All transportation from Bangkok to the houseboat
- 3 nights on the houseboat in own room with windows, beds with linen, mosquito-net, towels. Share western style toilets with shower-facilities
- 1 night at guest house in Sangklaburi Al
- All meals on the houseboat
- On the houseboat drinking water, fruit, ice-cubes, coffee
- Facilities on the houseboat: Kayaks, Sundeck with sun-beds, Comfortable sitting-chairs, Hammocks, Jumping tower 180cm, Professional fishing-gear, Life wests
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Thailand
Boating and Sailing
Sightseeing
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