Northern Thailand small group tour
Highlights
Bangkok | Sukhothai | Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital | Lampang | hill village homestay | Chiang Mai | overnight train journey | Thai cooking class or a half day cycling tour | Optional activities include: Mae Ping River Experience and urban tour of Chiang Mai |
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.com
Check dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.
As a global operator, we take our role in the tourism industry very seriously. We recognise the impact that tourism has on local communities and the environment, and we plan and operate all our tours with this front of our minds. We believe that every tour operator must be responsible in the way they conduct their business, to ensure the welfare of all people and the conservation of the environment.During our trip, our group leader and local guides take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner, such as not leaving anything behind and not removing any plants in rural areas. They are also always eager to share information about their country and culture, and help you break down barriers in your interactions with local people.
Projects supported in Thailand in Friends of the Asian Elephant, which aims to protect and conserve the welfare of elephants both domesticated and in the wild, and also Baan Unrak (House of Happiness) an orphanage and community relief center to children and destitute women.
The Impacts of this Trip
We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip. In addition, we expect our staff and travelers to demonstrate the principles of responsible travel - respecting people, cultures and local environments; in the distribution of wealth; in good will and cross-cultural sharing; and in contributing to sustainable development.
We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. On trips like this through Asia for example, dress standards are conservative, and we recommend loose, lightweight clothing so as not to offend, particularly outside of the major cities.
We take care to use local transport throughout, including sleeper trains and stay in small, locally owned hotels and guesthouses. We source produce locally throughout the trip, eat at local restaurants and encourage our travelers to purchase souvenirs from local artisans and recruit our on the ground team from the local community. This not only gives a fantastic insight into the country and a snap shot of day to day life, but it also puts valuable financial resources back into the local economy, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
At the end of our journey, travelers are encouraged to donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages for distribution to local villages in the north of Thailand.
As company our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$3 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002, from health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and in environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travelers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.
As a global operator, we take our role in the tourism industry very seriously. We recognise the impact that tourism has on local communities and the environment, and we plan and operate all our tours with this front of our minds. We believe that every tour operator must be responsible in the way they conduct their business, to ensure the welfare of all people and the conservation of the environment.During our trip, our group leader and local guides take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner, such as not leaving anything behind and not removing any plants in rural areas. They are also always eager to share information about their country and culture, and help you break down barriers in your interactions with local people.
Projects supported in Thailand in Friends of the Asian Elephant, which aims to protect and conserve the welfare of elephants both domesticated and in the wild, and also Baan Unrak (House of Happiness) an orphanage and community relief center to children and destitute women.
The Impacts of this Trip
We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip. In addition, we expect our staff and travelers to demonstrate the principles of responsible travel - respecting people, cultures and local environments; in the distribution of wealth; in good will and cross-cultural sharing; and in contributing to sustainable development.
We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their cultures, economy and the environment. On trips like this through Asia for example, dress standards are conservative, and we recommend loose, lightweight clothing so as not to offend, particularly outside of the major cities.
We take care to use local transport throughout, including sleeper trains and stay in small, locally owned hotels and guesthouses. We source produce locally throughout the trip, eat at local restaurants and encourage our travelers to purchase souvenirs from local artisans and recruit our on the ground team from the local community. This not only gives a fantastic insight into the country and a snap shot of day to day life, but it also puts valuable financial resources back into the local economy, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
At the end of our journey, travelers are encouraged to donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages for distribution to local villages in the north of Thailand.
As company our responsibilities don’t stop when our tours end. Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 10 years; a not-for-profit fund that has distributed over AU$3 million to more than 70 non-government organisations since 2002, from health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and in environmental and wildlife protection. Donations come from our travelers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar.
3 Reviews of Northern Thailand small group tour
Reviewed on 26 Nov 2019 by Calum Ryan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Visiting the homestay
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Expect to meet with a range of people of quite different ages
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The trip leader was exceptional in offering a safe, enjoyable trip in Thailand. I very much enjoyed it, the tour was engaging and educational with time to relax as well. I would strongly consider making another trip to Thailand with this company.
Reviewed on 28 May 2019 by Isabella McLachlan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The homestay and cookery class.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
There is a lot of traveling and it isn't a party kind of vacation.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, very much
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A bit disappointing, compared to other trips I have done with Responsible Travel
Reviewed on 02 Apr 2018 by Silvia Gorgues Miquel
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Cycling around Sukhothai National Park, playing with elephants and staying at the home stay near Chiang Mai.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
There’s a fair amount of coach time on the first day but worth it once you get to Sukhothai. No time in Bangkok with the group so worth getting there a day or two early.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I was frustrated with the lack of available water refill facilities but that’s Thailand's broad issue. I felt that the trip was mindful of the impact tourism has on the environment and was very respectful of the local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
9 out of 10
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