THAILAND 29 SOUTH EAST ASIA Bangkok Heart of the City Tour DAY 1: ARRIVE IN BANGKOK- Airport transfer to your hotel. DAY 2: TOUR THE CITY WITH YOUR CITY ESCORT- City and area briefing and a full day of exploring the city with your guide. ( B) DAY 3: END OF TOUR- Programme ends after breakfast. ( B) Departs daily ex Bangkok airport. A city tour with a difference • Discover the hidden gems of Bangkokthat few visitors know about • Your guide takes you off the tourist trailto the places the locals frequent • The perfect way to gain an insight into your destination Imaginative Facts Tour code: BBSB • Activities: Extensive walking • Accommodation: 2 nights in tourist class hotel on twin- share basis • Transport: Local transport fares are included • Fully Escorted: Services of Imaginative Traveller representatives Elephants & Adventure Get up close with elephants and enjoy Thailand's best sightsAssist with the preservationof one of the world's most respected animals and explore Thailand. Visit Bangkok, bamboo raft and trek through the northern hills, go on a jungle walkand enjoy the southern islands and beaches. You will be assisting at ' The Elephant Nature Park' in Chiang Mai, established to preserve the future of elephants. DAY 1: BANGKOK - Arrive Bangkok and transfer to hotel. DAY 2: BANGKOK- Free day. Overnight train to Chiang Mai. ( B) DAY 3: CHIANG MAI- Arrive Chiang Mai and transfer to the Elephant Nature Park. ( LD) DAYS 4- 9: VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME-We spend the next 6 days volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park and learning about these incredible creatures. On Day 9 we transfer back to Chiang Mai in time to perhaps visit the night markets. ( BLD) DAY 10: CHIANG MAI- Free day to explore Chiang Mai. This evening we meet for a briefing on our trek. ( B) DAY 11: HILLTRIBE TREK- Drive by pick-up truck to Chiang Dao via a local market. We continue to a Shan village for lunch before beginning our trek. We stay overnight in a Karen village. ( BLD) DAY 12: HILLTRIBE TREK- Trekking in a less explored area of Chiang Dao, where we visit different hilltribe villages. Overnight at a riverside village. ( BLD) DAY 13: BAMBOO RAFTING - CHIANG MAI- We board bamboo rafts and float along the Mae Ping river. Return to Chiang Mai in the early afternoon. ( BL) DAY 14: CHIANG MAI- Free day to explore. Overnight train to Bangkok. ( B) DAY 15: BANGKOK- Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to our hotel. There is the option to visit the war museums of Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai with its infamous bridge. DAY 16: BANGKOK- Free day. Overnight train to Surat Thani. ( B) DAYS 17 & 18: KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK - RAJA PHRABA LAKE- Transfer to Khao Sok National Park. Enjoy a boat ride along Raja Phraba Lake and spend the afternoon exploring caves and waterfalls. Take a night walk in search of the nocturnal animals of the jungle. Stay two nights in rafthouses with plenty of free time to further explore the area ( Day 17 - LD, Day 18 - BLD) DAY 19: KHAO SOK- Transfer deeper into the national park. Take an afternoon nature walk and spot some wildlife. If the water in the river is high, we can shoot rapids on inner- tubes. Overnight in jungle huts. ( BLD) DAYS 20 & 21: KRABI- Transfer to Krabi Province, famous for its magnificent limestone karst scenery and gorgeous beaches. A free day with a wide choice of activities - canoeing or sea kayaking, exploring the surrounding islands, caves and waterfalls or snorkelling. Then again, you may just choose to chill out on the beach or shop for souvenirs. DAY 22: KRABI PROVINCE- Tour ends. Imaginative Facts Tour code: VSEA • Activities: Hilltribe trek, bamboo rafting, jungle safari in Khao Sok National Park, canoeing, tubing, volunteer programme at the Elephant Nature Park. Trek grade - Easy/ Moderate • Accommodation: 4 nights simple hotels, 3 nights sleeper train, 2 nights village houses, 2 nights rafthouses, 2 nights beach bungalows, 1 night jungle hut, 7 nights simple accommodation at volunteer programme • Transport: Local transport, buses, minibus, pick- up trucks, tuk tuks, ferries, longtail boats, sleeper trains • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides, while trekking and in Khao Sok National Park, services of local staff at the Elephant Nature Park Your Involvement The Programme Days 4- 9 Assisting the mahouts ( elephant trainers) at the ' Elephant Nature Park', Imaginative Volunteers will become familiar with elephant commands and experience a hands- on approach to feeding, bathing and observing the elephants close up. Learning about the reforestation of elephant habitats and herbal cures for treating elephant disease, you'll be taken out on an exciting overnight elephant safari where you will see the elephants in their natural environment. By working closely with the park staff and the elephants themselves, Imaginative Volunteers will not only gain a true understanding of what is required to save this gentle giant from extinction but also assist in the very process itself. Your donation matters A guaranteed 100% of your donation goes direct to the charities, allowing their magnificent work to continue. Covering programme materials, services and other essentials, every penny counts! Single Supplement £ 130 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 23.44 * Price includes tour price of £ 599, local payment of US$ 170 and donation of £ 220All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 905pp Land Only * Solo Traveller Supplement £ 45 ( compulsory if you are travelling alone) All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 70pp Land Only adventurer volunteer Tour duration 22 days Tour duration 3 days Starts SatEnds Sat BangkokKrabi 2009 17- Jan- 0907- Feb- 09 07- Feb- 0928- Feb- 09 21- Mar- 0911- Apr- 09 11- Apr- 0902- May- 09 02- May- 0923- May- 09 30- May- 0920- Jun- 09 27- Jun- 0918- Jul- 09 25- Jul- 0915- Aug- 09 22- Aug- 0912- Sep- 09 19- Sep- 0910- Oct- 09 17- Oct- 0907- Nov- 09 14- Nov- 0905- Dec- 09 12- Dec- 0902- Jan- 10 Starts SatEnds Sat BangkokKrabi 2010 09- Jan- 1030- Jan- 10 06- Feb- 1027- Feb- 10 06- Mar- 1027- Mar- 10 03- Apr- 1024- Apr- 10 01- May- 1022- May- 10 29- May- 1019- Jun- 10 26- Jun- 1017- Jul- 10 24- Jul- 1014- Aug- 10 21- Aug- 1011- Sep- 10 18- Sep- 1009- Oct- 10 16- Oct- 1006- Nov- 10 13- Nov- 1004- Dec- 10 11- Dec- 1001- Jan- 11 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

SOUTH EAST ASIATHAILAND 30 " The accommodation was great and the food just kept getting better. Everything ran like clockwork - don't change a thing!" Kerri Orchard south east asia Active Thailand Adventure Imaginative Facts Tour code: SAAT • Activities: Walking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting • Accommodation: 5 nights simple hotels, 1 night village homestay, 2 nights sleeper train • Transport: Overnight train, raft, mountain bike, pick- up truck, minivan • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides and representatives for mountain biking and whitewater rafting ( Days 4- 6) • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Afterwards head south on our ' Beaches and Jungles' tour DAY 1: BANGKOK- Arrive and check in to hotel. Tonight you'll meet your Imaginative Traveller tour leader for a full briefing on the adventure that lies ahead. DAY 2: BANGKOK- A free day to explore the city; you can visit the Grand Palace, wander the markets or take a boat ride along the klongs ( canals). This evening we take an overnight train to Chiang Mai. ( B) DAY 3: CHIANG MAI- Arrive in Chiang Mai and transfer to our guesthouse. The rest of the day is free to explore the town or perhaps visit the hilltop temple of Doi Suthep or the orphanage for hilltribe children that Imaginative Traveller support, on the outskirts of town. ( B) DAY 4: DOI PUI MOUNTAIN BIKING- This is an exhilarating experience, but not for the faint hearted. 4WD vehicles take us to the base of the mountain where we begin our ascent. Then, when we reach 1,066m we drop into a highland jungle gully, passing through terrain that changes from pine forest, through to tropical rainforest and banana plantations. At the bottom we take a long road up to the summit, or you can choose to walk if you like. Eventually we reach the end of the forest trail where we are met by our H'mong host families. We overnight in local houses, and enjoy the cool mountain climate. ( BD) DAY 5: LAKE HUAY TUNG THAO- After breakfast we take a relaxing and scenic ride downhill to Lake Huay Tung Thao where our lunch awaits us. Later, we transfer back to Chiang Mai. ( BL) DAY 6: MAE TAENG WHITE WATER RAFTING- A day of white water rafting on the Mae Taeng River. In the latter part of the season, the rapids here are classified as Grade III to IV. ( B) DAY 7: CHIANG MAI- After all that activity perhaps have a traditional Thai massage or explore the city, before boarding our overnight train to Bangkok. ( B) DAY 8: BANGKOK- We arrive back in Bangkok and transfer to our hotel. Later there is time to shop for some last minute souvenirs of your stay. DAY 9: BANGKOK- This tour ends after breakfast. ( B) Get the adrenalin racing on this adventurous tour • Mountain bike on Doi Pui Mountainwith an exhilarating 1000m+ descent • Go white water rafting on the Mae Teang River • Overnight in a H'mong village gaining an insight into hilltribe life • Chance to visit an orphanageat Chiang Mai and explore its night markets • Free time to tour Bangkok's many temples, palaces and shops Thailand Bangkok Khao Yai National Park Loei Chiang Khan Nong Khai Chiang RaiMae On Chiang Mai Active Thailand Adventure Cycle Thailand Single Supplement £ 45 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 22.87 * Price includes tour price of £ 299and local payment of US$ 150All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 375pp Land Only * adventurer Tour duration 9 days © Imaginative Traveller Starts SatEnds Sun BangkokBangkok 2009 17- Jan- 0925- Jan- 09 14- Feb- 0922- Feb- 09 07- Mar- 0915- Mar- 09 02- May- 0910- May- 09 04- Jul- 0912- Jul- 09 01- Aug- 0909- Aug- 09 29- Aug- 0906- Sep- 09 24- Oct- 0901- Nov- 09 19- Dec- 0927- Dec- 09 Starts SatEnds Sun BangkokBangkok 2010 09- Jan- 1017- Jan- 10 06- Feb- 1014- Feb- 10 06- Mar- 1014- Mar- 10 01- May- 1009- May- 10 03- Jul- 1011- Jul- 10 31- Jul- 1008- Aug- 10 28- Aug- 1005- Sep- 10 13- Nov- 1021- Nov- 10 18- Dec- 1026- Dec- 10 You can visit one of South East Asia's most incredible sites on our Majestic Angkor tour in Cambodia. See page 33. don't forget ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243