Luxury holistic holiday in Thailand
| country: | Thailand |
| departures: | 2008: 14 Dec, 28 Dec 2009: 25 Jan |
| price: | From £995 - £1195 (12 days) excluding flights. Price includes shared 5-star accommodation, half board, yoga and two different weekday courses. Optional single supplement £450 and deluxe upgrades from £250. Optional spa treatments/excursions/extra nights available |
| late availability: | Places still available on December departures. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Our holistic holiday in Thailand offers an unforgettable adventure in which one can make wonderful new friends, enjoy a different culture and be inspired. The holiday is hosted in an exclusive resort and spa on the magical island of Koh Chang, part of a beautiful National Park 300 km south-east of Bangkok. The 5-star resort, sited in a spectacular private bay, is one of Thailand’s opulent hidden treasures.
In or around the resort one can delight in watersports, sip cocktails at sunset, enjoy the world-renowned Thai cuisine in restaurants overlooking the sea, and spend the night dancing. The health spa, set amongst tropical gardens and caressed by gentle ocean breezes, is a dream place to unwind.
If you take the optional transfer, you will also have two nights in a luxury 5-star hotel in Bangkok. In this fascinating city there will be an excursion to one of its cultural highlights and also a chance to experience the city’s colourful nightlife. If required, we can arrange extra days in Bangkok. Every Thailand holiday provides two different weekday courses, early morning yoga, optional elephant trekking and snorkeling trips. Spa treatments are also available, payable on site.
Accommodation:
On Koh Chang participants share large superior twin-bedded rooms. The superior and deluxe air-conditioned bungalows are nestled in the hillside overlooking the pool and the sea. Upgrades to single occupancy of a superior or deluxe room are subject to availability. All rooms are air conditioned, with ensuite facilities and balconies. Nestled amidst lush tropical flora, they exude style and comfort. The resort has two restaurants, luxury spa, gym, large swimming pool, watersports and mountain bikes, plus a free transfer bus to nearby White Sand Beach for shopping, traditional beach life and nightlife.
Food:
Thai cuisine has a worldwide reputation. Meals are flavourful and seasoned with lemongrass and basil and there is an emphasis on fresh seafood. Breakfast and lunch are provided at the resort and take the form of sumptuous buffets with a huge range of options including vegetarian and more spicy food. Also included are dinner on the night of arrival in Koh Chang and on the final evening in the resort in place of lunch. The resort has two restaurants providing evening meals at approximately £8 - £10 per person. There are always delicious options for vegetarians. Please note that there is a Gala Dinner at the resort for both Christmas and New Year and the resort makes a charge of £40 and £63 respectively, charged to your room.
14 - 27 December 2008, £1195
The Voice Within - Julie McNamara: Singer and Playwright Julie will work with playful vocal improvisation, and will also help you turn stories from the page to the stage. An Exciting & Enjoyable Life - Andrew Risner: Andrew will look into ways to get in touch with hidden inner resources and lead a creative life. Thai Yoga & Massage - Adisak Sittichainate: Adisak will teach the purest forms of this ancient art, Traditional Thai Massage.
28 Dec - 10 January 2009, £1195
The Courage to Change - Malcolm Stern: Malcolm will help you access your truth, improve your relationships and liberate potential. Everyone Can Sing - Sarah Warwick: Singer/songwriter Sarah will create a safe place to explore the power and beauty of the natural voice. Thai Yoga & Massage - Adisak Sittichainate: Adisak will teach the purest forms of this ancient art, Traditional Thai Massage
25 January - 7 February 2009, £995
A Leap of Faith - Ari Badaines: Ari will guide you to face whatever blocks your way in any area of life and take a leap of faith. Born to Play - Alison Goldie: Performer and teacher, Alison will facilitate stand-up comedy, theatre, writring and singing. Early Morning Yoga: With a local Thai instructor
Below is a sample itinerary including optional 2-day Bangkok extension.
In or around the resort one can delight in watersports, sip cocktails at sunset, enjoy the world-renowned Thai cuisine in restaurants overlooking the sea, and spend the night dancing. The health spa, set amongst tropical gardens and caressed by gentle ocean breezes, is a dream place to unwind. If you take the optional transfer, you will also have two nights in a luxury 5-star hotel in Bangkok. In this fascinating city there will be an excursion to one of its cultural highlights and also a chance to experience the city’s colourful nightlife. If required, we can arrange extra days in Bangkok. Every Thailand holiday provides two different weekday courses, early morning yoga, optional elephant trekking and snorkeling trips. Spa treatments are also available, payable on site.
Accommodation:
On Koh Chang participants share large superior twin-bedded rooms. The superior and deluxe air-conditioned bungalows are nestled in the hillside overlooking the pool and the sea. Upgrades to single occupancy of a superior or deluxe room are subject to availability. All rooms are air conditioned, with ensuite facilities and balconies. Nestled amidst lush tropical flora, they exude style and comfort. The resort has two restaurants, luxury spa, gym, large swimming pool, watersports and mountain bikes, plus a free transfer bus to nearby White Sand Beach for shopping, traditional beach life and nightlife.
Food:
Thai cuisine has a worldwide reputation. Meals are flavourful and seasoned with lemongrass and basil and there is an emphasis on fresh seafood. Breakfast and lunch are provided at the resort and take the form of sumptuous buffets with a huge range of options including vegetarian and more spicy food. Also included are dinner on the night of arrival in Koh Chang and on the final evening in the resort in place of lunch. The resort has two restaurants providing evening meals at approximately £8 - £10 per person. There are always delicious options for vegetarians. Please note that there is a Gala Dinner at the resort for both Christmas and New Year and the resort makes a charge of £40 and £63 respectively, charged to your room.
courses
Different courses are on offer on each of our travel dates. There may be other courses on offer also which are not listed depending on the facilitators for each session. The courses are informal and are held on the beach, by the pool, or in a private, air-conditioned group room. They run for four days each week, with a one and a half day break mid-session. You can choose up to two a day or take time out to make the most of your surroundings. The groups of between 20 and 40 participants are warm and friendly. 14 - 27 December 2008, £1195
28 Dec - 10 January 2009, £1195
25 January - 7 February 2009, £995
Below is a sample itinerary including optional 2-day Bangkok extension.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in Bangkok. Introductory meeting at 7:15pm. Optional evening programme including a visit to the night markets, a Thai restaurant and dance show. |
| Day 2: | Optional morning excursion to Jim Thompson House. Midday coach departure for Trat, with a stop for lunch. Ferry to the resort arriving around 6pm. Welcome drinks and dinner. |
| Day 3: | Course introductions and sign-up before lunch. Afternoon course from 5:30pm for 1.5 hours. |
| Day 4-6: | Full day courses: Early morning yoga, 10:45am: 2.5 hour morning course, 5:30pm: 1.5 hour afternoon course. |
| Day 7: | Half day courses: Early morning yoga, 10:45am: 2.5 hour morning course, free afternoon with optional elephant trekking |
| Day 8: | Free day. Optional boat trip with snorkelling on coral reef. |
| Day 9-12: | Full day courses: Early morning yoga, 10:45am: 2.5 hour morning course, 5:30pm: 1.5 hour afternoon course. On final day, optional trip to local fishing village for lunch with a get-together and barbeque in the evening. |
| Day 13: | Leave the resort at 10am for Bangkok, arriving late afternoon with an optional evening programme. |
| Day 14: | Return flight home unless extending your stay. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Booking our Thailand trip is not just treating yourself to a luxury alternative holiday - you’ll also be joining a 30-year tradition of working together to maintain a responsible lifestyle. We aim to create a total living experience which can lead to changes beneficial both to the individual and to the world we live in.
As part of your booking, you will be provided with a copy of the company philosophy which emphasises being rather than having, doing rather than consuming, and cooperating rather than competing. Community meetings give all participants a chance to talk to each other and to have a say in the structure of their daily life. You will be provided with pre-trip information on the host community to raise cultural awareness and help you to make decisions on how to integrate responsibly and your host will give you a Responsible Travel briefing including practical advice on social interaction with the local people. During your holiday you will have opportunities to learn some local language and eat locally-sourced organic national cuisine. The elephant trekking is supported by the Asian Elephant Foundation and is also part of the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project. We also use a locally-owned operator for the coach and ferry transfer from Bangkok. Our participants are encouraged to give local nationals English lessons as an alternative to the work contribution expected at our other sites – this is a way of contributing to the host community by improving employment prospects. We have a policy of employing and training local admin assistants and previous Thai employees have gone on to achieve good positions in the local travel industry. The Resort itself also:
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Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |