SDEKLK011: OFF – ROAD SAFARI

Pick up from your hotel in the Khao Lak area:
At around 8:30 AM, you will have no difficulty spotting which vehicle our driver and guide are picking you up in! About this time, you will realize that you didn’t book some mundane tour!
Pick-up times vary slightly based on the location of your hotel, thus, your exact pick-up time will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Visit a Buddhist Temple:
Thailand is world-famous as one of the centers of the Buddhist faith, and temples can be found everywhere. Temples in urban areas are the center of the community, providing spiritual guidance to millions of people and a place for festivals and events. The temple you'll be visiting is far away from populous areas. Allowing resident monks and visitors a place of peace and solitude, the ideal environment for meditation and quiet contemplation while on the path to total enlightenment. Every sculpture, mural, altar, and angle has a meaning or purpose and was designed intricately with this in mind.

If you wish to enter any temples, temple grounds, or areas held sacred, please remember to dress accordingly. Your clothing should not be too revealing and must cover your shoulders and knees. Instead of wearing trousers, long dresses and skirts, or restrictive shirts and blouses, a sarong can be worn to cover up in a pinch. Never walk in front of people when they are in the act of prayer. Remember to remove your footwear and hats before entering any temple, shrine, or stepping onto a monument platform.

If you are unsure of whether certain conduct is permitted on temple grounds, be sure to ask your guide, as they are there to inform and assist you whilst on tour.

Canoeing at Klong Sang Nae:
Your tour activities include a local paddle guide taking you on a relaxing cruise downriver, revealing hidden mysteries of the rainforest that you may otherwise miss if not viewed by boat. Without the need to paddle yourself, you're able to focus your attention on the lush forest that lines the river bank and the canopy overhead, keeping your hands on the ready to take photos of the diverse flora and fauna found at Phutajor National Park.

Many of the forest’s inhabitants are masters of camouflage and elusion, making them very difficult to spot. Your paddle guide’s knowledge of the local habitat and its inhabitants will be a boon in assisting you to spot creatures that you might otherwise miss.

Water is the lifeblood of the rainforest, ever-present and the enemy of your valuable electronics. We recommend bringing a waterproof case, bag or cover to protect these devices from splashes, rain, and accidental immersion.

Lunch:
When selecting a restaurant to dine at, most people take the ambiance into consideration. Great tasting food, accompanied with the desired ambiance, results in a more satisfying dining experience than taste alone. The beautiful natural setting that was chosen for lunch creates an ambiance which would be best described as sublime. Here, you will enjoy a delicious Thai meal, which, aided by the ambiance, creates an ideal environment to nourish your body and soul.

Off - Road Expedition to 600 Meters Elevation:
Embark on a Off-road journey through the mountainous rainforests of Phutajor National Park! Rarely visited by tourists, the Phutajor region remains to this day, pristine and undisturbed. Phutajor is inhabited by giant squirrels, monkeys, wild cats, and a myriad of other flora and fauna. For example, the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, can be seen here at certain times of the year. If the Rafflesia flower is in bloom, you will likely smell its putrid odor long before you find the flower! As the Off Road traverses the varying terrain, the slow pace creates a revivifying breeze, intensifying during the ascent to an elevation of 600 meters.

Breathtaking panoramic views, intriguing wildlife, and the lush rainforest vegetation make this an ideal location for avid photographers.

Jungle Trek to a Waterfall:
Stroll through the rainforest, listen to the Rainforest Symphony, and keep your eyes open for the members of the orchestra. After a brief 15 minute hike, the sound of a waterfall appears in the background, intensifying like a crescendo as you draw near.

Throughout history and in all corners of the world, waterfalls have been revered as sacred places with an almost supernatural ability to revitalize the mind, body, and soul. This will become evidently apparent after just a few moments of your arrival at the falls.

Moments in time such as these have the uncanny ability to create episodic memories, our most complex memories, allowing you to recall the sights, smells, sounds, textures, the taste of the air, and the emotions you felt. Take a moment to breathe it all in!

Return to your hotel in the Khao Lak area:
Your off-road adventure has come to an end and it is time to take you back to your hotel in the Khao Lak area. You’ll be back in time to watch the magnificent Andaman Sea sunset at the end of an adventurous day in the backcountry Phang Nga.