Self-Launched Kayak & Hike Wild Thailand

Touch down at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and make your own way into the city. The Airport Rail Link runs every 10 minutes to Makkasan or Phaya Thai stations (~£1.50) and from there a taxi or Grab to Chinatown costs around £3–5. Check into a well-rated guesthouse or hostel in the Chinatown/Yaowarat area — this puts you right on the action. Spend the evening wandering Yaowarat Road for world-class street food: try pad see ew, roast duck, and mango sticky rice from the market stalls.

🚌Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to city centre (~£1.50), then Grab taxi to Chinatown (~£3–5)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Chinatown or similar hostel/guesthouse — private room or dorm in Chinatown (~£15–25/night)

• →Explore Yaowarat Road night market and street food scene
• →Optional: visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (£10 entry, open until 3:30pm)
• →Grab app for cheap local transport around the city

Take a Grab or taxi to the Phra Pradaeng area (~£4) and rent a bicycle locally at Bang Krajao for around £3–4 for a half day. Explore the lush 'Green Lung of Bangkok' — a car-free peninsula of jungle trails, canal paths, and a floating market. Stop for lunch at the Bang Nam Pheung floating market. Return to Bangkok by early evening and head to Hua Lamphong or Bang Sue Grand Station to board the overnight sleeper train to Surat Thani (2nd class sleeper ~£15–18, book via 12go.asia or the State Railway of Thailand website). An incredible budget experience — you wake up in the south having saved a night's accommodation.

🚌Grab to Bang Krajao (~£4), return Grab to train station (~£4), overnight train to Surat Thani (~£16)

🛏Sleeper train 2nd class berth, Bangkok to Surat Thani (~£15–18 via 12go.asia or railway.co.th)

• →Bicycle hire at Bang Krajao (~£3–4 for half day)
• →Explore Bang Krajao jungle trails and canal paths
• →Lunch at Bang Nam Pheung floating market
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Surat Thani from Hua Lamphong / Bang Sue Station

Arrive into Surat Thani in the morning. Take a shared minivan transfer to Khao Sok National Park (~£6–8, bookable at the station or via Lomprayah/Songserm counters). From the park entrance, arrange a boat trip out onto the stunning Cheow Lan Lake — karst limestone towers jut from turquoise waters surrounded by ancient rainforest. Book a guided jungle trek on one of the lake islands to a viewpoint (available through local tour operators at the park for ~£10–15). At sunset, join a longtail boat wildlife-spotting trip (~£8). Tonight, sleep in a floating bungalow on the lake — a genuine bucket-list experience bookable directly with operators like Panvaree Raft House or Morning Mist (~£25–35/night twin share).

🚌Shared minivan Surat Thani to Khao Sok (~£7), local boat (~£9)

🛏Floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake — Panvaree Raft House or Morning Mist Raft House (~£25–35/night twin share)

• →Shared minivan from Surat Thani to Khao Sok (~£6–8)
• →Boat trip to Cheow Lan Lake (~£8–10 return)
• →Guided jungle trek on lake island to viewpoint (~£10–15, book locally)
• →Longtail boat wildlife-spotting at sunset (~£8)
• →Check in to floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake

After breakfast on the water, transfer back to the main park area and check into a jungle lodge — there are excellent budget options right on the park edge. Rent a bicycle locally (~£4) and pedal quiet roads past villages, rubber plantations and palm groves, stopping at Wat Tham Pla (Fish Cave Temple) along the way. Grab snacks and supplies from local stores. In the late afternoon, relax at the lodge before joining a guided nocturnal jungle hike (~£10–12 booked locally), led by a knowledgeable local guide. Listen for the incredible chorus of insects, frogs and night birds in one of the world's oldest rainforests.

🚌Boat back to park entrance (included in raft house package or ~£8), bicycle hire (~£4)

🛏Jungle lodge in Khao Sok — Khao Sok Rainforest Resort, Our Jungle House, or similar (~£18–28/night twin share)

• →Bicycle hire for jungle road cycling (~£4)
• →Visit Wat Tham Pla (Fish Cave) — free entry
• →Explore rubber and palm plantations
• →Guided nocturnal jungle hike (~£10–12, book at park entrance or lodge)

Take a shared minivan south from Khao Sok towards Krabi (~£8–10, ~2.5 hrs). En route, stop at Than Bok Khorani National Park near the village of Ao Luk. Book a kayaking tour through the mangroves and sea caves directly with a local operator in Ao Luk (~£20–28) — you'll paddle through cathedral-like limestone caves dripping with stalactites and ancient paintings, and emerge into tranquil aquamarine lagoons including the famous blue pool of Tham Lord. Afternoon arrival into Krabi town or Ao Nang. Check into a well-rated guesthouse and relax by the pool or head to the beach.

🚌Shared minivan Khao Sok to Ao Luk/Krabi (~£9)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Krabi town or Ao Nang — Pak-Up Hostel, The Frugal Traveller, or similar (~£18–28/night)

• →Shared minivan Khao Sok to Krabi/Ao Luk (~£8–10)
• →Self-booked kayaking tour through Than Bok Khorani mangroves and caves (~£20–28 via local operators or GetYourGuide)
• →Afternoon relaxation in Krabi/Ao Nang
• →Explore Ao Nang beach and restaurants

Rise early to beat the heat and head to Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple) — entry is free and it's a ~£3 Grab ride from Krabi town. Tackle the famous 1,237 steep steps up to the golden Buddha statue at the summit for jaw-dropping panoramic views across Krabi province. Take your time — it's steep but very doable. Descend and explore the monks' sanctuary and the Tiger Cave itself at the base. In the afternoon, hire a songthaew or Grab to Huay Toh Waterfall at the base of Phanom Bencha mountain (~£3–4) for a refreshing dip in the natural pools. Evening: catch a songthaew or Grab to Ao Nang for sunset cocktails and the vibrant night market.

🚌Grab/songthaew to Tiger Cave Temple (~£3), to Huay Toh (~£4), to Ao Nang (~£3)

🛏Same guesthouse in Krabi town or Ao Nang (night 2 of 2)

• →Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) — 1,237 steps to summit, free entry
• →Explore Tiger Cave and monks' sanctuary at the base
• →Huay Toh Waterfall swim (~£2 entry)
• →Ao Nang night market and sunset cocktails

From Ao Nang or Krabi pier, take a speedboat transfer to Koh Yao Yai island, which sits serenely within Ao Phang Nga National Park (~£8–12 via Koh Yao Ferry or shared speedboat from Bang Rong pier). Check into a beachfront guesthouse. In the afternoon, book a local kayaking tour through the mangroves near Ban Ya Mi village (~£18–22 via a local operator on the island or GetYourGuide) — paddle quietly past fiddler crabs and resident macaques through two square miles of critical mangrove ecosystem. Afterwards, stretch out on white sand beaches and watch the spectacular Phang Nga Bay sunset.

🚌Songthaew/Grab to pier (~£3), speedboat/ferry to Koh Yao Yai (~£10)

🛏Beachfront guesthouse on Koh Yao Yai — Koh Yao Yai Village, Sabai Corner, or similar (~£20–30/night)

• →Speedboat/ferry from Krabi/Bang Rong pier to Koh Yao Yai (~£8–12)
• →Mangrove kayaking tour near Ban Ya Mi village (~£18–22, book locally or via GetYourGuide)
• →Relax on the island's white sand beaches
• →Sunset watching over Phang Nga Bay

Start the morning with a guided island hike — easily arranged through your guesthouse or locally (~£10–15). A knowledgeable local villager leads you through rubber and coconut plantations, pointing out tropical birdlife and explaining the traditional rubber tree oil extraction process. Enjoy a picnic lunch by a peaceful stream. In the afternoon, take the speedboat/ferry back to the mainland and onward by shared minivan (~£8–10) or Grab to Phuket Old Town (~1.5 hrs). Check into a boutique guesthouse in the atmospheric Sino-Portuguese Old Town quarter. Spend the evening exploring the heritage streets, temples and excellent restaurants.

🚌Ferry Koh Yao Yai to Bang Rong pier (~£10), shared minivan or Grab to Phuket Old Town (~£8–10)

🛏Boutique guesthouse in Phuket Old Town — Rommanee Classic Guesthouse, The Memory at On On Hotel, or similar (~£20–35/night)

• →Guided island hike through jungle, rubber and coconut plantations (~£10–15, arranged via guesthouse)
• →Spot tropical birdlife and learn about rubber tree oil extraction
• →Ferry back to mainland and onward to Phuket Old Town
• →Evening exploration of Phuket Old Town's Sino-Portuguese architecture and street food

Today is the adventure highlight of the whole trip. Book a full-day sea kayaking tour of Phang Nga Bay departing from Ao Por pier — easily bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly with operators like John Gray's Sea Canoe or similar (~£45–65 including longtail boat base, guide, lunch and snorkelling). You'll circumnavigate dramatic limestone islands, discover hidden hongs (collapsed cave lagoons), snorkel in crystal-clear water, and find secluded beaches inaccessible by regular boats. Return to Phuket Old Town for a final group dinner at one of the excellent local restaurants on Thalang Road — try the Phuket-style crab curry or mee sua noodles.

🚌Grab to Ao Por pier (~£5 each way)

🛏Same boutique guesthouse in Phuket Old Town (night 2 of 2)

• →Full-day sea kayaking tour of Phang Nga Bay from Ao Por pier (~£45–65 via GetYourGuide/Klook or John Gray's Sea Canoe)
• →Paddle through hidden hongs (cave lagoons) and around limestone islands
• →Snorkelling in Phang Nga Bay
• →Final dinner in Phuket Old Town — try local Phuket specialities on Thalang Road

After a final breakfast at a local café in Old Town (try one of the charming heritage coffee shops on Dibuk Road), grab a Grab or airport taxi to Phuket International Airport (HKT) (~£8–12). Allow plenty of time — Phuket traffic can be heavy. Say goodbye to Thailand with a full heart and a healthy bank account. Note: you can extend your stay with ease — island hop to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or Koh Samui independently from Phuket.

🚌Grab or metered taxi to Phuket International Airport HKT (~£8–12)

• →Final breakfast at a heritage café in Phuket Old Town
• →Grab/taxi to Phuket International Airport (~£8–12)
• →Optional: extend your trip with independent island hopping to Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta