This trip to Thailand - the land of tuk-tuks, elephants and Buddhas - is essentially about trekking to meet it's tribal people and sample their cultures while exploring its famous rugged hillsides with their spectacular views. Firstly, there's a few days of traditional tourism in the bustling capital Bangkok, such as exploring the Grand Palace, plus the river market canals and a visit to the famous Bridge over The River Kwai with it's relics of the second world war. Then it's an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai, Thailand's jewel of the north, for our trekking. Over three days we will travel on foot and elephant back - as well as rafting on a bamboo raft on the Maetang River- as we visit the villages of White Karen and Muser to meet their tribes. Cultural highlights of Chiang Mai will be the holy Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple, 3,520 feet above sea level, and visited by Buddhist pilgrims all year round, and night shopping in a bazaar. Finally we return to Bangkok on the overnight sleeper train.