Passeios por Hang Dong

I had a fun and fulfilling day. I was told I was the second Japanese person to join this tour. In the morning, Somya, the cooking class instructor, picked me up at the hotel, and we headed to the market. At the market, I learned about ingredients commonly used in Thai cuisine. It seemed possible to buy breakfast there too. Upon arriving at Casa de Mango, I was offered welcome tea. I was given a tour of the garden, where I put herbs, spices, and vegetables into a basket. For the cooking class, some menu items could be chosen, and when I mentioned I wasn't used to spicy food, they adjusted the menu for me. I cooked five dishes in a hygienic environment and enjoyed eating them while chatting with other tour participants and Somya. Water and after-meal coffee were also provided. If I couldn't finish the food, I could take it home. After lunch, napping in the garden hammock was incredibly pleasant. The Elephant Sanctuary felt like a place where elephants could live as freely as possible. First, I was given a change of clothes to put on in the restroom. After hearing about the elephants present and important precautions (don't stand directly behind an elephant, don't stand in front of an elephant's face when it's eating corn stalks, don't forcibly touch its face, how to give snacks, older elephants are more accustomed than younger ones, etc.), each person took a bag of snacks (sugarcane) and moved to the riverside area. We gave snacks following the mahout's instructions. They also took photos and videos for us. Afterward, we followed the mahout to give snacks to elephants in the forest area and observed them. We took a break and received cold water. Then, we helped bathe the elephants (optional, depending on the elephant's mood). Finally, Khao Soi, watermelon, and pineapple were prepared (self-serve style, take as much as you want). What to bring: insect repellent, a jacket (the transfer van is air-conditioned), sandals and a towel (if you want to help bathe the elephants).

Our day at Casa demand was a highlight of our time in Chiang Mai. The chefs were so engaging - full of stories as well as cooking tips. We loved the setting, a rural mango farm. Our delicious feast was followed by chill out time in hammocks hung from the mongo trees, then a lovely countryside bike ride. Simply a delightful day - you can’t go wrong.

This Old Town day tour was truly excellent value, all thanks to our guide, Michael Jackson (who calls himself the Takeshi Kaneshiro of Thailand)! He was full of energy all day, and his professionalism was simply perfect. He is Thai, but speaks both Chinese and English extremely fluently. Especially when explaining dynastic history in Chinese, his logic was very clear, and there were absolutely no communication barriers. What impressed us most was that he even brought his own exquisite historical materials and before-and-after comparison photos, allowing us to compare the ancient sites with their past appearance. History instantly came alive, no longer just looking at stone buildings. During the tour, he also patiently taught us to speak Thai. Under the scorching Bangkok sun, he always thoughtfully helped us find shady spots for photos and explanations, making our trip relaxed and comfortable. We truly hope every group can encounter such an excellent guide like Michael Jackson. He added so much to this trip! If you have the chance to join this tour, be sure to specifically request this "Takeshi Kaneshiro of Thailand"!

The best way to enjoy Phuket is definitely island hopping and water activities, but the boat rides can be quite long, so make sure you get enough sleep the night before, otherwise, the boat trip the next day will be unbearable. It's recommended to book your tour online in advance; they will contact you via email to arrange hotel pick-up times. We had a comfortable 9-seater shared ride. Upon arrival at the pier, there were coffee, drinks, some small biscuits, and toast, so those who didn't have time for breakfast could eat there. Bottled water was available for free on the boat, and lunch was a buffet on Phi Phi Island. On the return trip, fruit was provided. If you don't plan on making additional purchases, you don't need to bring too much money. At the end, the guide asked each person for a tip (you can choose not to give one), which felt a bit awkward, but I was very grateful to the captain and crew, so I did tip them.

Luxurious boat. Helpful staff to make people to snorkeling who are not so confident. Good food. Only drawback is since the boat is big it cannot go near the shore so you don't get to get down at any of the beach side.

It was a good trip to experience Thai culture and see their lifestyle. I just hope we travelled earlier because traffic was bad. Nevertheless, it was really fun! Aum and Bank were such incredible guides. Buffalo Cafe is a great side trip as well. ♥️

We had an amazing time on this boat tour with our guide, Mickey, and the boat crew. They were very organized and considerate of everybody's time and experience! I would highly recommend this one day excursion. Khob khun ka 🙏🏻

A long day (picked up at 7:30 and back at 8pm) but well worth it. We had not booked to go into long neck village but all the money goes back into the village so we decided to go & it was great. White temple is stunning & loved the black house.