The Amazing Tuk Tuk Adventure (Self Drive) - 11 Days

We’ll pick you up at 10:00am from the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel in Chiang Mai city and transfer you to our training base for the adventure ahead.On arrival at our ‘base camp’ in Mae Wang at around 11:30 we’ll check you in to your accommodation, have lunch together and then begin your driver training. Once everyone has got to grips with the basics we’ll head on your first test drive to a local Temple where we can ‘make merit’ and receive a blessing for the journey ahead! You'll be driving for around 1 hour and 30 minutes covering 25-30km to really familiarise yourself with your new wheels but this includes plenty of stops! In the evening it’s time to spend more time getting to know your Tuk Tuk and enjoying a great Thai feast.

After breakfast we’ll go through more driver training, building on what you learned yesterday, and run through all the nitty-gritty of the trip ahead. Then it’s time to venture a little further afield with a test drive through small country roads to a fantastic elephant home that is leading the way in taking elephants away from a life of trekking and instead creating an environment where people can learn about and spend time with elephants on their terms, not ours! We’ll head slowly in convoy to the elephant home giving all the opportunity to get some ‘road time’ and confidence. On arrival, you’ll learn about the history of the elephants, what the team at the Elephant home are doing and then, after a great lunch at the home, it’s time to enjoy the company of these wonderful animals. You’ll be able to feed them, get to know them and then walk with them (no riding allowed!) to the local river where you’ll watch them bathe. In the late afternoon we’ll have a change of pace as we float gently own stream on bamboo rafts before it’s then time for more driving practice as we head back to the base camp for dinner. Today you'll cover around 55km in your Tuk-Tuk and spend around 2 hours and 30 minutes behind the wheel but you'll be out and about for most of the day as there's plenty of stops incorporated. Now you're used to driving and have had plenty of practice on the smaller flatter roads you'll be raring to go tomorrow.

After an early breakfast we’re hitting the road and heading along small country roads towards Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. Your guide will be in the lead Tuk Tuk and we’ll travel in convoy with the support vehicle at the rear. The first 20-30km of the route is simple with gentle curving roads but we soon hit stunning switch back bends, incredible scenery and tiny Karen hill tribe villages as we make our way towards the National Park. Enjoy the look of complete surprise from everyone as they see Tuk Tuks this far up in the mountains – trust us, novelty doesn’t not even begin to cover it – and we’ll stop frequently to have a look at different villages / views and of course to sample some of the great coffee and snacks in small villages. Lunch will be in a roadside snack bar – real Northern Thai style. Arrive at your accommodation mid-afternoon having covered around 75km in total after about 3 hours of driving. Don't worry you're not in the Tuk-Tuk for 3 hours straight, you'll spend about 5 hours travelling through at a leisurely pace. Once you arrive jump into another classic Thai mode of transport - a ‘Sorngtaew’ - a shared taxi adapted from a pick up truck, which drives us to the summit of the mountain.

We’re giving the Tuk Tuks a well deserved rest today and exploring the National Park on foot. Accompanied by an expert trekking guide we’ll explore the stunning forest around the area on a trek of around 6km which takes in great vista’s and the obligatory waterfall. Lunch is provided on the trek and your trekking guide is a mine of information on both the people and wildlife inhabiting the area all around you. This trek is suitable for all as long as you’re able to walk 6km. The pace is gentle but there are some up and downhill sections as you’d expect in the mountains. We’ll arrive back at the accommodation around mid – late afternoon, just in time to rest up, relax and then enjoy a great countryside Thai feast.

Time to get back on the road and today we head out of Doi Inthanon National Park towards our destination of Mae Sariang, close to the Burmese / Myanmar border. It's a full day of adventure as you'll cover 160-170km driving for around 5 hours (not all in one go, there's far too much to see on the way so you'll actually be out for around 7-8 hours) Your route winds through incredible scenery and some very quiet roads for the first section of the day and we then join the main road for the last hour or two into Mae Sariang. Towering trees, steep hills and more than a few sharp curves are the order of the day and we’ll, as always, take frequent stops to enjoy the area, let the Tuk Tuk cool down and to allow traffic to pass (and see all taking photos of you as yet again everyone is stunned by the site to Tuk Tuks up here). We’ll arrive in Mae Sariang around mid-late afternoon and check into our superb riverside accommodation for the night. Mae Sariang is well worth exploring with friendly people, a fascinating mix of Thai and Burmese culture (Mae Sariang is home to many Burmese Muslims) and some interesting temples. Alternatively, cool off in the pool, have a cold beer on the terrace over the river watching the sun go down, or all of the above!

Mae Hong Son is our destination today as you head up, over and around the mountains on one of Thailand’s most stunning roads to reach Mae Sariang. With plenty of stops to change drivers, go ‘wow’ at the scenery and chat to all and sundry wondering how on earth you’re driving a Tuk Tuk this is most definitely a day for your camera (and Go Pro!). After having travelled around 160km which will take around 7 hours (with half the time driving and half the time out of the Tuk-Tuk exploring!) you'll arrive at your accommodation around mid-afternoon giving you enough time to check in, have a quick swim in the resort’s lovely pool and to settle into the amazing sunset bar nestled right amongst the rice fields. Cold beer has never tasted so good!

A day off for your Tuk Tuks and some time to do as you please. There’s a fantastic 8km trek through the forest right from the resort grounds, a swimming pool to hang out by or you can head into Mae Hong Son town to explore (around 10-15 mins by minivan). Re-charge your batteries, re-cover from the sunset bar last night or stretch your legs in the forest, it’s up to you! If you're feeling more active and decide to trek through the forest, the trail is easy to follow so you can venture out and discover it for yourself or else you can join the guide for this.

Pai, one of the most famous of all mountain towns in Thailand, is our destination today but before we get there we need to negotiate several hundred bends and some of the steepest roads on the trip. You'll cover 125km - 135km but the 4-5 hours it will take to drive this is spread over most of the day with plenty of stops on the way, You’ll stop for lunch at Lod Caves and then explore the huge cave system with a local guide – don’t worry, you’re not scrabbling through tiny potholes, rather enjoying a raft along the river than runs through the caves! By late afternoon you’ll drop down into the valley where Pai sits but not before a couple of awesome pit stops – try your hand at the Hill Tribe swing we dare you! – and arrive at your fantastic resort for the next couple of nights. With beautiful forests and incredible views this is a great day! Your accommodation is 4-5km outside the town sitting amongst rice fields and great views wherever you look. There’s also a lovely swimming pool to relax, enjoy the stunning scenery and reflect on the incredible journey so far.

A final day of rest before the last push tomorrow when you head back to base. Enjoy the beautiful resort and pool, wander around the local village or why not head further afield and explore hot springs, a giant land split (!) and Pai Canyon.Your guide team can help organise everything and go along with you if you’d like (whilst the driving team do their final checks on your Tuk Tuk ready for the last days adventure tomorrow).

Set off early this morning, for your longest day of driving. You'll cover around 180km or so but we've saved the best for last! The journey will be stretched out over around 8 hours (5-6 of which will be spent behind the wheel driving) as you negotiate the final few hundred bends and drop back down towards Chiang Mai to return to your initial base camp of days 1 and 2. You’ll notice a huge change in the villages, people and temperature (!) as you descend from the mountains. There's plenty of opportunity to stop as there's so many things to see, coffees to be drunk, and people to meet so take today pretty easy before arriving back in Mae Wang late afternoon/early evening after a superb day of driving. Then it’s time to freshen up before we have a group final dinner, sharing the adventures of the last 10 days and enjoying your last moments with your very own Tuk Tuk.

After a lie in – it will have been a late night last night, your transfer back to Chiang Mai Gate Hotel will take around 60 minutes and you'll arrive around 11:00 / 11:30am. We recommend not booking flights departing before 2pm on this day unless you are happy to pay for a private transfer earlier than the group but whether you're heading on or staying in Chang Mai you'll know that you're now a fully-fledged member of The Tuk Tuk Club!