Yoga and trekking in Southern Thailand
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What is the yoga trekking concept in Thailand?
Eric Lon, French certified physiotherapist studied Traditional Thai Massage in several Thai schools. He is also a certified swimming teacher and a yogi for many years.
Eric is used to take holidays in Southern Thailand each winter, doing yoga and trekking in addition to swimming and snorkeling.
Eric Lon is suggesting some ideas of itinerary for trekking in Southern Thailand.
You can organize your trip yourself or through a Thai agency but you will not find yoga teachers on your way.
If you want to travel with daily yoga class, on this itinerary or at any other interesting places of Southern Thailand feel free to contact Eric Lon: ericlon@hotmail.fr
Visit for free the photo stream of Eric Lon with 3 Thai photos sets and more than 500 pics commented in English and french: www.flickr.com
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani.It is a train journey which shows the countryside around Bangkok through green fields, till sunset.
Dinning in the train with local people eating different kinds of meals is an interesting experience for the westerners. The night sleeping beds are comfortable. It is also possible to go to Surat Thani by road or by air.
Day 2: the lake of Khao Sok National Park.
Arrival at Surat Thani early morning and enjoy breakfast around the railway station.
Surat Thani is the gate to visit many islands of the Golf of Thailand, but it is also a driving door to cross the isthmus of Thailand with impressive rubber tree forests, the bushes of coffee. The deep jungle protects the banana trees and the coconut trees.
One hour nice drive leads to the big dam of Khao Sok National Park.
One hour sailing with a local long tail boat is a perfect way to cross the biggest artificial lake of this region. The fresh crystal water is reflecting the numerous limestone cliffs.
At the other side of this lake a local guide shows you the way in the jungle, trekking for one hour, providing information about fauna and flora.
He proposes a great adventure to the people who are good swimmers.
The crossing by foot of a cave, about one kilometer long, with a small river inside is for those who are not afraid of the darkness and who are able to cross underground water. People who are not good swimmers can trek in the forest with yoga.
Having a lunch at a floating restaurant, on bamboos, is unusual and fun.
You can swim in the lake or enjoy kayaking or canoeing.
There are also floating bungalows but so rustic that it is advisable to sail with a long tail boat and then to drive an hour through the green jungle for enjoying the night at more comfortable lodges, around the headquarters of Khao Sok National Park.
To relax body and mind, a stretching yoga lesson is proposed before diner.
Day 3: yoga and trekking at Khao Sok National Park
Get awake with yoga "sun salutations" in the greenish. Trekking after breakfast is the best because Nature is awaking at morning. There are nice trails following a charming river with several beautiful water falls where swimming is possible. The trails are well marked: anybody can easily trek there looking to different kinds of forests. It is perfect for bird viewing.
Enjoy a lunch at the lodge and then visit a monastery with meditative place and caves sheltered by the jungle and the limestone cliffs.
Drive by afternoon, about three to four hours, to reach Phang Gna city.
Relaxing yoga lesson is proposed before diner.
Day 4: yoga and trekking around Phang Gna
Phang Gna is a charming small city, the administrative headquarters of several renowned places like Krabi, Phuket Island, where the Tsunami did many victims and the wilderness beauty of Similan Islands.
After breakfast a morning trek in a forest National park provides different views than the previous trails. Swimming at shallow river pools is highly appreciated by Thai and by the foreigners. It is a cool place for doing yoga.
Enjoy your lunch at Phang Gna. Sight seeing of several interesting local places.
A Buddhist monastery displays huge statues of the Hell, in his Thai version, and then you reach the Heavens on the top of a tall Buddha tower dominating the canopy and providing a panoramic view of the forest.
Close by there is a big cave with an underground trail lighted with electric spots. Interesting statues are worshiped. Hindu statues also merge in the forest.
Not far there is another cave, much bigger. To visit it easily and safely you have a local guide, but also somebody who is paddling for you on a kayak and then on a bamboo raft. No need to be a swimmer for visiting this cave. Underground photos are not permitted in that cave to preserve the beauty of the living crystals.
There is also a National Park close to the city, with cemented trails leading from a cave to another cave.
Yoga lesson is proposed before dinner.
Day 5: trekking and kayaking easily
After breakfast, visit the monkey temple, just outside the city. There is also a huge cave, well lighted, with different big statues of Buddha.
Drive out of the city, trough the jungle to reach Buddha Park. Buddhist monks are used to meditate in small caves hidden behind limestone cliffs. Walk silently respecting the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere.
Trek from a local village and cross a private rubber tree plantation getting information. Explore another cave and then trek to a huge palm tree plantation and a small village. Enjoy your lunch at a small restaurant.
Visit a big cave, with deep water, by kayaking under the leadership of "Mama Kayak". This local grand mother is found of kayak. You can easily paddle underground, admiring the stalactites and stalagmites, and the big cat fishes. It is an easy experience for anybody. Local boys can paddle for you if you prefer to take photos.
The second part of kayaking starts from the outside of the cave, at the start of a small river, with shallow waters. It is pleasant to look at the river environment, for about two kilometers. A car is waiting for you and you get a transfer to the mangrove. The river is wider and quiet. This is the best opportunity to look at the wildlife without disturbing it.
Morning or evening yoga classes are proposed.
Day 6: kayaking at Phang Gna Bay
Morning yoga is ideal to awake the energy and evening yoga is welcome for relaxing.
After breakfast, a fisherman will show you the mangrove which is making many curves before to reach the sea: interesting trip with a long tail boat.
This bay displays hundred of islands with impressive limestone cliffs and attracts daily hundreds of tourists. James Bond came here.Kayaking to explore the marine caves is an exciting experience. A Thai paddler provides you the opportunity to take photos.
There are so many islands to see in a full day tour.
Day 7: discover the Similan islands
After breakfast, drive one hour to the peer and enjoy the speed boat to reach Similan Islands, the jewels of Andaman Sea. It is a perfect place for diving, but it is also very exciting to enjoy kayaking, swimming and snorkeling.
Enjoy yoga at the beach and then a quiet night camping on the island.
Day 8: boating underground
Enjoy the trip back by speed boat and then drive four hours to Trang.
Before the arrival in this small city visit a very long cave which is well lighted. The small boats with a paddler and a guide provide an easy discovery of this underground universe.
Enjoy evening yoga at Trang.
Day 9: day tour to the islands.
Visit three islands swimming and snorkeling at different coral spots. No need to be a great swimmer because life jackets, masks and snorkels are provided. The local boys are supporting the customers who are not used to swim. The best swimmers will go through a marine cave to reach the pirates' creek.
The two other islands provide different coral spots.
Enjoy yoga at Trang.
Day 10: Canopy trail
Easy morning walk in a forest park: a lot of information is provided by the scientific boards. Walk on a metallic platform at different levels of the canopy. This is a unique and exceptional opportunity to observe the big trees with their specific wildlife.
There are many Buddhist temples to visit in Thailand
Options to travel longer in Southern Thailand
If your holidays are short you can fly to Bangkok.If you have longer holidays, drive to Satun province, at the sea side: Pakbara.
Enjoy sunset yoga at the beach and have a good night in the beach bungalows.
Day 11: Tarutao Marine National Park
There are more than fifty islands in this park.
Tarutao is the biggest island and the administrative headquarter of Tarutao Marine National park covering fifty islands. Speed bots and slow boats are leaving Pakbara every morning to go in the islands.
At Tarutao: trek on long beaches and to a refreshing waterfall.
Enjoy sunset yoga at the beach. Nice accommodation in the governmental bungalows.
Day 12: Lipe and Adang islands.
Lipe is a small island with many tourists but some places are suitable for a quiet yoga session. It is possible to stay at the neighbor island, Adang, in the governmental bungalows.
Visit the pirate waterfall located in the jungle and enjoy the panorama from a hill.
Snorkeling around Adang and in the neighbor islands is great because the water is crystal clear: there are different kinds of corals and many fishes.
Enjoy yoga at different places.
Day 13: Speed boat to the mainland
Way back to Bangkok by bus, train or flight.
Do not hesitate to contact Eric Lon to combine yoga with trekking in Southern Thailand.
Contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr