What Others Say...
Don't just take OUR word for it... With thanks to them for their kind comments, here is what some of our past clients have had to say...
(To read comments about a specific holiday in which you are interested, click on the links below or simply scroll down the page.)
PS. If you'd like to speak to a REAL person who has been on a trip with us, just let us know and we'll be pleased to put you in contact.
Andaman Homestay
Tsunami Volunteering
Volunteering with Elephants
Surin Elephant Festival
Holidays in India
Holidays in Thailand
Holidays in Cambodia
Holidays in Laos
Tailormade trips in South East Asia
2 words....simply incredible. Thank you for the great job you did with putting our itinerary together. People were always right where you said they would be and all our many forms of transportation were always friendly and on-time.
For me, the best part of the entire trip was sitting in the back of the truck on our way to get some AMAZING fruits (I loved the Mangos and Marysol loved the Trangerines) at the market with the kids from the village. It was such a surreal experience that I can't stop talking about.
Kelly brought us to the village where we stayed with Peng and her family who fed us until our stomach burst, but the food didn't get any better than her cooking for the rest of the trip. Our guide through the jungle walk at the village was Mustafa who was very knowledgable and friendly. It was some hike in that heat and his story of how the Tsunami changed his life forever really put things in perspective.
Of course, Klaus at the jungle house was an incredible experience as well. He is both personable and quite the character. The trek through the bat cave had us nervous at first but the adrenaline was pumping and it was quite the experience after we swam to the other side of the cave (another amazing adventure to make all our friends jealous about). Klaus mentioned that you checked up on us while we were there...thanks! Your description of the place was 100% and it was certainly worth it. By the way, the food... incredible... we were just wondering where the kitchen was to have such an extensive gourmet menu.
I think sleeping nights in the jungle was louder than New York City not to mention the occasional frog or tree snake hanging out by the restaurant...
Kao Yao was spectacular once you got over the fact that there was absolutely no fourth wall and that your backdrop in the morning when you woke up was sunrise over the sea. While the resort was phenomenal, I think maybe we should have done 1 day less there and 1 day more in the jungle or in Bangkok. When you are so used to the fast pace of a new adventure everyday, it is kind of hard to relax and simply do nothing...
Bottom line... don't change a thing... your description of each place is honest and they live up to their expectations. I could go on forever but in the interest of keeping this message short, I attached a few pictures from our trip.... you certainly made two supporters for both Go Differently and Thailand! Thanks for an amazing experience!
Naveen and Marysol, February 2007
After all the travelling that we did, countries we visited... I have to say that the highlight was our homestay and trip to Koh Sok and stay in the Jungle Lodge.
It all went very well, the transfers, accommodation and whole experience was fantastic!
Amandara was a lovely peaceful resort and quiet while we were there, it was
just what we needed after a hectic start. The children loved scrabbling around on the beach looking for hermit crabs,
iguanas, swimming in the pool. The staff were very friendly and helpful and
it was an easy place to spend the first few days.
The Jungle Lodge was great. Klaus, a fab hos,t and we loved all the
activities that were arranged.
Our homestay will remain the highlight, we were made to feel so welcome into the villages that we stayed and met some wonderful families. Our guide Kelly from Natr was fab, she had such a lovely relationship with the families in the villages we stayed in and made the experience very comfortable for us, helping us out with interpreting and bridging the gap with any cultural differences.
The children had a wonderful time in Tung Nam Dam, Jamie enjoyed playing
football on the beach with the boys, Georgie loved feeding the goats and
Iona our 5 year old made friends with our host family's nephew and they had
fun catching crabs on the beach and throwing bugs on to the fire at night!
Phillip and I felt that our stay on the unspoilt island of Tung Nam Dam was
more relaxing and inspirational than any 5* holiday could offer as we were
transported to a world of calm and peace, made to feel so welcome by the
loveliest of people.
Many thanks for all your help and look forward to hearing from you again!
Catriona and family, December 2006
The whole trip was fantastic: excellent diving, then a wonderful homestay ( the fish farm family were great and the fish farmitself was fascinating). Our guide was a star and we did all the things on the itinerary and narrowly missed seeing some manatees! Trec staff were welcoming and inspiring: our eldest may well spend a bit of her gap year ot there. The jungle was fab and we saw all a far amount of wildlife. Thanks for all your help in organisation and ideas. We will watch your web-site with interest
Jane and family, August 2006
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TSUNAMI
VOLUNTEERING
I want to say a huge thank you. I had a completely amazing time!
I think on reflection it exceeded my expectations, because although you sent out loads of information beforehand, when it all becomes real and I was there, everything is much more exciting and interesting than I imagined! My overwhelming sense was how well the trip was organised. I can't express enough how good the scheduling was, and every single arrangement went ahead to perfection. The guides you provided were fabulous - especially Ob and they really enhanced the experience. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them and they accommodated everything we needed. I could rave all day to you about how well everything went. Kelly and Bodie at NATR were great too and really helped us to understand where they came from and what they were trying to achieve and in the village, the people were wonderful. Despite my earlier reservations about the size of our group, it turned out to be a perfect number and small enough that we really built some great friendships between us and could spend a lot of quality time together... I was so sad to say goodbye to everyone. I will remember the experience forever, and hope to go back some day to visit Ban Talae Nok again.
You've got something really special going on with Go Differently and I shall definitely consider travelling with you again!
Helen, March 2007
I send a glowing response to you as regards the trip as a whole. I had a wonderful, wonderful time. Everything was so well planned! Thank you. It went so smoothly. Your choice of hotels is great.
Having lived in Thailand in the North for nine months, I can say that
my Thai experience would have been incomplete without this opportunity. Though at
this stage in the tsunami recovery process in Southern Thailand
volunteering takes a less tangible form than it did in the early days
after the recovery, I felt that our work in Ban Talae Nok was still useful and meaningful. We were sad to leave. My homestay family was
absolutely lovely.
It was the most pure and uninfluenced by the West of all the places I have been in Thailand. I felt like I had been allowed to share in a paradise unspoiled by tourism and in need of me only so far as it had been spoiled by the cruel chance of nature.
Thanks again for everything - I'll definitely be recommending Go Differently in the future to friends of all ages and bank accounts!
Frances, March 2007
The trip went fabulously; it was truly a memorable experience. Getting out of your comfort zone like we did on the trip may seem an unusual selection for a holiday at the start, but by the end the difficulties and challenges make it very worthwhile.
Adam, March 2007
Well everything went as planned. All my flights were on time and the hotel knew of my early arrival. I paid a little over the norm to get from the airport, but I really didn’t mind, I just wanted to get a lie down asap!
Our guides were fantastic and the entire trip was breathtaking! I can’t believe how much of Thailand I travelled through and how many different sights I visited. When we reached the island, I couldn’t believe that the resort where we were staying – it seemed so expensive!! And the view!! Words can’t describe it. No one but us were staying there, so we even had the amazing beach to ourselves.
The hospitality of the Thai people was humbling. We went fishing with them, cooked with them and they were keen to share their time and homes with us. One evening we sailed off in a junket and caught our own shell fish, and from what I gather no western tourists have ever done this before. The next day our catch formed part of our midday meal – it was wonderful!
I was glad to have booked the extra few days in Bangkok though – I got to be a tourist and did loads of shopping. My tour guide invited me out for dinner with her friends and I had a great time dancing and drinking. I didn’t really have any expectations from the trip – to be honest, right up until I saw my name on the list at the hotel, I was hoping I hadn’t been fooled in an elaborate Internet scam!!
It was strangely satisfying though to dine in fine restaurants, stay in plush hotels and then not have to to pay anything when leaving! The downside is that I didn’t get the chance to have a massage at the the Grand Palace. I did get massages all the time, but seeing as this is where they originated I would’ve like to experience one there. We didn’t have enough time, only had half an hour to ourselves which wasn’t long enough.
I am counting down the days until I return. I’m glad I experienced
the travelling and the overnight train as it means that hopefully
I’ll be able to repeat the experience myself sometime. Thanks
so much, I hope to be able to experience another one of your
trips some time.
Tsunami Volunteering,
Thailand
The trip went very well and I really enjoyed it. We pretty much stuck to the itinerary and we were well looked after by the guides. I really enjoyed the volunteering section of the holiday and the location and accommodation there were outstanding. The local people we were working with were very friendly and A from the Community Centre on the island was very good at getting things done and making sure everyone was ok.
I think the volunteering work we did worked really well on the whole. It was quite physically demanding (particularly for people in the group who had back problems), but we were given plenty of opportunities to take a break and were provided with plenty of refreshments. We also finished by 3pm every day, which gave us chance to recover and relax before the next day.
I think we all felt we had made a difference - by the end of our volunteering we had completely filled the foundations of the house with sand and we had done quite a bit of brick-building, which was quite impressive given that none of us had done any previously. I think if there were any issues, it was being given information in advance. If we'd known the type of work we would be doing, we could have taken gloves etc (they did buy us some after the first morning!) and generally been a bit more prepared. However, we definitely did get quite a bit done and I think most people would willingly have stayed on a bit longer to help out more (although by the end it was getting difficult for us to be useful, because building became trickier the higher it got - and we weren't able to help much with putting in the windows etc - so on the last afternoon there was quite a bit of standing around and just passing tools etc - so the amount of time we were there was about right).
The people we were working with also said that they didn't mind that we didn't know how to build and that we might be working a bit slower than other people - they were just really pleased that we were there, that we were willing to help and said that they could tell we were there because we wanted to give something from the heart - and that us just being there gave them a great deal of hope. So, that was really encouraging and the family invited us to go back at any time and see the finished house - and we had offers of accommodation on the island if we ever wanted to go and stay there again...so they really made us feel welcome, which was lovely.
It's difficult to say whether I would have preferred doing something different - before I went I would probably have said that building would be one of my least favourite options and that I'd much rather be doing some painting or working with kids...but having worked on the house and met the family that will be moving in there, I wouldn't want to change that now. I would love to go to Cambodia or Laos - so will definitely bear it in mind for the future.
I hope the feedback is useful - in a way I feel like I'm
picking up on such little things and making them seem like
big issues. On the whole, it was great and you never expect
things to run 100% smoothly when you go on a trip like that,
so I'm just glad it went so well. Thanks very much for organising
the trip and all your advice beforehand. I would definitely
consider doing a similar trip again - it's great to have the
opportunity to do some volunteering on such a short-term basis.
Keep up the good work!"
Tsunami Volunteering,
Thailand
Just thought I would let you know that I had an amazing time on the Thailand trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the volunteering part - who would have thought shifting sand and building walls could be such fun! Although only 4 days didn't seem like enough, and thinking about it, in hindsight I would have probably preferred to have spent a couple more days in Khao Lak rather than go to Phuket (although I appreciate the tourist industry there also needs supporting). Because the place we stayed in whilst in Khao Lak was just incredible, and I felt we were really lucky to be the first people to stay there. To be right on the beach like that was brilliant, and the accomodation, swimming pool, food were all excellent, and the owner and people working there were really nice. Though if you could organise a little less rain next time that would be great!
Bangkok was well organised so that we fitted in all the touristy bits in the day and a half we had there. It was certainly good to be met at the airport and have dinner arranged for that first night in order to meet everyone. And when we returned to Bangkok at the end of the trip our guide organised a minibus to take us to the floating market which was really helpful of her. In fact both our guides were really nice and good fun, although sometimes perhaps not very forthcoming with information about what we were doing, plans for the next day etc. And I think, particularly at the start of the holiday when we all didn't know each other that well, it would have been better perhaps to have more group meetings or something so that we all met up every day.
As for the rest of the holiday, to be honest, I'm not a huge jungle fan (far too many spiders and bugs for my liking), but I really enjoyed the elephant ride and canoeing down the river, so it was good to see that side of Thailand too. Well, thank you very much for organising it all. It really was a brilliant experience.
Tsunami Volunteering,
Thailand
I just thought I'd e-mail you to say a huge THANK YOU for the trip, it was amazing and most certainly life changing, the Thai people are amazing and even though they have lost everything they are still willing to give as much as they can.
I really have learnt a lot from the Thai people. The whole experience will always be with me as will every smile the children gave. Its been soul searching and a heart breaking experience. The people at NATR are amazing, what they are doing is just incredible and its great to see the people the money is helping.
I would certainly recommend our guide J, she was fantastic and very helpful. The other thing I would suggest is to go to the Khao Sok Riverside Cottages - they are out of this world and your kids would love the pet monkeys that run around and steal your food, sunglasses etc.
So I just wanted to e-mail you a HUGE THANK YOU for all you
help including my charity night.
Tsunami Volunteering,
Thailand
We absolutely loved the trip - it is by far the best family vacation/adventure that we have ever had. I have been raving about your company since we've returned- your flexibility in planning according to our wishes, the blend of city/wilderness experiences, the authentic views of the country, the wonderful accommodations, great food, the excellent guides and drivers, very reasonable costs, and the amazing fact that everything happened without a hitch are among the reasons we will model all future family travel after this trip (and/or book through GoDifferently if possible). Truly exceptional: Our guide and D's guide - not only were they helpful, knowledgable, and organized, but they were very good company as well.
All of the hotels/resorts were great and so were their dining rooms. (We loved the resident gibbons at Khao Sok Resort). We particularly appreciated the opportunity to meet and work with N, J's friend on the island - if it is possible for future groups to help him rebuild his hotel, I think they would find it very rewarding. He is an extremely nice man and the benefits of our efforts were immediately apparent.
It was a fantastic trip overall, the credit for which mostly
goes to you (and then J), in my opinion. When I set out to
explore our options on the internet, I was faced with scores
of options. Your prompt and insightful reponses eventually
turned into a very memorable experience for each of us. Thanks
so much.
Tsunami Volunteering,
Thailand
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We had a fantastic trip, so many 'wow' moments. As you know there were a few surprises but they added to the whole experience. I can't really pick my favourite moment, although being with the elephants was awe inspiring. The hotel on Koh Samet was fantastic and they couldn't do enough for us which was the same at the Shangri La. Staying in Bangkok on the first night was a good way of preparing ourselves for the amazing atmosphere we could expect at the end of the holiday.
I think the order of our holiday was perfect, after working with the elephants we were ready for a break and then going on to Bangkok got us
moving again, although we did do a far bit of lazing around by the pool
there as well.
Please thank A for his hospitality, he is such a caring and gracious man, we will definitely keep in touch with him and want to help out with the project, we are hoping to visit again maybe later on in the year. Our daughter and her boyfriend may also be going over for a visit.
My husband said on several occasions that it was a 'perfect' holiday. So the birthday present was a resounding success.
Many thanks to you for all your help, I have and will recommend you to
anyone wishing to do something sllightly different with their holidays. It
beats a fortnight in Majorca any day!!
Alison, May 2007
Mike and I both had an amazing experience in Thailand and the elephant project was one of the most memorable things we have taken part in.
I can't fault the way you personally handled my enquiry and the information you provided was prompt and accurate. Overall the trip exceeded all expectations - the people involved were friendly and welcoming and really let us in to their homes and way of life. Learning languages was a two-way thing and so much fun. Being allowed to get so close to elephants and take care of them was rewarding and a real privilege. A is a passionate and committed individual who works tirelessly and his genuine drive for the sustainable/eco tourist venture is admirable. It is rare to meet someone so knowledgeable and concerned for a cause, his life is fully committed to the camp and his responsibility to it.
I was worried a week wouldn't be long enough but in fact it allowed us to
get a good insight and have a chance to relax afterwards! It was a real bonus having another volunteer at the project - we all got on well and socialised of course! We'll even keep in touch, there's nothing to bond people like shared elephant tales!
Your advice about Pattaya not being a place of choice to stay was spot on!! It is, unfortunately, seedy and we didn't linger longer than needed here and headed to Koh Chang for most of the next week with a short stop in Bangkok before heading home.
I can't think of a better way to have spent a fortnight in Thailand - in times of environmental change, when it sits a bit uncomfortably to travel long distance for a holiday, I also can't deny that this offered some sort of feel good factor in the sense of giving a bit back whilst also indulging in a fantastic personal opportunity. Thank you for your help in creating wonderful memories (especially of our two elephants!!) I will definitely
recommend this to others looking for a similar break.
Rebecca and Mike, May 2007
Oh my goodness, its amazing here... A has been so welcoming and helpful. Couldnt imagine a better guide... The camp has been better than I ever expected and it's only my third day and I can ride an elephant without the basket or a mahout and can climb up completely on my own (actually, I did that yesterday!). Just wanted to thank you for organising everything and keeping in contact beforehand. Don't think three weeks is going to be enough!
I just cant think of a better way to spend time... every year I'm absolutely
going to do one of these projects (until responsibilty kicks in!) and
bring along a bus full of people from home! :)
Becky, April 2007
It was just absolutely amazing!!! And unforgettable! The people, the animals, the atmosphere, the accommodation, simply everything!!
I will never forget my time over there because I really made so many important experiences for my former life!
Carolin, March 2007
I am safe back home again. I had a fabulous time in Thailand, can’t count the amount of wonderful things that happened. This project has easily been one of the most memorable and meaningful things I have done. Some of the highlights:
Organisation from yourself (thanks J) and the instructions on how to get there were useful and great
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Immediately felt welcome and at home at Green Jomtein and the camp
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Everyone was extremely welcoming and accommodating
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The accommodation was to an extremely high standard.
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The elephant side of things was very well managed I felt safe and cared for throughout the experience.
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It was great to have English exchange students to help out with the language barriers
- Loved how we were able to change things timing wise so that we were able to do other things in Pattaya such as the Sanctuary of Truth
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The guys organised us a CD of photos of the trip which was FANTASTIC. A great addition to the exercise as you aren’t constantly trying to get someone to take a picture and you get all these shots you never knew you had at the end. I have emailed them to all my friends.
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The goodbye dinner was wonderful, I felt so sad to go I ended up crying and sobbing the whole way home.
I don’t think there is anything I would change and I think next year if I head to Asia will book another week there or maybe take on one of the other adventures on your website.
Katherine, March 2007
We had a lovely time thanks, and really enjoyed our time on the project. We both got very attached to our elephants, enjoyed learning about them, and were really sad to leave them. My mahoot was very patient and we seemed to communicate despite the lack of a common language. All the people at the camp were friendly and helpful. I was really glad that we went after the move to the Forever Elephant camp outside the town, instead of the one next to the apartments. It was great to feel like you were out in the countryside and get away from Pattaya.
Nikki, March 2007
Firstly, with regard to you and Go Differently, your help was absolutely invaluable, from what time of year to go down to what money I should take with me (none in the end, just used cash points!), and for the umpteenth time, thank you!
The accommodation was superb. As there were only the two of us there, I had a room to myself which had in it everything I could ever want! I had a total love affair with the aircon unit and the telly was great for keeping up with the news or getting into thai soaps that I couldn't understand, yet still got hooked on. I still miss the bed! The food was fab - Lam did a great job of creating a different dish every mealtime for two weeks to the point that I feel healthier and lost weight! Ao, Lam and Noy couldn't have been lovelier. Ao did a great job of shadowing me, both looking after me and constantly taking the most amazing photos, for which I'm very grateful as my own photos look like they've been taken by a six-year old. Unfortunately I now have 600 of them to sort out before any of my friends will come near me.
'Workwise', the training with the elephants was fab, fun and very very informative. I knew nothing about elephants before but now I see so much in them!
I have been bounced around on the back of elephants, the backs of various miscellaneous motorbikes and atop 5 foot pile of pineapple leaves on a flatbed truck. I have been showered with biting ants, had a lizard up my shirt, and befriended by more dogs than I have ever seen in my life. I have seen sunsets and sunrises like never before, and swept up way more than my body weight in elephant poo. I have misunderstood, been misunderstood, mimed, waved, pointed and danced my way around a language that I can't wait to hear again. I have witnessed elephants mating (I'll never be the same) and captured the sound of trumpeting on my mobile which will be edited into a new ringtone! I have witnessed elephants misbehaving, playing to cameras, kicking footballs (and dogs), and, most impressively, undoing their chains with their trunks. I have seen temples, Thai Boxing and Tesco Lotus, all of which have been fantastic. My elephant camp gift shop sessions had the owner dancing up and down waving the money at people while I've been utterly amazed at how cheap everything was! I've also got into Thai rock music in a big way! I can command an elephant who only takes any notice if her mahout is there, otherwise she clamps my legs behind her ears or stands in knowing stubbornness as I shout and beg and gesture and hop up and down, and she will apparently remember to ignore me for two whole years. I have drunk alcohol to make my hair stand on end, and food which was so hot as to give me instant hiccups and a dead face. I was looking for an experience and I got absolutely everything I wanted and so much more. It may only have been two weeks worth but I feel like a better person and it has given me a bug to spread the word and do some more exploring.
Tessa, January 2007
The project was amazing, definitely the highlight of my travels, and I have been to some fantastic places during my 5 months away. Everyone at the project was so welcoming and kind. I have made some very special friendships and was taken into their community and treated like part of the family. And of course working with the elephants was just out of this world. By the end of my stay I was taking it for granted getting on and off and riding my elephant, but I do remember the 'wow' sensation from the first day of being so close to her. I really can't say enough good things about the project or put into adequate words how much of a fantastic time I had there. I have been telling EVERYONE about it!
Sam, December 2006
Got back yesterday, everything went really well, we really enjoyed it, people lovely, whole experience was absolutely great,
loved the elephants and basically had a great time. Thank you.
Maxine, December 2006
The elephant project was amazing! I had such a fantastic time and met some wonderful people, both volunteers and mahouts.
Once you get to know the mahouts, they are loads of fun! My mahout was very funny and kept me on my toes! A couple of times he took me on his motorbike to the markets and on my last day at the camp, took me to a nearby camp where I played with a 6-month old elephant! SO cute! I want one! (Very cheeky though - just like a toddler!) I also joined his family for a few meals which was lovely.
I learnt so much about elephants and I never realised how fascinating they are to watch! I miss my mahout and elephant, Rungreung, already! Rungreung was very gentle and it was a great feeling when I was able to ride her around on my own, without the help of my mahout.
Nipon, the elephant camp's Manager, was fabulous. His English is very good and he is extremely friendly and helpful. He was always on hand for any questions I had.
I didn't find the work physically difficult (although a fair bit of technique and strength is required to fling poo! Otherwise known as poo golf!) but the heat certainly does make things a little exhausting. But we had plenty of time to sit around the camp and chat to the mahouts and other volunteers.
The staff at Green Jomtien Studios were amazing! They were like my family! So kind and helpful and willing to do anything for you! they took us out for Christmas and New Years which was lovely. The food was sensational! So tasty! What more can I say - just a wonderful bunch of people.
Your bus directions from the airport to Pattaya were excellent. I just had a little difficulty in knowing where exactly to get off the bus in Pattaya. There were no dramas in the end as the person from Green Jomtien found me on the side of the road!
Many thanks again for all your hard work. It was an experience I will never forget and will definitely recommend to my friends. I have a new appreciation for elephants and their mahouts. Learning about the lifestyle they live is fascinating.
Heather, December 2006
I'll try to give a rough structure, which can in fact be highly detailed and different, as in the case of my wife who started and eventually had an excellent contact not only to her mahout but to his wife and small child as well. I believe that this way of staying here at the camp is preferred because that way the whole way of understanding between people changes. The mahouts and their families feel accepted instead of being used or just looked at as a piece of tourism.
Average day at the camp:
05.30 Rise and shine, if project member wishes to, accompany the mahout to the night residence of each elephant located close to the actual camp but in an open area and yet secluded for each elephant. Sadly the elephant are not allowed to be in each other’s company. Reasons are unknown but there is a fear factor involved of a mahout losing his/her elephant because of injury, or the like, which will result in loss of income in form of tips and/ or food. During the night each elephant is on a very long chain in comparison to during the daytime where the chain on the front right leg is only about 3-4ft (1-2 meters). It is quite cool in the morning the Thai mahout often wear warm clothing.
The elephants are brushed from the dust and walked back to their day lodging. On the way there they are allowed to grab a bite here and there.
Once back at the camp the elephants are started to being fed with pineapple leaves - their main source of food. Huge piles of these leaves are stored at each elephants lodging (which by the way is a shed partially covered with a tin roof to guard from sun/rain). Most of the time the pineapple leaves can be had at no cost from the orchards but they have to cut and pick them up themselves. Then the volunteers go back to accommodation for breakfast.
09.00 It’s back to the elephant assigned to take up chores of cleaning, feeding and learning with the elephant, mounting, strapping on the seat and giving tourists a ride until 11.00.
Another possibility is to take a ride on a motorbike (main source of transportation) with the mahout to the market to pick up some veggies. They can be bought fairly cheap. For me it was bananas and cucumbers. I often bought a whole batch which were then divided up for the families and different elephants or just for 'my' elephant. Elephants love bananas, cucumbers, pineapples, melons... And you get to give it to them individually.
11.00 Return for lunchtime
13.00 Return to elephants continuing with the chores as in the morning.
14.00 End of the day with the elephants, whereas the mahouts stay and continue to give rides to tourists until 17.00. Of course if you get connected to your elephant and mahout it is your choice to stay as well.
17.00 Bringing the elephants to their night lodging.
Often times in the afternoon we spent time with the mahout at his home with him or his family, buying them a drink and listening to music.
During the day I have personally tried some English communication with my mahout and often it is just gesturing or guessing what was said. If it seemed important I asked the manager, who did his regular rounds, to translate and clear up misunderstanding.
During early morning and midday there can be exceptions of taking the elephants to the river for bathing. They totally love it and some elephants are even allowed to go in the river by themselves. Otherwise bathing is from a smaller or bigger tub. The elephants suck up the water with the trunk and spray it all over them according to commands of the mahouts.
Then there is the routine of arriving and learning how to be with the individual elephant.
1st day: taken around the camp and introduced to your mahout and elephant and initiation ceremony (religious cultural ceremony requiring to make a donation in form of money or substance). After this at your disposal to get to know the place, accommodation, people, etc.
2nd day: start with daily routine. This is where you learn to lead the elephant by walking in front of him/her and command to follow straight or turn (left / right) or stop and move again. This is in part done by luring the animal with food, however, the animals have excellent hearing and this way they learn to get accustomed to your individual voice.
3rd day: depending how you get along you learn to mount the elephant, which, depending on your age and mobility, can be quite difficult. The mahout is there to help you get on and push you up part of the way, if needed. Then you sit on the bench, normally for tourists, and learn to walk the elephant with commands from up there. You stay up there, even if the elephant is resting, feeding or waiting for tourists. The animal gets used to you… In the afternoon maybe you go around the camp sitting on the neck of the elephant, like the mahouts, giving commands and moving them around.
4th day and after: its practicing and practicing and practicing, until, if you are good and lucky one day you get to carry tourists around the course (there are 3 different variations and lengths of courses) by yourself with the elephant, without the mahout being around.
Actually some mahouts like that so they can have time of their own and socialize. For them it is a 7-day job! The elephant is their business asset. Some project participants get quite good. I experienced one young man and one girl from England who totally dealt with the elephant by himself, as if he was the mahout. He handled the animal excellently without the prod.
On weekend evenings the staff of the food and accommodation section may, if you state that it is your desire, take you to the market in Pattaya or even on Sunday for a trip in Thailand to the floating market about 110 km away and on the way of course other interesting places.
The accommodation is very clean and rooms are done on a daily basis. Food is also very good and the cook tries to even individualize it or give extra servings.
All the staff are very friendly, open and helpful. For instance, I had enormous back pain. I was taken on a motorbike to Pattaya to an excellent, well-trusted pharmacy to get some medication, suggested by the Thai pharmarcist, which did actually help. Also, if you needed to change money, one of the staff would take you on the back of a motorbike to the bank. My mahout actually offered to let me use his bike to drive around. However, left hand traffic was something totally unacquainted for me and I didn't want to damage his bike.
In the camp you are not to give the mahouts tips. However, we experienced that differently. My wife and I actually bought something on a daily basis like bananas or cucumbers. Twice during our stay I paid for gas for the motorbike and twice for repairs, once a punctured tire and once a broken fuel pump. At the end we bought some rings made from an elephants hairs on the tail (sturdy, tough, black ones) to support the woman of the family as an extra income.
Heinz Hoetger, December 2006
We were collected from our hotel and taken to the studios. Our accommodation was a clean hotel like room with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We then met two volunteers who were leaving after a week stay. Both enthused about there stay and one was in tears saying that she would miss her mahout and elephant.
We started work with our mahouts on the Monday morning. We were a bit apprehensive about everything at first but after meeting our mahouts and elephants this soon changed to excitement and looking forward to the rest of our stay. To be so up close to these magnificent creatures gives you such a buzz.
During the first few days we all got to know each other and we learnt to command our elephant, leading them around the camp and to the shower points. We then started to ride our elephants, firstly sitting on the seat and then bareback. This is a fantastic experience, as by this time your elephant will show signs of recognition towards you.
Routine tasks such as sweeping your elephant’s area and feeding then pineapple leaves are undertaken throughout the day. Be prepared for hours of just ‘chilling’ with your mahout, the elephants and other volunteers when there is little to do. We spent time working with two girls who are training to be tour guides, speaking English with them to help their understanding of our language.
If you had ridden your elephant to the local forest areas in the evening, you needed to be up very early the next day to collect them, brush them down and ride them back to the camp for their shower. These were long days but nobody ever complained. Once a week several of the elephants went to the local lakes to have a major scrub down by the mahouts. You would ride or walk back to the camp at sunrise and get some great photos.
The mahouts like to party in the evening and they enjoy a drink or four. We spent several evenings getting a little drunk, dancing and having a good laugh with our new friends. You can walk to the beach and the main bar areas in 15 minutes if you want to get away from the camp.
The food throughout our stay was excellent and the gang working in the office and kitchen were good fun to be with. It is a much laid back environment and people were always willing to help you out with any problem that arose. We were always accompanied by various dogs from other properties, who all seemed to congregate at the studios.
People should understand that the mahout project is about working elephants and improving their quality of life. It has taken the elephants off the streets and away from illegal logging work. The mahouts are now paid a regular wage, which is enough to buy food for their elephants and to give the mahout enough to live a comfortable life. The elephants do take tourists on tours throughout the days but this is controlled by the ticket office, so that the elephants are not overworked.
Tips received from tourists allow the mahout to buy a few luxuries and you can indirectly help here by talking and joking with the tourists or explaining what the project is all about. A happy tourist is a more likely to be a tipping tourist.
We would say to anyone thinking of attending this project, do it. We had a great time and have come away with many great memories, photos and a feeling that we have done something useful.
David & Tina Forwood, November 2006
It really is the best thing I've done on this trip!!... What
your doing is great. Everyone at eco-tourism is lovely, and
it definatley exceeded my expectations.. the Mahouts are so
funny, I've learn so much and had some great experiences,
teaching them english is really special. They cant do enough
to make your time here great. They really make you feel part
of the family. Riding, and being so close to the elephants
is the most surreal thing!!.. They are just massive, but they
don't half move!
Elephant Mahout Project,
Thailand
I just wanted to say thanks for the information; my fiance and I did manage to visit and had a wonderful time. It was a welcome sight to see the elephants up close and - more importantly - being treated well. The volunteer who showed us around was very informative and friendly and the mahouts' enthusiasm for photography produced the best pictures from our entire holiday! We're fervently hoping other elephant camps in Thailand will follow their lead!
Day visitor to the Elephant Project - January 2007
We just got back yesterday as we'd been elsewhere in Thailand - just to give you an impression of how we much we enjoyed the Elephant/Mahout project we wished we stayed there for the duration (even though the rest of the trip was also perfect)! We were so upset to leave, I cried like a baby!
I think we were particularly lucky with the mahouts we got, we both got on so well with them, and the fact that they were friends meant that all 4 of us could hang around together when we'd finished working - only on the first day did we leave at 3pm, we didn't want to go anywhere else. We learnt a little Thai and Liam & Mon's English certainly improved by the end of the week.
The accommodation is great and we were very well fed - even vegetarian dishes for me. Arnon and the staff there are great, very helpful and friendly. Thanks for helping us have the holiday of the lifetime!"
Louise and Paul, November 2006
Thanks so much for a wonderful trip. Ahnon and the rest of the people wholooked after us at the studios were so hospitable - they did everything for us - even taught us how to cook proper Thai food! The accommodation was spacious, clean and was like a second home...
First impressions of the project - I guess Sonya and myself were a bit surprised that the elephants were still being used for tourist rides (I suppose in our haste to look at all the description, I missed that bit...) and I was quite surprised at the smallness of the camp.
However, Rungreung was a beautiful elephant, I felt very calm and peaceful when I was with her - she was extremely easy to love. The mahouts made us welcome and shared whatever they could with us, which bearing in mind how poor they were was very humbling.
Although the other accounts of the trip said there would be some hanging
around, it took me a couple of days to relax and just be with my elephant -
I suppose we are just used to doing things all the time!
I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone who wants to see how domesticated elephants can survive without being overworked, and if anything thought the week was underpriced!! It's a bit hard to describe something so wonderful in mere words!!!
Lisa and Sonya, November 2006
Anyway the holiday was absolutely incredible, it really was such a fantastic experience. I was so sad to leave and felt such a part of the elephant camp that it was a real wrench to leave - I miss it! The whole thing was so much fun, every day was better than the last. I met some brilliant people and I loved the whole experience of learning to ride the elephants (so funny trying to get on and off them!) but the best thing for me was the interaction with the mahouts and how welcoming they were. I spent hours with them sharing their food and drink and laughing and joking around - it is amazing how you can be so companionable with people when you don't have a common language! I really love going to different countries and mixing with local people and learning about their cultures so the Thai holiday was really brilliant, I loved every minute of it. It was also really interesting for me to compare domesticated Asian elephants to the wild African ones I saw a few years ago and to see how conservation works in Thailand.
Green Jomtien Studios was really lovely and the people were all so nice and helpful, I think what I really liked was being treated as a friend rather than a tourist. Ahnon, the Director, gave me a postcard for you and some brochures on another project he has on lemurs so when I get a spare moment I will send them onto you.
Thanks so much for providing these wonderful opportunities, as a trainee ecologist/conservationist I think you are doing a great job with environmentally friendly/ethical holidays - I will definitly bear you in mind for my future holidays!
Sarah, October 2006
Just to say thank you for the fantastic week we were able to spend at the Elephant Mahout project. The children were over the moon and didn't want to leave the Mahout village. This week has opened them up to so many possibilities and understandings - thank you to everyone involved.
The organisation was very good, the accommodation excellent, the meals delicious. Everybody was very welcoming and very kind, the children were greeted with affection everywhere we went. I would especially like to thank the mahouts and their families for their generosity and tolerance. To accept outsiders into their community in the way in which they do is astonishing and humbling.
The children, and myself, would be very happy to return (as soon as possible!) to Thailand, to spend more time with the elephants, and discover more about this beautiful country and the wonderful people. Thank you for this opportunity.
Bangkok was hot, fun, exciting and busy! The Viengthai was absolutely fine - good location, large room, very pleasant staff and warm welcome. I had read some pretty negative things about it on the internet, and was quite anxious, so I was pleasantly surprised by it overall. Thank you for the recommendation, as the choice of hotels in Bangkok is daunting and the Viengthai was perfect for the three of us.
I hope to hear from you soon, and please pass on our very warmest thanks to everyone involved in the project. I talk to everyone about it, and do my bit to publicise the work you are doing.
Sarah, Noah and Lula, August 2006
Sophie and I had a wonderful experience looking after our elephants- Lawtong and Poungpet. Our mahouts were very friendly and even though they didnt speak any English, with the aid of Apple (one of the girls who worked in the office and came over to the camp every morning), we managed to communicate. To be able to learn to ride our elephants was truly a sight to be hold!, by the end of our stay we felt quite at home astride their necks. A very special holiday, we would love to return to see if they (the elephants ) remember us.
Carol and Sophie, August 2006
I really enjoyed the elephant project. Great opportunity to get up close and personal with an elephant as well as experiencing the life of a mahout. My elephant (Wasi) and Mahout (Dum) were great and I was able to develop quite a bond with both of them. It really was such a priviledge to work with such a magnificent beast and to have her recognise my voice and respond to my commands was very rewarding. Also fascinating to learn about all the different elephants' quirks and foibles. One didn't like women, one was afraid of chickens, one had a short leg etc!
Initially I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a huge amount to do. All the cleaning, washing, clearing up after the elephants and feeding them really wasn't that time consuming. And sometimes riding them around seemed like entertainment for us but a bit unnecessary for the elephants. But the work is actually quite physically tiring and once I'd got into a routine it was fine. As well as the 7am, 9am and 1pm work slots, I also used to go at 6pm and take Wasi out into the forest for the night, which became my favourite time of day. It was gut-wrenching to bid farewell to her - I don't know how anyone would cope with that after 4 weeks!
Green Jomtien Studio is a great place to stay - very comfortable, good food, friendly staff and well located in relation to the camp. Our day trip to the island on the Sunday, organised by Ahnon, was fantastic. As I already mentioned, he is a huge asset.
Overall, this was a fantastic experience that I would highly recommend.
Sarah, July 2006
I suppose the important thing with doing the elephant camp is to train yourself into slowing down your pace. Going from busy work routine to chilled out elephant camp is a shock to the system. Once I had relaxed I started enjoying it sooo much more. The staff there Apple & Mr. Pon were such a pleasure to work with and always looked after us well.
I got the biggest elephant on the camp Kammoon, who was without a thought a total sweetheart.(well apart from one day she was a bit cranky). I had so much fun with her shower time. I would get a total wash too. But that was thanks to her mahout, Zerwang, throwing buckets of water at me. At one stage I was wearing pyjama bottoms as I'd run out of dry clothes.
A big thing I felt about the camp was that its not JUST working with the elephants but we spent alot of time with the mahouts, getting to know them and playing about, teachiong them words and vice versa. Introducing them to Jenga. Football games. The more Volunteers came the better it got. There was a real sense of community. This was my favourite part really. Another thing I really got to see was the real value of money to some people. Seeing how excited my mahout got over a tip from a touriat and how generous he would be with it. The first thing he'd do is Run off to buy me a pepsi. I think us volunteers drank more pepsi than we ever have.
Our accommodation was really top standard. Soooo nice and the meals were lovely too. Kept us well fed indeed. We also met Ahnon the project creator. At the end I was very sad to leave both the elephants and all the lovely people I met. I hope the project keeps getting lots of volunteers there because the more there the merrier.
Jacqui, September 2006
Staying at the Elephant project was great. Everybody in the mahout community is very friendly... I must also say, that some of the mahouts are very keen to learn more english and are happy if the volunteers take some time to teach them. The staff members at the studio are amongst the nicest, supporting and most helpful people I met in Thailand. They helped me book accommodation for my further travel and I could fully trust their advice and suggestions. They even helped me out when I urgently needed accommodation in Bangkok at the end of my trip which was two weeks after I had left the project!
It is a lifetime experience to join this project. And I can recommend it for various reasons.
Elephant Mahout Project, Thailand
We all had an amazing time at the project. I think we were
surprised at how much contact we got to have with the elephants,
which was great! I feel we have learnt a great deal about
the mahout way of life and have really enjoyed living and
working with them. We've also been able to learn some thai-
which is now proving very useful. Thankyou for all your help
in organising the project for us. It really was a fantastic
experience and definitely lived up to our expectations and
more.
Elephant Mahout Project,
Thailand
I had the most fabulous time with the team (and the elephants!)
and would certainly go back again in the future. Everyone
was so welcoming and I had an emotional departure.
Elephant Mahout Project,
Thailand
Many thanks for organising the trip for us. I would recommend
the project to anyone with an interest in this type of trip.
All the staff and mahouts at the camp were extremely accomodating,
friendly and would do anything to make us feel at home. A
has asked me to thank you for recommending this too us. He
is such a fantastic and passionate bloke. He is extremely
grateful to you.
Elephant Mahout Project,
Thailand
The Elephant mahout project offered a great opportunity to
witness and partake in the life of a mahout. Rising early
every day at about 6 am I went with the mahout into the fields
to collect my elephant and wash her and cut her food. My elephant,
Muay, was very young so sometimes she was easy to train because
she responded well, but at other times she behaved like a
naughty infant!! Life in the village seems quite simple with
little daily variety but there is a lot of time to relax and
my family was very hospitable and friendly. Thai food is wonderful!
I was lucky to be looked after by A during my stay and have
experienced a few great, and occasionally very hot meals that
were the product of his master chef work. Overall I would
say my experience in Ban Tha Klang has been a positive one.
To earn the trust of an elephant is unforgettable. I am pleased
I was able to enjoy this project and will take home with me
many memories.
Elephant Mahout Project,
Thailand
The elephant bit was wonderful. A had been really looking
forward to it, and so I didn't think it could possibly live
up to her expectations, but it did and more, They both thought
it was the most exceptional experience, and felt really lucky
to have had the chance to do it. The guide was also extremely
nice. We were quite sad to say Goodbye to him! Vincent and
I also enjoyed Surin, it was so Thai and no other tourists.
Elephant Mahout Project,
Thailand
* * *
What a fantastic holiday -
I must say we were treated like royalty. The two of us with Jane and Apple (our guides and Richit) our personal Chauffeur) in a 11 seater minbus. What more could you want? From day one Jane and Poppy were there for us. We went out by ourselves as soon as we got to Bangkok - rode on a tuk-tuk and went on a boat ride on the river plus more.
Jane and Poppy arrived at 1 o'clock to have lunch with us and show us the Thai way of buying food of the hundreds of stalls in the streets. The first week was fantastic and we were shown as much as you could cram into a day. The accommodation was super, hotels great, the National Park accommodation was basic (cold showers) but we are not complaining. Everything was clean.
The Surin Elephant festival is a show not to be missed. We had front row seats in the arena. Little elephants as young as 8 weeks old were there.
Week two was truly unforgettable. We arrived at tea-time on Sunday 4.45 and by 5.30 we were meeting our Mahouts and elephant. Mine was called Rungrueng (46) and Cecile's Sancome (80). On the Monday we had a two hour thunder storm but other than that we saw no rain at all. We fell into our daily routine pretty quickly and all of us were so eager to get over to the elephants.
My Mahout was called Bua and said he was 49. We hit it off immediately and I had two attempts to climb up on her in the morning but failed. After lunch I was determined to get up and I did and after that I managed every time with a push and shove from Bua. Nerves or being afraid never came into it. It was love at first sight. Feeding, walking, bathing at the big water tank, cleaning up all day every day was wonderful. None of us there that week wanted to leave and we all said we would go back if it was possible.
We met the families every day, they were always pleased to see us. One day Bua's wife made me a ring out of Elephant hair. Bua took off my two rings I was wearing and placed this ring on my finger and then put my rings back. It's not coming off my finger. We were made Grasshoppers, and birds out of Palm leaves and little spiders and elephants out of wife and wool, to attach to key rings.
We went to the local market to get pineapples (4 great big pineapples for 100 Bt) Rungrueng loved them. Ahnon said each morning we should all take a carrier bag full of little finger bananas over for our elephants. They cost 40Bt a bagful. All the elephants expected them when we went over at 9.00 o'clock after breakfast.
Saturday again alarms set at 5.30 to walk to the lakes where all the
elephants had their weekly bath. Magic.
There wasn't a highlight of the holiday. The whole holiday was Awesome.
It's only now we realise how tired we are. Every day of the holiday our alarm clock was set to get us up. I can't remember how many mornings we got up at 5.30.
Every minute of every day was special and I congratulate you all on your achievements setting up this wonderful holiday of a lifetime for us; we will never forget it.
Maureen and Cecile, November 2006
* * *
What a fantastic holiday!! We had the most wonderful time. Firstly, thank you for all your excellent organisation and information before the trip – the bit about the toilet roll was essential! We also found a packet of wet wipes useful too. It was a bit colder than we expected at night but to purchase an extra layer only cost me £1.50. The recommended amount of cash was perfect (see note about guides below too).
Our guides were fantastic, behaving more like friends than anything else. We were ‘shared’ between Sanjeev and his younger brother Sonu and from the onset we felt really well looked after. They carefully introduced us to Indian life, explaining that they worked out what their guest’s needs and interests were and then tailoring the trip accordingly. We got to visit a huge range of eateries ranging from posh restaurants to the equivalent of truck stops! For the first week our guide paid for everything and I kept asking if he was keeping a tally of what we owed for our bit. He was and sure enough an accurate (and incredibly cheap) list was produced. This saved a lot of hassle when buying small meals and any entrance fees. Where extra guides were needed it was all organised and other touts were fended off.
Transport varied between cars and trains mainly – the Indian rail system is good, once you have your seat – a bit crowded to get there! No one can prepare you for the roads however; they are not for the fainthearted!!
The rafting was great fun and the temperature of the water a great deterrent for not falling in! Plastic sandals useful for this activity, my leather ones took ages to dry and you do need some shoes to reach the raft. Fantastic scenery as we travelled down the river. We got to ride an elephant for a very relaxing stroll through the forest. The various hotels were fine; the last one in Haridwar was a bit basic! On the other hand Ananda was far from basic! and I would definitely recommend anyone to go and stay there: great rooms, food and spa treatments in a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Finally The Imperial was so gorgeous and we had a meal in The Spice Route, a restaurant not to be missed. Due to the fog and many guests, we moved to Le Meridian for our last night – quite a contrast from the old world to the new but equal luxury.
To pick one high-light is difficult but the Taj at sunrise is truly impressive and the evening spent in the tribal village a great privilege. What lovely people and I enjoyed helping the children with their English studies – I wish some of my students over here were as keen!
Thank you again for all your help and we are unreservedly recommending the trip to our friends.
Liz and Ian, December 2006
All I can say is that we saw the real India, which I dont believe we would have seen if our guide wasnt S! The holiday was amazing and exceeded my expectations, it is an amazing country with some extreme contrasts in both people and scenery, and S exposed us to all of it in a very relaxed and informative manner. We saw a Bengal tiger! Highlight of the whole trip... can't wait for next year...
Alison and Andrew, Indian Adventure, October 2006
We had a fabulous time in India, made extra special by S who
was the perfect, charming host. It was evident we were lucky
enough to experience things that many don't when visiting
India. We especially loved Haridwar, S's camp, the white water
rafting and the national parks... We did have a truly superb
time, please feel free to recommend us for a reference...
Indian Adventure
We had an absolutely wonderful time and the whole trip was
fab. Unfortunately we missed out on the white water rafting
and the stay in camp due to bad weather, but S made sure he
found us other things to do on that day. There was no part
of the trip that was dull or uneventful, and we ended up back
at the Imperial in Delhi completely exhausted but very happy.
Indian Adventure
"Back in the UK after a fantastic holiday... The tour was
so good, and we were very lucky to have S as our guide - he
certainly kept us going all week (he did once let us rest
for an hour), with so many things happening, and such great
planning and attention to detail. Even the tiger turned up
on cue -that was a real highlight of the trip, I can still
hardly believe we were following it on foot! Lots of other
things made it a very special holiday, we packed so much in
I feel as though I must have been away for weeks. S was not
only a great conservationist and so knowlegeable about wildlife,
but also very interesting on India's spiritual heritage and
history (great stories!), and he was a very good companion,
I really enjoyed his company all week, such a warm and friendly
person."
Indian
Adventure
"Just want to let you know that it was an absolutley
incredible trip. India is such a fascinating, amazing country
and I spent everyday in awe of the culture, people, food etc...
S was an incredible source of knowledge, and we were looked
after very well. Thankyou so much."
Indian
Adventure
* * *
Our days were very rich and eventful, and I can't say enough good things about Suvisa. She's one of the best local guides I've had the pleasure of having - a wealth of historical and cultural information and very attentive to us personally. On the mainland, all of our needs and travel details were very well-coordinated. I appreciated the flexibility we had due to the smaller group size. Accommodations were much nicer than I anticipated and authentically Thai in nature. The variety of cultural experiences made it feel like we experienced two days for every one that passed. Your extra assistance with my island adventures is also very much appreciated!
I will certainly consider traveling again with Go Differently and have been telling the world about you guys!
Kathleen, January 2007
I had a very good time and am eager to write down all my responses while they're fresh. JJ, our guide, was truly wonderful - knowledgeable, a very genuine person, and sensitive to our needs. This was my third trip to Thailand and I felt I learned a great deal from her. She answered all questions and went above and beyond eg. when she saw we were interested in the history of Ayuthaya, she scheduled an extra museum visit; at Khao Yai she had a guide who was an old friend show us plant life on the trail. She could not have been better.
Highlights for me were the boat trip from Ayuthaya to Bangkok (quite unforgettable) and Khao Yai (we saw monkeys, deer, great hornbills).
Joan, January 2007
We had a GREAT time!!!! Everything was exactly like you said it would be. Everything went as planned. It was fun, beautiful, peaceful and perfect! I also wish we would have had more time with the Elephants. They were adorable. I think sometime I would like to go back and work with the elephants. Everything else was perfect. The rooms everywhere we went were awesome! The staff was always friendly. We all especially loved Klaus's jungle house. That was really wonderful! He is great! Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting together such a fantastic trip for us! We are telling everyone about it. I already have two people thinking about going in Nov.
Heather and friends, December 2006
Throughout the holiday, Steve and I kept saying ‘we must remember to thank Nikki for that’, or ‘it was really good that Nikki knew about this’ or ‘Nikki chose this place really well’ so I have been cataloguing everything in my head ready to send this email!
We really had the most fantastic time. Steve and I both felt that it was the best holiday we had ever been on and when we thought about what could have made it better, we couldn’t think of anything we would have changed. Most of this was down to the fact that you recommended some really fantastic places to go, and we definitely felt as though we got way off the beaten track. In fact, we hardly saw any other tourists between Bangkok and Ko Yao which was perfect! The only time we did get a flavour for what Mass tourism does to a place was when we took a boat trip from Ko Yao to some of the small islands opposite the beach, and it wasn’t great. There were loads of people there for the beer and sunbathing rather than for the spectacular scenery.
Anyway, where to start. Bangkok was an amazing city. Vibrant, bustling, exciting, energetic and exhausting. We were really glad we went, but equally were glad we were just there for a couple of days. The hotel was great – good central location and just what we needed to explore the city and get over our jet lag. After the flight to Phuket we were collected by the guys from Our Jungle House no problem, and were completely overwhelmed by the place – it was so beautiful and so in the middle of amazing nature and scenery. We just felt it was a perfect place to stay, and seemed lots nicer than any of the other places in Khao Sok.
The one day lake trip was one of the highlights of the trip. We were lucky because we didn’t meet anyone else there for the entire day, and were really pleased it was just the two of us and our guide, who was really lovely. He gave us a great introduction to the jungle, and we saw all sorts of nature – monkeys, lizards, eagles, bats, toads and giant spiders! I have pretty bad arachnophobia and Klaus had warned me about the cave – I don’t know whether you know but half way through the trek you go through this amazing cave for about an hour. It was sensational – loads of stalactites and stalacmites, big chambers, loads of bats, swimming through the river in the pitch black, climbing through rocks, but it also had the biggest spiders we had ever seen all over the rocks. I came face to face with my fear, but survived – just! Very exhilarating and an amazing experience, but pretty scary for me.
Elephant trekking and canoeing were equally great. We saw lots of Mangrove snakes which was exciting!
Then on to Kuraburi and the Homestay. Again, we were picked up no problem and arrived on time to meet Kelly, who we got on really well with. She came with us to the Homestay, which was really good as our family didn’t speak much English. This was another real highlight – the family and the island – Tung Nam Dam were both fantastic. The family were incredibly welcoming and it was fascinating spending a few days with them. For me, the food was brilliant because I love cooking so I spent a bit of time with the Mum, watching her cook and getting some tips! She even cooked us fresh crab and red snapper from her fish farm.
The snorkling day was a real highlight for this part of the trip – we set off with Kelly, and our guides, and half the family, and half their friends and relatives – it just felt like a big family outing rather than a trip that they were putting on just for us, which was great! We also enjoyed the deserted beach where one of the guys cut down some fresh young coconuts and we spent the evening watching the sunset and drinking fresh coconut milk. All brilliant.
And then Ko Yao island. We were overwhelmed! We arrived tired and muddy from our trip, to the most amazing luxury. It was absolutely beautiful and couldn’t have been a more perfect place to spend the second week of our holiday. It was absolutely perfect. All week we were saying how much we loved it – it was very natural, unspoilt and in tune with the surroundings. We thought it was nice, for example, that you couldn’t really see the resort from the boat as you approach the beach. We made the most of the spa, as well as taking one day trip out, fishing, and exploring a little of the island on scooter!
In fact, it was all so romantic that Steve proposed to me, on our second to last day, on the beach at night, lit up only by an amazing electrical storm – very romantic and the perfect story to come home with! So thank you for helping to create the perfect setting for an amazing memory for me!
So we really do feel we have a lot to thank you for Nikki. We really appreciated all your hard work that went into the itinerary and planning, and also all your knowledge of the best places to visit, as we were certain that it would have been a very different trip without that.
We’ve already recommended you to loads of people, including a girl we befriended in the airport, so hopefully we have helped you a tiny bit too!
Thanks again Nikki. We’d definitely consider using you again in the future – maybe for the honeymoon!
Rebekah and Steve, Tailor-made Thailand, November 2006
What a wonderful trip we had… truly a great and a varied adventure. We are jet lagged still but very glad to have gone.
Khao Sok was really special. The guides and staff were wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable. We saw and heard a lot of wildlife… and the food in the little floating restaurant was as good as anyplace and we really felt like were on an adventure... climbing up waterfalls, listening to the gibbons calling in the morning... kayaking thru such pristine wilderness...
We were then delighted to leave our basic bungalow to go then to the Island resort at Koh Yao to be pampered… what a fabulous pick for us… so serene and lovely… incredibly attentive and lovely staff, picture post card setting. One of their staff guides took us all around the island to see the rice paddies, the fishing villages, the rubber plantations and life as it used to be… he was SO lovely to be with!
In the main you put together a marvelous smorgasbord of settings and experiences. We came away refreshed and energized and having learned so very much from our lovely guides. The Thais are as advertised such a very accessible people... we were quite moved, really.
It was a total pleasure working with you and I will most definitely recommend your service. You were very attentive to all the details that
matttered. Thanks so very much!
Tailor-made Thailand, Susie and Gil, October 2006
We had a wonderful time and the boys loved it. We particularly enjoyed our time in Laos and if we went again would probably want more of that kind of experience. N invited us to a party on Christmas Eve and it was very good to meet him, his wife and some of the people who work for him - we spent a bit of time with them in Nakorn Phanom on the way back.
Our boys had a great time with the children in Ban na Kok, and raised some money by doing the Three Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) which N is putting towards a project there to pump fresh water to the school.
Khao Phra Viharn was a highlight, and the boys at times suffered less from "temple fatigue" than one might have expected as the guides were so delightful. We had two guides in Thailand - Tee and Aum - who were very different from each other and so made a great team. One thing we felt was not so good was that they introduced themselves to us with Western names, which we felt was a bit patronising, but maybe some visitors prefer it...
In Laos, Vong and the rest of the team were wonderful, and not only did they look after us very well, but Vong became a good friend and we have exchanged emails since.
Altogether it was a powerful experience for us and the boys which will stay with us for ever. The bits we enjoyed most were when we were interacting most with local people. There is of course a bit of a dichotomy here as what is delightful to us is largely being able to experience cultures untouched by the West, but by that very experience one is changing that...
It is a very delicate balance and one which we felt was very well managed on our trip, but while we were in Ban Na Kok we were given an example of how not to do it when a Canadian family, who seemed very decent people in themselves, arrived in Kayaks with a (Lao) guide who did not behave well. Vong told us that he had violated a number of conventions and clearly the local people were not happy. That night some of our and their shoes were stolen and we couldn't help feeling that the presence of tourists in the village could soon have unfortunate results.
We didn't hear about the tsunami until we got back to Thailand.
The trip certainly gave all of us a lot to think about.
Many thanks for organising it for us - we would certainly use your services again.
Thai Laos Adventure, Cope Family, December 2004
The holiday was great, it was a marvellous experience and
Thailand is a beautiful country. Everything went extremely
well, like clockwork. We were picked up at the right times
and taken to the right places so nobody let us down at all.
I would definitely book with you guys again, very good value.
Adventure and Beaches
I deliberately delayed replying immediately because we wanted to let the experience sink in first. Was it all for real? To say “Go Differently” sums it up, even from day one. But more of that later.
At the end of every day we would review what we had seen and done and agreed that it could not get any better. But it did! Every day! Our friends and relatives cannot believe that such a holiday exists. The fact that we took nearly 300 photographs and 5 rolls of videotape helped us prove that it does, and also demonstrates that the trip’s content is truly worthy of recording in every detail.
We thought that the contrast between the style of trip between Thailand and Laos particularly excellent. The service was superb. The staff’s attention to details was first class. To give just one example: M took a dislike to sticky rice. Quite happily eating raw fish, deep-fried fish skin and chicken’s feet demonstrated that she has a broad taste. But sticky rice – no way. Without even mentioning this the Chef who accompanied us to Laos always served up steamed rice as well as preparing the sticky rice for the others. No fuss. No questions.
The sights that we saw, the things that we did, the food that we ate were more varied than most people would experience in a lifetime.
Back to day one. Or rather the second day. We were being driven to the bus station in Bangkok for our journey to Ubon Ratchatani, the train having been cancelled due to floods. Even though we had left the Hotel 1 ½ hours before the Bus was due to leave the traffic was such that it eventually (with 10 minutes to go) became clear that we weren’t going to make it. So the guide asked the driver to pull over to where there were some lads on motorcycles. After a brief discussion with them he asked us to get out and hop on the back of the bikes, one on each. So, hanging on to our luggage, and closing our eyes, we were treated to a demonstration of how to beat the Bangkok rush hour and caught the bus with seconds to spare! So, from that moment on, we knew that it was to be “Go Differently”!
In summary, if one’s preference is sitting in the sun then
this holiday is a "no, no.” But if one wants a holiday that
will always be remembered, one that touches every sense, then
this is it!
Thailand Adventure
We had a really excellent time – the team out there couldn’t do enough for us to make sure we were well fed and comfortable. A made himself known to us early on and said to let him know if there was anything we needed etc etc. If anything, and this might just be a Thailand cultural thing – they were trying to be too polite!
At the village homestay I felt a bit bad being treated like such royalty in someone else’s house at some points. But they were all great to talk to and good fun and informative. There was always water and drinks on tap and the food was excellent. We were amazed that we didn’t even have to paddle during the rafting!
The waterfalls were all well worth the visit. The first long walk to the Thilawso waterfall was along a gravel road – not very wildlifey or anything, but fine. The rafting (best for nature spotting, and amazing scenery), village and the elephant riding were brill. Things happened in a different order to the itinerary sometimes, but it all happened in the end!
I think that’s it from me for now then – thanks for a truly
memorable trip!
Adventure and Beaches
WE all got so much from our SE Asia experience. Thank
you for organising it. The boys are looking to do a sponsored
hill walk here in Scotland to raise money for the school we
visited. All the very best and keep organising these wonderful
experiences.
Thailand Adventure
* * *
"It would be very difficult to identify a single part of the holiday as we enjoyed everything. My husband loved the temples in Siem Riep. I was particularly fascinated by our few days in Battambang, meeting the locals and visiting the villages. We both loved the people, gentle, caring and very personable. We bonded with our guides and felt we were with friends. The organisation of of the whole holiday was excellent. A big thank to everyone who made our stay in Cambodia an amazing experience."
"The holiday was all we could have asked for plus more.
Everyone was very friendly and we were well looked after ...
We loved every minute of our holiday and every day there seemed
to be a surprise awaiting us. We are glad that we arranged
our holiday through Go Differently and should any of our friends
consider going to Cambodia we shall certainly recommend your
company to them."
Cambodia Adventure
"Now, I just need to plan my next trip - will take a
look on your website!"
Cambodia Adventure
* * *
I had a truly memorable experience. The trip through Laos was extensive enough to learn quite a bit about the landscape, people and the country's history. My impressions include being blown away by the diversity of the different ethnic groups and their amazing art & crafts. Also the gentleness and humour of the people impressed me considering the hardship they've gone through most of last century.
Cathy, January 2007
TAILORMADE
HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
Yes we are all home - a fantastic trip, everything went like
clockwork. All our contacts were great, guides were excellent
and accommodation good. Thanks for such great help in arranging
the trip.
Tailor-made trip to Cambodia, Vietnam
and Thailand
* * *
"Our trip to Peru was everything we hoped it would be
and more. We were looked after incredibly well from the moment
we landed in Lima. We can't praise P enough for all he did
for us. We didn't make his life easy but no matter what problems
we had (of our own making!) he sorted them. All the guides
we had were excellent, particularly J, who took us through
the Colca Canyon. We were bowled over by the people, the scenery,
just everything about the country. We also met some wonderful
fellow travellers and got on famously with them, even though
we were at least 30 years older than most of them. We really
felt that we experienced some of the real Peru, which is exactly
what we wanted. Thank you for the holiday of a lifetime, we
will never forget it."
Peru
"It was the best holiday ever – we’re telling everyone
how great you all are..."
Malawi
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