Thailand Vegan Tour
12 Days Christmas Vegan Tour
Join Vegan Travel Asia by VegVoyages for an extraordinary journey to Thailand on this Christmas Vegan Tour. Experience sumptuous vegan cuisines, amazing sights, vibrant cultures, colorful customs, and fantastic feasts as we celebrate the holiday season in this enchanting Asian country.
What's included?
Vegan Meals
31 Vegan Meals
(11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 10 Dinners)
Accommodation
11 Nights Accommodations
(a combination of a boutique bed & breakfast, a historical heritage villa & traditional bungalows on the banks of the mighty Mae Klong River, traditional Thai style cottages near the beach, a boutique inn, and an overnight air-conditioned sleeper train)
Tour Transport
- Private Air Conditioned Minibus
- Boats
- Songthaew
- Air Conditioned Sleeper Train
- Local Train
- Domestic Flight from Phuket to Bangkok (on last day of tour)
Also Included
- Daily Local Cultural Lessons of Thailand and its People
- Daily Local Language Lessons
- Live Traditional Music and Folk Dances
- Vegan Cooking Class (full course meals)
- Vegan Cooking Class (Thai salads)
- Vegan Cooking Class (Thai desserts)
- Guests of an all-vegetarian Community
- Introduction to Thai Classical Music & Instruments
- Full-Day Program at Animal Rescue & Protection Project
- Vegan Meals with Local Families
- Fruit Tasting Sessions
- Meditation Lessons
- Tai Chi Lessons
- 2 Traditional Thai Massage Treatments
- Local Veggie and Spice Market Exploration
- Vegan Meet-up Dinner with Local Vegans (in Bangkok)
- All Local Guide Fees
- All Site Entry Fees
- Guests of Local Community Educational Program
- Off-the-beaten-track Bangkok Heritage Walk
- Donations to Local Community Welfare Programs
- Donations to Animal Rescue and Elephant Protection Program
- Donations to Youth Education Programs
- Complimentary Refill Water bottle and Unlimited Drinking Water
- Complimentary Juices, Hard Drinks, and Beers on “Dinner & Drinks” nights
- Vegan Welcome Package (filled with delicious local vegan snacks) and Tote Bag
Even More Included
- Special Festive Christmas Celebration Party & Dinner
- Beachside New Year’s Eve Celebration Party & Dinner with free beers & cocktails
- Island hopping and Snorkeling Trip in the Andaman Sea
- Visit Local Temples & Temple-Architecture Lessons
- Introduction to Theravada Buddhism in Thailand
- Introduction to Buddhist Monastic Life in Thailand
- Guests of Theravada Buddhist Monastery
- Special Seaside Vegan BBQ & Riverside Vegan BBQ
- Community Carbon Offsets to Offset 100% Group’s Carbon Emissions from Flight
- Airport Pick Up*
- …and all other activities, entertainment, and entry fees as per the itinerary
* Airport picks up is provided if you arrive two or one days before the tour date and staying at the group’s hotel. If you would be arriving at a much earlier time, please arrange to have your own transfer, and meet us on Day 1 at our group’s hotel.
What’s NOT included?
International airfare, personal travel insurance, visa fee to Thailand (if applicable), gratuities/tips, laundry, and other items of a personal nature.
Tour Dates & Pricing
Thailand Christmas Vegan Tour 2024-25
$3,795 (USD)
- MAXIMUM 18 PEOPLE
- Starts on December 23, 2024 (Monday)
- Begins at 8:00 am
- Finishes on January 3, 2025 (Friday)
- Ends at 4:00 pm
- Starts from BANGKOK
- Finishes in BANGKOK
Thailand Christmas Vegan Tour 2025-26
$3,795 (USD)
- MAXIMUM 18 PEOPLE
- Starts on December 23, 2025 (Tuesday)
- Begins at 8:00 am
- Finishes on January 3, 2026 (Saturday)
- Ends at 4:00 pm
- Starts from BANGKOK
- Finishes in BANGKOK
All Vegan Travel Asia by VegVoyages Adventures runs on a twin share basis. If you are a single traveler, we will pair you up with another single traveler of the same gender. If you would like to have your own room throughout the trip, upon making a booking, please select “yes” for Single Supplement and the cost shown below will be added to your total adventure cost.
$995 for 12 days: Christmas Vegan Tour in Thailand Adventure
Thailand has been well on the traveler’s map ever since Sean Connery as James Bond was filmed on this country’s strikingly beautiful beaches in “Dr. No” – and there is a good reason for it! Siam (as Thailand was called before) has it all: friendly people, an ancient culture rooted in Buddhist traditions, amazing geography, and absolutely delicious food! Experience it all on our Christmas Vegan Tour in Thailand adventure where you’ll see the “highlights”, explore places well off-the-beaten-path, be guests of local families and communities, and get a real insight into the people, country, culture, and customs of this legendary Southeast Asian kingdom!
And of course, Thailand is known for its outstandingly tasty food, which we will be enjoying plenty of throughout the journey. A zesty mix of fresh herbs, pungent spices, and mouthwatering sauces, Thai food is not only unique – but also absolutely delicious. Vegan noodles, curries, spicy salads, steamed jasmine rice, hot soups, sensational stir-fries, fresh and fried spring rolls, tropical fruits, and Asian-style vegan sweets just to name a few. Like other countries in Asia, it should not be called Thai cuisine, but rather Thai cuisines, as dishes vary significantly from region to region, community to community, village to village, and house to house as recipes are heavily dependent on local ingredients and cultural influences. On your Christmas Vegan Tour in Thailand adventure, we’ll be trying them all – all made especially vegan just for us! From enjoying meals at local eateries, specially set up markets, and local homes where we will be guests, we’ll dish out a bounty of Thai culinary vegan delicacies as we celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays in this captivating country whose culinary traditions are a true gastronomical gift to the world.
And it’s not just about the food – though we’ll eat plenty of it! It’s also about learning, exploring, and discovering. In Thai society, there is a concept known as “Sanuk”, or “enjoyment/fun” – but it actually means so much more than that, which we will share with you during this adventure. This is a concept we’ll take to heart during our journey together, whether it’s vegan cooking classes, participating in local ceremonies, Thai language, and cultural lessons, tai chi, island hopping, exploring vibrant bazaars or enjoying delicious home-cooked meals, music, and dance with local families – we’ll enjoy it all in the tradition of “Sanuk”. New cultures, religions, customs, traditions, cuisines, new friends, and having fun is what the Christmas Vegan Tour in Thailand adventure is all about!
Itinerary
Get day to day insight of the tour.
DAY 1 BANGKOK
Sawasdee! Welcome to Bangkok on this Christmas Vegan Tour! Bangkok, or Krung Thep as the locals called it, is the shortened version of a much longer title that would take up too much space to include here (it’s the longest name of a city in the world). Krung Thep roughly means “The City of Angels” and for those of you familiar with another “City of Angels” Los Angeles, California, you probably noticed on the way in from the airport that like LA, Bangkok shares many of the same attributes such as loads of buildings and skyscrapers, freeways, concrete structures, congestion, and traffic. However, once you get past all that – wandering its backstreets, byways, and historical lanes – you’ll find a rich and vibrant city full of history and culture! Founded in the 1780s, legendary Bangkok with its temples, canals, high-rises, and superb 24-hour cuisine is truly a unique cosmopolitan city. A definite mix of the old and new, tradition and modernity add spice to this metropolis of 9 million people from various backgrounds including Thai, Chinese, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Khmer, Japanese, Indian, Pakistanis, Nepalese, and Westerners, all of whom call Bangkok their home. Our Christmas Vegan Tour starts in the morning with our orientation meeting where you’ll have a chance to get to know your fellow travelers as we discuss the adventure ahead. Then, without delay, we’ll head out by foot, vans, and boat to explore Krung Thep’s markets, sacred temples, side streets, back alleys, canals and the Chao Phraya River – the lifeline of the Thai people as much of the country’s history has been based along the river. In the evening after taking in the city’s rich past, we’ll settle down for a Cultural Culinary Experience cooking class where we’ll learn how to make a tasty vegan Thai feast!
Highlights of the Day:
- Christmas Vegan Tour detailed Orientation Meeting and Introduction to Thai culture, local customs, traditions, history, etiquette, greetings, language, and cultural do’s and don’t’s.
- Join our friend and longtime resident of the city, as we explore the back streets and back alleys of old Bangkok.
- Visit a veggie market and local neighborhoods important to the city’s vegetarian festival and the capital’s veggie story, which is a microcosm of the vegetarian scene in Thailand as a whole.
- Enjoy lunch at Bangkok’s best veggie food court and 100% vegetarian market where we’ll have lunch.
- Put together gift baskets at an all-vegetarian mini-market for a local community we’ll be guests of later in the journey.
- Cruise along the mighty Chao Phraya River in our boat. The Chao Phraya is commonly known as the “River of Kings”. At approximately 370 kilometers long and 150 meters wide at spots, the river, a lifeline and one of the most vital waterways for the people of central Thailand.
- Visit the majestic Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn with a spire (known as a “prang” in Thai) rising over 70 meters high, the main prang symbolizes Mount Meru – the center of the universe in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cosmology.
- Visit the bustling bazaar of Pak Khlong Talat – Bangkok’s biggest flower market, which also has a reputation as being the city’s best smelling market.
- Vegan Cooking Class – where we’ll learn how to cook a mouth-watering full-course Thai vegan meal!
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
I've been on five trips with Vegan Travel Asia (VegVoyages), and I'm trying to arrange a possible sixth one. I've been with them on two trips to India, and one each to Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos. They are top-notch! I started with them because they share my vegan values, but I continue to return because of the amazing service they provide. Very interesting tours, great vegan food, and an abundance of care for the travelers' safety and comfort. They personally get to know you and handle any questions or needs you may have. When I'm on their trips it feels like I'm traveling with friends, which I truly am!
DAY 2 BANGKOK
The closest word to vegan in Thailand is “kin jay”, which literally means to “eat vegetarian”, and “vegetarian food” in its strictest sense in Thailand (nothing from an animal or insect basically), is referred to as “ahaan jay” (“ahaan” means food). This being said, the majority of Thais love their meats and surprisingly, given their Buddhist heritage, are not vegan or even vegetarian. In fact, the country’s famous vegetarian festival which is celebrated every year for 9 days is mostly observed by Thais of Chinese descent. The “Kin Jay” Festival, as it is known, falls during the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar and is actually Chinese in origin, and is traditionally known as the Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods. When Chinese immigrants came to Thailand, they brought their traditions and festivals with them. Over the centuries, the Thai Chinese – and other Thais to varying degrees, have adapted and adopted, as they do so well, this Chinese festival into one of their own. Although it’s still the Thais with Chinese ancestries who celebrate the festival with the most fervor, many other Thais, in the spirit of “sanuk” (a concept in Thai culture where one should strive to find enjoyment and satisfaction in everything one does) also join in. This same spirit of “sanuk” is seen for other “introduced holidays” in the country, including Christmas! As you will see when we are exploring Bangkok over the next couple of days – on this Christmas Vegan Tour, you don’t have to look too far to see the signs of Christmas being celebrated from grand exhibits at mega malls, and simple ornamented trees in sidewalk cafes and coffee shops, to special holidays treats and Christmas themed dishes appearing on popular restaurant menus. So in the spirit of it all, after our orientation meeting, we’ll set out to explore Bangkok’s markets, sacred temples, side streets, and back alleys, and of course, delicious seasonal vegan dishes, as we take in the city’s rich past and learn about “all-things-veg” in colorful Krung Thep! In the evening, we’ll meet up with fellow Vegans in Bangkok to celebrate Christmas Eve together with an exquisite traditional Isaan (northeastern Thailand) style feast, made vegan especially for us!
Highlights of the Day:
- Tai Chi Lessons overlooking old Bangkok’s skyline.
- Special vegan traditional breakfast feast to start the day.
- Join our friend and longtime resident of Bangkok as we head out by foot, by canal boat, and then by vans through some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
- Visit the auspicious Wat Suthat and learn about traditional Thai Theravada Buddhist temple architecture and the temple’s history that dates back over 200 years.
- Special vegan lunch at one of Bangkok’s most famous vegan cafés for a special holiday season vegan lunch they have prepared for us.
- Visit a local fruit and veggies morning market seeing the different ingredients commonly used in Thailand.
- Special vegan Christmas Eve Dinner feast of some of Eastern Thailand’s Isaan classics.
- Meet up with local vegans and activists.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 3 MAE KLONG – Traditional Thai Home along the Mae Klong River
From the Chao Phraya River to the Gulf of Thailand, our journey today will take us by road, train, boat, and foot as we head south to Mae Klong. Located along the banks of the river that bears its name, and a short distance from the Gulf of Thailand, this will be our home for the next three days where we’ll be staying in a lovely historical villa and traditional Thai bungalows located on the edge of the river’s calm flowing waters. Here we’ll focus on learning about Thai culture and the local way of life – and of course, enjoy plenty of great Thai food! Arriving in the afternoon, we’ll have a mouthwatering curry tasting session for lunch. After lunch, you’ll have time to relax, read a book by the riverside, or simply take a nap listening to the sounds of the water. As the colors of the day turn to night over the mighty meandering Mae Klong, we’ll enjoy a festive Christmas evening celebration by the riverside, complete with holiday lights, refreshing drinks, lovely holiday snacks, a delicious vegan BBQ, traditional Thai classical dance, and lots of holiday cheer!
Highlights of the Day:
- Tai Chi Lessons overlooking old Bangkok’s skyline.
- Special vegan traditional breakfast feast to start the day.
- Journey by train down to the shores of the Gulf of Thailand.
- Fresh fruit tasting session of the tastiest local fruit in season – accompanied by refreshing local cold drinks.
- Vegan Curry Tasting Session along the shores of the mighty Mae Klong River where we’ll be tasting an eclectic variety of traditional Thai curries – all 100% veganized especially for us!
- Traditional Thai classical program by local classical Thai dance students.
- Festive Christmas Party celebration overlooking the changing colors over the Mae Klong River complete with holiday lights, refreshing drinks, lovely holiday snacks, a delicious vegan BBQ, traditional Thai classical dance, live holiday music, and lots of holiday cheer!
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 4 MAE KLONG – Traditional Thai Home along the Mae Klong River
Its rich history dating back centuries, Mae Klong, as the town is referred to locally, and its surroundings are home to canals, important rivers, expanses of fruit and vegetable farms, salt pans, small villages, historical temples and definitely not to be overlooked as we saw on our way in by train yesterday – it is home to markets! So today while we are out and about, please take note of all the local bazaars there are from the railway market to the local market scenes along the Mae Klong river. This morning, we will be guests of a local educational institution where students and teachers have prepared a special program they’d like to share with us, and in the spirit of the holiday season on this Christmas Vegan Tour, we’ll be serving up a vegan lunch for them. In the late afternoon, after being guests of a prominent local monk who will introduce us to monastic life in Thailand, we’ll settle down back at our home along the Mae Klong where you’ll have time to relax and freshen up for the evening. As the sun sets over the calm waters of the river, we’ll head out on the mighty Mae Klong and its many canals passing through a popular floating market before joining a local family at their riverside home for a colorful evening of music, drinks, and delicious home-cooked vegan dishes for dinner!
Highlights of the Day:
- Guests of teachers and students at a local educational institute for kids from economically disadvantaged families.
- Guests of a senior Buddhist Monk at a sacred local Buddhist temple and monastery for an introduction to daily monastic life in Thailand.
- Vipassana Meditation session.
- Explore by the river and the region’s many canals by longtail boats.
- Guests of a local family at their riverside home and learn about Thai classical instruments.
- Enjoy a delicious home-cooked vegan Thai meal of local favorites with our hosts and friends.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
My wife and I traveled to Thailand with Vegan Travel Asia (VegVoyages Vegan Adventures). We are both vegan and we wanted a vacation where we didn’t have to worry about where to eat and what to do. This certainly was the vacation to take. It was a trip of a lifetime! We had so much fun learning about Thai culture, eating Thai Vegan food, and getting to know the Thai people. The staff of VegVoyages made us feel welcome, secure, and not in need of anything. Zac and the rest of the team identified and mitigated concerns before we even had a chance to realize they were concerns! They coordinated different vans, trains, subways, boats, hotels, restaurants, guides, and sites of interest in a perfectly seamless and organized way that came together perfectly. There was never a single concern about where you were going to eat, sleep, where you were going, or what you were doing. It was truly amazing how they were able to pull together all of these tasks. We got to go on many ‘off the beaten track’ tours, which we would never have seen if we went to Thailand by ourselves. We visited historic sites, were instructed by very knowledgeable guides, and attended events that coincided with our visit there. Every day was something new, exciting, and well-planned, with amazing Vegan food to boot. We couldn’t ask for more. We can’t wait for our next trip with Veg Voyages. Thank you so much to Zac and Yusi for putting together this wonderful trip along with Aurelia from Veg News and our daily guide Tippie as well as the many guides, teachers, chefs, monks, and others that we met along the way. Together you all make a wonderful team. See you soon!
DAY 5 MAE KLONG – Traditional Thai Home along the Mae Klong River
Today we’ll join a wildlife rescue center where we’ll lend a hand toward their daily activities. An important sanctuary, shelter, and rehab, the center offers a clinic, refuge, and home for previously abused and exploited animals. The center’s patients, residents, and friends include everything from gibbons to macaques, bears to langurs, civets to hornbills, and even elephants. We’ll spend our time at this important wildlife shelter helping out wherever we can and learning about the plight of the animals not only at this sanctuary but also throughout Thailand. As the sun sets over the Mae Klong we’ll return to our traditional bungalows and you’ll have a chance to freshen up before we settle down by the riverside for tonight’s cultural culinary experience where we’ll learn to make fresh spring rolls and spicy Thai salads.
Highlights of the Day:
- Guests of an important sanctuary, shelter, and rehab program for abused and exploited animals. Learn about the important work the rescue center does and help out wherever we can.
- Learn how to make Thailand’s famous fresh vegan spring rolls and spicy salads!
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 6 NAKHON PATHOM
With views of the Mae Klong River, we’ll have our last breakfast on its beautiful banks before boarding our vans and heading to the historical town of Nakhon Pathom. This will be the first part of our journey today by road and rail, where we’ll traverse the back roads of central Thailand from Samut Songkhram to Nakhon Pathom before catching our train in the evening for Surat Thani – and then heading out to the beautiful beaches and sandy shores of the Andaman Sea! Our first stop today will be at a unique local community that strictly follows the original precepts of Buddhism, so the village is happily 100% vegetarian! Then we’ll be guests of an all-women Theravada Buddhist monastery run by women monastics who also promote vegetarianism. Wat Songdhammakalyani is also the residence of the first female Theravada Buddhist monastic, or Bhikkhuni (woman who has obtained the higher ordination in Buddhism), in Thailand. At this peaceful monastery, we’ll meet with the resident Bhikkhunis who’ll introduce us to their way of life, their journey to becoming Theravada Buddhist monastics, the struggle for women within the Buddhist establishment, and how Buddhism relates to women’s issues. Contrary to what many believe in the west, Buddhist monks are rarely vegetarians – and the clergy in Theravada Buddhism on a whole, do not promote vegetarianism. Buddhist monks, though they are not allowed to kill any animals, are still permitted to eat them. This thankfully is not the same here. One of the very few vegetarian monasteries in the country – they not only follow but also promote vegetarianism. From the monastery, we’ll make our way into the center of town to see the impressively massive Pra Pathom Chedi – one of the world’s largest stupas whose history dates back over 1,000 years. In the evening you will have a chance to freshen up for a couple of hours at a local hotel before we enjoy a tasty vegan dinner and then catch the overnight express sleeper train to Southern Thailand!
Highlights of the Day:
- Guests of an all 100% vegetarian village as they live according to the original precepts of Buddhism.
- Guests of an all-women Buddhist monastery and residence of the first female Theravada Buddhist monastic in Thailand.
- Join the Bhikkhunis for a special vegan lunch in the monastery dining room.
- Visit the impressively massive Pra Pathom Chedi – one of the world’s largest stupas whose history dates back over 1,000 years.
- Special dinner of local Nakhon Pathom delicacies all veganized just for us, accompanied by refreshing local drinks.
- Hop aboard the overnight sleeper express train to the south of Thailand.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 7 BAAN NAM KHEM – Traditional Thai Villas near the Andaman Sea
Waking up on board the train in Southern Thailand on our Christmas Vegan Tour, we’ll meet our vans and make our way through the stunning scenery of limestone cliffs, lush rainforests, and rubber plantations on our way to the tranquil picturesque coast of the Andaman Sea. For the next three days, we’ll be staying just outside a quaint village in traditional Thai bungalows set around a serene garden a short walk from the beach. After six busy days in Bangkok, Mae Klong and Nakhon Pathom, it’s time to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy life in the tropics – and what a better way to do that than with a traditional Thai massage. Then, we’ll catch the sunset over the Andaman Sea while enjoying refreshing sunset drinks and a beachside vegan BBQ!
Highlights of the Day:
- A scenic drive from the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea taking in stunning views of limestone karst, rolling hills, and jagged mountains.
- Unwind with a traditional Thai massage – an ancient practice rooted in healing therapies that date back over 2,500 years.
- Sunset drinks and tasty local snacks as we catch the sunset over the Andaman Sea.
- Seaside Traditional Thai BBQ with delectable delicacies and dishes prepared Southern Thai style – all made especially vegan just for us!
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
We just finished our soo-wonderful tour of Southern Thailand with Vegan Travel Asia (VegVoyages). This tour was much more than we had hoped for. Because of VegVoyages remarkable thought and planning my wife and I have gained so much understanding of Thailand and its culture. Should we have taken a ‘standard’ Thai tour I’m certain we would have seen and experienced much less. During these dozen days, we had cooking classes, language instruction, riverboat cruises, a comfortable overnight train trip, visited a grade school where we taught them English and they taught us Thai (lots of laughs), a few monk visits, an animal sanctuary, a resort on the Andaman Sea (such warm water, sandy sea bed floor, and fabulous sunsets), and a beautiful cruise off Phuket where the snorkeling was great as was jumping off the top of the boat. I could go on much longer with lots of details. Oh, and food, and food, and food. Learn how to say “Please no more! I am full.” It was quite apparent that VegVoyages had invested a great deal of thought into making this tour as exceptional as it was. I was often impressed by their abilities to expose us to the culture through our various day trips in addition to the locally owned small hotels and local restaurants. Daily details appeared, behind the scenes, from the always smiling Aurelia (though she is not Thai she shares her wonderful smile with this culture of smiles). “Tippie” was our Thai-born guide whom we came to love. With humor and smiles she taught us some Thai - so much more. Lastly is the great Zac. He is a co-creator of VegVoyages. It is easy to have considerable respect for Zac as he is one of those remarkable people one seldom meets. Zac was so careful in so many details. We all felt so cared for. It was obvious he wanted to do best by us, and best by the animals for which we share this world. He has a remarkable breadth of knowledge and wisdom, integrity, and a moral compass. Rather amazing.
DAY 8 BAAN NAM KHEM – Traditional Thai Villas near the Andaman Sea
We’ll start the morning with a peaceful meditation session where we’ll be introduced to one of the world’s most ancient meditation techniques, Vipassana. The roots of Vipassana go back thousands of years. It is often misconstrued, and debated, that Gautama Buddha discovered Vipassana Meditation, whereas maybe more correctly said that the Buddha “rediscovered” it – and brought it back to life as much of his 45 years of teaching revolved around Vipassana based practices as a way of alleviating suffering. With the teachings of the Buddha, Vipassana practice would spread and thrive for over 5 centuries, until it gradually began to decline. By the 10th and 11th centuries, Vipassana had nearly disappeared from Buddhist practices, with the exception of a small few who included those believed to be an unbroken chain of teachers who then passed it down over generations. Thankfully, by the late 18th century Vipassana Meditation was rediscovered again, but this time in Burma. It then grew in popularity throughout the 19th and into the 20th century in Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Laos, and then, throughout the world. This morning we’ll have our first of three-morning meditation sessions. Then, we’re off into old Takuapa Town to learn about the town’s rich, and often rough, history well off-the-beaten-track in Southern Thailand. In the evening, we’ll enjoy sunset drinks by the seaside along with a tasty vegan feast for dinner.
Highlights of the Day:
- Guided Vipassana Meditation Session.
- A special vegan feast for breakfast – bring your appetite!
- Heritage walk in old town Takuapa with a longtime local resident.
- A cultural program organized by kids from the local community.
- Sunset drinks and local vegan snacks while we catch a sunset over the Andaman Sea.
- Special vegan feast by the seaside.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 9 BAAN NAM KHEM – Traditional Thai Villas near the Andaman Sea
Another day in our lovely tropical paradise by the beach – but it’s not just any day, it’s the last day of the year! After a peaceful meditation session in the morning, we’ll enjoy a delicious spread of vegan fusion delicacies for breakfast followed by our “Everything You Wanted to Know About Thai Culture but Were Afraid to Ask Cultural Q&A Session with Khun Tippie”. Then, since this will be our last day on the beach, we wanted you to be able to relax and take it all in at your own pace today. You can take a trip to the nearby town for shopping, bicycle around the countryside, sunbathe, take a dip in the sea, or simply relax by the pool. Our team will be standing by if you need any help, and we will be providing a shuttle car to take you to town and bring you back to the hotel. The only part of your day you need to disrupt is grabbing lunch (which we will have a selection of vegan meals prepared for you) and taking a moment to have another traditional Thai massage, both of which we have arranged and taken care of for you. In the late afternoon, we’ll meet up for our Christmas Vegan Tour Thai dessert-making class and a fantastic Beachside New Year’s Eve Bash complete with a vegan fusion feast BBQ, noodles, delicious curries, assortments of tropical fruits, and beers and cocktails. Get ready for a party of a lifetime on the sandy shores of the Andaman Sea!
Highlights of the Day:
- Guided Vipassana Meditation Session.
- A special vegan feast for breakfast – bring your appetite!
- Cultural Q&A Session – Everything You Wanted to Know About Thai Culture but Were Afraid to Ask Q&A with Khun Tippie.
- Unwind with a traditional Thai massage – an ancient practice rooted in healing therapies that date back over 2,500 years.
- Cultural Culinary Experience – a delectably, delicious Thai dessert-making class!
- Beachside New Year’s Eve Bash complete with a vegan fusion feast BBQ, noodles, delicious curries, assortments of tropical fruits, and beers and cocktails. Get ready for a party of a lifetime on the sandy shores of the Andaman Sea!
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 10 PHUKET
Today after a late breakfast, we’ll journey to the island of Phuket where we’ll explore the historical lanes and back alleys of the old town, learning about the rich cultural heritage of the communities here. Phuket’s also known for its unique cuisines, which owes its great taste to the mix of different cultures that have called the area home for centuries. The fusion of Thai, Malay, and Chinese recipes is what makes the island’s cuisine not only unique but as you’ll experience today is downright tasty! Throughout its history, Phuket has been a port of call for ships that would use it as a safe harbor during long journeys. These ships would later come for the island’s resources and trade. One of the island’s resources that caught the eye of merchants (and invaders) was tin. Tin would become one of the most instrumental factors in Phuket’s development in the 19th century attracting thousands of Chinese who settled and worked the mines. These immigrants brought with them their traditions and beliefs, including the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, which would later lead to what is commonly called the Vegetarian Festival. After checking-in at our hotel in the late afternoon, you’ll have the evening free to catch up with souvenir shopping, get a massage (the spa connected to the hotel is highly recommended), or simply stroll around old town Phuket at your own pace.
Highlights of the Day:
- Guided Vipassana Meditation Session.
- A special vegan feast for breakfast – bring your appetite!
- Tastes of Phuket vegan lunch.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 11 PHUKET
Today it’s time to explore the surrounding waters, islands, coves, and bays of the Andaman Sea! So put on the bathing suit and slap on some sunblock as we’ll be exploring both above and below the water and don’t forget to bring your camera, binoculars, sarong (great for on the boat), and towel (we’ll provide you a towel in the morning in the lobby), as we’ll be out until the late afternoon. The dress code on the boat today is a bathing suit, flip-flops, t-shirt, and a sarong as we enjoy taking in the natural beauty off the western coast of Thailand. Returning to shore, we’ll make our way back to our hotel and you’ll have time to freshen up and relax before we meet in the evening for tonight’s cultural culinary experience – our farewell feast…a Phuket Peranakan Farewell Party – where we’ll enjoy some of the old town’s best vegan classics along with a selection of unique and refreshing local drinks!
Highlights of the Day:
- A full day of island hopping and snorkeling as we head out on our boat and into the warm beautifully blue waters of the Andaman Sea!
- Delicious vegan lunch on board our boat with spectacular views of the Andaman Sea and the coast of Phuket.
- Festive farewell dinner party complete with live music and a variety of Phuket Peranakan vegan fusion dishes.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner & Drinks
DAY 12 BACK TO BANGKOK
After 11 days traveling together from the capital streets of Bangkok to the banks of the mighty Mae Klong River, from an all veggie-village and all-women Buddhist monastery and the chedi of Nakhon Pathom to the serene shores of the Andaman Sea outside of Takuapa and the centuries-old back alleys of old Phuket, this will be our last morning together before everyone heads back home. After brunch, we will say goodbye to Phuket and head to the airport to catch our flight back to the big city of Bangkok. Thank you very much again for spending the holidays with us! Have a safe trip back home…and Happy New Year!
Highlights of the Day:
- Flight from Phuket to Bangkok.
Vegan Meals Included Today: Breakfast