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destination and activities, but generally run approximately from about $100 pp per day. Based in Sumner, WA, REI Adventures (rei.com/adventures) is a worldwide company that also boasts of excellent eco-oriented adventures for the entire family. It has been leading groups and individuals to remote places where adventure mixes easily with nature since 1987. Its 10-13-day Thailand Family Adventure package (from $2,199 pp) is a thrilling adventure that leads families on hiking, biking and paddling tours from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Highlights include canoeing down the River Kwai, camping in a luxury tented camp in the middle of a rainforest, bicycling through ancient Buddhist ruins, elephant rides and even a day spent planting trees as part of a reforestation project the company sponsors. The tour also includes kayaking off Phuket and exploring caves, limestone cliffs and sandy beaches. Those seeking more remote, individual eco adventures will find a wide choice of destinations in Thailand. Ko Yao Noi, the lesser of two islands in Phang-nga Province, is only a 20-minute boat ride, but centuries removed from Phuket’s Bang Rong Pier. This is where you go for a close-up glimpse of nature, wildlife and the charm of an unspoiled island community. Ko Yao Noi is a fierce bastion of environmentalism in the Phuket gulf. This green island’s domi- nant feature is a charming and friendly Muslim fishing village. A primitive lodge on the beach has a handful of bungalows complete with inquisitive monkeys to keep an eye on intruders. It is a delightful change from the nearby luxury resorts. Visitors will experience a sense of having seen a wilder side of Thailand. Mountain bikes are available for those wishing to trek into the interior of the island, a place dense with rubber plantations and feral forests. This is a delightful, quiet destination that has preserved both its Muslim heritage and the environment. VolUntoUrism Visitors interested in doing volunteer work will also find that the kingdom is as rich in that area as it is in eco-tourism. Voluntourism mostly appeals to those intent on experiencing a more rewarding, fulfilling, exciting and memorable vacation. Volunteers to Thailand have the enviable chance to experience the age-old traditions of a Buddhist kingdom mingling in pleasant harmony with the fast paced life of a modern country that’s unfortunately plagued with all the problems of the 21st century. Those coming to Thailand to perform volunteer work will find choices that astound and are the stuff of lifelong memories. There are two classes of volunteer programs in Thailand: paid and unpaid. Paid programs, in which a volunteer pays for the privilege to work, generally host volunteers who work for shorter periods; unpaid programs normally include longer hours and more spartan accommodations. If volunteering to work in an elephant sanctuary, teaching the basics of English to children in a mountain village, helping dig a well for a rustic community in the highlands, or assisting the elderly in a city seem appealing, then Thailand beckons. When booking volunteers to Thailand, travel agents should be aware that a special visa, available at a Thai consulate or embassy, is mandatory. Unless a volunteer has solid connections in Thailand, most Americans will find that a paid program (costs vary depending on the field of interest) will prove more convenient since most of the details will be taken care of by the company booking the trip. Arranging for critical details such as living accommodations, health insurance, food and transportation can prove formidable barriers for those arriving to volunteer in Thailand —and this is where a respectable company familiar with such intricacies can be invaluable. There are literally dozens of such companies engaged in sending volunteers to Thailand and one of the most solid is Texas-based Rustic Volunteer and Travel (rustic-volunteertravel.com), a firm offering pro- grams that can be tailored to suit a visitor’s needs. Rustic Volunteer and Travel offers the opportunity to teach in a temple school, contribute to the development of rural communities, help in English classes and teach American culture to Thais. In Bangkok, Rustic Volunteer and Travel travelers stay in a home specifically designated for international volunteers. In the rural areas, they stay with well-screened families who have experience with hosting international volunteers. Staying with a host family affords the singular opportunity for cultural immersion and exchange. Costs vary depending on the volunteer’s specialty and length of stay. A volunteer generally stays in Thailand anywhere from two to 12 weeks, although longer stays are common. Cross Cultural Solutions (crossculturalsolutions.org), based in New Rochelle, N.Y., offers volunteers the opportunity to work in Bangkok in such diverse fields as care giving, teaching, and healthcare. Fees vary, but usually run approximately $3,000 for a 2-week stay. The price includes all in-country transportation, meals, volunteer placement and medical insurance. No matter the chosen field or length of stay, those wishing to travel to Thailand for volunteer work will find that the programs available are as varied and attractive as the country itself. ❖ T17 http://www.rei.com/adventures http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org http://www.rustic-volunteer-travel.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Coworth Park, London
Tour Talk: Cox & Kings
Paws Up Ups "Glamping" to New Heights
"Alpine" Adventure at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
Out & About in New York City
Adventures on Hayman Island
It's the Good Life at The Leela Kovalam Beach
Peninsula Shanghai & Hong Kong
Silversea's Silver Spirit
Thailand Travel Planner
Luxury in the Wilderness, by Best of Patagonia
Savoring St. Vincent & the Grenadines
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
Luxurious Egypt
A Good Turn for Bern, Switzerland
Mexico's Luxury Trail

Recommend October 2011