Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 968

TOURS
The better tour companies build their own Thailand itineraries from scratch and choose
their local suppliers based on which best serve these itineraries. Many are now offering
'voluntourism' programs, which means that you might buy lunch for an orphanage, visit a
hospital or teach an English class in addition to sightseeing. If you're looking for alternat-
ive travelling experiences, volunteering is also an option.
Asian Trails ( www.asiantrails.info ) Tour operator that runs programs for overseas brokers; trips
include a mix of on- and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Hands Up Holidays ( www.handsupholidays.com ) Volunteer tourism and village sightseeing pro-
grams.
I-to-I ( www.i-to-i.com ) Volunteer tourism and gap-year programs.
Intrepid Travel ( www.intrepidtravel.com ) Specialises in small-group travel geared towards
young people.
Isan Explorer ( www.isanexplorer.com ) Custom tours to the northeast.
Tour de Thailand ( www.tourdethailand.com ) Charity bike ride organiser covering touring routes
throughout the country.
Tours with Kasma Loha-Unchit ( www.thaifoodandtravel.com ) Thai cookbook author offers per-
sonalised 'cultural immersion' tours of Thailand.
TRAIN
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT; 1690; www.railway.co.th ) has four main lines (northern,
southern, northeastern and eastern) branching out from Bangkok. Trains are comfortable,
but almost always slower and less frequent than buses.
Trains are often heavily booked, so it's wise to reserve well ahead, especially the
Bangkok- Chiang Mai overnight trip. You can make bookings at any train station (English
is usually spoken) and, for a small fee, through some Bangkok travel agencies.
First-class, 2nd-class and 3rd-class cabins are available on most trains, but each class
varies considerably depending on the type of train (rapid, express or ordinary). First class
is a private cabin. Second class has individually reclining seats; depending on the train,
some cabins have air-con. Non-air-conditioned 3rd class is spartan with bench seating.
Overnight trains have sleeping berths in 1st and 2nd class. Single 1st-class cabins are
not available, so if you're travelling alone you may be paired with another passenger.