Stage 21: Bangkok to Penang

14 to 27 December 2008

Into the world of the panther

From Bangkok to Penang, this stage crosses the Malay peninsular by a fantastic route, well away from every beaten track. One of its absolute highlights is the Taman Negara National Park. 130 million years old, this jungle area is the oldest forest on earth - home to species as rare as panther, tapir, Malay tiger or Sumatran rhinoceros.

Minimum number of participants

8 people

Price of journey per person excluding flight(s):

3,999 EUR


A summary of the stage

The Bangkok-Penang stage

Day 1

Individual arrival in Bangkok, organizational matters/vehicle instruction, sightseeing in Bangkok, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bangkok

Day 2

Sightseeing in Bishkek, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bangkok

Day 3

Stage for the day: Bangkok – Kaeng Krachan National Park (170 km), visit Kaeng Krachan National Park (biggest national park in Thailand), camp overnight in the National Park

Day 4

Stage for the day: Kaeng-Krachan National Park – Hua-Krut (330 km), travel along the Gulf of Thailand, sunset on the beach in Hua Krut, camp overnight near Hua Krut

Day 5

Stage for the day: Hua Krut – Bank Sak (280 km), travel to the hot springs at Ranong and to Punyaban waterfall, dinner together, overnight in hotel near Bang Sak

Day 6

Stage for the day: Bank Sak – Tung Thien Nature Reserve (230 km), boat trip through the bay of Phang Nga (rock formations are famous from the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun")*, lowland rainforest of Thung Tieo and camp overnight

Day 7

Stage for the day: Tung Thien Nature Reserve – Bannang Sata (450 km), Khao Chong National Park with many waterfalls and tropical rainforests, visit Bang Lang reservoir, camp overnight at Bang Lang Lake near Bannang Sata

Day 8

Stage for the day: Bannang Sata – Kenering Lake (200 km), cross border from Thailand into Malaysia, pass through the Orang Asli villages on the Northern shore of Kenering Lake, camp overnight at Kenering Lake

Day 9

Stage for the day: Kenering Lake – Berinchang (250 km), pass through the Cameron Highlands with their tea plantations, visit a tea factory, hiking options available, dinner together, overnight in hotel in Berinchang

Day 10

Stage for the day: Berinchang – Kuala Tahan (350 km), visit the 130 million year-old virgin forest in Taman Negara National Park, camp overnight in Nusa Camp north of Kuala Tahan

Day 11

Day trip to Kuala Tahan, discovering the National Park on foot and by boat*, camp overnight in Nusa Camp north of Kuala Tahan

Day 12

Stage for the day: Kuala Tahan – Georgetown/Penang (400 km), visit the Kek Lok Si temple precincts on Penang, dinner together, overnight in hotel in Penang

Day 13

Sightseeing in Penang, free time, optional guided tour through the Hotel Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, given a UNESCO World Heritage Award in 2000*, visit the colonial city of Georgetown* on Penang

Day 14

Individual departure from Penang

Impressions of the stage: