Sometimes you just have to be lucky to find something so spectaculair, well organised and adventurous as the Tuk Tuk club. From the initial email contact a few months ago till the very last minute of our trip, it has been a fantastic journey. Bruce and his team have it all covered.
We choose the 7 day private tour, driving our 'own' tuk tuk's for 4 days and staying for 2 extra days in a Karen home stay (off the grid, extremely simple but heartwarming, and no electricity or cellphone reception !)
Bruce was already waiting in our Chiang Mai hotel, way before the agreed meeting time. He wanted to go through all details with our guide Boyz to make sure every thing was covered. Well it was.
After a short ride we were taken into 'training camp' for learning how to drive the Tuk Tuk's. In the afternoon trying it ourselves on our way to a nice rafting experience.
The tuk tuk route was well organised, staying in reasonably simple but comfortable hotels / guest houses. Basic breakfast, but mostly made up with a visit to one of the many great coffee bars along the way. Good food in the evening restaurants, here and there a nice cold beer...
Beautiful landscapes, great views, lovely people. What else is there to say. Fantastic !
The 2 days off the grid were just long enough to see and enjoy the basic Karen tribe live, their homes, their food and of course their care for nature and its inhabitants. The high light.... so many but the elephant search in the jungle was something extra ordinary.
On our last day we passed some of the refugee camps and made a stop to help one of the families there (some have been there already for over 20 years !).
And then just a few hours later you arrive back in Bangkok like nothing has changed. But is has, we keep this wonderful experience and can only advise everybody to join the great club; the Tuk Tuk club.