FAUNA SALVAJE DE TAILANDIA - VIAJE DEL AUTOR EN COCHE

Meet at the Phuket airport. Shuttle to the hotel located next to a large but uncrowded beach. Relax by the sea after your flight with the option to go for a Thai massage. Here and throughout the trip, we'll recommend specific massage parlors because they are not all equally good. Dish of the day: red curry.

Jog on the beach before breakfast. Visit the gallery and workshop of the local artist Pu Payon and meet him. Visit a wild private beach. Right on the beach, we'll try the extremely unusual and exotic durian fruit. Drive to Khao Sok National Park (3.5 hours). Visit hot springs that offer multiple pools at different temperatures. The hottest is about 45°C (113°F). Check in to the hotel next to the forest. Dishes of the day: basil chicken, massaman curry, durian.

Spend all day in the jungle. The 10 km (6.2 miles) circular trail starts with a 500 m (1,640 ft) climb in altitude before descending to a river with waterfalls. You'll hear cicadas constantly chirping loudly and sometimes gibbons. We often see snakes, macaques, surilis, flying lizards, etc. But the most unique sight is the giant Rafflesia flower, a vine root parasite that grows locally in specific places. End the day with another dip in the hot springs. Dish of the day: tom kha.

Drive 1 hour to the pier at Cheow Lan Lake. Tour on a long-tail boat (a native Thai motorboat) around the lake with a stop in the jungle and a cave visit. Drive 2.5 hours to the province of Krabi. Free time: option to walk along the waterfront, down tourist streets, or go for a massage. Dishes of the day: Thai fried rice, yellow curry.

The exact plan for the day will depend on the tide. Kayak in a mangrove forest. Not just a boat trip, but the opportunity to observe the forest's ecosystem and see a unique animal, the mudskipper, a fish that can get around on dry land. Visit two caves, kayaking through one of them and walking around the other. In the evening, a trip to the night market in Krabi Town. Dish of the day: tom yum.

Visit the Emerald Pool, a popular tourist attraction. We'll get to it through the forest and swim in the mineral water. Stop at the hot springs. Closer to evening, set out to the Tiger Cave Temple. Before sunset, climb the mountain that the temple is located on and get a beautiful 360-degree view of the mountains, sea, and city below. Challenging hike of 600 m (1,969 ft) in altitude. Dish of the day: pad thai.

Drive back to Phuket. The whole ride will take 3 hours. On the way, we'll visit another cave. On arrival in Phuket, we'll go to Ao Sane Beach, the perfect spot for snorkeling and amateur freediving. The water is up to 15 m (49 ft) deep with a wide variety of corals and fishes. In the evening, based on the group's mood, we'll have a choice of going to Patong and walking the bustling tourist street of Bangla Road or relaxing in quiet Karon and getting a Thai massage. Dish of the day: green curry.

Breakfast in the hotel. Transport to the airport at any time. If your flight is in the evening, we'll visit another one of Phuket's great beaches, Freedom Beach, in the first half of the day.