When travelling South East Asia you have to be very careful to find the right animal sanctuaries to visit. Some, despite calling themselves sanctuaries, are tourist traps, and they prioritise money rather than the wellbeing of the animals. The Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary that The Dragon Trip visit is the most ethical sanctuary in Thailand. It focuses solely on the elephant’s wellbeing and provides a wholesome and organic experience.
Bonding with Elephants really does nurture the soul; they are gentle giants that have distinctive personalities, and they are equally as curious in us as we are in them. It is an obvious cliche when travelling but it is not to be dismissed, you will leave the experience feeling euphoric and it’ll be a day you will never forget. Take a look at our tours that visit the sanctuary here!
Located in northeast Vietnam, Halong Bay is known and loved for its emerald waters and towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. The area is known for its beautiful and dramatic landscape, defined by its towering peaks. It’s where the movie King Kong: Skull Island was filmed. There is nothing quite like cruising around the islands, jumping in and swimming, then hopping in a kayak to really explore!
To top it all off we then spend the night on a private beach, staying up by a bonfire, partying, chatting and getting to know each other. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Hoi An is an unmissable town in South East Asia. It is truly stunning, every street is lined with beautiful lanterns and stalls selling every little trinket you can think of. The town is known for its brilliant tailors, where you can request any clothing design to be made and with just a few measurements you will have a new garment tailor made just for you and cheaper than most high-street clothes back home!
It is a seaside town with a beautiful white sand beach just a short bicycle ride away from the town. As you stroll the streets at sunset slowly the town lights up with glowing lanterns, even floating in the river! It also has a rich and interesting past, so you’ll learn all about the town’s Japanese and Vietnamese history as an important trading post.
What better way to get acclimatised to a city than from the sky! On the first night of our 31 day South East Asia tour we kick off the trip with drinks and dinner in an idyllic rooftop bar above Bangkok. Watching the sun set over the cityscape as you get to know your fellow dragons is one of our favourite moments.
Bangkok is an intense, fast-paced, incredible city. Watching the world go by beneath you as you sip on a cocktail and enjoy some delicious Pad Thai, life doesn’t get much better really!