Meet your escort and driver this morning in the lobby of your hotel for a private transfer to Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal. From there, embark in a shared van to Kanchanaburi. On arrival, you'll meet your local guide who will accompany you for the rest of the trip.

At around 10:30, you'll board a local taxi truck (a.k.a. songthaew) and head west towards Sai Yok National Park. While Kanchanaburi tends to become very busy in high season, Sai Yok National Park remains a hidden gem visited mostly by locals (entrance fee to the park not included and must be paid on the spot; THB$300). It's now time to board our private floating raft and enjoy a local lunch, after which our raft will be pulled by a long-tail boat until we reach a quiet curve in the river. Surrounded by nature, we'll hear...nothing. Except the chirping of the birds or a tribe of monkeys arguing over a piece of fruit.

It's time to start kayaking straight from the raft and cruise downstream through the national park. We'll pass a couple of local accommodations and floating rafts along the way, and then enter an uninhabited stretch into the national park until we reach our destination. We'll receive our basic camping equipment and have some free time to plant our tents. Feel free to use the camp bathroom for a quick shower, or just jump in the river to cool off and then help the local fishermen catch dinner. Speaking of dinner, follow the lead of the local cooks who will explain how to barbecue in the traditional way (on the campfire, of course.)

Meals: Lunch, BBQ dinner
Accommodation: River Kwai Cool Camp in a Tent
Transportation: Bangkok to Bangkok Southern Bus Station by Van, Bangkok to Kanchanaburi by Shared Van, Kanchanaburi to Sai Yok National Park by Songteaw

No real rush to get up, but we will most definitely enjoy a tasty rice soup, khaotom, the most traditional of Thai breakfasts and a perfect dish to settle your morning stomachs. You'll leave camp for a quick jaunt to the local village to introduce yourselves, led by your guide. Depending on the time of year, you'll take part in some farming. There's probably at least three kinds of fruit here that you've never heard of. You'll head towards the local village and join the community for an informal cooking class.

With a full stomach in tow, you'll follow your jungle guide and hit the trail into the thick forests of Sai Yok National Park. While you're walking, you'll notice the landscape shifting rapidly from traditional crops and civilization to large bamboo bushes and dense foliage. You'll plant your tents for the night and relax, listening to the gentle forest sounds and enjoy the breeze. For those that can't get enough hiking around the jungle, there's enough time to go for another hike with your jungle guide while the rest of start preparing the campfire.

Learn how to start a fire from your local experts, using only two pieces of bamboo and some brushwood. If you haven't done this before, be prepared for some frustration and (eventually) a sense of real accomplishment as you rediscover one of the most basic skills that define our species. The fire roaring away, you'll prepare dinner. Follow your guide to pick herbs and mushrooms to prepare an authentic jungle curry. Then chill as the jungle sounds take over the camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Sai Yok National Park in a Tent

You'll get your breakfast on, cooked in bamboo shoots. Enjoy the last couple of hours in the jungle before packing your equipment and hiking back to the local village by the river. You'll have time to take a shower, return your equipment, and enjoy some local refreshments and a light lunch. Cross back over the River Kwai by longtail boat and meet your songthaew driver on the other side. You'll head back to Kanchanaburi Town, arriving around 16:00.

Meals: Breakfast
Transportation: Sai Yok National Park to Kanchanaburi by Songteaw