Client Blog: Matthew and Karlie’s Thailand adventure

With neither of us having previously been to Thailand, we were super excited to ask Amanda to put together a three-centre trip to celebrate both of our 30th birthdays, built around visiting Elephant Hills.

Part 1: Khao Lak - Hotel Bangsak Village

After a long journey from the UK, we couldn't have asked for a lovelier welcome for our four-night stay - cool flannels, a refreshing local tea and the warmest smiles. The hotel is adult-only, which made it so peaceful and relaxing. Mornings and evenings were our favourite times, sitting by the sea, dining as the sun set and just soaking in the view.

We spent our days with beach walks that seemed to go on forever, visits to local food spots and lazy afternoons by the pool. The food was fantastic - a great mix of local Thai dishes and familiar options, all at fair prices. The hotel was 30 minutes from town (a one-way transfer was around 300 baht = £7), where we found more restaurants and lively bars.

Some of the trips we did included the night market, bamboo rafting and a visit to the turtle sanctuary - all wonderful experiences.

Part 2: Elephant Hills - Jungle & Lake Safari

Our 3 day/ 2 night stay at Elephant Hills was the most magical part of our trip. We joined a small group and quickly made friends. Our guide, Pond, was incredible - funny, warm, and so knowledgeable. From the moment we arrived, we could see how much thought and care went into every detail, from the carved elephants around camp to the elephant-shaped jelly at dinner, plus of course a thoughtful 30th birthday cake!

Our spacious, spotless tent had a comfy double bed, full bathroom and electricity, with a view over the forest, which was full of wildlife - even wild elephants.

The visit to the elephant sanctuary was truly moving. It's a completely ethical, no-riding experience, and the elephants are clearly loved and well cared for. Each one has a story and hearing how they'd been rescued and were now thriving in a safe, natural environment was heartwarming. Feeding them by hand and looking into their gentle eyes was something we'll never forget.

That afternoon, we canoed down the river, spotting monkeys, snakes and monitor lizards. It felt like stepping into another world.

Back at camp, we enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner and a wonderful performance by local schoolchildren. It was such a special, genuine experience and surprisingly, the drinks and souvenirs were very reasonably priced!

The next morning started with a big breakfast (the smoothies were amazing!) before we packed a small overnight bag for our stay at the floating lake camp. On the way, we stopped at a local village to admire the beautiful temples and scenery. We also explored some of the islands around the lake - it's truly breathtaking.

As soon as we reached our tent, we couldn't resist jumping straight off our deck into the lake! The rest of the day was spent swimming, paddleboarding and canoeing before Pond took our group on a hike through the jungle. We saw monkeys, snakes, and even fresh wild elephant tracks.

Falling asleep that night to the sounds of the forest and waking to monkeys chattering outside was incredible. Our final canoe trip with Pond was absolutely stunning - peaceful, informative and full of wildlife.

Part 3: Sala Phuket

We ended our adventure with five nights at Sala Phuket, a stunning, modern hotel where we had our own villa with a private pool. The welcome was warm (if a little unorganised), but the staff were so kind and couldn't do enough for us. Mornings were wonderful - being greeted by the sound of the birds and then enjoying a breakfast of fresh juices and eggs made to order whilst overlooking the beach and ocean.

We filled our days exploring Phuket: The Old Town, temples, Big Buddha, night markets and an incredible boat trip to see bioluminescent plankton and James Bond Island.

Dining at the hotel was pricier than other places we'd eaten in Thailand, but the food was exceptional, especially the meal we had on the beach, lit by 100 candles. With our own private waiter, a beautifully set table and the sound of the waves in the background, it was the perfect way to end our trip - romantic, unforgettable and worth every penny.

Final Thoughts

We absolutely loved Thailand - the beaches, the wildlife, the people. Every part of the trip was so well organised, and we never had to worry about a thing.

If you're thinking about Thailand, we can't recommend Amanda at Designer Travel enough. She sorted everything and made sure our 30th birthday trip was exactly what we wanted.

Matthew & Karlie