Luxury living by the sea

On Koh Chang you will share a large superior twin-bedded room. The superior and deluxe air-conditioned bungalows are nestled in the hillside overlooking the pool and the sea. Upgrades to single occupancy of a superior or deluxe room are subject to availability. All rooms are air conditioned, with ensuite facilities and balconies. Nestled amidst lush tropical flora, they exude style and comfort. The resort has two restaurants, luxury spa, gym, large swimming pool and mountain bikes, plus a free transfer bus to nearby White Sand Beach for shopping, traditional beach life and nightlife.

Food

Thai cuisine has a worldwide reputation. Meals are flavourful and seasoned with lemongrass and basil and there is an emphasis on fresh seafood. Breakfast and lunch are provided at the resort and take the form of sumptuous buffets with a huge range of options including vegetarian and more spicy food. Also included are dinner on the night of arrival in Koh Chang and on the final evening in the resort in place of lunch. Aiyapura has two restaurants providing evening meals at approximately £8 - 10 per person. There are always delicious options for vegetarians. Please note that there is a Gala Dinner at the resort for both Christmas and New Year and the Aiyapura Resort makes a charge of 2,900 Baht and 3,500 Baht per person respectively, charged to your room.

Night life

Aiyapura has two restaurants, one poolside, and a lively bar with nightly entertainment. For the young at heart, White Sand beach, a 10 minute taxi ride away, offers lively restaurants and bars and dancing till the early hours. Koh Chang is extremely safe and hassle free.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok at 4pm (if on designated flight). Meet at 7.15pm on the 24th floor of the 5-star Sofitel Silom hotel*. Optional evening programme in Bangkok including a visit to the night markets, a Thai restaurant and dance show.
Day 2: Breakfast at the Sofitel followed by optional morning excursion to the Jim Thompson house, the founder of the Thai silk industry. At midday, the coach leaves for Trat, a four and a half journey with a break for lunch. Then ferry to Koh Chang and welcome drinks and dinner at the 5-star Aiyapura resort.
Day 3: Breakfast at the resort and introduction to the programme of courses and events.
Day 4 - 6: Courses (early morning classes, introduction to Thai language, mid-morning courses, late afternoon courses)
Day 7: Courses in the morning with free afternoon and optional elephant trekking.
Day 8: Free day with optional boat trip.
Day 9 - 12: Courses and on day 12, evening barbecue rather than lunch
Day 13: Leave the resort for Bangkok to arrive late afternoon with final overnight stay at Sofitel Silom. Optional evening programme.

*The optional return transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang includes two nights at the 5-star Sofitel Silom in Bangkok. See Travel for more details.

Travel Health Information

For advice on travel health and immunisation please visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Responsible Tourism

The elephant trekking is supported by the Asian Elephant Foundation and is also part of the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project. We use a locally-owned operator for the coach and ferry transfer from Bangkok. Our participants are encouraged to give local nationals English lessons as an alternative to the work contribution expected at our Greek sites – this is a way of contributing to the host community by improving employment prospects. We have a policy of employing and training local admin assistants and previous Thai employees have gone on to achieve good positions in the local travel industry. The Resort itself also: 

•    Grows all the vegetables for the kitchen in its own organic garden

•    Has won a Greenleaf award for being an Environmentally Friendly hotel.

•    Recycles plastic waste.

•    Turns all its kitchen waste into fertilizer.

•    Encourages customers not to change their sheets and towels on a daily basis.

•    Sponsors its own orchid garden to encourage rare breeds.

•    Has planted a special flower garden for the benefit of butterflies.