By Mika Santos

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A young lady from the Akha hill tribe of Thailand sports a traditional headdress, which is one common way of differentiating between different ethnic groups. Photo by Asia World

With a whopping 14 million visitors arriving each year, Thailand is one of the world’s top tourist destinations – often the first port of call for Western travellers in Asia – for good reason. Visitors are assured some of the best sights in Asia and a highly developed tourism industry to boot, from golden temples and ancient cities to postcard-perfect white-sand shores and NatGeo-worthy scuba diving.

As idyllic as it sounds, we believe that there is more to the experience of Thailand than your snapshot taken beside a giant Buddha or a secluded beach, no matter how stunning they may be. In each destination, our local partners connect travellers with a selection of socially conscious tours and experiences designed for real immersion in Thai history and culture. It’s the difference between “I was there” and “I was there and did this… and by doing this I was able to help!”

Consider these alternative tour options around Thailand, all able to deliver an experience that is unforgettable and possibly life-changing, not just for you, but for the communities you visit.
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Posted under General, Thailand, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel

This article was first published by our friends at Intrepid Travel, who have agreed to its republication here.
View the original article on their Intrepid Express Blog.

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Faced with the daunting experience of landing in a strange city for the first time, sometimes it feels like our fate is in the hands of the gods. So these tips from Intrepid’s Danielle Jeffreson will help your Thailand holiday get off to a great start.

The floating markets of Bangkok draw both locals and tourists in Thailand (photo courtesy of Alison Agnew)

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Posted under General, Thailand, countries, local tips, responsible travel

Awed by its grandeur, don't overlook the details of Bangkok's Grand Palace

With the recent launch of hotel- and tour-booking websites for Bangkok (www.bangkok-hotels-link.com) and Pattaya (www.pattaya-hotel-link.com), whl.travel has taken another frog-leap forward toward becoming the leading travel-booking service in the Greater Mekong area.

Bringing to 25 the current total number of whl.travel destinations in the region, the website for Bangkok – a vital travel gateway – joins six other sites in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Phuket and Sukhothai), four in Laos (Champasak, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane), three in Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville) and a total of 11 across Vietnam (including Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Saigon and Sapa).

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Posted under Cambodia, General, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news