Zigotours Thailand South Touring Camp — Bangkok and the Andaman Islands

Southern Thailand is a first long-haul trip that works well for teenagers: distances between the highlights are short, the country is used to young travellers, and a fortnight is enough to see both the capital and the islands without rushing. This camp is built around that idea. The group is small, no more than sixteen, and one adult travels with every eight participants. The programme opens in Bangkok. Participants visit the Grand Palace, ride the canals in a long-tail boat, climb to the panoramic view at the Golden Temple, walk the city markets and try a traditional massage. It is a deliberate way to start: the capital is loud and crowded, and getting comfortable in it early makes the rest of the trip easier. From there the group heads south to the Andaman Sea. The centrepiece is a snorkelling excursion around the islands of the Similan national park, led by a local crew that specialises in marine wildlife, so the reef is explained rather than simply swum over. In Krabi the group works its way around the karst bays, spends time at Railay, and reaches Tonsai, a village accessible only by boat. There is also a visit to an elephant camp run as a sanctuary, chosen by the operator over the riding camps that are common in the region. Accommodation is honest about what it is. The group stays in simple guest houses, two to four to a room, with showers and toilets shared on the landing. Meals are eaten in small restaurants and street kitchens rather than in a canteen, and full board is included. Getting around inside the country is by local and private transport that meets the safety rules there — night buses, ferries and tuk-tuks — which means the travelling is part of the experience rather than dead time between stops. The package is all-inclusive in the sense that matters to parents: the return flight from Paris, accommodation, all meals, transport within the country, the listed activities, full supervision, and repatriation and personal accident insurance are covered by the headline figure. Personal spending, visa fees where these are not stated as included, vaccinations and other administrative formalities, activities outside the programme, optional extras and connecting travel from outside Paris are separate. Connecting travel from other French cities can be arranged by the operator on request. The camp is aimed at ages fourteen to seventeen. It is conducted in French, so it suits French-speaking families or teenagers comfortable in the language; there is no language tuition and no classroom element, and the educational value is in the travel itself. Departures fall in the winter school holiday window, with two starts a few days apart. Availability, dates and prices may change quickly. Please always confirm details directly with the camp provider before making travel arrangements.