Stay tuned for additional optional day trips and multi-day trips before and after the festival. Join our newsletter to stay in touch. Some of these trips being offered may be affiliate trips.
Contact ric @ extraordinarytravelfest.com for any questions on the tours.
Day Trips
Multi-Day Trips
Day Trips
Bangkok Haunt Ghost Tour
SOLD OUT!!!!!
Description: Bangkok Haunt’s Ghosts, Spirits, & A Little Bit Of Dark History Abridged Tours
This walking tour will highlight an area of Bangkok notoriously known for being both haunted and the home of some of Bangkok’s darkest historical events.
What to Expect: During the 2 hour walking tour we’ll walk through the amulet market and get a strong understanding of this multi-million dollar industry, peek into black magic talismans, visit a college campus with a haunted art gallery, explore several of Thailand’s little doll-houses, more accurately known as spirit houses, and also visit the location of Thailand’s darkest and most tragic hours – a location and incident that is so heartbreaking that even today, nearly 50 years later, is rarely discussed openly.
Dates: Thursday, November 14th
Start Time: 9:00am
Approximate End Time 1:30pm
Start Time: 1pm (sold out)
Approximate End Time: 5pm
Monday, November 18th
Start Time: 1pm
Approximate End Time: 5pm
Minimum # of Guests: 4 explorers
Maximum # 0f Guests: 12 explorers
Location: Bangkok’s Old Town
Transport: Justin Dunne will meet the explorers at the Ambassador Hotel. The group will walk to Sukhumvit MRT. We’ll ride the MRT for 9 stations to Sanam Chai. At Sanam Chai MRT, Thailand’s iconic Tuk Tuks will scoot everyone the 5 minutes to Bangkok’s Old Town.
Cost: 2420 THB per explorer – (about $70)
(transport costs – MRT to and from and TukTuks to and from are included in the cost)
Tour Group Leader: Justin Dunne. Justin, a longtime expat living in Bangkok, Singapore, and Samui since 2005, is the founder of Bangkok Haunt and Bangkok’s most recognized expert on ghosts and spirits.
Duration of Tour: the walking tour itself will be 2 hours. Transport each way will be about 45-60 minutes.
Language: The tour will be conducted in English
Attire: Walking shoes and long pants
Please Note: a waiver will be asked to be signed by each explorer. We will be walking a good amount and be visiting areas that are both depressed and haunted. Thus, the tours can be both physically and emotionally draining.
Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
Where Sidewalks End (WSE) has been a leader in Positive Impact Travel since 2011. Our experiences not only take you on culturally immersive adventures, often quite off-the-beaten-path – we do so in a way that ensures a positive impact is made for everyone involved.
Sak Yant is a form of tattooing that originated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Also known as Yantra tattoos, they are believed to possess magical or spiritual powers and are often associated with Buddhism and animist beliefs.
The term Sak Yant translates to “magic tattoo” or “blessed tattoo” in Thai. These tattoos are typically hand-etched by Buddhist monks or traditional tattoo masters using a metal rod or bamboo stick with a needle attached to it. The ink used in Sak Yant tattoos often consists of natural ingredients, and the designs can vary widely, ranging from geometric patterns to intricate symbols and images of animals or deities.
Sak Yant tattoos are believed to provide protection, luck, and other beneficial qualities to the wearer. Each tattoo design is thought to hold specific meanings and powers, depending on the symbols and motifs incorporated into the design. These tattoos are often sought after by individuals seeking spiritual guidance, strength, or blessings in various aspects of their lives, such as health, wealth, and relationships.
In addition to their spiritual significance, Sak Yant tattoos are deeply rooted in traditional Southeast Asian culture and are considered a form of cultural heritage.
Sukhumvit Photo Tour
Overview:
Thursday, November 14
Meeting Point: Ambassador Hotel, Foyer (near the conference rooms)
Time: 8:30am-11am
Distance: Part I: approximately 5km
Part II: approximately 3km (of course, if too tired or too hot, you can head back to the hotel)
Cost: Free
Sign up here as well as more details.
Leader: Doug Mann
Bio: Doug Mann (a.k.a. PhotoMann) will lead a photo walk around the Sukhumvit area not far from the hotel. Travel and photography have been his passions for decades. His PhotoMann alter ego was born 30 years ago and he’s had his PhotoMann web site (https://www.photomann.com) since 1996. It has evolved over the years through various iterations. The current version has a curated selection of hundreds of images from some of his travels. Doug worked as an Expat engineer in Europe and Asia for 32+ years. He has now settled in Chiang Mai, Thailand where he leads the Chiang Mai Photographic Group. Over the years he has traveled to over 57 countries and territories documenting his visits with countless images.
Description:
Part I
This Photo Walk will explore the morning activity on some of the local streets, canals and train tracks in the Sukhumvit area not far from the Ambassador Hotel. We’ll go down the main Sukhumvit road to access the smaller Soi 3 also known as “Soi Arab” which is famous for its Middle Eastern influence. Then we’ll continue to Soi 1 to explore the local businesses as we head toward the Klong (canal). We’ll walk along the klong and hopefully see some of the passenger boats speeding by on our way to see communities that exist along the canals and the train tracks at the end. We will also visit the Wat Makkasan temple if the rail bridge across the klong is walkable. We’ll end up back to Sukhumvit road and make a daytime visit to the area around the infamous Nana Plaza. Nana will be dead this time of day but you can scope out the location potential revisits at night.
Part II
There will be an optional continuation to Benjakitti Park down Soi 4 for those who are still energized.
Highlights
Soi Arab
“Soi Arab,” officially known as Soi Sukhumvit 3/1, is a street in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area famous for its Middle Eastern influence. The area features numerous restaurants, cafes, shops, and hotels offering Middle Eastern food, products, and services.
Don’t expect too much during our walk, since the activity on the street does not pick up until later in the afternoon/evening.
Soi 4 – Nana Plaza
Nana Plaza in Bangkok is a lively entertainment complex in the Sukhumvit area, known for its vibrant nightlife and adult entertainment venues. The plaza attracts tourists and locals alike, with a mix of bars, clubs, and live entertainment, creating a bustling atmosphere unique to Bangkok’s nightlife scene.
Don’t expect too much during our walk, since the activity on the street does not pick up until later in the afternoon/evening.
Benjakitti Park
Benjakitti Park in Bangkok is a popular spot because it combines urban beauty with nature, offering expansive lakes, lush green landscapes, and a network of cycling and jogging paths. The park’s stunning lake views, winding boardwalks, and dedicated walkways through forested areas create a peaceful escape in the city center. Recently expanded with the “Benjakitti Forest Park” project, it now features even more green space, native plants, and eco-friendly design. Its tranquil atmosphere and scenic beauty make it ideal for relaxation, exercise, and enjoying nature amidst the city
Multi-Day Trips
Bhutan
ETF is excited to partner with Keys To Bhutan. KTB was founded in 1999 and is one of the leading providers in Bhutan. KTB is licensed and registered with the Tourism Council of Bhutan and founder & CEO, Anan Gurung, is on the Board of Directors of the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators.
We are offering three options for those interested in visiting Bhutan. Bangkok is an excellent and one of the few gateways with direct flights to Bhutan.
If interested in learning more please send email to info@extraordinarytravelfest.com or WhatsApp and to receive the full agenda.
We are offering the ultimate flexibility with the opportunity to visit Bhutan BEFORE or AFTER the festival.
If you visit Bhutan BEFORE the festival, all trips will END with a flight to Bangkok on November 13, 2024.
If you visit Bhutan AFTER the festival, all trips will BEGIN with a flight to Bhutan on November 19, 2024.
3 Itineraries To Choose From Either Before Or After The Festival (pricing for travelers post June 1, 2024) the below prices are now variable due to changes in airfare. Contact us for updated prices.
$2026.50 per person including airfare based on 4 people – 05 Days/ 04Nights
$2965.50 per person including airfare based on 4 people – 09 Days/ 08 Nights
$4105.50 per person including airfare based on 4 people – 14 Days/13 Nights
Papua New Guinea
ETF is excited to be partnering with Tribes of Papua New Guinea. TOPNG was founded by professional photographer, David Van Driessche, who is also a speaker at ETF. David has been building out a tourism infrastructure in both the Highlands and the Sepik River area, from eco-lodges to amazing cultural programs.
TOPNG offers fixed, guided tours:
Three Mini Festival Trip – June
Goroka Festival – September
Tribal Treasures of the Sepik River – Dates TBD
With ETF’s partnership with TOPNG, we are offering a 10% discount (base price) on TOPNG fixed date departures! Contact Ric at ric @ extraordinarytravelfest.com to lock in these savings.
To learn more about the Three Mini Festival Trip, click here.
Iraq
We are also excited to announce out partnership with Aknaf Al Sawary, a leading provider in Iraq. Ahmed Abdulrazzaq founded his company in 2017 and has been welcoming visitors to the Cradle of Civilization.
ETF is pleased to announce to announce a $150 discount (base price) on each fixed date trip. The trip is 8 days/7 nights and hits all of the highlights of Iraq from Baghdad to Mosul to the Arab Marshes. Check out the agenda here. This trip is $1750 per person, minus the discount, for a net price of $1600.
The trip will run on the following dates:
- October 7, 2024
- November 4, 2024
- December 2, 2024
- January 5, 2025
- February 16, 2025
- March 2, 2025
- April 6, 2025
- May 4, 2025
- October 5, 2025
- November 2, 2025
- December, 7, 2025
Contact Ric at ric @ extraordinarytravelfest.com to lock in these savings.
