Thailand is an amazing and inspiring country to visit, but recent travel alerts by the U.S. Department of State may have some travelers worried about the safety of the region. Protests and unrest present a potential travel risk. Especially if you’re not an experienced traveler or haven’t been to Thailand before, the risk may seem daunting. What to do? Consider placing your travel plans into the experienced hands of WanderTours.

From November 1 to November 13, 2014, WanderTours’ Northern Thailand and Laos Hill Tribe Cultural Tour will explore both urban and rural areas of Thailand and Laos. The tour is a unique and rewarding adventure that will leave tour-goers with a new perspective on Southeast Asia via a deeper connection with the culture and the people. The tour group will be led by Beth Whitman, CEO of WanderTours, as she ventures back to one of her favorite regions of the world.

“Much of the current upheaval in Bangkok and beyond is isolated to specific areas and does not affect tourist activities,” says Whitman. “Having been to Bangkok in the thick of one of their protests in the past, I feel confident that our group will be safe and have the journey of a lifetime.”

Whether you’ve never been to Thailand or it’s one of your favorite destinations, the Northern Thailand and Laos Hill Tribe Cultural Tour will introduce you to a new side of the country. The tour starts in Bangkok where the group will get a chance to see popular sights such as the Reclining Buddha and the Grand Palace, but also get a taste of Thai culture with a cooking class using only fresh ingredients from a local marketplace. Bonus—tour participants get to take part in picking out the ingredients.

From Bangkok, the group will venture into Northern Thailand and Laos where they will be immersed into a rich and ancient culture. The tour will meet people from many different Hill Tribes—there are at least 10 unique tribes—and learn about their culture by way of a cooking class, meeting artisans, visiting temples and listening to the hypnotic chants of monks, and taking a journey up the Mekong River.

This tour is for women only and limited to 15 women. The land cost is $3,295 not including flights or single-person supplements. A deposit of $800 required to secure a spot. Full payment is due no later than September 1, 2014.

About Beth Whitman

Beth Whitman began her travels more than two decades ago with a trip to Thailand and fell in love with the country and the region surrounding it. Ever since then, she’s returned to Southeast Asia dozens of times. She loves the food, culture, religion, sights, and the gentle nature of the people, who always welcome her back to enjoy new adventures.

For detailed information on the tour itinerary, costs and inclusions please visit:
http://wandertours.com/2013/08/northern-thailand-and-laos-hilltribe-cultural-tour/