You’ve learnt how to survive the concrete jungle. Now how about heading into a real one? Think rainforests, think adventure. From cutting your way through the dense foliage of the Amazon basin and camping in the middle of the jungle to spotting gleaming reptilian eyes during a night safari in Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park and tracking giant mountain gorillas in Rwanda, rainforest treks will furnish memories for a lifetime. These are not for the weak-hearted, but if you want more than the been-there-done-that vacation, here’s where you can head.

Thailand

Located in Thailand’s Surat Thani province, the Khao Sok National Park rainforest redefines ‘exotic’. From the Rafflesia flower that can grow over one meter in diameter to the Sun Bear, the world’s smallest bear — the park has it all. So, get set to trek through this paradise of limestone cliffs, waterfalls, caves and fascinating wildlife.

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Khao Sok National Park’s 4-night/ 5-day Jungle Discovery package includes jungle trekking, tubing or canoeing down the Sok River, elephant trekking, kayaking, and night and morning boat safaris on Chiew Larn Lake. At 7,800 baht (nearly Rs 12,500) per person, it includes stay, meals, activities and transfers as per itinerary. It excludes entry to the park and is available all year. Return airfares between Calcutta and Surat Thani, the city nearest the park, begin at about Rs 25,000. Go to www.khaosok-nationalpark.com.

Brazil

Brazil is home to the biggest chunk of Amazon’s rainforests. Chug up the Negro River and trek near the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, the largest protected area in the Amazon Basin. Here, you can learn about medicinal plants and jungle survival skills from a seasoned guide (make sure you have one), fish or loll in a hammock.

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Amazon Adventures’ 8-day Amazon Trekking Adventure includes a boat ride through the Anavilhanas archipelago, part of the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, and hiking and camping in the Rio Negro State Park. At $1,650 (about Rs 82,000) per person, the package includes accommodation in Manaus, meals and transfers as per itinerary, a guide and camping equipment. The tour is open all year. Return airfare from Calcutta to Manaus starts at approximately Rs 1.06 lakh. Go to www.amazonadventures.com.

Rwanda

Animal tracking gets the adrenaline pumping during a jungle trek. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is home to many endangered mountain gorillas and it’s where American zoologist Dian Fossey, who studied them for 18 years and on whose life the 1988 film, Gorillas in the Mist is based, lived. Tracking a family of gorillas will take you through the park’s lush mountain rainforests and you can observe it from really close.

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Steppes Discovery offers mountain gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda from £1,425 (about Rs 1.11 lakh) per person, plus official permits to track the gorillas at £350 (about Rs 27,000) each, upon availability. The tours include twin-sharing accommodation, meals (except in Kigali), transfers, a visit to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project headquarters, a guide and trackers. The tour is available between June 10 and 14, June 24 and 28, July 22 and 26, August 26 and 30 and September 9 and 13. Return airfare between Calcutta and Kigali begins at nearly Rs 55,000. Go to www.steppesdiscovery.co.uk.

Indonesia

Kerinci Seblat National Park is one of the three national parks that form the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, Indonesia, which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Its main attraction is the majestic Mt Kerinci, Indonesia’s highest volcano. The sheer beauty of the park is sure to overwhelm you as you trek through thick jungles on your way to Mt Kerinci.

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Footprint Adventure’s 3-night/ 4-day Mt Kerinci Mountain Trek takes you to the volcano’s summit and includes a four-hour trek through the park’s rainforests. Beginning and ending in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, the tour costs $641 (about Rs 32,000) per person on a twin-share basis. It includes surface transport and meals as per itinerary, accommodation near the park, entry fees and a permit for climbing Mt Kerinci, an overnight stay in a tent (excluding a sleeping bag), a guide and porter. April to September is the best time to visit. Return airfare between Calcutta and Padang begins at approximately Rs 65,000. Go to www.footprint-adventures.co.uk.