Thailand & Angkor Temples - On The Go Tours€¦ · TRIP NOTES Thailand & Angkor Temples 14 days |...

TRIP NOTES

Thailand & Angkor Temples14 days | Starts/Ends: Bangkok

Thailand & Angkor Temples - 14 days updated on 03-12-2015

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This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Discover the Kingdom of Thailand

from bustling Bangkok and the

ancient ruins of Ayuthaya, to the

night markets of Chaing Mai and

hill tribes of Chiang Rai, before

continuing into neighbouring

Cambodia and discovering the

iconic temples of Angkor.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Bangkok - Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Original

Thai Massage School, Flower Market andKhao San Road

• Kanchanaburi - Allied War Cemetary, Bridgeon the River Kwai and ‘Hellfire Pass’

• Erawan National Park - Beautiful seventiered waterfall

• Ayuthaya - Former capital of Thailand,ancient ruins including iconic Wat Mahatat

• Chiang Mai - night market and free time foroptional activities from spa treatments tocanopy ziplines

• Cruising on the Kok River in a longtail boat• Wat Rhon Khung - the ‘White Temple’• Chiang Rai - Karen (Longneck) tribe village,

frontier town of Mae Sai, Chiang Saen in the‘Golden Triangle’ & the Opium Museum

• Crossing the border into Burma to explorethe small town of Tachileik (optional)

• Siem Reap - the temples of Angkor Wat,Kompong Phluk and Phnom Kulen.

What's Included• 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner• 11 nights 3 - 4 star & Special Class hotels, 1

night floating hotel in the jungle, 1 nightovernight sleeper train from Bangkok toChiang Mai

• Economy class flights (3) Chiang Mai -Bangkok, Bangkok - Siem Reap and SiemReap - Bangkok

• Airport arrival transfer day 1 & departuretransfer day 14

• Escorted by an English speaking Thai andCambodian tour guides.

• Guided sightseeing - Bangkok,Kanchanaburi, Erawan National Park,Ayuthaya, Chiang Rai and Siem Reap

• Train ride over the River Kwai and visit toHellfire Pass

• River cruise from Ayuthaya to Bangkok• Longtail boat cruise on the canals of

Bangkok and on the Kok River• Excursion to the hill tribe villages around

Chiang Rai• All relevant transfers and transportation in

private air-conditioned vehicles• Maximum group size: 24

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: USD $55 - $65• Entrance Fees: USD $130 – $140

• International flights and visa.• Tip for your tour guide. We recommend

you allow USD$3 - 6 per day, per traveller.Tipping your guide is an entirely personalgesture

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : BangkokSaturday. Welcome to Thailand and the startof your holiday! Upon arrival to Bangkok'sSuvarnabhumi Airport, after attending toimmigration, please proceed to the Arrivals Hall,EXITING VIA DOOR B, where you will be met byan On The Go Tours representative, carrying anOn The Go Tours sign. Note: our representativewill be waiting for you outside Door B, shouldyou happen to exit via Door A or Door C, pleasewalk to the Door B exit – 100m away where ourrepresentative will be waiting for you. Pleaseshow this tour voucher to our representativesupon arrival and ensure it is returned to you asyou may need it later on your travels. If, for anyreason you are unable to commence your tripas scheduled, or on arrival, you are unable tomake contact with our representative within 30minutes of waiting, please call the emergencycontact persons as listed on your tour voucher.Please do not exit the airport and make yourown way to the start hotel, please follow theadvice given by our emergency contact persons.

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If arriving to Bangkok via Don MueangInternational Airport, our arrival procedure isthe same as above with the exception thatafter attending to immigration and enteringthe Arrivals Hall, please proceed to the'Information' counter near Door No 5 where ourrepresentative will be waiting for you.

Once you have met our representative you willbe escorted to our awaiting transportation and adriver will transfer you to our hotel. Upon arrivalplease give your name to the hotel receptionistand check into your room. Now, the adventurebegins!

For those arriving a day or two earlier thanDay One of the tour, you can spend yourtime exploring and getting acquainted with thecity. Nana BTS Station (Sky Train) is locatedapprox 500m from our hotel. The Sky Train isinexpensive and a great wayto travel around the city and connects into theunderground rail network truly making all mainsites easy to reach.

Day One is designed to be an arrival day forall passengers. Spend the day discovering thecity, your way before heading back to the hotelthis evening for our welcome meeting hostedby your tour guide, scheduled to commence at6pm. After you might like to join your guideand other members of the group for a meal.Overnight - Bangkok

Day 2 : Bangkok City TourThis morning we visit the spiritual and religiousheart of the city - the striking Grand Palace.Topped by golden stupas, the complex hasbeen the site of royal coronations and is hometo the legendary Emerald Buddha. We’ll alsovisit the House of the Reclining Buddha, theOriginal Thai Massage School and the 24hrFlower Market before boarding longtail boats toexplore the city’s canals. Known as khlongs, thecanals enable surface water to make its way tothe sea and have long been a way of gettingaround Bangkok. On our journey we’ll glide bycurious stilted houses and gleaming templeswhilst old men fish and children folic about onthe waters edge.

Our boats drop us off within walking distanceof Khao San Road, popular with backpackers

and hippies. Late afternoon offers free time foryou to enjoy the many bars, restaurants, streetperformers, market stalls and tailors - that willmeasure you up for a new suit, that line thisvibrant road. Overnight - Bangkok (B)

Day 3 : Kwai & Hellfire Pass

Bangkok - Kanchanaburi. Departing at approx7am, it’s an early start today as we drive2.5hrs west of the capital to the small town ofKanchanaburi. Here we pay our respects to thethousands of Allied POWs who perished in thearea under the hand of the Imperial JapaneseArmy. After pausing at the Allied War Cemeterywe continue to the infamous ‘Bridge over theRiver Kwai’, immortalised by the film of the samename. You have a chance to take pictures beforeyou board a train for a 2 hour journey thatcrosses the bridge before following the tracksdug by the POWs and locals some 75 yearsearlier.

Disembarking at Nam Tok we have a short driveto ‘Hellfire Pass’ where the POWs dug througha mountain often using only their bare hands. Afascinating museum at the entrance details theregion’s history.

After our day’s sightseeing a leisurely longtailboat ride leads us to our fabulous floatingjungle raft hotel. To the beauty of a hundredsoftly glowing lanterns and the sounds of thetropical forest and cool water flowing by weenjoy dinner and a relaxing evening on the deck.Overnight - Kanchanaburi (B, D)

Day 4 : Erawan National Park& elephantsKanchanaburi - Ayuthaya. This morning wetravel on to the beautiful Erawan National Park,to explore the rivers, waterfalls and trails onfoot. The park boasts a stunning tiered waterfalland there’s time to take a quick dip in the

crystalline waters before we visit the TaweechaiElephant Camp to see these amazing creaturesup close and take a ride through the forest. Ourfinal destination today is Ayuthaya, the formercapital of Thailand. Overnight - Ayutthaya (B)

Day 5 : Ayuthaya

Ayuthaya - Bangkok - Chiang Mai. Ayuthayawas sacked by the Burmese, leading themto abandon the site and relocate the capitalto Bangkok. All that remains are the stoneand brick temples from the era. Today weexplore Ayuthaya’s famous ruins, visiting themagnificent stupas at Wat Phri Sanphet, thegiant Bronze Statue of Buddha and iconic WatMahatat where the head of a damaged Buddhastatue has slowly been embraced and lifted bya nearby tree. This is one of Thailand’s mostreligiously significant places.

Departing Ayuthaya we board a cruise ship onthe mighty Chao Praya River, for a scenic cruiseback to the Bangkok, enjoying lunch on board.On arrival there’s time to explore the nearbyshops and bars before heading to Bangkok’smain train station to catch our overnight expresssleeper train (2nd class A/C sleeper cabins) toChiang Mai. The train is scheduled to arrive toChiang Mai at 07:40. Although the train nearalways departs on time, expect our arrival timeto be two hours later that scheduled.

OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINTonight you'll bed down in the sleeper wagonsaboard the overnight train. The class of carriageis 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper, thoughsometimes air-conditioning maybe replacedwith fans depending upon availability. 2nd classsleepers carriages contain bunk beds runningalong both sides of the carriage, a set of the leftside and a set on the right side with a centralcorridor in the middle (running parallel to thelength of the train). By day the top bunk is

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folded away and the lower bunk serves as twoindividual seats facing each other. When you areready to retire the carriage steward will comealong and make up the beds for you.

All cabins are mixed sex. Your cabin is nota cabin as such, but rather your own privatecubicle once the curtain is drawn at night.The curtain serves as a barrier between youand the main corridor of the train. Luggage,including hand luggage should be locked (asyou would do when travelling on any overnighttrain anywhere in the world) and can be storedunderneath the lower bunk or on the overheadluggage rack if sleeping up on top. The carriageis manned by an attendant who will distributeclean linen, pillow and a blanket free of charge.Dependent upon the service, a variety of snacksand drinks or full dinner service can be orderedat an additional cost, though we suggest youpurchase dinner and breakfast for the followingmorning before boarding the train.

In addition, there are WC facilities (Europeanand also ‘squat-style’) at each end of thecarriage. Cleanliness is normally quite good,though we still recommend you carry your ownanti-bacterial hand wipes and toilet paper forcomfort.Overnight - Sleeper train (B, L)

Day 6 : Chiang Mai

This morning we arrive into the picturesquecity of Chiang Mai, nestled in the foothills ofnorthern Thailand. This afternoon we take atrishaw ride and explore the old city of ChiangMai before driving up to the majestic DoiSuthep, standing like a sentinel overlookingChiang Mai. The tranquility of monks chantingas the sun slowly heads to the horizon is ahighlight for many. In the evening we headinto the night market to explore many of the

street foods on offer and perhaps try our handat haggling. Overnight - Chiang Mai

Day 7 : Chiang Mai - your way

A free day for you to relax or participate in someof the many activities on offer. Choose fromthe more relaxing options with spa treatmentsand massages, to the adrenaline-fuelled withcanopy zip lines and rock climbing. No trip toChiang Mai would be complete without trying alocal cooking class and perfecting your very ownPad Thai! Overnight - Chiang Mai (B)

Day 8 : Kok RiverChiang Mai - Chiang Rai. Our journey today takesus through stunning karst and jungle scenery.Stopping for lunch at Ta Thon we board privatelong tail boats for a cruise down the Kok Riverwatching rural life pass us by. Farmers work theland where oranges grow whilst men fish alongthe banks and buffalo wallow in the shallowwaters. From our arrival point continue to WatRong Khun (White Temple) - a beautiful complexof newly built white and golden temples that arestill a work in progress. Note: On 05 May 2014a severe earthquake shook the area and somebuilding within Wat Rong Khun can now only beviewed from the outside.

We continue to our hotel in Chiang Rai arrivingin the early evening. Once you have checkedin the guide will take you down to the nightmarket for you to do some last minute bargainhunting and to sample some of the delicacies ofthe region. Overnight - Chiang Rai (B)

Day 9 : Hill Tribes

Chiang Rai - Bangkok. After breakfast, we checkout and depart at 8.00am. Our first stop is at avillage where you have the chance to encounterthe famous Long Neck or ‘Karen’ (pronouncedCar Ren) tribe. We continue to the borderfrontier town of Mae Sai, where you have thechance to cross briefly into Myanmar and enterthe Burmese town of Tachileik (optional).

Tachileik - BurmaThai's pop across to Tachileik for a weekendof gambling, officially illegal in Thailand or topurchase goods not available locally. The town'ssole existence now a day is trade, particularlycounterfeited merchandise made in China orTaiwan. Although the town doesn't offer anygreat sightseeing opportunities, this maybepossibly the only opportunity you might get tovisit a land that was closed for such a long time.If you are making the hop you won't need tochange currency as the town uses Thai Baht andnot the Burmese/Myanmar Kyat. Currently thevisa cost is 500 baht, though technically this isnot official and can vary on the day.

We continue to Chiang Saen, better knownas the ‘Golden Triangle’ a name earned fromthe fact that so much opium passed throughthe area, a drug at the time what pound forpound was worth more than gold. We stand ata viewpoint that lets us see Myanmar in front ofus, and Laos to the right. We take time to visit theOpium Museum before returning to Chiang Raito catch our flight back to Bangkok. Flight arrivaltime to Bangkok approx: 21:45

On arrival in the city, we transfer to ourhotel arriving late into the evening, not reallya problem in ‘the city that never sleeps’!Overnight - Bangkok (B)

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Day 10 : Off to Angkor

Bangkok - Siem Reap. Today offers free timefor you to independently explore before earlythis evening heading to the airport for ourincluded flight to Siem reap, Cambodia. We saygoodbye to our Thai tour guide here and and arewelcomed by our Cambodian guide later thisevening. Arriving to the Kingdom of the Khmerempire at at approx 9.30pm, you can either graba good nights rest or head out for a late nightbite to eat. Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 11 : All about Angkor Wat

Today we immerse ourselves in one of the mostastounding archaeological sites in the world.The magnificent Angkor complex of temples isscattered over an area of 200 square kilometers,with only Egypt's Nile Valley providing any kindof comparison in terms of such a vast array ofmonuments. The Khmer kings ruled from thisancient seat, reigning over one of the largest,most prosperous and sophisticated kingdoms inthe history of South East Asia.

We start our exploration this morning with avisit to Ta Prohm when the birds and parrotsout number the tourists. Ta Prohm is one ofthe highlights of any visit to Angkor, giant treesspread their roots across the temples giving theimpression that nature is very much in control.

We then continue towards Angkor Wat, erectedin the 12th century, Angkor Wat stands as a

powerful symbol of Cambodia, and built in thehigh classical style of Khmer architecture willperhaps form the centerpiece of your memories,long after you have returned home. We returnto our hotel for a well-earned siesta.

This afternoon we return to the temples byprivate vehicle and visit to the ancient city ofAngkor Thom, built by the most prolific of alltemple builders King Jayaverman VII. Havingexpelled the marauding Chams from Angkor,the king set about building a huge walled city,surrounded by a wide crocodile infested moatand entered through 5 enormous ornate gates.Within the great walls were numerous temples,palaces and residences.

We enter at the best preserved South Gate andtake an in depth look at the Terraces of theElephants and the Leper King, the Royal Palace,and Baphoun. But we save the best till last,the Bayon is perhaps Angkor’s most movingof all temples. There are 37 standing towerseach bearing four faces of a figure believedto represent both Loksvara (the Bodhisittva ofcompassion) and the great King of daily lifedepicting childbirth, pig fights, drinking andfarming. We time our visit carefully to ensure wethat we are there after the crowds have movedon. As the sun gently falls it casts its rays on thegiant stone faces and as the light changes so dotheir expressions, a magical experience!

In the evening we have the option to visita dinner and dance performance in town,where you will be able to see traditionaldances being performed by artists wearingthe costumes and dancing styles that youhave witnessed as carvings into templesmade some 800 years earlier.Alternatively optdo your own thing, Siem reap offers somehidden Cambodian culinary gems as well asinternational restaurants and everything inbetween. There is also ‘Pub Street’ for theparty goer and to the fine dining options atthe Foreign Correspondents Club, Raffles orAmansara.Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 12 : Kbal Spean &Banteay SreiThis morning we drive out of Siem Reap, 50Kmnorth to Phnom Kulen where we visit Kbal

Spean, commonly known as the River of aThousand Lingas, this is an area of riverbedcarvings and lush jungle. There are severalcarvings of Hindu deities in the sandstonehere, as well as thousands of lingas in theriverbed itself. This site was only ‘rediscovered’in 1969 and is a tranquil place with an attractivewaterfall.

Later we head north to visit the elegant templeof Banteay Srei built by a Brahman in the 10thCentury, this temple was dedicated to Shiva. Thefamous pink sandstone structure bears a seriesof beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments andfriezes. It is said they must have been carved bywomen as the detail is too fine for the hands of aman. This gives us the origin of the Khmer name,Fortress of the Women.

Today is not just about the chance to visittemples more off the beaten track, but it offersa wonderful opportunity to explore some of thestunning Cambodian countryside. Your guidewill be on hand to explain what you see andperhaps stop for a moment in a small village, orby a rice paddy so that you can stretch your legsand get closer to this beautiful country.

In the late afternoon we return to Siem Reapwhere the rest of the evening is at leisure.Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 13 : Kompong Phluk

Today we take a short drive to Kompong Phluk,a floating/stilted community on the immenseTonle Sap. This lake is the largest fresh waterlake in SE Asia. Here we board a private boat andexplore the floating community of KompongKleang. The community is made up of ethnicKhmer, Viet and Cham, who tend to spend theirentire lives on this bountiful lake. Their homes,schools, shops, churches and even snooker hallsare on floating platforms that follow the lake as

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the water levels rise and fall during the passingof the seasons.

In the afternoon we enjoy some free time torelax by the pool, or to explore the town. Thereare a number of spas available for those seekinga higher level or relaxation. We would alsorecommend a visit to the Artisan’s D’Angkorworkshops, where talented artisans from someof the poorest villages in the country aretaught the ancient Khmer skills and are thenencouraged to return to their communities togenerate further work and opportunities there.Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 14 : Back to BangkokFriday. This morning we say goodbye to ourguide and transfer to the airport for our includedflight to Bangkok's Don Muang Airport (DMK)arriving at approximately 12:55. If flying onwardfrom Don Muang airport, we suggest youbook flights no earlier than 3pm. If flyinginternationally from Bangkok's SuvarnabhumiAirport, the main airport (BKK) we'll offer acomplimentary transfer to this airport. Flightsfrom BKK should be booked after 5pm. You mayhave a little time up your sleeve at the airport,though we've allowed for delays and possibletraffic. Happy travels!(B)

Yi Peng Lantern Festival Tour- 09 Nov 2016If travelling on this tour departing 09 Nov 2016,the touring arrangements will be as follows:

Days 1-3:As per our standard itinerary

Day 4: Erawan National ParkKanchanaburi - Ayuthaya. This morning wetravel on to the beautiful Erawan National Park,to explore the rivers, waterfalls and trails onfoot. The park boasts a stunning tiered waterfalland there’s time to take a quick dip in thecrystalline waters before we visit an elephantcentre to enjoy a ride through the forest. Ourfinal destination today is Ayuthaya, the formercapital of Thailand. Overnight - Ayuthaya. (B)

Day 5: Ayuthaya. Departing Ayuthaya we boarda cruise ship on the mighty Chao Praya River,for a scenic cruise back to the Bangkok, enjoyinglunch on board. On arrival there’s time to

explore the nearby shops and bars beforeheading to Bangkok’s main train station to catchour overnight express sleeper train (2nd classA/C sleeper cabins) to Chiang Mai. Overnight -Sleeper train (B, L)

Day 6: Yi Peng FestivitiesThis morning we arrive into the picturesquecity of Chiang Mai, nestled in the foothills ofnorthern Thailand. This afternoon we take atrishaw ride and explore the old city of ChiangMai before driving up to the majestic DoiSuthep, standing like a sentinel overlookingChiang Mai. The tranquillity of monks chantingas the sun slowly heads to the horizon is ahighlight for many. In the evening we headinto the night market to explore many of thestreet foods on offer and perhaps try our handat haggling. This evening we begin to enjoy thefestivities of Loi Krathong and Yi Peng.

Yi Peng & Loi Krathong FestivalsCelebrated throughout the Kingdom on theevening of the full moon of the 12th monthin the traditional Thai lunar calendar, the LoiKrathong festival is named after the floatinglanterns, boats and ornaments that are set adriftonto rivers during the celebrations. For some,floating a Krathong, especially when lit, aremeant to honour Buddha. For most Thais, it’s away to thank the Hindu Goddess of Water, PhraMae Khongkha, for her help in providing themost basic of all human necessities. The practiceis also associated with creating good luck andridding oneself of anger an negative thoughts.Some will cut their fingernails and hair and addthem to the Krathong, to symbolise the lettinggo of the bad elements of one's self.

In Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the formerLanna Kingdom, Loi Krathong coincides withthe Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as‘Yi Peng’ where a multitude of Lanna-style skylanterns adorned with good luck wishes andprayer are released into the sky. Tonight, as bothLoi Krathong and Yi Peng are being celebratedat the same time, we will see lanterns floating onthe waters, strings of pretty lights hanging fromhouses and temples, and hundreds of beautifullanterns floating by in the sky. Setting out onfoot with our guide, we'll aim to catch thelantern releases and join the other festivitieswhich usually include fireworks, boat racing on

the Ping River and parades through the streets.Overnight - Chiang Mai (B)

Day 7: Chiang Mai - your wayToday is free for you to enjoy at your leisureor enjoy more of the Yi Peng and Loi Krathongfestivities. With our guide, we head to themarket to stock up on all materials needed tomake our own Krathongs, then learn how tomake them ready to be sailed this evening.There will also be a host of other festivalactivities that we can enjoy during the day. Notto mention activities unrelated to the festivalsuch as cookery courses and flying through thejungle canopy on zip lines! Overnight - ChiangMai (B)

Days 8 – 14:As per our standard itinerary

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Cambodia Country Guide

Entrance Fees - collected inUSD.Entrance fees to most sites are not included,although reasonably priced. In Cambodia, wecollect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour(the amount is noted under exclusions). Abreakdown of the entrance fee total is providedupon arrival. All funds collected in Cambodia forentrance fees are payable in USD.

Tipping Kitty - collected in USDAt the start of your tour, we take a smalltipping kitty (the amount is noted underexclusions) from all tour participants to covertips throughout your holiday. This saves you thehassle of knowing when and how much to tipbellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, trainconductors and other support staff throughoutthe tour.

This amount does not include a tip for yourtour guides. For a job well done, we wouldsuggest USD $3 - 6 per person per day. Tippingyour guide is an entirely personal gesture andultimately the amount is up to you.

Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Cambodia from your local health

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practitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideTetanus, Typhoid, Hep A, Diptheria and Polio arerecommended.

There is the risk of malaria in parts of Cambodiaso it is very important to check with yourdoctor before you go, to see whether malarialmedication is required for the areas you arevisiting. Yellow fever is not present in Cambodiabut a yellow fever vaccination certificate isrequired from those travelling from an infectedregion.

Water

Tap water in Cambodia is not considered safeto drink. It's recommended to only drink bottledmineral water, which is readily available inhotels, shops and restaurants.

ClimateCambodia has a tropical monsoon climatewith two seasons; Rainy season from May toNovember, when the countryside is lush andgreen, and dry season from late November toApril, when there are long days of glorioussunshine and clear skies. Temperatures inCambodia remain fairly constant and warmthroughout the year, apart from in thenorth, when winters (December to March) aregenerally colder.

Guides and GroupsOur longest group tour in Southeast Asia is ourBangkok to Angkor Wat - 25 day tour. All othergroup tours that we offer are sectors of thislarger tour. As such on your holiday you mayhave travellers join you part way through yourtour (in Luang Prabang, Hanoi or Saigon) or endtheir tour when you continue on.

Guiding: In Cambodia, a Cambodian nationalguide is offered for arrangements through toPhnom Penh, then a specialist local guide, willtake over for your sightseeing of the Temples ofAngkor.

If travelling on our Thailand & Angkor Templestour, your Cambodian tour guide will meet youupon arrival to Siem Reap Airport and conduct

all arrangements from there forward till yourreturn to Thailand.

Time & VoltageCambodia is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich MeanTime(GMT).

The voltage in Cambodia is 230v. In Cambodia3 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flatprong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin europeanplug (type C) and many of the new 4 and 5star hotels use the British standard 3-pin plug(type G). To cover all bases, it is best to pack aninternational travel adaptor!

CurrencyThe official currency of Cambodia is theCambodia Riel but USD is also widely acceptedand sometimes preferred in larger stores andsupermarkets.

Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other majorcurrencies can be exchanged in Cambodia atvarious bureau de changes in major cities andtowns. However foreign currency is also widelyaccepted and often desired more so it can givethe shopper more buying power. ATMs can befound in all larger towns and cities and some fivestar hotels. We recommend you take a mixtureof cash (preferably USD) and credit/ debit cardsfor ATM's. It's advisable to request bank notesin smaller denominations, as it can sometimesbe hard to get change from large notes andsmaller notes are handy for smaller purchasesand gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended asthey're often difficult to exchange and incurhigh fees.

Essential Packing• Lightweight cotton garments. Ladies will

need to have their shoulders and legs (tobelow the knee) covered when visiting theRoyal Palace in Phnom Penh and AngkorWat. Please pack accordingly.

• Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flipflogs/ thongs

• DEET based mosquito repellant &antihistamine cream

• Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 roundpin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universaladaptor will cover all bases

• Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho/umbrella.

• Two spare passport photos & a photocopy ofyour passport

• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs.• Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume

and torch

VisasBritish, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand,South African and USA passport holders areable to obtain a 30 day tourist visa upon arrivalto Cambodia when entering via PochentongInternational Airport in Phnom Penh, SiemReap International Airport (in the Angkor WatRegion) and at the Moc Bai (Vietnam) and Bavet(Cambodia) land border. We use the Moc Bai/Bavet land border crossing for all our grouptours that travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia.

At each of these entry points you must submita photocopy of your passport (identificationpage) and one passport size photograph. Thecost of the visa is currently USD30. Note: at theland border sometimes immigration will ask formore. In this situation point to the sign abovethe ticket window indicating that the cost isactually USD30 (subject to change). Further, youare best to give the exact amount i.e. USD30as often if you give more you will not receivechange.

It is also possible to obtain a 30 day tourist visaprior to arrival via the Cambodian Embassy inyour home port, though please note tourist visasarranged with the embassy are valid for onemonth from date of issue, not date of arrival.

PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for atleast 6 months after your departure date, if it isnot you may be refused entry into the country.Visa requirements are subject to change andvisa procurement is solely the responsibility ofthe traveller and not of On The Go Tours.

Thailand Country Guide

Entrance fees - collected in USDEntrance fees to most sites are not included,although reasonably priced. In Thailand, wecollect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour(the amount is noted under exclusions). Abreakdown of the entrance fee total is provided

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upon arrival. All funds collected in Thailand forentrance fees are payable in USD.

Tipping Kitty - collected in USDAt the start of your tour, we take a smalltipping kitty (the amount is noted underexclusions) from all tour participants to covertips throughout your holiday. This saves you thehassle of knowing when and how much to tipbellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, trainconductors and other support staff throughoutthe tour.

This amount does not include a tip for yourtour guides. For a job well done, we wouldsuggest USD $3 - 6 per person per day. Tippingyour guide is an entirely personal gesture andultimately the amount is up to you.

Voltage &TimeThe voltage in Thailand is 220v. In Thailand thereare 2 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2flat prong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin plug(type C). To cover all bases, it is best to pack aninternational travel adaptor! Thailand is 7 hoursahead of GMT and does not observe daylightsaving.

ClimateThe best time to travel to Thailand – central andnorth including Bangkok, Kanchanaburi andSukhothai is from November to April, with littlerain, if any expected throughout this time. Afterthe cooler winter months, from mid Januarytemperatures start to rise reaching 30°C andmore between March – May. Between May andJuly the south west monsoons arrive, travelduring this time can still be pleasant with therain coming in the form of short downpours,lasting an hour or two, clearing the way forwarm, clear skies.

In August and September the rain continues tofall and temperatures remain high, though byOctober the mercury has fallen and Novembermarks the start of of the dry season in the centraland north once again.

The far north and Chiang Rai are generally coolerthan the surrounding regions with an annualaverage temperature of 25o C and with a lowerhumidity. The best time to travel is either the‘cool’ season from Oct – Feb or the wet season

(Jun - Sept) when aside from the rain, conditionsare mild with temperatures around 25oC. March– May is warmer with temperatures rising to36oC.

The Gulf of Thailand, including the Hua Hincoastal region has three defined seasons. FromDecember to February you can expect blueskies, plenty of sunshine with refreshing seabreezes to keep temperatures at bay. FromMarch – June there is still plenty of blue skyand temperatures will rise above 30°C. Rainis unlikely till till the end of June when itcomes in the form of hour-long afternoondownpours, clearing the way for more blue skiesand bright sunshine. In late-August/Septemberthe monsoon arrives and you can expect sunnyspells interspersed with rainy periods. Rainfallusually peaks between October and November.

CurrencyThe official currency in Thailand is the Baht.

Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other majorcurrencies can be exchanged at banks or or atany one on of the numerous exchange boothsthat line the streets of the big cities. You mayalso choose to purchase currency in advance,though its possibly not necessary as ATMs canbe found everywhere with the exception of thehill tribe areas of Chiang Rai and if enroutebetween Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong borderif crossing to Laos. It is not common to paywith a credit card at restaurants, cafes or shopsfor small purchases and if you do often therewill be a surcharge applied or minimum chargerequired. It's advisable to request bank notesin smaller denominations, as it can sometimesbe hard to get change from large notes andsmaller notes are handy for smaller purchasesand gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended asthey're often difficult to exchange and incurhigh fees.

Essential Packing• Lightweight cotton garments including

some items that cover your shoulders andknees.

• Torch is staying overnight at the Jungle Rafts

• Two spare passport photos & 2 photocopiesof your passport. You will need the passportcopies if you are planning to cross into Burma

• Sleep sheet, towel and some warm clothesfor your village stay if travelling on ourThailand, Temples & Tribes Tour

• Comfortable walking shoes (again especiallyif joining our Thailand Temples & Tribes Tour)in addition to flip flops/ thongs you can wearin the shower

• DEET based mosquito repellent &antihistamine cream

• Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 roundpin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universaladaptor will cover all bases

• Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho.• A daypack for your day-to-day needs. Also

handy if you don't want to take all yourluggage with you to the Jungle Rafts.

• Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume

Arrival TransfersIf your tour or short stay includes an airportarrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What youGet' section of this Go Guide) our arrivalprocedure is as follows:

Arrive Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi InternationalAirport OR Don Mueang International Airportand attend to immigration formalities beforecollecting your luggage and proceeding to thearrivals hall. As you enter the arrivals hall, lookfor our On The Go Tours representative. He/she will be holding a prominent On The GoTours logo signboard. After meeting you willbe escorted to our awaiting transportation andtransferred to our tour start hotel

If for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in thearrival hall) or your flight is delayed please callthe emergency contact number as stated onyour tour voucher.

If arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includesan airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the'What you Get' section of this Go Guide) wewill be at the airport, ready to transfer youto your hotel. Further if you are booking pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrivaltransfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrives

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very, very early in the morning) you will need topurchase a night of pre-tour accommodation tosave you waiting until standard hotel check intime, which is generally 2pm.

Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Thailand from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideHepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus are stronglyrecommended. If travelling to remote areas,further vaccinations including TB, Hepatitis B,Rabies, Diphtheria and Japanese encephalitismay also be necessary.

Malaria

Areas with Malaria: Rural only. Includingforested areas that border Burma (Myanmar),Cambodia and Laos, and rural, forested areas inthe districts of Phang Nga and Phuket. Malaria isnot found in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai,Chiang Rai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Pattaya,Phang Nga and Phuket. The risk of contractingMalaria in Thailand is low.

Bilharzia

May be present in some rivers and lakes andwe recommend it best to avoid swimming inuntested waterways.

Water

The tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink,only drink bottled mineral water, which is readilyavailable from shops, hotels and restaurants.

Guides And GroupsOur longest group tour in Southeast Asia is ourBangkok to Angkor Wat - 25 day tour, with theexception of our Time for Thailand, ThailandTemples & Tribes and Bangkok, Beach & Beyondtours, all other group tours that we offer aresectors of this larger tour. As such on yourholiday you may have travellers join you partway through your tour (in Luang Prabang, Hanoior Saigon) or end their tour when you continueon.

Guiding: A Thai guide will escort allarrangements throughout Thailand. If your tour

continues to another country a qualified guidenative to that country will escort the tour fromthere forward.

If travelling on our Time for Thailand, ThailandTemples, Tribes and Bangkok, Beach & Beyondor Thailand & Angkor Temples tours, guests willtravel together for days 1 to 9 and go thereseparate ways for the remaining days of the tour.

TransportationOn all our tours we use a combination ofvehicles including mini buses, small and largesize coaches. When travelling in the northof Thailand our vehicles of choice are minibuses as they are best equipped at navigatingnarrow winding roads and mountain passes.In these areas a number of mini buses ratherthan one large coach. Each vehicle comfortablyaccommodates 8 persons and tour guide willswap between vehicles offering commentaryen-route, in addition to making stops to givemore further information at points of interest.

ShoppingBangkok is rapidly gaining a reputation as a keyshopping destination in Asia, with visitors beingdrawn by the variety of products and shoppingenvironments, as well as the great prices.Chatuchak, is a market that gains momentumover the weekend to become arguably thelargest in Southeast Asia, everything can befound here, from hand made jewellery to thelatest fashions.

This city is blessed with a number of top qualityshopping malls, perhaps the most popular forvisitors is MBK. This 8 floor monstrosity offerseverything from telephones to sushi, designerlabels to unique designs. It is safe to assumethat anything with a brand that is being soldout of a store bearing the same brand may notnecessarily be the ‘real deal’. There is somethinghere for everyone, including a multi screencinema showing the latest movies in English forthose who would like to rest their weary feetwhilst others continue on their spending spree.

Another wonderful feature of Bangkok areher nightmarkets. It seems that once thesun goes down, the temporary stalls comeout, everywhere. Patpong is famous for itsgenuine fakes, Sukhumvit Road boats a similar

reputation. The mixture of bargains, street foodand general vibe of the city make these marketsa highlight to explore by foot. Remember tohaggle, and if you think something is over pricedthen walk away. They will not sell to you at a loss,so if they can make some money on the dealthey will call you back.

Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware! It isalways safe to assume that anything with abrand on it is a copy and should be treated assuch. Some of these copies can be incrediblygood, leaving the untrained eye incapable oftelling the difference. It is therefore always bestto assume it is a copy unless you really knowwhat you are looking at. The city is also wellknown for its scams. Some tailors will drasticallyovercharge for shoddy workmanship that isdelivered minutes before you leave on yourreturn flight so you cant get it changed. Somejewellers have been known to sell fake or greatlyover priced products. If the jewellers or tailorsdoes not come highly recommended, a largeamount of caution should be used.

IMPORTANT: Any purchases made whilsttravelling are at your own discretion. Make sureyou are completely happy at the product you arepurchasing. on the go will not become involvedat any time, at a later date or once you returnhome should your purchase not live up to yourexpectations. Proceed with caution.

A New Tailored Suit!If you are looking to have suits made up,you might like to consider 'The Grand FashionInternational' tailor shop. The shop is open from9am - 9pm daily and is easy enough to get to bytaxi. the address can be found in your welcomeletter that you will receive upon arrival. Theshop offers quality suiting and garments madeto measure. Customer feedback so far has beenvery good. The shop works with cotton, linen,wool, wool blends and all other suiting fabrics,though it and if you were looking stretch fabrics,inexpensive cotton t's or crazy cheap - off theside of the road kind of stuff this would not bethe place. Head to the night markets instead.Prices: Tailored ladies/men cotton blend shirtsbusiness shirts start at USD$40, Ladies trousersfully lined at USD$60, Mens blazer/jacket fullylined USD$90 and a fully lined suit, with shirtsfrom USD$160.

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The catch! You are going to need at least 48hours to have items made. After making yourorder you would need 1 - 2 fittings to ensurethat suit fits just right. The shop can send acar to pick you up from the hotel and transferyou to and from their premises for the fittings.My best advice would be at the time you areplacing the order, schedule your fittings thereand then so you can plan your time for the daysahead. If for example you arrived a day early, youcould visit the tailor on this day then scheduleyour first fitting at say 4pm on day 1, then afinal fitting (if required) at say 7.30pm on day 2).Don't be afraid to haggle a little with the tailor,they are lovely gentlemen and small savingscan be made. Also do let them know that youare travelling with On the Go. They are awareof our itineraries and what time fittings can bescheduled plus its in their best interest to keepyou satisfied.

It's your choice to shop here, elsewhere or not atall in your free time.

Airline Luggage AllowanceIf your tour includes international or domesticflights please be mindful that the free baggageallowance for Economy class travel within theregion is strictly 20kg and 1 piece of handluggage up to 6kg. Any additional weight ischarged at a per kilo rate. You may wish to keepthis in mind whilst shopping.

It's not like homeTravel to far - flung corners of the earth involveslifestyles and conditions that are sometimesvery different from what you are used toback home. You must come prepared to copewith unusual situations, local inadequacies andunpredictable events as and when they occur.Foreign travel is definitely not suitable forpeople who expect or demand everything togo exactly as planned. With the greatest respectand in the interest of your ultimate enjoymentyou must understand this. Things can and dochange in foreign countries.

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