• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

The challenge level of this trip is INTERMEDIATE. The pace is active with walking and hiking. We visit remote areas, sometimes staying in basic accommodations in areas where infrastructure is limited. 

Group Participants and Tour Leader

PARTICIPANTS:  International Group  MIN:8  MAX: 20

Traveling With An International Group
When you book one of our international group adventures, you will join an active group of travelers of all ages, most from Holland and Belgium. Depending on the trip, there will be only one to five North Americans on the trip. Most of the European participants have a superb command of English but you are likely to hear lots of Dutch spoken. The Dutch tour leader will address the group in Dutch and English. These are not lecture tours and you will get the important information.  On our African camping safaris, a local English-speaking local guide will accompany the group. Participants of these groups are extremely independent-minded  and embrace opportunities to explore or dine on their own, in addition to group activity.
 
Traveling with an international group adds another dimension to your trip. Compatibility has more to do with individual personalities of group members. Socializng can be more challenging for solo travelers and may require more effort on your part to initiate contact. The Dutch are usually quite social and often, very direct. Their politics tend to lean towards the liberal side. The European participants, of all ages, are typically very active and most everyone is up for a hearty hike or bike ride.
 
Trust your instincts....if this description sounds appealing, these trips are probably a great match for you. But if you feel that it may be too active, that you prefer more one-on-one attention, or that that the idea of being in the minority is not appealing, then a private trip or travel with our North American groups may be more suitable for you.


Guide Service
A Dutch tour leader will accompany this trip and will address the group in Dutch and in English. The tour leader serves as logistics coordinator, not a lecturer. They provide information about the daily life and culture and practical tips regarding restaruants, transport, admission fees, activities, etc.  The tour leader organizes and accompanies some activities but participants also enjoy independent time. A local guide travels with us on the boat. We travel with the guides by motorized canoes or on foot. On board also is a the captain, a sailor and a cook, who magically put delicious meals on the table each day.
 
In-Country Staff
Our land representatives are situated in the destination country you will visit. We work closely with them and they function as our liaison with the guide, drivers and hotels. They are also available in the case of an emergency and their number will be provided on your emergency contact list.

Problems or Emergency
While you are away, should you have a problem, you have several points of contact. Your guide, our land representative, and of course, we are just a call or email away. We will provide contact numbers for you before you leave. Please distribute this list to family or to your contact person at home. If someone needs to reach you from home due to an emergency, but is having difficulty due to language or bad connections, they can call our office and we will assist in contacting you.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

Land Program
Djoser provides the LAND PROGRAM only. You will need to book your own flights from and back to the United States. The LAND PROGRAM cost includes accommodations, guide assistance, city-to-city transport, and airport transfers at the beginning and end of the land program.  Please see "Inclusives" for other trip-specific inclusions, such as internal flights, special meals or activities. Most meals and site entry fees are at your expense so even when you travel with a group, you are free to pick and choose.  

Transport
We travel with our own private buses, air-conditioned where needed.
 
Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport.
 

Accommodations

We will stay in centrally located hotels or guest houses. The double rooms have private shower / toilet and are equipped with air conditioning, a fan or blower. It is not necessary to bring a mosquito net. Please note that hotels in this tour are generally simple. Tourism is still fully in its infancy.

Singles
If you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. On our international group trips, if you request a roommate and there is not a roommate available, unless otherwise noted, there is no supplementary charge for the single room.  On most trips, you can request single accommodations for a reasonable charge. If you would like single accommodations, please indicate your preference on your booking form.   
 

Meals

Meals are not included in the fare. The advantage is that you can choose where and with whom you eat. The tour leader will make suggestions. Of course, you can join the others for dinners if you wish. The staple of the local cuisine in this area is rice. This is a great variety of tasty meat and vegetable dishes, often sharp spicy or seasoned with fresh coriander and ginger. Delicious fish from the Mekong and other rivers is also available. A traditional meal in Cambodia is "Fish Amok", fish in coconut sauce served in a coconut. Remarkably, the baguettes, which are everywhere eaten in Laos and Cambodia, a relic from the time the French had this gekolonialiseerd. In the larger towns are also plenty of restaurants in a western kitchen available.

Climate

Laos and Cambodia have a tropical climate. The rainy season runs from June to September. There is no prolonged rainfall, but possibly one or two spectacular rain showers a day, usually at the end of the day or night. The rain is responsible for the lush, green nature during this period.  After February temperature heat up. During these months the jungle is  sometimes cloudy.

Travel Documents

Visa needed for Laos and Cambodia. Obtainable on arrival. No visa needed for Thailand.
 
Be sure to check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure from your destination. Also make sure there are extra pages in your passport.  When completing VISA applications, be sure to confirm whether you will need a SINGLE or DOUBLE entry tourist visa. We will provide you in-country contact information for your visa application. The website for the Dept. of State is:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.
 
VISA & PASSPORT EXPEDITOR
If you are in a rush for documents, a passport or visa expediting service can arrange your documents in a couple of weeks or a couple of days. We have used ITS EASY PASSPORT & VISA SERVICES, for years. They have easy to follow process instructions and have always been reliable. ITS EASY will honor a 10% discount off the processing portion of the fee if you let them know you are traveling with us. Please use the following link for ITS EASY PASSPORT & VISA SERVICE: http://www.itseasy.com/visa-expediting-services.php

Flights

Booking Flights From / To the U.S.

As we provide only the LAND PORTION of the trip, you will need to book your own flights from and to the United States. Book your flights into and out of the cities listed below:
 
Land program begins in:   Chiang Mai, Thailand
Land program ends in: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Please note the arrival and departure times listed for the Dutch participants. Plan your flights to arrive prior to the scheduled arrival of the Dutch travelers so that you will not miss the initial group meeting with the tour leader. Flight delays or late arrivals could result in missed activities or can even require that you catch up to the group, which may involve costly transfers. Leave ample time for flight connections and terminal changes. If the scheduled arrival time for the Dutch participants is between 3AM & 11AM we recommend that you arrive the night before, requesting an extension hotel night when you book your trip. If the group arrives late evening or up until 3AM, we include the hotel night and you are free to check in early and rest up or explore on your own. The hotels are usually available for check-in at 1PM.

Hotel extension recommended for earlier arrival. on Day 1   10:20 AM
On the final day, the flight for the Dutch participants is scheduled to leave at: 6:10 PM

USEFUL LINKS FOR BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
ORBITZ:   http://www.orbitz.com/
EXPEDIA: http://www.expedia.com/

BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR FLIGHT, GET TRIP CONFIRMATION!
Do not book your flight prior to written or e-mail notification from Djoser that the trip is a "go". For instance, group trips must meet the required minimum enrollment. We will notify you of the status of enrollment upon request. Also, on very rare occasions, an unforeseen itinerary or date change can occur.  We advise you to take out travel insurance. Before booking your flight, make sure that you are aware of your flight provider's penalties for changes or cancellations.  We are not liable for penalties incurred for flight changes or cancellations. 
 

Airline Tickets

If internal flights, trains or boats are used during a Djoser program, the tour leader will handle the tickets and disperse them to group participants at the appropriate time.

Money

The cost of the land packages includes city-to-city transport, guide assistance, lodging as described, and only meals listed in the price inclusive section. You should budget for out-of-pocket expenses for other meals, fees for optional excursions and activities, in-city transport and other personal expenses.  See our prices for the estimated out of pocket expenses.

Currency & Cash
On your trip you will want to make sure you are prepared with the proper form of currency. ATMs can be scarce and charge cards are not always accepted.  You will want to exchange money for the local currency.  Before you go, you can check the most current conversion rates, and you can also print out a handy currency exchange "cheat sheet" at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
 
Local Currency:  Currency Laos=Kip  Cambodia=Riel, Thailand=Baht
ATM Machines:   ATMS Easily accessible
Charge Cards:   Charge Cards Rarely accepted
Types of Cash Accepted:  Cash US dollars small denominations. Visa and entry to the temples of  Angkor Wat paid in dollars. 20 per day.
 
Tipping
On our international group trips, for your convenience, the tour leader will organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip. At the beginning of the trip, each participant will donate a few dollars per day to the pot. The  amounts will be disbursed to drivers, local guides, hotel staff, and others along the way.  If there are funds remaining at the end of the trip, they will be divided among the group.  The tip pot does not include a tip for your tour leader. On our private trips, tipping is up to you.

 

Health

Check with your doctor or local health authorities for the latest recommendations. Be mindful of what you eat. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and be sure to be equipped with your personal medications, painkillers, and medicines to prevent diarrhea and stomach disorders. The tour leader will also carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that travel can be tiring. It is important to be in good health, in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. Those who travel on our more physically active trips, including our Walking Tours or Biking Tours, should have higher level of fitness and stamina. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.


Travel Insurance
For piece of mind, we highly recommend that you procure travel insurance.  If you have booked a Walking Tour or Biking Tour, insurance is mandatory.

Make sure that you are covered in the event of illness or injury. If adequate treatment is not readily available in the area,  emergency evacuation is often required by private carrier and can be exorbitantly expensive. Also, unforeseen events at home can prevent you from going, such as the illness of an immediate relative. Even things like delayed or missed flights or lost luggage can be costly. You are free to choose your own insurance provider.

Over the years, we have recommended TRAVELEX. They offer a variety of plans and most importantly, they are responsive. Should you choose to go with TRAVELEX, you will contact them directly and the cost of your coverage will depend on the plan you choose. The cost will be based over the total cost of your trip and flights, and the amount is also subject to your age. Ask about the TRAVEL PLUS plan and the more economical TRAVEL LITE plan.  Their website is www.travelexinsurance.com and phone number is 1-800-228-9792.

It is important to get travel insurance immediately after booking as most companies have a brief window (10 days from booking) for coverage of preexisting conditions, for example, coverage of cancellation due to a sick relative.

Travelers will be asked to provide us with travel insurance contact information before departure.

Luggage & Clothing

Please limit your luggage to 35 pounds. We recommend a soft, rolling duffle as the hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle. Be sure to bring good comfortable walking shoes with good tread, and already broken in. Sneakers can be slippery. Keep in mind that most hotels will not have porter service.


It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages. The voltage in this destinations is:
220.

Resources

Travel Guide Book
A good guidebook is invaluable. We recommend the Lonely Planet series as well as the DK Guidebooks. 

Communication

Mobile telephone use is limited. Internet cafes can often be found in larger cities but count on a slow connection. Check with your phone provider before departure regarding coverage or consult the following webpage: www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml