- > 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?
Group adventures (with our Dutch groups) tend to be longer programs and are often more challenging than our private journeys in several ways. Participants, of all ages, take hearty hikes and will rent bikes to explore. The Dutch have spent their entire lives on bikes so even older travelers are good endurance. Be sure to ask the guide the nature of any hike and opt out if you feel it will be too much. (This is also a great argument to lobby for bike paths in the States!). The infrastructures in many of the countries we visit can be very undeveloped compared to the States. Long road trips on bumpy roads can be uncomfortable for some travelers. On several of these trips, we spend a day or two in remote areas that may require a willingness to “rough it”. Roosters will crow, lights may dim, and a cold shower may be expected on these days. On some of our group adventures, we stay for a night or two in indigenous lodgings which can be basic or very primitive. Some have no formal bath facilities. Be sure to check the weather conditions for the dates you are considering at worldweather.org, and pack appropriate shoes and clothing for these trips. At most hotels there is no porter service and you must be able to carry your own luggage.
Our semi-private and private trips are less challenging. While these trips are also quite active, there are fewer physical challenges. Also some hotels and modes of transport are upgraded for the private/semi-private trips, and there is a little more one-on-one assistance from the guide.
Group Participants and Tour Leader
Please consider the descriptions below before booking a trip with an international group.
On these trips, you will travel with groups of 8 to 20 travelers, of all ages, mostly from Holland and Belgium. These trips are great for our more active, independent minded travelers who welcome the added element, and occasional challenges of cultural immersion. This adds another element to your international experience. There are usually only one to four North Americans on any trip. We found that an even split of Dutch and North Americans sometimes created a cultural divide, and our intention is to blend travelers and to maintain the European feeling of these trips. True to the European style of travel is a diversity of ages represented in our groups. These active travelers blend well and participants of all ages take hearty hikes, bike rides and welcome independent explorations.
The Dutch are typically very social and have a great command of English. It is inevitable that the participants will lapse into Dutch from time to time at meals and on the bus, until they get to know you. The guide will help to integrate you, but you will enjoy this trip more if you are the type of person who is also comfortable initiating conversations, from time to time. If you have a travel partner, it will be easier to find your way into the conversations or at least to have a buffer during times when the group is chatting in Dutch. After a day or two, you will normally get your rhythm. You can probably expect lively conversations about world politics, especially in today’s climate. Depending on your personal politics, this can be lots of fun, or not. The Dutch tend to be fairly liberal minded.
If this description sounds daunting or unappealing, then these trips are probably not for you and you may wish to consider our private and semi-private journeys, instead. They offer plenty of excitement without some of the challenges. Please call us with questions. Over half of our travelers prefer to travel the “Dutch way” booking these programs again and again.
Guide
The Dutch guide (a logistics coordinator, not a lecturer) will address the group in both Dutch and English. You will hear more Dutch than English, but you will get the important information. Guides will organize and accompany some activities and meals, but not all. They will offer suggestions for you so that you can also explore and dine safely on your own. These groups welcome these opportunities.
Our guides go through a period of training at our headquarters office in the Netherlands. In each country, they are in close contact with our land agents. Most of our land agents have worked with Djoser for 10 or more years. Their staff is there to help and are on call in the event of an emergency.
Private Tours and Custom Dates
This trip may be organized for private groups of 10 or more. Discounts will apply to larger groups.Local Transportation
For the bulk of the trip, we travel with locally hired transportation, such as mini-buses. We do not use the bus once we are in a city. Many of the roads we travel are unpaved so traveling can be bumpy, dusty, and slow. Travel times vary from a few hours to a full day, but there is plenty to see and we make regular stops.
We take the following (3) flights:
Saigon - Hanoi, Kumming - Jinhong and Vientiane - Phnomh Penh
We take a night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai in four person compartments which have been reserved. From Phnom Penh, we travel by boat over the Tonle-Sap River and the Tonle-Sap Lake to Siem Reap.
Since most of the hotels are centrally located you can cross the distances in the cities easily by walking or by renting a bicycle. For a few dollars a day, you can rent a motor scooter and explore on your own or with others. Be sure to bring your drivers’ license! Sa Pa is ideal for walks.Accommodations
Our rooms are reserved in centrally located comfortable hotels and guesthouses - some very basic. In Bac Ha you spend the night in stilt houses. Here you are given sleeping mats and you will share bath facilities. The hotel double rooms have their own shower/toilet and generally have air conditioning, or sometimes a fan or ventilator. In many hotels, it is possible to have your clothing washed. Please take into account that tourism in many of the areas that we visit is still in its infancy, so services will be limited.
Solo travelers who wish to share a room will be matched with other solo travelers of the same sex. If we cannot match you, there is not additional charge for the single room.
Meals
Breakfast is included in the trip cost, with the exception of the breakfast in China. In Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, you can expect baguettes served with butter, jam, eggs or spreadable cheese. Food lovers wil have a good selection for breakfast. Furthermore you yourself can decide what, where and with whom you will eat. The tour leader can offer suggestions. Please note: one must get used to eating with chopsticks in these areas. The basic ingredient of local meals is rice. There is a large variety of tasty beef, fish and vegetables dishes, heavily spiced, often with fresh coriander and ginger.
Vietnamese cuisine has almost 500 traditional dishes. Some of the favorites include small eggrolls with a variety of fillings. For the main course, you can choose from dishes with rice, meat or fish. Pho is a popular soup with noodles, vegetables, fish and usually meat. It is served throughout the day, even in the morning. There are also Chinese restaurants and some European dishes on the menus. Vietnamese retaurants are quite plain and appear to be messy, but the food is excellent and trustworthy. Tea is the favored beverage. Coffee is available most places, as are bottled water and soft drinks.
A trip to China is a great adventure for food lovers. Each region has its own specialities, apparent by the preparation style and the use of spices. Also in China, noodle-based soup is available everywhere. At night you have the choice of a major variety of all sorts of dishes that will arrive at the table at the same time. Everyone at the table eats family-style, with chopsticks. It is a cozy way to have a meal. A Chinese fondue “hotpot” makes a fun meal. You can cook the vegetables, beef or fish yourself, in the hot bouillon base. Although the Chinese prepare delicious lunches, snacks and dinners, many foreigners are not crazy about the Chinese breakfast tradition of rice, pork, baked peanuts and pickled vegetables, often accompanied by a glass of lukewarm beer. In some hotels, a Western style breakfast is served. On the street you can find pancakes or yogurt on the menu. Green tea is the common drink in China and is served automatically in most places. In addition, mineral water, soda, and beer are served. Coffee is not always available so you may wish to bring instant coffee (sealed) along with you.
Climate
The expansiveness and various terrains in Vietnam are distinguised by different climates. South and Central Vietnam have a warm tropical climate with temperatures between 65° and 90°F. The North enjoys a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. The temperature in Hanoi, for example, lies between 60° and 90°F. In Sa Pa it is, on average, several degrees cooler. In the winter months it can even get cold. There are two different rainy periods. Between October and April is a relatively wet period in the northern part of Vietnam stretching to the central area near Da Nang. From May to October, in the South, you will find warm, wet weather. In the rainy period there are regular downpours at the end of the afternoon and at night. The quantity ranges, however, from region to region. China is one of the largest countries in the world and has very diverse geographical and climate characteristics. Because of the vastness of the country, you can encounter various climate changes. For the most part, in most of China the summer has average temperatures above 88°C.
Rain frequently falls at the end of the day and at night. The downpours are generally short and hard and the cloud cover is in this period frequently dense. Laos and Cambodia have a tropical climate. The rainy season runs from June to September. There is then no long-term rainfall, but possibly one or two spectacular rainbursts per day, generally at the end of the day or at night. Rain makes nature in this period a splendid, lush green. Afterwards it is clear and cool. After February it becomes hotter. In the jungle in these months it can be quite misty.
Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org
Travel Documents
Passports must be valid six months beyond departure dates.
Visas:
Laos ($30) and Cambodia ($25) visas will be obtained at the border.
Vietnam - Visa Required – Single Entry. We will provide instructions and contact information.
China – Visa Required – Single Engry. As of Sept 1, 2007 a new Chinese visa application form is being used with a new fee structure. The Chinese consulate requires that you apply for a visa in person at the consulate or you must use a visa service to process paperwork. We will send you required forms, instructions and contact names.
If you need rush service for processing your passport, we recommend a service called It’s Easy, located in New York. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com for passport requirements and to download the current forms and rates and processing fees. Or you can call them to fax you forms if you do not have Internet. Let them know you were referred by Djoser. They will honor a 10% discount over the service portions of your fee for Djoser travelers.
It’s Easy (Passport & Visa Service)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212)-490-3224
Website http://www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail mail@itseasypassport.com
Flights
We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.
|
Depart NY |
Return NY |
|
9:15 PM |
10:45 AM |
|
Depart LAX |
Return LAX |
|
1PM |
7:20 PM |
Usual flight times – subject to change
We can arrange connecting flights from most major cities in the United States at competitive rates. You will find these cities and rates on our website: see Add-Ons on the Homepage of www.djoserusa.com. If you do not find the city of your choice, you can call us to see if it is available. There will be a stop in Singapore en route to and from Vietnam and Cambodia.
Airline Tickets
You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date.
In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:
• A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail).
• A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).
The first document listed is needed to check in at the Automated kiosks. If you check in at the E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).
Money
Vietnam:
Travelers checks and credit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard) are exchanged for Vietnamese dong at the banks. Cards can be used in travel agencies, hotels, and major restaurants. US currency is exchanged for Vietnamese dong and treasury notes in banks, exchange bureaus, hotels, and jewelery shops. The exchange rate always varies. When leaving the country, remaining Vietnamese currency can be exchanged for US dollars at the exchange bureau at the airport.
Exchange Rate: At bank $1=14,000D
Exchange Commission: Cash to VND -None, $ T/C to VND 0%-1?, $T/C to $ cash 1- 2%
Bank Opening hours: M-F 8:30-11:30,13:00-16:00, Sa 8:30-11:30, Su Closed.
Credit Cards: Visa, Master Card. Accepted only at high class hotels, restaurants, airlines.
Places in the north tend to accept only Visa.
Cash Advance: Visa, MC can be used at some banks. com Visa3.5-4.0%, MC 0?-4.0%(Vietcombank 3%)
ATMs: Available only in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The rate and commission charge varies slightly between banks and cities. Not much difference in rate between T/C & cash. The rate is slightly higher for larger notes. When price is quoted in US$, you can pay in dollars or Vietnamese Dong. Sometime paying in VD is better because of the exchange rate.
BANK CARDS: The number/letter configuration can be different in foreign banks. Be sure you know the numeric configuration of your pin number as well as the letter configuration as key placement may be visually different than at home.
China:
Bank cards can be used in larger cities;
Cash: Dollars, Euro, Yuan
Credit Card: Useful in most cities
Travelers checks: In euro or American dollars, exchangeable at banks and sometimes in hotels
Laos:
Bank cards: Not accepted
Cash: Euro or Dollars
Credit Cards: Not accepted
Travelers checks: In Euro or American Dollars at small exchange offices.
Cambodia:
Bank cards may be used in Phnomh Penh and Siem Reap (both US $ and local currency)
Cash: You can pay with US Dollars in most places (small denominations) though you will often receive Cambodian Riel in change.
The entry for the temples of Angkor Wat ($ 20, - per day) must be paid in dollars
Credit cards: Accepted in some places.
Travelers checks: Accepted only for more expensive purchases.
As average for extra expenses not included in the trip cost, such as meals, entry fees, optional excursions and personal expenditure may cost approximately $250 per person per week. Take into account that expenses in the large cities are greater than in the countryside.
It is normal to give tips for services rendered. At the beginning of the trip a tip pot is established, from which the tips to the drivers, guides, and hotel staff will be paid by the tour leader.
Health
For this trip it is advised to get vaccinations against DTP, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A. Malaria tablets are also recommended. Check with the Center for Disease Control for the latest recommendations at www.cdc.com and speak with your doctor to decide what is best for you.
It is, however, judicious to be careful what you eat. We also suggest taking a small medical kit with you to have, among other things, aspirin and resources against diarrhea. The tour leader will have a medical kit, with sterile first aid material.
Luggage & Clothing
We recommend you bring along a mid-sized suitcase, duffel bag or a frame-less backpack as your luggage. A small daypack is also handy. This will make transporting your luggage easier for you as well as for the tour operator. A request: try to keep your luggage between twenty-five and thirty pounds because the luggage compartment in the bus is not always spacious. In most hotels en route you can have your clothes washed so there is not need to over pack.
In general we suggest you bring along airy cotton summer clothes. In winter months, bring along a jacket and long pants for cooler weather. During the trip there are plenty of optional walking tours on the program so bring along a pair of sturdy shoes with good traction. Also some comfortable sandals or slippers will come in handy.
Resources
It is extremely useful to pick up a good travel guidebook. We highly recommend Lonely Planet. You will find a wealth of practical information regarding money issues, maps, local customs, history, activities, and much more. There are always great travel journals, historical and political books at your local bookstore as well. The internet is also invaluable for researching and finding great photos. Be sure to check out this trip’s Slide Show (see link above) to get a good feeling for the trip, lodgings and modes of travel.Communication
With all the modern communications these days, you are very reachable throughout the world. We will also provide a list of phone numbers for the accomodations you will be staying in as well as Djoser’s emergency contact numbers while you are away. In most places you will find Internet cafés where, for a fee, you can send and receive emails. Mobile phone access is possible based on your phone instrument and provider.
