• > 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?

This trip is very active and great for families. There is plenty of walking and nature exploration. We rarely use the bus or van once we have reached a city or location but rather explore on foot and take the local forms of transportation. There are often challenging hikes and always physical activities for the most energetic travelers, but also more relaxing choices for other participants. On the River Kwai, can rent a kayak, float in a tube or swim. 

For more adventurous travelers, during the stay in Chiang Mai, you can request to take a trek to visit the Hill Tribes. This is a great cultural experience for the heartier travelers. The trek is a rigorous hike for several hours on rocky, hilly paths. Travelers of most ages who are fit will do fine, but prepare to break a sweat! On our trek, we will stay a night in VERY primitive lodgings with no indoor bath facilities. We sleep in authentic stilt houses of the Hill Tribes. There is a mat on the floor for sleeping. You may stay behind in Chiang Mai in a hotel if you prefer. On some trips, we may stay a night or two in authentic local lodgings, which can seem quite primitive.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Participants

This trip is available to be booked on a private basis for two or more travelers. Price reductions apply if you have a group of four or more.  If you book Land & Air with us, you may select the departure date of your choice, however, please be aware that there is an additional charge for flights departing Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Guides
We use local, English speaking guides who are knowledgeable about the area and happy to share their knowledge. However, they are not lecturers. The will handle logistics for travel and lodgings. The guide organizes many meals and activities and will accompany many of them, but not all (on most days a 1/2 day activity and a lunch or dinner). The element of freedom is important on all Djoser trips. Your guide will recommend safe activities and restaurants for free time and exploration. You can generally expect a free day if you are spending a second day in a city. Again, the guide will outline options. For very small groups, you will have different guides in different cities. We also have experienced land agents stationed in each country who work with the tour leader and who can assist in case of an emergency.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

In Thailand, depending on the number of participants our privately hired, van or mini-bus bus covers nearly all distances. This We will spend a few long traveling days, but there is enough to see on the road and as the vehicle is completely at our disposal, we can stop where and when we want. From Chiang Mai to Bangkok we will travel by night train with reserved sleeping bunks.  To reach the island of Koh Samet we board a ferry. In both countries it is easy to travel by bike, scooter or public transportation. If you plan to hire a motorbike, you are advised to bring an international driver’s license.

Accommodations

We have made reservations in centrally located, comfortable hotels, from where the interesting places are easily accessible. We do not lodge in any American chain hotels, rather in comfortable, local hotels. On the River Kwai we stay in a very basic, but comfortable, floating hotel. Do not expect the same amenities as in the States (icemakers, candy machines, workout rooms, mini-bars etc). Furniture and décor will reflect the local flavor, which we consider integral to our trips. The single rooms, doubles, and triples have their own bath facilities and nearly all are air-conditioned. If you want to be assured of a single room, please inquire about the single supplement. The voltage is 220V in Thailand and in Cambodia so you may want to bring an adapter. Laundry service is available in most hotels.

Use the following link to view some of our lodgings:
http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

The cost for a single room is listed on the price pages for this trip, on our website. Because the small numbers on these trips, it is sometimes difficult to match a single with  a roommate. 

Our group trips with Dutch & Belgium travelers usually have 15 to 20 participants so there is a good chance of matching you with a roomamte. On the group trips, if you request a roommate but  we cannot match you , there will be no additional charge for the single room.

Meals

The staple of every Thai meal is rice. The variation of tasty vegetable and meat dishes, however, is huge. These dishes are often spicy with chilies, fresh coriander or ginger. On the coast you will find a wide choice of fish dishes. In most places you will also find Western meals on the menu. With the acception of breakfasts, meals are not included on the tour The guide will suggest nice, safe places to dine. Be sure to ask for recommendations with a special ambiance or entertainment, for a special night ouit.  

Cambodian food is similar to Thai food. Most dishes are cooked in a wok and almost always include a soup, eaten with the other courses. Samla Machou Banle is a popular fish soup with a sour flavor. Most of the fish in Cambodia come from fresh-water sources. The salads are excellent although very different than what we are accustomed to. Phlea Sach Ko is a beef and vegetable salad flavored with coriander, mint leaves and lemon grass, herbs that are found in many Cambodian dishes.

Climate

Thailand has a tropical climate with three distinguishable seasons: March to the middle of June is hot and dry with average daily temperatures of 86º-95º Fahrenheit. From the middle of June to October it is hot and humid with a daily temperature of 82º-90º Fahrenheit. There is often precipitation in short heavy bursts in the late afternoon in this season. October through February is relatively cool and mostly dry with temperatures between 64º-90º Fahrenheit. Cambodia has a warm, tropical climate.

Travel Documents

For a trip to Thailand you do not need a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from time of entry into Thailand. It is best to consult the Thailand consulate or Thailand Tourism Board for the most recent requirements (www.tat.or.th). You will purchase your visa for Cambodia at the airport in Phnom Penh. The cost is $20 (US), please bring 2 passport pictures. If you are short of time an expeditor can rush the passport process for you, for a fee. Check your yellow pages for Passport and Visa services and inquire about the expediting services.  If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must check with the appropriate consulates for the visa and entry requirements for both Thailand and Cambodia. Website: Thailand: www.thaiembdc.org. Cambodia: www.embassy.org/cambodia.

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. They will honor a 10% discount over the service portion of the fee for Djoser customers.

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.

  Singapore Airlines                        Northwest/KLM

Usual flight times – subject to change

There will be a stop in Singapore en route to Thailand. As you can see the costs of our trips are listed for trips from New York or Los Angeles. We can provide flights from other cities within the United States at competitive prices. These “Add-on” cities and prices can be found on our website (www.djoserusa.com) within the destination section. The costs of these add-ons are added to the base price from either New York or Los Angeles. The flight routing will not necessarily go through that city, but the list price will serve as a baseline for your total cost.

Note: Singapore Air does not honor advance seat requests for the standard class, so if your trip is booked with Singapore Air, it is advised that you check in early before departure time if you would like a specific seating arrangement.

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. Singapore Airlines does not award mileage.

Money

The currency of Thailand is the Baht. We recommend taking along traveler's checks in the amount of $100 to be cashed at the airport since they are insured against loss and theft, however ATM machines are available almost everywhere. And in most places all major credit cards are accepted. As you may read in the brochure the tour cost does not include meals and personal expenses. For meals, drinks, entry fees, souvenirs, and such you can count on approximately $175-$200 per week. Of course this is an average and depends on your own spending pattern. It is always sensible to bring a little extra money in case of unexpected expenses such as special souvenirs or medical expenses.

Health

Vaccinations are not mandatory but are suggested. You will need to check for the most up to date information on vaccinations. Other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline for international travelers at telephone 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at www.cdc.gov. Your local physician can also assist you. Usual recommendations are:

•    DTP
•    Hepatitis A/yellow fever
•    Typhoid: only if you are staying longer than three months
•    Malaria Tablets

Since we visit the countryside it is strongly recommended that you take malaria tablets. It is also important to bring along a strong bug repellent for the evenings such as Deet.

Luggage & Clothing

We recommend you bring along a duffle bag or a frameless backpack as your luggage. This will make transporting your luggage easier for yourself as well as for the tour operator. If you bring a suitcase, please keep to a mid-size bag. A small daypack is useful to carry water and essentials. Try to keep your luggage between 25 and 30 pounds because the luggage compartment in the bus is not always very spacious. For the trek, we suggest bringing a small backpack for the short journey as well as a pair of sturdy shoes with good traction. You will also need a light sleeping bag. You can find 4-lb bags at sporting goods stores for $10-$20 dollars. A sleeping “sheet” (sleeping bag liner) is also much more portable and easier to carry than a sleeping bag. We will leave the rest of the luggage behind in the hotel in Chiang Mai where we return two days later. From October until February, you will experience temperatures from the 60's to the 90's. On the trek, for a small sum, you can pay someone to carry your belongings. Light, loose cotton clothing is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters are needed during the cool season. Neat clothes are required for entering temples or palaces. In most hotels en route you can have your clothes washed so you do not need to over pack.

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.