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TRIP NOTES

Best of Thailand 201914 days | Bangkok to Phuket

Best of Thailand 2019 - 14 days updated on 19-10-2018

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311

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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Explore all the delights that

Thailand has to offer on this 14 day

tour, from the bustling Bangkok

to the pristine beaches of Phuket.

Discover the temples of northern

Thailand, relax on the River Kwai

Jungle Rafts and soak in the

waterfalls of Erawana National

Park. Finish your amazing trip with

a few days spent relaxing on the

beautiful beaches of Phuket.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Bangkok - Explore the impressive Grand

Palace, Flower Market, take a tuk tuk ride toWat Pho. Enjoy a long tail boat ride alongthe klongs and have dinner close to thebustling Khao San Road

• Kanchanaburi - Pay your resepects at AlliedWar Cemetary, enjoy a train journey acrsoothe Bridge on the River Kwai and learn thehistory of ‘Hellfire Pass’

• Erawan National Park - Appreciate thebeautiful wildlife and evergreen forests.Discover the 7 tiers of waterfall & goswimming in the pools along the way

• Ayuthaya - Explore the former capital ofThailand, ancient ruins including iconic WatMahatat

• Chiang Mai - Visit Doi Suthep temple,Baan Tong Luang Hill Tribes village, nightmarket and cooking class. Plus free time foroptional activities from spa treatments tocanopy ziplines.

• Cruise the Kok River in a longtail boat• Wat Rhon Khung - Take in the unique ‘White

Temple’• Chiang Rai - Visit the Hill Tribe villages• Hmong Hill Tribe - Overnight stay in their

community• Tropical Phuket - 4 nights of rest and

relaxation on one of Thailand's biggest andmost popular islands

What's Included• 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners• 12 nights 3 - 4 star & Special Class hotels, 1

night floating hotel in the jungle• Economy class flights from Bangkok -

Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai - Bangkok andBangkok - Phuket

• Airport arrival transfer day 1 (Bangkok) &departure transfer day 14 (Phuket)

• Escorted by an English-speaking Thai tourguide

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

• Train ride over the River Kwai and visit toHellfire Pass

• Cooking class in Chiang Mai• Longtail boat cruise on the canals of

Bangkok and on the Kok River

• Free time by the beach in Phuket• All relevant transfers and transportation in

private air-conditioned vehicles

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: USD$55-65, paid in USD• Entrance Fees: USD$30-40, paid in USD• 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 Bangkok, the ever-alluring capital of Thailand. Once you havechecked into your hotel the rest of the day isfree until 6pm when you meet your guide fora welcome meeting. We'll make our way to thelively Khao San Road area, here we'll enjoy awelcome dinner down the bustling street of SoiRambuthri. After dinner your guide will assistyou back to the hotel, alternatively you cancontinue the night at one of the many exuberantbars in the area. Overnight - Bangkok (D)

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Best of Thailand 2019




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Day 2 : Bangkok

This morning we set off to explore this sprawlingmetropolis. The first stop is at the 24 hourflower market where you get to view stunningorchids and roses on sale to the local restaurantsand florists. We then jump on Tuk Tuks andtake an exhilarating ride through the streetsof Bangkok reaching our next stop Wat Pho,home to the famous reclining Buddha. Thenwe visit the spiritual and religious heart of thecity - the striking Grand Palace. Topped bygolden stupas, the complex has been the site ofroyal coronations and is home to the legendaryEmerald Buddha.

After a break for lunch we board a longtailboat and set off on an exploration of thelabrynth of klongs (canals) that criss crossthe city. On our journey we’ll glide by stiltedhouses and gleaming temples whilst old menfish and children play about on the watersedge. Disembarking our boats the rest of theday is at leisure to further explore Bangkokindependently. Overnight - Bangkok (B)

Day 3 : Chiang Rai

Bangkok - Chiang Rai. This morning we head forthe airport before flying north to the stunningcity of Chiang Rai. This afternoon we'll visitfabulous White Temple of Wat Rong Khunwhich depicts scenes from movies including theMatrix, Star Wars and Superman! This temple is

far from ordinary and it's white buildings glistenin the bright Thai sunshine.

This evening we will visit Chiang Rai nightmarket, which boasts many interesting stallsselling local & national handicrafts andsouvenirs. You'll also find a number of streetfood stalls offering a variety of delicious Thaidishes. Overnight - Chiang Rai (B)

Day 4 : Mae RimChiang Rai - Mae Rim. After a leisurely breakfastwe set off towards the hill tribe region,located north of Chiang Mai, reaching ouraccommodation in the afternoon. From here wecan explore the surrounding countryside to visitthe some of the nearby hill tribe villages andgain a wonderful insight into the lives of some ofthe smaller minority groups in the Kingdom. Inthe evening we enjoy a sumptuous BBQ beforebeing entertained by dancers from the localcommunity. Overnight - Mae Rim (B, D)

Day 5 : Chiang Mai

Mae Rim - Chiang Mai. This morning we visitthe Araksa Tea Gardens, home to 110 acresof verdant tea plantations. You'll learn aboutthe history of the tea plantation and theircommitment to supporting the local people.You'll also discover the process of tea growingin this area and try your hand at picking beforeenjoying a cup of the freshest brew.

Later we continue to Chiang Mai and make ourway to the imposing Doi Suthep Temple thatstands like a sentinel over the city. The templeis said to have been founded in 1383 and thebeautiful golden stupa sitting in the centre ofthe temple complex is now the main attraction.

This evening your guide will give you anorientation of the sprawling night market ofChiang Mai. A perfect place to shop awaythe hours and try some exciting local food.Overnight - Chiang Mai (B)

Day 6 : Chiang Mai Cookingclass

This morning we head to a local cooking schoolto try our hand at preparing tasty local cuisinein a traditional Thai setting. This informativecooking class teaches us how to prepare threeof Thailand’s most popular dishes that we’ll laterget to enjoy for lunch.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax andexplore at leisure. In the evening we visit theChiang Mai night market, a haven of souvenirsand works by local artisans. Overnight - ChiangMai (B, L)

Day 7 : Ancient Kingdom ofAyutthaya

Chiang Mai - Ayutthaya. This morning we makeour way to the airport for our flight south,arriving at the airport we then drive to theformer Thai capital of Ayutthaya.

This afternoon we explore Ayutthaya’s famousruins, visiting the magnificent stupas at WatPhri Sanphet and iconic Wat Mahatat where the

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head of a damaged Buddha statue has slowlybeen embraced and lifted by a nearby tree. Thisis one of Thailand’s most religiously significantplaces. This evening we continue to Suphanburifor our overnight stay. Overnight - Suphanburi(B)

Day 8 : River Kwai & HellfirePass

Ayutthaya - Kanchanaburi. This morning wedrive to the small town of Kanchanaburi. Herewe pay our respects to the thousands of AlliedPOWs who perished in the area under thehand of the Imperial Japanese Army. Afterpausing at the Allied War Cemetery we continueto the infamous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’,immortalised by the film of the same name. Youhave a chance to take pictures before you boarda train for a 2 hour journey that crosses thebridge before following the tracks dug by thePOWs and locals some 75 years earlier.

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 9 : Erawan National Park

Kanchanaburi - Bangkok. This morning youmight be lucky enough to interact with the localresident elephant who occasionally pops downto the river bank next to the jungle rafts. Wethen travel on to the beautiful Erawan NationalPark to explore the rivers, waterfalls and trailson foot. You'll have time to explore the 7 tiersof waterfall, perhaps taking a swim in each ofthe pools formed by the falls. Departing Erawanwe make our way to the Airport for our eveningflight to Phuket. Upon arrival in Phuket, you'll bemet and transferred to your hotel where the restof the evening is at leisure. Overnight - Phuket(B)

Days 10-13 : Phuket

You're free to relax on the beautiful islandof Phuket for the next four days. Your hotelis ideally located on Kamala beach which isone of the best on the island and its gentleshelving and calm waters mean it's perfect forswimming all year round. Golden sands lead upto an infinity pool and the rooftop bar offersspectacular sunsets with delicious cocktails.

There are numerous activities that you can doon the island, but one of the most popular iskayaking amongst the rocky caves of nearbyPhang Na Bay, which is home to the iconicJames Bond island. Or perhaps try your hand atscuba diving, there are plenty of dive schools

nearby that offer 'taster' courses for the curious.In the evenings enjoy Kamala's mellow bars andrestaurants or take a short drive to lively Patong.From ladyboys parading in their glamorouscostumes to street bars, sizzling food and loudmusic, Bangla Road in Patong feels like carnivalevery night! Overnight - Phuket (B:4)

Day 14 : PhuketToday marks the end of your Thai adventure.After breakfast and hotel check out we willtransfer you to Phuket airport in time for youronward flight.

Please note that your flight onward fromPhuket is not included in the cost of this tour.(B)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

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 (theamount is noted under exclusions on pageone of this document). A breakdown of theentrance fee total is provided upon arrival. Allfunds collected in Thailand for entrance fees arepayable 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 hours

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ahead 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 at

any 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 photocopies

of your passport. You will need the passportcopies if you are planning to cross intoMyanmar

• 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 noted in the 'Inclusions'section of these Trip Notes) 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. Please enter the arrival hall viaDoor 5. Our On The Go Tours representativewill be waiting in front of Door 5, holding aprominent On The Go Tours logo signboard.After meeting you will be escorted to ourawaiting transportation and transferred to ourtour 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 noted in the'Inclusions' section of your Trip Notes) we willbe at the airport, ready to transfer you toyour 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 arrivesvery, 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.

MalariaAreas 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.

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

WaterThe 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 - 23 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 tourcontinues 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 8 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 similarreputation. 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 involved

at 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.

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 the

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region 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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