Yi Peng Express 6 days Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Transcription

1 6 days Bangkok to Chiang Mai Join in the festivities of the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai on this short, sweet and unique 6 day tour of Thailand. Starting in Bangkok, take in the highlights of the capital, meet the hill tribes of Chiang Rai and explore Chiang Mai, where we'll see thousands of beautifully illuminated lanterns released into the sky and along the river. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Yi Peng & Loi Krathong Festival join the celebrations and marvel at the vibrant parades as lanterns and fireworks are let off Bangkok discover the stunning Grand Palace, the 24 hour flower market and the lively Khao San Road Chiang Mai explore the mountain-top temple of Doi Suthep and barter with merchants at the night market Kok River cruise the river in a traditional longtail boat to enjoy scenic country views and villagers going about their lives Chiang Rai meet the villagers in a local tribe and explore the town of Mae Sai on the border with Myanmar Wat Rong Khun admire this beautiful temple which is unusual because it depicts scenes from famous movies including Star Wars What's Included 4 breakfasts 4 nights 3-4 star & Special Class hotels, 1 night overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai Airport arrival transfer on day 1 Escorted by an English-speaking Thai tour guide (for groups of 6 or more) Guided sightseeing - Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Longtail boat cruise on the canals of Bangkok and on the Kok River Trishaw ride around the old city in Chiang Mai Excursion to the hill tribe villages around Chiang Rai All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles What's Not Included Tipping Kitty: USD$30-40pp, paid in USD Entrance Fees: USD$45-55pp, paid in USD International flights, visa and departure transfer Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$3-6 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture Our Yi Peng arrangements do not include the 'Mass Release' event at Mae Jo. The Mae Jo Mass Release is a paid event with no historical significance. Tickets cost between $100 - $300, are limited and can be purchased independantly online, should you wish to make your own arrangements to attend DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Welcome to Thailand Saturday 9th November Welcome to Thailand and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, after attending to immigration, please proceed to the Arrivals Hall, EXITING VIA DOOR B, where you will be met by an On The Go Tours representative, carrying an On The Go Tours sign. Note: our representative will be waiting for you outside Door B, should you happen to exit via Door A or Door C, please walk to the Door B exit 100m away where our representative will be waiting for you. Please show this tour voucher to our representatives upon arrival and ensure it is returned to you as you may need it later on your travels. If, for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, or on arrival, you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of - 6 days - 1 -

2 waiting, please call the emergency contact persons as listed on your tour voucher. Please do not exit the airport and make your own way to the start hotel, please follow the advice given by our emergency contact persons. If arriving to Bangkok via Don Mueang International Airport, our arrival procedure is the same as above with the exception that after attending to immigration and entering the Arrivals Hall, please proceed to the 'Information' counter near Door No 5 where our representative will be waiting for you. Once you have met our representative you will be escorted to our awaiting transportation and a driver will transfer you to our hotel. Upon arrival please give your name to the hotel receptionist and check into your room. Now, the adventure begins! Day One is an arrival day for all passengers. Spend the day independently exploring the city before heading back to the hotel this evening for our welcome meeting hosted by your tour guide, scheduled to commence at 6pm. After the meeting you might like to join your guide and other members of the group for a meal. Overnight - Bangkok Day 2 : Bustling Bangkok Today we explore the stunning Grand Palace, crowned by lofty gilt stupas and home to the legendary Emerald Buddha. We ll also visit the House of the Reclining Buddha, the Original Thai Massage School and the 24hr Flower Market before boarding longtail boats to explore the city s canals, known as Khlongs. Exploring the city by boat gives insight into the lives of the city's riverside dwellers - the overtly rich and incredibly poor. Stepping off our longtail boat we head over to Khao San Road, popular with backpackers and hippies for a little free time. At approximately 5pm we return to our hotel and use the hotel lobby facilities to freshen up before departing for the rail station to catch the Northern Line, 7:20pm Special Express Service (2nd class A/C sleeper cabins) bound for Chiang Mai. As you board the train (your guide will be there to assist you) it's also time to say goodbye to your tour guide as they will not be travelling with you to Chiang Mai. OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAIN Tonight you'll bed down in the sleeper wagons aboard the overnight train. The class of carriage is 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper, though sometimes air-conditioning maybe replaced with fans depending upon availability. 2nd class sleepers carriages contain bunk beds running along both sides of the carriage with a central corridor in the middle. By day the top bunk is folded away and the lower bunk serves as two individual seats facing each other. When you are ready to retire the carriage steward will come along and make up the beds for you. All cabins are mixed sex. Your cabin is not a cabin as such, but rather your own private cubicle once the curtain is drawn at night. The curtain serves as a barrier between you and the main corridor of the train. Luggage, including hand luggage should be locked (as you would do when travelling on an overnight train anywhere in the world) and can be stored underneath the lower bunk or on the overhead luggage rack if sleeping up on top. The carriage is manned by an attendant who will distribute clean linen, pillow and a blanket free of charge. Dependent upon the service, a variety of snacks and drinks or full dinner service can be ordered at an additional cost, though we suggest you purchase dinner and breakfast for the following morning before boarding the train. In addition, there are WC facilities (European and also squat-style ) at each end of the carriage. Cleanliness is normally quite good, though we still recommend you carry your own anti-bacterial hand wipes and toilet paper for comfort. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B) Day 3 : Chiang Mai This morning we arrive into the picturesque city of Chiang Mai, nestled in the foothills of northern Thailand. Upon arrival you will be met by our local guide at the station. The train is scheduled to arrive to Chiang Mai at 7.40am. Although the train near always departs on time, expect our arrival time to be two hours later that scheduled. We take a trishaw ride and explore the old city of Chiang Mai before driving up to the holy temple Doi Suthep, which is perched on a mountain top overlooking Chiang Mai. This afternoon we'll prepare for tomorrow's Yi Peng Festival by making our own Krathongs to sail down the river, heading to the market first to stock up on all the materials we need. This evening, you can head into the night market to explore many of the street foods on offer and perhaps try your hand at haggling. Overnight - Chiang Mai Day 4 : Yi Peng Festival Today is free for you to spend at leisure before the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong festivities this evening. Relax or partake in some of the activities on offer. Choose from adrenalinefuelled adventures such a canopy zip lining and rock climbing or opt for a more relaxing affair with spa treatments and massages. No trip to Chiang Mai would be complete without trying a local cooking class and perfecting your very own Pad Thai! - 6 days - 2 -

3 This evening we join in the celebrations of the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong Festival. Celebrated throughout the Kingdom on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, the Loi Krathong festival is named after the floating lanterns, boats and ornaments that are set adrift onto rivers during the celebrations. For some, floating a Krathong, especially when lit, are meant to honour Buddha. For most Thais, it s a way to thank the Hindu Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha, for her help in providing the most basic of all human necessities. The practice is also associated with creating good luck and ridding oneself of anger an negative thoughts. Some will cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the Krathong, to symbolise the letting go of the bad elements of one's self. In Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna Kingdom, Loi Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng where a multitude of Lannastyle sky lanterns adorned with good luck wishes and prayer are released into the sky. Tonight, as both Loi Krathong and Yi Peng are being celebrated at the same time, we will see lanterns floating on the waters, strings of pretty lights hanging from houses and temples, and hundreds of beautiful lanterns floating by in the sky. Setting out on foot with our guide, we'll aim to catch the lantern releases and join the other festivities which usually include fireworks, boat racing on the Ping River and parades through the streets. Please note: Our Yi Peng arrangements do not include the 'Mass Release' event at Mae Jo. The Mae Jo Mass Release is a paid event with no historical significance. Tickets cost between $100 - $300, are limited and can be purchased online, should you wish to make your own arrangements to attend. Overnight - Chiang Mai (B) Day 5 : Cruising the Kok River Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai. Our journey today takes us through stunning karst and jungle scenery. Stopping for lunch at Ta Thon we board private long tail boats for a cruise down the Kok River watching rural life pass us by. Farmers work the land where oranges grow whilst men fish along the banks and buffalo wallow in the shallow waters. From our arrival point continue to the unique Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple) which depicts scenes from modern movies including the Matrix, Star Wars and Superman! We continue to our hotel in Chiang Rai arriving in the early evening. Once you have checked in the guide will take you down to the night market for you to do some last minute bargain hunting and to sample some of the delicacies of the region. Overnight - Chiang Rai (B) Day 6 : Chiang Rai & return to Chiang Mai Thursday 14th November Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai. After breakfast, we check out and depart at 8.00am. Our first stop is at a village where you have the chance to encounter the famous Long Neck or Karen (pronounced Car Ren) tribe. We continue to the border frontier town of Mae Sai, where you have the chance to cross briefly into Myanmar and enter the Burmese town of Tachileik (optional). Tachileik - Burma Thai's pop across to Tachileik for a weekend of gambling, officially illegal in Thailand or to purchase goods not available locally. The town's sole existence nowadays is trade, particularly counterfeited merchandise made in China or Taiwan. Although the town doesn't offer any great sightseeing opportunities, this may possibly be the only opportunity you have to visit a land that was closed for such a long time. If you are making the hop you won't need to change currency as the town uses Thai Baht and not the Burmese/Myanmar Kyat. Currently the visa cost is 500 baht, though technically this is not official and can vary on the day depending on the angle of the sun, and whether Manchester United managed to beat City in the local derby. We continue to Chiang Saen, better known as the Golden Triangle a name earned from the fact that so much opium passed through the area, a drug that, at the time, was worth more than gold. We stand at a viewpoint that lets us see Burma in front of us, and Laos to the right. We take time to visit the Opium Museum before returning to Chiang Mai late evening, where arrangements end at approximately 8-9pm. Post tour accommodation can be booked upon request. Alternatively, you can opt to finish your tour in Chiang Rai or book our Bangkok extension.(b) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Thailand Country Guide Entrance fees - collected in USD Entrance fees to most sites are not included, although reasonably priced. In Thailand, we collect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (the amount is noted under exclusions on page one of this document). A breakdown of the entrance fee total is provided upon arrival. All funds collected in Thailand for entrance fees are payable in USD. - 6 days - 3 -

4 Tipping Kitty - collected in USD At the start of your tour, we take a small tipping kitty (the amount is noted under exclusions) from all tour participants to cover tips throughout your holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, train conductors and other support staff throughout the tour. This amount does not include a tip for your tour guides. For a job well done, we would suggest USD $3-6 per person per day. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture and ultimately the amount is up to you. Voltage & Time The voltage in Thailand is 220v. In Thailand there are 2 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flat prong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin plug (type C). To cover all bases, it is best to pack an international travel adaptor! Thailand is 7 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight saving. Climate The best time to travel to Thailand central and north including Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Sukhothai is from November to April, with little rain, if any expected throughout this time. After the cooler winter months, from mid January temperatures start to rise reaching 30 C and more between March May. Between May and July the south west monsoons arrive, travel during this time can still be pleasant with the rain coming in the form of short downpours, lasting an hour or two, clearing the way for warm, clear skies. In August and September the rain continues to fall and temperatures remain high, though by October the mercury has fallen and November marks the start of of the dry season in the central and north once again. The far north and Chiang Rai are generally cooler than the surrounding regions with an annual average temperature of 25o C and with a lower humidity. The best time to travel is either the cool season from Oct Feb or the wet season (Jun - Sept) when aside from the rain, conditions are mild with temperatures around 25oC. March May is warmer with temperatures rising to 36oC. The Gulf of Thailand, including the Hua Hin coastal region has three defined seasons. From December to February you can expect blue skies, plenty of sunshine with refreshing sea breezes to keep temperatures at bay. From March June there is still plenty of blue sky and temperatures will rise above 30 C. Rain is unlikely till till the end of June when it comes in the form of hour-long afternoon downpours, clearing the way for more blue skies and bright sunshine. In late- August/September the monsoon arrives and you can expect sunny spells interspersed with rainy periods. Rainfall usually peaks between October and November. Currency The official currency in Thailand is the Baht. Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged at banks or or at any one on of the numerous exchange booths that line the streets of the big cities. You may also choose to purchase currency in advance, though its possibly not necessary as ATMs can be found everywhere with the exception of the hill tribe areas of Chiang Rai and if enroute between Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong border if crossing to Laos. It is not common to pay with a credit card at restaurants, cafes or shops for small purchases and if you do often there will be a surcharge applied or minimum charge required. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Essential Packing Lightweight cotton garments including some items that cover your shoulders and knees Torch is staying overnight at the Jungle Rafts Two spare passport photos & 2 photocopies of your passport. You will need the passport copies if you are planning to cross into Myanmar Sleep sheet, towel and some warm clothes for your village stay if travelling on our Thailand, Temples & Tribes Tour Comfortable walking shoes (again especially if joining our Thailand Temples & Tribes Tour) in addition to flip flops/ thongs you can wear in the shower DEET based mosquito repellent & antihistamine cream Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 round pin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universal adaptor 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 your luggage with you on the Jungle Rafts (if applicable) Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume Arrival Transfers If your tour or short stay includes an airport arrival transfer (as noted in the 'Inclusions' section of these Trip Notes) our arrival procedure is as follows: Arrive Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi International Airport OR Don Mueang International Airport and attend to immigration formalities before collecting your luggage and proceeding to the arrivals hall. Please enter the arrival hall via Door 5. Our On The Go Tours representative will be waiting in front of Door 5, holding a prominent On The Go Tours logo signboard. After meeting you will be escorted to our awaiting transportation and transferred to our tour start hotel. If for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes in the arrival hall) or your flight is delayed please call the emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher. If arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includes an airport arrival transfer as noted in the 'Inclusions' section of your Trip Notes) we will be at the airport, ready to transfer you to your hotel. Further if you are booking pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrival transfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrives very, very early in the morning) you will need to purchase a night of pretour accommodation to save you waiting - 6 days - 4 -

5 until standard hotel check in time, which is generally 2pm. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice before travelling to Thailand from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus are strongly recommended. If travelling to remote areas, further vaccinations including TB, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Diphtheria and Japanese encephalitis may also be necessary. Malaria Areas with Malaria: Rural only. Including forested areas that border Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Laos, and rural, forested areas in the districts of Phang Nga and Phuket. Malaria is not found in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Phang Nga and Phuket. The risk of contracting Malaria in Thailand is low. Bilharzia May be present in some rivers and lakes and we recommend it best to avoid swimming in untested waterways. Water The tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink, only drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available from shops, hotels and restaurants. Guides And Groups Our Southeast Asia tours are modular which means that we offer sectors of our longer tours. On your holiday you may be joined by new travellers for a section of your tour and you may end your tour before or after other members of your group. Guiding: For tours that start in Bangkok, a Thai guide will escort all arrangements throughout Thailand. If your tour continues to another country a qualified guide native to that country will escort the tour from there forward. Our tours that end in Bangkok are not fully escorted for the Thailand sector. On our Signature Tours you will have a local guide for your Bangkok city tour. On our Budget Tours a local guide will meet you at the Cambodia border and escort you to your hotel, then you will be unescorted for the rest of your stay in Bangkok. Transportation On all our tours we use a combination of vehicles including mini buses, small and large size coaches. When travelling in the north of Thailand our vehicles of choice are mini buses as they are best equipped at navigating narrow winding roads and mountain passes. In these areas a number of mini buses rather than one large coach. Each vehicle comfortably accommodates 8 persons and tour guide will swap between vehicles offering commentary en-route, in addition to making stops to give more further information at points of interest. Shopping Bangkok is rapidly gaining a reputation as a key shopping destination in Asia, with visitors being drawn by the variety of products and shopping environments, as well as the great prices. Chatuchak, is a market that gains momentum over the weekend to become arguably the largest in Southeast Asia, everything can be found here, from hand made jewellery to the latest fashions. This city is blessed with a number of top quality shopping malls, perhaps the most popular for visitors is MBK. This 8 floor monstrosity offers everything from telephones to sushi, designer labels to unique designs. It is safe to assume that anything with a brand that is being sold out of a store bearing the same brand may not necessarily be the real deal. There is something here for everyone, including a multi screen cinema showing the latest movies in English for those who would like to rest their weary feet whilst others continue on their spending spree. Another wonderful feature of Bangkok are her nightmarkets. It seems that once the sun goes down, the temporary stalls come out, everywhere. Patpong is famous for its genuine fakes, Sukhumvit Road boats a similar reputation. The mixture of bargains, street food and general vibe of the city make these markets a highlight to explore by foot. Remember to haggle, and if you think something is over priced then walk away. They will not sell to you at a loss, so if they can make some money on the deal they will call you back. Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware! It is always safe to assume that anything with a brand on it is a copy and should be treated as such. Some of these copies can be incredibly good, leaving the untrained eye incapable of telling the difference. It is therefore always best to assume it is a copy unless you really know what you are looking at. The city is also well known for its scams. Some tailors will drastically overcharge for shoddy workmanship that is delivered minutes before you leave on your return flight so you cant get it changed. Some jewellers have been known to sell fake or greatly over priced products. If the jewellers or tailors does not come highly recommended, a large amount of caution should be used. IMPORTANT: Any purchases made whilst travelling are at your own discretion. Make sure you are completely happy at the product you are purchasing. on the go will not become involved at any time, at a later date or once you return home should your purchase not live up to your expectations. Proceed with caution. A New Tailored Suit! If you are looking to have suits made up, you might like to consider 'The Grand Fashion International' tailor shop. The shop is open from 9am - 9pm daily and is easy enough to get to by taxi, the address can be found in your welcome letter that you will receive upon arrival. The shop offers quality suiting and garments made to measure. Customer feedback so far has been very 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 the side of the road kind of stuff this would not be the place. Head to the night markets instead. Prices: Tailored ladies/men cotton blend shirts business shirts start at USD$40, Ladies trousers fully lined at USD$60, Mens blazer/jacket fully lined USD$90 and a fully lined suit, with shirts from USD$160. The catch! You are going to need at least 48 hours to have items made. After making your order you would need 1-2 fittings to ensure that suit fits just right. The shop can send a car to pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to and from their premises for the fittings. My best advice would be at the time you are placing the order, schedule your fittings there - 6 days - 5 -

6 and then so you can plan your time for the days ahead. If for example you arrived a day early, you could visit the tailor on this day then schedule your first fitting at say 4pm on day 1, then a final 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 savings can be made. Also do let them know that you are travelling with On the Go. They are aware of our itineraries and what time fittings can be scheduled plus its in their best interest to keep you satisfied. It's your choice to shop here, elsewhere or not at all in your free time. Airline Luggage Allowance If your tour includes international or domestic flights please be mindful that the free baggage allowance for Economy class travel within the region is strictly 20kg and 1 piece of hand luggage up to 6kg. Any additional weight is charged at a per kilo rate. You may wish to keep this in mind whilst shopping. It's not like home Travel to far - flung corners of the earth involves lifestyles and conditions that are sometimes very different from what you are used to back home. You must come prepared to cope with unusual situations, local inadequacies and unpredictable events as and when they occur. Foreign travel is definitely not suitable for people who expect or demand everything to go exactly as planned. With the greatest respect and in the interest of your ultimate enjoyment you must understand this. Things can and do change in foreign countries. - 6 days - 6 -