GUIDE THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA 31 DAYS SUMMER 2019

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1 GUIDE THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA SUMMER DAYS

2 WHERE ARE YOU GOING? THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA An expedition for the bona fide explorer! Your journey will encompass some of the most dramatic scenery and fascinating aspects of each country. Trek through the jungles and raft the wild rivers of Laos. Explore the haunting temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and enjoy the white sands of Thailand s Ko Chang Island. Discover a dizzying variety of cultures as you journey from place to place, and experience the incredible warmth of the people in mainland Southeast Asia. The purpose of this brief is to introduce your expedition opportunity. It will give you a feel for the destination and the type of activities that you will be involved in. We hope this brief snapshot will leave you feeling inspired and wanting more! HIGHLIGHTS Experience one of the wonders of the world Angkor Wat Help wih a community ecotourism project in Cambodia Trek through jungle and mountains of Thailand and Laos Enjoy beautiful Ko Chang Island WHAT IT S LIKE... PHYSICAL RATING: Moderately challenging expedition. CULTURE SHOCK: Eye-opening - you will experience a very different world! ALTITUDE: The expedition will not exceed 3500m. VISA: Visa required for British nationals. DESTINATION FACTS RELIGION/S: Buddhism. CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL INTEREST: Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are home to many ancient and sacred temples; Buddhism is thriving once more after 20th century oppression. LANGUAGES: Thai, Lao and Khmer. GEOGRAPHY: Tropical lowlands with lush vegetation, plentiful hills, rivers and sandy coastlines. CLIMATE: Tropical with seasonal rainfall (monsoon in late summer).

3 WHAT IS AN? Expeditions are a life-changing experience, a chance for young people to go on a fun and educational journey with their friends. Most expedition destinations are third-world or developing countries, allowing students to not only experience stunning parts of the world but also witness a vert different way of life, often with the chance to immerse themselves in the culture through project work. HOW IT WORKS... EXPEDITION TIMELINE EXPEDITION LAUNCH ITINERARY DEVELOPMENT FUNDRAISING EXPEDITION BRIEFING EXPEDITION TRAINING DEPARTURE DAY FUNDRAISING Our expeditions are made up of four main phases; acclimatisation, trekking, project and rest & relaxation. During the build-up we put students in the driving seat, allowing them to finalise their itinerary Acclimatisation Trekking Project R&R Arrive in country and spend some time getting used to the new culture whilst planning your next phase and changing currency. You may take part in a trek during - either a cultural trek through villages or an attempt to summit a nearby mountain! Dedicate some time to helping on a project - either community or environmental based, often working with local people. Treat yourself to some Rest & Relaxation! This usually involves a few days on a beautiful beach, reflecting on your expedition.

4 EXAMPLE ITINERARY The below itinerary has been created by our Expedition Planner as a guide. DAY 1-3 DAY 4-8 Fly from the UK to Bangkok, the sprawling, fascinating capital of Thailand. Explore the city while acclimatising to the time-zone (and heat!) and prepare for your onward journey. Travel to Laos. Begin an unforgettable trek through the jungle of Ban Dongbang, staying in eco-lodges and home-stays along the route. Gain insight into the culture and everyday life of people in the beautiful and remote region. DAY 9-10 DAY DAY DAY Take a bus to Paske and get the pulses racing as you embark on a day of white water rafting on the Huay Bang Lieng River! Travel to Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, and explore the city. After two days the team will move on to Siem Reap to visit the 12 Century ruins of Angkor Wat. You can also visit the floating village of Chong Kneas. Head south to the Cardamom Mountains and the village of Chi Phat. Spend 6 days supporting a community based eco-tourism programme designed to encourage the local people to become actively involved in wildlife conservation. Work could involve trail clearing, camp building, tree planting and English teaching. Spend four days of R&R in stunning Ko Chang, Thailand. Sunbathe on sparkling beaches, visit elephant camps and explore the rainforests that cascade from the mountains to the sea. DAY Take care of any last minute shopping and celebrate the completion of your expedition with a meal out in Trat before flying home to the UK. Due to the changing nature of the world over the build up period, Outlook may be required to change aspects of, or the order of the itinerary. Outlook will consult with the Link Teacher/Group Leader and all participants if this is the case.

5 ADVENTURE At the Itinerary Development Day, with guidance from one of our destination experts, the team will be able to choose from options to finalise their itinerary. The choices may include the project they work with, the challenge level and type of trek and where they go for some rest and relaxation! Take a trek through the spectacular stone forest of Phou Hin Poun in Northern Laos. teh area is home to an abundance of wildlife, including elephants and monkeys, and you will learn all about this amazing environment from your local guides as they lead you through the ancient forests. As well as the impressive views travelling through ranges of limestone peaks and river valleys, you will discover temples and shrines in vast cathedral-like caves. Village guides will accompany you to the village of Phontong where you will spend the night in village homestays. In the evening the villagers will perform a baci ceremony and prepare traditional laos food to welcome you. The second day of your trek is more challenging, taking you through bamboo forests and on to Kuhn Kong Leng Lake with its magical bright turquoise waters. PROJECT Head to the Cardamom Mountains to help with your community project. The community-based ecotourism project (CBET) in Chi Phat, with the help of the Cambodian Wildlife Alliance, aims to address the deforestation in the area. Illegal logging, hunting and clearing for farming threaten the species and integrity of the forest ecosystems and watersheds. The CBET project aims to provide economically and egologically sustainable income opportunities from tourism; helping to protect the natural resources of their region. The project provides teams with an amazing opportunity for a unique green adventure in some rarely visited villages in the Southern Cardamoms. You could be helping to establish trails in the rainforest, plant trees and dig irrigation channels. You will also have the opportunity to take guided treks into the remote wilderness. You will be sure to leave with a tremendous sense of satisfaction that you have made a real difference. Cross over the border into Cambodia and visit the famous UNESCO Heritage site of the temples of Angkor. Built in the 12th century, the temples of Angkor are one of the world s greatest historical and religious sites- the sheer scale of the buildings will leave you awestruck. Explore the temples before heading out to the floating village of Chong Kneas to experience life on the river. After trekking and exploring the humid interior, head out to the cooling shores of Thailand s spectacular Koh Chang Island. Relax on the pristine beaches, swim in the crystal clear waters and take some time to explore the inland forests and elephants sanctuary.

6 WHAT S INCLUDED? UK BUILD UP* Itinerary Development Day Expedition Development Day Final Preparation Day TRAINING Expedition Training weekend in the UK with your Expedition Leader. LINK TEACHER TRAINING Leader Team Training including first aid. LEADER TEAM COMPOSITION At least 2 Link Teacher and an Outlook Expedition Leader. FLIGHTS International flights. INSURANCE Comprehensive overseas insurance. TRANSPORT All overseas transport. IN DESTINATION All food and accommodation. All group activities including any entrance fees. All rest and relaxation activity. WHAT S NOT INCLUDED? Spending money for gifts / souvenirs whilst on expedition. Inoculations, prophylaxis and personal medicine. (All participants based in England and Wales receive 10% discount at Nomad Travel). Visas and passports please see page 3 to see which visas are required. Personal belongings insurance (this may be covered by your household / contents insurance). Cancellation insurance. Personal equipment (e.g. rucksack, sleeping bag, waterproof clothing); all participants receive 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor. Transport to and from UK-based training courses, to the Final Preparation Day venue and from the airport. Food and accommodation in the UK, unless specified.

7 HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR We hope you have decided that this is the expedition for your school or group. To launch all you need to do is follow these steps: CONTACT YOUR REGIONAL MANAGER Discuss convenient dates for us to come and run an assembly and information evening. Once these dates have been agreed you will be assigned a School Account Manager. They will become your point of contact at Outlook from now until after your return from the expedition. PRESENTATION AT YOUR SCHOOL We will run an assembly presentation for your students and an information evening for students and parents at your school or venue. APPLY ONLINE Students will apply online to join the expedition and pay a deposit. phone INFO@OUTLOOKEXPEDITIONS.COM online