trip highlights Raising money for Epworth Medical Foundation Cycle through friendly fishing villages and stunning mountain scenery Turquoise waters and white sand beaches Enjoy delicious Thai cuisine Explore the beautiful coastal provinces on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea The emphasis on this tour is Thailand s history, culture, scenery and of course the beautiful coastline! Trip Duration 10 days Trip Code: EP8 Grade Introductory to Moderate Activities Charity Challenge and 5 days cycle Summary 10 day Thailand challenge Supporting Your Cause Epworth Medical Foundation Epworth Medical Foundation (EMF) opened in 1982 to raise much needed funds to ensure patients at Epworth Health Care receive the best possible care. Our work is vital, because Epworth is a charitable, not for profit hospital. We rely on your generosity to enable us to stay at the forefront of advancements in medical technology, for our patients. Epworth is a private, not for profit organisation. We receive very limited funding from government. Instead, we rely on funds raised by Epworth Medical Foundation to continue to provide our patients with the best possible facilities, equipment, surgical expertise and access to research. By taking part in the EMF Bike for Health, you will not only enjoy the adventure of a lifetime: you will also be helping to give vital support to hundreds of our patients. Your Huma Challenge Thank you for your interest in our Epworth Charity Challenge Cycle Southern Thailand. Huma Charity Challenge is a division of the worldwide adventure travel company World Expeditions. When joining a Huma Charity Challenge you embark on a remarkable journey to discover your inner philanthropist as you raise money for a Charity that is important to you. At the same time you take on the challenge of fundraising and partake in an adventure to discover new worlds, new landscapes and new cultures... perhaps you ll even discover how far your personal boundaries stretch as you take on a physical challenge like a cycling, trekking or a mountaineering adventure. We are passionate about off the beaten track travel experiences as they provide travellers with the thrill of coming face to face with untouched cultures as well as wilderness regions of great natural beauty. Our itineraries are well researched, affordable and tailored for the enjoyment of small groups. Our itineraries provide the very best travel experience, designed by people with vast local knowledge who share our vision of authentic exchange and real exploration with a responsible travel approach at the core. 1 2016 World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/2016 12:06:44 PM
2017 24 Feb - 05 Mar Trip Dates Charity Challenge Payments Joining Australia Travel/Fundraising Cost Twin Share: $6390 Non Refundable Registration Fee: $200 Optional Single Supplement: $610 All prices are per person Huma Challenge does not require single travellers to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above. What Impact Will My Fundraising Have? Epworth Medical Foundation The difference you make When you donate to the Foundation, your generosity is used to directly benefit our patients. For example, more than half of all medical equipment at Epworth HealthCare is funded by the Foundation, and 80 percent of our medical research. Charitable funds are used to support: *state of the art medical equipment that ensures our patients receive the very best *world class facilities that maximise patient outcomes, safety and comfort *groundbreaking medical research projects and trials, shared with our patients *staff education and training opportunities to pass best practice on to our patients *support programs to care for our patients emotional and financial needs Your Adventure For a cultural immersion into the friendly rural landscapes of Thailand, cycling is the way to travel. Taking the quiet roads on scenic routes, past pineapple plantations, through national parks with limestone hills and alongside sublime coastal beaches, the itinerary offers plenty of opportunity to stop and chat with friendly locals. From the capital Bangkok where we begin cycling along canal ways and past temples and traditional houses. From here we head south to explore the beautiful coastal provinces on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, visiting interesting fishing villages. We ride through the stunning mountain scenery, take a speed boat to the island of Koh Samui, where snorkelling in the crystal clear water is possible right from the beach. Fundraising Options There are a number of ways you can approach your fundraising: 1.Simply pay for it yourself, as you would any other holiday (although this will be a LOT more memorable than any other holiday!). If you do so, $2,500 of this cost will be tax deductible. 2.Fundraise some or all of the amount. When you do so, any donations that others make towards your challenge will be tax deductible. If you d like to fundraise for your trip but don t know where to start, our professional fundraisers will provide you with the support and resources to make it easy and stress free. Online Fundraising Portal When fundraising for the charity donation component of this challenge you must seek permission of your charity before beginning to fundraise in their name. The team at Epworth will be in touch with you upon registration to give you the details of the online fundraising page and permission to fundraise. The minimum fundraising target is $2,500 per person. You can do it! 2 2016 World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/2016 12:06:44 PM
Itinerary at a Glance DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 DAY 10 FRIDAY 10TH MARCH DEPART AUSTRALIA SATURDAY 11TH MARCH ARRIVE BANGKOK SUNDAY 12TH MARCH PRANBURI MONDAY 13TH MARCH KHIRI KHAN TUESDAY 14TH MARCH BAN KRUT WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH CHUMPHON THURSDAY 16TH MARCH KOH SAMUI FRIDAY 17TH MARCH KOH SAMUI SATURDAY 18TH MARCH FLY TO BANGKOK SUNDAY 19TH MARCH ARRIVE AUSTRALIA What s Included Economy return International Airfare with Thai Airways ex Australian cities. $2,500 fundraising amount, tax deductible Internal flight Samui to Bangkok valued at US$150 Trip escorted by Epworth Medical Foundation representative multi speed or hybrid mountain bike 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners 1 nights in comfortable hotel accommodation on a twin share basis 6 nights in resorts on a twin share basis expert bilingual cycling guide medical kit cycling support vehicle basic cycling tools and spares snacks and water whilst cycling sightseeing and entry fees as listed in itinerary Detailed Itinerary DAY 1 Friday 10th March Depart Australia After all the planing and preparation the wait is finally over! Please make your way to your Australian gateway airport for your late night flight to Bangkok. Flight details will be sent once you register. meals: NIL DAY 2 Saturday 11th March Arrive Bangkok On arrival in Bangkok you will be met by our crew and transferred to your group hotel,for a chance to freshen which is close to the Grand Palace where we will enjoy lunch overlooking the Chao Phraya River. Here we will be fitted for bikes and take a relaxing tour of historical Bangkok.The old part of the city is criss-crossed with many small alleyways, quiet streets and riverside paths. You will explore these lanes to visit hidden temples, local markets, and catch a glimpse of daily life away from the major roads and tourist attractions. Late afternoon is free, you can visit the more famous temples, take in a massage, shop at the markets or relax by the pool. This evening we will meet in the hotel lobby at approximately 7.00pm for a group meeting and trip briefing before we head out to enjoy our first meal together. Cycle - 15 kms meals: L,D 3 2016 World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/2016 12:06:44 PM
Fast Facts Countries Visited: Thailand Visas: Please check visa requirements with your reservations consultant* Vaccinations: Please consult a travel vaccination specialist for up to date information Group Size Min: 16 Group Size Max: 35 Singles: A single supplement is available for this trip* Leader: Expert Local Leader & Escort *Ask our staff for more information. DAY 3 Sunday 12th March Pranburi Wake up early to participate in the Thai tradition of making an offering to Buddhist monks. As we are on the river, here they ll be coming by in their boats. After a leisurely breakfast we transfer for approx 2 hours to Klong Khone to start our bike ride. This ride is a gentle start to the trip as we head out of Petchaburi and into rural Thailand, along roads flanked by paddy fields and palm trees. We then ride along the beach into Cha-am, ending at our very comfortable, secluded and beautiful resort set in wonderfully landscaped grounds. Here we have time for a swim or massage before we enjoy a great dinner at the hotel. Cycle - 70kms DAY 4 Monday 13th March Khiri Khan More quiet back roads and beaches await on this great day of riding. A highlight of the day is cycling past the stark limestone mountains of Sam Roi Yot National Park. If you are really lucky you might spot monkeys hanging out on the rocks. After the park we have a short ride on the main road, before heading back to the coast, passing many small villages on the way. After riding 70 km, we will transfer to hotel in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The selected hotel has some great views and as the town is well known for having some the finest seafood in Thailand we ll feast on the local specialties at dinner. Cycle - 70kms DAY 5 Tuesday 14th March Ban Krut Today s ride will be along the coast with picturesque fishing boats making excellent photo opportunities, flat ride past fishing villages, schools, temples and many coconut plantations. Following a windy road that offers some shade we soon find ourselves in the midst of shrimp farms. We then hop in the van to miss a busy section of highway before continuing on towards our serene beach and nature friendly hotel. Cycle - 50kms DAY 6 Wednesday 15th March Chumphon This morning we ride along the coast on quite roads with very little traffic, views of sea on one side and other the mountains. We are passing through Thailand s narrowest part as the border with Burma is less than 20 km away at some points. We end the ride at Sai Daeng beach and transfer to Chumphon, just north of the main town and ferry terminal. Cycle - 70kms DAY 7 Thursday 16th March Koh Samui The ferry leaves early so you ll be up and away from the resort very early for the drive to the pier. The ferry is a comfortable high speed catamaran, and takes 4 hours and 20 minutes to reach Samui so there is plenty of time to relax after the early morning. Upon arrival we will transfer to your resort on Lamai Beach where you can spend the afternoon chilling out and resting your cycling legs. The beaches in Samui are world famous for their clear water and white beaches. Your resort is located right on the beach. Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant to celebrate our cycle. meals: B,D 4 2016 World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/2016 12:06:44 PM
Responsible Travel The environments we travel through are fragile. It is our responsibility as visitors to minimise the impact of our presence. World Expeditions were the proud recipients of the inaugural Australian National Travel Industry s Environmental Achievement award for our Responsible Travel Guidebook. This detailed guide to responsible & sustainable travel is provided to all World Expeditions clients before they travel. Please ask your consultant if you have not received your copy of our award winning book. Alternatively, you may like to download a copy from our website www.humacharitychallenge.com Trip grading Introductory to Moderate Our Cycle Thailand trip is rated introductory to moderate and therefore requires a reasonably good level of fitness. Cycling experience is also required. In preparation for your trip you should be doing at least 30 minutes to one hour of good cardiovascular exercise, 2 3 times per week for approximately 2 3 months prior to your trip. Cycling should also form part of your training. Remember the fitter you are the more enjoyable your experience will be. Adventure Travel By its very nature Charity Challenges involve an element of the unexpected. In remote and developing countries do not expect standards you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable and itineraries may be altered. To get the most out of your adventure it is important that you are suitably fit, flexible, positive and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. If you are uncertain about your suitability for this trip we recommend that you speak with your charity representative or one of our team. DAY 8 Friday 17th March Koh Samui A full day to enjoy all that Samui has to offer. Take a cooking class, trekking to waterfalls, Thai massage or relax on the beach. There is plenty in Samui to keep you entertained. Dinner is not included so you can head off to the bigger restaurants in town or dine on the beach. meals: B DAY 9 Saturday 18th March Fly to Bangkok Late afternoon we are transferred to airport for your flight home. meals: B DAY 10 Sunday 19th March Arrive Australia This morning we arrive back home in Australia after a life-changing journey to one of the most fascinating countries in the world. What a wild ride! meals: NIL This itinerary is subject to change with any modifications in Community regulations as well as Governmental changes and natural circumstances beyond our control. Country Information Thailand has welcomed tourism to its lands for a significantly longer period than any other Asian country. The appeal of its good natured people, traditions, architecture, fine arts and variety of environments has drawn many tourists to the country. Formally known as Siam, Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy. It is the only South East Asian country to have resisted a European power and therefore is not laced with the same settler influences of other countries in the region. However, it does have ethnic diversity in the number of minority groups it has attracted from China and other regions. The people of Thailand are primarily Buddhist and are gentle in manner. The country has a diverse geography, primarily mountainous in the north and beach filled in the south. The food of Thailand is spicy and uses fresh ingredients with plenty of variety. Dishes are almost always accompanied by rice or noodles. Fresh fruit and vegetables are plentiful. Climate The hot season lasts from March to June and light cotton clothing and hats are recommended. The rainy season starts in June and ends in October. On average you can expect daytime temperatures of between 25 and 32 C (77 and 89 F), with cooler night temperatures (although it is unlikely to be cold). Dietary Requirements Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut free or allergen free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travellers with life threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self administering these medications. 5 2016 World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/2016 12:06:44 PM
Important Note These trip notes represent the most current information for this itinerary, and may supersede any other supplied information, including but not limited to the itinerary and price. The itinerary should be seen as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to inclement weather, forces of nature and other circumstances beyond our control. Accommodation on the Trip Bangkok we stay in 4 star, twin share rooms that are centrally located, atmospheric and reliable. We use beautiful coastal resorts on this journey set in tropical surrounds and all with pools for you to enjoy after a days ride. What You Carry In your daypack you will need to carry a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, insect repellent, lip balm etc. Equipment Required A bike helmet is compulsory on this trip. We also highly recommend bike pants, gloves and a gel seat cover for your own comfort. A full gear list will be provided on booking. What s Not Included Visa costs Travel Insurance (compulsory) Food & beverages and other sightseeing not mentioned in the itinerary Expenditure of a personal nature such as telephone calls, laundry, alcohol and souvenirs Tips and gratuities Camera/video entrance fees Info Nights Come and join us on one of our free Info Nights and learn more about your Charity Challenge. Whether registered or still deciding whether to take the challenge you ll find these evenings informative and inspiring and are hosted by our most experienced and passionate travel experts and representatives from the relevant charity. Register at www.humacharitychallenge.com How To Book To register on this Charity Challenge please complete the registration form and return to Huma Charity Challenge, Attention Scott Pinnegar Email: scott@worldexpeditions.com.au Post: Huma Charity Challenge, Level 1 393 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 Otherwise you can make your booking online by using the REGISTER NOW button found at the bottom of the relevant Charity Challenge page on our website www.humacharitychallenge.com. au The Epworth Medical Foundation staff are able to answer any questions you may have as well as provide you with all the support you need as you fundraise for your challenge. Please contact Deborah Brown on telephone 03 9426 8169 or email deborah.brown@epworth.org.au who will be happy to talk with you. 6 2016 World Expeditions Travel Group - Scott Pinnegar 1/15/2016 12:06:44 PM