3 Weeks:Bangkok Thailand, Saigon Vietnam, Mekong River Laos, Angkor Wat Cambodia

THERE ARE NO VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TOUR

This adventure begins November 1 and returns November 20, 2024. A full 3 weeks!!! Meetup only allows a post of 2 weeks max so the dates in the Meetup calendar are incorrect.

If we get enough people, this will be a private tour. Only 14 of us! There are 8 single rooms and 3 doubles. First come, first serve!

Please keep Thursday October 10, 2024 at 6pm available for our trip mixer to go over all last minute details, packing tips, and to meet your fellow travelers

PASSPORT MUST BE GOOD UNTIL MAY 20, 2025 OR LATER AND A PDF COPY MUST BE EMAILED TO ME (OR MAILED)

Our trip includes roundtrip airfare from the US, airport and hotel transfers, all hotels, most meals, local English speaking guides, internal air-conditioned transportation, and travel insurance.

ITINERARY:
DAY 1: depart US
DAY 2: arrive in Bangkok and meet our guide at the hotel
DAY 3: Cooking lesson, orientation walk, and sample street food
DAY 4: see the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha. Visit Thammasart University and cruise the Chaophraya River (dinner on board)
DAY 5: Visit Ayutthaya (capital of Siam) and cruise the Pa Sak river
DAY 6: fly to Luang Prabang, Laos. Sample a local fruit smoothie
DAY 7: cruise to Muangkham Village and Pak Ou Cave. See 1000's of Buddha icons. Travel by "jumbo" to Luang Prabang
DAY 8: Partake in Buddhist alms-giving to local monks and visit a local village and school. Meet the Hmong hill tribe.
DAY 9: fly to Vientiane, Laos. Dinner in a local family's home
DAY 10: Explore Wat Sisaket monastery and meet a monk. Visit the COPE Center and learn about the local effects of the Vietnam war
DAY 11: fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Children's dance performance at the Champey Academy of Arts. Ride in a "remork": a 3 wheeled motor rickshaw
DAY 12: visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum. Learn about the Khmer Rouge tribunal
DAY 13: transfer to Siem Reap
DAY 14: ride a buffalo drawn cart and then a private boat on Tonle Sap to see floating villages. Learn about the health care system. Ancient Angkor, Bayon, and the Terrace of the Elephants.
DAY 15: off to the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat
DAY 16: ($50 extra and highly recommended) head to the well preserved temple of Banteay Srei and visit the Angkor National Museum. Fly to Saigon
DAY 17: Mekong Delta: My Tho and Mekong River barge cruise. Ride in a "sampan"
DAY 18: city tour: Catholic Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Vietnam War bunker. ($75 extra): take a scooter ride for a culinary dinner adventure. Feel like a local!!!!
DAY 19: visit the Cu Chi Tunnels (125 mile long underground maze that helped win the war for the Viet Khong. Meet a local veteran.
DAY 20: fly home

TRIP COST: double occupancy (2 people per room)
$5999/person
Single: add $999

Deposit:
$1000 (plus any additional insurance premium if over 55)
Monthly payments will be needed

Final payment:
All monies must be in by or before August 1, 2024

Airfare:
Economy/main cabin roundtrip airfare and seat assignments included.
Upgrades will be available: Premium economy ~$2000 and business class ~$4000. Exact pricing will be known 10 months before trip

Optional Tours:
There are 2 and they are both highly recommended and affordable: $50 and $75 each (details in itinerary above). I will be doing both.

VISAS:
Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam require visas. We will get those in advance. Instructions will be emailed about 60 days before the trip. It is highly recommended to get e-visas for Laos and Vietnam, but for Cambodia we should send in our passports for a physical visa. Cost is additional when you get your visas.

Prices are accurate at time of posting but subject to change. All monies are non-refundable but travel insurance is included. As of May 18, 2023, the tour company has dropped the Covid vaccination requirement. A signed waiver is due from all travelers.