4 DAY Bangkok Stopover AHBSBB-6

Transcription

1 4 DAY Bangkok Stopover AHBSBB-6 This tour visits: Thailand This Bangkok reprieve focuses on the bustling city and its tuk tuk filled streets. Museums, temples and street food abound, the trip ticks off a city tour, a Chao Phraya River cruise, Bridge over the River Kwai, plus the War museum and War cemetery. Whether you re keen to retrace history s steps on a fascinating excursion, ready to whet your appetite with the array of delicious street food, or set on bagging a bargain at the multitude of shopping options, you re sure to find something to float your long-tail boat in this intoxicating city. The Bucket List More Inclusions Bangkok + Chao Phraya River tour Bangkok city tour Bridge over the River Kwai War museum & War cemetery visit 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner 2 nights hotel, 1 night jungle raft resort Shuttle boat transfers Awesome local guide Modern air-conditioned vehicles Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Bangkok, Thailand Arrive in the City of Angels and check into your hotel at your leisure, with a whole free day to explore like a Bangkokian (it's a word). Fill up on culture at one of the 100+ museums, immerse yourself in a new religion at one of the royal temples, and get your food and shopping fix from one of the 100,000 street vendors. It's your day, your way. Day 2 - Bangkok Kick off your Bangkok rush hour by meeting your guide in the hotel reception at 8:45am, before a full day visiting some of the city s most iconic sights. Start off by boating along the Chao Phraya River to the Grand Palace, and then make tracks to the grand buddhist temple Wat Pho. Grab a foot massage and refuel with lunch at a local restaurant (you ll need it). This afternoon = a visit to Jim Thompson s house, the Thai silk businessman who helped revive Thailand s silk industry from total extinction before he disappeared in the Malaysian jungle in 1974 (eery!). Arrive back at the hotel around 4pm and then tonight: treat yo self to the optional four-hour street eats tour by tuk tuk and prepare for. All. The. Food. Included today: -Chao Phraya River boat cruise -Bangkok City tour Meals: -Breakfast -Lunch. Optional activities: -Street Eats by tuk tuk Day 3 - Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Meet the gang in the hotel reception at 6.45am for a 7am departure for Kanchanaburi, the city that has seen its fair share of sadness. In 1942 when the city was under Japanese control, forced labourers and allied POWs constructing the Burma Railway were also put to work on construction of the Bridge over the River Kwai resulting in the deaths of over half of the prisoners. Visit the JEATH (Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai and Holland) museum for a deeper look into this marked time in history as well as the Kanchanaburi war cemetery. Chow down on lunch at a local restaurant before we long-tail boat it to our floating rooms at the River Kwai Jungle Raft Hotel. Included today: -Bridge over the River Kwai -War museum & War cemetery visit -Death Railway -Long-tail boat to River Kwai Jungle Raft Hotel (arrive approximately 3pm) Meals: -Breakfast -Lunch -Dinner Day 4 - Kanchanaburi to Bangkok Day 4 Kanchanaburi to Bangkok

3 Meet your guide in reception at 8.45am for a 9am departure. We re off, back to the bustling city (I Residence Hotel, to be exact) where you can stay on for a few more days to relish the culture, food and temples, if you so wish. Meals: -Breakfast Accommodation We endeavour to select a combination of good quality hotels that reflect the character of the local area as well as being centrally located as possible, all the while striving to keep the cost affordable. Throughout your trip you will stay in a range of three and four-star quality hotels, local homestays and traditional accommodation/ guesthouses. Please be aware that standards and ratings may be different to your home country. If you are travelling as a couple, and would prefer to have a double bed, please officially request a double room with your travel agent or Topdeck trip consultant. We never presume that two people travelling together are a couple, even if you share the same surname, unless informed otherwise. Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Thailand - Bangkok Street Eats by tuk tuk 1,600 THB Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! It is available for all passengers on our trips in Europe (excluding festivals) and in North America. More destinations coming soon With a range of cool features including a Currency Converter, Budget Planner, Check-In tool and Social Timeline (so your next #TravelEnvy post is never too far away) you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand.

4 Get it for iphone Get it for Android Other Information Currencies Below is a list of all the other currencies you will use on your trip: Thai Baht ATMs are common and exchange facilities are available. Security Although there are a very small number of dishonest people in Asia, it is wise to exercise caution at all times. We recommend that you take advantage of the safety deposit box in your room, and know exactly what is inside. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Insurance It is compulsory for all passengers to take out comprehensive travel insurance before the trip departs covering cancellation, medical expenses including repatriation, loss or damage to baggage and personal belongings, money and personal liability. World Nomads provide comprehensive travel insurance for people from over 140 countries. For more information go to You must bring a copy of your travel insurance policy with you on the trip. Your Trip Leader will make a record of your travel insurance details at the start of your trip, e.g. the name of the insurance company, the 24 hour emergency telephone number, and your policy number. These will be sent to our operations team to ensure that if you lose your policy details, they can be easily retrieved. Passports and Visas Please make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the last day of your trip. Some countries will refuse entry if there is not at least six months validity remaining on your passport after your departure date from their country. Depending on your nationality, you may require a visa to enter certain countries. It is your responsibility to obtain these prior to the departure of this trip. You can consult the government websites of the countries in which you will be travelling or your own government s website to determine which visas you will require. We also have a visa chart on our website listing the visas required by some nationalities travelling on our trips. To check go to Remember that some visas can take up to six weeks to acquire, so don t leave it until the last minute. Also bear in mind that the validity of the visa often runs from the date of issue rather than date of entry into the country. Please check with the appropriate embassies prior to departure as requirements do change periodically.

5 Drinking water It is not advisable for anyone to drink tap water in most places in Asia, but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice cubes in drinks are generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants, but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas. Meals Regular breakfast consists of noodle or toast, jam, butter, egg, coffee/tea. Centrally located hotels in big cities will serve buffet breakfast with more food choices (e.g. Continental and American breakfast). Local guesthouses/homestays will serve a set breakfast with basic foods including rice, noodle or fish. Lunches and dinners will normally be three courses (approximately five dishes) but sometimes there will be a light lunch of Asian or Western food (typically a dish of rice, vegetable and pork/fish/chicken). Drinks are at the passenger s expense. Specific dietary requirements can be catered to if we are informed in advance (excluding religious-based dietary requests). In some border regions or countryside, there are limited choices however our escorts will endeavour to assist those with certain requirements. Street food tours will be very limited for dietary choices (local people will use one spoon/chopstick to mix different foods so we cannot guarantee pure vegetarian and nut-free options.) What to bring The golden rule is to travel as light as you can. Only bring what you really need and leave plenty of space for things you might want to buy. Don't forget you will have to carry your bag around yourself before and after the trip, as well as in and out of where you re staying while on your trip! The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience. 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes 1 pair of smart casual shoes 2 pairs jeans/trousers 4 shirts/t-shirts 2 sweaters/jumpers Smart casual evening wear 1 rainproof jacket 1 warm jacket/coat Underwear and socks! Other things to pack Swimming costume Towel Toiletries Hat and Sunscreen Basic medical kit (including plasters, aspirin etc.) Washing powder Insect repellent Conversion plug

6 Optionals to consider Sewing kit Pillow case Torch Travel pillow Knees and shoulders should be covered to show respect, particularly in religious sites/buildings. Short shorts and tank tops are not recommended. Comfortable walking shoes are advised for public transport and some included activities. You may be required to remove your shoes and hat before entering some religious sites, hotels, homestays/traditional accommodation. This is a guide for year round trips. Please consider the time of year you re travelling and pack clothing accordingly. Starting to get excited?!