What to Expect
- Physical requirements:
This adventure is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. You must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted over the course of each day, exploring on foot and standing for up to a half hour at a time. You must also be comfortable participating in 5-7 hours of daily physical activities. In some of the small villages where we stop during our days of touring, we must use Asian-style toilets (squat-style rather than seats). We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances, send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group's experience.
- Climate & terrain:
March-May are hottest during the day, with temperatures reaching the 90s and high levels of humidity. Heavy rains are possible between August and October. We’ll travel over some bumpy, unpaved roads, especially on our visit to hill tribes on Day 10.
- Pacing:
6 locations in 15 days with 2 one-night stays. There is a pre-dawn departure on Day 16. We also have 1 internal flight of about 1 hour.
- Transportation:
We travel via air-conditioned bus (with toilet on board), boat, raft, barge, songtaew taxi truck, and by elephantback.
- Accommodations:
All our accommodations are hotel-standard, with a variety of amenities and personal service, as well as private baths with hot showers and Western-style toilet facilities.
- Group size & leadership:
16 maximum with 1 Trip Leader.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Thailand: No visa required.
- Burma (Myanmar) (optional extension): Visa required.
- Cambodia (optional extension): Visa required.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.