trips

Starting Point

Viengtai Hotel
42 Rambuttri Road
Banglamphoo
Bangkok
10200
Thailand
Phone: +66 (0) 22 805 434
Fax: +66 (0) 2 281 8153

Joining Point Instructions 

An arrival transfer is included on day 1 of this trip. Transfers cannot be arranged on arrival. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure. If you plan to arrive earlier, this arrival transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid. Intrepid provides one complimentary arrival transfer per booking even if clients are arriving at different times. On your arrival after taking all your luggage and walking through the custom counter to go outside, please look for the INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS DOOR B or DOOR C and look for the INTREPID sign with your name. If for any reason you cannot locate the person please go to the INFORMATION COUNTER near the EXIT DOOR 6 or contact ATTA Counter (Association of Thai Travel Agents) to call our 24 hours service phone contact 081 658 2727 or 089 776 7492 and wait at this counter until our staff come and take you to the van.

Metered taxi ranks are located outside the airport entrance on the ground floor. Go out of the customs hall and walk outside the airport where there is a table with a sign saying "metered taxis". The cost is the metered fare plus a THB50 surcharge. If the taxi uses the toll way it is up to an extra THB70. The total fare should be about THB400 (US$13). Non-metered taxis are also available, where you will be given a docket to pay the driver a set price of THB700 (US$20). It will take about 1 hour drive to the hotel.

Normal check in time is 14:00. Look for the Intrepid information board on the 2nd floor for suggestions of what you can do while waiting for the trip to start.

Our Joining Point Hotel 

The Viengtai, our base in Bangkok, is in a great location. Although not new, the rooms are clean and comfortable, with all amenities such as air-conditioning, tv, telephone, fridge, minibar, room service and private bathrooms. There is even a swimming pool. The hotel has a formal lobby and reception area, which is attended 24 hours a day so you can come and go at any time. On the ground floor is a restaurant or you can head to the nearby streets to sample the gastronomic delights of the local food hawkers. There is also an abundance of restaurants and money changers in nearby Khao San Road, Bangkok's backpacker area. Within walking distance of the Viengtai Hotel are many of the main tourist attractions in Bangkok - the Grand Palace, the National Museum, the National Library and Wat Po to name a few. The streets surrounding the Viengtai Hotel are overflowing with colourful stalls and local activities and are great to explore. Local area maps are available from reception. 

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Finishing Point

Viengtai Hotel
42 Rambuttri Road
Banglamphoo
Bangkok
10200
Thailand
Phone: +66 (0) 22 805 434
Fax: +66 (0) 2 281 8153

Finishing Point Instructions 

A departure transfer is available - please enquire at time of booking. A taxi to the airport should cost between THB400-700 (US$13-20) depending on time of day and use of toll ways. It will take about 1 hour drive to the airport. Normal check out time is 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.

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Group Size

Maximum of 14 travellers per group 

Our family adventures are designed for families only (ie at least one parent or legal guardian and at least one child.) The minimum age for children is 6 years old. All adults and/or guardians are fully responsible for their children throughout the duration of the trip. We allow a maximum of 2 children per adult and a maximum of 2 adults per child.

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Physical Rating - Easy

Activities include treks of 3 to 4 hours per day in hilly terrain, flat water kayaking or a long day's bike ride, in conditions which are likely to be hot and muggy. You will raise your heart rate on these trips, so a basic level of aerobic fitness is required.

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Accommodation

Guesthouses/hotels (10 nts), homestay (1 nt), overnight trains (2 nts)

Some of the accommodation along the way are very basic, staying in local guesthouses and homestays with limited facilities. Some facilities are shared and some accommodation has cold water only.

The style of accommodation described in the day to day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi share basis. Please note there may be times when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.

Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we are arriving prior to normal check in time. However this is not always possible which means we will not be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

If you have purchased pre or post trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

For families on trips we make use of triple and quad rooms (where available and required). Please note that on occasions additional beds may be foldaway beds or portable beds. If there is a family of 3 with 2 adults with 1 child, it may not be possible to use triple rooms. In these cases, one of the adults will share with the child and the other adult will share with another adult passenger in your group. If there are 2 adults travelling with 2 children, for safety and security reasons 1 adult will share with 1 child at all destinations on this trip. We use soft sleeper class trains for all our overnight train journeys. Multi share compartments are air conditioned, with bunk beds; sheets and pillow provided. Our baggage travels in the carriage with us. There is a food and drink service available on board. Please note that on occasions the overnight trains may be covered by an overnight bus rather than train.  

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Meals

While travelling with us you will experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Generally, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Please check the 'meal inclusions' section below for details of meals included.

Allow USD $250 for meals not included.

Meal Inclusions 

13 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner

Please note that breakfasts are often simple (eggs, bread, jam and coffee/tea would be most common).


For trips staying overnight in Hua Hin on 24th or 25th and 31st Dec there is a compulsory dinner costing 1800 baht for adults and 800 baht for children payable by the passenger. 
 
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Local Payment

There are no local payments on this trip.

Local Payment FAQ

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Single Supplement

A single supplement fee is not available on this trip.

Single travellers may be paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip.

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Included

This is a list of included activities on this trip. All other activities are optional and at your own expense. For a list of optional activities and sightseeing available on this trip, see the optional activities section below. If you choose not to participate in the included activities on this itinerary, the cost will not be refunded.


While these are all included activities, of course you have the choice to pass on any one of them if you need time with the family, or if you want to just relax. Our itinerary is flexible so you can do as much or as little as you like. Our included activities are selected because they capture the imaginations of our younger travellers and still interest the older ones.

Arrival transfer - Bangkok
Khlong (canal) tour - Bangkok
Wat Pho - Bangkok
Erawan Falls - Kanchanaburi
Guided tour of ruins - Ayuthaya
Visit Chiang Mai Zoo - Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep Temple - Chiang Mai
Entrance - Elephant Conservation Centre
Elephant ride - Elephant Conservation Centre
Thai khan toke dinner, music and dancing - homestay
Bike ride around villages - homestay
Boat trip - Hua Hin  

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Not Included

International Flights


Optional Activities

We list the following optional activities for your information. This is not an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only.
They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by the tour operator and agent nor included in price of this trip. If you do any of them, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with the tour operator and agent. 


Please note the following are approximate entrance costs and do not include transport to the sites if required, unless specified below.

Bike ride, Bangkok – US$25
Thai boxing exhibition, Bangkok - US$50
Grand Palace, Bangkok - US$12
Jim Thompson's House, Bangkok - US$5
Thai massage, Bangkok and Chiang Mai - US$9
Saamlaw (bicycle richshaw) tour, Kanchanaburi - US$8
Kayak on River Kwai, Kanchanaburi - US$10–25
Bicycle tour, Chiang Mai - US$25
Bamboo rafting, Chiang Mai - US$10
Thai cookery course, Chiang Mai - US$25

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Transport

Train, minibus, boat, longtail boat, local bus, songthaew, bicycle, elephant

There are some long travel days and some of the transport can be quite cramped.

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What to Take

We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whichever you find easiest to carry). A good size daypack is also essential.

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Health & Safety

For vaccinations please visit the MDtravelhealth website.

Sun:
It is very important that you wear sun block, even on a cloudy day when it feels cool as we are near the equator and the sun is very strong. A sunburn can turn a pleasant trip into a painful trip.

Hydration
Even when days are cool please be sure to drink a minimum of two litres of water and refrain from drinking to many diuretics, as while when travelling outdoors the breeze can dehydrate you quickly as well as the heat.

Diarrhoea:
It is normal for people travelling overseas to get an upset stomach due to a change of climate and food. Please make sure that you wash your hands and stay away from street food.You will be required to complete a participation form on day 1 of the trip.

Participation Form

You may be required to complete a participation form on day 1 of the trip

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Live to Xplore Country Guides

Thailand Country Guide

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Weather & Climate

Thailand Country Guide

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Important Info

Our family adventures are designed for families only (ie at least one parent or legal guardian and at least one child.) The minimum age for children is 6 years old. All adults and/or guardians are fully responsible for their children throughout the duration of the trip. We allow a maximum of 2 children per adult and a maximum of 2 adults per child.

Please note: The days we spend in Chiang Mai and the family homestay may vary depending on the commitments of our host family at the homestay.

Please note: There will be an additional departure on April 11th 2009 (trip code TFA0904112). This trip will run in reverse to allow each departure to travel as a small group. Individuals travelling on this itinerary will be contacted through their agent. The alternative routing will be as follows:

Day 1-2 Bangkok
Day 3 Chiangmai
Day 4 Elephant Conservatory Centre/Homestay
Day 5-7 Chiangmai
Day 8 Ayuthaya
Day 9 Kanchanaburi
Day 10-12 Hua Hin
Day 13-14 Bangkok

Disclaimer | The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and tour operator/agent. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. This tour is run by Intrepid Travel.

Visas Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going.

Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader.

 
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