July Thai-Cambodia-Laos itinerary and logistics help
 

I've gotten so much help from all the threads on this site...and with some tour books and your ideas and reports, I've decided on an itinerary for our first trip to asia. I'm just hoping that you can help me fill in the details for this early July trip.

4 nights BKK
3 nights Siem Reap
3 nights Chiang Mai
3 nights Luang Prabang
1 night BKK

I am a little concerned about travel logistics. Bangkok Air Discovery Pass would be so much easier to use if we switched the Chiang Mai and Siem Reap legs of the journey BUT I would really like to spend time with Ponheary and she is only available if we do it in the order I listed above. I'm a teacher and a former humanitarian relief worker so visiting with her and her children will be really special for me. Will rearranging it this way make travel logistics SO much more difficult...and will my experience with Ponheary be worth the extra travel efforts? Are there any other easy/direct ways to travel between these cities than BKK air?

As for touring Bangkok - Tong is unavailable during the time I am interested in spending with her...but she's asked if we want to be with someone on her team. Has anyone had good experiences with her team members they can recommend?

Hotels - for Chiang Mai, I love the reviews I've read on Baan Orapin and their website looks wonderful. As for the other cities, we are still looking. We'd like to be modest in budget (like Baan prices) but could splurge if there's a really special place that shouldn't be missed. Our honeymoon last year was a big long hike in the Alps so I think we can treat ourselves to something more honeymoon-ish this year!

Also - I'm a little confused about the Elephant camps in Chiang Mai. There seem to be many, and I'm not sure if one is as reputable as the next. We only would want to spend one day on this activity. We'd like another day in CM to be more outdoorsy- hiking, perhaps a float down a lovely river! Would a trek with Sgt Kai be appropriate/recommended?

Whew! Thank you, you dedicated travelers! I appreciate your insight!

The outline looks good. Many people have enjoyed the school visits with Ponheary more than any other part of their trip. I would go with the way you have planned it and accept the added cost/aggravation.

In CM, we've had good luck with Sergeant Kai, who can be reached at ChiangMaiTours.com.

The elephant camps are NOT all the same. The ONLY one to go to is the Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. Sgt. kai never suggests this one -- he takes people to the much more touristy one which has been set up strictly for tourists and where I suspect he gets a kick back. I would not trust their treatment of animals and would not support it. If you insist,he will take you to the Elephant Conservation Center . The only other reputable one is that Elephant Nature Park but that is farther away.

Amynuzz-- if you are interested in teaching and humanitarian things you really should spend more time in northern thailand. Visit Joy's House and School for learning which is truly inspirational. The residential school is for orphans and I should be replicated worldwide. joy is a young thai woman who is extraordinary.

Also, the thai border is where incredible work is being done for Burmese refugees. Dr. Cynthia's Clinic and NGOS working with victims of trafficking and prostitution are doing great work.

I worked in international development for several years and the work being done in northern thailand (many of them located in or near Chiang Mai) is among the best.

Just a note -- Joy's house and School for Living are right outside Chiang Mai. Based on your interests it should NOT be missed and will definitely be the highlight of your trip. The education model is incredible and the kids are fabulous. If I could take a few months off work I would volunteer there.

You could easily spend a full day at School for Learning and wish you could spend more time.

Gloria - is this school called Baan Unrak? I did a websearch based on your recommendation and that's what seems to be closest to what you describe. How far is it from Chiang Mai, and what sort of transportation would be required?

It sounds like a wonderful experience, but how does a place like this handle people who want to visit them for only a day? Is it the sort of thing they appreciate or is more of a nuisance to them? Of course we would come with a donation (my students have been working all year to raise money for kids just like this) and while I want to meet the children, it would be clear that I am not there to volunteer with them for the long term, so I don't want to give the wrong impression that they're just another stop on our tour. How have you spent your time in these places to make it meaningful for you and for the kids as well?

Gloria , I'm sorry I think our messages crossed in cyberspace! You answered some of my questions already (read my mind!) but if you have a few more details or can share how you spent your time there I would really love to hear about it. Many thanks for helping to zero in on something that will really be a special interest for me (and I think my husband will be inspired as well)

Here's the website for the school for life.
http://www.school-for-life.de/en/index.html


There is no problem in going for one day. One of their volunteers and some children take you around; you have lunch with the children where the kids learning to be cooks do the cooking and the kids thinking about being in the tourist industry serve. They take you to their organic farms and show you their art etc. All the kids are expected to spend at least one hour a day speaking english so they love having people to practice with.

Also, what the kids want even more than a donation is that you buy some of their products (mostly arts and crafts) which help support the school.

It would be easier if you switched Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang around. You could fly from Siem Reap direct to LP with Lao Airlines which participates in the Bangkok Air Pass. No flights direct on sun/tues. Then fly with them to Chiang Mai on any day.