Brochure:
Join
Airline Ambassadors
in Cambodia and Thailand and support Orphans, Artisans and Elephants!
You can join the trip First Class, or follow the same itinerary but stay at boutique hotels or orphanages!
In Cambodia, the team will visit the ancient temple of Angor Wat,
deliver brightly colored CROCS shoes to kids at FLOW Orphanage
(where the team will be staying) and the Cambodian Children's Fund
(a safe haven for children from the local dump).
In Thailand, the itinerary will include visiting the
Duang Prateep Foundation and the
Soonthorn Vittaya School that boards
50 Hill Tribe Children (where the AAI team will be staying) with an optional extension to
Chiang Mai and the Maeteman Elephant Camp (just featured on National Geographic).
For more details, contact
Mission Coordinator,
Deborah Quigley at QuigleyFlies@aol.com.
Thank you for joining us in
Cambodia and Thailand!
Please visit our Travel Calendar for trip dates.
Detailed itinerary below. |
Cambodia/Thailand Trip At-A-Glance
Day 1:
Monday
Siem Reap Arrival
Flight:
Arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia.. After clearing immigrations and customs you will be greeted by your personal English-speaking Cambodian (Khmer) guide and private car to be transported to your hotel.
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province. This small town is the gateway to the Angkor Archeological Park, which is over 40 km2 and is home to more than 100 temples dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
Angkor Wat: In the afternoon, begin your 2-day guided tour of the biggest religious temple in the world; the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple. Built by Suryavarman II, in early 12th century Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Merou, home of the gods. Considered as the masterpiece of the Khmer architecture, this Vishnuite temple is the King’s funerary temple. These are the main reasons to explain the West exposure of the temple. Inside the temple the walls are covered by carvings and bas-reliefs depicting the Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II made during his reign. As well Angkor Wat is well known for the 2000 Apsaras dancers decorating the temple.
Hot-air balloon ride: Around 1700h take the balloon ride to watch the sunset over the temples and the surrounding jungle. The tethered balloon takes you 150-200 meters high for panoramic views of the Angkor Archeological Park.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Independent.
*** Of note: Your official guide, Nith, (or Victoria) was a former “street-urchin”, who helped support her family by begging in the streets of Phnom Penh. Her eagerness for an education was discovered by a staff member from the Future Light Orphanage (FLOW) where she then grew up, graduated from high school and is now your official tour guide. When you arrive in Phnom Penh on Wednesday you will be visiting FLOW and meeting the orphans that live there now. |
Day 2:
Tuesday
Siem Reap
Meals: breakfast at hotel. Lunch and dinner independent.
Angkor Wat: After breakfast, visit the Great City of Angkor Thom, which was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by a 8 m high wall, each side of the city is 4 km long. It draws a perfect square you access this town through 5 gates; 4 of them represent the cardinal points and the 5th one the Victory Gate was the one leading directly to the Royal Palace Area.
You will arrive via the South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and 4 giant faces. On each side is a row of 54 gods or demons holding the sacred Naga snake. From here you enter the city by elephant ride and arrive at the Bayon Temple.
This temple lies exactly in the center of the city. The particularity of this monument is the 54 towers representing the 54 provinces of the then Great Khmer Empire. Each tower has 4 faces. Continue to visit the terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon continue to explore of the temples of the Small Circuit. The most famous among these is Ta Prohm, the overgrown-jungle temple, featured in several Hollywood movies such as Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones and Two brothers. The large fig trees have merged with the ancient stones and have been left untouched by conservationists. It is truly an awe inspiring site to see how the vegetation is keeping the temple together. Your visit will also include Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”.
Optional side trip: to Handicap International where you will meet the residents there (mostly land-mine survivors) and Sithan Leam. Sithan is a 16 year old girl, who as an infant, suffered severe burns on her leg which fused her lower leg to her thigh and buttocks. After being “discovered” at a market in 2007 with her mother, arrangements were made to be treated at the Shriner’s Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. After 11 months of surgeries, her leg was freed and straightened, and in January 2008 she returned to Cambodia escorted by AAI member, Deborah Quigley, who you will also be meeting.
Shopping: You will want to save free time for shopping at the Old Market area.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
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Day 3:
Wednesday
Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
Meals: breakfast at hotel. Lunch and dinner independent.
Flight: After breakfast, your guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your PG993 flight departing at 1110h to Phnom Penh.
In Phnom Penh you are welcomed by your private English-speaking Khmer guide.
Crocs distribution: Before being transferred to your hotel for check-in, you and Peter will be making a short stop at the Future Light Orphanage (“FLOW”) (10 minutes from airport), where you’ll be greeted by the kids. You’ll get to help distribute the hundreds of new CROC shoes the owners of CROC have sent!
Phnom Penh was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history, it retains its colonial charm from days gone-by. With wide tree-lined boulevards and low-rise buildings, Phnom Penh still reflects the days of the former French protectorate. French colonial architecture is still in evidence today and adds to the charm and ambience of the city. Phnom Penh is a veritable oasis compared to the modern nature of other Asian capitals.
Royal Palace tour: You begin your tour of Phnom Penh by visiting the Royal Palace complex. This palace dates from 1866 and was the last one built during the French colonial period. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 silver tiles that cover its floors. Continue on to the National Museum, built in 1917. Housed there are over 5000 statues, lingas and others artifacts arranged according to pre- Angkor and post –Angkor periods of Cambodia history.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
*** Of note: At times, one of your guides will be Nampha or another English speaking child from ”FLOW” when they’re not at school.
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Thursday
Phnom Penh
Car / driver / guide at your disposal.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and Dinner Independent.
Optional tour with Peter Greenberg: we will be meeting Scott Neeson, a former Hollywood film director who founded the Cambodian Children’s Fund in 2003 to rescue the children that live (and worked) in the Steung Meanchey garbage dump. We will be visiting some of his kids at one of the CCF children’s homes plus the new community center where kids are learning the bakery business at their own Star Bakery, along with other vocations.
Shopping: You’ll want to save time for shopping at the vast “Russian” market.
Museum: Near by is the Killing Fields Museum founded in 1999 by a survivor of the infamous Khmer Rouge
(Pol Pot) regime where you might desire to spend some quiet time.
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Day 5:
Friday
Phnom Penh
Afternoon/ Evening: Car / driver / guide at your disposal.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch independent.
Khmer Apsara dance performance: Late afternoon, your driver and guide drive you and Peter back to “FLOW”. This evening you’ll be delighted by a most special dance event performed by the classical dancers (professional quality) at FLOW. But before the dance performance, we will be treated to a sumptuous feast where you will meet Madame Phaly. She founded FLOW in 1992 rescuing 91 orphans who had all miraculously survived the attrocities of the Khmer Rouge era. Today, she is the proud “mother” of 230 children who excel in their school studies.
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Day 6:
Saturday
Phnom Penh - Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and Dinner Independent.
Flight: After breakfast, your guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your PG993 flight at 0940h to Bangkok.
Arrive Bangkok. After clearing customs and immigrations you will be met by your English-Speaking Thai Guide and taken to your hotel.
Car / driver transfer to your hotel.
The balance of the day free at leisure.
Overnight in Bangkok.
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Day 7:
Sunday
Bangkok
Car / driver / guide are at your disposal.
Optional day tour: an hour drive north to Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Thai Kingdom since 1350 where we meet the 50 hill-tribe children who board at the Soonthorn Vittaya School and have lunch there. These children, from the northern hill tribes (where you will be visiting in Chiang Mai) (and are state-less citizens) will perform some of their ethnic songs in their traditional colorful attire.
Bang Pa In - summer palace of the kings of Thailand. We make a brief stop to wander thru the gardens (and elephant topiary).
Evening is free.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and Dinner Independent.
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Day 8:
Monday
Bangkok
Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha private tour: starting with the Grand Palace where you visit the main sites including the magnificent throne halls and the emerald Buddha. We then continue to visit Wat Po. Bangkok’s oldest temple is home to the magnificent reclining Buddha as well as the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage and is also regarded as Thailand’s first University.
Note: Appropriate dress is required (or can be rented on site).
The balance of the day free at leisure.
Optional ½ day morning tour: to the Duang Prateep Foundation founded in 1978 by a former slum dweller, who lifted herself out of poverty with education, was elected to the Senate in 2000, and is now affectionately called “the slum angel”. This foundation serves the slum community by offering free early childhood education and has expanded into drug rehab at outside farm facilities for older kids. You will see the kindergarteners in action and want to help distribute more CROCS shoes.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and Dinner Independent.
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Day 9:
Tuesday
Bangkok – Chiang Mai
Flight: After breakfast, your guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the Suvarnabhumi Airport for your TG106 flight to Chiang Mai at 1020h.
Note: Peter Greenberg will not be joining the trip to Chiang Mai.
Arrive Chiang Mai. You will be met by your English-Speaking Thai Guide and taken to your hotel.
The balance of the day is free at leisure.
Optional shopping: at the famous night market nearby.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and Dinner Independent.
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Day 10:
Wednesday
Chiang Mai
Maeteman Elephant Camp and orchid/butterfly farm: The tour includes an exciting 1-hour elephant ride, feed-the-elephant time, ox-cart ride, bamboo-rafting, and lunch at the orchid restaurant. But the highlight is a once in a life time experience observing the elephant “artists” as seen on YouTube filmed by AAI member Mark Fangue, an inspiration to Animal Planet and National Geographic TV coverage on May 3, 2009.
Note: Join-in only. Max 6 pax.
What to bring: Sunscreen, cap, sneakers, light pants and t-shirt.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Jungle Picnic Lunch. Dinner Independent.
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Day 11:
Thursday
Chiang Mai
City and Doi Suthep Monastery tour: Breakfast at hotel and this morning explore the ancient and modern city of Chiang Mai, including its old City walls, gates and city moat, markets, residential areas, foreign Consulates, government buildings and Tapae, Chiang Mai’s main street. Continue with a drive up mount Doi Suthep to Wat Phra Thad Doi Suthep (AD 1384), the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand . Inside the temple’s cloister you will see one of the most sacred stupas in all of Thailand. A panoramic view of the city can be seen from here at 3,500 feet above sea level. Continue on to visit Wat Jed Yot (AD 1455) with its seven spires stupa, and Wat Suan Dok where the ashes of Chiang Mai’s royal family are interred.
Hill Tribe Village: Lunch at local restaurant and this afternoon continue to visit a hill tribe village at Baan Tong Luang before returning to Chiang Mai.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. Dinner Independent.
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Day 12:
Friday
Chiang Mai
You have a free day today to relax, chill out and enjoy! You may want to enjoy a day of shopping or a Thai Massage.
Thai Massage: Complete your last your last full day in South East Asia at your leisure ending with a Thai massage at the Thai Blind Massage Institute.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch and Dinner Independent.
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Day 13:
Saturday
Chiang Mai Departure
Meals: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch independent. Dinner in-flight.
Breakfast at hotel and your guide will meet you at hotel and assist with your transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight TG 111 to Bangkok, departing at 14:40.
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Know Before You Go
Cambodia
Thailand
Fixed expenses in Phnom Penh:
Future Light Orphanage guest rooms:
Each room has 2 double-beds, air conditioner, a little frig, a large (but sparse) bathroom, and TV. (That reminds me - unless you speak Khmer, the TV will just provide noise, so this past January I bought a radio and left it there.)
Rates include all taxes, service charges, and 3 meals/day for two - double room: $48/day (Bring a stash of sweets if you need dessert as we will not be near a store).
Money:
Bring USD in various small bills: $1.00 to $20.00. Almost everything can be purchased with USD. Cash advance on your credit card is available at most banks if you're running short. Credit cards can be used for some larger purchases but not at the markets.
Other known expenses:
Angkor Wat entrance fee: $20.00/day.
Weather:
Generally warm and humid to hot and humid. After a day, you won't care about sweating. The temples at Angkor, high up on their plateau, should be explored in the cooler mornings. The rainy season runs from around June to October, when the monsoons arrive from the Gulf of Thailand. If it rains, they usually last only an hour or two in the afternoon.
Clothing:
walking/climbing shoes (for Angkor Wat) / sandles or flip-flops / shorts, capris, long-pants / cotton tops - long and short sleeved / hat / sun-block / mosquito repellent.
Health precautions:
Similar to visiting Bangkok. Consult your doctor or your health professional.
In-Country transportation:
One expense you will want to consider now is how you will get from REP to PNH. I'm forwarding my confirmation info to you - on PG993/June10 - departs @ 1110. Total is $79.00 with 21 day advance booking. The flight might still be available on June 10 if you're not sure yet, but it will cost $99.00 (+??). There are 2 other ways to get from REP to PNH - 6 hour $25 river boat or 6 hour $10 bus ride. I've done both and they're both OK.
In-town transportation:
Air-conditioned taxi to open-air tuk-tuk: from $25/half-day to $1.00/trip.
Luggage:
Plan to check in 2 bags/boxes (50 lbs/each) as allowed for international travel. Carry your personal things in your carry-on.
Try very hard to get your 2 bags checked thru to REP (or PNH if that's where you are joining us.). Engage your local manager to assist in this - explain why you are traveling and what you are carrying. BECAUSE - now this gets tricky - when you get your ID tickets issued for the ICN-REP leg or SIN-REP leg, note that on the right lower face of the ticket reads: "allow 20K" (vs."allow 2pcs" as on a ticket that covers travel from one international "zone" to another. Meaning, if you are forced to claim your luggage and then recheck it you might be faced with excess baggage charges (as I have experienced) because you will be checking-in more that 20K (20 kilos)) Stay tuned on what to bring. We are trying to position boxes of CROCS for you to check in at your origin.
For more details, contact trips@airlineamb.org.
Please bear in mind that all information and scheduled activities are subject to change if necessary without prior notice.
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The Pricing Package:
**This trip is
pay-as-you-go
Costs are provided for your information.
To register and participate,
please see our Requirements Section below.
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ACCOMMODATIONS
CITY |
HOTELS |
HOTEL CATEGORY |
ROOM TYPE |
SIEM REAP |
RAFFLES GRAND D’ANGKOR |
Deluxe |
State Room |
PHNOM PENH |
RAFFLES LE ROYAL |
Deluxe |
State Room |
BANGKOK |
PENINSULA |
Super Deluxe |
Deluxe |
CHIANG MAI |
CHEDI |
Deluxe |
Deluxe |
ADDITIONAL ECONOMY CLASS AIRFARES incl. taxes
ROUTE |
AIRLINE |
Per person in US Dollars |
Siem Reap – Phnom Penh |
Bangkok Airways (PG) |
95 one way |
Phnom Penh - Bangkok |
Bangkok Airways (PG) |
115 one way |
Bangkok – Chiang Mai - Bangkok |
Thai Airways (TG) |
149 round trip TG |
Bangkok Airways (PG) |
223 round trip PG |
IMPORTANT: All airfares and taxes are subject to change without prior notice until ticket issuance. |
INCLUSIONS:
- Hotel accommodations with daily breakfast as mentioned.
- All meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
- English-speaking local guides.
- Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles.
- All admission fees at attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
EXCLUSIONS:
- Meals other than mentioned.
- Camera/video entrance fees.
- Cambodia visa fee, can obtain upon arrival
(USD 20/pax).
- Flights (please see airfares table).
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks).
- Gratuities to guides / drivers / hotel porters.
- Any services not mentioned in the itinerary.
SPECIAL NOTES:
- Some countries require a visa for travel. It is ultimately the client’s responsibility to have the correct travel documents and the right visas.
- A passport must be valid 6 months after departure for many countries in SE Asia.
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** This package does NOT include airfares.
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To Sign-Up :
- You must be a current AAI member.
Please visit our Membership Section to join or update your membership if necessary.
- You must sign an AAI Release Form. Please return it to our office (address below) prior to departure.
- To register for the trip:
Please send a $150 check, indicating "Cambodia/Thailand Trip, October 2009" to:
Airline Ambassadors International
418 California Avenue, PO Box 459
Moss Beach, CA 94038
Or, select the donate button and enter a $150.00 Trip Registration fee.
- Please take a copy of our Volunteer Donation Receipt with you on the trip and return a copy to our office (address above) when you return home. Your donations will be tax deductible!
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