THAILAND HIGHLIGHTS WITH PHUKET EXTENSION SOLOS ONLY 40 TO 59 Years

10 daYS / 9 NIGHTS is an exotic landscape rich in culture and history. New Year’s Eve Departure: It offers a plethora of options for the curious traveller; lush, Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style on the . thick jungles of the north, the crystal clear, warm waters Cruise down the river, taking in the sights, enjoy special performances of the coast, the famously delicious Thai cuisine and of and see in the next year with new friends while enjoying the spectacular course the inviting hospitality of the local people. The fireworks. earliest recorded Thai Kingdom dates back to the 13th century, and on this tour, escorted by a national guide, you Sightseeing Highlights will discover the country’s remarkable heritage. This is a fantastic solo travel tour for solo travellers in their 40’s and • Visit the famous floating markets of Damnoen Saduak 50’s to Thailand. • Bangkok sightseeing tour of the important cultural and historical sites • Visit the Hellfire Pass and the Memorial Museum Starting in Bangkok, you will uncover the highlights; from • Stay overnight on a river raft lodge bustling river markets to spectacular palaces. Next, there’s • Visit to Sukhothai Historical Park including a bicycle ride to take in the a unique overnight stay at a jungle raft hotel on the River ruins. Kwai. We visit the • Experience Chiang Mai’s lively night market fascinating historical sites that Kanchanaburi has to offer, • Visit the Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai’s elephant rescue and including the Bridge on the River Kwai, the War Cemetery rehabilitation centre and Hellfire Pass. From your river lodge, we make our way • Spend New Year’s Eve in Bangkok (December departure only) north with our first stop at the world heritage site, Ayutthaya • Opt to extend your travels with a Phuket beach stay and then, a stay in Sukhothai, an ancient kingdom of • Small group touring, only for solo/single travellers Thailand, and the first capital of Siam. Then to Chiang Mai, to discover the rich culture of the northern part of Thailand in this bustling city. Fellow Travellers

Optional Extension: You will enjoy this small group experience with a maximum group size From Chiang Mai, there’s the option to add on a Phuket of 14 travellers. This tour is exclusively for single-solo travellers in the beach stay for beautiful and relaxing resort stay and local age group 40 to 59 years. Phuket discoveries.

Since 2006, paving the way for solo travellers TOP 5 REASONS TO JOIN 1. Age-matched holiday groups Tour Inclusions 2. Travel with like-minded solo travellers 3. Small groups ACCOMMODATION & MEALS 4. Early bird savings with many tours 5. Roommate matching option • 8 nights quality hotel accommodation • 1 night unique river raft loge stay • 9 breakfasts PHUKET EXTENSION About Us • 1 lunch INCLUSIONS • 3 dinners including 2 highlight dinners At Encounter Travel we offer holiday • 2 nights quality hotel accommodation, groups for solo travellers. All trips are SIGHTSEEING & GUIDES deluxe pool view rooms age-matched so there’s more chance • 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner you’ll share your journey with like • All sightseeing tours as specified by • All sightseeing tours as specified by minded travellers. the itinerary the itinerary Visiting destinations across Australia • Admission fees for entrances as per • Admission fees to places visited itinerary and around the globe, choose from • English speaking national guide short escapes to adventure trips and • English speaking national guide, days leisurely touring. 1-10 • Private air-conditioned vehicle • Maximum group size 14 travellers • Airport arrival transfer • Group hotel to airport departure Contact Us TRAVEL transfer • Maximum group size 14 travellers Encounter Travel • Private air-conditioned vehicle Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm (Sydney time) • Airport arrival transfer Phuket Extension Not Included:

• Group hotel to airport departure • Airfare Chiang Mai to Phuket Tel (AU) : 1300 653 692 transfer Tel (NZ) : 0800 653 692 • Travel insurance Local payment: THB1800 payment due on F : 02 8001 619 arrival for the tipping fund, or THB2200 if • Excess baggage E: [email protected] including Phuket. • Visa fees W: encountertravel.com.au Travel insurance is a mandatory • Any tips or porterage at airports, hotels, requirement for joining this tour and is in drivers & local staff PO Box A1088 Sydney South addition to the package price. • Meals and beverages not specified on NSW 1235 Australia itinerary Not included: • Items of a personal nature such as ATAS Accreditation: A10439 laundry & medical expenses CATO Accreditation: T1025 • Gratuities for your national guide & ABN 23 119 642 992 driver • Incidental expenses such as taxi fares, • Airfares if booking a tour only package telecommunications • Travel insurance • Gratuities for your national guide & driver • Excess baggage • Visa fees • Any tips or porterage at airports, hotels, drivers & local staff • Meals and beverages not specified on itinerary • Items of a personal nature such as laundry & medical expenses • Incidental expenses such as taxi fares, telecommunications

Since 2006, paving the way for solo travellers THAILAND HIGHLIGHTS WITH PHUKET EXTENSION, SOLOS ONLY

Our website has full trip details and content in this flyer is only a part of the information. For full details please refer to our website.

TRAVEL DATES: 12 OCT - 21 OCT 2020 With Phuket Extension 12 OCT - 23 OCT 2020

30 DEC 2020 - 8 JAN 2021 With Phuket Extension 30 DEC 2020 - 10 JAN 2021

TOUR PRICE: Prices shown are with your own room 12 OCT 2020: $3320 Phuket Extension: $995

30 DEC 2020: $TBA Phuket Extension: $TBA

SHARE & SAVE: Ask us about our share and save option with our roommmate matching option.

ITINERARY

Pre Tour Stay Consider arriving a day before the tour starting date. You can relax and refresh after your flight. The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional • All flight arrivals are met at Phuket Enjoy a welcome group highlight dinner costs. International airport for a transfer to our at a city hotel restaurant with a glamorous group hotel and magnificent view of beautiful DAY 1 Bangkok. [All dates except New Year’s Arrive Bangkok DAY 2 Eve travel dates] Bangkok Arrive to Bangkok. You will be met at the December departure: In the evening airport by our representative and provided After breakfast at the hotel, we head celebrate New Year’s Eve on the Chao a transfer to our group hotel. While to Bangkok’s famous floating markets Phraya River with Grand Pearl Cruises. enjoying your stay in Bangkok, you can at Damnoen Saduak including a short Cruise down the river on New Year’s Eve, indulge in some world-class shopping at longtail boat ride. Here, hundreds of passing Thailand’s cultural heritage such the famous Siam Paragon shopping mall, longtail boat owners gather to sell a vast as the Temple of Dawn, the savour the sights and smells of Bangkok’s array of produce, from tropical fruits and and the Temple of Emerald Buddha and street markets, or perhaps simply take vegetables, to steaming plates of ready- Rama VIII Bridge. Enjoy superb Thai and advantage of the hotel’s swimming pool, to-eat food prepared in mini kitchens international buffet dinner with various gym and spa. on the boats themselves. Enjoy the rest special performances including Thai of the day at your own leisure, perhaps dances and live music band. Open wine Meals: N/A purchasing some of the local food sold at to celebrate New Year “Farewell to the the floating markets for lunch. SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: Old Year and Welcome the New Year” and view the graceful fireworks along the river

Since 2006, paving the way for solo travellers THAILAND HIGHLIGHTS WITH PHUKET EXTENSION, SOLOS ONLY before returning to the hotel. • Visit The Riverfront, Hellfire Pass Bangkok’s first large-scale riverside • Free time in the afternoon to explore Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner community mall Kanchanaburi, and relax at the jungle raft lodge SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: SPECIAL NOTES (December departure) • Dinner at the raft lodge • Breakfast at hotel Today is a holiday and many services will not operate as per regular hours, or will DAY 5 • Visit the famous floating markets, be closed. Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya including a short longtail boat ride. • Free time to make your discoveries DAY 4 Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we Bangkok - Kanchanaburi • New Year’s Eve Celebrations; evening say farewell to Kanchanaburi and head to Ayutthaya, a world heritage site. You will river cruise on Chao Phraya River (New After breakfast we depart from the hotel visit the Royal Palace at Bang Pa-In, the Year’s Eve travel date only) in Bangkok and head up in to the scenic, summer palace for the King and Queen of riverside town of Kanchanaburi. Located Thailand. There will also be time to visit a in the west of Thailand, Kanchanaburi has local market in Ayutthaya. DAY 3 a slightly cooler climate than Bangkok Bangkok owing to its location on the edge of a This afternoon visit the World Heritage mountain range. Famed for its stunning Dine on a hearty buffet breakfast at the listed ruins of Ayutthaya. Impressively waterways, Kanchanaburi boasts hotel before meeting your tour guide jam-packed with ancient relics and countless waterfalls, caves and lakes. The and setting out for a day of sightseeing ruins, Ayutthaya is a must-see for history largest and most renowned of these being in Bangkok. Among other things, you’ll buffs visiting Thailand. Founded in 1350 the River Kwai, an increasingly popular see the Grand Palace, the Emerald by King U Thong, there are countless tourist destination and the site of our Buddha Temple and the klongs (canals) temples and museums where visitors can unique ‘raft’ hotel for the evening. of Bangkok. The klongs are major arteries get an insight into ancient Siam. for a colourful, often-bewildering variety During the day we will tour the fascinating Meals: Breakfast of huge barges, express passenger historical sites that Kanchanaburi has to boats, cross-river ferries, and thundering offer, including the Bridge on the River SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: “longtails”. We will then enter one of the Kwai, the War Cemetery and Hellfire Pass. smaller side canals to enjoy an intimate The remote “Hellfire Pass” the deepest • Breakfast at hotel view of Thai riverine life. cutting on the unfinished Death Railway • Travel from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya line was built by Australian, British, Dutch Lunch is at your leisure before re-joining • Visit the world heritage site of and other allied prisoners during the the group to take in some more of Ayutthaya. Second World War. There is a cruel history Bangkok’s fascinating sights. to the conditions the prisoners of war • Free time to visit a local market. Royal Grand Palace & Wat Pra Kaew: endured at the hands of the Japanese. As you walk through the pass, it is hard Wat Pra Kaew, home to the centuries- DAY 6 old, gold-clad figurine, “The Emerald to imagine the horrors that took place in Ayutthaya - Sukhothai Buddha” and the wonderfully impressive this tranquil forest just a few decades ago. Royal Grand Palace, more stunning in real There are harrowing exhibits in the Hellfire Have breakfast at the hotel. You will life than photography can convey. The Pass Memorial Museum, located on the then travel to Sukhothai. This afternoon, Emerald Buddha is so sacred that only site. explore the ruins of Sukhothai by bicycle, the Thai King may touch it. which are located in the highly regarded You have the remainder of the afternoon Sukhothai Historical Park. Within these to explore Kanchanaburi, have lunch and Tonight, there’s the option to join your protected grounds lie 193 ruins across 70 relax in your jungle raft lodging. Dinner guide to go out for a local dinner (on square kilometres of land. your own account) visiting Asiatique The will be served atop the floating, open-air Riverfront, an open air mall with plentiful deck of the hotel restaurant where you Meals: Breakfast shopping options and restaurants. can take in the uninterrupted, lush jungle surrounds as you dine. SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: Meals: Breakfast Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Breakfast at hotel SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: • Travel to Sukhothai. SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: • Breakfast at hotel • Visit of the ruins of Sukhothai by • Breakfast at hotel bicycle • Guided Bangkok sightseeing; including the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha • Travel Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Temple and the klongs (canals) of • Overnight stay at the raft hotel, River DAY 7 Bangkok. Kwai Sukhothai - Chiang Mai • Touring historical sites of Kanchanaburi FREE TIME EXTRAS: has to offer, including the Bridge on After breakfast, the next stop, Chiang the River Kwai, the War Cemetery and Mai, is the largest city in Thailand, and although culturally significant, boasts

Since 2006, paving the way for solo travellers THAILAND HIGHLIGHTS WITH PHUKET EXTENSION, SOLOS ONLY an increasingly modern city. Founded in elephants, buffalos, dogs, cats, birds and local restaurant. 1296, Chiang Mai is now the unofficial many other rescued animals. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner capital of northern Thailand. Many Thai Your visit starts with a picturesque drive festivals are held in Chiang Mai, such as through rural countryside to Elephant SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: Loi Krathong, Songkran and Chiang Mai Nature Park. You will hear the personal Flower Festival, and celebrations so large • Breakfast at hotel stories of rescued and orphaned and impressive that people living all over elephants. See how they became a proud • At group nominated time transfer to Thailand turn on their TVs to watch the herd and free from abuse for the first time the airport to connect with your flight to spectacles unfold. in their lives. Phuket We arrive in Chiang Mai in the afternoon. • Arrival to Phuket, group transfer Phuket Many find their visit to Elephant Nature For dinner you’re in for a real treat, as we Airport to Patong Beach, Phuket Park rewarding and very relaxing. will be dining at a traditional Khantoke • Dinner with the group at a local Observe free roaming elephants (no restaurant. This northern-style dinner is restaurant riding), and other rescued animals followed by folk dances and a hill tribe enjoying the natural surroundings of our show. sanctuary. DAY 11 Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner Phuket Your visit helps support regional projects SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: and offers an invaluable opportunity of Take advantage of the hotel’s buffet helping elephant conservation. breakfast before exploring Phuket. Visit • Breakfast at hotel Phuket town and see the Sino-Portuguese After an action-packed day at the • Travel to Chiang Mai architecture. Then see a beautiful Elephant Nature Park, we take you back viewpoint of Patong Beach, Kata Beach • Highlight dinner at a traditional to the hotel to enjoy your evening at and Karon Beach. There is free time in Khantoke restaurant with folk dances leisure. the afternoon and evening, to relax or Meals: Breakfast, Lunch make your own local discoveries. DAY 8 Chiang Mai SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: Meals: Breakfast

Today we will visit Baan Tawai Handicraft • Breakfast at hotel SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: Village, that boasts being the largest • Full day visit to Elephant Nature Park; • Breakfast at hotel handicraft market in Thailand. a rescued home and sanctuary for • Local guided sightseeing including elephants, and other rescued animals. A wide range of handicrafts and artisanal Phuket town creations are offered here. They are not • Free time from mid afternoon and the only teak carpentry but also bamboo DAY 10 evening and rattan furniture as well as ceramics, Chiang Mai silk, hemp, silver, cotton, plastic and DAY 12 glass. They are made from rough country The final day of your Highlights Tour. Phuket style to meticulously crafted objets d’art, Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Touring and from antiques to modern designer services come to and end today, unless Have breakfast at the hotel and then products. you’ve included the Phuket Extension. enjoy your final hours in Thailand before transferring to Phuket airport to catch your Enjoy lunch and explore the town for Meals: Breakfast departing flight home. This is the end of the afternoon and evening at your own the tour so for now we say goodbye, but leisure. Perhaps check out the historical SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: we hope to see you again on another sites, shopping and Thai massage • Breakfast at hotel Encounter in the future! parlours that Chiang Mai has to offer. Meals: Breakfast Meals: Breakfast SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED: PHUKET EXTENSION 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS • Breakfast at hotel • Breakfast at hotel

• Visit Baan Tawai Handicraft Village DAY 10 Itineraries may be subject to change, • Free time to explore Chiang Mai Chiang Mai - Phuket due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change Have breakfast at the hotel before prior to departure of significance, we aim DAY 9 transferring to the airport for your flight to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary Chiang Mai to Phuket. Fly from Chiang Mai to Phuket changes while on tour will be informed by for two nights at a beautiful resort to relax your tour leader/guide while on tour. Enjoy a full day visit to Elephant Nature and enjoy some beach time, and get to Park; a natural home and sanctuary for know Phuket. Tonight enjoy dinner at a Solos Only

Since 2006, paving the way for solo travellers THAILAND HIGHLIGHTS WITH PHUKET EXTENSION, SOLOS ONLY

This tour is operated by Encounter change may be necessary while on the trip. Travel. Book with Encounter Travel for It could be related to unexpected weather or your Return Traveller Reward (conditions road conditions or another example could be apply) or earn your status as a Return an announcement of a closure of a facility we planned to use. In these cases, we will make Traveller for future savings. all best endeavours to provide an alternative, of equivalent or similar standard. Information in this publication is in part, and for full trip details aboUT THE MEALS please refer to our website. It’s regular that our trips include welcome Full terms and conditions are available on our dinners and farewell dinners for our website and provided when a quote is issued. groups. In addition, we include other group dining experiences to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefit of travelling and dining as a group. There’s nothing better than to share a meal with new friends and discuss the day’s adventures.

The Local Cuisine The lunch and dinner meals included with the itinerary are Thai cuisine.

Thai cooking is influenced by many flavours and spices and often has a spicy edge to the dish. However, not all dishes contain chilli. If you are not a fan of chilli you should always check with your waiter or restaurant server if dishes include chilli, as some chillis are very hot and may not be easily detected by just looking at the dish.

The breakfasts will offer a variety including Asian style breakfast options and some western options.

We advise travellers against street food and that you only dine at places that are recommended by your guide or tour leader. By following best advice it’s far less likely that you will become unwell with any stomach complaints.

About the Water in Thailand Due to poor quality of drinking water in Thailand we advise travellers to drink bottled water and only bottled water from reliable sources. Also, use bottled water for brushing teeth.

DISCLAIMER Any content in this publication maybe subject to change or correction, and without notice. We have taken great care to prepare and publish the trip information and in good faith we believe it to be accurate at the time we published the information. However, as is the nature of travel, plans may need to change from time to time and often unexpectedly. If trip details need to change, in most cases your final documentation issued prior to your departure will be updated. However, it’s also possible that an itinerary

Since 2006, paving the way for solo travellers