Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
(Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Battambang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Chau Doc, Can Tho,
Ho Chi Minh City)
14 Days
Departure Date: May 18, 2009-May 31, 2009
Bring the Far East closer with this tour of Southeast Asia. Bangkok's skyscrapers
balance the quiet beauty of Angkor Wat, and the opulent Grand Palace contrasts a Mon tribal village.
Ride an elephant, meander through the Cai Rang floating market, walk through history in
Ho Chi Minh City and realize the breadth of this one-of-a-kind adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1: Overnight Flight to Thailand
Day 2: Arrival in Bangkok
Enjoy time meeting with tour guide and having some free time.
Day 3: Bangkok
Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bangkok
From skyscrapers to Buddhist monasteries. Bangkok is known as Krung Thep ("City of Angels").
Begin the day with a boat tour through the Chao Phraya River and "klongs" (canals) that
once gave Bangkok the name of Venice of the East. The canals at one time outnumbered the roads.
The canals still play an important part in transporting foods and goods to and from the city.
Visit the Grand Palace, an enormous royal compound, which is still used by Thailand's King
on certain occasions. See the Royal Chapel (Wat Phra Kaeo) where the Emerald Buddha,
(Thailand's most sacred Buddha image) resides. You will also see the Reception Hall, the
Royal Guest House, the Coronation Hall, the Throne Hall and the Funeral Palace.
You will also visit a Buddhist school in the Mahadhat Temple area in the afternoon.
Traditional Thai Dinner and Dances
In the evening enjoy an introduction to mystical dances, authentic Thai cuisine and ambiance.
Traditional Thai dancers will demonstrate the beauty of their dances,
and perform stories from classical Thai literature and folktales.
Day 4: Bangkok and Kanchanaburi
Visit to Phra Pathom Chedi
The first ("pathom") tower-like Buddhist shrine ("chedi") in this region and the largest pagoda
in southeast Asia. The original part of this structure is more than 2,000 years old
and the golden stupa rises more than 393 feet in the air.
Passage via the Death Railway
Pass through former labor camps traveling on the Death Railway, so named because so many
Asian laborers and Allied prisoners of war died under the harshest conditions during its construction.
Visit a Mon Village
Travel by jungle raft to an island no accessible by car to visit a Mon village. Visit this village of
people who migrated from Myanmar. They still who hold firmly to their customs and
traditions, dress and language. They are well-know for their Mon pottery.
The landscape is reported to be extremely beautiful.
Optional Elephant Ride
Join an optional excursion into the jungle on the back of an elephant.
It is reported that you will gain an entirely different perspective on your surroundings
from 10 feet up in the air.
Traditional Mon and Burmese Dances
Enjoy a presentation of dance and song accompanied by traditional musical instruments,
as the Burmese harp and the Mon brass gong.
The River Kwai Jungle Rafts Resort
Remember the movie "Bridge Over River Kwai"?
Spend the night at the River Kwai Jungle Rafts Resort in Kanchanaburi.
Day 5: Bangkok via Pakseng
Sail past plunging gorges, endless beaches, cascading waterfalls and banks of wild orchids
as you leave the jungle on your way to Pakseng. Board the coach to Bangkok.
Day 6: Bangkok and Battambang
Transfer to Cambodia
Travel to the Arranyaprathet border and cross into Cambodia. See the Cambodian
countryside to arrive in Battambang, an elegant riverside town that boasts about the
best preserved colonial architecture in the country.
Day 7: Battambang and Siem Reap
Visit to Banteay Chmar Temple
Discover the silent beauty of this temple that is reported to be rarely visited.
Capital of Jayavarman II, it was rebuilt by Jayavarman VII and dedicated to the
latter's son and four generals who were killed in the Cham invasion of 1177.
Arrival in Siem Reap
Visit to the Temples of Angkor.
These temples are likened to the Colosseum to Italy and the pyramids to Egypt.
Spend the day exploring these stone temples dating back to the 9th-13th centuries.
Angkor Thom and Bayon
A site that rivals ancient Rome in size. Pass through its walled enclosure and over the
moat to admire elaborate stone carvings of human and mythological creatures.
Visit the Bayon temple, built in the 12th century which is surrounded by massive
towers carved with more than 200 huge stone faces. The faces and who they represent
are the subject of fierce debate. Search the walls for scenes of harvesting games and battle.
Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King
Visit two stages for important public events and ceremonies.
Admire the Terrace of the Elephants many elephant and bird-man carvings
See the Terrace of the Leper King's huge stone platform carved with mythological beings.
Phimeanakas
Built over the 10th and 11th centuries, this king's temple is the tallest scalable temple in
Angkor Thom. Climb to the top for an amazing view of the compound.
Angkor Wat
Visit the temple dedicated to the Hindu go Vishnu and watch the sun set over
this mass structure representing the Hindu concept of the universe. The exterior walls
depict Hindu mythology and historical wars. Marvel at the towering, lotus
bud-shaped inner sanctum. The Temple remains an architectural wonder.
Angkor Wat, meaning "City Temple" was built in the 12th century.
Day 9: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
Ta Prohm
Originally built in the 12th century. Experience the exotic parrots.
Neak Pean
This small island temple's name means "coiled serpents." The structure is a lotus pattern
made up of eight pools whose waters are thought to have healing properties. The temple
also features an intriguing statue of a horse saving drowning sailors.
Preah Khan
This complex name means "sacred sword," was originally a Buddhist school and monastery.
Visit a chantier-école
See traditional handicrafts and apprentices hard at work as you tour this training school for
the trades such as woodworking and stone carving. Here, you will have the opportunity
to test your skills in bartering.
Flight to Phnom Penh
Continue on to Siem Reap, where you will board an afternoon flight to Phnom Penh.
Arrive in the capital of Cambodia where you will spend the night.
Day 10: Phnom Penh and Chau Doc
Guided Sightseeing Tour of Phnom Penh
On this tour, you will be introduced to the Cambodian culture. Visit the Royal Palace,
built in 1866, the Silver Pagoda, which has a floor covered with more than 5,000 silver tiles.
View rare turn of the century paintings of the Ramayana epic, a 90 kilogram,
solid-gold Buddha, and the Emerald Buddha.
Visit the National Museum, which houses the country's most important collection of
ancient Khmer artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries, as well as many objects
from the Angkorian era. Make a final visit to Wat Phnom, the city's namesake, where it
is reported that in 1372, Lady Penh found a Koki tree floating in the Mekong River.
Inside, were four statues of Buddha.
Cruise to Chau Doc
Cruise to the frontier town in Vietnam, known as the place of five hills and seven mountains.
Day 11: Chau Doc and Can Tho
Sampan Excursion in Chau Doc
See the hundreds of floating houses and markets that line Chau Doc's canals, as well as
the underwater cages where fish are bred. Continue on to the Cham stilt house village of
Phu Hiep. Explore the mosques and silk costumes weaved by the women
on hand looms. Walk Sam Mountain and experience the rice fields.
Visit the Lady Xu temple.
Transfer to Thot Not
Visit the Bang Lang Sanctuary, home to thousands of storks, on the way to Thot Not.
Can Tho
Continue on to Can Tho, the "west capital" of Vietnam. You will spend the night here.
Day 12: Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City
Boat Trip to the floating market
Take boat trip to the Cai Rang floating market where hundreds of boats reside with
merchandise and goods for sale. Continue through the town of Rach Ngong,
passing traditional houses and lush, green orchards.
Guided Sightseeing Tour of Can Tho
The tour director will introduce you to the city of Can Tho. It is the largest
city in Vietnam and the industrial, commercial and cultural center of the country.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City
Take a guided sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City, commonly referred to as
Saigon--the city's name before South Vietnam fell to communism.
Visit the Tien Hau Pagoda, a place of worship where a yearly festival of traditional
rituals takes place. Pass through the maze of the market in Cho Lon,
Ho Chi Minh's Chinatown. Visit the History Museum to see over 2,000 years
of recorded Vietnamese history. Browse collections dating from the Bronze Age
to the French colonial era and see the famous water puppet theater.
Visit the Reunification Palace where North Vietnam military tanks
crashed the front gates and overthrew the South Vietnamese government.
Also visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a prominent legacy of French culture and styles.
Visit the General Post Office, built in colonial style by Gustave Eiffel who also built
the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. See the large portrait of Ho Chi Minh inside.
Chu Chi Tunnel Tour
See the 124-mile network of underground tunnels built and used by the
Viet Cong during the French Indochina War and the Vietnam War.
From the mid-1940s onwards, the Viet Cong constructed secret meeting rooms,
kitchens, dining rooms, hospitals and printing presses 40 feet underground.
Your visit includes a historical description of the tunnel system and an opportunity
to crawl through parts of the maze.
Day 14: Return Home
Download Complete Brochure Here:
Cost of Study Abroad
For Young Adults Under 23 Years of Age
Total Cost of Trip: $3,612, including excursions
(Includes Program Fee-$3025; Departure Fee-$457;Lifetime Membership Fee-$95; Weekend Supplement-$35; Peace of Mind Program-Free;
For Adults Over 23 years of Age:
Total Cost of Trip: $4,027, including excursions
(Includes Program Fee-$3025; Departure Fee-$457;Lifetime Membership Fee-$95;Weekend Supplement-$35; Peace of Mind Program-Free;
and, Adult supplement for double room-$415 )
Plus optional insurance:
All Inclusive Insurance Plan - $115 (recommended)
Medical and Accident Insurance - $65
Baggage and Property Insurance - $45
*Note: Prices are subject to change.
Program fee valid for all who enroll through Sunday, August 31, 2008.
ALL PRICES INCLUDE :
Round-trip airfare;
12 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms;
3 meals daily;
Full-time bilingual EF Tour Director;
Sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides;
Visits to special attractions;
EF walking tours
Optional: Elephant ride
For more information, please contact Dr. Rosalyn M. King at:
Enroll online. Tour Number: 466273-G1
To Enroll Online:
1. Visit www.eftours.com and click on the tab “Parents/students”
2. Click on the circle which reads “Enroll”
3. Enter the Tour ID 466273...then follow the directions.
To Enroll Over the Phone:
1. Simply call 1-800-665-5364 (customer service)
2. Note the ID number 466273 and provide information and credit card payment.
Study Abroad Requirements:
All tour members will designate some aspect of Southeast Asian culture, history, art, archaeology,
architecture, political or social system , symbolism or behavior they want to study.
Study tour members are studying on-line and visiting links about the places to be visited.
We will also have one or several half-day meetings in late April to early May.
During the study tour we will keep a journal and take photos for a photographic journal on
our studies and experiences. At dinner, we will spend some time discussing the events of the day.
Students who are studying particular aspects of Southeast Asian
culture and behavior will be responsible for developing a report on their specific content area(s).
We will then compile our tour findings with pictures, essays and descriptions for publication
on the course Web site for public education and viewing. Tour participants will receive an
EF backpack and journal for the trip. Students will be asked to write up their summary
descriptions on the trip back home for submission before departing the airplane in the US.
Use this course web site and the tour web site for study. Enter tour site by going to:
On the EF site, you will find links, suggested reading, suggested movies.
Read destination profiles, pack for your tour and travel smart sections.
Pay particular attention to sections on appropriate clothing to take, money/currency, etc.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL LINKS
Related Learning Links
A complete and thorough study of Thailand by the Library of Congress. Includes history, society and environment, population, ethnicity, religion, social system, economy, education, health,
international trade and finance, industry, agriculture, national security, local government,
armed forces, foreign security, military, criminal justice and much more.
A profile of the country produced by the U. S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asian
and Pacific Affairs.
An overview of Thailand by the BBC News.
A map of Thailand by the U.S. State Department.
An overview of articles about Thailand featured in the New York Times.
A chronology of key events in Thailand from 1782 to the present time. Produced by the BBC.
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