WONDERS AND RICHES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA - High School Summer Programs (800) 321-4353

Offered by Rustic Pathways chairman David Venning only once each year, students on this exotic program travel in style and visit some of Asia’s most significant highlights. Students stay at some of the region’s finest hotels, dine at some of Asia’s most famous restaurants, and enjoy special access to some of Southeast Asia’s premium attractions.

Fantastic Destinations
You’ll visit four very unique countries during your Southeast Asian adventure, spending time in Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and The Hill Tribe Region), Laos (the Luang Prabag region), Cambodia (Angkor Wat and Siem Reap), and Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay). All but two of your flights are under an hour long (this region is very compact!), and traveling by air, luxury van, first class train, and chartered boats makes the travel easy and comfortable.

World Famous Hotels & Legendary Restaurants
You’ll stay in some of the finest hotels and resorts in Asia, and in several cases you’ll meet with their General Managers during your visit. The food on the trip is fantastic as well, including afternoon high tea at The Oriental, dinner alongside the Chao Praya River at The Peninsula, and even a private cooking class! If you really enjoy food, then get ready for spectacular seafood, exotic Thai & Vietnamese dining, classical Laos food, and special event dinners sampling the local cuisines and delicacies.

Truly Extraordinary Adventures
The list of activities on this program is much too long to fit in the catalog. You’ll ride elephants through the Thai jungle and horse-drawn carts in Cambodia, tour Hanoi by rickshaw, cruise through one of the world’s most picturesque island groups, watch Muay Thai boxing from ringside seats at Bangkok’s famous Lumphini Stadium, enjoy VIP treatment at an Asian cabaret show, join a classic kantoke dinner, tour the floating village outside Angkor Wat by chartered boat, attend a Thai dance presentation, explore the lovely streets of Luang Prabang, raft through a rainforest on a traditional bamboo skiff, tour Bangkok by long-tailed speed boat, chat with long neck Hill Tribe Villagers, meet with monks, minstrels, and magic men, and perhaps even have your fortune told by a mystical astrologer. And much more!

Incredible Markets, Bazaars & Shopping
Asia has some of the world’s best shopping, and there are many items available in the local markets that you just can’t find outside this region. You’ll have the chance to visit some of the world’s most exotic markets during your stay, including Chiang Mai’s famous Night Bazaar which is recognized as one of Asia’s most interesting markets. You will also shop for handicrafts and hand-made clothing, explore Baan Tawai Market, bargain for deals at the Bazaar in Old Hanoi, look for treasures at The Smuggler’s Market, and get truly amazing handicrafts from villages you visit in Thailand’s Hill Tribe Region. You can also have clothing custom-made at David Venning’s personal tailor in Bangkok – something past students and their parents rave about.

A Very Fine Journey Indeed!
Wonders and Riches provides students with an enriching overview of Southeast Asia and ensures special access to some of the region’s most wonderful activities. Organized and personally guided by the founder of Rustic Pathways, students learn about Asia from an informed and empowering teacher who has lived and worked here for years. David Venning makes Asia come alive for his students, and uses his extensive connections here to make their journey an extraordinary and life-changing adventure. The program requires a phone interview with David prior to acceptance. Parents are welcome to join their children in Thailand at the conclusion of the program, and David is happy to help with special arrangements for your family when you visit. For questions regarding this program, please contact david@ rusticpathways.com.

The normal packing list will provide you with the basics of what you need for this program. However, due to the nature of some of the places we visit and stay, you will require some more "dressy" clothing than what is required for other Rustic Pathways programs. While you are not in formal dress for the majority of the trip, you will certainly need more formal clothing to feel comfortable in some of the places we go. Every Wonders & Riches student will have the opportunity to visit one of Bangkok's finest tailors. If you'd like to get some custom threads made while overseas, plan accordingly with allowance money or credit card.

Men should add to the packing list two pairs of dress slacks - neat khaki or light gray in color may be best. You will need two dress shirts (one white, one colored) that you can wear with a Thai if where necessary. You will also need a pair of dress shoes, a pair of comfortable dress sandals or loafers, and a sports jacket. The weather is warm, so keep things light in weight. You probably want to bring a garment bag in addition to your suitcase to take care of your extra clothing. You can bring a tie with you, or buy some new ties here in Thailand - the home of beautiful handmade silk ties!

Ladies should add to the packing list two pairs of dress slacks or dressy pants that can be worn with both casual and dressy blouses. You may like to bring one summer-weight dress for special dinners out, along with comfortable, somewhat dressy shoes to match. You should also bring a pair of neat, dress sandals which are suitable for wearing with pants and a collared shirt or blouse on a tropical evening. On the islands, dress is casual resort wear style. You'll want a bathing suit for the pool and the ocean.

If you don't have membership in one of the Star Alliance Airline's frequent flyer programs already, I suggest you get a United Airlines Frequent Flyer Membership. It's free and allows you to get credit for all of your internal Thai Airlines flights. We will be flying quite a lot on this trip and you would be silly to throw out the miles!

1 - How long is the flight to this country?
Flights to Thailand generally depart from Los Angeles International Airport via Singapore. The total flight time LAX-Singapore-Bangkok is about 21 hours.

2 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Yes. All flights between the USA and Bangkok, and the return, will have a flight leader.

3 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
Students from the United States will be issued tourist visas upon arrival to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Students from other countries should check with their consulate. PLEASE BRING EXTRA PASSPORT PHOTOS, AT LEAST TWO, FOR YOUR CAMBODIA VISA APPLICATION. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

***Students are responsible for their own visas to Vietnam.
- Please use the program dates as your arrival and departure dates.
- Apply for a single entry visa.
- Please use this address for question #10

Melia Hanoi Hotel
44B - Ly Thuong Kiet Street
Hanoi - Vietnam
- http://www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/
- Students from other countries should check with their consulate.

4 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
Please contact your family physician or see the CDC or WHO websites. (www.cdc.g0v)

5 – What countries will we be visiting on this program?
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

6 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Students will begin and end this program at Bangkok International Airport. Staff members from their next trip will meet any student transferring to another program in Thailand, Vietnam, or Cambodia, at the Bangkok international Airport. Students transferring to China, Australia, Fiji, or New Zealand will fly out from BIA. Flight leaders for the trip home will meet students returning to the United States.

9 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Extra costs on this trip are anytype of extra shopping, souvenirs, large amounts of snacks (i.e. if you cannot live without Red Bull and you drink six a day, that will be on you.) Extra activities that may occasionally arise, like deluxe movies tickets and long karoke sessions. Spa treatments, room service, and the like. Anything you charge in your room is your responsibility to pay for.

10 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
You will eat at a variety of establishments, including some of the nicest restaurants in each region. Please bring at least one outfit that is sutiable for nice dinner wear. We will also sample some local delicacies, and eat at a variety of levels of restaurants. You will be fed well. In big cities, we do try stop in and have some more Western food for a taste of home. If you are a vegetarian, prepare for a lot of rice, vegetables and fruit. If you have any nut allegies, please tell us so we can make sure that the food is prepared in a certain way for you.

11 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
Yes.

12 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
You will be staying at the best accommodations available in each of the regions of these countries. Keep in mind that you are traveling to some rural and underdeveloped regions and that accommodations may be a little different than the W Hotel in New York. However, you will always be comfortable and staying in the best place the region has to offer. Students love where we stay—in Bangkok, we stay at some of the top hotels in the world.

13 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
There will be a maximum number of 15 students on this program. Demographics tend to vary.

14 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
Students will have the chance to do laundry about every three days or so. Prepare to go five days if necessary without laundry. We use local laundry services and rarely use the hotel service. Usually it takes about 24 hours. Costs vary in each country and region. But if you have a regular washer load full, your cost should be around 3-5 dollars to wash, dry, fold and iron.

15 - What do I need to do for a visa to Vietnam?
Students traveling to Vietnam must apply for a visa prior to their arrival. Here is some info you may need when applying for the visa:

Dates: The Vietnam visa asks for specific dates of entry / exit. Always use the entire program dates for the dates, just to be safe.

Multiple Entry: If a student is doing 1 program that will enter Vietnam, they only need a single entry visa. If they are doing 2 different trips to Vietnam (Faces and Places, Wonders and Riches, The Overland Trip, Conical Hats and Safron Robes), please apply for a multiple entry visa.

Price: The price of the visa is the more expensive of the 2 options. For Vietnam, its the $65 option.

Contacts: You can put this hotel down for your place of stay or contact:

Melia Hanoi Hotel
44B - Ly Thuong Kiet Street
Hanoi - Vietnam
Tel.: (84-4) 9343343