St Leonard’s Big Experience – Thailand, Laos & Cambodia – Pagodas 25th – 22nd November 2018 (18 days)

Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, Chiang Rai, Chiang Khong, Huay Xai, Pak Beng,Luang Prabang, Siem Reap (Temples of Angkor), Phnom Penh

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________This 18-day trip has been specifically designed for students from St Leonard’s College in Melbourne.

The trip entails a journey through three of Asia’s most geographically and culturally diverse countries - Laos, a peaceful landlocked nation bordered by no less than five large and powerful neighbours - Cambodia; A once rich and vast empire and in more recent times, a country that has witnessed some of the most terrible suffering to emerge today as a peaceful and developing nation state and Thailand a developed nation and the only nation in the region never to have been colonized.This trip is intended to be of particular educational value and has been designed to enhance student’s awareness of the Asian region by engaging students in a series of active programs designed to highlight the countries’ contrasting cultures and levels of development in this region. Highlights of this trip will include working in a remote village to build a dwelling for a refugee community in Thailand; a memorable journey along the upper reaches of the Mekong River and a visit to

a Cambodian education centre as well as time spent exploring the magnificent Temples of Angkor.Aside from being educational, the trip is also intended to be highly enjoyable and includes amongst other activities; elephant trekking, white water rafting, a Thai cooking class, a Great Race activity, visits to minority regions and a host of outdoor educational activities and cultural purists.

GROUP LEADERS & GUIDESYour group leader is probably the person who most influences the success of your trip. Thus Student Educational Adventures chooses to employ professionals who have lead student groups throughout all areas of their country and the region for a minimum of five years. Our staff are all highly trained local experts.All have been chosen because pf their ability to deal with the needs and demands of young student groups. They all speak excellent English and are happy to share their intimate knowledge of the country with you.

ITINERARYThis itinerary is correct at the time of printing. From time to time there may be slight changes due to uncontrollable circumstances. Your group leader will advise you of any changes at the initial group meeting.

Day 1 Depart Melbourne / Arrive Chiang Mai / Thailand (Monday 5th November 2018) Students will travel to Tullamarine Airport for the 3:25pm flight to Thailand. Arriving in Chiang Mai tonight we will be greeted at the airport by our tour leader and transported to our hotel. Following this there will have a brief group meeting to talk about the activities over the coming weeks. (D) Day 2 Chiang Mai (Tuesday 6th November) This morning we journey to an eco-village nestled in a picturesque valley home to various ethnic minority groups including the Long Neck Karen hill tribe who are originally from neighbouring Burma. The Long Neck Karen people are often called the ‘Padaung’ although the tribes themselves prefer the term ‘Kayan.’ In the late 1980s and early 1990s due to conflict with the military regime in Myanmar, many Kayan tribes

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fled to the Thai border area. Among the refugee camps that originally formed during this period, the Kayan people became the subject of particularly intrigue to Thai and foreign travellers alike. These days the Karen are happy to see foreigners and have become a self-sufficient community because of the interest from foreign visitors in their culture and indeed their bizarre custom of placing golden coils around their necks from a very young age.This afternoon we drive up to Doi Su Thep hill overlooking Chiang Mai where we will take an electric car to the summit. We will learn about the history and local traditions of this religious site including the ringing of the bells before descending the dragon staircase. Mid-afternoon we will take part in a hands-on cooking class to learn the secrets of Thai cuisine, enjoying for dinner what we cook! This class will be hosted by a talented local chef who will also give us a thorough explanation of the myriad of spices and ingredients essential to Thai cuisine. (B, L, D) Day 3 Chiang Mai (Wednesday 7th November) We will awake early this morning to learn of the disciplined physical regime of Thai boxing (Muay Thai). The art of Muay Thai has been Thailand’s most popular sport for hundreds of years. It is unique among other kinds of fighting disciplines in its approach to close quarters fighting. Later we will venture north of the city to enjoy the true exhilaration of white water rafting – the best way to enjoy some of the beauty of the Thai rainforest and mountains. Returning to town this afternoon there will be a short time for a trip to the local night market. (B, L) 

Day 4 & 5 Chiang Mai – Chiang Dao (Thursday 8 th & Friday 9th November) This morning we depart Chiang Mai and travel to the hill tribe region of Chiang Dao. This northern Thai province over the years has become a state of refuge for many Karen and Palong ethnic tribes’ people who fled from Burma (Myanmar) in the late 1980’s. We will spend two days in this region where we will embark on a community project designed to assist this village of Karen/Palong refugees in constructing a small house. Our time in the village will entail working in groups with the local inhabitants engaging in a number of manual building tasks including brick laying, cement mixing, carpentry and landscaping. It is expected that whilst in the village students will learn something of the local traditions and history of the tribe, whose traditions differ markedly from mainstream Thai society. NB: Facilities in the village are basic. A thin mattress, pillow and mosquito net will be provided in each long-house. Sleeping arrangements are communal style. Toilets are of swat style and showering facilities are simple. Good quality walking shoes/boots are preferable. (2B, 2L, 2D)

Day 6 Chiang Dao - Chiang Rai (Saturday 10 th November) We will complete our community project this morning and hand over our newly finished project to the family who will live there. Local tradesmen will finish off the fixtures and fitting over the coming days. Following this we will farewell our village and travel further north to the town of Chiang Rai. This once infamous town was at one time the centre of the world opium trade, the crop being widely harvested around its fertile hinterland crossing into Burma and Laos. Today Chiang Rai is a friendly town famous for its bustling night markets and tasty cuisine, both of which we will experience this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong (Sunday 11th November) We will journey to Thailand’s furthest northern point to visit the county’s Golden Triangle region, which until recently was the region where most of the world’s opium was produced. A mandatory stop while in this part of the world is a visit to the Opium Museum. This very impressive museum houses a great array of interactive displays, media and interactive exhibits detailing the history of opium and the impact of illegal drugs, opiates and other narcotics. Late afternoon we will arrive at the border town of Chiang Khong. Tonight’s accommodation will be in a rustic guesthouse on the banks of the Mekong River enjoying authentic Thai hospitality and view across the water into neighbouring Laos. (B, D) Day 8 Chiang Khong / Pak Beng - Laos (Monday 12th November) After breakfast our new adventure begins as we farewell Thailand for our journey into the heart of Laos. Once across the river border, we will board our private long boat for a two-day

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journey down the famous Mekong River which begins in Tibet and winds its way through five countries before reaching the ocean. Our boat trip will provide ample time for students to enjoy the beauty of this landlocked country only opened to foreigner visitors since 1994. We will learn about the Mekong Rivers’ environmental impact on its bordering nations and related economic issues in particularly damming causing concerns in the low land countries. En route we will stop to visit remote minority villages whose lifestyles and subsistence practices have changed little in four centuries. This evening we will arrive in the small town of Pak Beng and enjoy a short orientation walk around the town before dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Pak Beng - Luang Prabang (Tuesday 13th November) Today we will continue our journey down the Mekong River en route to the enchanting town of Luang Prabang, rich in French colonial character and the centre of Laotian Buddhism. We will also visit the cave of Pak Ou where hundreds of ancient Buddha figures have been stored. Our local guide will explain to us the intricacies of the Buddhist religion and the meaning of the various Buddha images depicted here. Following this we will continue down river to Luang Prabang, arriving mid-afternoon. On arrival we will check into our hotel and stroll around the original part of the town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Luang Prabang’s main street comes alive each evening to the colour of local merchants selling their wares – time for which we will have to experience after dinner this evening. (B, L,

D)

Day 10 & 11 Luang Prabang (Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th November) As one of the world’s more important centres for Buddhism, Luang Prabang wakes each morning to a procession of novice monks performing their daily rituals. Our time in Luang Prabang will include a climb up Mount Phu Si revealing panoramic views of the town and surrounding hinterland as well as a short city tour where we will learn about the town’s French colonial past. Time will be set aside for a Great Race where students will travel about the town in small groups completing various tasks. One afternoon we will take a bicycle ride out of the city riding along quiet roads and back lanes stopping off at a Mong hill tribe village to see their traditional way of life. Whist in Luang Prabang we will also visit and elephant centre to learn about conservation and breeding programs.On our final evening we will enjoy a traditional ‘Baci’ dinner blessing ceremony accompanied by a display of traditional Laotian folk dancing. We will be invited to join the dance. (2B, 1L, 2D)

Day 12 Luang Prabang to Siem Reap (Cambodia) (Friday 16th November) This morning we will farewell Laos and transfer to the airport for our short flight to Cambodia, arriving in the town of Siem Reap. On arrival we will quickly notice the marked cultural and geographical difference between these two countries as our guide explains about life in Cambodia and teachers us some rudimentary Khmer language. The name Siem Reap means ‘Thai Defeated’, which became the name of this province of Cambodia when it was retaken by Cambodian forces in the 15th century.With the advent of maritime trade, drought, social upheaval and a transition from a Hindu to a Buddhist structured society, this once powerful city of an estimated two million inhabitance fell into a state of decline and was little more than a village by the

time French colonists learnt of the existence of the Temples of Angkor in the 19th century. When Cambodia was finally freed of colonial rule in 1953, this sleepy province became a popular destination until the advent of war and rise of the Khmer Rouge after which time the temples remained off limits to visitors for decades. Only in the 1990’s have the temples once again become a place of interest. Tonight we will wonder down town for dinner at a central popular eatery before having some time later to explore the market precinct and possibly enjoying a fish massage. (B, D) (B, D)

Day 13 Siem Reap / Temples of Angkor (Saturday 17th November) ‘See Angkor and Die’ – a slogan that appeared in newspapers across Europe at the advent of tourism in the 1920’s, today remains an opposite introduction to what is undoubtedly one of humankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. Often mistakenly referred to as ‘Angkor Wat’ which simply denotes the name of the largest temple, the Angkor Temple complex is a multifarious arrangement of some 112 structures that began construction in the early to mid-12th Century and From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in all, are the surviving remains of a grand social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared.Setting out early today we will explore this inspirational expanse on sturdy and environmentally friendly mountain bikes, today we will visit the archaeological complex’s imposing Angkor Thom and the Bayon Temple as well as the most magnificent of them

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all – Angkor Wat. Time permitting will also visit the beautiful Ta Prohm temple famous for its tapestry of trees intertwined within the temple structure. This evening we will enjoy a walking tour of the city’s central district before dinner at a local restaurant. NB: The bike ride is a highly enjoyable activity suitable for any student of average fitness with the ability to ride a bike. The activity will cover a total distance of around 15-20kms. The bikes we will use are sturdy mountain bikes with helmets provided. We also employ a support crew to following our group to make running repairs and carry students (up to 3) if they are not able to ride. Students will be required to carry their own water during this activity. We finish with our bikes outside the temple area, then bus back to the hotel. (B, D)

Day 14 Siem Reap / Tonle Sap Lake (Service-learning activity) (Sunday 18th November) This morning we take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap Lake to witness Vietnamese and Cambodian floating fishing villages that fled to this remote part of the lake during the war years. Whilst cruising on the lake we will learn about fragile ecosystems under threat including rare fish and bird species.After lunch we travel to a rural school located in a remote village and teacher English to local students who rarely get the chance to practice English with kids their own age. Tonight we will meet with the Cambodia Rural School Trust (CRST); a non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded to educate local Cambodian children in vocational purists. Here students will have an opportunity to interact with their Cambodian contemporaries and learn of the lives of the country’s youth through this educational initiative. Whilst here we will also visit a local enterprise to see how newly acquired business skills are put into practice and generate income in an effort to become self-sufficient. (B, L)

Day 15 Siem Reap / Phnom Penh (Monday 19th November) We will set off this morning for a new adventure, farewelling Siem Reap for our day long bus trip to Phnom Penh. Whilst long, this journey will afford us a wonderful glimpse into the lives of those who subsist in what is still an overwhelmingly agricultural based society. We will stop at a mid-way point where we can taste deep some special local delicacies including durian and for the more adventurous amongst us – deep fried spiders. The skyline of Phnom Penh changed dramatically during the French colonial period when the cluster of pagodas and wooden structures along the riverfront were replaced after 1863 by the French influenced colonial period, structures interspersed throughout the city today. At the height of the colonial period Phnom Penh was reputed to be the most beautiful city in French Indochina – a beauty lost during the years of hardship and neglect, although which can still be sought out today by the keen observer. The skyline of Phnom Penh changed dramatically during the French colonial period when the cluster of pagodas and wooden structures along the riverfront were replaced after 1863 by the French influenced colonial period, structures interspersed throughout the city today. At the height of the colonial period Phnom Penh was reputed to be the most beautiful city in French Indochina – a beauty lost during the years of hardship and neglect, although which can still be sought out today by the keen observer. (B, L, D)

Day 16 Phnom Penh (Tuesday 20th November) Today we will visit many of Phnom Penh’s most important places of interest including the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison and the ‘Killing Fields’ – both stark reminders of Cambodia's tragic recent history during the Khmer Rouge reign from 1975-1979. It was during this relatively brief time a little know teacher called Pol Pot instituted a reign of terror over the country and implemented a plan to turn Cambodia into an agriculture-based society, systematically emptying the cities and forcibly moving the people onto collective (state-owned) farms where they performed hard labour. It is estimated that during this time over a fifth of the country’s population perished by overwork, starvation and execution.As the sun sets we will take a private boat cruise on the Mekong River to enjoy panoramic views of the Phnom Penh skyline (life jackets included). This Mekong River is the most important water source in Southeast Asia as essential to the economies of Laos and Vietnam as well as Cambodia’s thriving fishing industry. This evening we take an exhilarating tuk tuk tour around Phnom Penh to view this vibrant city by night, pass the Royal Palace and the iconic Independence Monument followed by dinner. (B, D)

Day 17 Depart Phnom Penh (Wednesday 21st November) This morning we head to the Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace to learn about the Royal family and the recent cremation of King Sihanouk in front of the Palace (February 2013). Time is set aside to visit the intriguing Russian Market selling an array of goods including a vast array of software, handicrafts, copy designer watches and musical instruments. Late afternoon our tour leader will escort you to the airport and wave you farewell before boarding the homebound flight. Please note hotel check out time is noon. (B, L)

Day 18 Arrive Australia (Thursday 22nd November 2018) Arrive Melbourne at 13:05. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUMMARY

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Grading: Moderate Students will be required to be in good health to get the most of this trip whilst any one of reasonable fitness will be able to take part. There are no real physical difficulties however students will be expected to walk every day, often significant distances. Students will also be expected to work diligently during the days of the community service project. You will also be expected to be able to ride a bike. It will be necessary for you to carry your own luggage throughout the trip but only for short distances. Accommodation: Student accommodation is on a twin/triple share basis. Teacher accommodation is on a single room basis. Transport: Modern air-conditioned bus, boat, plane. Group size: Minimum group size 24 students + 3 staff (No Maximum group size) Key: included meals on tour: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner

Tour Inclusions:International economy flights Australia- Asia return with Thai AirwaysAll accommodation and transport en route + 1 additional international flight (Luang Prabang – Siem Reap)Student Educational Adventures Group Leader throughout the tour & additional specialist guides as requiredAll sightseeing, entrance fees for museums, attractions and sights as described in itineraryAll breakfasts (except day 1) 10 lunches, 14 dinners and water with all included mealsCambodia & Laos Visa

Tour Exclusions:7 lunches & 3 dinners

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