Grand Tour of Southeast Asia with Sharon Smith

• In order to enter Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand (and Laos on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of return.
• We recommend having at least three blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• As of May 1, 2025, all foreigners entering Thailand must fill out Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours prior to arrival. You receive an acknowledgement email which you’ll be asked to present upon arrival.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa to enter Vietnam and Cambodia (plus Laos on the tour extension). You must obtain your Vietnam visa in advance by purchasing an electronic visa online via the Vietnam Immigration Department, by applying directly to the Vietnamese consulate, or by using a visa provider, such as our partner company, VisaCentral. You may choose to obtain your Cambodia visa at the port of entry upon arrival; you will need $30 USD and two passport-sized photos. Alternatively, you can apply for an eVisa or traditional visa in advance. To do so, visit the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or by applying directly to the Cambodian consulate. For additional assistance, you may use a third-party provider like VisaCentral—however, these services charge a fee in addition to the cost of your visa.
• All travelers must complete Cambodia’s e-Arrival Card up to 7 days prior to arrival. The e-Arrival card can be filled out at arrival.gov.kh or by downloading the Google or Apple app.
• For the tour extension, you can choose to obtain your Laos visa at the port of entry (you will need $50USD and two passport-sized photos), by purchasing an electronic visa online via the Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or by by applying directly to the Laos consulate.
• Travelers signed up for the tour extension will receive an email from Go Ahead around 45 days prior to departure, requesting a photocopy of their passport to reserve their train ticket.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code GAS.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Hanoi and depart from Bangkok.
• Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Hanoi, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a very high physical activity-level tour. You can expect vigorous activity throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

• This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
• One 1-night stay
• Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
• Tranpsortation varies and includes 6 on tour flights
• Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 3-5 miles per day—this includes city streets, cobblestones, dirt paths, stairs, and hills.
• Stone and marble walkways may be slippery even when dry.
• For the best experience at the Cu Chi Tunnels, travelers will need to crawl in and out of tight spaces.
• Travelers can expect to walk 2 miles over uneven paths, cobblestones, and steep stairs when visiting Angkor Wat.
• Travelers can expect a minimum 2 mile hike over dirt paths, including steep inclines and declines, when visiting the elephant sanctuary.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.

Climate Considerations

• Most destinations on tour are hot and humid all year long. Travelers should be prepared for most days to reach 90F.
• Monsoon season is typically from May through October, and brings the heaviest rains to the region.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes various modes of transportation, including planes, boats and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• A one-night Hạ Long Bay cruise, a ferry from Ko Samui Island to Surat Thani, and other small boat rides—as well as flights from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, Siem Reap to Bangkok, Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai to Ko Samui, and Surat Thani to Bangkok—are included in the price of your tour.
• Flights from Bangkok to Vientiane and Luang Prabang to Bangkok, as well as a train ride from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, are included in the price of the tour extension.
• Travelers signed up for the tour extension will receive an email from Go Ahead around 45 days prior to departure, requesting a photocopy of their passport to reserve their train ticket.
• Train stations typically operate similarly to airports: Security measures, such as baggage and body scanners, are common. Additionally, platforms are often spread across large distances and require travelers to carry their luggage up and down escalators or stairs. Porterage services aren’t offered and storage space is extremely limited. Please keep in mind that trains may only stop at each station for a few minutes; quick boarding and deboarding may be imperative.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must be able to manage their luggage throughout tour; porters aren’t guaranteed at hotels or airports.
• Travelers may be given the option to store some luggage at their Bangkok hotels (provided they are the same) when traveling on to Chiang Mai, and Laos on the tour extension.
• For the tour extension, luggage storage on trains is extremely limited, and often requires travelers to lift their suitcases onto storage racks, sometimes above the seats.

• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• Waterproof shoes or sandals, a swimsuit, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended for outdoor activities.
• Binoculars are handy for a closer look at local wildlife and scenery.
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when facilities are not readily available while on the road.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit temples or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• Please be advised that the air conditioning in Asian hotels and buildings is often not as strong or cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand operate on 230 volts.
• Vietnam uses Types A, E, or F plugs with two flat pins, two round pins, or three round pins, respectively.
• Cambodia uses Types A, C, or G plugs with two flat pins, two round pins, or three flat pins, respectively.
• Thailand uses Types A, B, C, or O plugs with two flat pins, two flat and one round pin, or two or three round pins, respectively.
• Laos (on the tour extension) uses Types A, B, C, E or F plugs with two flat pins, two rounded pins, or three flat pins, respectively.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays encountered.
• Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
• Please be sure to take proper care with sun exposure, as the sun can be especially strong in some of the areas you are visiting.
• Temperatures in this region can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), especially during the summer months. Drinking plenty of water, limiting your alcohol intake, and using proper sun protection is extremely important in order to prevent the effects of dehydration and heat stroke.
• There are inherent risks associated with water sports, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions. Discuss your planned activities with your doctor or healthcare provider for the best advice on participation.
• Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth. On the tour extension, we recommend you bring a reusable water bottle so you can utilize water stations at various Lao businesses as part of their Refill Not Landfill Project to limit your consumption of single-use plastic bottles.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
• Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on bag.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code GAS.

• This tour includes 6 lunch and 7 dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water, coffee, and tea.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• Flavorful Vietnamese cuisine relies on mint, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, lime, lemongrass, and Thai basil. Foods are cooked minimally, from lightly grilled meats to blanched vegetables. Seafood, often flavored with ginger, is popular, as are chicken, duck, and pork. Don’t miss dishes like spicy beef noodle soup and banh mi—a baguette filled with paté, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables.
• International influence is evident in the Khmer cuisine of Cambodia, where full flavor is created through the mix of herbs and spices such as sweet basil, Asian coriander, mint, lemongrass, and pepper. The base of almost all Cambodian dishes is rice or noodles, served with a curry, soup, or vegetable stir-fry. Grilled freshwater fish is popular, and the fermented fish paste known as prahok is a traditional seasoning.
• Traditional Thai cooking uses market-fresh ingredients seasoned with a mix of herbs, spices, and condiments, such as chili peppers and fish sauce. The main staple is rice.
• On the tour extension, sticky rice is the most popular and most important element in Laotian cuisine. No matter where you go, you’ll find this traditional dish. Travelers should also try green papaya salad and larb—meat or seafood mixed with fresh herbs.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12USD per person, per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $4USD per person, per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• If you’re traveling with the same Tour Director to multiple countries with different currencies, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price; it isn’t necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• You will use the Vietnamese dong in Vietnam, Cambodian riel (or U.S. dollar) in Cambodia, and the Thai baht in Thailand (and the Lao kip in Laos on the tour extension).
• In Cambodia, U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere, though change may be given in riel. Most hotels, restaurants, shops, taxis, buses, and airlines list their prices in U.S. dollars, but small transactions (less than a dollar) are usually conducted in riel. Always carry small amounts of riel for motorcycle taxis, snacks, and other small purchases.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you don’t already have at least one card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have a different tour director for each country you visit.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• All destinations visited are 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 12 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). These countries do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
• When it’s 9 am in New York City, it’s 9 pm on tour from November through March and 10pm from April through October.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
• On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers or potable water is provided on the bus and/or hotel. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
• When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
• When you come across wild animals on tour, take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart: Don’t touch or feed them, and maintain a respectful distance. The animals you encounter on your trip should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior.
• Furthermore, avoid buying exploitative animal products, like crafts made from tortoiseshell or meals such as shark fin soup.
• If you feel we aren’t meeting any of these commitments, please let us know.