This is a superb tour, mainly visiting the three favourite places in the world of Alan Davies, the owner of Macleay Valley Travel.

These places are Hua Hin and Chiang Mai in Thailand, and beautiful Dalat in Vietnam. The tour will also be staying at the superb Millenium Hilton Hotel, Bangkok and the character-filled Sofitel Palace in Dalat. 

The tour also visits other fascinating places, such as scenically beautiful Mae Hong Son in the border area of North Thailand and Burma, the River Kwai and Hell-Fire Pass, Nha Trang, Vietnam's number one beach resort, and the exciting and superb shopping cities of Bangkok and Saigon. The tour takes place in the cooler and usually drier months of late Winter/early Spring.

The price is incredible value when you consider all of the following are included:

• Airfare with Thai International from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane into Bangkok, then to Chaing Mai, then Mae Hong Son, back to Chaing Mai, then Bangkok to Saigon and Saigon back to Australia. 

• Superb four to five star accommodation throughout.

• A nine day coach and air tour of Thailand and a seven day coach tour of South Vietnam. 

• Most Meals.  

• All entrance fees. 

• All transport and transfers. 

• Services of highly experienced tour guides in Thailand and Vietnam and if there are 10 or more participants, an Australian tour leader.

As this is a special tour, numbers will be limited to a maximum of about 22 passengers. Usually the numbers are less than this.

For anyone requiring a single room, there will be an extra charge of $1,385. If you want to travel twin share but don't have a travel partner, we will do our best to match you up with someone else.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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	Itinerary for Owners Indulgence Tour - February / March 2011
Note:	Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
21.02.11	Depart Sydney at 11.00am on TG 476, arriving in Bangkok at 4.30pm. Depart Brisbane at 2.20pm on TG 474, arriving in Bangkok at 8.30pm. Depart Melbourne at 4.00pm on TG 466, arriving in Bangkok at 9.10pm. All clients will be met at the airport and transferred to the Millenium Hilton Hotel, a near new 5 star hotel situated on the bank of the Chao Phyra River, staying in their deluxe rooms.
22.02.11 (B/L)	Bangkok Depart Hotel by boat to cruise the busy Chao Phyra River and Bangkok's Klongs (canals). We will stop and visit the Royal Barges Museum with its wonderful ceremonial boats. Next we visit Bangkok's spectacular flower market. We then have a superb buffet lunch at one of Thailand's best restaurants, the Oriental Hotel's renowned river-front restaurant. In the afternoon we transfer by coach to the River Kwai, staying for two nights at the Felix Resort Hotel, which stands on the banks of the River Kwai not far from the infamous bridge.
23.02.11 (B/L)	River Kwai Today we inspect the Allied War Memorial Cemetery and the Jeath War Museum. Then we have lunch at a good restaurant beside the Bridge over the River Kwai. Next we travel out to see the Hell -Fire Pass Museum with an opportunity to inspect some of the infamous railway track in this area. We will next visit the famous temple where the monks are caring for several tigers.
24.02.11 (B/D)	River Kwai - Hua Hin This morning we head south to the Hua Hin/Cha'am resort area situated on the Gulf of Siam. We will be staying two nights in the near new boutique Bannpartai Hotel on the beach front in central Cha'am. Mid afternoon we depart the hotel for our 'Hua Hin by night' tour. We first visit the unique teak wood Palace of King Rama VI. We then travel to Hua Hin where we will have a short time for shopping. We then visit Hua Hin's historical railway station with its interesting royal reception pavilion. We then visit Hua Hin's night market. This is followed by a seafood and chicken dinner on an over-water restaurant, before returning to Cha'am.
25.02.11 (B)	Cha'am Today there will be an optional tour to Petch Dam and Lake. Morning scenic drive to Petch Dam. First stop is at a fascinating meditation centre with a huge lady Buddha statue. Then we board a long tail boat for a 2 hour boat tour on the lake created by the dam, viewing from the boat scattered hill tribe settlements. We stop on a small island and inspect its interesting temple. We then do a short walking circumvention of the island to see its interesting statues. We next have lunch (included) at a lovely restaurant over-looking the lake, before returning to Cha'am. Cost $48.00
26.02.11 (B/D)	Cha'am - Mae Hong Son In the morning drive back to Bangkok Airport, departing at 12:05pm on PG 217, arriving in Chiang Mai at 1:20pm. Then depart Chiang Mai at 3:05pm on TG 3414, arriving in Mae Hong Son at 3.40pm. En route to our resort hotel, we inspect a fascinating Burmese style temple. Mae Hong Song is situated close to the Burmese border and the area has some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Thailand. Note: The Mae Hong Song flights are operated by Nok Air.
27.02.11 (B/L)	Mae Hong Song - Chiang Mai We take mini vans out to a Karen Village. Here we change to elephants for a one hour ride through the jungle. Next we change on  to  long-tailed boats for a cruise on the river. We then take the mini vans out to the Burma border where we visit a hill-tribe village of  Long-necked Karen's. The women in the village all wear numerous brass rings around their elongated necks. After lunch we visit Mae Hong Song's interesting market before transferring to Mae Hong Song airport, departing on TG 3415 at 4:10pm, arriving in Chiang Mai at 4:45pm. Transfer to the Central Duangatwan Hotel situated in the middle of Chiang Mai's famous night market area. In this hotel we will be staying in its deluxe dynasty club rooms. The club benefits include fruit basket on arrival, free tea and coffee service and daytime snacks, free nightly cocktails from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, complimentary laundry of 2 pieces per day & breakfast served in the dynasty club lounge.
28.02.11 (B/L/D)	Chiang Mai This morning we visit Chiang Mai's famous handicrafts factories, seeing such things as the manufacture of jewellery, Thai silk, paper umbrellas etc. We then visit and have lunch at an orchid farm. This is followed by a visit to Chiang Mai's most beautiful temple. Tonight will be something special. We travel just outside Chiang Mai to the country estate of Macleay Valley Travel's Thailand manager, where we will have dinner with drinks. This is followed by a special welcoming ceremony where a large number of rockets are fired into the stratosphere. The ceremony is one that is usually confined to special state visitors.
01.03.11 (B/L)	Chiang Mai -  Phitsanalook Today we commence our coach trip back  to Bangkok . Our first stop is at the Government Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang where we see a display of elephants at work. We then visit a modern temple known as 'The Soldiers Temple'  which is so breath takingly beautiful that many regard it as being the most beautiful temple in the world. Then to Sukothai, the ancient capital with it's historical park of ancient ruins dating back to the 14th century. Overnight in Phitsanalook.
02.03.11 (B/L)	Phitsanalook - Bangkok First we visit Phitsanalook's large local market, then we travel to Lopuri and visit the monkey temple where hundreds of monkeys run wild over the temple and the surrounding city. This is followed by a visit to an interesting museum situated in a former palace. We then have lunch in Lopuri at a lovely garden restaurant. Next we travel to Ayuttaya, Thailand's former capital that was sacked by the Burmese in the 18th century. Here we visit Ayuttaya's world heritage historical park with its extensive ruins. Finally we travel to Bangkok, over nighting at the Amari Don Muang Hotel.
03.03.11 (B/L/D)	Bangkok - Saigon Transfer to Bangkok Airport, departing at 8:50am on TG 550, arriving in Saigon at 10.20am. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel for check-in. Pho (traditional Vietnamese noodle soup) & spring rolls for lunch. A short  walking tour passing the City Hall, the Opera house, the Notre Dame Cathedral & the central Post Office before returning to the hotel. Free time for wandering and shopping around the plaza before dinner at a nice local restaurant and one hour cruise on the Saigon river. Accommodation tonight is at the Majestic Hotel.
04.03.11 (B/L)	Saigon - Mekong Delta Morning depart hotel for a coach trip to My Tho which is a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh city. My Tho is a prosperous town of 200,000 inhabitants in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy 4 - 5 hour boat rides on the Mekong River with visits to an orchard on an island, coconut candy workshop, bee farm, horse carriage ride & lunch at a typical farmer's house in the Mekong. Back to Saigon late afternoon. Accommodation: Majestic Hotel.
05.03.11 (B/L)	Saigon - Cu Chi A half day tour to a fascinating tunnel network built by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. Lunch at a nice restaurant in town 'Alfresco'. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this interesting city.
06.03.11 (B/L/D)	Saigon - Dalat Depart Saigon for Dalat, a cool mountain resort built by the French in the 1920's as a hill station. Its lakes, waterfalls, evergreen  forests and gardens make Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in Vietnam. A beautiful drive through rubber, coffee, and tea plantations. A stopover at La Nga floating village, lunch in Bao Loc. Arrive in Dalat and check-in at the Sofitel Palace for a two night stay. Excellent dinner in the hotel.
07.03.11 (B/L/D)	Dalat A short drive to the cable car station for a 15 minute trip with a beautiful view overlooking the fine forest, vegetable gardens, and the city of Dalat. A tour visit to the crazy house, city flower garden, then to a nice embroidery workshop. Lunch at a local restaurant. Leave the hotel late afternoon for Lat village (12kms from town) to visit the local ethnic minorities and enjoy a 1 hour interesting dance and gong show. Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Sofitel Palace.
08.03.11 (B/L/D)	Dalat - Nha Trang A short train ride to Trai Mat then visit to Linh Phuoc pagoda to see a beer bottle dragon which is considered the longest one in the world! On the way stop at Poklongiarai Cham tower before a picnic lunch. Arrive Nha Trang mid afternoon, check in at the hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a very interesting mud bath tour (you soak in hot mud & mineral water, jet spray shower & swin in a mineral water pool). Dinner at a nice restaurant in town 'Nha Trang Sailing Club'. Accommodation: Sunrise Resort (ocean view).
09.03.11 (B/L)	Nha Trang In the morning, enjoy a boat trip to Mieu Island & Tri Nguyen Aquarium, then Mun Island for swimming and snorkeling. Lunch will be at a local barbecue seafood restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodation: Sunrise Resort (ocean view).
10.03.11 (B/D)	Nha Trang - Saigon Morning at leisure. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for a flight to Saigon.  Arrive Saigon, enjoy a nice farewell buffet dinner before being transferred to the airport for flight TG 557 departing Saigon at 8:50pm and arriving in Bangkok at 10:15pm. Sydney passengers depart Bangkok at 11:59pm on TG 477, arriving in Sydney at 1:20pm (11.03.11). Brisbane passengers depart bangkok at 11:59pm on TG 473, arriving in Brisbane at 12:05pm (11.03.11).
11.03.11	Melbourne passengers depart Bangkok at 12:15am on TG 465, arriving into Melbourne at 1:25pm.
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Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable 8 weeks prior to departure. 

Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.

Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.

Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.
Visas are required for Australian passport holders to Vietnam and . Visa fee for Vietnam is $72.00 and we charge $30.00 for processing.  Australian passport holders do not need a visa for Thailand

Basic Tour Price and Taxes. Air taxes and Fuel Levies are included in the basic tour price, therefore, as air taxes and fuel surcharges change regularly  the exact amount will be advised at time of invoicing. At present air taxes and fuel levies come to $510 for the basic tour. Total tour cost may therefore change by a small amount.

Not  Included in the Cost - All items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), etc.
Also travel insurance and departure taxes.
****Please note that these taxes are subject to change.****
Breakaway Fee
All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set  itinerary will incur a breakaway fee.

Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of our tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.

Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
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