NOTE: "HOME" takes you to our
initial home page; "UP" will return you
to the ASIA 2002 site
for more exploring.
I
T I N E R A R Y
Prepared For: Ruggiero Party of 2
Thailand/Borneo
January – February 2002
Day 1 & 2
& 3
Wednesday - Friday
30 January/1 February
–
In transit to Hong Kong
Depart ABQ @ 1:55P on Wednesday; arrive Hong Kong at 6:55A (plus 2 days).
Transfer to hotel. Day at
leisure.
Overnight: Regal Hotel
International (825-2286-8888)
Day 4
Saturday
2 February
-
Bangkok
In transit to Bangkok (depart HKK at 9:05A; arrive Bangkok at 10:45A).
Afternoon at leisure for shopping or relaxing.
In the evening, you will be picked up and taken to the Sala Rim
Restaurant at The Oriental Hotel for a dinner show.
Overnight: Montein Riverside Hotel
(66-2-292-2999)
Day 5
Sunday
3 February
-
Bangkok
“Grand Palace & Temple Tour”
Overnight: Montein Riverside Hotel
(66-2-292-2999)
Day 6
Monday
4 February
-
Bangkok-Phitsanuloke
Depart Bangkok for Bang Pa-in, this site features a collection of pavilions in
Thai, Chinese, Italian and Victorian architectural styles.
From Bank Pa-in, you will continue to Ayutthaya, Thailand’s premier
historical site. After lunch,
continue on through the scenic countryside to Lopburio (former capital of Siam)
where you will be taken to Phra Pran Sam Yod and Kala Temple, a 10th
century Hindu temple now primarily occupied by wild monkeys.
Your next stop will be Phitsanuloke; it is one of the oldest and most
historic cities in Thailand.
Overnight: Amarin Lagoon Hotel
(Phitsanuloke)
Day 7
Tuesday
5 February
-
Phitsanuloke-Chaing Rai
After breakfast, you will depart for Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand.
From Sukhothai, you will proceed to Si Satachanalai for a museum tour
followed by lunch at a local restaurant. The
afternoon will be a relaxing drive through rural Thailand en route to Chaing Rai
arriving late in the afternoon.
Overnight: Rimrok Hotel (Chaing Rai)
Day 8
Wednesday
6 February
-
Chiang Rai-Doi Mai Salong-Mai Sai-Golden Triangle
After breakfast this will be a day of true adventure and discovery.
After a short drive from the hotel, you will board a pick-up van which
will climb the narrow mountain roads to visit the colorful native hill tribes of
Northern Thailand. The Akha and Yao
hill tribes have retained their own distinctive style of traditional dress which
are very colorful and unique. You
will make a short stop at Doi Mai Salong, a Chinese settlement founded by
Kuoemintang solders who fled China after Mao Tse Tung’s victory in 1949.
You will then return to the valley for lunch.
After lunch the tour will continue with a
short drive to Mae Sai, Thailand’s northern most town near the Burma border. Here you will be able to shop for Burmese handicrafts and
view the locals of both countries trading their merchandise.
Depending on the current border situation, you may be able to cross over
to Burma to explore or take a trishaw ride around the marketplace.
The tour will then proceed to the heart of the renown “Golden
Triangle,” where the Ruak and Mekong rivers meet.
You will enjoy the spectacular views of Burma, Laos and Thailand.
At the Golden Triangle you will board “long-tailed” boats for a ride
on the Mighty Mekong. You will
continue on by road to visit Chiang Sean, a tranquil spot with charming old
temples. Late afternoon return to
Chiang Rai.
Overnight: Rimrock Hotel (Chiang
Rai)
Day 9
Thursday
7 February
-
Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai
This morning depart Chiang Rai for Chiang Mai, the Rose of the North.
You will enjoy a relaxing drive through the lush mountain landscape and
tropical jungles. You will stop at
Mae Ka Chen, the famous hot springs. Then
a lunch at a local restaurant. In
the late afternoon, we will arrive in Chiang Mai and immediately proceed to Wat
Phrathat Doe Suthep, which is situated over 1,200 meters uphill above sea level,
where you will be offered a spectacular view of the Chiang Mai area.
In the evening, you will be treated to a
ceremonial northern Thai Dinner, known as Kantoke.
Colorfully dressed Hill Tribes will perform their own traditional dances
after dinner.
Overnight: Westin Chiang Mai Hotel
Day 10
Friday
8 February
-
Chiang Mai
Today you depart for one of the elephant camps where you will take a one-hour
elephant trek through the jungle and then see a short show demonstrating the
different tasks the elephants can perform.
You will then be taken on a river raft trip for approximately one hour.
Lunch at a local restaurant. After
lunch you will experience the Chiang Mai’s greatest cultural achievement,
their handicrafts. The artisans
produce an extraordinary range of quality products such as silverware, lacquer
ware, silk and cotton products, ceramics, parasols and jewelry.
You will visit the San Kampaeng district to see the process of weaving
and you also will see how the delicate Thai paper umbrellas are produced and
hand painted.
Overnight: Westin Chiang Mai Hotel
Day 11
Saturday
9 February
-
Chiang Mai-Phuket
This morning you will be transferred to Chiang Mai airport for a short flight to
Bangkok for your connecting flight to Phuket.
Upon arrival in Phuket, you will be transferred to the SPV Star Flyer for
the Gems of the Gems of the Andamen coastal cruise.
Day 12 Sunday –
Day 18 Friday
Aboard the SPV Star Flyer.
Itinerary: Sunday – Ko
Surin, Thailand; Monday – Ko Miang, Thailand; Tuesday – Ko Kraden, Thailand;
Wednesday – Langkawi, Malaysia; Thursday – Phi Phi Islands, Thailand; Friday
– Phang Nga/Ko Dam Hok, Thailand.
Day 19
Saturday
16 February
-
Phuket-Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Morning disembarkation from the SPV Star Flyer in Phuket.
In transit to Kota Kinbalu (depart Phuket at 12:45P to Kuala Lumpur;
depart Kuala Lumpur at 6:45P; arrive at Kota Kinabula at 10:20P).
Transfer to hotel.
Overnight: Kota Kinabalu Magellan
Sutera (60-88-312-222)
Day 20
Sunday
17 February
-
Kota Kinabalu
Day at leisure in “KK”, the capital city of the state of
Sabah.
Overnight: Magellan Sutera
(60-88-312-222)
Day 21
Monday
18 February
-
Kota Kinabalu- Selingan Island
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan.
You will then be transferred from the Sandakan Airport to the waterfront
area and take a walking tour of the fish market.
Afterwards we depart for the boat ride to Selingan Island (“Turtle
Island”). Upon arrival lunch will be served and the remainder of your
afternoon will be spent bird watching, walking on the white sandy beaches or
simply relaxing. Sometime after
dinner you will be summoned by the park ranger to witness one of natures
wonders. Sabah has one of Asia’s
most successfully conserved natural sea turtle marine parks comprising three
islands. The Malaysian government
started the country’s hatchery in Selingan Island in 1966.
Generally speaking turtle populations worldwide are dwindling, but in
Sabah’s protected turtle islands, nesting has recorded a steadily increasing
trend since 1991. Two species of
turtles, namely the hawksbill and the bigger green turtle, nest at the turtle
islands. Sighting is guaranteed
every night, year round. The
highlight is to watch a turtle laying eggs.
The process is dramatic, especially with the large green turtles as they
lumber ashore, select a site and dig a 12” – 18” deep egg chamber with
their powerful hind flippers and deposit between 40 to 190 eggs, covering them
with sand before returning to the sea.
Overnight: Selingan Island
Day 22
Tuesday
19 February
-
Selingan Island-Sandakan-Sukau
Early morning boat ride to Sandakan. Arrival at the jetty and transferred to the world famous
Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and come in close contact with the remarkable “Man
of the Forest.” The sanctuary is
set in 15 square miles of virgin rainforest and was begun in 1964 to help once
captive orangutan learn to fend for themselves in the wild. After watching orphaned orangutan being taught how to climb,
you will be taken to the platform of observe semi-wild orangutan come in from
further reaches of the forest for their twice-daily ration of milk and bananas.
Afterwards depart for the 2-hour overland journey to Sukau passing oil
palm plantations an villages. Upon
arrival, enjoy a simple lunch. Then,
take a late afternoon cruise up the Kinabatangan River to the Mananggul River.
This area is full of wildlife including the wild orangutan, macaques, red
and silver leaf monkeys, dozens of beautiful birds including egrets, several
species of kingfisher and the oriental darter which dives underwater to catch
prey. Undoubtedly the most famous
and entertaining creature of all is the bizarre Proboscis Monkey.
Thanks to their habit of socializing in the mangrove trees along the
riverbanks in late afternoon, they are very easy to spot.
Found only in Borneo, the male species has a large pendulous nose, fat
belly, thick white tale and a peculiar mixture of colors that makes him look as
he’s wearing gray tights, white underpants and an orange jacket.
He is large, has webbed feet for swimming and leaps forcefully into space
seemingly without thought of where to land, crashing heavily and with maximum
noise into a nearby tree. It is all
very entertaining and photo opportunities are frequent.
Overnight: Proboscis Lodge Sakau
(60-88-240-584)
Day 23
Wednesday
20 February
-
Sukau
Wake up to calls of gibbons and hornbills.
Early morning cruise up the misty Kinabatangan River to Kelananap Oxbow
Lake in search of more wildlife. You
will enjoy a jungle walk around the lake before returning for breakfast at the
lodge. This afternoon you will
depart on a cruise along the river in search of wild orangutans.
Overnight: Proboscis Lodge Sakau
(60-88-240-584)
Day 24
Thursday
21 February
-
Sukau-Danun Vally
You will depart the Proboscis Lodge at 6:30AM for the two-hour overland journey
to the town of Lahad Datu and the Danun Valley Conversation Office.
You will be given an orientation of the valley and what you will
experience the next few days. Being
your journey with an interesting, rough and bumpy 2 hour drive through logged
and regenerating forests before arriving at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the
early afternoon. The lodge is built
of Borneo’s famous ironwood, with a spacious verandah to view wildlife in a
remote and primitive forest. After
lunch you will be taken on a brief nature walk with your guide to learn the
dynamics of the rainforest. After
dinner you will experience an exciting night drive safari in an open-air jeep in
search of night mammals.
Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
(60-89-709-106)
Day 25
Friday
22 February
-
Danun Valley
Early morning walk on the nature trail, suspension bridge and observation
platform with your guide. You then
have a choice of additional jungle treks. After
dinner, depart for night safaris.
Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
(60-89-709-106)
Day 26
Saturday
23 February
-
Danun Valley-Kota Kinabalu
Early morning guided walk on the “Coffin Trail,” that leads to an ancient
burial site. The trail involves a
40 minute climb to a magnificent lookout point and returning via the Jacuzzi
pool. After lunch at the lodge you
will depart for the drive back to Lahad Datu and the early evening flight to
Kota Kinabalu.
Overnight: Magellan Sutera
(60-88-312-222)
Day 27
Sunday
24 February
-
Kota Kinabalu-Bangkok
In transit from Kota Kinabalu to Bangkok (via Kuala Lumpur) arriving at 4:20PM.
Overnight: Quality Suites Bangkok
Airport (66-2-982-2022)
Day 28
Monday
25 February
-
Bangkok
Day at leisure.
Overnight: Quality
Suites Bangkok Airport (66-2-982-2022)
Day 29
Tuesday
26 February
-
Bangkok-Los Angeles
Depart BKK at 11:35AM; arrive at LAX at 12:45PM (same day).
Overnight: LAX Econolodge
(310-672-7285)
Day 30
Wednesday
27 February
-
Los Angeles-Albuquerque
Depart LAX at 10:00AM; arrive at Albuquerque at 5:07PM.
NOTE: "HOME" takes you to our initial home page; "UP" will return you to the Asia 2002 site for more exploring.