Index

In Depth Adventures
Specializes in Sma
ll Groups from 4 to 10 Guests

January 2001 Adventure Details

Special arrangements can be made for a smaller or slightly larger group.
We will tailor each trip to fit the desires and capacities of our guests.

We have Three Main Programs, parts of any or all of which you may choose to include.
If you wish to do all three programs, you should allow three weeks minimum. I promise to fill it full of adventure.

Diving and Snorkeling

We offer diving and snorkeling, either as day trips or on liveaboards accompanied by knowlegeable guides. On our liveaboard trips, which cost under $200 U.S. per person per day, we include our new, exciting ecology course Treasures of the Andaman Sea--Coral Reefs and Related Marine Environments which I lead, providing greater understanding of the variety of animals and plants that we encounter.

I have written an extensively illustrated, easily read book which you receive with the course. This unique ecology course is also available to snorkelers and divers who wish to spend their nights ashore. Both include trips to mangrove forests as well as snorkeling or diving excursions. The on-shore version costs $400 U.S. including the book, two days of snorkeling or diving and a half day of mangrove exploration. Transportation to and from your hotel and lunch are included.

Trekking

Our second program is a three-day trek through the mountains North of Chiang Mai for $250 U.S. or more extensive treks for those who wish. These treks include accommodations along the way in hill tribe villages, all meals, except snacks and bottled drinks, elephant riding and bamboo rafting part of the way.

We generally meet members of four or five tribes, and we provide written materials on all of the major tribes before we embark. Our personal guides are White Karen, with whom I have worked for several years. They speak excellent English, and are knowledgeable. Each evening there are discussions about the particular village, tribal customs, daily routine, and taboos.

You will have an opportunity to buy jewelry, hand made knives, tools and basketry in the villages, and to see unspoiled forest along the way. You may choose to include the trek in a week-long stay in the walled city of Chiang Mai. This costs $950 U.S., including the trek. We will take you to visit the Night Bazaar, Wat Pradthat Doi Suthep and various other remarkable places in the North. Accommodations, local transportation and meals except dinner are included.

Ancient Ruins of Angkor Wat

Our third adventure focuses on guided tours of Angkor, the remarkable ruins near Siem Reap, Cambodia. We began offering this tour last year when we became satisfied that it was safe for tourism. These ruins span 500 years of construction beginning in about 850 AD. The dozens of temples, monuments and city structures cover hundreds of square kilometers and include monumental art--perhaps the most exciting in Asia.

I accompany each trip. Our itinerary is unique. While there is a grand and a lesser tour, we offer the only chronological tour. Our adventure takes 5 days.

It costs either $1,090 from Bangkok or $1,190 from Phuket, and assumes that there are at least two guests and double occupancy. Airfare from Bangkok or Phuket is included; we use archeologically trained guides who speak excellent English, and airconditioned vehicles. Guides, drivers, vehicles, airport taxes, visa costs, permits, accommodations, breakfast and lunch are all included. Payment must be made in U.S. currency as it is the standard currency in this area of Cambodia. Pounds or other currency can be brought to Thailand or Cambodia and exchanged, but there is some reduction in value that is lost in the exchange, so, as a guest, you can save money by doing the exchange at home.

You may elect to spend one or two additional days there to view the floating communities and wildlife of Lake Tonle Sap. This election must be made before flight reservations are completed, usually about one week before departure. The additional cost is $125 per person per day.

 

 

January 2001 Adventure

Following is the itinerary, costs and some details of a triple adventure scheduled for January. Some illustrations, journal entries and comments are available on various pages of this website.

We have 4 folks from H. Co. coming for a triple adventure in January. There is room for 3 more on the boat portion, and 4 on the other two parts. Please note that you may join us for any segment or all three parts.

Also, please note that the sailing trip to the Mergui Archipelago is not a SCUBA trip. It is snorkeling and island exploration, dedicated to comfortable (glass of wine in hand) relaxation, sea kayaking in inflatable kayaks both in the bays and up the rivers into these islands, animal watching, etc. You can expect the water temperature to be 88-90 degrees!

I am enclosing the entire trip--all three segments. I thought you might enjoy the 5 day trek where we get further in to the back country than 90% of all other treks in the North. I would guess that less than 20 people in the world have done both the Mergui and Angkor.

The sailboat portion includes our new coral reef ecology course, and the new text I have written to accompany it, "Treasures of the Andaman Sea: Coral Reefs and Related Marine Environments." You can see excerpts of the book as well as new pictures of Angkor and journal entry descriptions on some of the pages of this website www.indepthadventures.com I do hope that you can join us for the whole works!

If these dates do not work for you, or if you wish to SCUBA , we can arrange other dates in February, March or April. We will be taking 2 groups to the Andaman Islands in April, and we will run trips to Angkor from November through March.

Here is the itinerary. It assumes that you arrived around 5 January and return to the U.S. just before the end of the month.

Fly SFO to HKT (Phuket) arrive 5 Jan.

6-7 Jan. relax, acclimate, depressurize. $100

7 Jan. Fly to Chiang Mai. $120
7-8 Jan. Explore Chiang Mai
9-13 Jan. Trekking (includes walking, riding elephants and bamboo rafting part of the way) .
14-16 Jan. Tour Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep
17 Jan. Train to Bangkok $1240

17 Jan. Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia
18-20 Jan. Tour Angkor
21 Jan. visit lake Tonle Sap
22 Jan. fly Phuket $1290

23-29 Jan. Sailboat island exploration Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar) $1185

30 Jan. Last day in Phuket $100
31 Jan. Fly U.S.

Total cost $4035 per person, double occupancy. Note: The prices for each segment are at the end of each section of the itinerary (e.g., the cost for the trip to Siem Reap, including airfare, touring, etc., is $1290)

I have not included airfare to and from the U.S., as it varies considerably. To arrive on 5 Jan. you would leave on 3 Jan. The travel time is about 24 hours--18 in the air, the balance in airports. If you fly back to the U.S. directly from Bangkok or Phuket, or with a short layover, you will arrive about the same time and date that you leave Thailand, due to crossing the International Date Line. (It costs you a day going West, gives you one going East.)

I recommend calling Judy. She is listed in Arcata, and there are two numbers--one is listed as Judy Arday (her maiden name,) the other is under Murray Dulac, her husband. Leave messages at both numbers if you do not reach her directly. Check the Travel Section of the Sunday Chronicle for the cheap fare consolidators. They always have the best deals and are completely reliable.

 

The Thai baht has dropped in value to 43 baht to one U.S. dollar, and Thai International Airways has been offering round trip tickets for under $600 recently. We usually fly China Air, which, typically, costs $650-900, but which gives us great upgrades and gives us a free day in Taipei (includes hotel and three meals) with full day to explore the island. We have recently had success using Jack Beatty of Airbrokers International. He can be reached in San Francisco at (800)883-3273, or (415)397-1383, or by e-mail at jack@airbrokers.com

I have an excellent packing list which I will send you, too. It has everything you may (and may not) need. It is now also posted on our website.

You should get either a gamma globulin shot---it comes in two strengths,one for short visits, one for long ones. Alternately, get the hepatitis vaccine; this is two shots spaced at 6 months, good for several years. Do NOT get prophylactic anti-malaria pills. They are mostly ineffective, and the ones that are cyclical antibiotics make you sun sensitive. Be sure you have a current typhoid-tetanus immunization. If you had a shot or shots, even several years ago, you probably can take the new, oral update, rather than another shot in the arm. Bring seasick pills, anti-diarrhea medication (those lousy, pink Pepto-Bismol pills), sunscreen, and any personal meds.

The prices for rooms are approximate; I have inexpensive rooms available--the prices listed above, and, I will reserve yours and pay in advance for it. You can reimburse me on arrival.

The funds for Cambodia should be in U.S. dollars. Small or large bills, new style are OK, but not ones with pen scribbles, torn or worn out bills. In Thailand, $100 traveler's cheques get the best exchange rate. The fee charged includes airfare from Bangkok and return to Phuket, airport taxes, visas, accommodations, breakfast and lunch, archeologically trained, English speaking guide (plus me) English speaking driver, airconditioned car, permit to visti the monuments, side trips to Tonle Sap, various craft and art factories, including wood, stone and silk. There are various small objects for sale everywhere. Water (bottled) is available everywhere, as are bottled drinks and other refreshments.

The sailboat trip includes all meals, accommodations, use of inflatable kayaks, our new coral reef ecology course and text, island exploration, snorkeling, birdwatching and enough time in Khaotoung to buy pearls, sandalwood and teak. Bring face mask, fins and snorkel if you have them, or buy or rent them here.

The Chiang Mai portion of the trip includes accommodations, two meals a day in town, all meals on the trek, porters, sleeping bags, elephants, rafts, etc. You will need a day pack for your personal stuff.

I do request $1000 non-refundable deposit from each person upon confirmation. I will use these funds to secure rooms, air tickets and boat deposits. This check can be sent to me,

Robert Cogen,
PO Box 27
Eureka, CA,
95502.

Please send me your name, if you intend to go, as it appears on your passport (or as it will appear if you are getting one now) so that I can make your plane reservations conform to your passport. This saves a bit of hassle.

For those who want a little more


 

Contact us at indepth@loxinfo.co.th for further information about your personalized adventure.

Robert Cogen & Office:

U.S. (May-Aug):
Phone (1-707) 443-1755
Fax (1-707) 444-8574
Thailand (Sept-April):
Phone: (66-76) 383-105
Fax: (66-76) 383-106