Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
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Immerse yourself in a country where each moment is more smile-inducing than the last.
From the moment you touch down in Thailand, you’ll understand how it earned its nickname, the Land of Smiles. The country brims with joy: local fishing villages filled with friendly-as-can-be residents, regional dishes that hit a spicy-salty-sweet high note, and history that spans millennia. Over the course of this Grand Tour, you’ll come to feel right at home—and the same goes for the extension to neighboring Cambodia.
Your tour package includes
- 12 nights in handpicked hotels
- 12 breakfasts
- 4 lunches
- 4 dinners with beer or wine
- 1 cooking class
Included highlights
- Grand Palace
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Organic farm visit
- Ayutthaya Historical Park
- Oolong tea plantation tour
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Bangkok today.
Welcome to Thailand! As you arrive at your hotel tonight, you might receive a wai: a traditional greeting where the hands are placed in a prayer-like position, followed by a gentle bow of the head. Return the greeting (or offer a warm smile back) then settle into your room.
Join your Tour Director for a sightseeing tour of Bangkok, the bustling capital city set on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.
- Explore the sprawling Grand Palace, home to the kings of Siam from 1782 to 1925. The landmark’s exterior elegantly blends traditional Thai architecture with inspiration from the European Renaissance. Give it a good look before venturing on.
- While roaming the complex, pass by Wat Phra Kaew. Also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, this structure is the spiritual core of Thai Buddhism and a pilgrimage site for the devout.
- Step inside the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, or Wat Pho, to admire the grandeur of the gilded, 150-foot-long statue depicting the Buddha’s passing and attainment of nirvana. (It’s the biggest reclining Buddha statue in the city!)
- Look over the nearby flower market’s rainbow-hued rows of blooms before taking a walking tour of the Chinatown neighborhood—one of the largest in the world. Bursting with food stalls, ornate temples, and the rich history of its immigrants, it’s truly a sight to behold.
Enjoy an included welcome lunch with your fellow travelers, then tour the city’s canals, or klongs, on a converted rice barge as you sample local fruits.
Leave the bustle of Bangkok behind for a day and go to the city’s outskirts. Then, dive into a pair of uniquely Thai sites.
- Climb aboard a long-tail boat and glide past villages to the canal-crossed Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Here, shoppers and merchants do business on the water, placing orders and transferring goods between vessels. Maneuver through its varied stalls and take it all in.
- Swap water for land, and one shopping hub for another, when you visit the Maeklong Railway Market. Built on an active rail line, it experiences a flurry of activity whenever a train comes rumbling by. Vendors will hurriedly pack up their stalls and duck out of the way; once the locomotive passes, they set back up and keep on selling.
From there, continue to a local organic farm to learn about eco-friendly agricultural practices from the farmers who till the land. Sample freshly picked fruit and a refreshing coconut drink, take part in a hands-on planting workshop, then head back to your hotel for some well-earned rest.
Bid Bangkok farewell and head north to the provincial capital of Ayutthaya, where you’ll learn more about its royal history during a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya Historical Park.
- Tour the ruins of palaces and monasteries—decorated with beautiful, saffron-robed statues of the Buddha—and discover how the city was once the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the predecessor of modern Thailand.
- Visit Wat Lokkayasutha, the Temple of the Earth, and see its 42-meter-long stone statue of the reclining Buddha.
Sightseeing complete, go back to Bangkok and transfer to the airport. You’ll fly to Chiang Rai, a hilly city close to the Myanmar and Laotian borders, dotted with Buddhist shrines and ancient ruins. Once you arrive, enjoy an included dinner with your group, then catch up on rest in anticipation of tomorrow’s adventures.
After breakfast, venture beyond Chiang Rai to explore the waterways, villages, and farms of the countryside. Begin by boarding a long-tail boat for a cruise along the Mekong—one of the longest rivers in Asia. You’ll sail past the villages of hill tribes en route to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos come together.
Disembark for an included lunch overlooking the Mekong, then make your way to Choui Fong Tea, a plantation that specializes in oolong. Link up with an expert for a guided tour, and after, sample three different kinds of local tea. Savor each sip—and the view of the terraced fields unfurling before you—then call it a day.
Begin making your way to Chiang Mai, stopping to bask in the beauty of the region’s most impressive landmarks as you go.
- Start at Wat Rong Khun. Completed in 1997, the White Temple is otherworldly in scope and scale, blending modern art with traditional Buddhist symbolism. Cross its main bridge, flanked by outreaching hands symbolizing unchecked desire, and admire the temple’s fine craftsmanship up close.
- Visit Doi Suthep, half of a twin-peaked granite mountain overlooking Chiang Mai, and take a cable car to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This mountaintop temple is steeped in legend and is one of the most sacred places in Thailand, making it a popular pilgrimage site during the Buddhist holidays of Makha Bucha and Visak.
- Soak up vistas of downtown Chiang Mai in the distance, then either ride the cable car back to the base of Doi Suthep or, time permitting, opt for a one-hour hike down a well-marked trail. (Please note: If you choose to hike, be ready to negotiate steps and declines.)
End your evening with a Thai cooking class, where trained chefs will teach you how to prepare four classic dishes. Relax in a secluded village surrounded by rice paddies as you eat dinner, then continue to Chiang Mai and end your day.
Rewind the clock during today’s optional excursion and immerse yourself in traditional Thai life among the Mae Kampong hill tribe. Alternatively, stay behind and get to know Chiang Mai yourself. One must-see: the Old City. Protected by a wall, ringed by a moat, and packed with more than 300 temples, this cultural quarter showcases seven centuries of history.
Tonight, join your Tour Director to explore the Chiang Mai Night Market, a sprawling complex just outside the Old City’s ancient walls. You’re in for what’s arguably the best night market experience in Thailand, where vendors sell everything from street food to clothing to antiques. Because prices here aren’t fixed, the market is a beloved spot among bargain hunters, and you’ll get plenty of free time to shop at your leisure.
Mae Kampong Hill Tribe: Village Visit & Hike
From $65 per person
Drive through the countryside and visit ChangChill, an organization at the forefront of elephant welfare and responsible tourism in Chiang Mai.
- Hear how the group works with World Animal Protection, an animal rights nonprofit, to create a safe living environment for elephants and an educational experience for visitors.
- Walk along hillsides and through rice paddies, learning about Asian elephants as you watch them freely roam the sanctuary’s grounds.
- Chat with the mahouts, or elephant caretakers, and enjoy a vegetarian meal overlooking the elephants’ natural bathing spot.
- Help staffers prepare medicine and food for the gentle, giant residents.
Wrap up at ChangChill and look forward to your evening as you journey back to your hotel. Dig into dinner—and another aspect of Thai culture—at a Lanna family’s home on tonight’s optional excursion, or set out on your own to track down a particular dish you’ve been craving. (Don’t leave without trying the khao soi, a fragrant coconut curry noodle soup that’s a Chiang Mai specialty.)
Please note: Travelers should wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to walk along uneven paths with some hills.
Lanna Family Home-Hosted Dinner
From $89 per person
This morning, visit the Wat Suan Dok Buddhist temple—distinguished by its gold leaf-covered, 160-feet-tall chedi, or stupa—to meet with a resident monk. They’ll teach you about their faith and how they live, and you’ll have the chance to ask them questions.
Afterward, transfer to the airport and fly to Phuket, where crystal clear water and powdery white sand await you. Sit down for an included dinner, served with beer or wine, with your group before retiring for the night.
Board a speedboat, push off Phuket Island, and skim over turquoise waves, bound for the jungle-crowned isles of Ao Phang Nga National Park.
- Boat between the park’s towering limestone formations, or karsts. You’ll pass thick mangrove forests, too—keep an eye out for some of the 200 bird species that call them home.
- Enjoy an included lunch on your boat, then motor to Talu Island. There, you’ll get to canoe through dramatically arched sea caves with experienced local paddlers as your guides.
- Visit the iconic shores of Khao Phing Kan, better known to some as James Bond Island. It was made into a popular travel destination when it was chosen as a filming location for the 1974 movie, The Man with the Golden Gun.
Add another of Thailand’s most famous destinations to your itinerary—and dive into those enticing tropical waters—on today’s optional excursion to the Phi Phi Islands. For something more low-key, stay behind and make the most of a day to yourself. (There’s nothing wrong with a spot of sunbathing.)
Phi Phi Islands Cruise, Snorkeling & Lunch
From $105 per person
Fly to Bangkok this afternoon and spend your free time exploring the city at your leisure.
Tonight, head to a local restaurant and celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers during a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine.
Transfer to the airport and either fly home or to Cambodia for this tour’s extension. (With the UNESCO-listed towers of Angkor Wat this close, why wouldn’t you spend a few more days in Southeast Asia?)
Instead of flying home from Bangkok, you’ll board a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. After landing, begin your trip’s extension with an included lunch of Cambodian specialties. As the sun starts sinking toward the horizon, you’ll head out for a tour of Angkor Wat—the world’s largest religious monument and an outstanding example of Khmer architecture.
Learn how this UNESCO-recognized complex honors both Hinduism and Buddhism as you watch the sun dip behind its lotus blossom-shaped towers. Then, sit down for an included dinner with your groupmates.
Leave Siem Reap once more for a final day of ruin-roaming with your Tour Director, beginning at Angkor Thom—the longest-serving capital of the Khmer Empire. Explore the complex, stopping to view the Terrace of the Elephants. This ornamental platform was named for the designs carved into its eastern wall and was used by King Jayavarman VII to observe the return of his victorious army.
Depart from Angkor Thom and enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant before setting out for Ta Prohm. Decorated by bas-reliefs and shaded by trees shooting out from gaps in its stones, this 12th-century temple was made famous by the 2001 film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Before heading to the airport and beginning your journey home, spend your last full day in Cambodia reflecting on a heavy part of its modern history. This country suffered through numerous wars in the 20th century, and countless pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) were left buried in the soil in their wake. Today, you’ll enter the Cambodian Landmine Museum, the headquarters of an organization dedicated to defusing UXO, to hear about their efforts and see their impact firsthand.
- Watch a short film about Aki Ra, a former Khmer Rouge child soldier who founded the museum.
- Take a guided audio tour of the museum, which is home to a collection of decommissioned explosives, and learn about the organization’s de-mining projects and community development initiatives.
- Learn how the revenue from your visit supports relief projects for those harmed by landmines and UXO.
Later, fly back to Bangkok for a farewell dinner with your group, served with beer or wine.
Transfer to the airport for your early morning flight home.
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Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.8 out of 5
4 out of 5 stars
Telling the story of this countries history, visually and IN the present. ABSOLUTELY, BEAUTIFUL.
5 out of 5 stars
This has to have been the absolute BEST EF tour I've been on over the last three years. Our guide Tuk was wonderful, the hotels were fabulous, the tour itself was non-stop with sooo many incredible sites to see, foods to eat, and things to do!! I planted rice in a rice field, cooked pad thai and man...
5 out of 5 stars
Our trip was superb. We cannot say enough about our wonderful guide, BOND! Thailand is beautiful with sweet people with a culture of kindness. Exquisite beaches and good food. Arrangements were well done. Our hotels were all we could hope for and all of the arranged meals were delicious! We particul...
Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This contemporary hotel is located in the Sukhumvit district of downtown Bangkok, Thailand. Guests enjoy an outdoor saltwater pool, sun terrace, and f...
This countryside resort is located in the peaceful city of Chiang Rai. Guests enjoy the outdoor pool, the Bodhi Tree Spa, relaxing atmosphere. Nearby ...
This contemporary hotel is located in downtown Chiang Mai. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, restaurant, and convenient location. Nearby you’ll find the ...
This modern hotel is located steps from the Karon Beach in Phuket. Guests enjoy several pools and dining options, tennis courts, and spa. Nearby you’l...
This classic hotel is located in Siem Reap’s city center. Guests enjoy the outdoor pool, sun terrace, and on-site restaurant. Nearby you’ll find Angko...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter Thailand (and Cambodia 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 reentry.
- We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
- There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens traveling to Thailand.
- U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa to enter Cambodia on the tour extension. You may choose to obtain your Cambodia visa at the port of entry (you will need $30USD and two passport-sized photos), by purchasing an electronic visa on the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by applying directly to the Cambodian consulate, or by using a visa provider, such as our partner company, VisaCentral.
- 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.
- 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 TAT.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Bangkok.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
- When you arrive in Bangkok, 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 high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis 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 full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- Most transportation by private motor coach
- Some transportation by boat and commercial flight
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day- this includes city streets, cobblestones, and uneven stone and dirt paths.
- Stone pathways and archaeological sights can become slick when wet.
- To get in and out of the canal boats in Bangkok, travelers should be prepared to crouch down and slide through tight quarters.
- Travelers can expect a minimum 2 mile hike over dirt paths, including steep inclines and declines, when visiting the elephant sanctuary.
- Travelers can expect to walk 2 miles over uneven paths, cobblestones, and steep stairs when visiting Angkor Wat on the extension to Cambodia.
- 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 your tour.
Climate Considerations
- Temperatures are consistent year round, often in the high 90sF.
- In the wet season (July-October), travelers can expect high levels of humidity and short, intense bursts of rainfall.
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 pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- This tour includes various modes of transportation including private motor coach, plane, long-boat, covered pick-up truck, cable car, speed boat, and canoe. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts. Boats may also require travelers to stoop to get in and out of their seats.
- Small boat rides and a flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai to Phuket and Phuket to Bangkok are included in the price of your tour (the tour extension also includes one round-trip flight between Bangkok and Siem Reap).
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- To get in and out of the canal boats in Bangkok, travelers should be prepared to crouch down and slide through tight quarters.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and included flights.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to 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. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotel and airports.
- 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. Please note that you will be required to remove your shoes at all Buddhist religious sites.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
- Accommodations are typically three and four star hotels.
- All accommodations include a private bathroom.
- Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
- Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
- Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
- Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
- We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
- 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 Center 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 contact 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.
- 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.
- Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
- 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 TAT.
- This tour includes 4 lunches and 4 dinners. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. Dinners include one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- The lunch at the elephant sanctuary is typically a vegetarian buffet, including water, coffee, and tea.
- At the Thai Cooking Class & Dinner, some dishes may include sour and spicy prawn soup, Thai green curry with chicken, mango sweet sticky rice and stri fried chicken with cashew (seasonal and subject to change).
- 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. Most meals include a soup, a curry, a steamed or fried dish, and a salad.
- On the tour extension, 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.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is 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 $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD 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.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the Thai baht in Thailand (plus the Cambodian riel on the tour extension).
- 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/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit 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 ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
- Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wifi 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 in Thailand.
- You will have a different Tour Director for your tour extension in Cambodia than on your main tour.
- 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.
- When you travel with EF 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 make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: be aware of the 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.
- EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics 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.
- Environment: 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.
- Animal Welfare: Take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart during included tour activities and your free time. Do not touch, do not feed, and maintain a respectful distance from wild animals. Wild animals encountered on tour should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior. If you feel we are not meeting these commitments, please share your feedback with us.
- Animal Welfare: Avoid buying any exploitative wildlife products such as tortoise shell or shark fin soup.