The Climate
Laos and Northern Thailand have a continental, tropical climate possessing 3 distinct seasons: dry and cool from Nov. to Feb., a dry, hot season from March through to May and a rainy season lasting from June to Oct. Temperatures vary considerably during the year with April averages often in the 40’s, whilst winter temperatures in the mountains may drop to below zero.
Peninsular Thailand and Malaysia display equatorial weather patterns with little monthly variation in temperatures and rainfall occurring throughout the year.
South Vietnam and Cambodia. Temperatures remain high throughout the year with a distinct rainy season arriving in May and usually lasting through to October by which times large expanses of the region are covered by the annual floods and we use boat travel a lot.
North Vietnam. Whilst much cooler than the south, the heaviest rains also occur from May to Oct. As with Laos, winter temperatures in the mountains can be surprisingly low and snowfalls aren't unheard of.
General
Weather, with the complex geographical conditions of SE Asia is unpredictable. You'll see downpours in the middle of the dry season and clear blue skies during the monsoon. Every season has advantages when choosing when to visit: winter is cooler, the rainy season lush and richer in flora and fauna, whilst the hot season is the ‘quietest’ time of year as well as being flowering period for many of the spectacular trees, shrubs and orchids.
Itineraries
We have taken every care to ensure that the details in our brochure are correct at the time of writing. Please note that itineraries may need to be altered at the last minute due to weather conditions or other factors beyond our control. Rest assured that any alterations we make will be in the best interests of an enjoyable and safe tour.
An updated itinerary including any changes from the printed version will be sent to you for acceptance or otherwise prior to departure.
Please note that Gecko Travel is not liable for extra expenses incurred due to forced changes in itinerary for reasons beyond our control
What to bring?
Detailed 'what to bring' lists are available for each tour. Please ask our office for an e-mail or postal copy or simply download it from our web-site by going to the relevant tour page and clicking on 'what to bring'. Note a simple answer to the above question is “as little as possible” – bear in mind that most items you may forget are available locally and for a fraction of the price.
Insurance
It is a condition of booking that all persons travelling with us take out adequate personal insurance for the full period of travel. We offer a competitively priced, fully comprehensive insurance policy through PJ Hayman Ltd of which details are available on request.
Health regulations
There are no compulsory immunizations for EU or US citizens for any of the destinations included in our brochure. The following vaccinations are recommended: hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid. Your GP can advise on the above. If you are considering anti-malaria pills we recommend consulting a specialist. A yellow fever jab is required if coming from an infected area.
Financial security
Gecko Travel is holder of Air Traffic Organiser's License (ATOL) No. 5318, granted by the Civil Aviation Authority of the UK. All holidays and flights mentioned in the brochure are thereby fully protected so in the unlikely event of our insolvency the CAA guarantees full reimbursement and completion of any ongoing travel arrangements. For further information please consult the ATOL web-site at www.atol.org.uk.
Passports
All visitors must possess a 10 year passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of return.
Visas
Thailand: EU & US citizens are not required to obtain visas prior to arrival for a stay of up to 1 month and will receive a 30 day visa free of charge upon arrival in Thailand. For stays of over a month a 60 day visa can be obtained from any Thai consulate.
Malaysia: a 60 day visa is issued free of charge to all US and EU citizens upon arrival in Malaysia.
Laos: a 15 day visa will be obtained for you by your Gecko Travel tour-leader upon your arrival in Thailand. 2 passport sized photos and $50 are required. The process takes from 2 – 3 days during which time you will not have access to your passport.
Cambodia: 30 day visas are issued on arrival at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports. You will need 1 passport photo and $20.
Sri Lanka:
30 day visas are issued freee of charge upon arrival at Colombo Airport.
Vietnam: Visas must be obtained before arrival in Vietnam and are available from your nearest Vietnamese embassy at £40 (c. $60). If you need any help with your visa please do not hesitate to contact us.
Note: Non EU or US citizens should consult the relevant consulate for visa regulations for any of the above countries. Gecko Travel is not responsible for problems occuring due to incorrectly obtained, or failure to obtain, relevant information prior to departure. |
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