Kingdoms of the Mekong: A River Exploration of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A valid passport is required, along with the following additional requirements: -Thailand Digital Arrival Card -Lao Visa & Arrival Card -Cambodia Visa & Arrival Card *review the passport and visa section along with the program notes section for more information about each requirement.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

Thailand

• Your passport must have 1 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: No Tourist Visa required for stays under 30 days. Note: A Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is required to enter Thailand. You can complete the online form for the TDAC up to 3 days (72 hours) before your arrival at https://tdac.immigration.go.th. View the program notes section of your mailing for information needed for the form.

Laos

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: A Laos Tourist Visa can be obtained either on arrival (US$42) or in advance online (US$50), prices subject to change. We recommend applying online within 60 days of arrival at https://laoevisa.gov.la. You will need to provide passport details, a passport-sized photo, and a copy of the passport’s picture ID page. The required arrival and first address in Laos can be found in the program notes section of the participant mailing packet. Once approved, print your eVisa approval letter to present upon arrival. Alternatively, you can apply for a visa on arrival. Payment in US$ with exact change required (bills must be clean/crisp, without tears/ink marks) and bring 1 passport-sized photo for the visa. Ensure your passport has 2 blank pages (not amendment/endorsement) and additional space for entry/exit stamps. Note: Travelers to Laos must also submit an electronic arrival card within 3 days of arrival. The Group Leader will assist with this step during the program.

Cambodia

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it may be obtained upon arrival.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: A Cambodian tourist visa can be obtained on arrival or in advance online. We recommend a visa on arrival for a fee of US$30 (fees subject to change). Payment in US$ with exact change required (bills must be clean/crisp, without tears/ink marks). You will also need 1 passport-sized photo for the visa. If you are arriving by air in Cambodia, you also have the option to apply in advance online at https://www.evisa.gov.kh/. The form can take a few tries, so allow plenty of time. The first address location for your stay in Cambodia is listed in the program notes section of the participant mailing packet. Once approved, print the letter and secure it with your travel documents to present upon arrival. **NOTE:** Travelers arriving by air to Cambodia are also required to submit an electronic arrival card no earlier than 7 days before arrival at www.arrival.gov.kh.

Though all efforts will have been made to keep health and hygiene practices at the optimum standard, please note that diarrhea is quite common when traveling in Asia. This illness can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, contaminated food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis). You should be up-to-date with your routine vaccines such as Covid-19, influenza, MMR, chickenpox, polio & DPT. The CDC recommends Hepatitis A and Typhoid. A tetanus booster is wise, as is a gamma globulin (or "immune serum globulin") inoculation, Antimalaria medication is based on medical guidance from your doctor, CDC information, and your personal comfort level. Air pollution can be a significant problem in Southeast Asia. The region is developing rapidly, with approximately 130 million people living in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia combined. This rapid growth—along with deforestation, crop burning, limited vehicle emission standards, polluting gasoline-powered motorbikes, and poor urban planning—has contributed to poor air quality in major cities such as Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, and Siem Reap. Air pollution poses a serious risk to human health and is associated with a range of adverse health effects. These impacts are often more severe for sensitive populations, including children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart or respiratory disease. Participants traveling on the program are encouraged to consult their doctor prior to departure to discuss the impact that seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on them. Road Scholar and its local partners monitor air quality conditions carefully. As regional and local air quality can change significantly over a period of hours, please note that we reserve the right to adjust program itineraries, change scheduled activities, and restrict the amount of time spent outdoors. We will distribute masks as needed in order to help minimize the potential risk to our program participants.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on November 5, 2027

Meet the group at Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort in Siem Reap

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in, 7:00 p.m. orientation in Siem Reap.

Getting to the site: Participants who purchased Road Scholar airfare and arrive on the program start date in Cambodia will be provided with an arrival transfer from Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) to the first program hotel. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are arriving on a different day, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and for covering the costs involved. Hotel check-in is available from 3:00 p.m on the in-country program start date (Day 3). If you arrive a few hours earlier, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until check-in time. If you wish to check-in upon arrival in the morning, or if you arrive a day or more before the program starts, we suggest booking additional pre-program nights in advance with Road Scholar Travel Services, through the hotel directly or via a third-party website.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Participants can reach the site from the airport via taxi.

Your trip ends on: Saturday, November 20, 2027 in Chiang Mai at Movenpick Suriwongse Chiang Mai

End of Trip: 8:00 a.m. breakfast followed by transfer to Chiang Mai Airport; 12:00 p.m. (noon) hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Participants who purchased Road Scholar airfare and depart on the program end date in Chiang Mai will be provided with a departure transfer from the last program hotel to Chiang Mai International International Airport. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are departing on a different day, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and for covering the costs involved. A taxi from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to the program hotel costs approximately THB 250 (subject to change) (about 9 USD – be prepared to pay in Thai Bhat). If traveling late at night, the taxi cost might be higher. You can also get a Grab Taxi (similar to Uber in the US) but not recommended at night. To use, download the Grabtaxi app. Hotel check-out is at 12:00 noon on the last program date of your itinerary (Day 18). If you depart a few hours later, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until you head to the airport. If you wish to arrange a late check-out or a post-program night, we suggest booking it in advance with the hotel directly or through a third-party website

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.