I had just a short amount of time in Bangkok at the end of my trip, but I was able to cover quite a bit of ground on an evening bike tour (14 kilometers to be exact) to get a small taste of the city. Winding through small alleyways, night markets, and illuminated temples, my group was able to navigate the streets of Bangkok in a way we could never have managed without the local guide. We stopped at a 24-hour flower market, sampled satay (BBQ meats) from street food vendors, crossed the river on a ferry, and visited the famous Wat Po temple without the daytime crowds. I’d call it a success!
This was a really great tour for me since I had so little time to experience Bangkok before departing for home the next morning, but it's not for the faint of heart! The streets were busy with vehicles and it does require a strong dose of confidence on two wheels.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.