TERM TWO ITINERARY
Hanoi • Ha Long Bay • Ho Chi Minh City • Siem Reap • Luang Prabang • Mekong River Cruise • Chiang Rai • Ko Lanta • Ayutthaya
Explore the bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, be awed by sacred temples in Cambodia and Thailand, trek through spectacular mountain scenery, and take a riverboat cruise from Laos to Thailand. During Term Two of Global High School, you’ll experience fascinating cultures, ancient ceremonies, astounding architecture, and modern city life.
The journey begins in Vietnam’s second largest city, Hanoi, a bustling metropolis often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’ due to its large collection of French colonial architecture. The city is hugely popular with tourists and is bursting with arts, culture, museums, shopping, and theatre. Take a walking tour into the city’s French Quarter and be amazed at the beauty of the Hanoi Opera House and the National Museum of Vietnamese History.
Taking a breather from the city life, we’ll board a two-day overnight boat cruise that will wind its way to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to 1600 limestone islands, enormous caves, beaches, and wildlife.
Rested and relaxed, we’ll venture over 1,000km south to the country’s capital and largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. A fast-paced and rapidly evolving city, it is a mix of old and new, with 19th-century buildings side-by-side with sleek modern skyscrapers, temples, and pagodas. Ho Chi Minh city is renowned for its famous night-markets and delicious street food – the perfect place to fill up before heading into the lush jungles of Cambodia.
Step out of the city and into the lush jungles of Cambodia, The centrally-located Siem Reap will be your home base, as you travel to the vast temple complex of Angkor Wat, and surrounding monuments – from Ta Prohm, a temple enveloped in huge tree roots; to Bayon, decorated with huge carved smiling faces. Before you leave the country, take time to visit the Landmine Museum and learn about the horrifying history of the Khmer Rouge.
Dive back into the ancient world in Laos, and the town of Luang Prabang. Tour the most spectacular Buddhist temples, see shrines decorated in gold, covered in intricate carvings and inhabited by orange-clad monks, and get your thrills on a zip line through the jungle and a hike to stunning waterfalls.
Leave the roads behind and take the scenic route to Thailand on a boat cruise along the Mekong River. Start from the top in Chiang Rai Province, where we’ll trek into the surrounding hills to see tribal villages. Further south, you’ll discover the island of Ko Lanta. Spectacular white sand beaches stretch along the west sunset coast. Students will spend their days having class on the sand and snorkelling in the clear blue waters before heading back inland to the breathtaking Ayutthaya, where the ruins of the old city form an archaeological site that contains palaces, Buddhist temples, monasteries and statues, the perfect place to bid farewell to an awesome term two in Asia.
FLIGHT DETAILS
Groups are required to meet at the airport 3 hours prior to departure.
| Date | Airline/Flight # | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, October 17, 2019 | Air Canada flight 15 | Depart Toronto 9:50 am | Arrive Hong Kong 1:25 pm, October 18 |
| Friday, October 18, 2019 | Air Canada flight 9791 | Depart Hong Kong 5:45 pm | Arrive Hanoi 6:55 pm |
| Friday, December 6, 2019 | Air Canada flight 9764 | Depart Bangkok 11:40 am | Arrive Hong Kong 3:30 pm |
| Friday, December 6, 2019 | Air Canada flight 16 | Depart Hong Kong 4:30 pm | Arrive Toronto 6:20 pm |
Please note: Flights are subject to change by the airline.
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
Ninh Binh Day Tour (Hanoi)
After breakfast, we will head to the ancient capital in Ninh Binh province. Our first stop is Mua Cave. Here you can learn the history from your local guide and climb 500 stone steps to the top of the mountain and take in the magnificent view. After lunch, we will head to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a famous travel destination in Vietnam that was recently inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Covered by caves, mountain and river, Trang An offers amazing scenery and rich history. Fun fact- Kong: Skull Island was filmed here. Have the opportunity to view the demo of the ship and the aboriginal village, which was used as the main background for Skull Island.
Return to Hanoi for dinner.
Please wear hiking shoes, (no flip flops), comfortable clothing and bring water.
Anticipated Date: Sunday, October 20th, 2019
Price: $125
Countryside Biking (Siem Reap)
Depart at 3:00pm (3hrs) in the srok srai Khmer (Cambodian countryside). You will ride along red soil roads, rice fields, see farmers at work, and their beautiful small villages. We will then stop and pay a visit to some of these traditional Khmer stilt houses and pagodas (built of wood, bamboo and palm), and chat with the local people.
After a while you will take a rest and try some local drinks such as sugar cane juice, a refreshing drink poured over ice, which is drunk by Cambodians and is especially popular in the countryside.
Return to Siem Reap in time for dinner.
Please wear comfortable shoes (no flip-flops) and conservative clothing for cycling through the villages. Bike, helmet, and English-speaking guide included. Please wear sunscreen, sunglasses and bring a water bottle.
Anticipated Date: Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
Price: $100
Community Service (Siem Reap)
Community Service is an important aspect of every Blyth Academy Program. We try to instill a sense of global responsibility in all of our students as they explore the world. This optional excursion will allow students to engage in locally based environmental or educational initiatives. Their time with local children, animals, or the natural environment of the area will earn them 4-5 community involvement hours which can go towards his/her high school diploma. The students will be heading to Angkor Krav, a small village in Siem Reap and help plant vegetables and herbs for the community, tidy up the area and read to children.
Please wear appropriate clothing that you can get dirty, bring water, sunscreen and bug spray.
Anticipated Date: Sunday, November 3rd, 2019
Price: $110
Kayaking (Luang Prabang)
We’ll leave our accommodation around 12:30pm and enjoy a drive through the local countryside to our starting point of this river adventure.
In the shadow of mountains, surrounded by jungle we will paddle along the river with several traditional villages on the river banks. We’ll even tackle some exciting river rapids! We rest along the banks for photos, river-jumping and swimming.
We will be guided by a knowledgeable local English-speaking guide. All equipment is provided.
Please bring: Sunscreen, swimsuit and a change of clothes, flip-flops/water-friendly shoes, and a water bottle.
Anticipated Date: Saturday, November 9th, 2019
Price: $125
Elephant Sanctuary (Luang Prabang)
On the Elephant Volunteer Program, you will be spending the day at the sanctuary helping out onsite with many activities. Every week, the sanctuary has new projects underway; planting, growing and cutting elephant food and feeding the elephants.
This elephant experience is focused on education and animal welfare. We will learn about elephant behaviour, ecology and conservation efforts. We’ll take a boat upriver to assist the elephants with their morning bath, before trekking alongside the elephants through the jungle.
We’ll enjoy a traditional-style lunch, take a swim beside a waterfall and visit a local village while the elephants have their lunch. Then we’ll trek back to the elephant’s nighttime feeding grounds, say our goodbyes and return to base for snacks and de-brief. Prepare yourself for a very enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
We return to our accommodation for dinnertime.
Please bring: Long sleeve shirt, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent and a spare water bottle.
Anticipated Date: Saturday, November 16th, 2019
Price: $220
One-day Trekking (Chiang Rai)
Explore more of Chiang Rai and the beautiful villages surrounding this city. Start at around 9:00 am and head to a relaxing hot spring before starting your 2-hour trek through Ban Lahu and Ban Arka village.
Stop for lunch and a rest and then continue to the waterfalls where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. Finish your day off with some tea and a visit to the Chinese village before heading back to the hotel for dinner.
Please bring: Water, sunscreen, bug spray
Anticipated Date: Sunday, November 17th, 2019
Price: $110
Thai Cooking Class (Koh Lanta)
We head to a local cookery school to learn how to cook some of Thailand’s most mouth-watering dishes, and learn about the herbs and spices that make this country’s cooking so unique.
As a group, you’ll get to make spring rolls and Pad Thai. Dishes will be made vegetarian with the option to add chicken or beef.
Our experienced teacher will make our class fun, and with a practical approach, you’ll be able to recreate the dishes back home to impress family and friends.
Anticipated Date: Tuesday, November 26th, 2019
Price: $85
October 17 – December 6, 2019
| Travel Services (Incl. Taxes & Fees) | $10,075 |
| Tuition, Supervision and Health and Wellness | $6,520 |
| Total Fee: | $16,595* |
Courses
GRADE 11:
- English (ENG3U)
- Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology(HSP3U)
GRADE 12:
- English (ENG4U)
- International Business Fundamentals (BBB4M)
- World Cultures (HSC4M)
- Equity and Social Justice: From Theory to Practice (HSE4M)
- Challenge and Change in Society (HSB4U)
- Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U)
- Mathematics of Data Management (MDM4U)
Included in your Program:
Included in this program:
- Ha Long Bay boat tour and Cu Chi Tunnels tour
- Visits to the Temples of Angkor
- Zip lining, Mekong River cruise, snorkelling, hiking & trekking
Accommodations
Hanoi: La Suite Hotel in Hanoi
Ha Long Bay: Oriental Sail Cruise
Ho Chi Minh City: Blue Diamond Hotel
Siem Reap: Salasara Hotel
Luang Prabang: Sanakeo Boutique Hotel
Chiang Rai: Maryo Resort
Ko Lanta: Southern Lanta Resort
Ayutthaya: Krungsri River Hotel
Other Terms
See what destinations, courses and excursions we offer on the other terms:
*Plus $495 registration fee. Includes group airfare arranged by Blyth Academy and an estimated $1,095.00** in airline and departure taxes, local taxes and fees. All itineraries, excursions, and dates are subject to change. Please visit www.blythpoints.com for more details on funding your program through Aeroplan points.
**Plus Cancellation and/or Medical Insurance fees (if selected)**