Accommodation
Hotels/guesthouses (8 nts), bungalows (3 nts), homestays (2 nts).
Transport
Train, minivan, speed boat, local bus, taxi, trishaw, walking.
Meals
5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners.
Staff
All operator group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. operator endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.
Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At operator we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit - and who better to hear it from than the locals themselves? If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Optional Activities
We list the following optional activities for your information. This is not an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only.
They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by operator nor included in price of this trip. If you do any of them, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with operator.
If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many operator destinations.
Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants round your bill up to the nearest US$1. More upmarket restaurants we recommend 5% to 10% of your bill - your leader will advise.
Local guides: Throughout your trip you will at times have a local guide in addition to your leader, we recommend US$1-US$2 per day for local guides.
Drivers: You will have a range of drivers on your trip. Some will be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would recommend a higher tip for those more involved with the group however a base of US$1 per day would be appropriate.
Local transport: For a city tour we suggest US$1 per day.
Your Group Leader: You may also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline US$2-4 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip.
Commissions: The receipt of commissions or kickbacks in exchange for recommending particular shops or services is ingrained in the culture of the tourism industry. Rather than turn a blind eye to this unavoidable issue in some areas operator has established a centralised fund whereby contributions from recommended suppliers are distributed directly into The operator Foundation.
A priority in establishing this fund is that the experience of you our traveller is not compromised in any way. Please let us know via the feedback form completed after your trip if we are successfully meeting this objective.
Half Day City Tour, Kuala Lumpur - US$15
Menara Tower, Kuala Lumpur – US$7
Orang Asli Museum, Kuala Lumpur US$4
Riverboat Trip, Melaka - US$5
Baba Nonya Heritage Museum, Melaka - US$6
Stay overnight in a ‘hide’, Taman Negara – US$3
Introduction to Scuba Diving, Perhentian Islands - US$70
Sea-Kayaking, Perhentian Islands – US$20
Handicraft Museum, Kota Bharu – US$1
Batik Painting, Kota Bharu – US$20
What To Bring
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking though, you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage (please see below for exceptions), and though you will not be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes) we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg/22lb.
Suitcases are not recommended for operatorlers! Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags with wheels are acceptable, although we recommend your bag has carry straps as well, as you may be required to negotiate bus and railway station steps. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day walks and day trips.
Checklist
The following checklist is to be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list. Any other items that you wish to pack are at your own discretion however you should attempt to comply with the suggested luggage weight limit.
Travel documents: passport, visas, travel insurance certificate, air tickets, operator voucher
Health requirements arranged
Money: traveller's cheques/cash/credit card and money pouch
Day pack to carry your personal needs during the day
First aid kit
Medication/prescriptions (it is a good idea to have a doctors letter if you are carrying a large amount of medication), travel sickness tablets if required
Prescription glasses and contact lens solution if required
Alarm clock
Torch/flashlight
Travel plug/international adapter
Insect repellent
Refillable water bottle and water purification method
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Swimming costume
Lightweight travel towel
Ear plugs/eye mask
Comfortable walking shoes
Local language phrase book
Camera, film and/or memory cards with spare batteries
Personal audio player with spare batteries
Raincoat/umbrella
Waterproof jacket
Sleep sheet (optional)
Waterproof bags for rain protection while trekking (plastic shopping bags are fine)
Warm clothes for overnight in the jungle and cool bus journeys
Group Size
Maximum of 12 travellers per group
Operator Remarks
Allow USD $195 for meals not included.