TRANSPORT & ACCOMMODATION

Baktrax stay in a variety of accommodation. From hill tribe villages for a cultural experience with a difference to 5 star hotels for those requiring more creature comforts. But in general Baktrax don't believe you want to travel half way around the world to sit in your room and watch T.V. Some of our itineraries have a choice of either budget or quality accommodation. These trips are identical other than where you will sleep. All our accommodation is clean and comfortable to ensure a good nights rest.

Hill tribe villages may be the exception due to dogs, pigs and chickens making their usual sounds at all hours. As well as being in communal rooms with your hosts around an open fire on a bamboo floor. This is about as far away from 5 star as it gets. A shot or two of the local brew may help in this regard.

In general we stay in mostly family run, simple guest houses or 1 to 2 star hotels or guest houses. As follows is a brief description of the standards. Each individual itinerary lists the type of accommodation on that particular trip.

1: HILLTRIBE VILLAGES ( North Thailand only); Very very basic with almost no amenities as you are use to.

2: BASIC GUEST HOUSE; A fan cooled room with shared facilities.

3: SIMPLE GUEST HOUSE; A fan cooled room with en suite facilities.

4: 1 to 2 star hotels and guest houses. A clear distinction up from a simple guest house. These places have bigger rooms with en suite facilities as well as some basic furniture.T.V. and air conditioning when needed.

5: 3, 4 and 5 STAR HOTELS; The usual standard as expected at these establishments. Air con when needed, restaurants, and other services as per usual. Usually with a pool but not always.

Like our transport, Baktrax believe the accommodation should reflect the region you are staying in. First and foremost our hosts must be our friends rather than business people. In this regard we have some of the most congenial hosts on earth. If they welcome us with open wallets instead of arms we go elsewhere.

Transport and accommodation should be major highlights rather than just how to get around and where to sleep

Baktrax TRANSPORT

Baktrax tours use anything and everything the locals use. If it's going our way and you don't want to wait, we jump aboard.

But at the same time we don't believe that travel in Asia should be an endurance test. So we have tried as much as possible to take the hard and exhausting work out of adventure travel while still showing you how the locals get around. But by it's very nature, travel in this part of the world may not be as easy as back home. In some countries in the region roads are sub standard, buses are antiquated and are sometimes not even buses at all but rather a truck substitute.

Timetables can be irregular to say the least if there are any at all. Sometimes the bus just leaves when full. But with all our knowledge we have come up with the most comfortable and convenient transport available.

Baktrax do not use transport as accommodation also. So unless it's a great train trip or the most convenient travel method we don't put you on overnight trains and/or buses to save on accommodation costs. We like to see the scenery by day and sleep in a comfy bed at night.

All transport from the time you check in to your day 1 accommodation until the time you check out of your final nights accommodation is included in your up front price apart from any taxis, buses etc you may use in your free time. This also includes any international and/or domestic flights on the itineraries.

AS follows is a broad description of what we use:

1: PLANES; International and domestic as per itinerary.

2: BUSES; From up to date modern air conditioned to antiquated third world models. A number of varieties in between.

3: TRAINS; From first class sleeper trains on our quality accommodation options to packed in like sardines, local commuter trains. Sleeper trains are either first class or very comfortable Pullman style in Thailand and the best soft class in Vietnam. Long day trips are also on the best available while shorter trips may be on local commuter ones.

4: TAXIS: This covers a myriad of vehicles on wheels that can be hired to move people short distances. From new air conditioned and metered cabs to bicycle rickshaws. It maybe a tuk tuk in Thailand to a moto in Cambodia to a jumbo in Laos, (no, not an elephant).
It may be a shared pick up or a motorcycle with a cart attached. Some of these contraptions will astound first time Asian travelers.

5: BOATS; Again a numerous variety ranging from modern ferries to recycled fishing boats. Some very cramped, and some with a kiosk offering a cup of coffee and biscuit. From fast, long tail ones to slow row boats. Boats are used primarily for getting to islands and/or sightseeing. Most often a combination of both.

Baktrax believe travel should be fun rather than an endurance test. But if on some occasions the travel does get a bit long and arduous, which is not often, please remember you will be home again soon and the locals will still be here. So do as they do and be patient, keep smiling, stay relaxed and take it all in.

ENJOY rather than ENDURE.