RIDE TO PROVIDE: THAILAND 800KM IN 8 DAYS

RIDE TO PROVIDE: THAILAND 800KM IN 8 DAYS

Welcome Thank you for choosing to support the at-risk children and communities in Thailand. We hope that your journey will not only change their lives, but yours also. You may have many questions, some doubts and even a few fears, but believe us when we say that all of this achievable - the fundraising, the training and the ride, and we ll be there to help every step of the way. If you put the effort in you will achieve your goal, and most likely return home after the ride with a fresh new perspective on life.

The rides SOUTH RIDE HAAD CHAO SAMRAN Choose from either the Northern or Southern route, each covering 800km in eight days. Or join the elite and conquer the Ultimate Ride: both routes rides back to back with a couple of rest days in between. The North Ride starts in the first week of January, with the South ride kicking off eleven days later. You ll journey through stunning scenery, remote villages and tropical rainforest before being greeted by the children at either our Baan Tharn Namchai home in Khao Lak or Home Hug in Yasothon. NORTH RIDE NONG KHAI NORTH RIDE PAK KHAT Baan Home Hug YASOTHON BUENG KAN BAAN PHAENG NAKHON PHANOM MUKDAHAN KHEMARAT AMNART CHAROEN The riding group stops every 20-25km throughout the day to refill water bottles and stock up on fruit and snacks. This also ensures we don t spread too far out from one another. Riding in Thailand is much safer and more enjoyable than in Australia. We ride as much as we can on country roads to avoid the traffic. Some sections are on dirt and lead to beautiful parts of the country you wouldn t otherwise see. We ask that you respect common road rules at all times and pay attention to your leaders for additional instructions. Climate Temperatures will likely be in the 30s with high humidity. Being a tropical climate, you ll be refreshed by regular cloudbursts. The riding group stops every 20-25km throughout the day to refill water bottles and stock up on fruit and snacks. This also ensures we don t spread too far out from one another. Baan Tharn Namchai KHAO LAK KHAO SOK CHUMPHON LANG SUNG SURAT THANI HUA HIN PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN BAAN GROOD

Support crew There are plenty of support crew available to make sure you don t take a wrong turn. Support vehicles will be available for emergency transport situations and there is no pressure to ride if you are unwell for any reason. Some may suffer from minor injuries, a touch of the sun or a general feeling of unwell. Even one leg in the back of the van can make all the difference and give you that break that enables you to get back on the bike. Accommodation Accommodation varies from luxury hotels to basic, but comfortable lodgings (3 star), always with hot showers and good meals available every night. You ll share a room with one other rider and we will try to partner people as best as possible. If you ve registered with a friend, you can bunk with this person for the duration of the tour.

The kit We ll give you a custom riding jersey, knicks (riding shorts) and gloves for the trip, with additional gear available for purchase if needed. Helmets are compulsory whenever you are on the bike. For hygiene purposes and good fit, we ask you to bring yours from home. Part of the recognition of our sponsors is that only Hands shirts can be worn during the ride. There are three sponsor spots on the shirt, costing $3,000 each. Any funds raised through this sponsorship will be allocated to your fundraising total. If you know someone that would like to have their logo on the shirt please get in touch. The bike You will be provided a mountain bike in Thailand. We do not let riders take their own bikes for two main reasons: 1. You would be responsible for the costs of getting it there and clearing customs, which can be quite costly. 2. If you get a flat tyre or break something on your bike you have to take care of it. If it is one of our bikes, you simply stand on the side of the road and wait for the tyre to be changed or bike to be repaired by our support crew before continuing on. You do however have the option of fitting your own bike seat and pedals if you would like to bring them with you.

The travel For the North Ride you will need to arrive at least one day prior into Udon Thani airport, and then leave from Ubon Ratchathani airport at the end of the ride. For the South Ride you will need to fly into Bangkok one day prior to the start date and then fly out from Phuket after the ride. We will provide transfers between the airports and the ride start and finish. You are required to book your own flights, but please ask us if you have any concerns about arriving in time for the ride. Generally, Australian citizens do not need a visa to enter Thailand for a short length of time. On the day the ride finishes, your family and friends are more than welcome to join you at the finish line and attend the final dinner to celebrate your achievement. You may choose to stay on in Thailand or head home after the official tour is over. We highly recommend staying on for a couple of days to reflect on your experience and wind down after your trip or simply spend some more time with the children.

The training The key to your training will be stamina rather than speed. There s a great mix of people on the ride and as such the pace will vary greatly, so don t panic about keeping up. This is a FUN ride and we want you to enjoy the experience not just rush from point A to point B! If you are a keen rider, there will be plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and ride hard, but you will find the real pleasure is in riding with the group and sharing the journey. What most riders will not be accustomed to is the heat and humidity. Any training you can do in the middle of the day in Australia will help. A high level of general fitness will make the ride much more enjoyable. A four-month training program is available to you. The program has been put together by a certified trainer and it is your choice to follow it or not. If you don t, just make sure you are spending plenty of time getting to know your bike seat. Even if you have a good level of fitness, you still need to spend a lot of time on your bike, otherwise you ll pay for it with sore butt cheeks for the duration of the ride.

The cost The ride cost is AU$2,695 for the North Ride, AU$3,295 for the South Ride or $5,659 for the Ultimate Ride. This cost includes all meals, accommodation and ride costs & equipment - basically everything except your flights, incidental expenses and private travel insurance. You will need to make a non-refundable deposit of $500 to secure your spot. If you withdraw from the ride, your deposit becomes a donation to Hands. The full payment will be due on September 1st or you can choose a monthly payment plan if preferred. Fundraising and sponsorship You need to fundraise AU$10,000 to be eligible to participate in this ride (or $20,000 for the Ultimate Ride), but don t worry, we will provide you with all the support you need. If you raise more than your target that doesn t mean your costs are covered, only that more children will benefit from your great fundraising effort - 100% of donations you receive as part of your fundraising go directly towards benefiting the children and projects in Thailand. If you do have someone who is willing to cover some or all of your travel costs, they must be made aware that this contribution is purely for you to attend and they are not making a donation to the Hands Across The Water charity.

Expectations of you We do what we do because we are committed to the children, to the ride and in ensuring you have one hell of good time. You can assist us by: Responding to all emails where there is something asked of you, and within the time frame requested. Support the events that are organised to assist you in raising the money. Keep in contact with us to let us know if things change and you can no longer do the ride. For some, their circumstances will change between now and the ride and you will need to withdraw from the ride. Let us know as soon as that happens so that we can get someone else onto the ride. Work hard to fundraise. If you are struggling, get in touch and we can work out a strategy with you. Get in contact if you have questions. They might not be covered in this document but there is a good chance we have dealt with them already, so don t sit on anything and worry, we are here to support you. What next We can t stress strongly enough what an amazing experience this is. Please don t hesitate to contact us in the lead up to the ride to chat about the things that are worrying you. A quick chat can so often address concerns. You will receive regular communication from us, via both phone and email, with trip specifics, logistics and other information.

CONTACT DETAILS Any questions, don t hesitate to email us at team@handsacrossthewater.org.au We are always happy to help!