Advice to Travellers

What to Bring
The best advice is to bring as little as possible, everything we suggest can be bought very easily in Chiang Mai, and at a fraction of the cost 'back home'.

Clothing
Please wear light clothing. Cotton short-sleeved shirts and trousers are suitable. Thai and hilltribe people are often offended by revealing clothing. The best footwear is sports shoes or walking boots, worn with cotton socks. A hat is almost essential for the tropical sun, and sunglasses are a good idea. Bring a few changes of clothing. Evenings and early mornings can be surprisingly cold in winter - close to freezing in December and January, so bring a sweater and a casual jacket or anorak.

Health
Sanitation and hygiene standards in Thailand are high, so the chance of disease is quite low. Medical facilities in Chiang Mai and other cities are excellent and inexpensive. It is, a wise precaution to be vaccinated against hepatitis, typhoid, polio and tetanus. Malaria is very rare in most areas, and restricted to the wet season (June-October). Check with your doctor for the latest prophylactic drugs, although many doctors consider it best not to take anything. The test for malaria is very quick and reliable, and a course of drugs stops the disease effectively.

The most common problem is diarrhea. This usually only lasts one or two days, and is generally a reaction to the change of climate and diet. Immodium or a similar medicine is fast acting and effective, and quite safe to take for a day or two.

We do supply a medical kit, but you may wish to bring iodine, cotton buds and band aids (plasters) for possible cuts and scratches. Dehydration can be a problem in the heat. Oral re-hydration solution is excellent at replacing lost electrolytes, and can be bought at any pharmacist. However, this can easily be avoided by drinking plenty of water. Sun tan oil is also often necessary to prevent sunburn, which can easily spoil a holiday.

Bear in mind we are talking about worst-case scenarios here - the vast majority of visitors have a trouble-free, healthy, and happy holiday!

Photography
Thailand is a paradise for photographers, so be sure to bring a camera and film. Film and processing are cheap, very fast and the quality usually very good. The best time to take pictures is before 10.00am and after 4.00pm. Ideally, wait for the 'golden light' at about 6.00pm.

Insurance
Lisu Lodge is fully insured for accident or misadventure. We do strongly advise our customers to have their own insurance as well, since claims can be complex and time consuming for you otherwise.

Lisu Lodge Adventures