Classic Thailand & Cambodia

Welcome to Siem Reap – Cambodia! Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), after clearing all customs procedures, walk to the main exit gate, you will be met by a representative carrying a signboard with your name on it, and transferred to your hotel in the city center for check-in.

Note: Approx. duration: 1.5 hours to Siem Reap city center depending on traffic.

In the late afternoon, you’ll be transferred to Chhong Kneas, a trading port of agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake—the Great Lake of Cambodia. Here you’ll embark a private local boat and set out on a relaxing and insightful sunset cruise on the lake.

Enjoy a selection of beers and soft drinks, while you observe the local lifestyle of the people living on the lake in their floating and stilted homes. Towards the end of the day, the activity on the lake picks up as people return from their fish farms to present and sell their catch at the local market. Continue to the open waters and take in the sunset before returning to the port for a transfer back to Siem Reap town.

Meal: N/A

After an early breakfast, you’ll be transferred by private vehicle to Ta Prohm. This hauntingly beautiful Buddhist temple overgrown with fig trees was built in 1186 as a dedication to the mother of Jayavarman VII, and is one of Angkor’s jewels.

Continue to Ta Keo, which would have been one of the finest temples in Angkor had it been completed, and Angkor Thom, not a temple, but an entire walled city of 9 square kilometers and the royal Capital from 1181. With a population of 1 million, it was far bigger than any European city then. The center piece is the Bayon temple crowned with 216 giant, smiling faces of King Jayavarman VII.

You’ll also visit the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, which houses almost perfectly preserved carvings, before returning to your hotel to relax and have lunch (on your own).

After a leisurely break, your exploration continues as you enter the rear gate of Angkor Wat itself. Claimed to be the largest religious building in the world, this astonishing temple, which took 30 years to construct using the labor of 300,000 workers, was built as the earthly representation of the universe.

Meal: (B)

Depart from Siem Reap for an unforgettable adventure in a serene agricultural village amidst tranquil rice fields. Along the way, marvel at the intricate art of silk creation with a visit to the National Silk Centre, where you can witness the entire process of growing and harvesting mulberries as well as the life cycle of the silkworms themselves as they weave the raw silk that is used to make the beloved and luxurious fabric.

Upon arriving, get ready for a truly unique experience – riding a traditional ox-cart drawn by majestic water buffaloes through the verdant fields of Mechrey village. This quintessential Cambodian activity will create unforgettable memories as you traverse the countryside. Interact with local farmers, learning about wet rice cultivation and gaining insights into rural life. Your guides will ensure an intimate experience, allowing you to connect with the authentic heart of Cambodia as you savor cups of traditional tea and local snacks before returning to your hotel.

In the evening, a spectacular Phare Circus show awaits, where disadvantaged young people combine daring athleticism with stories that speak powerfully to Cambodia’s not-too-distant history. More than simply a circus, Phare is an amazing blend of traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion, all beautifully choreographed to create an enthralling story about Cambodian lives and society.

Meal: (B)

Transfer from your hotel to the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) in the afternoon for your flight to the paradisiacal destination of Phuket, Thailand.

Upon International arrival at Phuket Airport, after collecting your luggage and completing immigration and customs, proceed to the meeting point between exit gates 3 and 4 where you’ll find your guide waiting for you, holding the signboard with your name on it.

Transfer to and check-in at your hotel.

Meal: (B)

Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at the hotel. Today, the day is yours to enjoy the sights, sounds, and beaches of Phuket at your leisure.

Meal: N/A

Today you’ll take in a full-day tour by speedboat to explore the paradise of the Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park, famed for its rock formations rising out of the sea.

Your first stop will be Hong Island, famed for its cave canoeing opportunities. Then we will visit Tapu Island—more famously known as “James Bond Island” having been used as a filming location in The Man With The Golden Gun—and Ping-gan Island.

You’ll also visit a Muslim village built on stilts on the shores of Koh Panyi, where you’ll have lunch in a tradition house raised above the inviting blue-green waters.

Finally, you’ll visit Koh Kai Nai Island for snorkeling and swimming or just simply relaxing on the beach, before returning to Phuket and your hotel.

Meals: (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel, a half-day tour of the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary awaits. Approximately an hour away through scenic countryside, the sanctuary offers visitors the chance to observe and interact with happy elephants in their natural habitat.

In this safe and sustainable free-roaming environment, you’ll learn a little about the elephants, before gathering a selection of sugarcane and bananas and going off to feed them. Exploring the sanctuary with your guide, you’ll be able to feed and photograph these amazing animals.

Next, prepare to get muddy and wet as you accompany the elephants to a nearby mud spa and apply a healthy cosmetic mud treatment to their skin before helping to bathe and brush them clean in a nearby pool.

To finish the tour, after saying a fond farewell to your newfound friends, you’ll enjoy a delightful Thai buffet before driving back to your hotel.

Meal: (B)

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Chiang Mai.

Upon arrival at Chiang Mai Airport, please proceed to the Information Booth (AOT). Here you will find your guide waiting for you holding a signboard with your name on it.

Chiang Mai is not only a visual paradise, surrounded by hills and jungle with a beautiful mix of new and old architecture, but it also has a well-deserved reputation as a foodie paradise. Northern Thai cuisine shares some similarities with nearby Burmese and Lao cuisine, a contrast to the sweet flavors of southern Thailand.

In the evening, you’ll explore Chiang Mai and get to know its street food scene by sampling the dishes sold from its many stalls and shophouses, especially in the area around the Three Kings Monument near the center of town. You’ll have the opportunity to try local delicacies, including Northern Thai-style noodle soup, stir-fries, Phad Thai, khao man gai (chicken rice), khao soi (a Burmese-influenced noodle dish), fresh fruits, and a variety of Thai desserts.

Meal: (B)

In the morning, depart the heat and bustle of Chiang Mai on a 1.5-hour drive to the cooler climate of Doi Inthanon National Park. Highlights of the park include Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand at 2,565m (8,415ft), and the beautiful scenery, evergreen forests, and dwarf rhododendron groves.

The area is home to nearly 400 bird species, many from North Asia, including mountain hawks and Eurasian woodcocks, making it a haven for birdwatchers. The summit is also home to the shrine of Chao Intha Wichayanon, the former prince of Chiang Mai. Bring a jacket as temperatures drop the higher up the mountain you go.

On the way there or back, you’ll have the chance to visit a Red Karen hill tribe village, the largest hill tribe group in Thailand, and make a stop at the Wachiratharn Waterfall, some 750m (2,460ft) above sea level, and the twin chedi built by the Thai Air Force in honor of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.

After lunch (included), you’ll return to Chiang Mai by late afternoon.

Meal: (B, L)

Today we will visit a vibrant food and flower market where local Thais do their shopping.

Continue to Wat Suan Dok, the final resting place for the ashes of former kings of Chiang Mai and the Royal Family.

Drive 30min to Doi Suthep Mountain, enjoying the spectacular views of Northern Thailand as you head past mountains and forests, towards Wat Phra That, one of Northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. Founded in 1383 AD, the temple is reached by climbing 309 steps, or for the less fitness-minded, a tram is available as well. The climb up is rewarded with a superb panoramic view of the city.

Return to Chiang Mai and enjoy a 20-minute rickshaw ride through the quiet streets of the old town before returning to your hotel.

Meal: (B)

Transfer from your hotel to the airport after breakfast for your next destination – Bangkok.

Upon arrival at Don Muang Domestic Airport (after you collect your luggage), please proceed to the Arrival Hall on the first floor. Please look for your guide holding a signboard with your name at Door No. 11.

This evening, the perfect combination of Thai cuisine and culture awaits you at on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River at Sala Rim Naam; the most luxurious and exclusive dinner show in all Bangkok.

In this richly decorated pavilion built in the traditional Northern Thai style, you’ll enjoy a delectable 4-course set dinner comprising specialties from all over the Kingdom, together with a spectacular performance of classical Thai dancing.

A return guided transfer from your hotel is included.

Meals: (B, D)

This morning, visit one of the oldest temples in Bangkok – Wat Pho, home to the famous 45m (148ft) reclining Buddha as well as the original school of traditional Thai massage.

From here, take a tuk-tuk ride via Pak Klong Taland Flower Market towards the spectacular Grand Palace, home to the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha (which is made of jade or jasper, rather than emerald).

Continue with a walk to the pier for a long-tailed boat ride along the “klongs” (canals) of Thonburi to get a flavor of local life. Stop at Wat Arun, once the grand royal temple to King Rama II.

After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to Chinatown for a first-hand look at Old Bangkok.

Walk along Yaowarat Road with shops selling everything from gold and garments to antiques and musical instruments. Explore the bustling Talad Kao Market where a variety of food, fresh and dry fruits, and Chinese herbs are on offer before returning to your hotel.

Meals: (B, L)

Depart early morning after breakfast for the two-hour drive to the Damnoen Saduak floating market.

En route visit the Maeklong Railway Market, whose name says it all: it is a market that has a train running right through the middle of it, multiple times a day. If the products for sale are not placed on the railway itself, they are placed really close to it. Every time the train is about to drive through, vendors immediately jump out of their chairs to pull back their awnings—and when needed their products as well.

Continue to the 100-year-old Damnoen Saduak floating market. The most famous floating market in Thailand, this vibrant, buoyant bevy of stalls comprises small boats laden with colorful fruits and vegetables, paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats, and is one of the few places where you can still witness this traditional way of buying and selling goods.

Almost always crowded with hundreds of buyers, sellers, and tourists, the best way to experience the bustling atmosphere of the market up close is to board a boat and float through the small canals, purchasing fresh local produce from the vendors.

Drive back towards Bangkok and visit the Don Wai Market on the banks of the Nakhon Chaisi River. Located on a temple site, this market is mainly frequented by locals. Explore the more than 1,000 stalls located on both sides of the river and sample some of the amazing local dishes (at your own expense).

If you aren’t already full, enjoy a Thai lunch at a local riverside restaurant (at your own expense) before your return to Bangkok in the late afternoon.

Depending on your flight arrangements, we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight back home.

Meal: (B)