HIGHLIGHTS OF THAILAND AND CAMBODIA

Phnom Pehn – Siem Reap – Bangkok – Chiang Mai - Phuket ITINERARY BY DAY Day 1: Arrive Phnom Penh Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of your day at your leisure, getting to know the city. Day 2: Essence Of Phnom Penh - Pearl Of Indochina Today explore the fascinating capital city of Phnom Penh. Sitting on the banks of the Ton Le Sap and Mekong Rivers, Phnom Penh is a city rich in history, heritage and exotic post-colonial culture. Start the day with a tuk-tuk ride to the magnificent Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex. Explore the elaborately constructed palace buildings and get a closer look at the gold and bejeweled collection of Buddha statues, coupled with the 5000 silver floor tiles that give the pagoda its name. Walk on to the nearby National Museum before enjoying lunch at Friends International Restaurant. As an important NGO supporting marginalized young people in Cambodia for 20 years, Friend International boasts a menu of Cambodian classics with a twist. In the afternoon, embark on a guided walking tour through the busy streets of central Phnom Penh. Start from the water front and explore some of the city's best-preserved colonial architecture, from the city Post Office to the National Library and the Raffles building. Finish at the magnificent Phsar Thmey central market, an Art Deco masterpiece that dominates the old city. Day 3: Phnom Penh - Flight To Siem Reap - Sunset On Angkor Thom Moat Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, transfer and check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure before your evening tour. In the evening take your first glimpse of the Angkor Temples with a sunset cruise along the moat of Angkor Thom. Board your gondola and glide quietly along the water to the southwest corner of Angkor Thom and the small temple of Prasat Chrung. This small sandstone temple whose name means Shrine of the Angle was constructed in the late 12th century. Take along a cold beer or two to enjoy as the sun sets on the majestic temples of Angkor. Day 4: Siem Reap - Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm & Angkor Wat Full Day Tour Start your day of exploration with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. Your next stop is Bayon, known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace its towers. The bas reliefs are quite impressive and tell stories of daily life and the great battles that were fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais. Move on to Phimeanakas, shaped a bit like a pyramid with two ponds in the rear. The ponds were once used for religious rituals but today serve as swimming pools for Khmer kids. Walk to the top of the temple for impressive views of the Angkor complex. See the rows of trunks that form the wall of the Terrace of the Elephants, a platform from which King Jayavarman surveyed his army. Close by is the Terrace of Leper Kings, which includes a statue depicting Yana, the Hindu god of death. Then it’s a short drive to one of the most loved temples of all - Ta Prohm. This small crumbling temple is held together by giant tree roots giving it a magical feel. Return to Siem Reap for lunch and to escape the hot sun. Later in the afternoon explore magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. This visually spectacular temple is a massive three-tiered pyramid, rising 65 metres from the ground and crowned by five lotus towers. It’s the national symbol of Cambodia and proudly appears on the country’s flag. Day 5: Siem Reap - The Lost Temple Of Beng Melea Full Day Tour Embrace your inner explorer as you discover the ancient ruins of Beng Melea, a forgotten and lost jungle temple on the outskirts of the Angkor Complex. It’s about a 2 hour drive to reach Beng Melea. The history of the temple remains a mystery, although it is thought to have been built in the 12th century. Completely overgrown by jungle, the temple has an eerie, abandoned feel. There are fantastic photo opportunities of trees sprouting out of the towers, walls covered in thick green moss and tree roots entwined in the crumbling structure. No restoration work has been carried out and some parts of the temple are inaccessible, however, a large boardwalk with viewing platforms wraps around the temple. Day 6: Local Life - Siem Reap Local Life & Community Village Full Day Group Tour Drive to the edge of the Tonle Sap Lake and embark on a cruise to Kompong Phluk, an isolated Khmer community of three villages built on wooden stilts. The community has about 3,000 inhabitants who farm fish and vegetables on floating platforms. During your visit, your boat will take you through mangrove forests, a unique ecosystem that survives on flooded soil for months. Mangroves are also hosts for a variety of wildlife; keep an eye out for birds and especially the crab-eating macaques! Continue your drive to a small village called Chansar. Stop just outside the village and hop aboard an ox cart for a fun ride through the fields and to the home of a Khmer family who specialises in making brooms. Enjoy a simple Khmer lunch followed by more activities or just spend time chatting with the locals. Funds from your tour go directly to the community to improve the lives of the people. On the way back to Siem Reap, stop at a Buddhist temple to receive a blessing from the monks. Day 7: Siem Reap - Fly To Bangkok Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, meet our guide and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in Bangkok. Check in and spend the rest of your day on your own time. Day 8: Essence Of Bangkok - Full Day Relics Of Siam Today explore the fascinating Rattanakosin District, considered the most historically significant area in all of Bangkok. Your journey begins within a kaleidoscope of colour at a local flower market, followed by a hands-on lesson about how Buddhist locals use the lotus flower to worship Buddha. By car, set off from the flower market and arrive at the Grand Palace, a must-see icon of the city. Home to the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace is a striking example of traditional Thai architecture and considered one of the holiest locations in the entire country! After lunch at a charming boutique restaurant by the river, with a magnificent view of Wat Arun, walk to nearby Wat Pho, home of the famous reclining Buddha. After a visit here, set off by car to the Giant Swing, the gateway to the Baan Bat community. Wander through the area and witness the creation of alms bowls, an important handicraft for Thailand’s Buddhist residents which has sustained much of the community here for generations. With the help of your guide, chat with the locals before kicking back for a one-hour foot massage in a traditional Thai house - a well-earned treat after an eventful day! Day 9: Bangkok - Full Day Ayutthaya By Cruise Journey from Bangkok to the country’s former capital of Ayutthaya by road. This is your chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Stop off at the majestic ‘Bang-Pa-In’ - a gorgeous palace formerly frequented by King Rama IV during the steamy summer months. The waterside complex takes inspiration from Thai, Chinese and gothic design; here, see the intricately-carved camel bone dragon, or snap some photos next to the bright red watch tower overlooking the lake. Head a little further north to Ayutthaya to explore the ancient temple ruins and crumbling pagodas that used to form Thailand’s largest and most important settlement. Afterwards, dine on-board your boat while making your way back to Bangkok. Along the way, enjoy the view as the riverbank scenery slowly transitions from emerald rice paddy fields to traditional Thai architecture and finally an urban skyline. Day 10: Bangkok - Tour To Damoen Suduak Floating Market - Flight To Chiang Mai Prepare for a morning of colour, art and passion, as you’re picked up at your hotel and driven 100 km southwest of Bangkok to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the Ratchaburi province. Walk around and check out the many stalls or rent a paddle boat to experience the market from water. Next stop at the Mae Klong railway market where 8 times a day, every day of the week, a train runs through the market! As soon as the siren signals the arrival of the train, everything stops. Shoppers will hop off the tracks, and vendors will quickly pack their goods and prepare to close/retract their awnings from the train track as the train passes by. Once the train is gone, its business as usual as if nothing happened. After your morning tour transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. On arrival a guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. Day 11: Essence Of Chiang Mai - Full Day Lanna Temple Relics Spend a day exploring the highlights of Chiang Mai, all while reducing your carbon footprint by travelling aboard a traditional Thai rickshaw. Start the day at Doi Suthep, home to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - considered the holiest shrine in northern Thailand. Founded under miraculous circumstances in 1386, this spiritual location features a steep flight of 300 stairs flanked by greenery and guarded by a 16th Century Naga serpent carving. You can either brave the climb or opt for a more gentle funicular train adjacent the stairs. Atop the mountain, the views from here are nothing short of stunning. Enjoy lunch in the shade of large trees at a charming riverside restaurant and then swap your car for a traditional Thai rickshaw. Glide onward to Waroros Market. Weave through stalls brimming with anything from flowers to silks to handicrafts, before ending the day at two of the most stunning temples in Chiang Mai: Wat Srisuphan and Wat Chedi Luang. Day 12: Chiang Mai - Full Day Chiang Dao Trek And Elephant Camp Today’s adventure starts just north of Chiang Mai with a visit to Palong Village - famous for an ethnic tribe originating from Myanmar (Burma). Drive on from here to Ban Palai, a picturesque Karen village comprising traditional bamboo houses and rice paddies cut into the jungle. This is the starting point for your two-hour trek, following a nature trail passing some breathtaking scenery. Have your camera ready to capture the abundance of flowers, vegetation, and a rare glimpse of local wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch before heading to the Mae Taman Elephant Camp for some elephant encounters. Spending time with these magnificent beasts is a highlight of any trip to Thailand. Wrap up your adventure in northern Thailand with a bamboo rafting river journey downstream - an ideal way of seeing the jungle from a different angle. Day 13: Chiang Mai - Flight To Phuket Transfer from your hotel in to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight to Phuket. On arrival in Phuket, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day settling into island life. Day 14-16: Phuket Free Days Spend the rest of your trip enjoying some quality downtown on Thailand’s largest paradise island. If sitting all day on a beach is not your thing, the island offers many activities such as elephant encounters, white water rafting, rock climbing and plenty of water sports. Or stay in town and shop up a storm at the local markets. Day 17: Depart Phuket Transfer with your guide from your hotel in Phuket to Phuket Airport. Say goodbye and have a safe onward journey!