Trip Highlights

• Enjoy Bangkok city tour
• Pay your respects to Allied POWs
• Explore Ayutthaya
• Discover Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
• Visit Angkor temples

Day 1: Bangkok

Saturday. Welcome to Bangkok, the ever-alluring capital of Thailand. Once you have checked into your hotel the rest of the day is free until 6pm when you meet your guide for a welcome meeting. We'll make our way to the lively Khao San Road area, here we'll enjoy a welcome dinner down the bustling street of Soi Rambuthri. After dinner your guide will assist you back to the hotel, alternatively you can continue the night at one of the many exuberant bars in the area.

Day 2: Bangkok

This morning we set off to explore this sprawling metropolis. The first stop is at the 24 hour flower market where you get to view stunning orchids and roses on sale to the local restaurants and florists. We then jump on Tuk Tuks and take an exhilarating ride through the streets of Bangkok reaching our next stop Wat Pho, home to the famous reclining Buddha. Then we visit the spiritual and religious heart of the city - the striking Grand Palace. Topped by golden stupas, the complex has been the site of royal coronations and is home to the legendary Emerald Buddha. After a break for lunch we board a longtail boat and set off on an exploration of the labrynth of klongs (canals) that criss cross the city. On our journey we’ll glide by stilted houses and gleaming temples whilst old men fish and children play about on the waters edge. Disembarking our boats the rest of the day is at leisure to further explore Bangkok independently.

Day 3: Chiang Rai

Bangkok - Chiang Rai. This morning we head for the airport before flying north to the stunning city of Chiang Rai. This afternoon we'll visit fabulous White Temple of Wat Rong Khun which depicts scenes from movies including the Matrix, Star Wars and Superman! This temple is far from ordinary and it's white buildings glisten in the bright Thai sunshine. This evening we will visit Chiang Rai night market, which boasts many interesting stalls selling local & national handicrafts and souvenirs. You'll also find a number of street food stalls offering a variety of delicious Thai dishes.

Day 4: Mae Rim

Chiang Rai - Mae Rim. After a leisurely breakfast we set off towards the hill tribe region, located north of Chiang Mai, reaching our accommodation in the afternoon. From here we can explore the surrounding countryside to visit the some of the nearby hill tribe villages and gain a wonderful insight into the lives of some of the smaller minority groups in the Kingdom. In the evening we enjoy a sumptuous BBQ before being entertained by dancers from the local community.

Day 5: Chiang Mai

Mae Rim - Chiang Mai. This morning we visit the Araksa Tea Gardens, home to 110 acres of verdant tea plantations. You'll learn about the history of the tea plantation and their commitment to supporting the local people. You'll also discover the process of tea growing in this area and try your hand at picking before enjoying a cup of the freshest brew. Later we continue to Chiang Mai and make our way to the imposing Doi Suthep Temple that stands like a sentinel over the city. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 and the beautiful golden stupa sitting in the centre of the temple complex is now the main attraction. This evening your guide will give you an orientation of the sprawling night market of Chiang Mai. A perfect place to shop away the hours and try some exciting local food.

Day 6: Chiang Mai Cooking class

This morning we head to a local cooking school to try our hand at preparing tasty local cuisine in a traditional Thai setting. This informative cooking class teaches us how to prepare three of Thailand’s most popular dishes that we’ll later get to enjoy for lunch. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore at leisure. In the evening we visit the Chiang Mai night market, a haven of souvenirs and works by local artisans.

Day 7: Ayutthaya

Chiang Mai - Ayutthaya. This morning we make our way to the airport for our flight south, arriving at the airport we then drive to the former Thai capital of Ayutthaya. This afternoon we explore Ayuthaya’s famous ruins, visiting the magnificent stupas at Wat Phri Sanphet and iconic Wat Mahatat where the head of a damaged Buddha statue has slowly been embraced and lifted by a nearby tree. This is one of Thailand’s most religiously significant places. This evening we continue to Suphanburi for our overnight stay.

Day 8: River Kwai & Hellfire Pass

Ayutthaya - Kanchanaburi. This morning we drive to the small town of Kanchanaburi. Here we pay our respects to the thousands of Allied POWs who perished in the area under the hand of the Imperial Japanese Army. After pausing at the Allied War Cemetery we continue to the infamous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’, immortalised by the film of the same name. You have a chance to take pictures before you board a train for a 2 hour journey that crosses the bridge before following the tracks dug by the POWs and locals some 75 years earlier. Disembarking at Nam Tok we have a short drive to ‘Hellfire Pass’ where the POWs dug through a mountain often using only their bare hands. A fascinating museum at the entrance details the region’s history. After our day’s sightseeing a leisurely longtail boat ride leads us to our fabulous floating jungle raft hotel. To the beauty of a hundred softly glowing lanterns and the sounds of the tropical forest and cool water flowing by we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening on the deck.

Day 9: Erawan National Park

Kanchanaburi - Bangkok. This morning you might be lucky enough to interact with the local resident elephant who occasionally pops down to the river bank next to the jungle rafts. We then travel on to the beautiful Erawan National Park to explore the rivers, waterfalls and trails on foot. You'll have time to explore the 7 tiers of waterfall, perhaps taking a swim in each of the pools formed by the falls. Departing Erawan we make our way back to Bangkok for our final evening in the capital.

Day 10: Off to Angkor

Bangkok - Siem Reap. Today offers free time for you to independently explore before early this evening heading to the airport for our included flight to Siem reap, Cambodia. Arriving to the Kingdom of the Khmer empire at at approx 9.30pm, you can either grab a good nights rest or head out for a late night bite to eat.

Day 11: All about Angkor Wat

Today we immerse ourselves in one of the most astounding archaeological sites in the world. The magnificent Angkor complex of temples is scattered over an area of 200 square kilometers. We start our exploration this morning with a visit to Ta Prohm when the birds and parrots out number the tourists. We then continue towards Angkor Wat. We return to our hotel for a well-earned siesta. This afternoon we return to the temples by private vehicle and visit to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. We enter at the best preserved South Gate and take an in depth look at the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King, the Royal Palace, and Baphoun. But we save the best till last, the Bayon is perhaps Angkor’s most moving of all temples. As the sun gently falls it casts its rays on the giant stone faces and as the light changes so do their expressions, a magical experience! In the evening, there's a lovely dinner and cultural dance performance you can attend or alternatively opt do your own thing. Siem reap offers some hidden Cambodian culinary gems as well as international restaurants and everything in between. There is also ‘Pub Street’ for the party goer and to the fine dining options at the Foreign Correspondents Club, Raffles or Amansara.

Day 12: Banteay Srei Temple

This morning we drive to Phnom Kulen to visit Kbal Spean, commonly known as the River of a Thousand Lingas. This site was only ‘rediscovered’ in 1969 and is a tranquil place with an attractive waterfall. Later we head to visit the elegant temple of Banteay Srei built by a Brahman in the 10th Century. It is said they must have been carved by women as the detail is too fine for the hands of a man. This gives us the origin of the Khmer name, Fortress of the Women. In the late afternoon we return to Siem Reap where the rest of the evening is at leisure.

Day 13: Tonle Sap Lake

Today we take a short drive to Kompong Phluk, a floating/stilted community on the immense Tonle Sap. Here we board a private boat and explore the floating community of Kompong Kleang. The community is made up of ethnic Khmer, Viet and Cham, who tend to spend their entire lives on this bountiful lake. Note: Between Feb - July the water levels at Kompong Phluk village maybe too low to go boating, if so, we will visit Chong Kneas floating village where it will still be possible to go boating. In the afternoon we enjoy some free time to relax by the pool, or to explore the town. We recommend a visit to the Artisan’s D’Angkor workshops, where talented artisans from some of the poorest villages in the country are taught the ancient Khmer skills and are then encouraged to return to their communities to generate further work and opportunities there.

Day 14: Siem Reap

Today marks the end of your amazing trip through Thailand and Cambodia. A transfer will be provided to take you to Siem Reap Airport for your onward flight.