DAY 1: BANGKOK
Upon arrival to Bangkok, a representative will greet you after exiting the plane and escort you through special fast track services, avoiding the potentially long queues at the immigration counter. Please note: Guests using fast track services should wear appropriate attire and avoid wearing short pants, slippers or similarly casual attire to ensure a smooth process with Thai immigration authorities.
You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide. Accommodation: Chatrium Hotel Riverside or similar
DAY 2: BANGKOK
Bangkok is a city of contrasts – Buddhist temples, golden-topped palaces, trendy sky bars, and traditional Thai living along the waterways – called khlongs – offering marvelous photo opportunities. This morning, head with your private guide to the historic center of Bangkok and start your day at Wat Suthat. Few visitors come to this temple early, so much the better to enjoy the monks melodic chanting ritual. It’s an incredible sensory experience. From here, a walk to Wat Pho (famous for its 141-foot-long reclining Buddha) allows you a glimpse into small alleys with wooden houses, guardian spirit signs and lively fruit and flower markets. Your next stop takes you to the most revered shrine in the Kingdom, Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, as well as the splendor of the adjacent Grand Palace. For your last stop, we cross the Chao Phraya River by water-taxi to visit Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. Unique from the rest of Bangkok’s temples, Wat Arun’s iconic stunning design is made up of colorfully decorated spires that look as if to stand guard over the river. Enjoy a leisurely lunch with scenic views at the riverside Sala Rattanakosin restaurant to conclude your morning, and experience the mid-day bustling atmosphere of the lively Chao River. After lunch your guide will accompany you back to your hotel.
During your time at leisure in Bangkok, feel free to explore this sprawling capital or to enjoy some down-time at your hotel. If you choose to sightsee, consider visiting Khaosan Road, a bustling street with excellent shopping and dining options. For guest with an interest in local history, consider heading to the riverside temple Wat Arun Ratchawararam, constructed in the late 18th century. Should you be visiting during a weekend, you may wish to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the largest market in Thailand, where over 15,000 stalls lined with all sorts of goods can be perused at your own pace.
DAY 3: BANGKOK
The countryside surrounding Bangkok is dotted with lively traditional floating markets where colorful vendors paddle along in their canoes brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables and souvenirs, hawking their wares to shoppers on the banks. Have your camera ready for the first stop of the day at the truly unique Maeklong Railway Market, where a train runs through the center of the market several times a day. Merchants spring to action as the warning bell alerts them to the train’s approach, snapping protective awnings in place with moments to spare. After the train has passed, continue the drive with your private guide to the Amphawa Floating Market, a popular choice with locals over other floating markets in the region and a great stop for lunch. Afterwards, board a long-tail boat for a journey up the Mekong River, stopping at Wat Bang Kung to explore a small shrine to Buddha completely enclosed within the roots of a banyan tree. Back at the market, Thais congregate to purchase day-to-day goods, fruits, vegetables, clothing and even toys from the long-tailed boats. The area around the market is equally vibrant, featuring open-air restaurants specializing in seafood and Thai desserts and is a great vantage point of the canals filled with colorful boats.
DAY 4: BANGKOK – CHIANG RAI
You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
Board a flight from Bangkok with direct service to Chiang Rai. Approximate flight time is 1.5 hours.
You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide. Accommodation: Le Meridien Chiang Rai or similar
DAY 5: CHIANG RAI
Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Doi Tung Mountain. Visit the Mae Fah Luang Botanic Gardens and learn about the Royal Project on Doi Tung. Continue to Mae Sai, the bustling border town between Myanmar and Thailand. You can cross into Myanmar on a day pass and explore Tachilek town. Continue to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meet. After a delicious Thai meal, take a relaxing boat trip to Don Sao, a small island belonging to Laos. Visit the Hall of Opium, an excellent museum focusing on the history of the Golden Triangle and the opium trade before returning to your hotel.
DAY 6: CHIANG RAI – CHIANG MAI
Today you will depart from Chiang Rai and travel to Chiang Mai, found approximately 120 miles (200 kilometers) to the south. Along the way, your driver and English-speaking guide will stop at the unmistakable temple Wat Rong Khun. Also known as The White Temple, this dazzlingly intricate marvel is unlike most others in the region as it is far more modern. Designed and envisioned by renowned local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat guides the project. construction began in 1998 and is expected to take seven generations to complete. After stopping to explore Wat Rong Khun, your driver and guide will transfer you to your hotel in the Chiang Mai. Accommodation: Tamarind Village or similar
DAY 7: CHIANG MAI
You will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30 a.m., and head to the riverfront Worarot Market. From the market, continue on to Thapae Gate, one of the four original city gates. From here, take a “Samlor,” or rickshaw. The next temple you’ll visit is Wat Suandok, where you can meet with an English-speaking monk. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant near the Huay Kaew Waterfall before driving up to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, and experience a blessing ceremony. Enjoy the scenic views before returning to your hotel.
Lively markets are synonymous with Chiang Mai – as afternoon markets of fruits, vegetables and fresh meat options wind down for the day, night markets spring to life, enticing Thais and travelers alike with freshly grilled skewers, fragrant Thai curries, deceptively spicy peppers, and colorful local salads. Northern Thailand’s culinary traditions are unique from Bangkok’s options, earning Chiang Mai the international distinction of being a “foodie city” – with mouthwatering options available from neighboring Laos and Myanmar contributing to its identity. Venture into the vibrant markets of Somphret and Warorot with your private guide to start exploring this delicious food scene. Continue to smaller, lesser-known markets bustling with locals looking for the perfect evening snack (opening days may vary depending on seasons). Your guide will help you taste local snacks that will appeal to a range of palates as you stroll through the city’s main night market. Have your camera ready to capture the dizzying array vendors have on display, especially at the lively flower markets. For dinner, opt to dine at one of the busy stalls (ask your guide to recommend their favorite!) or return to your hotel. While appetizers are included during the market walk, dinner is not included.
DAY 8: CHIANG MAI
Head out to the countryside around Chiang Mai with your private English-speaking guide to discover the temples of Lampang and Lamphun, as well as a moving visit to the FAE Elephant Hospital, the world’s first elephant hospital, founded in 1993. The elephants here are long-term patients recovering from injuries sustained in the logging trade or in the wild, and the rehabilitative care they receive here is unique to the region. Continue to Lampang, stopping to browse for the famous Lampang ceramics and a snack at the Kaad Thung Kwain Market. Discover the magnificent Lanna architecture of Temple Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a unique place in Thailand where horse-drawn carriages are still used as public transportation at the temple. Enjoy lunch at a riverside restaurant, and continue to Lamphun to visit the dazzling temple complex of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, a temple that is considered an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists, especially for those born in the Year of the Rooster. If time permits on the way back to city, a stop can be made at Baan Tawai, a village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai that has gained a reputation as the best place to shop for handicrafts, particularly wood carvings.
DAY 9: CHIANG MAI – SIEM REAP
You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
Board a flight from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with service via Bangkok. Approximate flight time is 3.5 hours.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by an escort who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. Your escort will assist you with the VISA on arrival application form (VISA fee included). Upon completion, your escort will then assist you to pick up your luggage and lead you through the arrivals gate where you will meet your guide.
You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
This evening head out for dinner and night of classical dance, music and storytelling at the excellent Angkor Village Theater. The dance is known as Apsara and reenacts scenes from the epic Hindu ballet Ramayana. Throughout this one-hour performance you’ll enjoy a traditional meal, and afterwards, you’ll return you to your hotel riding in the back of a classic Remok.Accommodation: Shinta Mani Shack or similar
DAY 10: SIEM REAP
Angkor Archeological Park is as visually breathtaking as it is revered for its religious and archaeological significance. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the complex was home to the largest pre-industrial city in the world. Stretching some 150 square miles, the park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire. You could spend weeks exploring the ruins, but today seize the opportunity to see the top highlights. With a local archaeologist and private English-speaking guide, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom where you may take an optional walk along the wall to a hidden temple. Next visit the temples of Bayon, Baphoun and Terrace of Elephants, The Leper King and Preah Khan. Bayon is a favorite with photographers, with a multitude of smiling, serene faces carved out of the rock, each one unique. Centuries of Hindu and Buddhist influence have left their imprint on the temples of Baphoun, Terrace of Elephants and The Leper King, each with their own unique design and relief carvings depicting tales from both religions. Visit the famous jungle temple of Ta Phrom. The temple is slowly being reclaimed by the jungle, with strangler fig trees growing over the remains of the complex, giving Ta Phrom a surreal atmosphere. Next, explore Preah Khan. The temple has been left largely unrestored and untamed vegetation grows among the ruins. Adorned with garudas, an eagle-like divine being, the temple has significant Hindu and Buddhist religious symbols. Take a break for lunch at Malis restaurant and afterwards, visit the Angkor Conservation Center, constructed in 1920 to house original Khmer sculptures. The Ministry of Culture now runs the center and strictly controls access, which is not open to the public. This is a special access visit to a compound that houses more than 5,000 statues protected from wanton looting that has blighted hundreds of sites around Angkor. The finest are saved and hidden away inside Angkor Conservation’s warehouses, meticulously numbered and cataloged. End the day by visiting the ultimate Cambodian temple. Angkor Wat is one of mankind’s greatest achievements, and the intricate carvings at the temple of Angkor Wat demonstrate the skill of the Khmer builders. It was constructed in the early 12th century, then – two centuries later – was mysteriously abandoned by the Khmer civilization. Now Angkor Wat is the main reason tourists visit Cambodia. Finish the tour with an unforgettable sunset on the quiet east side of Angkor Wat or at Pre Rup Temple.
DAY 11: SIEM REAP
In the morning you will be met by your local guide at your hotel with high-quality mountain bikes to bike through the Siem Reap countryside. Pedaling along quiet trails, through rice fields and small villages, your tour guide will take you to a local market where the colours and smells of raw meat, vegetables, fish, fruits, underscored by the constant yelling of stallholders, will make for an exciting experience. After this visit to the local market, you are going to cycle to a local family’s house where you will learn to cook some signature dishes, to be enjoyed together at lunch. After a short rest and a glass of sugar cane juice, a refreshingly sweet drink poured over ice, you can help to prepare a Khmer meal which you will later offer to the monks at a local pagoda. Buddhist monks live away from their families and are not allowed to have regular jobs. They depend on the faith and charity of the local people. After you have finished your Khmer cooking, the chef and his wife will show you how to pack the meal and some rice into a banana leaf. A short walk takes us to the pagoda where the monks live so you can offer the alms. Afterwards, the monk will give you a blessing, and you can ask him everything you like to know regarding Cambodian culture and Buddhism. This private tour includes a private tuk-tuk transfer, an English-speaking guide, cooking with local family & lunch, cool water, and towel.
DAY 12: SIEM REAP
You will be privately transferred between the airport and your hotel by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.
Luxury Custom Tour from $4,999USD per person, land only
Please note this is a sample package only. Rates are per person based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Starting from rate based on travel in off peak months. Rates may be higher or lower depending on your specific travel dates and hotel selections. Package can be fully customized to the travelers needs. Airfare is not included but can be added. Valid US passport required for travel.
Contact us today for your custom quote!