10-Day Thailand and Cambodia Adventure

On arrival in Bangkok International Airport, meet your guide and driver for a private transfer to your hotel in Bangkok. Rest of day is free at your own leisure. Nouvo City Hotel is a comfortable four-star modern boutique hotel conveniently located within walking distance of all major tourist attractions and shops and includes an authentic Thai and European restaurant, a roof-top pool, and a spa. It's situated close to the famous pedestrian street, Khaosan Road, where everything from fine dining, exciting nightlife, and fabulous shopping experiences may be found.

Meals included: n/a
Mid-Range Accommodations: Nouvo City Hotel, Deluxe room
Luxury Accommodations: Riva Surya, Urban Room
Elite Accommodations: Ariyasom Villa, Studio room

This morning, meet your guide and begin your day by visiting Wat Po, one of Bangkok's oldest and largest temples. You'll arrive there just in time to hear the chanting of the monks. Continue to the Grand Palace Complex, which includes the Temple of The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow), unquestionably a "must" for every visitor to Bangkok. Within Wat Phra Keow is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from a single piece of jade, which is one of the holiest and most revered religious objects in Thailand today. The Grand Palace - built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with European designs - was once the official home of the Kings of Siam. Early this afternoon, you'll depart by long tail boat and embark on a canal or klong tour. It is a great way to observe local life. Along the way stop at a kind of local artist community called the Khlong Bang Luang. Well-preserved wooden homes more than a century old and historic but seldom-visited temples join smaller art studios, vintage antique galleries, a few outstanding hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, a tiny guesthouse and several family-run cafes, convenience shops and barbers. The centerpiece of the Khlong Bang Luang community is Baan Silapin (Artists House), which occupies a traditional two-story wooden building set beside the canal and centered around a 300-plus-year-old chedi. It typically houses casual exhibitions (usually paintings) while prints; drawings, photographs, sculpture and everything in between are on show as well. Don't miss the traditional half hour Thai shadow puppet performance. It is possible to arrange some interaction with artists, or simply relax at a table with some local snacks and few drinks. Return to your hotel later this afternoon with the evening free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: Nouvo City Hotel, Deluxe room
Luxury Accommodations: Riva Surya, Urban Room
Elite Accommodations: Ariyasom Villa, Studio room

Today you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. Fly Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX) (Time TBA, varies). On arrival you're picked up and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: De Lanna Hotel, Superior room
Luxury Accommodations: Rimping Village, Superior Room
Elite Accommodations: The Rim, Deluxe room

Today is a fabulous day visiting Chiang Mai's highlights: the Philatelic Museum, Fresh Market, Warorot Market, Wat Bupparam, Wat Mahawan, Wat Pan Tong and Wat Loi Kroh. Pick up hotel by private car, go to Praisanee Rd and get off just before the Philatelic Museum (Tue - Sun 9.00 am - 4.00 pm, closed on Mondays), The Chiang Mai Philatelic Museum was once a main post office in Chiang Mai. In 1990 the Fine Arts Department decide to change the post office to a museum. It shows both Thai and foreign stamps from the past to the present. Continue on Praisanee Road, on the right side there are countless stalls selling all kinds of products. Go towards the footbridge over the Ping River, cross the road & enter the market building. We'll have a look in the center and afterwards exit through the Wichayanon door straight into Warorot market. The center's gallery houses huge photos depicting the market's past, hanging from the ceiling. Almost everything is on sale here; fresh/dried fruit, vegetables, fresh flowers, meat and bakery items, herbs, condiments, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, lacquer ware, silks, hemps, handicrafts, ceramics, wood carvings, beauty supplies, household appliances, electronic gadgets, sunglasses, watches, souvenirs, and fireworks, just to name a few. Outside we take a classic Samlor (bicycle taxi) for a short ride to 300-year old Wat Bupparam. King Muang Kaew founded this temple in 1497. The Burmese-style chedi was rebuilt in 1958, and there is a well nearby which supplies holy water for anointing the King. A small Lanna style viharn contains a large brick and stucco Buddha. Though over 300 years old, much that is seen today probably originates from a restoration at the end of the 19th century. Finally we wander down small lanes to Wat Pan Tong and more than 500 years old Wat Loi Kroh. We continue walking to 17th century Wat Mahawan and have a look there. Afterwards, your guide will return you to your hotel with the balance of the evening free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: De Lanna Hotel, Superior room
Luxury Accommodations: Rimping Village, Superior Room
Elite Accommodations: The Rim, Deluxe room

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel. You will drive to the north into the mountains near Chiang Dao. First we will stop at a local market. Your guide will do some shopping for the coming days. He will take you along and will explain about the different ingredients he will be using for dinner. Then, continue to a riverside camp on the Tang River where you will make an experience an exciting whitewater raft trip by rubberboat before boarding a bamboo raft for a short trip. Your helmsmen will maneuver the raft through the gentle rapids. Continue by car to Chiang Dao where we will start trekking. Lunch will be in the jungle. After lunch we will start trekking. The trail has a few steep hills but most of the trail is relatively easy. All together we walk about 2,5 - 3 hours. We will invite you to recognize wild ginger, rattan and the pitcher plant in the forest and tell you all about bamboo and its many uses. Late in the afternoon we will reach our final destination of today, the Palong village Pang How. There are only a handful of Palong villages in Northern Thailand. The Palong tribe only recently moved from Myanmar to Thailand. The women wear a distinctive costume mostly in red, with rattan hoops and silver belt worn around the waist. After arrival in the village you can relax, explore the village or learn some Thai cooking by helping your guide prepare the dinner. He can explain you about the herbs and ingredients he uses. After dinner you will have the chance to meet some of the villagers and find out more about their way of life. Overnight will be in one of the village's homes. Homestays feature a private room, proper beds and linens, and Western restroom facilities at the home.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Homestay

Awake to the sounds of nature and the community as your guide prepares breakfast. After breakfast, join your guide for a fun, casual walk around the village. He will explain more about the village shrines and about the 'huja rawl', or the 'village heart'. After this we will say goodbye to the villagers and start trekking for about 1.5 hours to the Karen village Thakilek. Along the way we'll stop at Lahu village Ban Huay Bong where we'll visit the very interesting spirit temple and the local blacksmith. After this we will continue trekking to the Karen village. Once at the village, you and your trekking guide will re-join your car and driver and drive to the foot of Doi Chiang Dao, the third highest mountain in Thailand. Here we'll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. From there we'll stop at the famous caves of Chiang Dao. Afterward, we'll continue by car to the conservation-minded Mae Sa Elephant Camp in the Mae Sa Valley. Here you'll have the unique opportunity to meet and mingle with several of the young elephants and their mothers. Your guide will update you on the latest situation regarding the plight of the Asian elephant, an endangered species. After spending some time with the elephants, including a chance to feed the babies some fruit snacks, we'll make a brief visit at the education center. Last stop today will be the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Camp. During an excellent self-guided tour, you'll see the stages of the production for elephant dung paper and learn about the local history of this unusual form of papermaking. Return to Chiang Mai where the rest of the evening is free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: De Lanna Hotel, Superior room
Luxury Accommodations: Rimping Village, Superior Room
Elite Accommodations: The Rim, Deluxe room

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap via Bangkok. Plan on a an early afternoon arrival into Siem Reap if your flight is booked through us. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, obtain your Cambodia visa, clear Immigrations and Customs and proceed into the arrival area. You will be met your driver who will transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Park Hyatt Siem Reap Hotel, park room
Luxury Accommodations: FCC Angkor Boutique Hotel, deluxe room
Elite Accommodations: Tara Angkor, deluxe room

Explore Angkor Wat by bike! You'll be picked up at the hotel at 07:15am and transferred to the start of the bike trip by Tuk Tuk. Today we'll cycle approx. 30 km total on flat tracks and small roads. Anyone who can ride a bike can do this ride! It's the best way to experience the ruins. Bring your camera, sunglasses, sunscreen and comfortable cycling clothes. We start with a ride out towards the main temple area on a small road following the river, all the way to spectacular Angkor Wat. After your guide walks you through the temple, we'll continue by bicycle to Angkor Thom and spend the rest of the day on charming, quiet trails exploring these majestic structures. We visit The Bayon, famous for its serene faces and The Elephant Terrace while our lunch is prepared. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in front of Angkor Wat. After lunch we visit Ta Phrom, known commonly as the jungle temple, with tree roots attempting to reclaim the ruins. From here we ride a red dirt road and then some fun small tracks back to town. We'll arrive back in Siem Reap by the early afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: Park Hyatt Siem Reap Hotel, park room
Luxury Accommodations: FCC Angkor Boutique Hotel, deluxe room
Elite Accommodations: Tara Angkor, deluxe room

Today explore an area in the Cambodian countryside seldom seen by the outside world. Experience a special day of interaction with local children who participate in projects sponsored by the Cambodian-Dutch Organization, a non-profit that works on community development projects. We'll visit a primary school built by the foundation, as well as a health clinic. The instructor, Mr. Lous, will introduce you to the class, and you'll have an opportunity to tell the kids about your life back home. Then it is time for a lunch break. Enjoy a traditional Cambodian lunch with staff of the CDO. From here we'll continue on to Beng Mealea, another seldom-visited ruin and a truly spectacular jungle temple. Almost no restoration of the area has been undertaken so the jungle is becoming one with the carved sandstone. Roots of kapok trees twist and wind their way around the carvings and gray galleries. Intricately carved depictions have been well preserved, including scenes from the sacred Hindu Vedas, such the bird-god Garuda giving birth to Vishnu. Return to Siem Reap around 4:30 pm.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Mid-Range Accommodations: Park Hyatt Siem Reap Hotel, park room
Luxury Accommodations: FCC Angkor Boutique Hotel, deluxe room
Elite Accommodations: Tara Angkor, deluxe room

Today is a chance to see rural Cambodian villages along and on the country's greatest lake, Tonle Sap. After breakfast, we'll drive to Kampong Kleang village. Imagine wooden houses on 10 meter tall stilts, surrounded by water in the wet season and on the flood plains of the lake in the dry season. On the dirt road to the village, you will see many wooden houses and traditional fishing equipment as well as small children waving their hands and saying hello to you. We'll visit a traditional stilt house where the host family welcomes you with some tea and coffee before you start walking around the village. This community of Kampong Kleang knows many inventive ways to catch fish. We'll learn about village life while visiting a local school, seeing catfish on the smokers, and speaking to a local fisherman while he is making reparations on his net. Then we take a boat trip to see the life on Tonle Sap Lake. The lake is dotted with a number of floating villages and we'll visit one to see how the locals live their daily lives. . Later in the day, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your international flight.

Meals included: Breakfast