Thailand & Angkor Highlights with Phuket

A visit to the Royal Grand Palace - the nation’s landmark and most praised royal monument in Thailand, with the enclosed and dazzling Wat Phra Keo with its revered Emerald Buddha, the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings and the Eight Coloured Towers is a must. It is considered by many to be a living example of classical Siamese Court, being the former residence of the kings of Thailand. Wat Pho is also regarded as the first centre of public education and is sometimes called ‘Thailand’s first university’. Mural paintings, inscriptions, and statues found in the temple served to educate people on varied subjects such as literature, warfare, archaeology, astronomy, geology, meditation and is considered to be the home of Thai traditional massage. Here, you will enjoy a 30-minute Thai massage as an excellent break after a morning sightseeing. Experience an afternoon trip along the bustling Chao Phya River and the quiet Klongs (canals) in a long tail boat enjoy scenes of life by water. You'll be introduced to a serene, more traditional way of living, away from the high-rise and modern buildings of Bangkok City Centre, as you gently pass Thonburi residential areas. A stop will be made at the “Temple of Dawn” (officially named Wat Arun). Finally, a visit to the Flower and vegetable market will round off the day. Located close to the Chao Phraya River, this part of Bangkok brings you to a rural piece of Bangkok where you'll find a vast selection of all kinds of flowers, especially orchids and tropical flowers and see how the merchants create very special flower garlands. The end of this Bangkok day ends at the Golden Mountain.  Photography is permitted in the Royal Palace Grounds and in the compounds of the Emerald Buddha Temple, but not inside the buildings.

A private vehicle with English-speaking guide and driver will transfer you between the airport and your hotel. The driving time is roughly 45 minutes.

Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on Bangkok Air.

You will be greeted at the airport by an English speaking guide and transferred by private car between the airport and your hotel.

Visit the most sacred temple in the North of Thailand; the Wat Prathat Doi Suthep is the most sacred temple in Chiang Mai containing a holy relic of the Lord Buddha. Tucked away in the mountains at an elevation of 1,056 meters (3520 feet), the temple is reached using a Naga (7- headed dragon head serpent) railing rising along both sides. The temple compound – reachable via a 300-step staircase - offers an exhilarating view of Chiangmai city and surrounding countryside. Drive back down to the city centre to visit some of the other impressive temples of Chiangmai. Wat Suan Dok is one of them, which dates back to the 14th century when it served as the pleasure gardens to the Thai monarchy. Nowadays it houses several white Chedi’s, containing the ashes of Chiang Mai’s former Royal family. This temple also houses one of the most famous Monk Schools in the whole of Chiang Mai and the Wat Jedyod, also known as The Temple of Seven Spires. Please dress respectfully by not wearing sleeveless T–shirts, shorts or strapless sandals, when visiting the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.

The Elephant is Thailand’s working pride and one of this country’s national symbols. Current estimates of wild elephants left in Thailand were between 3000-4000 animals. Although logging is being banned in this Kingdom, they remain a very important mode of jungle transport as it beats any other animal or machine for its ability to move through a forest with minimum damage. For centuries these animals were trained to use their skills by moving lumber and served as a mode of transport within the jungle area. Over the past decade, with the reduction in lumbering, these giants of the forest have been protected in various conservation camps. An interesting journey through the scenic countryside brings you to Chiang Dao Elephant Conservation Camp. Here you to see elephants at work during a half-hour presentation. There is also an opportunity to watch the elephants as they take their morning bath. During your visit to the camp, you’ll have an opportunity to ride on elephant back during a one hour trek into the surrounding forest. After a Thai set lunch at the camp, the afternoon is reserved for a leisurely cruise on board a bamboo raft.

A Lanna style school located in a country-side village, just 15 minutes from the city of Chiang Mai. The school offers lessons in how to cook delicious Thai food, Thai sweets, fruit-carving and presentation. When cooking Thai food, various local spices, that enhance your health and physical well being, are used as ingredients. It is the ideal school to learn how to cook Thai food to preserve it for generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding the school is filled with warmth, sympathy and helpfulness, all representing ancient, traditional Lanna custom and culture.  The main goal is to teach you how to cook delicious and sumptuous Thai food perfectly and to preserve this culinary art for future generations.

You will be greeted at the airport by an English speaking guide and transferred by private car between the airport and your hotel.

Fly from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap via Bangkok.

Transfer between the airport and your hotel by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide.

Tonight you will enjoy a traditional Khmer dance show and dinner.

Meet your private guide at your hotel and set off for a day of memorable Cambodian sightseeing. Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon temple complex, as well as Takeo and Ta Prohm temples. Travel from the South Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon temple by elephant.The walled and moated city of Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. It was built to protect against invaders in the 12th century. The Bayon is a state temple, erected in the center of the city. In the afternoon enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue with a visit to Angkor Wat temple complex and  watch the sunset from Phnom Bakheng. Afterwards you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Today, you will get up at 4 AM to head to the temples and enjoy Sunrise at Angkor Wat, then return back to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast you will transfer about half an hour outside the city to visit one of the more remote temples, Banteay Srei. After touring around this temple with your guide, you will head back towards Siem Reap, and en route you will stop for a quick visit to the Landmine Museum. This museum was opened in 1997 by Aki Ra, a former child soldier, and proceeds go toward clearing landmines across Cambodia. It is a safe and educational place to learn about the impact that these devices have had on Cambodia, and what is being done to rid the country of their threat. Transfer back to the city for lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, head to one of Siem Reap's lively local markets where you can buy small gifts to bring along on your next visit, to one of the schools for local orphaned children near Wat Bo. Play with the children, tour the facilities, sit in on a lesson, and interact with the local community here along with your guide, in an experience that is sure to offer some inspiring insight into the Khmer people. In the later afternoon transfer back to your hotel in Siem Reap. ***A portion of the tour cost will be donated to both the Landmine Museum and Orphanage, of course, further donations are welcome!

Transfer between the airport and your hotel by private vehicle with an English-speaking guide.

Fly one way from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Phuket, Thailand (via Bangkok).

You will be welcomed by private car with an English speaking guide and transferred between the airport and your Phuket hotel.

This full day of adventure and excitement begins as you depart from Laem Sai Pier and head off to Phang Nga Bay on a cruiser boat. Upon arrival, you will receive a safety briefing from a team of professional canoeists. You can then explore sea caves, tunnels and lagoons by special ‘sea-canoes’. Afterwards, return to the cruiser to enjoy a Thai buffet lunch while slowly heading to Lawa Island. Here you can enjoy swimming, canoeing or sun-bathing on the sandy beach before returning to Phuket. 

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

You will be welcomed by private car with an English speaking guide and transferred between the airport and your Phuket hotel.

Fly today from Phuket to Bangkok.