Highlights
- Soak up the history of Bangkok's most famous temples
- Walk along the Mekong River, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet
- Spend the day feeding, bathing, and playing with elephants
- Take a cultural cycling trip around rural Chiang Mai
- Watch the sunrise over Siam Reap's spectacular Angkor Wat
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bangkok | Bangkok |
| Day 2 | Visit the Temples, the Grand Palace & Wat Traimit | Bangkok |
| Day 3 | Fly to Chiang Rai | Chiang Rai |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Chiang Mai via the Golden Triangle | Chiang Mai |
| Day 5 | Visit the Happy Elephant Home Sanctuary | Chiang Mai |
| Day 6 | Enjoy a Half-Day of Cycling Around the Villages | Chiang Mai |
| Day 7 | Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia) | Siem Reap |
| Day 8 | Explore Angkor Wat | Siem Reap |
| Day 9 | Depart Siem Reap |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok! Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. They will transfer you to your accommodation in the heart of the city, where you can relax and unwind.
Today you're free to explore Bangkok on a self-guided tour. Perhaps visit its famous Chinatown—a city within a city—which is the best place to begin a street-food tour. For souvenir shopping, head to Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok's most popular shopping malls. And, if you're visiting during the weekend, don't miss Chatuchak Market. With more than 15,000 stalls, it's one of the world's largest outdoor markets selling everything from clothes and flowers to antiques.
Sports lovers can take in an evening kickboxing match, Thailand's national sport. For cultural immersion, go to a puppet show or visit Warehouse 30 to see modern art exhibitions. And, of course, end your day with a traditional Thai massage.
Day 2: Visit the Temples, the Grand Palace & Wat Traimit
Get ready to explore some of Bangkok's most-famed sites today. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and start your exploration at Wat Traimit, to see one of the precious treasures of Thailand—the Golden Buddha statue. Then head to Wat Pho to admire the beauty of its architecture and see its giant, Reclining Buddha.
Spend time visiting the Grand Palace and its Coronation Hall, Funeral Hall, and the iconic Emerald Buddha. Bangkok's most famous landmark and former royal residence have been part of the royal family since 1782, and official ceremonies still occur here. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll board a long-tail boat, cruise along the canal, and see traditional Thai houses and typical rural life. Wrap up your sightseeing with a visit to Wat Arun ("Temple of Dawn"), one of the city's most beautiful temples, then head back to your hotel by car.
Day 3: Fly to Chiang Rai
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
After a leisurely free morning in Bangkok, your driver will take you to the airport to prepare for your flight to Chiang Rai. Grab lunch on the go (you'll find many spots that prepare refreshing green papaya salad, a Thai staple) before flying north for 1.5 hours to Thailand's northernmost city of Chiang Rai. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel (about a 15-minute drive away) and get checked in.
Enjoy the rest of your afternoon exploring Chiang Rai at your own pace. You could take a walk around the neighborhood and soak up the colorful, authentic atmosphere of the town. Don't miss the clock tower right in the town center. You also could visit the newest temple in Chiang Rai—the Blue Temple; it is less famous than the White Temple but is well worth a visit. To learn more about the local culture, you can visit the Hill Tribe Museum. In the evening, pay a visit to the Night Bazaar, where you can tuck into delicious authentic street food and buy local souvenirs.
Day 4: Transfer to Chiang Mai via the Golden Triangle
It's an early start this morning as you meet your driver and travel for two hours to the region known as the Golden Triangle. Upon arrival, you'll have the opportunity to see where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar's borders meet as you walk along the Mekong River. Visit the Opium Museum to get an in-depth look at the history of the opium industry in northern Thailand. At one time, the hill tribes in this region relied on the cultivation of opium, but times have changed, and tourism has become a preferable alternative to drug smuggling.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll continue your journey to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand and the capital of the province of the same name. Get settled in, then walk along the city's authentic streets. Don't miss San Kamphaeng Road, also known as the "Handicraft Highway," which stretches 11 miles (18 km). You'll find lots of local crafts, including pottery and silver products. In the evening, the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road is worth visiting for traditional goods and street food.
Day 5: Visit the Happy Elephant Home Sanctuary
Today's memorable day trip takes you out of Chiang Mai on an hour's drive by car to the Happy Elephant Home, a sanctuary for elephants rescued from the tourist trade. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, change into the provided mahout (elephant caretaker) clothes and let the fun begin. You'll spend the morning feeding, washing, and making friends with the elephants.
After a delicious Thai lunch, you'll cool off in the on-site swimming pool and enjoy the mountain views. Later, join the elephants in a mud bath, then walk to the Mae Taeng River, where you can wash, swim, and play with these animals for a while longer. Afterward, return to the camp and enjoy an afternoon snack as the elephants roam free around you. At the end of the day, you'll say goodbye to your new friends and transfer back to Chiang Mai.
Day 6: Enjoy a Half-Day of Cycling Around the Villages
Start the morning with a hearty breakfast, then meet your driver and transfer to the starting point of your half-day cycling adventure into the rural areas of Chiang Mai. You will cycle through the villages, meet with farmers and gardeners, stop for a chat, and see their daily lifestyle. On the way, admire the fantastic landscapes with emerald green fields and hills. You will be back at your hotel by noon, where the rest of the day is free for you to rest tired legs or head out and continue your exploration of the city.
Day 7: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
It's time to pack your bags and bid Thailand farewell as you transfer to Chiang Mai International Airport to catch a flight to Siem Reap. Then it's welcome to Cambodia! Your driver and guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city to have some rest.
Explore this beautiful and peaceful town at your own pace. Visit the Artisans Angkor, a social project preserving traditional Khmer crafts and giving educational and job opportunities to young people from rural areas. Here you can see how local artisans create their masterpieces and buy beautiful hand-made products such as silk and textiles, jewelry, wood carvings, and much more.In the afternoon during the dry season (November-April), you can enjoy a panoramic view of Angkor Wat from a hot air balloon. Book your hot air balloon ride at either sunrise or sunset for the most atmospheric views over the landscape. As evening falls, go for dinner and a show at Kanell restaurant. Here you can try traditional Cambodian dishes and enjoy an Apsara dance show, a classical Khmer performance rooted in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. After dinner, head to Pub Street for a drink and visit the night market nearby.
Day 8: Explore Angkor Wat
Today you'll wake up early to see the spectacular sunrise over Angkor Wat. Then return to the hotel for breakfast before heading back to the Angkor Wat complex for the day. Begin at the ancient ruins of the south gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone.
Continue to the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the Angkor Wat Temple, the largest and most complete in the complex. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 518 acres (210 ha). Stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple.
Afterward, you'll visit the famous jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm. Here enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers have woven themselves into the stone foundations of the structure, giving the impression that the powerful forces of nature are reclaiming the temple.
Day 9: Depart Siem Reap
Spend your final morning enjoying a traditional Cambodian breakfast and browsing the local markets for handcrafted souvenirs. When the time comes, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey. Safe travels!
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