Highlights
- See the intricate carvings and silver overlays of Chiang Mai's Silver Temple
- Experience the energy of Bangkok at night on the vibrant Khao San Road
- Walk ancient paths and see the archaeological wonders of Angkor Wat
- Cruise the colorful canals of Cambodia's floating villages
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Baan Tawai Village Tour & Silver Temple | Chiang Mai |
| Day 2 | Morning Visit With Elephants, Forest Temple & Waterfall Hike | Chiang Mai |
| Day 3 | Doi Suthep Temple & Huay Tung Tao Reservoir | Chiang Mai |
| Day 4 | Fly to Bangkok, Evening City Tour | Bangkok |
| Day 5 | Biking in Bang Kachao, Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium | Bangkok |
| Day 6 | Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Guided Walking Tour | Siem Reap |
| Day 7 | Explore the Realm of Angkor Wat | Siem Reap |
| Day 8 | Cambodia's Floating Villages, Transfer to Phnom Penh | Phnom Penh |
| Day 9 | Phnom Penh Cyclo City Tour, Sunset Cruise | Phnom Penh |
| Day 10 | Depart Phnom Penh |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Baan Tawai Village Tour & Silver Temple
Welcome to Thailand! Your flight arrives in mountainous Chiang Mai, northern Thailand's largest city and the country's fourth-largest, with a distinct culture and history that thrives alongside a modern, urban vibe. Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be met by a driver and transported to your mountain resort. After you've had time to rest and regroup, step out on a guided tour of the artist's haven of Baan Tawai and the incredible Wat Sri Suphan.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel, and you'll set out on a quick 25-minute drive to Baan Tawai, a village known for its wood carvings and handcrafted items. Visit with the locals and peruse the various shops, which include not only carvings but incense, candles, soaps, bamboo products, and more. Baan Tawai is also one of the best places in Thailand to find silk, as well as authentic-looking art reproductions.
Next, visit Wat Sri Suphan, or the Silver Temple, named for its brilliant silver overlay and one of Chiang Mai's most revered structures. Located outside the walls of the old city, the temple's surrounding neighborhood has long been the center of the silver and lacquerware handicraft industry, and the entire building was created by traditional workers. See the intricate architecture and decorations pounded into the silver panels, some of which depict figures from religious mythology and the zodiac. Your guide will then return you to your hotel, where you can relax or see more of the city on your own.
Day 2: Morning Visit With Elephants, Forest Temple & Waterfall Hike
This morning, step out of your resort room to breakfast with elephants! The elephants make their way to the local feeding area early in the morning, and you'll have a chance to interact with them one-on-one. You'll be provided with bags of corn, a special treat for these gentle giants, and you can feed and pet them while their keepers share information on their behaviors and the importance of preserving and protecting this remarkable species.
After your elephant breakfast visit, meet with your guides for a visit to Wat Luang Khun Win, an 800-year-old temple located deep in the forest. Make a 45-minute drive via 4WD, a route that is somewhat challenging with narrow and often slippery roads. The drive is worth it, however, when you see the perfectly preserved temple nestled in the quiet greenery.
Walk the peaceful grounds and take in the intricately carved architecture, then hike down to a nearby waterfall, a trek of about 30 minutes. Enjoy some traditional Thai snacks and cool off in the pristine waters of the falls, stopping off at a second waterfall before returning to your vehicle and heading back to your hotel for the evening.
Day 3: Doi Suthep Temple & Huay Tung Tao Reservoir
Your temple explorations continue today with a visit to one of Chiang Mai's most famous, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. This Buddhist monastery was established in the 1300s and is said to enshrine a piece of bone from the shoulder of Buddha. Your guides will drive you to the temple entrance, located at a breathtaking 3,500 feet (1,066 m) above sea level, then you'll ascend the more than 300 steps to the gate, which is guarded by two large nagas (serpents). You'll have time to walk the grounds, passing the magnificent golden pagoda, giant gongs, and displays of golden parasols.
Your guide will explain the history of the temple and the legends surrounding it, and you'll enjoy panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. Afterward, you'll drive back toward Chiang Mai, making a stop at Huay Tung Tao Reservoir, a large human-made lake that sits at the foot of the Doi Suthep Mountains. The lake features a sandy coastline that is perfect for strolling, activities that include boat rentals, swimming, and paddleboats, as well as multiple small restaurants and vendors offering snacks and beverages.
Day 4: Fly to Bangkok, Evening City Tour
Your next destination is Bangkok, Thailand's capital city. After hotel checkout, you'll take a private transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for the quick, 1.5-hour flight. On arrival, you'll be met and transported to your hotel, where, after you get settled, you'll meet with your guides for an evening city tour. Known for its bustling street life, markets, and cultural landmarks, this dynamic city offers something for everyone, and seeing it by night is especially thrilling.
You'll start at Central World, the ninth-largest shopping complex in the world and a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Here, you'll find everything from designer clothes and jewelry to fun souvenirs. Then, you'll board a boat and cruise the canal to Wat Saket or the Golden Mount. Once the highest point in Bangkok, this is one of the city's oldest temples, dating all the way back to the Ayutthaya era. If you climb all 320 steps to the top, you'll be rewarded with incredible sunset views.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Biking in Bang Kachao, Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium
See a different side of Bangkok with a bicycle adventure that takes you away from city streets and traffic to quiet paths and serene parklands. You'll be picked up by a driver in the morning and transported to the bike tour starting point, where, after a safety and equipment briefing, you'll take a ferry across the river and to Bang Kachao, an artificial island formed by a bend in the Chao Phraya River.
Nicknamed the "green lung of Bangkok," this approximately 6 square mile (16 sq mi) expanse is indeed green, with elevated pathways that take you through lush vegetation, coconut palms, and banana trees. The island has a small temple that you can visit, and after you've worked up an appetite on your bike, you'll stop for a typical Thai lunch at a local restaurant. After your meal, you'll head back to the pier for your ferry ride back to the city.
Tonight, experience Thailand's national sport, the martial art of Muay Thai. Developed several hundred years ago, this close combat sport incorporates the entire body, making for an exciting and unusual form of stand-up martial arts fighting. Your driver will transport you to Bangkok's Rajadamnern Stadium, the birthplace of Muay Thai and an institution for nearly 80 years. Join in as locals cheer on their favorites and watch the matches unfold amid the fervor of the crowd. After the matches, your driver will return you to your hotel, where you can rest up for the next leg of your journey.
Day 6: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Guided Walking Tour
You're off to Cambodia and the city of Siem Reap today. After hotel checkout, your private transfer will take you to the airport to catch a short flight to Siem Reap. Your driver will meet you upon arrival and take you to your hotel for check-in.
Once you've had a chance to settle in, meet up with your guide in the hotel lobby for a guided walking tour. Start with a quick walk along the road in front of the King's Residence and see the Main Shrine, where local people usually worship. The shrine includes the statues of Yeay Teap, Preah Ang Chek, and Preah Ang Chorm. You may see the statues surrounded by flower offerings, as jasmine and lotus flowers are considered an important part of worship for the Cambodian people.
Afterward, stop by the Artisans D'Angkor, a vocational collective created in the 1990s to help young Cambodians find work and learn traditional craft skills that include stone and wood carving, lacquering, and silk processing. Meet some of the students and see their creations, with the option to purchase some unusual gifts to take home. End the day at the lively Psar Chars, or Old Market, one of the city's lively street markets where anything and everything is for sale.
Day 7: Explore the Realm of Angkor Wat
Today you'll experience one of the most well-known and important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat. This temple complex, considered the largest religious structure in the world, encompasses more than 200 acres (81 ha), with scores of large and small temples, canals, hydraulic structures, and communication routes—a showcase of the architecture and engineering of its time. For several centuries Angkor was the epicenter of the Khmer Kingdom, and it's still inhabited by villagers, some of whom have ancestry that dates back to the complex's origins.
Your guides will take you past the distinctive five towers, which symbolize Meru's five peaks, while the surrounding walls and moat represent the mountains at the edge of the world and the ocean beyond. Continue to the South Gate, with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, and the ancient capital of Angkor Thom, a 12th-century Bayon Temple known for its 54 towers decorated with more than 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. See the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Your day ends at Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Spend some time here in quiet contemplation, then receive a blessing ceremony from a Buddhist monk to bring prosperity, happiness, and safe travels. Your tuk-tuk will then take you back to your hotel, offering a quick evening spin around the city before dropping you off.
Day 8: Cambodia's Floating Villages, Transfer to Phnom Penh
Visit the floating villages of Cambodia's Tonlé Sap, the country's own "Great Lake" and one of the largest in Asia. You'll start in the morning, departing from the hotel with your guides and driving to the lake, where you'll board a traditional wooden boat and cruise through the watery roadways of the floating villages. The lake is home to more than three million people, with many living directly on the water. Travel around the lake, see fishermen at work, and notice the other floating homes and villages in the distance.
This afternoon, it's time to head south on the scenic five-hour transfer to Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh. Along the way, you'll stop to see views from the ancient Naga Bridge, stop in at a stone carving workshop in the Santuk district, and visit the popular spider market of Skuon, where, if you're especially adventurous, you can snack on fried and spiced spiders!
Day 9: Phnom Penh Cyclo City Tour, Sunset Cruise
Dive into Cambodia's capital this morning with a guided cyclo tour, wheeled transports that are considered an integral part of the city. First introduced in the 1930s, they remain one of the best ways to see the sights. Your driver will pick you up, and you'll start with a visit to the Independence Monument, built to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France, then ride to the Royal Palace, built in 1866 on the site of the old town and the Silver Pagoda. Located on the grounds of the palace, the pagoda is named for its incredible floor, made up of 5,000 silver tiles.
Continue to the National Museum (or Musee des Beaux-Arts). A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917, and it contains an impressive collection of Khmer art pieces. End the day at Phnom Penh's Psar Toul Tom Pong, otherwise known as the Russian Market, a great place to hunt for last-minute gifts and souvenirs.
Before you head back to your hotel for the evening, make the most of your last night in Cambodia with a relaxing sunset cruise on the Mekong River. You'll board at the pier and set out on a traditional wooden boat, enjoying views of the city lights as the sun goes down across the water. See the fishermen bringing in their boats for the day and locals heading home from work, and have a refreshing beverage as you travel along the river.
Day 10: Depart Phnom Penh
Your journey through the culture and art of Thailand and Cambodia draws to a close today. When the time comes, your driver will collect you from your hotel and transport you to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
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