Highlights
- Hike to Chiang Mai's mountaintop temples and waterfalls
- Spend a day caring for elephants in a jungle sanctuary
- Cruise across Tonlé Sap lake to see its floating villages and diverse birdlife
- Watch a memorable sunset over the temples and ruins of Angkor Wat
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Half-Day Temple Hopping Tour | Chiang Mai |
| Day 2 | Trek through Doi Inthanon National Park | Chiang Mai |
| Day 3 | Spend a Day with Elephants at a Jungle Sanctuary | Chiang Mai |
| Day 4 | Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Half-Day Tonlé Sap Lake Tour | Siem Reap |
| Day 5 | Explore Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat, Visit Pub Street | Siem Reap |
| Day 6 | Visit Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea & the Made in Cambodia Market | Siem Reap |
| Day 7 | Depart Siem Reap |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Half-Day Temple Hopping Tour
Welcome to Thailand! You'll arrive in Chiang Mai, a city in Thailand's mountainous north known for its grand temples, local hill tribes, and dramatic landscapes. A driver will be waiting at the airport to transfer you to your hotel, where you can get settled before meeting your guide for a temple-hopping tour. Start inside the old walled city center at Wat Chedi Luang, a Buddhist temple built in the 14th century. Admire the towering ancient stupa that once soared higher than any structure in the whole Lanna Kingdom.
Continue on to Wat Phra Singh, an architectural masterpiece featuring classic Lanna architecture that houses the revered Phra Singh Buddha image, then drive toward Doi Suthep, stopping by the heavily forested Wat Umong temple nestled at the mountain's base. Continue to the summit to find Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, climbing the 306 steps of the Golden Naga Staircase or hopping on a cable car to reach the temple's golden pagodas and gorgeous views. Explore the serene courtyard, featuring various shrines and statues that invite visitors to reflect and pay their respects.
Day 2: Trek through Doi Inthanon National Park
Explore the mountainous landscape surrounding Chiang Mai today with an excursion to Doi Inthanon National Park, home of Thailand's highest peak. Upon arrival, visit the Hmong Tribal Market, where local hill tribes trade various kinds of vegetables, fresh fruits, and flowers from their farms. Pick up some snacks for your two-hour hike on the Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail. Follow your guide and listen as they teach you about the local flora and fauna while you pass rice fields and waterfalls.
Stop at a Karen hill tribe village along the way to taste a cup of locally-grown coffee amid the peaceful surroundings, then continue the trek, stopping at panoramic viewpoints to appreciate the grandeur of Doi Inthanon and the surrounding valleys. You'll pass Wachirathan Waterfall along the way, one of the loveliest waterfalls in Chiang Mai. Snap some great photos, relax, and freshen up by the clear cascades before heading back to the city.
Day 3: Spend the Day with Elephants at a Jungle Sanctuary
Venture into the jungle today to spend a full day alongside rescued elephants. Your destination is a local sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates these gentle creatures from exploitative industries, such as tourism and logging. Meet your guide and change into traditional mahout elephant-keeper clothing, then attend an introductory lesson to learn about the elephants' history, behavior, and the sanctuary's efforts to protect them.
You'll have the chance to feed the elephants and interact with them in their natural environment. After enjoying traditional Thai food and fresh fruit for lunch, learn how to make herbal medicine balls for the elephants and walk alongside them to a nearby river, where you can bathe, brush, and join them in a therapeutic mud spa. Afterward, change into clean clothes, say goodbye to your new friends, and head back to Chiang Mai.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Half-Day Tonlé Sap Lake Tour
Bid farewell to Thailand today as you catch a short flight to Siem Reap, the second-largest city in Cambodia. After settling in at your hotel, hit the ground running with an excursion to the nearby Tonlé Sap lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Here you'll board a boat and cruise across the glassy waters to observe the region's remarkable biodiversity and unique floating villages.
Locals have adapted to life in this important flood plain by building entire villages of floating houses, shops, and markets. You'll cruise through these colorful communities, learning about how resourcefulness and adaptability fuel the thriving hamlets. Keep an eye on the skies and on the lake's shores as you cruise—this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is home to over 225 species of birds, and you're sure to spot more than a few as you make your way back to the dock and return to Siem Reap for the afternoon.
Day 5: Explore Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat, Visit Pub Street
Today you get to explore the landmark Siem Reap is most known for—the great ancient temple complexes of Angkor. Start at Angkor Thom, which means "Great City" in Khmer, and discover the ruins of what was once the most impressive royal city of the Khmer empire. Enter at the famous South Gate, flanked by stone-face towers, and walk through the archaeological site, stopping at Bayon Temple, composed of 54 Gothic towers, all covered in sculpted faces.
Head to Angkor Wat next; built in the 12th century and famed for its beauty and splendor, this complex is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. Its five towers are so iconic that they're actually emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. Immerse yourself in the ruins as you stroll through galleries, libraries, pavilions, and courtyards. Your guide will time your tour perfectly to end with a sunset view from Bakheng Hill.
After all that walking, return to Siem Reap and head to Pub Street, a vibrant avenue of restaurants, bars, and clubs where you can sit down, enjoy a delicious meal, and have a cold drink. Once you're refueled, browse some of the city's night markets with your guide. If you're feeling up for it, continue your evening at one of the many bars or nightclubs or head back to the hotel to relax.
Day 6: Visit Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea & the Made in Cambodia Market
The penultimate adventure of your trip takes you an hour out of the city to the sacred Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountain). It was here that King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE, leading to the mountain's nickname, "the Birthplace of the Khmer Empire." As you ascend the slopes, you'll encounter lush jungles, hidden waterfalls, and intricate carvings on the riverbeds called lingams. At the summit, explore Preah Ang Thom, the largest temple on the mountain, and admire the famous reclining Buddha before descending.
On the way back to Siem Reap, stop at Beng Mealea, one of the most mysterious temples of Angkor. The lush Cambodian jungle hid the temple complex until French explorers rediscovered it in the late 19th century. It remains largely unrestored, with massive trees and thick vegetation intertwining with the stone carvings, so step carefully upon the wooden walkways. When you return to the city, visit the Made in Cambodia Market to browse some of the most compelling examples of craftsmanship in Cambodia and stock up on one-of-a-kind souvenirs before tomorrow's flight.
Day 7: Depart Siem Reap
More Great Thailand Itineraries
Map
