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Highlights and Mystical Temples
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| Duration: |
17 days - 16 nights Offered Saturdays from Bangkok |
Accommodation: |
Basic accommodation in small towns and standard hotels in larger cities. Comfort Level 2 and 3 (see accommodation) |
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| Price: |
From $1589 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes: |
Accommodation with breakfast, transportation and excursions with English speaking guides as described in the daily itinerary |
| Transport: |
Minibus, train, (hydrofoil)boat, flight, private car |
Excluded: |
Other meals, drinks, excursions and entrance fees |
Day 1: Arrival in BangkokOn arrival into Bangkok on the first day of you Thailand Cambodia trip, a transfer will take you from the airport to your hotel. You'll stay in a hotel with a pool in the centre of Bangkok, only 10 minutes by foot (or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk) from one of the most popular, lively streets in the city, Khao San Road.After checking into the hotel and dropping your baggage off in your spacious air conditioned room, you'll have time for a refreshing shower and perhaps even a short nap. Afterwards, you can try a delicious Thai fruit juice, have a quick look around town and try to get your energy level back up after your long flight. |
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Day 2: Bangkok
Day two of your Thailand and Cambodia trip is yours to spend as you wish. We recommend discovering the 'City of Angels' temples, pagodas and life on the streets of Bangkok....with highlights such as the Royal Palace, home of the worshipped Thai King Bhumipol. You can visit the palace by water taxi or on foot. The Buddhist temple Arun (by the river) and the small streets in China town should also be on your itinerary for today. Bangkok is also an excellent place to shop. However, you could also wait to make your purchases when you visit the expansive Chiang Mai night bazaar in the north of the country.
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Day 3: Bangkok - The River KwaiIt's an early start on day three of your Thailand and Cambodia trip when you'll be met at your hotel by your English-speaking guide. Travelling in a mini-bus from Bangkok you'll stop in a small town to visit the local 'train market'. Here, you can wander around the stalls tasting exotic fruits and local snacks on display between the rails. When the train comes, all the vendors dash madly about to move their wares away from the tracks. As soon as the train passes, they put everything back in place just as quickly, and it seems as if nothing happened. The market is a truly authentic and fun experience many tourists don't get to see.After stocking up at the market, you’ll travel to the province of Kanchanaburi with a visit to the Bridge over the River Kwai. In the afternoon you will travel by boat to the River Kwai jungle rafts where you will spend the night. Although there is no electricity, oil lamps create a special atmosphere and your accommodation consists of basic, though comfortable, rooms with hammocks on the front porch and private facilities. |
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Day 4: The River Kwai - KanchanaburiAfter spending the night in the middle of the river, you'll board another boat in the morning which will take you to the Erawan waterfalls (small entrance fee payable locally). The waterfall has 7 different levels with a combined altitude of 1500 metres. Depending on how quickly you walk, you'll reach the top level of the waterfall in about an hour and a half. The walk will be more than worth it when you see the fairytale surroundings. You'll see glistening turquoise blue water and a limestone backdrop where erosion has eaten away at the rock. You'll have about three hours to spend at the waterfalls on this Cambodia Thailand trip.Afterwards your guide will drop you off in Kanchanaburi at your hotel (with swimming pool). |
Day 5: Kanchanaburi - AyutthayaThis morning we'll arrange a transfer from your hotel by mini-van, without a guide, to Ayutthaya, and the journey will take around three hours. Your driver will drop you in the centre of town from where it is easy to organise a taxi or tuk-tuk to your accommodation. The afternoon is free of planned activities so that you can have a look around town.Early in the evening you will take a sunset tuk-tuk tour which will last for about two hours (without guide). The tuk-tuk will stop at temple entrances, but won't enter them. It will be dark by the time you reach the temples; however the temples will be illuminated. You'll get to see the remnants of the Khmer dynasty in a fairytale-like setting and you'll be able to pick and choose which temples you would like to visit for the continuation of your Thailand and Cambodia trip tomorrow. |
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Day 6: Ayutthaya - Overnight train to Chiang Mai
In the 12th century, Ayutthay, a World Heritage Site, was one of the most prominent kingdoms in south-eastern Asia with its palaces, temples, elephants that ate from golden bowls and shiny Chinese sailing ships (junks) that sailed the rivers. Eventually the city lost its power, which lead to the neglect of the temples. This evening you will board your overnight train to Chiang Mai, however the rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore this fascinating town. We recommend visiting several of the mystical Khmer temple complexes; Wat Phra Si Samphet, Wat Mahatat and Wat Mongkol Bophit are the most famous temples. At the end of the day, you will need to collect your luggage from your hotel and make your own way to the train station. We will make reservations for you on the night train to the next destination of your Thailand and Cambodia trip - Chiang Mai. You'll spend the night comfortably (the train rocks gently and doesn't ride too quickly) and there is also a restaurant carriage.
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Day 7: Arrival in Chiang MaiOn morning of day 7 of your Thailand and Cambodia trip, you'll arrive in the city of Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the north. You'll stay in a hotel with swimming pool near one of the city gates and the rest of this day after your arrival is at leisure to explore. We suggest visiting Doi Suthep, a Buddhist temple 15 minutes from the city. It is located at the top of a 1600 metre holy mountain and the view from the mountain includes the city of Chiang Mai and surrounding mountains. This ancient temple is a pilgrim's destination and within the walls of the complex it's nice and cool.In the evening you may want to stroll over to the evening bazaar. It's quite a busy and popular place and you'll see very lively negotiating going on. There are also massage parlours, restaurants and karaoke bars in this area..... there's something for everyone. |
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Day 8: Mountain trek - Overnight in mountain villageOn day 8 of your Thailand and Cambodia trip you'll head off from the city on a two-day trek through the mountains. All meals are included during the trek and you'll have an English-speaking guide to accompany you.You'll be picked up at your hotel and travel by truck to an elephant training camp. This is where the grey giants are trained to become dependable, professional forest builders. After about an hour of looking around and seeing how the elephants are trained, you'll start off on a hike to the Akha village. The hike is not too difficult, over mainly flat forest trail. The Akha live according to ancient traditions and for a small tip you can take pictures of their traditional dress. After lunch you'll travel by pick-up truck over the hills and through the forests to the remote village of a mountain tribe. This visit promises to be quite an extraordinary experience as you'll also be the village's guest for the night. You'll sleep in a primitive mountain hut and you'll be able to take a look inside the houses of these mountain folk. |
Day 9: Elephants and jungle rafting adventure - back to Chiang MaiAfter breakfast you'll be picked up by elephants. You'll go on a jungle trek for about an hour and a half on the back of this magnificent creature which will be a memorable experience during your Thailand and Cambodia trip. From on top of the elephant's back you'll have a breathtaking view of the jungle.Once the trek has ended, you'll continue on towards a camp by the river you'll travel by raft down the river. Lunch on the banks of the river is included and on the way back you'll visit an orchid farm. On arrival in Chiang Mai you'll be dropped off at your hotel. Since you'll spend the night here once again, you can leave a portion of your luggage here before you start on your trek. |
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Day 10: Chiang Mai - day at leisureThis is your last full day in Chiang Mai and you're free to spend it as you please. You could choose to relax by the hotel swimming pool or do some last-minute shopping at the market to buy some souvenirs to take home and remind you of your Thailand and Cambodia trip. Perhaps rent a bicycle and go for a ride through the area. If you like, you can visit an umbrella village, the elephant orphanage or one of the arts and crafts workshops in the area. Approximately 15km outside of the city lies another must-see - the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a pilgrim's temple complex near the top of Suthep Mountain. The complex is located at an altitude of 1600m. Due to its high-altitude location the climate is always cool here and if there are clear skies, you'll get a brilliant view over Chiang Mai and the surrounding mountains. |
Day 11: Chiang Mai - Bangkok - Phnom PenhToday you will begin the Cambodia component of your Thailand and Cambodia trip. This morning, you'll leave your hotel in Chiang Mai and head to the airport for your flight via Bangkok to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.One of our representatives will be waiting to pick you up at Phnom Penh airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free of planned activities and you are free to spend as you wish. Phnom Penh is an interesting city filled with historic colonial buildings and a great atmosphere. It is surprisingly modern, with paved roads, modern stores, a beautiful boulevard and many ATMs. You can spend the day exploring the city at your own pace. You could visit the Cambodia National Museum, built in 1917 with a large collection of Khmer artefacts. Afterwards you can head over to the Silver Pagoda, also known as the Emerald Buddha's temple, and the Royal Palace. In the afternoon you could also climb the mountain that is home to the Wat Phnom, the temple which the city was named after. You'll spend the night in a comfortable, cosy hotel in Phnom Penh. |
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Day 12: Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Museum and Killing Fields monument
On day 12 of your trip through Thailand and Cambodia you will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30am to visit some more remote Phnom Penh locations with your guide, such as the Tuol Sleng museum and the Killing Fields. Cambodia has had a turbulent past, and this tour visits sites which provide information to visitors about some moments of the country's dark past, please be advised that some of the sites can be quite confronting. |
Day 13: Phnom Penh - Siem ReapOn day 13 of your Cambodia and Thailand trip you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the boat terminal where your driver will hand you your boat ticket. You will board your boat and glide over Tonle Sap Lake from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap which will take approximately 5 hours (or sometimes much longer, depending on river levels). This is a unique experience, however please keep in mind that the boats are quite basic, delays are common, and seats cannot be guaranteed inside the boat..... so many people sit on the roof! You'll cross Cambodia's largest lake which eventually pours into a river and in some areas the lake is kilometres wide, in other areas only dozens of metres. This is why at times you'll enjoy a view of the wide open water and other times you'll see houses and the people that live on the water. Villages on poles, floating islands, boats, rafts, cormorants, playing children on the banks of the lake and river and pigs in floating cages will pass you by. This is a great opportunity to take photos, but we do recommend you carry plenty of water, something to shelter you from the sun or rain (such as a hat, rain jacket or umbrella) and perhaps something soft to sit on. When you arrive in Siem Reap please make your own arrangements to your hotel. |
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Day 14: Angkor with guideToday be prepared for a inspiring visit to the mystical Angkor temples. Around 8am you will be picked up from your hotel by your English-speaking guide and together you will wander through the stunning statues, historic reliefs and majestic temples. The temples were built in various time periods; each ruler built his own temple and therefore each temple has its own style. The most popular temple, Angkor Wat, was built in Hindu style, while the Angkor Thom temple was built in a Buddhist style. From 12pm until 3pm you will be taken back to your hotel for a lunch break, to escape the heat of the day, before returning to the temple complex to continue your exploration for the afternoon. You will be dropped back at your hotel at the end of the day, around 6:30pm. Please note entrance fees to the temple complex are not included.After a day of cultural exploration during your Thailand and Cambodia trip, you'll spend another night in your hotel in Siem Reap. |
Day 15: Siem Reap and Angkor - day at leisureDay 15 of your Thailand and Cambodia trip is at your leisure. Many travellers return to the Angkor Temple Complex independently to explore further. Angkor is the name of the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer empire that was established during the 8th century. Later the Thai ruled this territory during the Siamese empire and introduced many Buddhist influences. "Siem Reap" literally means "victory by Siam". It was very generous of the Khmer to allow the city to keep its name. The temples were once surrounded by a lively city full of wooden houses; unfortunately the houses did not stand the test of time, however the temples alone are still an impressive sight. For centuries this city was covered by jungle until a French expedition discovered the ruins early in the 1900's and many of the temples have since been restored but several others still show how the jungle swallowed the temples from sight. The Ta Prohm temple is one which has not yet been completely restored and it's quite interesting to see how towering trees have taken the temple prisoner. Overnight in Siem Reap. |
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Day 16: Siem Reap - BangkokToday marks the beginning of the end of your Thailand and Cambodia trip. This morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel by a minivan and travel to the border with Thailand. After the customs formalities it's just a small work across the border. On the other side, a driver will be waiting for you and he'll transfer you on to Bangkok. If you have still Cambodian Riel left, you can change it into Thai Baht at the border.You'll spend your last night in the charming and very comfortable boutique hotel located on the riverside of Chao-Phraya, where you first began your trip. The hotel is only a 10 minute walk from Khao San Road and has comfort, convenience and a rooftop swimming pool for afternoon dips. All of Bangkok's main sites are all within easy reach of your hotel as the river taxi stand is right outside! Breakfast is also included. |
Day 17: Bangkok - end of Thailand and Cambodia tripYour two week Thailand and Cambodia trip ends after breakfast this morning, and you'll be free to choose from one of our Thailand travel modules or perhaps it's time to board an international flight bound for home. If you would like to end your trip with a pleasant stay in a charming tropical beach bungalow, add the Ko Chang waterfall island module to your itinerary. |
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