CAMBODIA AND THAILAND TOUR 14 DAYS

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival (D, G)

Arriving at the airport in Phnom Penh, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll then be free until be picked up to the local restaurant for you “Welcome Dinner” with one of our representative. You’ll spend the night in Phnom Penh.

Day 2: Phnom Penh (B, L, G)

In the morning, you will visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your morning with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. The rest of the day will be your own. You will overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 3: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport, the car will pick up and take you to the hotel.

Then, you’ll visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.

In the afternoon, continue your temple tour. See the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as “The Royal Baths” was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset.

Day 4: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

In the morning, drive to the typical Khmer countryside and visit Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of “anastylosis”. The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers. No inscriptions have been found for this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple.

In the afternoon, you will continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Continue to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), and Ta Som.

Day 5: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

After lunch at the local restaurant, the car will take to visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight in the Siem Reap.

Day 6: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60kms from Siem Reap). There is a lot to see in the approximately 2 hours drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th C), strangled by the jungle.

A further 1 hr drive brings you to Koh Ker, situated in the northeast of Siem Reap. Discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of northern Cambodia. Also known as Chok Gargyar, it served as the capital of Jayavarman IV (reigned 928-42). His son and successor Harshavarman I moved the capital back to Angkor in 944. There are a remarkable number of religious buildings in the Koh Ker region, considering the short space of time that it was the capital of the empire. There are more than 30 major structures and experts believe there may have been as many as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region. It was also a prolific period for gigantic sculpture and several of the most impressive pieces in the National Museum in Phnom Penh come from Koh Ker, including a huge garuda (half-man, half-bird creature). Return to Siem Reap for accommodation.

Day 7: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the wonders of Asia.

Afternoon, continue the temples tour: Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda and Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area, as it has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. You’ll spend the night in Siem Reap.

Day 8: Siem Reap/Bangkok (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. On arrival, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. The rest of day will be your own. You will spend the night at hotel in Bangkok.

Day 9: Bangkok/Ayuthaya/Lopburi/Pitsanulok (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be picked up to Bang Pa In for a scenic boat trip to Ayutthaya. You;ll visit Wat Yai Chaya Mongkol and the ancient ruins of Wat Chai Wattanaram. Then, you continue to visit Lopburi, where we will take you around the city in pedaled rickshaws. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Phitsanulok. You will spend the night in Phitsanulok.

Day 10: Pitsanhulok/Sukhothai/Lampang (B, L, G)

In the morning, you will visit Wat Maha That and its highly revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj. Then, the car will take you to Sukhothai, where you will visit the ancient ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park and Wat Si Chum with it’s gigantic Buddha statue. Continue to Sri Satchanalai for lunch. Upon arrival in Lampang, we will take you on a tour of the old city on horse carriages. You will also visit Baan Sao Nak, a 100-year old teak-wood mansion, and Wat Don Tao. You will overnight in Lampang.

Day 11: Lampang/Phayao/Chang Rai (B, L, G)

After a brief visit to the morning market, the car will take you to Phayao with the biggest natural lake in Thailand. Then, you will proceed to Chiang Rai. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll visit the hill tribe community project at Ban Lorcha. Drive via Mae Sai, the northern Thai town to the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge. After you have a boat trip on the Mekong River, the car will take you to Chiang Rai. You will overnight at hotel in Chiang Rai.

Day 12: Chang Rai/Chang Mai (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll depart for Chiang Mai and visit the local handicraft centers around Chiang Mai.

Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Wat Doi Suthep, a famous landmark of the city, tucked away in the mountains at an elevation of 1,056 meters. The temple is reached by climbing 290 steps, flanked by a NAGA balustrade on both sides.

Optional evening program: Enjoy a typical Kantoke dinner with a presentation of traditional dances from Northern Thailand.

Day 13: Chang Mai/Bangkok (B, L, G)

In the morning, you will visit the Mae Saa Elephant camp and watch the skilled elephants at work (Optional: 1-hour elephant ride). Then, you’ll continue to visit an orchid farm. After lunch at a local restaurant, free time until transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. You will spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 14: Bangkok departure (B, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your departure flight.