Includes internal flights, twin shared accommodation, English speaking guides, private cars, sightseeing and meals listed. Excludes visa and travel documents, travel insurance, international flights, local tipping, etc.
This itinerary is to give you a flavor of what is possible. We can tailor this trip to suit your specific needs and expectations. You may alter any aspect of the itinerary from excursions to accommodation.
Welcome to Thailand. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. After getting settled in your room, feel free to take the hotel shuttle to explore the night markets and bazaars for some interesting souvenirs made by the hill tribes in the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Rachamankha’s Thai Villa
Day 2: Chiang Mai | Elephant Sanctuary Experience | Khantoke Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will join in a tour to an elephant sanctuary at Elephant Nature Park, in the jungles near Chiang Mai by a 4WD truck. First, you’ll learn about the project and hear the amazing stories of each rescued and orphaned elephant. Learn how they became a proud herd free from abuse and misuse. Then have an opportunity to feed them in the morning. Enjoy a lunch buffet. Then take a stroll with the herd to the nearby river. Here you will have the opportunity to observe or participate in bathing the elephants with the sanctuary staff.
After you have said your farewells, return back to the hotel for some leisure time.
Around 7 PM, we will transfer to an outdoor courtyard theater. Take a place in traditional Thai seating as Thai dishes are brought to you. Enjoy colorful performances in traditional Lanna Thai apparel with live music. Then return to the hotel after the show.
Elephant Sanctuary – 15 Days Glance Thailand Vietnam Angkor Detour
Accommodation: Rachamankha’s Thai Villa
Day 3: Chiang Mai | Alms Giving Ceremony | Rice Terraces | Hill Tribes | Suthep Mountain Sunset
Meals: Breakfast
Rise early morning to join locals in visiting a Buddhist monastery. You can watch or participate in offering alms to Buddhist monks at Wat Srisodain. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Then take a trip up in the hills and visit a tea plantation. Take a seat above the terraces flowing with arched rows of green tea shrubs while you sip on a fresh cup of hot Oolong. Explore the tea plantation to learn a little about the process of cultivating and harvesting tea. Then continue to a Meo hill tribe village. Have the opportunity to see their unique apparel and simple way of living. Meo families take a great deal of pride in their herbal gardens.
In the afternoon, visit Wat Prathat Doi Suthep Templeperched on Suthep mountain. Every Temple with a name starting with Wat Prathat contains Buddhist relics and is considered sacred to adherents. Climb around 300 steps to reach the temple. On the way, ring some of the temple bells, if you like. The temple has a set of impressive murals picturing scenes from the life and teachings of Buddha. Our guide will elaborate on some of the history and stories as you explore the temple compound. After sunset, return back to the villa for leisure or stop at the Sunday Walking Market with our guide for browsing one of the best night markets in the world.
Accommodation: Rachamankha’s Thai Villa
Day 4: Chiang Mai – Bangkok | Chiang Mai Temples | Flight to Bangkok
Internal Flight:Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, visit the most prominent temples in Chiang Mai. Start with Wat Phra Singh which houses the famous Phra Singh Buddha image. It features Lanna art throughout and illustrates many famous Buddhist stories. Continue on to Wat Chedi Luang, which once contained the Emerald Buddha. The temple is partially in ruins due to an earthquake in the 1500s. Then stop at Wat Chiang Man which is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and also houses one of Thailand’s greatest treasures: the Crystal Buddha.
Then continue to Wat Suan Dok, which houses many of the remains of generations of the old Chiang Mai Royal Family. Finally, visit Wat Jet Yot – this peaceful temple is surrounded by green and was built in the Mahabodhi style from India to house the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1453. Then head out of town to visit Bosang Parasol Village. You’ll have a chance to see the tradition of making Lanna style umbrellas. Return back to the hotel.
Check out at noon and transfer by flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: Riva Arun Bangkok
Day 5: Bangkok | Ancient Kingdom of Siam: Ayutthaya
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Ayutthaya Ancient Ruins – 15 Days Glance Thailand Vietnam Angkor Detour
Start early and transfer North to the Ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya. On the way, You’ll stop at a flower market for an adventure in vibrant colors and fragrance before heading out of town. Continue to visit Wat Phu Khao Thong – a temple outside of Ayutthaya started by the invading Burmese who built the base when they overtook Ayutthaya and was finished by Siam who later took back their city. Then head up to Ayutthaya and start with the Royal Palace and Royal Temple – dating back to the 14th century. Continue to the nearby Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit where the largest bronze Buddha in Thailand is housed.
Enjoy a Thai lunch and some free time. Have a short visit to Wat Lokaya Sutha – the image of the reclining Buddha. Then continue to the Royal Palace at Bang Pa In, which is the Summer Palace of the Thai Royal Family. Return back to the hotel in Bangkok for leisure time.
Accommodation: Riva Arun Bangkok
Day 6: Bangkok – Siem Reap | Bangkok by Boat | Flight to Siem Reap
Internal Flight:Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the early morning, take a traditional long-tail boat to Wat Arun – the Temple of the Dawn to enjoy a stunning view and explore the gem of Bangkok.
Continue to one of the must-see sights, the spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782- and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government – the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people.
Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century. The robes on the Buddha are changed with the seasons by HM The King of Thailand and forms an important ritual in the Buddhist calendar. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the twentieth century, but the palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of other ceremonial and auspicious happenings.
Finish with a visit to Wat Bo to see the Reclining Buddha – a large statue housed in a temple with beautiful pearl inlay at its feet. Return to the hotel for leisure time in the afternoon.
Check out at noon and transfer by flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel
Day 7: Siem Reap | Ancient Angkor Thom by Bicycle | Water Blessing Ceremony | Ta Prohm Jungle Temple | Evening Phare Cambodian Circus
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a relaxing cycling tour in the morning in ancient Angkor Thom – a stone city built around the time of Angkor Wat.
The biking tour will start at the South Gate – a photogenic bridge at the gateway of the stone city of Angkor Thom which has made its way into many Hollywood movies. Angkor Thom was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Enter the stone city and explore shaded trails and ancient monuments. Visit Bayon Temple where you will be surrounded by 216 gigantic stone faces which fame as “Khmer Smile”, you will also visit the Terrace of Elephants, the Royal Palace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Stop your cycling trip with a visit to the local monastery to chat with monks and see their daily life. Then take part in a Water Blessing Ceremony. We will provide a change of clothes for you – a traditional Sarong which you will wear during the ceremony.
In the afternoon, go to visit Ta Prohm Temple – a jungle monastery with trees overcoming stone. This temple has been featured in many Hollywood films, including Tomb Raider and Transformers 3. On the way back, stop to see the Killing Fields of Wat Thmei. Our guide will relay to you the history of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, and the war. Cambodia is still healing from these atrocities.
In the evening, you’ll go to visit Phare Cambodian Circus. Be amazed by stunts and choreography unique to Cambodia’s performing arts. You’ll watch as a story written by locals is acted out with an impressive stage show. Be prepared for laughter and wonder as you enjoy the performance. After the hour-long spectacle, you’ll return to your hotel for leisure and overnight.
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel
Day 8: Siem Reap | Floating Village | Banteay Srei Temple | Water Filter Donation and Village Visit | Artisans d’Angkor and Old Market
Meals: Breakfast
Mangrove Forest of Kompong Phluk Village – 15 Days Glance Thailand Vietnam Angkor Detour
In the morning, start with an ox cart ride through Cambodia’s green countryside where you’ll see many coconut trees, rice fields, and water buffalo. After that, continue the trip to the largest lake in Southeast Asia, the Tonle Sap. You’ll take a boat ride to Kampong Phluk which means, Harbor of the Tusks due to it’s history in the elephant trade several centuries ago. You’ll also see the mangrove forests nearby.
Continue to Banteay Srei Temple. Banteay Srei was built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings, which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. These factors have led to it being widely praised as a precious gem or the jewel of Khmer art.
On the way back, visit a small village to donate a slow sand water filtration system. You’ll have a chance to meet with the village families. The water filtration system will be able to provide potable/drinking water to the whole village. We can also arrange to have your logo or names painted on the filter ahead of time. The installation staff will instruct the villagers on how to maintain the filter.
Optional recommendation:
We recommend that if you have any used children’s books in your home that you no longer need, you may bring them with to donate to the children in the village. This can impact the village children to focus on their education and provide them English reading materials not available from their school.
Once back in Siem Reap, visit the Artisans d’Angkor, a non-profit for the preservation of the ancient Cambodian arts. You’ll see artisans training in a variety of crafts – painting, gold leaf, stone-carving, wood-carving, silk-weaving, etc. Continue to the Old Market to see a local market with produce, spices, meat, and fish on display. Finish at the Made in Cambodia Market – a souvenir market which only allows vendors to sell domestically made handicrafts and products.
Accommodation: Viroth’s Hotel
Day 9: Siem Reap – Hanoi | Angkor Wat Sunrise and Exploration | Flight to Hanoi
Internal Flight:Included
Meals: Breakfast
Before the light of day, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the front of Angkor Wat Temple. From here, you’ll watch one of the most revered sunrises in the world. Our guide will arrange a light picnic breakfast for you to enjoy in front of the world’s #1 Heritage Site. Then in the early hours, you’ll explore the vast temple with your guide bringing to life the stories of Angkor. In the morning, the rays of the light play through the chambers as the morning haze settles and giving the temple a mystical ambiance while there are few tourists who visit during this time of day. After your explorations, you’ll return to the hotel for some rest and leisure time.
In the afternoon, take a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel
Day 10: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay | Emerald Isles of Lan Ha Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, transfer to Haiphong with our guide to the La Regina Private Lounge. You’ll leave Hanoi over Cau Long Bien Bridge to have a chance to see this old and enduring French architectural masterpiece. Then board La Regina Legend Cruise.
Start with a welcome drink and a cold hand towel while the Cruise Manager gives the safety briefing. The boat starts to cruise to Lan Ha bay. A delicious set menu lunch is served in La Corona restaurant.
In the afternoon, take an excursion to discover Trung Trang cave, one of the iconic and historic caves in Cat Ba island.
As dusk approaches, welcome the beautiful sunset. Join a Cooking Class on the sundeck with the Chef to learn how to prepare an iconic dish. Then dinner is served on the sundeck, weather permitting.
In the evening, you can try Squid Fishing or watch a movie in La Magia Restaurant on the third floor. Or perhaps some private time in your room. I do suggest keeping your eyes to the water for catching an iridescent light show from plankton and sea life, if conditions are right.
Accommodation: La Regina Legend
Day 11: Lan Ha Bay | Lan Ha Bay Explorer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lan Ha Bay – 15 Days Glance Thailand Vietnam Angkor Detour
Start your day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Breakfast is served in La Corona on the second floor. Move to the Day Cruise for some free time and exploring Lan Ha Bay. Then continue to Viet Hai village in the midst of jungles, surrounded by the mountain range of the Cat Ba Island.
Back to the main boat for relaxing and to enjoy the lunch. After lunch, enjoy kayaking at Ao Ech area which is one of the most beautiful areas in Lan Ha Bay.
Back to the La Regina Legend Cruise. Enjoy watching the beautiful sunset on the bay as the lights last rays cast streaks across the sky. Join a Cooking & Fruit Carving Class on the sundeck with the Chef. As dusk is setting in, Dinner is served on the sundeck, weather permitting.
Accommodation: La Regina Legend
Day 12: Lan Ha Bay – Ninh Binh | Sunrise and Disembark | Bai Dinh Temple
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy the sunrise over the bay followed by a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. A light breakfast is served in La Corona on the second floor. The boat anchors at Tra Bau area, where you’ll enjoy kayaking or swimming.
Return back to the boat for relaxing, packing up, and settling any bills. Brunch is served in the restaurant while the boat heads back to the harbor.
Disembark at the harbor and then our guide will transfer you to Ninh Binh.
Check-in at the Emeralda Resort with stunning views all around.
Time to stretch your legs! Go with our guide to visit Bai Dinh Temple, the largest temple in Vietnam. This Buddhist temple was built into the mountain with 3 terraces and faces the river. Explore the many halls, rooms, carvings, and statues during the late afternoon. Our guide will then take you to the best place for watching the sunset over this untouched part of Vietnam. Shortly afterward, you’ll witness the 13-tier pagoda – Chau Bai Dinh – be lit up for the evening: a true spectacle to behold! Return to the resort for overnight and leisure.
Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh
Day 13: Ninh Binh – Hanoi | Wonders of Ninh Binh | Transfer to Hanoi | Water Puppet Show
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Start at 8 am with our guide taking to the countryside by bicycle through narrow backroads. Rice fields and grottoes line your path with towering karsts in the distance. An occasional local farmer and small communities with friendly welcoming smiles. You’ll head up to Ba Chon Mountain’s viewpoint. Enjoy the clean fresh air of this region far away from any major cities. Continue South on the country road alongside Van Nature Reserve. You’ll stop at Van Long Marina to board a traditional local boat. Explore some of the streams and grottoes of Van Long Nature Reserve. You might spot some flocks of the rare black-faced spoonbill, cotton pygmy geese, or white-browed crakes.
Return back to the resort to relax and freshen up. Check out at noon and then you’ll go to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital. In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for only 41 years. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long – present-day Hanoi. Hoa Lu became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu there are now two temples dedicated to two Vietnamese kings, which have been built on the grounds of the old royal palace. The visit offers a chance to learn more about the feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.
Transfer to Hanoi and get checked in at Silk Path Boutique Hotel.
Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel
Day 14: Hanoi | Hanoi Highlight | Street Food by Vespa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, you’ll be escorted to see the Tran Quoc Pagoda. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat. Next, you’ll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. Then you’ll enjoy a half-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top.
Next, you’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda – a pagoda situated on a pillar made of a single stone, in the middle of a lotus pond. This pagoda was built by a 9th-century emperor who saw it in a dream and regarded this as divine inspiration to recreate the structure in the vision.
You’ll pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before visiting the highlight of this tour – The Temple of Literature. This ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius’s teachings. visit the Museum of Women, a museum dedicated to the daily life and culture of women throughout Vietnam. Return to the hotel for leisure in the afternoon.
Vietnamese Street Food by Vespa
Around dusk, transfer to a cafe for a cocktail and snack. There you will meet your Vespa chauffeur. With helmets on, hop on the back of your vintage Vespas. You’ll explore the back streets of the Old Quarter on the way to the vending area. It’s a local joint quite literally on the railway tracks! There you will enjoy some infused rice wine and buffalo jerky. Back on the road, you’ll venture to stop two – a lively restaurant serving Bun Cha. This dish is at the heart of Hanoi cuisine – grilled pork and meatballs, spring rolls, and rice noodles. Heading out of the Old Quarter, continue to the West Lake to give Pho Cuon a try. You’ll learn how to wrap these Hanoi style rolls and enjoy. Then take in a bowl of Vietnamese Pho noodles.
Continue to the last stop near the Opera House – a Jazz Club with a blend of 30’s style Jazz combined with traditional Vietnamese music. Nothing like you’ve ever heard! Return back to the hotel for some rest.
Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel
Day 15: Hanoi | Farewell!
Meals: Breakfast
Our guide will transfer you to the airport in Hanoi to catch your flight back home and to bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!
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It's easier than ever to get going! Request a quote today!
One of our Travel Experts will reach out to you and assist you with an itinerary and quote. Also, feel free to leave your phone number and we will give you a quick call just to say hello and clarify any questions we have about your inquiry.
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