17 Days Family Adventure in Thailand and Cambodia

ITINERARY

Day 1: Bangkok | Arrive in Bangkok

International Flight: Excluded
Meals: Dinner
Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival in Bangkok, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check in. Then you are at leisure to explore the Chao Phraya riverfront, go shopping, or visit a Muay Thai boxing gym on your own.

In the evening, our guide will greet you and escort you to the pier. Embark on a renovated rice barge for a cruise dinner by Banyan Tree. The dinner features a live Apsara performance while you enjoy Thai delicacies and take in the night lights of the Chao Phraya River.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 2: Bangkok | Bangkok by Boat | 3D Museum: Arts in Paradise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the early morning, take a 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. Also visit Wat Po, with it’s large reclining Buddha.

This afternoon, visit the 3D Museum: Arts in Paradise. Be amazed by the ingenious paintings where the eye cannot distinguish between paint and sculpture. This interactive museum is an “Instagram” paradise. After you finish exploring, return back to the riverside hotel for some leisure time.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 3: Bangkok | Ayutthaya Kingdom Discovery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Start early and transfer North to the Ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Start by visiting 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. Continue 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 your hotel in Bangkok for leisure time.

The Ancient Ruins of Ayutthaya

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 4: Bangkok – Chiang Mai | Flight to Chiang Mai | Temples of Lanna Kingdom

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
Board a morning flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check in.

The old city walls still stand verdantly against the course of time, inviting pilgrims to come rest, and explore the lost treasures of the Lanna Kingdom. Established as the capital in 1296AD of the vast “Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields”, Chiang Mai carries a heritage lurking around every quiet cobble-stone alley and corridor. These days, cafes, boutiques, pubs, and spas are auspiciously peppered throughout, while colorful Meo and Akha hill tribes make their daily ritual visit to the valley to offer their handmade tapestries and handicrafts to curious adventurers. The Ping River weaves through the valley to the East of the Old City while a peaceful moat surrounds the time-worn walls.

In the afternoon, 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. You’ll return to your hotel for some leisure in the evening.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 5: Chiang Mai | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, you will join in a tour to an elephant sanctuary in the jungles near Chiang Mai by 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. Next, enjoy a picnic spread. 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.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 6: Chiang Mai | Doi Inthanon National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, you’ll explore the Doi Inthanon National Park. You’ll visit the highest peak where glorious views of the countryside await. You’ll also trek to many waterfalls and see the flora and fauna unique to this region. As time permits, you’ll visit several pagodas, hill tribe villages, and royal gardens.

Inthanon National Park

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 7: Chiang Mai – Phuket | Flight to Phuket | Leisure

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, take a flight to Phuket. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your resort next to the beach for check in.

Enjoy the beaches of Phuket. North of the resort is two stunning beaches facing the Andaman Sea, Karon Beach, and Kata Beach. Perched above Kata Noi beach – a quiet stretch of white sand meets blue waves with forested mountains.

Accommodation: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Day 8:Phuket | Khao Sok Ancient Rain Forest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you will join a trip to Khao Sok National Park. Enjoy a trekking on foot though the ancient jungle. You will see the unique plant, flowers, butterfly, birds, squirrels, and more. The local guide will explain the ways of native plants were used in the past. Lunch is at Khaosok Discovery Restaurant with the view of the mountains.

In the afternoon, start the canoeing down the river with a chance to spot a flora and fauna, and goes along the lime stone cliff. Next, you will stop for a place to see the scenic view of Khao Sok. Then relax at Rommanee Hot Spring. You will return to Phuket after the tour.

Khao Sok National Park

Accommodation: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Day 9: Phuket | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast
Today is at your leisure to explore the beaches of Phuket.

Accommodation: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Day 10: Phuket | Sea Caves by Starlight

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
World famous kayaking inside marine limestone karst islands with macaques, water monitors, kingfishers and Sea Eagles. Meet at the hotel around 11 AM to transfer to the pier. Then continue by boat with a light lunch served onboard. Self-paddle with your own sea cave guide through tunnels and lagoons. When darkness falls, stars shine overhead in the circle of black night, fireflies flash in the cliffside jungle and, most of all, the sea glows with phosphorescence. Enjoy a spiritual ceremony with your own made “Krathong”. Have a magnificent dinner onboard. Then return to land. A truly magical and out of this world experience (Listed among National Geographic’s “World’s Top 50 Adventures”).

Accommodation: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Day 11: Phuket | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast
Today is at your leisure to explore the beaches of Phuket.

Thai Tropical Island – 17 Days Family Adventure Thailand Cambodia

Accommodation: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Day 12: Phuket – Siem Reap | Leisure | Flight to Siem Reap

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, take a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Siem Reap is a quaint town in Cambodia and the gateway to the vast remains of the Angkor empire. Discover the Royal Gardens on your own with ancient trees home to a colony of giant fruit bats. Take a stroll along the scenic riverside and visit the night markets to find unique souvenirs. You may also want to spend the evening with a visit to Pub Street with several restaurants and bars that stay open late into the night. Many restaurants have live entertainment in the evening.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 13: Siem Reap | Angkor Thom Ancient Capital

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 which 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.

South Gate of Angkor Thom – 17 Days Family Adventure Thailand Cambodia

On the way back, stop to see the Killing Fields of Wat Thmei. Our guide will relay to you about the history of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, and the war. Cambodia is still healing from these atrocities.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 14: Siem Reap | Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village | Water Filter Donation

Meals: Breakfast
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 Phlukk which means, Harbor of the Tusks due to its history in the elephant trade several centuries ago. You’ll also see the mangrove forests nearby.

Then go to 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.

More information on the slow sand water filtration system provided can be found on the Center for Disease Control website here: https://www.cdc.gov/safewater/sand-filtration.html

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 15: Siem Reap | Zipline Adventure in Angkor Forest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This day, prepare to visit the #1 “Craziest” Zipline in Asia.
World Class Course Features:

21 platforms high in the treetops;
10 thrilling ziplines;
4 sky bridges spanning hundreds of meters;
Spiral staircases circling trees;
A 50 ft. abseil finish;
The longest single zip line in Cambodia;
6 hectares teaming with exotic wildlife;
Re-introduction of wild-gibbons;
State of the Art Safety Equipment;

After the course, you will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant near the Ancient Royal Swimming Pool (Srah Srang).

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 16: Siem Reap | Angkor Sunrise and Photo Treasure Hunt

Meals: Breakfast
Before the light of day, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort 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.

Angkor Wat Temple – 17 Days Family Adventure Thailand Cambodia

Then ready for an adventure? In the early hours, you’ll go on a photo treasure hunt to discover the vast Angkor temple while the rays of the light play through the chambers as the morning haze settles and giving the temple a mystical ambiance. You will receive a map and a list of unusual objects or places that you’ll need to find and take pictures of throughout the day. Do as a family or split up into teams depending on your preference. For an added twist, the participants need to be in the picture as well(Please note that digital cameras are not included). After your adventure, you’ll return to your hotel for some rest and leisure time.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 17: Siem Reap | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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