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.
International Flight: Excluded Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: Alpine Golf Resort
Day 2: Chiang Mai | Thai Culinary Class
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Today, you’ll join a culinary experience with a Thai chef. The school is run by Sompon Nabnian, a Chiang Mai culinary legend who has been featured on National Geographic and the Travel Channel. Start the class with a visit to the local market where Thai people buy groceries. The chef will be keen to teach you how to identify various products and what to pick. You’ll learn about many new vegetables and spices. Then, with the ingredients you’ll need in hand, continue to a Thai pavilion where the class will commence. You’ll have your own station and cooking utensils. The chef will show you how to prepare several dishes and oversee your work providing tips along the way. Then it’s time to enjoy your creation! After saying goodbyes, return back to your hotel for leisure time.
Accommodation: Alpine Golf Resort
Day 3: Chiang Mai | Leisure Day
Meals: Breakfast Today is at your leisure to enjoy the resort facilities or explore on your own.
Accommodation: Alpine Golf Resort
Day 4: Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai Highlights
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. You’ll return to your hotel for some leisure in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Alpine Golf Resort
Day 5: Chiang Mai | Elephant Sanctuary Experience
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Today, you will visit an elephant sanctuary in the jungles near Chiang Mai. First, you’ll learn about the project and hear the amazing stories of each rescued and orphaned elephant. You will share your own elephant. Learn how they became free from abuse and misuse. You’ll be shown how to approach your elephant, what spoken commands they respond to, how to read their body language, and how to check their health. Then have an opportunity to feed them. The mahout will also show you how to ride on the neck(no heavy howdah seats are used) or you can walk alongside your elephant if you prefer.
Continue to the nearby river. Here you will have the opportunity to observe or participate in bathing the elephants with the sanctuary staff. The sanctuary has a photographer who will capture these moments in high quality for you throughout the day and provide you a CD of the experience. Next, enjoy a picnic spread.
After you have said your farewells, return back to the hotel for some leisure time.
Note: Please note not to wear any perfume or strong fragrances as elephants are sensitive to smell. Also, bring a change of clothes for swimming, odorless sunscreen, and a towel.
Accommodation: Alpine Golf Resort
Day 6: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai | Road Trip to Chiang Rai and White Temple | Leisure
Meals: Breakfast Transfer in the morning to Chiang Rai. On the way, you’ll stop at Wat Rong Khun(the White Temple). This unique and modern temple features Hindu and Buddhist architecture along with very contemporary and peculiar art and sculptures. You’ll continue to Chiang Rai.
Chiang Rai is a quiet city nestled between two mountain ranges in the valley along the Mae Kok River. It has a colorful history, is the birthplace of the Lanna Kingdom, and was once home to the Emerald Buddha – during a short time when the priceless Buddhist relic was brought for hiding. The friendly town makes a great base camp for visiting the Golden Triangle, Ancient City of Chiang Saen, Mae Salong Mountain, and the “Island on the Clouds” (Phu Chi Fah viewpoint). Aspiring local artists have produced world-acclaimed pieces of architecture and art such as “The White Temple” and “The Black House”.
Accommodation: Phowadol Resort and Spa
Day 7: Chiang Rai | Golden Triangle Discovery and Chiang Saen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch In the morning, visit the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River and the Mekong river meet forming the borders of three countries – Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos – the area is known for it’s stunning views. Visit the Hall of Opium museum to learn about the history of the Opium War. Continue on to the ancient city of Chiang Sean at Wat Chedi Luang – a stone city and the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
Border at the Golden Triangle – 18 Days Thailand Laos Cambodia Gateway Mekong Cruise
Accommodation: Phowadol Resort and Spa
Day 8: Chiang Rai | Mae Salong Hill Tribes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch In the morning, transfer to Mae Salong mountain, a scenic peak in the Shan Highlands. First, stop at a tea plantation to try some fresh hot tea in the morning while taking in the splendid views. Learn about the Chinese military KMT village that resettled at Mae Salong and their interesting story. Have lunch at a Yunnanese restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Akha, Yao, and Lisu hill-tribe villages. Then return to the resort for leisure time.
Accommodation: Phowadol Resort and Spa
Day 9: Chiang Rai – Pakbeng | The Gateway to Laos | Untouched Mekong Discovery Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner In the early morning, check out the hotel for a transfer to the border to embark on a cruise to Luang Prabang. Our guide will help you get to border customs where you will go through on your own. Then take the shuttle across friendship bridge(you will need to pay for the ticket on your own which is around $1-2 per person). On the other side, you’ll go through Laos border customs to get your visa. A representative of the cruise will be waiting in the welcome area to greet you.
Then embark on the cruise downstream. Tranquil river scenery along this untouched part of the Mekong will make this an interesting day. On the way, stop to visit a local hill tribe and learn about their culture and life in this remote part of the world. Continue onto Pakbeng where beautiful views of the Mekong await. Enjoy dinner from a terrace lookout as the sunsets. Overnight in Pakbeng.
Accommodation: The Pakbeng Lodge
Day 10: Luang Prabang | The Gateway to Laos | Pak Ou Caves
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Rise early for a delicious breakfast and freshly brewed Laos coffee while you enjoy expanse views of lush jungle and peaceful river. Continue for the second leg of the journey toward Luang Prabang. Palm trees, Bodhi, and rosewood line the shores with the occasional village life along the river. Visit the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims who come to make their request to the “Lord Naga” – a legendary river serpent believed to live in this part of the Mekong.
Continue to Luang Prabang, the old King’s city of Laos – full of Buddhist temples and monks with surrounding jungles at the fork of two rivers.
Accommodation: Le Bel Air Boutique Resort
Day 11: Luang Prabang | Morning Leisure | Afternoon Luang Prabang Highlights and Sunset
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The morning is at your leisure to explore on your own or visit a spa for a massage. In the afternoon, begin with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.
A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang.
Accommodation: Le Bel Air Boutique Resort
Day 12: Luang Prabang | Alms Giving Ceremony | Kuang Si Waterfall | Leisure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch In the early morning, you can join in the alms giving ceremony where a procession of monks pass the hotel as participants solemnly give sticky rice and other objects into their bowls. Then enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Continue to Ban Long Lao village – a Hmong and Khmu ethnic village who live simple lives off the land in a self-sustained community. After exploring the village and mingling with the locals, you’ll begin the hike to Kuang Si Falls. Along the way are lush green forests and clear streams. Visit a cave along the way that once acted as a bomb shelter. Arrive at Kuang Si Waterfall – one of the most turquoise waterfalls in the world. The afternoon can be spent swimming in the waterfall and visiting the Bear Rescue Center where several Sun Bears and Malayan Black Bears are being cared for after being rescued from bile farms and wildlife traffickers. Then you’ll return to Luang Prabang and evening is at your leisure.
Day 13: Luang Prabang – Siem Reap | Leisure | Flight to Siem Reap
Internal Flight:Included Meals: Breakfast
This morning, you’re at your own leisure. You can walk around the city and discover the local daily life, find out some interesting souvenir items, drop by a spa for a massage. Alternatively, simply indulge yourself with the comfort and amenities which the hotel offers.
In the afternoon, take a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the 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: Tara Angkor Hotel
Day 14: Siem Reap | Angkor Thom by Bicycle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 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.
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.
Bayon Temple – 18 Days Thailand Laos Cambodia Gateway Mekong Cruise
Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel
Day 15: Siem Reap | Angkor Wat Sunrise | Leisure Afternoon | Apsara Dinner Performance
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Before the light of the 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. 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.
Be prepared to enjoy a beautiful traditional dance performed by a team trained in the Dance of Apsara.
In the evening, you will be picked up from the hotel lobby and transferred to Angkor Village Hotel Theater for a traditional Apsara Dinner Show. where you will have a unique dinner experience which will bring ancient Khmer culture to life in spectacular surroundings while you enjoy the very best in Cambodia cuisine. This one-of-a-kind cultural experience highlights the mysterious civilization and heritage of Khmer spoken through choreography and music. Colorful costumes and playful activities will give you insights into the Khmer daily life and wedding traditions while you enjoy a delicious meal to welcome you to the Kingdom of Wonders. Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel
Day 16: Siem Reap | Floating Village of Kampong Phluk | Bodia Spa
Meals: Breakfast In the morning, travel 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. After the tour, you’ll return to your hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure.
As evening approaches, enjoy a relaxing spa treatment at Bodia Spa – an award-winning spa in Southeast Asia.
Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel
Day 17: Siem Reap | Banteay Srei Temple | Village Visit and Water Filter Donation
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, start the trip to discover Banteay Srei Temple: The Citadel of Women. Built in the10th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, this temple lies near the hill of Phnom Dei tucked away in the remote jungle north of Angkor Wat. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings, which are still in excellent condition to this day. The structures are miniature in scale, but the attention to detail is unmatched among all the temples in Southeast Asia. These factors have made the temple a place of intrigue and wonder, which have led to it being widely praised as a “precious gem”, or the “jewel of Khmer art.”
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.
Meals: Breakfast Today, our guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Saigon to catch your flight back home and to bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!
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Elephant Sanctuary - Angkor Ancient Temples - Vintage Car to Angkor Thom - Sea Caves by Starlight - Jungle Zip-Line - Traditional Culinary Class with Chef Ya
Mandalay - Old Capital of Amarapura - Bagan's Vallay of a Thousand Temples - Saigon - Mekong Delta - Hoi An - Danang Beaches - Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise
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