Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, you will clear Immigration, collect your luggage and exit Customs. A friendly local representative will be waiting to greet you in the arrivals area, holding a sign with your name on it. For a smooth and comfortable start to your adventure, you will be driven directly to your hotel, where a lovely evening in this urban wonderland awaits. (This service is on a private basis.)

Bangkok

With a population of over eleven million, the capital city of Bangkok is Thailand’s largest city. The wide variety of attractions, excursions, and sights make Bangkok a vibrant and eclectic destination to explore, with something to keep any traveler entertained. This cosmopolitan city combines some of Asia’s oldest and most elaborately adorned temples, with modern shopping malls, impressive skyscrapers, and bustling markets. Be sure to take a ride on a tuk tuk one evening, to feel the cool tropical breeze and marvel at the bright neon lights.

Full Day City Highlights & Amphawa Floating Market

This morning, after breakfast, meet your private guide for a full-day exploration of Bangkok and the Amphawa Floating Market. Begin with a visit to the Grand Palace, where an English governess once tutored a young prince and may have influenced his powerful father. (The Thai people have enormous reverence for their royal family, thus both versions of The King and I are banned as an insult to one of their great rulers.) The highlight of this mind-and-eye boggling palace is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Pra Kaew), the most revered shrine in the Kingdom.

Located next to the Grand Palace is Wat Po, one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples. You will visit this temple, which houses the gigantic gold-plated Reclining Buddha. It is also the headquarters for the Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Bangkok. After a break for lunch at a local restaurant, take a water taxi to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. This is one of the best-known temples in Bangkok and dates back to the ancient Ayutthaya period. The tall, elongated central Khmer-style tower is surrounded by four minor towers, symbolizing Mount Meru, the earthly representation of the thirty-three heavens. Here, you'll find pavilions containing statues of the Buddha at the most important stages of life. The beautiful architecture and fine craftsmanship mark Wat Arun as one of the most remarkable temples in Thailand.

Your final stop of the tour includes a visit to the vibrant Amphawa floating market. Unlike the more famous Damnoen Saduak floating market, Amphawa is frequented almost exclusively by Thais. Locals congregate here to buy and sell everything from cooking pots and fresh produce, to radiant flowers and wind up toys. Vendors pack their boats with goods and cruise down the canals, waiting for someone to wave them down. The bustling area around the market features open-air restaurants and a variety of colorful boats. Delicious local dishes are even prepared in some boats, including pad thai, curry, noodles, pancakes and chicken satay. Floating markets are one of Thailand's iconic attractions and an exciting scene you won't want to miss! At the end of this eventful day, you will return to your hotel in Bangkok. (This service is on a private basis.)

Maeklong Train Market

This morning you'll venture out to visit the unusual Railway Track Market in time for the 11:10 am train (driving duration: approximately 1 hour). One of Asia's most unusual markets, the vendors line and cover the railway track but when the train arrives they 'retract' the stalls very quickly before reassembling them as if nothing has happened. It is one of the most unique scenes and experiences for visitors to Thailand and you will be able to meander through the wet market adjacent to the train station and learn about the interesting and fresh items from your guide.

Trains arrive only four times daily at 8:30 am, 11:10 am, 2:30 pm and 5:40 pm, so timing this properly is very important. (This service is on a private basis.)

In the afternoon, transfer back to the airport, and check in for your International flight to Siem Reap.

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival in Siem Reap obtain your Cambodia visa, if you haven't already. Clear Immigration and Customs and proceed into the arrival area. You will meet your private guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Settle in and enjoy the afternoon free at your leisure. For interesting people watching, venture down to Pub Street and the Siem Reap Night Market, the place where you can buy a diverse range of goods.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap is the best option for an international traveler's base from which to explore the Angkor temples. If not for the tourism boom brought on by the awesome sites around the city, Siem Reap might have been another sleepy Khmer village. Instead we find a bustling tourist town, complete with a well-named Pub Street, food vendors, luxury hotels, backpacking hostels, and the international travelers that drive it all. Sure, you'll probably want to spend most of your time outside the city, but don't underestimate the awesome opportunity to hit the town and mingle, bargain, eat, and drink your way through Siem Reap.

Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm

Early this morning you will be met by your private guide and transferred to Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. Angkor Wat is the largest and most breathtaking monument at Angkor. Built as the funerary temple for Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1112 to 1152, Angkor never fails to reward the first time or repeat visitor with its grand scale, surreal bas-reliefs and unbelievable attention to detail. Here, you will spend the morning exploring one of man's most magnificent creations, before returning to the hotel for a late breakfast.

Following a colorful morning sight and well deserved breakfast, you will continue on to visit the fortified city of Angkor Thom. This site was built by Angkor's greatest king Jayavarman VII who ruled from 1181 to 1201. You will also have time to explore the Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, and the Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King. From there, it's off to the South gate of Angkor Thom to the Bayon temple, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant.

Later today, you will visit the majestic Ta Prohm. Built in 1186 and dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm is a temple of towers, closed courtyards and narrow corridors. Unlike the other temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left to the elements and looks very much like the other temples must have looked when "rediscovered" by Henri Mouhot in the 1860s. At the end of your angkor adventure, you will be returned to your hotel to spend the rest of the evening as you wish. (This service is on a private basis.)

Phnom Kulen, Banteay Srei & Pre Rup

Early this morning, you'll be met by your private guide to depart Siem Reap for Kulen mountain. Phnom Kulen (or Kulen Mountain) translates as "Mountain of Lychees". It is considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia and it is a popular place for domestic visitors during weekends and festivals. Enjoy the most beautiful nature and water wall place in Siem Reap, with lunch (at own expense) in this setting.

Next, you will visit Banteay Srei Temple. Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, Banteay Srei is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Because of its small size, fairy-like atmosphere and extraordinary examples of Khmer sculpture, this temple is often a favorite among visitors.

Today, you will finish your day tour with the sunset at Pre Rup Temple. The beautiful rusty-red hue of the laterite stone and brick, used to build Pre Rup, is accentuated during sunset and stands in brilliant contrast to the lush green of the jungle in the distance. It will be the perfect end to the perfect adventure! (This service is on a private basis.)

Kampong Khleang Community Water Filter Project

This morning, you'll be met by your guide and driven to Kampong Khleang Floating Village - approximately one hour outside of Siem Reap. Imagine wooden houses on 10-meter-tall stilts, surrounded by water in the wet season, and on the flood plains of the lake in the dry season. You will drive on dirt road to the village. Along the way, you will see wooden houses and traditional fishing equipment, as well as small children waving to say hello as you arrive. You will meet with a local family who will welcome you into their traditional stilt home for some tea and coffee. You'll then proceed to walk around and explore the village to learn more about life on the lake and the traditional fishing techniques employed here.

After a delicious lunch, you'll begin your work with a water filter installation. Together with the assistance of your guide, you'll set up the water filter in the home of the recipient family, which will provide them with clean drinking water for the next five years. After this inspiring experience, you will be transferred back to Siem Reap this evening, where you will have the remainder of the day free to rest and relax at your leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

This morning you will be picked up at your hotel in Siem Reap and transferred to the airport in good time to board your international flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival in Bangkok you'll connect with your domestic flight to Chiang Mai.

On arrival in Chiang Mai you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Wat doi Suthep Tour

Today you'll be met by your private guide and driven to what is probably Chiang Mai's most famous landmark—Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, the temple located on the 1676 high Doi Suthep. Climb the 300-steps staircase, flanked by Nagas, or take the cable car up. With clear weather, the sunset views are incredible. (This service is on a private basis.)

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and the gateway to the charming northern region. Explore the cultural highlights within the old city walls, discover fascinating temples, dig into the delicious street food and take a stroll through the famous evening markets, to truly experience the spirit of this destination. Chiang Mai serves as an excellent base for outdoor and adventure lovers, offering idyllic opportunities for trekking, cycling and river rafting in the surrounding countryside. The region is also home to many elephant conservation camps and ethnic hill tribe villages.

The morning will be free to rest, relax and explore the city independently. This afternoon you'll depart for a unique and authentic culinary experience.

Traditional Cooking Experience with Local Lanna Family

This morning at 9:00 AM you will be transferred to a local village to meet with a Raunkaew-Yanon family, who arrived in the area possibly on the back of an elephant, almost 150 years ago. They are a Lanna family, continuing the traditions of many generations in building their homes of teak wood and maintaining the natural surroundings in a way now rarely seen in Chiang Mai. Of course this is not your average commercial cooking class as you will learn more about their culture, the way of living and the architecture of a traditional Thai house and rice barn. 

The family orchard has many types of fruit such as banana, mango, coconut, while the garden is filled with herbs for cooking. They also demonstrate their skills making a small bamboo basket. You will cook traditional home cooked recipes with authentic Northern Thai flavors that are different from standard dishes offered in commercial cooking classes. Also you will select fresh ingredients from the garden to add to today’s cooking extravaganza. Best of all you will have the opportunity to get to know a real Thai family, be their houseguest for the day and enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch with them! You will return back to your hotel later this afternoon (ETA 2:30 PM). (This service is on a private basis.)

Full Day Patara Elephant Farm Experience

You will be picked up from your hotel at 7:30 AM this morning, for an unforgettable experience at the Patara Elephant Farm, located just outside of Chiang Mai. Upon arrival at the farm, you will change into traditional mahout outfits. Once you look the part, you will be given a short briefing on how to handle the elephants, before heading into the bush to find them. On this full-day experience, you will learn all about the elephant farm management and their breeding program. Enjoy your first encounter with these gentle giants, as your guide teaches you how to approach and interact with them. After feeding the elephants, you will walk them to the river, to join in their morning bath! You will be taught the different commands and techniques that the mahouts use to communicate with the elephants.

Later this morning, you will head to a nearby local temple, where your guide will teach you about the significance of elephants in Buddhism and the Thai’s ancient relationship with these traditional beasts of burden. From the temple, you will continue on to a picturesque waterfall to enjoy a picnic lunch. In the afternoon heat, the temptation to cool off in the falls with your elephant is irresistible! You will return to the camp in time for the elephant's evening feeding, before you must say goodbye to your new friends and transfer back to your hotel around 4:00 PM. (This service is on a group basis.)

** Please be prepared to get wet and muddy! We recommend that you bring a towel, swimsuit, change of clothes, sunscreen, hat and mosquito repellent. (This service is on a group basis.)

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport in good time to board your domestic flight. Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui, or simply, Samui, as it is referred to by locals, is an island off the east coast of the Gulf Thailand. The island boasts beautiful white sand beaches, tropical foliage, hidden coves, rocky outcrops, and swaying palms. An eclectic array of spas; activity centers; resorts; world-class restaurants; beach bars, and a colorful mix of residents and tourists help you begin to understand the unique charm of Koh Samui.

Enjoy this free time on Koh Samui at your leisure.

Angthong National Marine Park Full Day Excursion

Today you will join the Angthong National Marine Park Tour by SpeedBoat.

This group of islands, a combined area of 250 square kms, is located 45 kms north-west of Koh Samui. It takes about 2 hours by tour boat and 1 hour by speedboat or yacht. Visitors will be enchanted by a wonderland composed of bulbous green isles, clear blue lagoons, mysterious caves and strange shapes of rock formations.

The second National Park created in Thailand, Angthong comprises some 40 islands covering 250 sq. kms. Most islands are comprised of limestone masses, reaching heights up to 450 meters, and are blanketed by 4 difference types of forest such as Dry Evergreen Forest, Beach Forest, Limestone Forest and Mangrove Forest. There are many strange rock formations brought above by erosion of the earth and one island has a mysterious sink hole, completely enclosed by walls of sheer rock.

Today you will transfer to the Pier, board the one hour speed boat to Angthong National Marine Park. You will arrive at Koh Wao or Koh Tai Plow for snorkeling, a nice place for fish and wonderful coral reefs. Enjoy sightseeing around the National Marine Park. Climb up the steps to see the wonderful “Emerald Lake “ known as Talay Nai, surrounded by the mountain. You’ll have a buffet lunch at The National Marine Park.

This afternoon, relax on the beach, swim or climb the mountain’s top to see the fantastic panoramic view of Angthong Marine Park. At 3:00pm you’ll cruise back to Koh Samui and transfer to your hotel at 5:00pm.

Enjoy this full free day on Koh Samui.

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight. (This service is on a private basis.)

Upon arrival at the airport in 4:00PM you will connect with your international flight onward.