zThailand + Laos + Cambodia

On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the deluxe Anantara Riverside Resort, set on 11 acres along the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok. Settle in to your stylish riverview room and enjoy the rest of this day at leisure. 

Enjoy an al fresco breakfast on the Anantara’s expansive terrace overlooking the Chao Phraya, coming to life with boats, launches and other river traffic.  Then join your personal guide at the riverside dock and ride the shuttle boat across the river to the Sathorn Pier. Setting out in a traditional Tuk-Tuk, you’ll venture through the bustling and colorful streets to Wat Traimit, a historic gilded temple famous for its enormous golden image of Buddha. Marvel at this 5-ton sculpture and then visit the Yaowarat Heritage Center where fascinating multimedia exhibits reveal the history of Bangkok’s immigrant Chinese community.
 
Continue by Tuk-Tuk into the heart of Chinatown where you can browse among the colorful shops and sample local delicacies. Then dive into the famous open-air Khlong Thom Market; though known especially for Thai and Chinese antiques, this lively street market has numerous vendors selling a bewildering array of products. Your last stop this morning is the colorful Pak Khlong Talat Market where you’ll find a kaleidoscopic variety of flowers from the familiar to the exotic. Sit down to a delicious lunch of traditional Thai cuisine at the Supatra River House Restaurant and then return to your hotel. The rest of this day is yours to enjoy and explore at your own pace.  Meals B+L

This entire day is yours to do as you wish. Take advantage of your hotel’s central location and complimentary river shuttle to explore more of Bangkok on your own.  Meals B

You’ll be escorted to the airport this morning for your included flight to Chiang Mai, revered by many Thai citizens as the cultural and spiritual heart of their country. On arrival, you’ll be escorted to the deluxe Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, built in traditional Thai and Colonial-era style on the banks of the tranquil Mae Ping River.
 
Later this afternoon, your personal guide will take you to visit Doi Suthep Temple, built in 1384. The ascent to this historic and much-revered temple is via an imposing outdoor staircase that climbs the forested hillside. It’s flanked by a sinuous, glittering sculpture of the mythological Naga. Enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent temple as the sun begins to set and take in the evening views of Chiang Mai’s twinkling lights. Tonight you’ll dine at Rak Tha Nam, an enchanting restaurant set in a traditional Lanna-style house along the river. After dinner, experience a traditional Thai ritual as you release a floating lantern into the night sky. Locals believe that the lantern will carry away your troubles as the flame guides you along the right path for your life. Before returning to your hotel, you might wish to explore Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar, regarded by many as the best night market in the country.  Meals B+D

Arising early this morning, you’ll join local Chiang Mai residents to offer food to saffron-robed monks as they emerge from their monastery to march silently through the still-quiet streets. This daily alms ritual has unfolded for generations across Southeast Asia and is still an important and enduring facet of daily life for many of the region’s Buddhist residents. If there is no religious festival or other event, you’ll also have a chance to tour the nearby Sri Soda Temple after this morning’s alms ritual.

Return to your hotel for a hearty buffet breakfast and then rejoin your guide to browse in a colorful local market; filled with herbs, fruits and vegetables, it’s the perfect introduction to this morning’s foray into Thai culture and cuisine. Continue to the Baan Sansai Cooking School to select produce from their organic garden – ingredients which you’ll use for a fun and rewarding hands-on class in their spacious, well-equipped kitchens. With expert guidance from the school’s chef-instructors and your own cooking station, you’ll learn to make a number of traditional Thai dishes. Then sit down with your fellow classmates for a delightful al fresco lunch featuring the dishes you’ve prepared. You’ll be chauffeured back to your hotel where the balance of your afternoon and evening are at leisure.  Meals B+L

Upon check out, your private car, driver and guide will be waiting to begin your day’s adventures – starting with a visit to the Chiang Dao Caves, where a Buddhist shrine marks the entrance to an elaborate underground network of caverns. A local resident with plenty of experience navigating this subterranean labyrinth will be your guide as you make your way through caves filled with stalactites, stalagmites and other wondrous formations.
 
Continue to the banks of the Mae Kok River for a pleasant excursion by traditional long-tail boat. Step off in Baan Mai and visit a nearby Shan village before continuing overland to visit two other authentic hill tribe villages of the Akha and long-neck Karen people. After lunch, you’ll proceed to Chiang Rai and check in to the 5-star Le Meridien Resort. The balance of this day is free to take advantage of the beautiful setting and resort amenities of your hotel.  Meals B+L

This morning, your guide will take you to a local market to join city residents and villagers who come to do their daily shopping. With his personal insight, you’ll learn not only about the exotic produce on display but also about some of the distinctive cultural traditions here in the far north of Thailand. Then visit two noted temples: Founded in the late 14^th century, Wat Phra Kaew is one of the oldest royal temples in the region; according to legend, this is where the revered Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok) was first discovered in 1434. At Wat Phra Singh, you’ll learn about the unique Lanna-style architectural elements and decorative motifs that distinguish this ancient temple. After lunch, the rest of this day is yours to enjoy as you wish.  Meals B+L

You’ll be chauffeured to the airport for your included flight to Laos. In arrival in Luang Prabang , you’ll be met and escorted by private car to the Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel. Tucked away in a quiet sector of the city’s central historic district, our enchanting hotel is set in the former residence of a Laotian prince. The rest of this day is yours to explore at your own pace or just relax amidst the enchanting ambience of your hotel.  Meals B

Early this morning you might be awakened by the reverberating gong of a nearby temple. With your personal Laotian guide on hand to provide information and insight, you’ll join city residents in the quiet streets for their daily alms ritual. As a procession of young saffron-robed monks files past, you and those around you will place sticky rice and other foods into their bronze bowls. This is an ancient Buddhist tradition that still occurs daily throughout Southeast Asia.
 
Return to your hotel for breakfast and then travel into the mountains outside of the city. It’s a very scenic journey that takes you to local family-owned farms, small mountain hamlets and hill tribe villages. You’ll learn about the different crops raised and gain insight into distinctive rural traditions that endure, virtually untouched, in these verdant landscapes.
 
After lunch along the banks of the Mekong River, you’ll visit Ock Pop Tok - the East Meets West Living Crafts Center. Founded to empower local women and to preserve traditional Laotian handicrafts, especially weaving, this unique community project is set in charming house on the banks of the Mekong. You’ll have ample time to engage with the women and to watch as they work their looms, creating fine textiles with both traditional and modern designs. You can hand-dye a scarf and even try your hand at spinning and weaving. From silk cultivation to finished product, you’ll gain insight into one of Laos’ most venerated arts. Your visit at Ock Pop Tok ends with a sunset cocktail in their pleasant garden cafe.  Meals B+L+D

Designed to develop sustainable farming techniques, the pioneering Living Lands Farm community project gives you a chance to join Laotian farmers for an authentic hands-on experience in the labor-intensive process of rice cultivation. Learn how to plant rice in the paddy and even try your hand at guiding a water buffalo to plow the field. If all that sounds a bit too adventurous, you might help with the harvesting of other organic vegetables and herbs or learn how to husk rice. There’s also an expansive verandah if you just prefer to sit back and watch. Faced with other destructive farming methods that persist elsewhere in Laos and the rest of Asia, Living Lands has successfully demonstrated the potential of sustainable organic farming methods. Indeed, the farm now sells produce to restaurants in Luang Prabang and also supports education for underprivileged children.
 
After lunch, we’ll take you to Kuang Si Waterfall where terraced pools and cascades promise a refreshing afternoon! Before returning to your hotel, you’ll also visit the Sun Bear Reserve to learn about their important conservation work rescuing this indigenous tropical species from the illegal trade in wildlife.  Meals B+L

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your included flight to Cambodia. On arrival in Siem Reap, you’ll be met and chauffeured to the 5-star Hotel Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort. In the afternoon, join your personal guide to explore the imposing majesty of Angkor Wat - the largest temple in the world with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops Pyramid in Egypt. Inspired by 12th century Hinduism, it took an estimated 30 years to build Angkor Wat, including the intricately carved bas-relief carvings which adorn all four sides of the temple. Late in the day, your guide will lead you to a prime vantage point to witness the sun set over Angkor, a magnificent and unforgettable spectacle.  Meals B+D

This morning, you’ll join your personal guide to discover the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom - the last capital of the Khmers - with its Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the stunning Bayon temple. This 12^th-century masterpiece lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. Continue on with your private guide to visit Preah Khan, an extensive monastic complex built by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII. In the afternoon, your unhurried Privately Guided sightseeing focuses on the less-visited but equally impressive sites of Angkor, including Chau Say Tevoda, Prasat Kravan, and Ta Keo. You’ll also tour the oft-photographed Ta Prohm; dedicated in 1186, this vast temple complex has been largely left in its natural state, surrounded by the massive roots and limbs of the encroaching jungle.  Meals B

About an hour drive from Siem Reap, Banteay Srei is regarded by many as the “Jewel in the Crown” of all the Angkor temples. Smaller than many of the others, this delicately carved, pink sandstone temple is also known as the Citadel of Women. The temple is embellished with hundreds of small, intricately carved figures and deities that depict scenes from Hindu stories and mythology. Nearby, you’ll also visit Banteay Samre. Built in the early 12^th century, this glorious landmark is often compared to Angkor Wat because of similarities in its architectural elements and design – especially its magnificent towers and balustrades. In the afternoon, we’ll take you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. On arrival, you’ll be met and escorted to the conveniently located Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel.  Meals B

You’ll be assisted with your return transfer to the airport for your onward journey.  Meals B