~ Discover Southeast Asia: Magical Thailand - Mysterious Cambodia ~
Day 1: Arrive Bangkok and transfer to the iconic Oriental Hotel along the banks of the Chao Phraya River (about 45 minutes drive from the airport). After settling into your room, proceed to the unparalleled Oriental Spa for a revitalizing spa treatment. Emerge from this hours-long event ready to embrace all that Thailand has to offer. After a delicious lunch in one of the hotel's many restaurants spend the afternoon resting, swimming, or walking through the colorful and vibrant neighborhood surrounding the hotel.
Water is the lifeblood of Bangkok, a true Venice of the east. Many homes are accessible only by water; thus, boats are the crux of the city's transportation infrastructure. Given the extensive canal system, Bangkok is a city best seen by boat. A trip on a small "Mai Pen Rai" wooden boat allows you to venture beyond the beaten tourist routes to visit local Buddhist temples, exotic orchid farms, and remarkable floating markets. Finish your day of exploration at one of the many delicious restaurants overlooking the Chao Phraya River, lit up by the vibrant nightlife of Bangkok. Overnight Bangkok. (Oriental Hotel).
Day 2: After breakfast at the hotel you will embark upon an in depth tour of the cultural treasures that Bangkok has to offer. Thai culture is in many ways a product of the storied past of the country, so the tour will provide not only historical perspective but also fascinating insight into the life of modern Thais. Highlights of your tour include Wat Pho (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), and the fascinating Grand Palace complex and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), reputed to be the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
Return to your hotel in the afternoon to prepare for a wonderful dinner at Sala Rim Naam, a restaurant across the river from the Oriental. The restaurant is situated in a highly decorated Thai pavilion, and the lavish traditional cuisine is accompanied by a unique cultural experience- spectacular Thai dancing performed in the intimate setting of the restaurant.
Overnight Bangkok. (Oriental Hotel).
Day 3: After dining at the hotel fly to Chiang Mai, a city in mountainous northern Thailand. Your time in Chiang Mai will be spent with a hospitable ex-pat couple at their bed and breakfast, a beautifully adorned house surrounded by rice paddies outside of the city. After a delicious home-cooked meal you will spend the afternoon touring the colorful city. Tour highlights include Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, a spectacular mountain top temple with stunning views of Chiang Mai extending below it. In the evening the city hosts a picturesque street market with food, art, clothing and crafts available, an event popular with both tourists and natives. For dinner choose between any number of the delicious Thai and French restaurants (a cultural holdover from the era of French influence in Southeast Asia) that dot the banks of the Ping River in the city center.
Overnight Chiang Mai. (Private Home).
Day 4: After breakfast get an early start for a full day of activities at the Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary and rescue center for elephants. Many of Thailand's natural ecosystems have been devastated by development and the high demand for scarce natural resources. Despite these depressing circumstances, hope for biodiversity remains thanks to the commitment of people like Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, founder of the Elephant Nature Park. She has created a facility that provides a sanctuary for distressed elephants from all over Thailand. Ultimately, she aims to preserve a large habitat where the rescued elephants can live more naturally. Set in a beautiful valley, bordered by a river, and surrounded by forested mountains, the sanctuary and surrounding area offer a glimpse of rural life and the fight to conserve wild Thailand. Spend the day immersed in the activities of the sanctuary, some of which include feeding and bathing the elephants. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the current plight of domesticated and wild elephants, as well as goals for the future in wildlife management. In the evening return for another delicious meal with your Chiang Mai hosts.
Overnight Chiang Mai. (Private Home).
Day 5: Spend the day relaxing in the splendor of rural Thailand or take a tour of the local area. On the tour you will learn about rural life in Thailand, visit a local food market, and witness the daily activities at a local Buddhist temple. For dinner, dine at a charming local Thai restaurant and allow your hosts, both former restaurateurs, to show you the variety of northern Thai cuisine.
Overnight Chiang Mai. (Private Home).
Day 6: In the morning depart for Bangkok and transfer to Kanchanaburi province. This region is notable for the notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war. The railway was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died over the course of the project. Your tour includes fascinating stops at a cemetery for allied soldiers, the actual Bridge on the River Kwai (made famous by the movie of the same name), and Hell Fire Pass, site of a fascinating museum and particularly lethal section of the "death railway".
Overnight Kanchanaburi. (Hotel).
Day 7: In the morning visit Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua (The Tiger Temple), a Buddhist temple which keeps numerous animals, among them several tigers. The story goes that several tiger cubs were given to the temple over time, typically when the mothers had been killed by poachers. Other tigers were given by people who wanted to get rid of their tiger "pets" or were under pressure to do so as laws surrounding the housing of protected species became stricter. You will have the unique opportunity to visit the Temple with Dr. Somchai, the head wildlife veterinarian at the facility. With his accompaniment you have the opportunity to have breakfast with the temple Abbot and the young tigers, participate in the morning feeding and bathing routine and get a behind the scenes look at how the facility operates. In the evening return to Bangkok for transfer to Krabi.
Overnight Krabi coastline. (Tubkaak Hotel).
Day 8: Thailand's southern coast is a stunningly beautiful and mysterious region. The Tubkaak Resort provides the perfect opportunity to explore this area in a luxurious and tranquil setting. Spend the day partaking in spa treatments, walking along the coastline, snorkeling, or kayaking out to the remarkable karst formations along the coast. In the evening, visit a market and dine with local resident, Elizabeth. She will bring to life the distinctive cuisine and culture of southern Thailand.
Overnight Krabi coastline. (Tubkaak Resort).
Day 9: Spend the day on a long-tailed boat cruise exploring the remarkable geography of the Hong Islands, snorkeling in the lovely Andaman Sea and picnicking on a remote stretch of beach.
Overnight Krabi coastline. (Tubkaak Resort).
Day 10: In the morning transfer to the airport for the return flight to Bangkok and the Eugenia Hotel. The Eugenia is a small and extremely well-appointed hotel in an interesting part of Bangkok. Spend the afternoon exploring the city by sky train, shopping, or spending time at the highly recommended Jim Thomson House.
Dine at a restaurant in the area of the hotel.
Overnight Bangkok. (Eugenia Hotel).
Day 11: In the morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap, the modern city at the center of the Khmer empire, a civilization that flourished between the ninth and thirteenth centuries. After settling into your sumptuous accommodations, begin to explore your fascinating surroundings. The empire began in AD 802 when the Khmer king declared himself a universal monarch and god-king, and lasted until 1431, when Thai invaders sacked the Khmer capital.
The temples of the Angkor area number over one thousand, ranging in scale from nondescript piles of brick rubble scattered through rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat said to be the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored, and together they show the wide variety of styles found in Khmer architecture.
Historical Angkor was more than a site for religious art and architecture. It was the site of vast cities that responded to all the needs of a people, not only to religious needs. Aside from a few old bridges, however, the only remaining monuments are religious edifices.
In Angkorian times, all non-religious buildings, including the residence of the king himself, were constructed of perishable materials, such as wood, because the Khmers believed that only the gods had a right to residences made of stone. Today the temple complexes are all that remain of a mysterious and powerful civilization with a population that numbered in the millions.
Begin your exploration at the Roluos Temple complex, an example of early Khmer architecture. Next visit Preah Ko, a well preserved monument erected in honor of the founder of the empire, King Jayavarman II. Nearby you will find the captivating Lolei temple, made out of brick and dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. Finish this exploration of early Khemer architecture with a visit to the beautiful Bakong, an early example of sandstone construction, a hallmark of later architecture.
After a delicious lunch and a short rest, you will visit Angkor Wat, the central feature of the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site. Angkor Wat's rising series of five towers culminates in an impressive central tower that symbolizes mythical Mount Meru. Thousands of feet of wall space are covered with intricate carvings that depict scenes from Hindu mythology. The combination of vast scale and minutely intricate detail make this site a truly magnificent wonder of the world.
Finish the day with a sunset visit to Phnom Bakheng, a 9th century Hindu temple that sits atop the tallest hill in the greater Angkor region. Admire Angkor Wat to the southeast as the calm of the evening settles over the splendid views.
Visit a restaurant near the hotel for a delicious traditional Cambodian meal.
Overnight Siem Reap. (La Resident Angkor).
Day 12 : After breakfast drive north through the Cambodian countryside and get a glimpse of the agrarian lifestyle of the country. Then arrive at Banteay Srey, a 10th century temple devoted to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srey is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the exquisite carvings and beautiful pink coloration of the temple.
Next visit the Land Mine Museum, a fascinating and informative documentation of the war-torn history of Cambodia. The Land Mine Museum is run by Aki Ra, a former Khmer Rouge child soldier and landmine layer that has devoted his life to unearthing these devastating weapons and bringing normality to the life of rural Cambodians.
Before lunch, visit Ta Prohm, an example of Khmer architecture from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in the same condition as the one in which it was found: part wild. Set in the jungle with trees growing out of its ruins, its unique beauty has made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors.
In the afternoon visit Angkor Thom Bayon, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers a massive area that is home to several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors. At the center of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north.
Continue to Preah Khan, a temple complex that was the center of a substantial religious organization, housing and employing almost 100,000 officials and servants in its heyday. These sites give you a true idea of the vast scale that this magnificent empire reached at its zenith.
Your Cambodian dinner will be accompanied by and Apsara dancing show, a traditional Cambodian dance that brings to life both the history and modern beliefs of the Cambodian people.
Overnight Siem Reap. (La Resident Angkor).
Day 13 : In the morning visit Artisans D' Angkor a unique organization that trains underprivileged deaf young adults to become master artists using traditional techniques. The exquisite results include stove carvings, hand-loomed silk and lacquer work, all of which are available for sale in the shop.
Next visit Psar Chaa, a very colorful local market with everything from Ray Ban sunglasses to traditional herbal remedies available.
In the afternoon transfer to the airport for a flight to Bangkok.
After settling in to the Eugenia Hotel have a last Thai meal before preparing for final departure.
Overnight Bangkok. (Eugenia Hotel).
Day 14 : Transfer to International Airport for final departure.
