CAMBODIA & THAILAND

DAY 01

ARRIVE PHNOM PENH

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, the bustling capital city of Cambodia, our guide will be waiting to escort you to your hotel. Spend the rest of your day at your leisure, getting to know the city.

DAY 02

PHNOM PENH (B)

Today we explore the fascinating capital city of Phnom Penh. Sitting on the banks of the Ton Le Sap and Mekong Rivers, Phnom Penh is a city rich in history, heritage, and exotic post-colonial culture. Start the day with a visit to the magnificent Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex. Explore the elaborately constructed palace buildings and get a closer look at the collection of Buddha statues, coupled with the 5,000 silver floor tiles that give the pagoda its name. Walk on to the nearby National Museum before enjoying lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, once the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). Walk-through the haunting space to learn about the atrocities that place during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, seeing the spots where thousands of innocent prisoners were interrogated, tortured, and killed. Continue to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed more than 1 million people. Pay your respects at the Memorial Stupa, where the skulls of thousands of victims are on display as a reminder of the terror that took place.

DAY 03

PHNOM PENH/SIEM REAP (B)

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, transfer and check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

DAY 04

SIEM REAP (B/L)

Siem Reap, home of the Angkor Wat, is known worldwide for the awe-inspiring collection of ancient temple ruins. We begin our sightseeing at Angkor Thom, the heavily fortified city built in the 10th century by the greatest Khmer rulers, King Jayavarman VII (1181 – 1201). With a population of over one million inhabitants, Angkor Thom covered an area of 3.8 square miles. We enter via the South Gate of Angkor Thom, one of the five 65-foot high gates passes along a narrow causeway over the city moat flanked by the statues of 54 gods on the left and 54 devils on the right. They are seemingly engaged in a game of tug of war, yet they are enacting the famous scene from the Churning Sea of Milk bas-relief. After walking through the causeway and gate, you will have entered Angkor Thom. From Angkor Thom’s southern gateway, continue to visit the Bayon Temple. The structure is staggering in its construction, and most Angkor specialists agree that it is one of the finest examples of classic Khmer architecture. The 49 towers on the third level are stunning and decorated with 172 smiling faces of the omnipresent Avalokitesvara. This temple marks the exact center of Angkor Thom; thus, it is the most venerated of the city’s temples and the most mysterious. Leaving the Bayon, take a brief stop at the Royal Enclosure to see the Elephant Terrace. The terrace takes its name from the exceptional depiction of elephants and of an elephant hunt, which takes up the majority of the frieze. A little north of the main terrace is another, known as the Terrace of the Leper King. It was built in the Bayon style under Jayavarman VII, though its modern name derives from a 15th-century sculpture discovered at the site. The statue depicts the Hindu god Yama, the god of death. We continue to the 12th century Preah Khan temple located northeast of Angkor Thom. Constructed as a monastery and teaching complex in 1191 by Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is unique in its sense of religious tolerance, with sections dedicated to Buddhism, ancestor worship, and the Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu. We will conclude our afternoon’s sightseeing with a stop at the jungle temple Ta Prohm. This temple is covering by the trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surrounding, creating an astonishing merger of nature and architecture.

Optional Tour: Sunset Cruise at Angkor Thom

$35 per person, minimum of two participants.

This short yet romantic excursion starts in the afternoon. Set sail aboard your private gondola on peaceful waters that pass by some of Siem Reap’s most iconic temple ruins. En route, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy drinks and canapés serve onboard while witnessing one of the most impressive sunset views in all of Angkor Wat.

DAY 05

SIEM REAP (B/D)

Start the day early to view the sunrise over the beautiful ruins of Angkor Wat. Imagine centuries ago, the markets and temples coming alive with the dawn of a new day.  After this memorable experience, enter Angkor Wat’s main enclosure to experience Angkor from an entirely different perspective. With the grounds almost deserted of visitors, you will feel like Angkor Wat is yours to explore. Constructed under the reign of Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is one of the most massive religious structures in the world, covering an area 480 acres encircled by an enclosure wall nearly four miles long.  The five towers of Angkor Wat represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, home of the gods, and center of the Hindu universe. The temple’s greatest sculptural treasure is its one-mile-long bas-relief that wraps around the walls of the outer gallery along with the figures of Khmer Devas and Apsaras. Return to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, drive to the intricately carved and well-preserved Banteay Srei. The detailed reliefs on this smaller sandstone structure are regarded as the finest and most skillfully crafted in Cambodia. The remainder of the afternoon will be at your leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities and escape the midday sun.

Tonight, feast on classic Khmer cuisine and take in an Apsara dance performance featuring the traditional culture of Cambodia.

DAY 06

SIEM REAP/BANGKOK (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital. We arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport to meet your local guide for your transfer to the hotel.

DAY 07

CITY, TEMPLES, AND THE GRAND PALACE (B)

Today we begin our sightseeing at the Thai Capital. First, we explore the glittering Wat Pho, an enormous reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf and lying majestically on its side. Then, visit the splendid Grand Palace complex, the most important and impressive royal palace in Thailand. Your guide will show you the courts used for different occasions, including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. Appropriate dress is required.

DAY 08

AYUTTHAYA (B/L)

In the morning, depart Bangkok for Ayutthaya, the ancient Siamese capital. Today Ayutthaya hosts some of Thailand’s most important historical landmarks and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The magnitude and number of the ancient temple ruins speak of the former greatness of the city. Visit some of the most impressive temples and nearby Bang-Pa-In. The Bang Pa-In Summer Palace of King Rama V consists of buildings designed in European, Chinese, and Thai architectural styles. Cruise back to Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River aboard a river cruiser. En route, you can observe the scenic river life as you enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch.

DAY 09

BANGKOK/KRABI (B)

Fly to Krabi on southern Thailand’s west coast, famed for its enchanting white-sand beaches and limestone formations. Upon arrival, meet your driver at the airport arrival hall for your transfer to the hotel.

DAY 10

KRABI (B/L)

Start the day with a morning tour to Koh Klang, a charming and peaceful island located less than 10 minutes by boat from Krabi town. In the morning, visit a local market in Krabi town where the farmers sell their fresh products. We board a longtail boat to the beautiful dense mangrove jungle at Koh Klang, admire the stunning estuaries on both sides of the island. Once on this car-free island, take a tuk-tuk to explore this atmospheric island where more than 5,000 people reside. We will meet boat builders, rice farmers, and batik artists living the traditional lifestyle. We will have lunch at a floating restaurant in the mangroves before returning to our hotel.

DAY 11

KRABI (B)

A day for relaxation or perhaps, spend the day snorkeling, kayaking, diving, or exploring some of the town’s finest shops. For the total island experience, join our optional Jungle Trekking tour to experience the tropical forest with its great variety of plants and wildlife.

DAY 12

KRABI DEPARTURE (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Krabi International airport for your onward flight.

Meals: B= Breakfast, L= Lunch