From Bangkok to the beach, this two-week tour, designed to include the Loi Krathong festival, is sure to give you a true taste of Thai life while also including a visit to Siem Reap’s ancient Angkorian temples.
Let our top guides show you the bustling city of Bangkok before heading North. Take a tour of Chiang Mai and enjoy one of Thailand’s most picturesque celebrations, the Loi Krathong Festival (Nov. 22 – 25 in 2018 – which is the Thanksgiving holiday period in the U.S.) which marks the end of the main rice harvest and is designed to thank the gods for the yearly supply of water.
Fly to the Cambodian city of Siem Reap to take in the sights at Angkor Wat and be further inspired by the wonders of the entire Angkor Archeological Park. While in Siem Reap, see the beauty of the Cambodian countryside by horseback and kayak through floating mangrove forest in Southeast Asia’s largest lake, the Tonle Sap.
Finish your trip by spending a few days relaxing on one of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches, coconut in hand.
We’ve tailored two separate itineraries: One for families (below) and another for a romantic couple’s getaway
Day 1 Bangkok: Arrival
Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Oriental Residence Hotel – Two Bedroom Suite
Day 2 Bangkok: Public Transport Tour with Klong Tour
You will be met by your guide at your hotel at 9.00am before joining a river express boat along the river to the flower market. Enjoy the sights and smells before taking a lively tuk-tuk ride to Wat Pho to see the famous Reclining Buddha. Enjoy a 60-minute massage at the temple’s traditional Thai massage school followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
After your delicious meal, head to the pride of Thailand – the Grand Palace, also visiting Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the famous Emerald Buddha. Take a stroll down the street to a local Buddhist amulet market before heading off along the klongs (canals), finally boarding a river express boat back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Oriental Residence Hotel – Two Bedroom Suite
Day 3 Chiang Mai: Arrival and Doi Suthep Temple and Home Industries
Your driver will meet you at your hotel for your private transfer to the airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight – Bangkok Airways PG270 departing Bangkok at 10:00 & arriving Chiang Mai at 11:15. You will be met by your guide at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will drive up to visit Doi Suthep, the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below. From here head west of the city walls on to one of the most beautiful viewpoints for sunset – Wat Suan Dok. Literally translated as ‘’field of flowers’’, this temple was built by King Keu Na of Lanna, and is a prime example of Lanna architecture. Here at this fourteenth century temple you will witness evening prayer as the monks and local people come together at the end of the day.
Enjoy lunch with your guide at a local restaurant.
On this tour you will get the chance to explore the fascinating industrial world that feeds the ever-growing city of Chiang Mai. Witness the different processes in person, learning the techniques behind the creation of lacquer-ware, silk and traditional Thai umbrellas. You will also get the opportunity to explore some of the stores which are home to these beautifully finished products.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village – Family Room
Day 4 Chiang Mai: Elephant Owner for a Day at Patara Elephant Farm
You will be met in the lobby of your hotel at 7.30am and transferred to the Patara Elephant Farm, located not far from Chiang Mai. At the farm you will be given your training outfit and a brief talk on working with elephants before heading into the bush to find them. You will learn about the management of the elephant farm and the how the breeding program has been developed and maintained. You will of course be introduced to the start of the show, and slowly will learn how to work with them on the ground.
After you’ve made friends, you can then lead them down to the river for their morning bath, followed by a short ride to a local temple where you can learn about elephants in Buddhism and the Thai’s ancient relationship with these traditional beasts of burden. Around midday you will set off on a ride through the jungle to visit some lovely waterfalls where you can enjoy a picnic lunch as well as a swim in the falls with your elephant. Return to the camp in the afternoon and say goodbye to your new friends before being transferred back to your hotel.
Please note: Today you will get wet when you help with the elephants’ bath. Please bring appropriate clothing for this, as well as a towel and change of clothes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village – Family Room
Day 5 Chiang Mai: Loi Krathong Festival – City Temples Tour
During the Loi Krathong Festival the city has a wonderful atmosphere unique to this special time of year, so it’s a great time to explore. You will be met by your guide and driver in the morning and start your day with a visit to Wat Phra Singh. Here you can see the precious golden Buddha, and some of the oldest mural paintings in the area (over 500 years-old).
From here take a rickshaw to Wat Pan Tao, the most beautiful teakwood chapel in town, before continuing on to Wat Chedi Luang, the biggest and the most beautiful pagoda in all of northern Thailand. Spend some time admiring the Three Kings Monument followed by a short coffee break and some additional time to explore the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, which will give you a great introduction into Chiang Mai’s history, customs, arts and culture. After a good look around, meet up with your van which will transfer you directly back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Yaang Come Village – Family Room
Day 6 Chiang Mai: 4 Villages Trek
After breakfast, leave Chiang Mai by private mini-van for Phrao (94 Kms. away). Once you reach Phrao, you will continue driving for 45 minutes to the village of Pang Tong. From here you will trek approximately 20 minutes to Musher village where you can take a rest before continuing another 2 hours to a village of the Karen ethnic group. From here you will continue another 15 minutes and stop to have a picnic lunch in an Akha Village.
After lunch and a short rest, trek 1 hour to a Palong Hilltribe Village (Karen immigrants from Burma) before meeting your van and leaving Chiang Dao. If time permits you may wish to stop at an orchid & butterfly Farm, before returning to Chiang Mai for the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village – Family Room
Day 7 Siem Reap: Arrival and Phare Circus
You will be met by your guide at your hotel and transferred to Chiang Mai airport for your departure flight with – Bangkok Airways PG216 departing Chiang Mai at 10:00 & arriving Bangkok at 11:20. Catch your connecting flight – Bangkok Airways PG913 departing Bangkok at 13:45 & arriving Siem Reap at 14:45. Arrive in Siem Reap where you will be met by a Journeys Within representative and will be transferred to your hotel.
This evening you will be treated to a unique performance by the Cambodian Circus, also known as the hugely talented Phare Ponleu Selpak. Literally translated as ‘’the brightness of the arts’’, this Artistic and Social Center has been running as a non-profit association since 1994, and was founded by a group of young ex-refugees from Battambang Province. Witness some remarkable acrobatics and visual arts while supporting one of Cambodia’s most inspiring projects. Performances start at 8.00pm.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Journeys Within Boutique Hotel – Family Suite
Day 8 Siem Reap: Angkor Wat and Visit JWOC Art Class
After breakfast head to Angkor Wat in an air-conditioned car with your guide. Explore this majestic temple throughout the morning while it is still cool and has fewer tourists.
Sunday afternoons are special at Journeys Within Our Community. We hold our art class for local students at 2.30pm – a no-pressure class where anyone is invited to come, play games, sing songs and do a simple and rewarding art project. Volunteers are great for this class; we break the students into groups and as a volunteer you can join a group and help the little ones with scissors and other tricky tasks and give the older students encouragement and attention. It is fun for all the family, a great way to get involved and see our project in action. You will have a chance to meet with our scholarship students and gain a greater understanding about the work we do within our community.
Please arrive at 2:20pm before the lesson starts so the teacher can explain the project and you can get oriented. The class runs until 4pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within Boutique Hotel – Family Suite
Day 9 Siem Reap: Banteay Srei, Other Temples and Happy Ranch Horseback Riding
This morning set off with your guide to Banteay Srei, the intricately carved temple located just 30km beyond Angkor Wat. As you head towards your hotel you can stop at Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, two of the prettiest temples in the complex. Enjoy climbing through these smaller unique. Enjoy lunch in the temple complex overlooking Sra Srang.
The Happy Ranch Horse Farm has lovely horses available for beginners through to advanced level. After brief safety instructions, you will begin your trail ride which will allow you to experience a unique side of Cambodia. Ride through the rice fields and villages and see the real Siem Reap. You will also be able to visit a temple where you can have a break and explore before continuing off the beaten track.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within Boutique Hotel – Family Suite
Day 10 Siem Reap: Kayaking Tour
Experience a unique Journeys Within day kayaking on the Tonle Sap Lake. You will set out around 8am and drive for about an hour before boarding a boat for a 40 minute ride to one of the lake villages. Here the homes are built on stilts because, while in the dry season the surrounding area is dry, in the rainy season it is flooded and so they rise above the water level. You will arrive at the local home that stores the canoes and after a short safety briefing head off with your guide who will lead you through waterways, flooded forests and out into the Tonle Sap Lake where you can take a dip if you wish.
After you’ve had a good explore, wind your way back through the village, taking in local life in this watery environment before returning to a local home for some lunch and a leisurely boat and car ride back to town.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within Boutique Hotel – Family Suite
Day 11 Phuket: Arrival
Your driver will meet you at your hotel for your private transfer to the airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight – Bangkok Airways PG924 departing Siem Reap at 09:50 & arriving Phuket at 13:55.You will be met at Phuket Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Once you have checked in relax and enjoy your resort. There are restaurants in the hotel and in the surrounding area, pools to enjoy and of course the beach!
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Boathouse Resort on the Beach – Family Seaview Suite
Day 12 Phuket: Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Boathouse Resort on the Beach – Family Seaview Suite
Day 13 Phuket: Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Boathouse Resort on the Beach – Family Seaview Suite
Day 14 Phuket: Departure
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $14,150.00 total for a family of four (2 adults + 2 children ages 8 & 12)
Price includes:
- Air tickets Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Bangkok – Siem Reap – Phuket
- Boat tickets as specified above
- Accommodation as specified above
- Air-conditioned car/van with driver
- Licensed English speaking guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified in itinerary, including water
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Drinks (except water) and meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips
