The Best of Thailand – Cambodia – Laos - 23 Days / 22 Nights
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Tour Highlights
- Experience Bangkok at its best with a luxury, relaxing Manohra Dinner Cruise along the Chao Phraya River and enjoy seeing some of Bangkok’s historic attractions at night
- Explore Bangkok’s Khlongs or canals by a long-tail boat ride, seeing busy life along the Khlongs
- Visit the important attractions from The Royal Grand Palace, The Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho, on the Rattanakosin Island, the heart of Old Bangkok city
- Travel up to Chiang Mai at the north of Thailand, visiting the famous Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, plus enjoying river rafting and elephant riding
- Spend your beach relaxing days on Koh Lanta in Krabi, southern Thailand and pamper yourself in the tranquil vistas of your resort
- Take a flight to Siem Reap, entering the spiritual world of the Great Angkor Wat and its ancient temples
- Take a boat trip to the Tonle Sap Lake, discovering the floating villages and market
- Take a flight to Luang Prabang and visit famous ancient temples and the National Museum around the centre plus the Mount Phousi the great viewpoint
- Cross the Mekong River by boat to visit Pak Ou Caves with thousands of wooden Buddha statues
- Do some shopping for Laos traditional handicrafts
Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Bangkok
On arrival in Bangkok you will be met with your guide at Suvarnabhumi Airport and taken to your hotel by limousine.
In the evening we have arranged for you a romantic dinner for two on board The Manohra, a magnificent rice barge that has been converted into one of Bangkok’s finest dining venues.
Enjoy a sumptuous five-course dinner while cruising along the Chao Phraya River.
The cruise ends back at your hotel.
Overnight at The Peninsula Hotel, in one Double Grand Deluxe Room in Bangkok (D)
Day 2 – Bangkok Sightseeing
Late morning, our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby to take you on a private long-tail boat ride through the Bangkok Klongs (canals).
The tour ends at the charming Supathra Restaurant overlooking the river where you will be served lunch. In the afternoon you will visit The Royal Grand Palace, home of the Royal family as well as the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand.
Take a short stroll or drive to visit Wat Pho, Bangkok’s oldest temple and the first school of Thai massage.
The evening is free for you to explore Bangkok at twilight and night.
Overnight at The Peninsula Hotel in one Double Grand Deluxe Room in Bangkok (B,L)
Day 3 – Bangkok – Chiang Mai
Leave to catch the morning flight to Chiang Mai (TG104 at 10h30 am).
On arrival in the northern Thai capital you will be met with your guide at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
The afternoon is free at your leisure. You can try learning Thai cooking at Thai Cooking School or pamper yourself at acclaimed spa in Chiang Mai.
Overnight at The Chedi Hotel, in one Double Deluxe Room in Chiang Mai (B)
Day 4 – Chiang Mai - Elephant Riding and Bamboo Rafting
In the morning we will pick you up and take you further into the mountains to visit an elephant camp where you will start an elephant riding through the jungle. After that you will take a gentle, atmospheric bamboo rafting along the Ping River.
After lunch at a charming riverside restaurant, take a drive further into the mountains. Our destination is the areas inhabited by numerous hill tribe people. Visit an Akha village before arriving at a Palaung village.
Take a short walk through the jungle where you will see Palong women in their colourful dress working the fields.
Overnight at The Chedi Hotel in one Double Deluxe Room in Chiang Mai (B,L)
Day 5 – Chiang Mai Sightseeing
In the morning, visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, northern Thailand’s most important temple perched on a mountain side overlooking the city.
After the visit, drive down into the old city to visit a small and intimate temple where we have arranged a traditional blessing ceremony to be conducted by the resident Buddhist monks to ensure harmony through your married life.
After the ceremony you can make a special donation for the monks (we make all the arrangements for you).
In the afternoon, decide whether you prefer to visit more temples and learn a little about Buddhism or to visit a really worthwhile handicrafts centre where you can find genuine and reproduction antiques.
Overnight at The Chedi Hotel in one Double Deluxe Room in Chiang Mai (B)
Day 6 – Chiang Mai – Phuket – Koh Lanta
Have breakfast and free at your leisure until our limousine arrives to take you to the airport for your direct flight to Phuket (TG129 at 12h50 pm).
Arrive at Phuket Airport at 02h45 pm. Our representative will be waiting to meet and transfer you further south by car and speedboat to Lanta Island.
Overnight at Layana Resort & Spa in one Double Beach Suite on Lanta Island (B)
Day 7 – Koh Lanta
Have breakfast at your hotel. After that, it is a wonderful time when you can spend your day at leisure on the beach or enjoy water sports and activities.
Overnight at Layana Resort & Spa in one Double Beach Suite on Lanta Island (B)
Day 13 – Koh Lanta – Krabi – Bangkok
Take a morning flight to Bangkok.
On arrival in Bangkok, you will be transferred to your hotel.
The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Bangkok, or simply choose one of our interesting half day tours.
Overnight at The Peninsula Hotel in one Double Grand Deluxe Room in Bangkok (B)
Day 14 – Bangkok
Have breakfast at your hotel. After that spend your time at leisure to explore the city on your own pace or just relax at your hotel.
Overnight at The Peninsula Hotel in one Double Grand Deluxe Room in Bangkok (B)
Day 15 – Bangkok – Siem Reap
Depart to the airport for your direct flight to Siem Reap.
Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. On arrival begin a tour of the temples that includes the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. Return to hotel after watching the sunset over Angkor Wat.
Overnight at Sofitel Royal Angkor Hotel ine one Double Superior Room in Siem Reap (B)
Day 16 – Siem Reap – Angkor Grand Circuit
A second day to explore the wondrous ancient ruins starts with the Grand Circuit in the morning taking in Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Poan and Preah Khan.
In the afternoon, continue to Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon, and the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers.
The day ends with a spectacular sunset at Phnom Bakheng.
Overnight at Sofitel Royal Angkor Hotel in one Double Superior Room in Siem Reap (B)
Day 17 – Siem Reap – Banteay Srei or Boat Trip to Tonle Sap
After breakfast there is a choice between an excursion to Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre or a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake (best from July to February) to see the floating villages and a stop at the Siem Reap market to shop for souvenirs.
Return to your hotel and this afternoon will be free at leisure for you to explore the city on your own pace.
Overnight at Sofitel Royal Angkor Hotel in one Double Superior Room in Siem Reap (B)
Day 18 – Siem Reap – Luang Prabang
Have breakfast at your hotel. After that you will be free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your direct flight to Luang Prabang (VN868 at 12h55 pm).
Arrive in Luang Prabang at 14h35 pm. You will be transferred directly to your hotel.
Overnight at Maison Suvannaphoum in one Double Garden Room in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 19 – Luang Prabang – Mount Phou Si
Have breakfast at your hotel. After that you will be free at leisure.
In the afternoon after a brief orientation tour of the spiritual capital of Laos, you will climb the 328 steps up to the top of Mount Phousi, the great viewpoint from which you will enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Stop at the evening hill tribe market.
Overnight at Maison Suvannaphoum in one Double Garden Room in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 20 – Luang Prabang – Temples Sightseeing
After breakfast, visit beautiful Wat Xieng Thong which shows the best face in the morning sun. Wat Xieng Thong was a Royal temple by the Royal family, built around 1560 by King Setthathirat, a patron of Buddhism and the ruler of Laos from 1548 – 1571. The temple is located close to the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, and it is the highlighted temple of Luang Prabang. It was the only temple having had escaped from the destruction by foreign invaders. Wat Xieng Thong features an example of the magnificent architectural art. The structures are decorated in a variety of ways and motifs such as the gilded stuccos, the doorways and the Sim which was richly decorated with wood and mosaics, with its outer walls depicting the legends of Thao Sisouthane and Thao Souttasom, and mostly the daily life activities of Laos people.
After that, continue to the former Royal Palace which now becomes the National Museum, followed by a visit of Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs.
In the afternoon, continue the exploration of this lovely town with stops at Wat That, Wat Visun and Wat Aham, all located not very far from one another. After the visits of these temples at the centre, cross the Mekong for a walk on the opposite riverside and a climb to Wat Chompet for a different view of the city for sunset.
Overnight at Maison Suvannaphoum in one Double Garden Room in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 21 – Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfall – Luang Prabang
After breakfast, enjoy the way to Kuang Si Waterfall, south west of Luang Prabang. You will stop en route to visit some ethnic minority villages.
It is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track and if the weather is good, swimming in the clear water at the foot of the falls is a fun activity you can do. After that, return to Luang Prabang.
Rest of the afternoon is free at your leisure.
Overnight at Maison Suvannaphoum in one Double Garden Room in Luang Prabang (B)
Day 22 – Luang Prabang – Pak Ou – Luang Prabang
(Optional): For early-risers (05: 30 am) there is a very special dawn visit to witness the long lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from Luang Prabang local people and you can also join the merit making if you like. Then, return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, you will board on a slow boat that goes up the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves.
On the way to Pak Ou, stop and explore Bane Xang Hai, where production of traditional alcohol is still being held, and will be demonstrated. At Pak Ou, thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues are crammed into the two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. They range in size from a few centimeters to the size of a human. After the visit, return to Luang Prabang and the rest of the day is your free time.
Overnight at Maison Suvannaphoum in one Double Garden Room in Luang Prabang (B,L,D)
Day 23 – Luang Prabang – Bangkok – Departure
In the morning, visit a weaving village where traditional Lao textiles are woven and where Sa paper is made.
Stop at Wat Pa Phon Pao, a forest retreat before transferring to the airport for the evening flight back to Bangkok (PG946 at 15h20 pm).
Upon arrival in Bangkok at 17h05 pm, connect to your onwards flight back home (B)
Note: We can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itineray does not match your expectations.
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