Highlights
- Swim and surf in turquoise waters off the white-sand beaches of Phuket
- See the intricate carvings and silver overlays of Chiang Mai's Silver Temple
- Visit the bustle and thrilling chaos of Bangkok's Railway Market
- Walk ancient paths and see the archaeological wonders of Angkor Wat
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Phuket (Thailand), Explore the Beaches & Old Town | Phuket |
| Day 2 | Phuket Island Tour, Muay Thai Martial Arts Evening | Phuket |
| Day 3 | Fly to Chiang Mai, Markets, Nightlife & Cuisine Vespa Tour | Chiang Mai |
| Day 4 | Hill Tribe Visit, Tour the Silver Temple & Baan Tawai | Chiang Mai |
| Day 5 | Fly to Bangkok, Railway & Floating Market Tour | Bangkok |
| Day 6 | Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Afternoon Walking Tour | Siem Reap |
| Day 7 | Explore the Realm of Angkor Wat | Siem Reap |
| Day 8 | Discover Cambodia's Floating Villages, Fly to Phnom Penh | Phnom Penh |
| Day 9 | Phnom Penh Cyclo Tour, Sunset Cruise | Phnom Penh |
| Day 10 | Depart Phnom Penh |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Phuket (Thailand), Explore the Beaches & Old Town
Welcome to Thailand! Your flight lands in Phuket, the country's largest island, known for its resort-like beaches, turquoise waters, and rich, multicultural history. You'll be met by a driver at the airport and transported to your hotel, where you can rest and regroup before heading out to explore on your own.
If you're in need of some beach time, visit Patong Beach, located on the island's west side. Here, you'll find a stretch of soft sand lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. There are equipment rentals and sports activities available here, and if you stay through the evening, you can also enjoy the famed Patong nightlife. For a quieter experience, try Sai Keaw, a relatively undeveloped beach near the Sarasin Bridge, or Ya Nui, which is more of a local beach and not as touristy.
For historic and cultural highlights, spend the afternoon in the island's eponymous capital. See the colorful buildings and architecture of the Old Town, and if you happen to arrive on a Sunday, make sure to stop at the market on Walking Street (known locally as Lard Yai), where you'll find stalls selling local fare and handmade products. The Old Town district is also home to numerous cafés and restaurants, making it a great spot for lunch or dinner. You can even get a traditional Thai massage at one of the many massage shops here.
Day 2: Phuket Island Tour, Muay Thai Martial Arts Evening
Start the morning with a guided tour around the island. After breakfast, meet with your guide and drive along Patong and Kata Beaches, with a stop at the viewpoint of Karon Beach. Here, you'll see the whole city laid out in front of you and photo-worthy vistas of the coastline. Afterward, continue to Wat Chalong. Founded at the beginning of the 19th century, this is Phuket's largest temple and one of its most visited. Walk the sacred grounds and see the nearly 200-foot (60 m) chedi, which houses a splinter of bone from Buddha, and enjoy the incredible paintings and statues around the temple.
Make a quick stop at a local honey farm, which sells raw honey, bee pollen, and royal jelly, and a cashew factory, where you can watch the workers extract the nuts from the cashew shells. Then, your driver will take you to Phuket's Old Town, where, if you didn't get to see all the sights there yesterday, you'll have plenty of time to explore today. Your guide will share the history of the district, and you can take a closer look at the Sino-Portuguese architecture of the popular Thalang Road, stop for a traditional Thai lunch, and visit the local shops and museums before returning to your hotel.
Tonight, experience Thailand's national sport, the martial art of Muay Thai. Developed several hundred years ago, this close combat sport incorporates the entire body, making for an exciting and unusual form of stand-up martial arts fighting. Your driver will transport you to a local stadium, with shows usually starting at either 6:00 or 9:00 pm, depending on the stadium hours. Join in as locals cheer on their favorites and watch the matches unfold amid the fervor of the crowd. After the matches, your driver will return you to your hotel, where you can rest up for the next leg of your journey.
Day 3: Fly to Chiang Mai, Markets, Nightlife & Cuisine Vespa Tour
You're off to the mountains of Chiang Mai today, northern Thailand's largest city with a distinct culture and history that thrives alongside a modern, urban vibe. A private driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Phuket airport for the quick, 1.5-hour flight. Upon arrival, you'll be met and transported to your hotel. After you've gotten checked in and settled, it's time to head out for a memorable evening city tour via Vespa!
Zoom around the city like a local on the back of these fun scooters as your guides take you through twisting back streets and colorful neighborhoods, stopping at various restaurants, bars, and night markets. You'll stop in at a small venue and learn how to make som tam (papaya salad), one of Chiang Mai's signature dishes, then continue through the city streets, stopping at bustling markets for some shopping and a local restaurant for dinner. End with cocktails and live music at a nearby club for an authentic Thai-style night out on the town.
Day 4: Hill Tribe Visit, Tour the Silver Temple & Baan Tawai
Gain more insight into Chiang Mai's people this morning with an excursion to the region's temples and hill tribes. Start with a drive of 3,500 feet (1,066 m) above sea level to reach the sacred temple of Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. Enjoy the fresh air and exercise as you hike around the area, then continue along rustic mountain roads to the White Hmong hill tribe village. Originally migrating from China, the residents here enjoy a simple, self-sustaining life while preserving their culture and customs. Meet the villagers, learn about their daily lives, and see the gorgeous embroidered costumes they create.
Later today, set out on a guided tour to Baan Tawai, a village known for its wood carvings and handcrafted items. Visit with the locals and peruse the various shops, which include not only carvings but incense, candles, soaps, bamboo products, and more. Baan Tawai is also one of the best places in Thailand to find silk, as well as authentic-looking art reproductions.
Afterward, you'll stop by Wat Sri Suphan, or the Silver Temple, named for its brilliant silver overlay and considered one of Chiang Mai's most revered structures. Located outside the walls of the Old City, the temple's surrounding neighborhood has long been the center of the silver and lacquerware handicraft industry, and the entire building was created by traditional workers. See the intricate decorations pounded into the silver panels, some of which depict figures from religious mythology and the zodiac. Your guide will then return you to your hotel, where you can relax or see more of the city on your own.
Day 5: Fly to Bangkok, Railway & Floating Market Tour
Your journey continues this morning as you take a private transfer to the airport for the 1.5-hour flight south to Bangkok. On arrival in the capital, a transfer will take you to your hotel for a quick break before you set off on a sightseeing tour through some of the city's most famous markets.
Your tour starts at the thrilling Mae Klong Railway Market. Located about an hour from Bangkok, the market is often referred to as Siang Tai (Life Risking), and upon arrival, you'll see why. The stalls and their canvas covers are all attached to the railway itself, and when a train approaches, chaos ensues as vendors rush to close their stalls and clear goods that obstruct the track. After the train passes, everything is reopened, and the shop owners put their wares back out. The practice isn't considered unusual to the locals, but the scene is quite exciting for visitors!
Next, visit the floating market of Damnoen Saduak, where vendors paddle small boats laden with produce, street food, and more through a series of chaotic klongs (canals). Located approximately 30 minutes from the railway market, you'll make the scenic drive and have lunch upon arrival. You'll then have time to peruse the local fruits and fresh produce and perhaps shop for souvenirs—haggling is expected, so be sure to have your bargaining skills at the ready! Your driver will return you to Bangkok in time for a stroll through the city streets and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Afternoon Walking Tour
Trade Thailand for Cambodia this morning as you catch a short flight to the northern city of Siem Reap, where a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city. Once you've had a chance to settle in, meet up with your guide for an immersive walking tour. Start with a stroll in front of the King's Residence and see the Main Shrine, where locals worship. The shrine includes the statues of Yeay Teap, Preah Ang Chek, and Preah Ang Chorm. You may see the statues surrounded by flower offerings, as jasmine and lotus flowers are considered an important part of worship for the Cambodian people.
Afterward, stop by the Artisans D'Angkor, a vocational collective created in the 1990s to help young Cambodians find work and learn traditional craft skills that include stone and wood carving, lacquering, and silk processing. Meet some of the students and see their creations, with the option to purchase some unusual gifts to take home. End the day at the Psar Chars, or Old Market, one of the city's lively street markets where anything and everything is for sale.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 7: Explore the Realm of Angkor Wat
Today is sure to be a highlight of the trip as you venture into one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia—Angkor Wat. This temple complex, considered the largest religious structure in the world, encompasses more than 200 acres (81 ha), with scores of large and small temples, canals, hydraulic structures, and communication routes—showcasing the remarkable architecture and engineering of its time. For several centuries Angkor was the epicenter of the Khmer Kingdom, and it's still inhabited by villagers, some of whom have ancestry that dates back to the complex's origins.
Your guides will take you past the distinctive five towers, which symbolize Meru's five peaks, while the surrounding walls and moat represent the mountains at the edge of the world and the ocean beyond. Continue to the South Gate, with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, to the ancient capital of Angkor Thom and its 12th-century Bayon Temple, known for its 54 towers decorated with more than 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. See the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Your day ends at Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Spend some time here in quiet contemplation, then receive a blessing ceremony from a Buddhist monk to bring prosperity, happiness, and safe travels. Your tuk-tuk will then take you back to your hotel, offering a quick evening spin around the city before dropping you off.
Day 8: Discover Cambodia's Floating Villages, Transfer to Phnom Penh
Take a quick trip out of the city this morning to tour the floating villages of Cambodia's Tonlé Sap, the country's own "Great Lake" and one of the largest in Asia. You'll start in the morning, departing from the hotel with your guides and driving to the lake, where you'll board a traditional wooden boat and cruise through the watery roadways of the floating villages. The lake is home to more than three million people, with many living directly on the water. Travel around the lake, see fishermen at work, and notice the other floating homes and villages in the distance.
Day 9: Phnom Penh Cyclo City Tour, Sunset Cruise
Today you'll get to know the capital like a local as you cruise around its key landmarks and neighborhoods by cyclo. First introduced in the 1930s, these three-wheeled transports are considered an integral part of the city and remain one of the best ways to get around. Start with a visit to the Independence Monument, built to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France. Continue to the Royal Palace, built in 1866 on the site of the Old Town and the Silver Pagoda. Located on the palace grounds, this glittering marvel is named for its incredible floor, made up of 5,000 silver tiles.
Then it's on to the National Museum (or Musee des Beaux-Arts). A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917, and it contains an impressive collection of Khmer art pieces. End the day at Phnom Penh's Psar Toul Tom Pong, otherwise known as the Russian Market, a great place to hunt for last-minute gifts and souvenirs.
Before you head back to your hotel for the evening, make the most of your last night in Cambodia with a relaxing sunset cruise on the Mekong River. You'll board at the pier and set out on a traditional wooden boat, enjoying views of the city lights as the sun goes down over the water. See the fishermen bringing in their boats for the day and locals heading home from work, and have a refreshing beverage as you travel along the river.
Day 10: Depart Phnom Penh
Your 10-day exploration of Thailand and Cambodia comes to a close today. When the time comes, your driver will collect you from your hotel and transport you to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
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