Highlights
- Admire Bangkok's many temples with a dinner cruise down the Chao Phraya River
- Explore floating markets and whip up Thai dishes at a local cooking school
- Barter for souvenirs and sweet treats on the floating market of Damnoen Saduak
- Witness ancient and modern Cambodian history at Angkor Wat and Choeung Ek
- Immerse yourself in Cambodian flavors with a breakfast tour of Phnom Penh
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bangkok (Thailand), Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River | Bangkok |
| Day 2 | Tour the Temples & Grand Palace of Bangkok | Bangkok |
| Day 3 | Visit the Mae Klong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market | Bangkok |
| Day 4 | Cooking Class at Blue Elephant, Bangkok Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk | Bangkok |
| Day 5 | Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Explore Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat | Siem Reap |
| Day 6 | Watch the Sunrise Over Angkor Wat, Visit More Angkor Temples | Siem Reap |
| Day 7 | Half-Day Tonlé Sap Tour, Sunset Siem Reap Food Tour | Siem Reap |
| Day 8 | Fly to Phnom Penh, Visit Tuol Sleng Museum & the Choeung Ek Memorial | Phnom Penh |
| Day 9 | Morning Market & Breakfast Tour, Visit the Royal Palace & National Museum | Phnom Penh |
| Day 10 | Depart Phnom Penh |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok (Thailand), Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River
Welcome to Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand! Meet your driver outside Bangkok International Airport for a private transfer to your hotel. Stay in to relax and recover from jet lag or head out to explore the city on your own for a few hours. Walk around the city, admiring the many temples you'll get a deeper look at tomorrow, or visit one of the many spas to get a Thai massage and wind down after your flight. Your tension will disappear as Thai massages incorporate a mix of stretching and acupressure techniques.
Return to your hotel to get ready for a luxury dinner cruise down the Chao Phraya River, getting a glimpse of landmarks like the Grand Palace and the temples of Wat Arun and Wat Pho lighting up the city skyline. As you watch the incredible scenery pass by, enjoy a delectable buffet dinner accompanied by a traditional Thai dance performance. After the cruise, your guide will pick you up at the pier and escort you back to the hotel.
Day 2: Tour the Temples & Grand Palace of Bangkok
Today you'll visit some of the landmarks you passed on last night's boat cruise, starting with Wat Pho. Wake up bright and early to experience the monk's morning chanting ritual, giving you a spiritual introduction to one of the oldest temples in the city. Afterward, explore the temple grounds before stepping inside to see the famous 150-foot-long (46 m) reclining Buddha. Then, head to Chinatown to visit Wat Traimit and marvel at the 900-year-old, solid gold Buddha statue inside.
Next up, it's Wat Arun, better known as the Temple of the Dawn, aptly named as its shell and porcelain-decorated spires glitter in the morning sun. In the afternoon, move on to the Grand Palace, the highlight of today's tour. Once the official residence of the country's kings from 1782 to 1925, today, it's used for ceremonial purposes. Walk through the vast grounds and enter the adjoining Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha Temple), the most important Buddhist temple in the country, as you learn more about traditional Thai art and architecture from your guide.
After a rest back at your hotel, your guide will take you out for a late dinner, leading you to favorite local haunts for popular Thai dishes like pad thai or wattana panich, a beef noodle soup. Your last stop is a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy a drink at the top and admire the glittering city lights spilling over the river. At the end of this action-packed day, a driver will drop you off at your hotel.
Day 3: Visit the Mae Klong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Make your way out of the city this morning to visit the Mae Klong Railway Market. Vendors set up their stalls on an active railway track, and each time a train approaches, they swiftly retract their awnings and merchandise to make way for the passing locomotive. Witnessing this incredible feat of coordination and precision allows you to understand the ingenuity of the local vendors. Once you've seen this spectacle, stroll through the bustling aisles of the markets to savor delicious street food or shop for souvenirs.
Head to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market next, where you can observe a plethora of vendors peddling on small wooden boats adorned with colorful fruits, snacks, and souvenirs. Wind your way along the narrow canal banks and capture candid snapshots of authentic Thai life or hop in a boat yourself to explore the wares up close. Many merchants cook and sell food from their boats, too, such as tom yum, a spicy seafood soup with noodles and shrimp. Take your time exploring the market and discovering the local culture before returning to your hotel in Bangkok.
Day 4: Cooking Class at Blue Elephant, Bangkok Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk
Now that you've tried some delicious local dishes, it's your turn to learn how to make them with a cooking class at Blue Elephant. Visit Bang Rak Morning Market with your instructor to learn about the different types of fruits, vegetables, and spices used in Thai cooking. Back at the cooking school, put your newly acquired knowledge into practice and prepare a delicious lunch under the guidance of experienced chefs. Prepare dishes like som tum, a papaya salad, or pad thai koong, a stir-fried noodle dish with prawns, depending on the menu of the day.
Head back to the hotel to relax until your evening food tour. Hop in a tuk-tuk, a motorized rickshaw, to visit some of Bangkok's most beloved eateries and savor authentic Thai cuisine with the help of a local guide. Try northeastern Thai food, the best pad thai in the city, mango sticky rice, and some popular homestyle Thai snacks. End the night at a rooftop bar for cocktails and stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. At the end of the tour, take a tuk-tuk back to your hotel with a satisfied stomach and a deeper appreciation for the city's culture and cuisine.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Explore Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat
Bid farewell to Bangkok this morning as you head to the airport to catch a flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to the ruins of Angkor in Cambodia. Meet your local guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in. After dropping your bags, jump right into the action with a tour of Angkor's most beautiful temples. Start at Angkor Thom, which means "Great City" in Khmer, and discover the ruins of what was once the most impressive royal city of the Khmer Empire. Walk through the archaeological site, stopping at Bayon Temple, composed of 54 Gothic towers, all covered in sculpted faces.
Head to Angkor Wat next; built in the 12th century and famed for its beauty and splendor, this complex is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. Its five towers are so iconic that they're actually emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. Immerse yourself in the ruins as you stroll through its galleries, libraries, pavilions, and courtyards. Afterward, enjoy a sunset view from Bakheng Hill.
If you worked up an appetite after all that walking, return to Siem Reap and make your way to Pub Street, a vibrant avenue of restaurants, bars, and clubs where you can sit down, enjoy a delicious meal, and have a cold drink. Once you're refueled, browse some of the city's night markets with your guide. If you're feeling up for it, continue your evening at one of the many bars or nightclubs or head back to the hotel to relax.
Day 6: Watch the Sunrise Over Angkor Wat, Visit More Angkor Temples
Wake up early today to revisit Angkor Wat and watch the sunrise over its spires. Once the sun peaks, head back to the hotel for breakfast to refuel and prepare for the next temple, Banteay Srei, also known as the "Citadel of Women." This 10th-century wonder, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, stands out for its intricate red sandstone carvings. Next up is Banteay Samre, a temple that showcases the characteristic Khmer architectural elements, including intricate bas-reliefs, elegant colonnades, and finely carved lintels.
In the afternoon, continue your tour at the fantastic Ta Prohm, a temple embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers, showcasing a symbiosis of art and nature. Visit the weathered sandstone structures, picturesque courtyards, and elegant carvings of Banteay Kdei next. End the tour at Prasat Kravan, a small, private temple built in the 10th century and known for its unusual brick sculptures. If your feet aren't too tired, you can take a walk along the flowing Siem Reap River and the adjacent Royal Independence Gardens in the evening.
Day 7: Half-Day Tonlé Sap Tour, Sunset Siem Reap Food Tour
Leave the temples behind today as you journey into the rural landscapes of Siem Reap at Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Board a boat and observe the floating villages and inhabitants sustained by Cambodia's "Great Lake," cruising past homes, schools, markets, and even restaurants built on stilts. Witness firsthand the unique lifestyle of those residing in these buoyant communities, marveling at their resourcefulness and ability to adapt to their surroundings. Later on, you'll head back to the hotel to relax before an evening food tour.
In the late afternoon, hop on a tuk-tuk with your guide to explore the culinary wonders of this busy temple town. Begin with a visit to the only restaurant in town that specializes in Kula cuisine, created by a small ethnic minority group in northwest Cambodia. Next, you'll leave the city center and venture into the countryside to savor a home-cooked meal made with seasonal ingredients, then it's back to the city for beef skewers and pickled vegetables at a popular barbecue restaurant. End your night with a cocktail made with local ingredients or an ice-cold pint of Cambodian beer at a fun hidden hangout.
Day 8: Fly to Phnom Penh, Visit Tuol Sleng Museum & the Choeung Ek Memorial
Say your goodbyes to Siem Reap this morning as you catch a quick flight south to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. After settling into your hotel, you'll visit the notorious Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum for a somber look into the bloody history of the Khmer Rouge. As you walk through this former school-turned-prison, you'll see the cramped cells where prisoners were held and tortured. The walls are lined with photographs of those who were imprisoned here to pay homage to the victims.
Afterward, stop at the Choeung Ek Memorial. Located at one of the country's notorious "killing fields," the museum here provides detailed accounts of the horrors that occurred between 1975 and 1979, while the memorial site serves as a reminder of this suffering and the resilience of the human spirit. Visiting these sites may be emotionally challenging, but it's an essential part of understanding Cambodia's history.
Day 9: Morning Market & Breakfast Tour, Visit the Royal Palace & National Museum
On your penultimate day in Cambodia, you'll set off into the local morning markets for a breakfast tour by tuk-tuk. Start at a local hangout for coffee served alongside a bowl of savory noodle soup. Then stroll through a bustling open-air wet market to try what's in-season, learn how fresh curry paste is made, and duck into a family-run shop for a taste of a classic Khmer breakfast. Grab a plastic chair and sit streetside for some freshly grilled pork and rice served with homemade pickles, then finish at a hip local café, sampling some of the signature coffee that won them the National Barista Gold Medal.
Later on, you'll have plenty of fuel to tour Phnom Penh's gleaming Royal Palace, a showcase of Cambodia's rich cultural heritage and impressive architecture. Step inside to glimpse the dazzling Silver Pagoda, with every inch of its floor covered in shimmering silver tiles that reflect light in all directions.
Next, make your way to the National Museum of Cambodia to explore the country's history and culture through its impressive collection of Khmer artifacts. The museum houses over 14,000 items, including sculptures, ceramics, and textiles, spanning from prehistoric times to the present day. You'll end at Wat Phnom, the most important Buddhist temple in the city. Built in 1373, its intricate architecture, colorful murals, and Buddha statues attract visitors from all over the world. Enjoy a leisurely walk around the temple gardens or sit under the many shade trees while taking in the peaceful views.
Day 10: Depart Phnom Penh
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