Highlights of Thailand & Cambodia: Temples, Mountains & Beaches - 10 Days

Highlights

• Shop for food, fruit, and handicrafts at one of the largest floating markets in Asia
• Visit the Jungle Elephant Sanctuary outside of Chiang Mai
• Take a speedboat to the Phi Phi Islands for snorkeling and beach time
• Immerse yourself in the ancient Khmer temples of Angkor Wat

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok (Thailand), Traditional Thai Massage

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. You'll be met at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for a private transfer to Bangkok. Upon arrival at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to relax at the hotel or start exploring Bangkok on your own.

Ever-changing, lively, and always humid, Bangkok is full of gorgeous temples, rooftop bars, skyscrapers, and historic markets, leaving you dizzy in the best way. You'll find an intriguing mix of age-old traditions and modern businesses, where entire communities still live in stilted houses by the river, holy shrines are scattered throughout the city, and sleek, soaring buildings overlook both. Most visitors start in the neighborhood of Rattanakosin, home of the Grand Palace and Wat Po, or head to the nearby canals, ancient yet still bustling with floating markets. 

After your day of exploration or relaxation, you'll be transferred to the renowned Oasis Spa for a decadent two-hour massage. Relax through a combination of Thai massage and aromatherapy with an herbal hot compress. Your session today ends with a hot oil massage, leaving you relaxed, refreshed, and ready for the rest of your trip.

Day 2: Grand Palace & Temples City Tour, Bangkok Street Food Experience

Today you'll be guided through the hustle and bustle of Bangkok to visit some of its most famous temples, shrines, and palaces. Begin in Chinatown at the stunning Wat Traimit, home of one of the largest solid gold Buddhas in the world. Continue to the intricate Wat Po to visit the 150-foot-long (45 m) Reclining Buddha and the original school of traditional Thai massage, then duck into the Grand Palace, the nation's landmark and most revered royal monument. Explore the different buildings within the palace, like the Coronation Hall and Royal Guest House, and don't miss the Emerald Buddha.

Later in the day, your guide will take you for an evening street food tour, highlighting some of the best eats in Bangkok. You'll begin, once again, in Chinatown, where you can try various finger foods such as kai satay (barbecued chicken) with sweet and sour peanut sauce or sweet sauce with red onion and cucumber. Try the most well-known Thai menu item, pad thai, seafood boiled rice, or ba me mhoo daeng (dried noodles with red pork). After you've had your fill, hop on a tuk-tuk for a leisurely drive to see Bangkok at night before retiring to your hotel.

Day 3: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Tour, Fly to Chiang Mai

There are more adventures in store today with an early morning trip to one of Thailand's oldest and largest markets, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the Ratchaburi province. On the way, you'll visit a coconut sugar house to see how they make sugar from coconut and sample some fresh coconut juice. The 1.5-hour trip includes a long-tail boat ride for about 30 minutes, passing through remote plantations and Thai villages along the river and winding canal.

Once you arrive at the floating market, enjoy the lively scene of local vendors selling specialty foods, tropical fruits, and numerous handicraft products, all from their boats. Upon your return to Bangkok, you'll be transferred to the airport for a short flight to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Your driver will take you to your hotel within this charming city to rest up for another day of exploration.

Day 4: Doi Inthanon National Park & Mae Klang Luang Nature Trail

Experience the incredible nature around Chiang Mai with a day tour of parks, waterfalls, small villages, nature trails, and even a swim. Begin with a two-hour journey through rice paddies before ascending into the mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park, part of the Thanon Thong Chai range. You'll reach the country's highest point at 7,041 feet (2,146 m), where two magnificent pagodas mark a viewpoint over the mountaintops. Enjoy the panoramic views and the much cooler climate.

Then, head to a Karen hill tribe village to observe the local way of life and browse their colorful craft market. On the return trip, you'll stop at the 262-foot-high (80 m) Wachirathan Waterfall to marvel as its vapor lingers above the jungle canopy. You'll then follow the Ban Mae Klang Luang Nature Trail, taking you away from the main tourist track on a forested route downhill. Walk along the river to Pa Dok Siew Waterfall, where you can cool off with a swim.

The day's last stop is the Karen village of Mae Klang Luang. The most important crop and the main business of the town is coffee. Visit the local coffeehouse, where they roast, hand-grind, and prepare coffee on-site. Try a cup (or two) and purchase a bag to bring home.

Day 5: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Fly to Phuket

Today's adventure begins with an early morning trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. The 1.5-hour transfer south of Chiang Mai passes through rolling hills, forests, and local farming areas. After you arrive at the sanctuary, tour the facility to learn more about its purpose, the elephants, the local history, and conservation efforts. After you meet the elephants, you can feed them, help give medicine, or play with these gentle giants. Then, you'll walk with the elephants to the nearby river for a "mud spa," where you can bathe them and take a dip yourself. 

After a traditional lunch and a fond farewell to the elephants, you'll be transferred back to your hotel in Chiang Mai. This afternoon, you'll say goodbye to the mountainous north before your transfer to the airport for a short flight to the coast. Next stop: Phuket! Upon arrival on Thailand's largest island, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel, then a free afternoon of beach time and swimming in the turquoise Andaman Sea awaits. 

Day 6: Swim & Snorkel in the Phi Phi Islands

Explore the famous Phi Phi Islands today, an archipelago 25 miles (40 km) east of Phuket, known for its movie-worthy beaches and top snorkeling spots. The trip starts with an early-morning speedboat trip to Phi Phi Ley, where you can see the famous Maya Beach, the setting of several films, from the water. The boat will also moor at the picturesque inlet of Pileh Lagoon for snorkeling and at Viking Cave to see the cave art.

Sail on to Phi Phi Don, stopping at Monkey Beach along the way, known for its cheeky macaques. Before lunch, you'll have time to snorkel in the clear waters, spotting tons of colorful marine life. Spend the afternoon on idyllic Bamboo Island to lay back on the white sands or enjoy more swimming and snorkeling. The trip ends with a transfer back to Phuket.

Day 7: Free Day in Phuket: Beaches, Nature & Markets

Today, you'll have a day of leisure in Phuket. Set on the Andaman coast, Phuket is known for its beaches, nightlife, and luxury resorts. Its diverse landscapes range from tropical rainforests to palm-fringed beaches and craggy limestone cliffs. Enjoy an entire day on your own to explore Phuket, soak up a much-needed day of relaxation, or chase more adventure.

Head for the beach to sunbathe and sit back or enjoy the clear, calm waters. Visit the local aquarium in Cape Panwa to learn more about local marine life, or, if you're feeling adventurous, visit Hanuman World Phuket to soar through the jungle on ziplines. In the evening, eat seafood for dinner, browse a night market, or have a drink on lively Bangla Road.

Day 8: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Evening Street Food Tour

After breakfast at your hotel in Phuket, you'll be transferred to the airport by a private cab. Hop on a 1.5-hour flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia's famous "Temple Town." After arriving at your hotel, take in the many charms Siem Reap offers. This resort town, the gateway to the world wonder of Angkor Wat, is surrounded by dense jungle and temple ruins and full of vibrant culture. 

In the early evening, tour local street food via tuk-tuk. The tour will take you to the heart of Siem Reap, where you'll sample authentic Khmer dishes in various off-the-beaten-tourist-path settings, from streetside food stalls to busy local markets. Enjoy popular Khmer market specialties, street snacks, and a few of Cambodia's exotic fruits. End the tours with cocktails at the famous Ms. Wong Pub before returning to your hotel.

Day 9: Explore the Temples of Angkor Wat

Your adventure of the day will take you to the bucket-list site of Angkor Wat. After watching the sunrise over the ruins, continue your sightseeing tour of the Angkor area by exploring the wondrous ancient ruins of Angkor Thom, famous for its colossal human faces carved in stone. You'll also see the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Explore the largest and most complete temple of Angkor Wat itself, an architectural masterpiece constructed in the 12th century that covers an area of over 500 acres (210 ha).

Stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple, before heading to the jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm. The enormous fig trees and gigantic creeping roots engulf the stone foundations of the temple, demonstrating the power of nature. Enjoy the sunset over the redbrick temple of Pre Rup before you return to the hotel for your final night in Cambodia.

Day 10: Visit the Floating Villages of Tonlé Sap, Depart Siem Reap

Today, you'll head about 11 miles (18 km) south of Siem Reap toward Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It's connected to the Mekong River by the Tonlé Sap River, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Take a boat across the lake to its famous floating villages, with permanent communities, including schools, markets, and restaurants, all built on the water. Learn how the communities sustain themselves throughout the seasons, visit restaurants, and take a boat ride through flooded forests of mangrove trees.

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