Thailand and Cambodia Uncovered
Thailand and Cambodia Uncovered
Thailand and Cambodia Uncovered
17 Days Starting in Bangkok and ending in Phnom Penh
Visiting: Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak, Kanchanaburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Angkor, Phnom Penh
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CSPPA16
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Trafalgar with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
The heritage of two ancient kingdoms are traced along this pilgrimage through Thailand and Cambodia. Visit the spiritual centre of Sukhothai, explore the ruins of Angkor Wat and embrace the effervescent energy of Phnom Penh - a city that has emerged from the past to recapture its reputation as the 'Pearl of Asia'.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Bangkok (3 Nights)
Location: Bangkok
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
Say sawadee ka to the land of smiles, starting your Thai adventure in Bangkok. Transfer to your hotel where this evening, we meet our Travel Director and fellow guests for a Welcome Reception drink with local appetisers.
Day 2: Bangkok Sightseeing
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Rise early and join the locals for a graceful T'ai Chi practice in Lumpini Park to kick-start your day. Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely start before joining your fellow travellers on a City Tour, which begins with a visit to Bangkok's Grand Palace, where you'll visit the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, Wat Phra Kaew. See the largest-reclining Buddha in Thailand in Bangkok's oldest temple, Wat Pho, and enjoy a traditional Thai massage in the temple's massage centre. Return to your hotel by express river boat, cruising down the Chao Praya past beautiful Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn.
Day 3: Bangkok
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Immerse your senses in the five flavours of Thai as you join a 'Local Specialist' for a traditional cooking class in a colonial-style house. Visit a local market nearby to source the freshest ingredients that reveal the sweet, sour, salty, bitter and hot flavours of Thai cuisine. Sample the results later, then spend the afternoon exploring the City of Angels on your terms, or consider joining an Optional Experience to Jim Thompson's House, home to an impressive collection of Asian art.
Day 4: Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak - Kanchanaburi (2 Nights)
Location: Damnoen Saduak, Kanchanaburi
Accommodation: Away Kanchanaburi Dheva Mantra Resort and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A riot of colours greets us this morning as we embark on a visit to the famous floating market at Damnoen Saduak. Connect with the friendly merchants who paddle along the congested canals in their sturdy canoes, laden with fresh fruit and vegetables to sell to shoppers on the banks. En route, we'll 'Dive Into Culture', stopping at a coconut palm sugar plantation where we'll discover how the farmer extracts the sap from his palm trees to create palm sugar. After lunch in a local restaurant, we'll visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum, revealing insights into the history of the infamous railway line built during WWII by the Imperial Japanese army. Our final stop today sees us pay tribute to the thousands of allied prisoners of war who were laid to rest at the War Cemetery.
Day 5: Kanchanaburi Sightseeing
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Regional Dinner
This morning, we visit Hellfire Pass, a section of the Thailand-Burma "Death Railway", so named for the tortuous conditions that prisoners of war endured during WWII to build it. After lunch, we embark on a thrilling train ride across wooden viaducts, skirting the winding waters of the Kwai River. We'll disembark and see the wooden viaducts first-hand walking across one. This evening, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6: Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya - Sukhothai (2 Nights)
Location: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Sukhothai
Accommodation: Sriwilai Sukhothai Resort and Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we travel to the UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya, once the second-most important ancient capital of Old Siam and the largest city in the world. Here, we'll delve into the trading heritage of a mighty city that was all but raised to the ground by an 18th century Burmese invasion.
Day 7: Sukhothai Sightseeing
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Gain insights into a powerful kingdom that enjoyed its golden age during the 13th and 14th centuries and shaped modern Thailand as we know it today. Start the day with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park which reveals thousands of years of history and a 15-metre seated Buddha secreted within its walls. Your choice of exploring will see you engage with the historic complex by bicycle or on the internal tram. This afternoon, visit the home of a local family and learn how to make amulets which are thought to protect the owner from harm.
Day 8: Sukhothai - Chiang Mai (3 Nights)
Location: Chiang Mai
Accommodation: The Rim Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Our day begins with a visit to the village of Natonchan, where our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports the community’s eco-tourism project. We’ll interact with the locals and meet one of the villagers to learn about 'gymnastic doll' making and the villagers’ traditional cotton clothes which are soaked in mud to protect them from fading. We continue north, enjoying lunch en route and make a brief visit to the ‘Friends of the Asian Elephant' Hospital, a foundation that cares for wounded elephants. Arriving in Chiang Mai, we enjoy an evening walk with our Travel Director and visit the colourful Sunday market. Our hotel tonight is located in the old town of Chiang Mai.
Day 9: Chiang Mai Sightseeing
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest
Admire the delicate hand-painted fans and colourful paper umbrellas that are famously crafted in Chiang Mai's Sankamphaeng district and meet the children and teachers at a local school to which Trafalgar will donate much-needed supplies. We continue to a small village nearby where we'll 'Connect with Locals', joining a family in their typical stilt house for a northern Thai-style 'Be My Guest' lunch. Next is a visit to Wat Suan Dok where we'll meet a local monk and learn about Buddhism, against the backdrop of the temple's magnificent golden chedi.
Day 10: Chiang Mai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Your morning is free to spend as you please or consider joining an Optional Experience to the Ban Tong Luang Hilltribe Village. Later, we visit Wat Doi Suthep, one of Thailand's most sacred temples. As the sun sets over this mystical temple, listen quietly to the tranquil sounds of the monks chanting. This evening, we join fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner at a traditional Thai restaurant located next to the river.
Day 11: Chiang Mai - Siem Reap (4 Nights)
Location: Siem Reap
Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for the short international flight to Bangkok and onward to Siem Reap. On arrival meet your Cambodia Travel Director and check in to your hotel. This afternoon is at leisure.
Day 12: Angkor Wat And Seam Reap Sighseeing
Location: Angkor
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we venture deep into the Cambodian jungle, through a pyramid-shaped gateway into an ancient world. Serene stone faces watch over us as we cross the causeway suspended over a moat into the spiritual heart of the ancient lost city of Angkor. A Local Specialist and renowned Khmer scholar brings to life the stories behind the intricate carvings and murals of celestial nymphs and mythical serpents along the abandoned hallways of Angkor Wat. Our next stop are the terracotta-hued walls of Banteay Srei Temple – the “Citadel of Women” dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. We’ll have time to admire the 10thcentury carvings of women, said to have been too delicate to have been carved by a man, hence its name. We’ll return to Siem Reap for some free time and this afternoon embark on a walking tour of the Old Town. We'll witness the revival of Khmer arts and crafts and help support the lives of rural youths during our visit to Artisans d'Angkor; a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later we’ll visit Wat Damnak and participate in a private blessing ceremony during which a sacred thread will be tied around our wrists to protect against evil spirits. Our final stop today is to the labyrinthine Old Market, where the locals spend their early mornings shopping for fresh fruit, vegetables and spices. Wander past the busy stalls and smell freshly baked baguettes, a remnant of the country's French heritage.
Day 13: Angkor And Seam Reap
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our intimate encounter with a lost empire continues today, as we uncover other iconic sites of the ancient abandoned city of Angkor that have been devoured by the Cambodian jungle. We explore its ancient ruins in the company of saffron-clad monks and monkeys that clamber up and over the roots of centuries-old trees that have carved their way deep into the Great City's walls. Our first stop today is a visit to the fortified Angkor Thom, where we'll see such iconic sites as the Terrace of Elephants, the Royal Enclosure and the Temple of Bayon with its giant smiling faces of Buddha. We venture underneath the dense tree canopy to the crumbling, moss-covered ruins of the Buddhist temple of Ta Prohm, which featured as the location for the film 'Tomb Raider', exploring its towers courtyards and corridors to uncover the intricate stone reliefs that are shielded by the surrounding foliage. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure or consider joining an Optional Experience to learn the secrets of Khmer cuisine.
Day 14: Peak Sneng Village
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
We begin the day in the company of local Khmer villagers with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visit to their local school and opportunity to chat to some of the children, who will join us on our walk through the village to see how they spend their day-to-day lives. We’ll Dive Into Culture, gaining insights into their time-honoured craft traditions, such as weaving Cambodia's national hats made from palm leaves, or folding Lotus flowers into delicate works of art. After the rest of the day at leisure, this evening to say farewell to those not continuing on to Phnom Penh tomorrow, we’ll join our Travel Director and fellow expeditioners for a Farewell Dinner with Apsara dance show.
Day 15: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (2 Nights)
Location: Phnom Penh
Accommodation: La Rose Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we fly to Phnom Penh, once known as the 'Pearl of Asia' it is one of the loveliest French built cities in Indochina. Later we'll embark on a cyclo tour, exploring the city, which boasts a rich blend of Khmer and French colonial architecture. We'll discover the history and catch glimpses of churches and Chinese temples hidden down narrow alleyways.
Day 16: Phnom Penh Sightseeing
Meals Included: Breakfast
Indulge in the exotic flavours of Phnom Penh this morning, joining a 'Local Specialist' for an in-depth city tour. Our first stop is Wat Phnom temple where we'll delve into the legend of Lady Penh who discovered the four statues of Buddha deposited on this tree-covered hill. We'll continue to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda before visiting the National Museum showcasing centuries-old Khmer art and sculptures. Delving deep into the turbulent, terrifying history of the Khmer Rouge years, we'll travel along a dusty road to the outskirts of the city to visit the former school turned torture, interrogation and execution centre of Tuol Sleng. The history of that time is depicted in the thousands of S-21 portraits of victims that are on display at the Museum of Genocide, providing insights into the horrors of Cambodia under Pol Pot's rule. Finally, we'll take a journey back in time to the Cheung Ek Killing Fields, a memorial built to commemorate the 17,000 victims who died under the reign of the Khmer Rouge. The rest of the evening is spent at leisure.
Day 17: Depart Phnom Penh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight
What's Included
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16 buffet breakfasts
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6 dinners
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8 lunches (including Connect with Locals)
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Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
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Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
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A Trafalgar bonus - all Intra-Air Flights: Bangkok to Sukhothai, Chiang Mai - Siem Reap, Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
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Luxury air-conditioned coach or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Optional Experiences and free time
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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