From Cambodia to Thailand

Start your morning temple exploration at Ta Prohm, the most illustrious of the Small Circuit Temples. Ta Prohm is best at 7:30 a.m., just as the temple opens. Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries, Ta Prohm is unique in that it is overgrown by jungle. With many parts crumbling to the ground, it is one of the most picturesque Angkor temples. Alternatively, depending on the season and the crowds, you may wish to visit the Preah Khan temple. Built by the same king in a similar style, this larger temple complex has largely been buried in ruins and is known to very few visitors, making for a more intimate experience even in the high season.

Next, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8-meter-high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through an ancient gate carved with three-headed elephants and capped with four giant faces of the Buddha. On each side of the causeway over the moat leading to the entrance, a row of 54 gods and demons stands, holding a sacred Naga snake. From here, continue to Bayon Temple, the heart of the Angkor Thom Complex. It is a massive temple, built in the 12th century, that played an important role in the Khmer people's spiritual life. One of the most curious things at Bayon Temple is the almost 200 smiling faces carved into the walls. Some carving details of the temple have been damaged by time and climate. However, the soul of this ancient Khmer architecture remains.

The afternoon tour gives you time to explore Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The temple architecture has been modeled after the great Meru Mountain of India. The highest central tower is 65 m, representing the legendary Mount Meru, and its five towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. The entire structure has been built from sandstone and honeycomb. The magic is that the giant stone blocks are stacked on top of each other without any binders or reinforced concrete. Arrive just before sunset, when Angkor Wat is less visited, and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light. After touring, you get dropped off at your hotel. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Enjoying a delicious breakfast with a cup of coffee is the best way to start a new day. This morning, you will have the opportunity to leave the center of Siem Reap and go to the countryside to discover the beauty of a less-known floating village on Tonle Lake. Kampong Khleang floating village is 55 kilometers from Siem Reap. With 10,000 people, this is currently the largest floating village in the area. After the main highway, you turn onto the winding dirt road. Stop for the hot, sticky rice, and observe the local farmers working on their rice paddies. Upon arrival, you use a motor boat to explore Kampong Khleang along with two other floating villages and the great lake. Life on the lake is not pleasant and is always affected by harsh weather conditions. In the rainy season, the lake surface area usually expands six times while the depth increases nine times. That is why most houses have high floors and float on the lake in the rainy season. In the dry season, towering stilts are revealed, like wooden skyscrapers. During the boat ride, you will make stops to see where Bridge of Life works, visit a stilted home, and see a Cambodian pagoda to learn more about local life. Your tour guide is happy to show you a small floating village known as the natural flood barrier in the area. You ride back to the harbor, see your driver, and return downtown for lunch. In the afternoon, you have free time to relax.

Our driver will see you in the hotel’s lobby. Today, he will send you back to Siem Reap International Airport for a short flight to Phuket. Flight FD631 REP HKT 0830 1005

Arrive in Phuket, located in Thailand’s southwest region, and set amidst the sparkling Andaman Sea. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Phuket is the nation’s largest island and a hugely popular holiday destination, ringed by limestone karst islands and countless white-sand beaches. This "Pearl of the South" presents the perfect playground of natural beauty, lively resort towns, and fishing villages, providing an endless supply of sporting and leisure activities, as well as a rich cultural heritage. Overnight in Phuket.

Enjoy a wonderfully relaxing day together in Phuket. Laze on the beautiful beaches, or spend time snorkeling or diving in the azure waters teeming with colorful coral reefs and tropical marine creatures. Charter a boat or catamaran for a memorable day cruising around the islands in the Andaman Sea. Or maybe explore the historic capital, Phuket Town, and its cultural treasures. The choices and distractions are endless! Overnight in Phuket.

Optional tour: Phi Phi Sunrise tour

Get started on a new day with an early pickup around 5:00–5:15. You move to the Royal Phuket Marina, do a check-in, and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. From the Marina, depart for Maya Bay in the movie THE BEACH with a premium speedboat. The early departure helps you avoid the crowds at the beach, which often happen after 9 a.m. Maya Beach is a paradise on earth, where you can enjoy soft white sand, crystal clear water, rustic green mountains, and a calm and serene ambiance. Do not forget to take beautiful photos at Loh Samah Bay – the viewpoint behind Maya Bay. Continue with Pileh Lagoon, the emerald lagoon surrounded by limestone mountains, and do sightseeing at Viking Cave and Monkey Cliff. In the late morning, enjoy snorkeling, and admire a beautiful coral reef with fish around you. Lunch is at the Private Beach Restaurant, with choices of Thai and Western foods. After lunch, you move on to Bamboo Island, another beautiful place to relax and snorkel. The tour ends at the Royal Phuket Marina at 15:00. You are driven back to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day strolling around Phuket in the way you love. Overnight in Phuket.

Another relaxing day in Phuket.

Optional tour: Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay.

11.45: Hotel Pick-up

~13.00: Arrive Ao Po, Board our modern Twin-engine escort boat, Thai style light lunch, trip and nature Game briefing

14.30: Arrive on the first island and explore 1-2 caves and hongs

15.30: Return to the escort boat and move to the second island

16.00: Explore two more caves and hongs

18.00: Thai seafood buffet dinner during Phang Nga Bay Sunset

19.00: Return to your kayak after dark to float your Loi Kratong

20.00: Depart for Ao Po.

21.00: Arrive Ao Po and transfer to your mini-van.

21.30: Drop off at your hotel. Free at your own leisure for the rest of day.

Free at leisure until the transfer to Phuket International Airport for your onward flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative at Gate 3. Then, you will see our driver and be transferred to your hotel downtown. Please look for the Viland Travel welcome sign in the arrivals hall.

You head into the Chinatown neighborhood to make your first temple stop of the day at Wat Traimit, often called the Temple of the Golden Buddha, where you see the largest solid gold Buddha image in the world, a 5.5-ton sculpture whose origins have been lost to history. From Wat Traimit, continue to the nearby Wat Pho, known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Walk along the 151-foot (46-meter) long Buddha image, which is the longest in Bangkok, and light an incense stick by the Buddha’s inlaid, mother-of-pearl feet. Head to the banks of the Chao Phraya River to see the Grand Palace, whose elegant stepped roofs are considered the height of classical Thai architecture. You’ll follow in the Chakri Kings' footsteps as you tour the sprawling site; Still a working palace, most of the interior is closed to the public, but the manicured grounds and palace temple are fascinating to explore.

In the early evening, head to the Chinatown area for a chance to become a Thai food insider. Walking along the street, you will see many Chinese-style shops. Everything, from clothes to food, has both antique and modern appearances. Stopping at a jewelry store, you will encounter many items commonly seen in Chinese martial arts movies. For food lovers, visiting Bangkok's Chinatown at night is a memorable food tour. From 7 pm, Chinatown was bustling with colorful lights; food stalls with delicious Chinese dishes such as wonton noodles, dumplings, fried shrimp with cashew nuts, and candied gourds. Stop to visit a restaurant with a tasty Peking Duck dish. It is a very interesting experience, for sure.

After breakfast, you drive north to Ayutthaya. Your first visit is to Wat Phu Khao Thong, built in 1387 by the second king of the Ayutthaya kingdom, an impressive monument in the Northwestern part of Ayutthaya. When the Burmese took over Ayutthaya in 1569, the king built a Mon-style chedi (or pyramid) on top of the former temple to celebrate his victory over Ayutthaya and the Siamese. Continue to the Ayutthaya Historical Park and visit the ancient palace grounds. Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, lying beside the Grand Palace, was once the most significant temple during the Ayutthaya period. Adjacent to Wat Phra Sri Sanphet is Viharn Phra Mongkolbopit, an impressive building that houses a seated bronze Buddha image. 

After a delicious Thai lunch, you move on to Wat Lokaya Sutha to see the reclining Buddha of Ayutthaya, which is 8 meters high and 42 meters long. The Buddha image was made of brick and covered with plaster. Continue to Wat Mahathat, a classic temple ruin of Ayutthaya and famous for the picturesque Buddha head engulfed by the Bodhi tree roots. The size of the foundation and the remaining plinths and towers attest to the significance of its time. In the late afternoon, you take your ride back to Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok.

Free at leisure until the transfer to Bangkok International Airport for your onward flight.