Golden Heritage Journey: Thailand, Vietnam & Cambodia

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   Bangkok Arrival (-/-/-)
   Welcome to Bangkok! Upon arrival, pick up by our local guide for transfer to the hotel. At leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Bangkok.  Please note! - Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. - Depending on your arrival time, the program will be adjusted accordingly.  
2. Day 02

   Bangkok - City tour (B/-/-)
   Breakfast. Departure to visit three of the city's most unique Buddhist temples. We will start with Wat Traimit, located at the edge of Chinatown on Yaowarat Road, near Hua Lamphong train station. Wat Traimit houses the world's largest solid gold Buddha, measuring almost five meters high and weighing five and a half tons. The tour will continue to Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok. The temple of the huge reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings. This is located behind the Temple of the Buddha. It is one of the largest temples in the city and famous for its gigantic reclining Buddha, which is 46 meters long and covered in gold. Next, you will visit the Royal Palace, which is undoubtedly the most famous monument in the city. Built in 1782, for 150 years it was the home of the King of Thailand, the royal court, and the administrative headquarters of the government. The Grand Palace in Bangkok is an ancient building that continues to impress visitors with its beautiful architecture and details. Within the complex is Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (officially known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram), considered the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand, which enshrines the image of a highly revered Buddha meticulously carved from a single block of jade. Overnight in Bangkok.   
3. Day 03

   Bangkok – Chiang Rai (B/-/-)
   Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Chiang Rai.  Welcome by our English-speaking guide. Continue by minibus and visit the Golden Triangle, where the borders between Myanmar (formerly Burma), Laos, and Thailand meet at the Mekong River. Take a 30-minute traditional boat ride enjoying the daily life of the Laotian people. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Opium House before visiting the villages of the Akha and Yao ethnic minorities. Visit the village of the famous giraffe women. Dinner on your own arrangement for more flexibility. Overnight in Chiang Rai.   
4. Day 04

   Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai (B/-/-)
   Breakfast. In the morning, we will transfer to the pier and take a pleasant traditional boat ride on the Kok River, visiting the Karen tribes who live in bamboo huts in the middle of the jungle. We will continue with a visit to Wat Rong Suea Tean Temple, also known as the Blue Temple, another unusual modern Buddhist temple distinguished by its intense blue color and elaborate statues. We will visit the famous white temple of Wat Rong Khun. After the visit, we will drive from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai (3 hours).  Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, it’s your own time for lunch at a local restaurant. Visit to the Wat Doi Suthep temple complex, the best known in Chiang Mai, located on top of a small hill 15 km northeast of the city. Dinner and overnight in Chiang Mai. 
5. Day 05

   Chiang Mai (B/-/-)
   Breakfast. In the morning, we will visit some craft factories, where we will see the local work process. Next, we will depart for Mae Sa Valley to visit the orchid farm. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we will transfer to the elephant sanctuary to learn about these animals and participate in various activities, including feeding them and taking a bath, an unforgettable experience. Kantoke dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Chiang Mai.   
6. Day 06

   Chiang Mai - Hanoi (B/-/-)
   Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Hanoi.  Upon arrival at Hanoi airport where our English-speaking guide will be waiting for you, transfer to the city (1 hour), during which you can get a first impression of Hanoi and its amazing fusion of hustle and bustle and serenity. Free time. Overnight in Hanoi.   
7. Day 07

   Hanoi - City tour (B/-/-)
   It is your day to visit the Capital of Vietnam today. Let's start from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his simple house-on-stilts and the One-Pillar pagoda near Ba Dinh Square, where the most solumn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. Go on to the Temple of Literature, the very first high school of Vietnam Scholars.  In the afternoon, we will have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” visit, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake), and at Quan Thanh Taoist Temple. Our day end by a Show of Water Puppetry, a stage art created by the Vietnamese peasants. The show last more than an hour and is a wonderful opportunity to learn about some of Vietnam’s mythology, traditions and current customs in Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.  Please note! - Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum close on Monday and Friday, all the afternoons and from Jun to Aug for annual maintenance.   
8. Day 08

   Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
   If you wish to see how the Hanoi people rise and shine in the morning, wake up early and run to a lake close by your hotel, you can join an exciting scene of hundreds of locals, passionately attentive in their morning exercises of Tai Chi quan, jogging, martial arts, classical dance and so on. After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Halong Bay, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO since 1994 and 2006, and check-in our overnight boat. Enjoy a trip on Halong with stops to visit caves or to swim and enjoy the sunset on the sea. Dinner with fresh seafood! Overnight onboard.  
9. Day 09

   Halong Bay – Hanoi – Siem Reap (B/BR/-)
   Morning wake up with a taichi-quan or yoga exercises guided by the crew before having breakfast whilst your boat goes on between Halong islets. Return to the Wharf to be back to Hanoi for your late flight to Siem Reap.  Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in the center for overnight (Dinner at your own account).    
10. Day 10

    Siem Reap (B/-/-)
    Today’s the day you’ve been waiting for: your visit to Angkor Wat. This vast 12th-century temple was epicentral of Khmer civilization and remains one of the most incredible monuments on earth. You’ll be up before dawn to witness it in the most spectacular (aerial) way...but that's all we'll say for now. After exploring the remnants of this thriving empire city back at ground level - once home to rice fields, gilded palaces, ponds and houses - it's on to Angkor Thom, with its multi-faced Bayon, and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm (used as a location in the Tomb Raider movie). Come evening, you'll enjoy a farewell dinner with your group at a farm-to-table restaurant, before heading to Pub Street to celebrate the end of your trip with a night of music and dancing. Overnight in Siem Reap.  OPTIONAL TOUR: Sunrise Angkor Tour We begin with a pre-dawn departure (4.30 to 4.40 am depending on the time of year) from your hotel for sunrise outside Angkor Wat. Our local guide will take you to the best photo spots before retreating again from the crowds. Enjoy a peaceful momentum of reflection at this breathtaking World Heritage Site. Enjoy a scenic walk along the temple (we will not go inside) in the soft morning light and cool temperatures. You will experience a special Angkor Wat moment unlike any other. Back to hotel later on for your delicious breakfast.  Services included: English speaking guide, transportation, water during transfer. Serivices not included: Tips, Beverage, Personal expenses not mentioned above.   
11. Day 11

    Siem Reap (B/-/D)
    Breakfast at hotel.  This morning, take boat trip to visit floating village at Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Kompong Phluk is a relatively small village that provides very good insight into the village lifestyle of the Tonle Sap. This village exists almost exclusively on fishing and related activities. Houses are built on stilts up to 10 m high, and the village is surrounded by flooded forest. Lunch at local restaurant.  Afternoon, let have a visit to Angkor National Museum, a state-of-the-art showpiece on the Khmer civilization and the majesty of Angkor. Displays are themed by era, religion and royalty as visitors move through the impressive galleries. After a short presentation, visitors enter the Zen-like ‘Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas’, which has a fine collection of images.  Other exhibits include the pre-Angkorian periods of Funan and Chenla; the great Khmer kings; Angkor Wat; Angkor Thom; and the inscriptions.  Dinner with Apsara, the traditional Khmer dance - drama performance, which are not merely dance but also telling a story. Overnight in Siem Reap.   
12. Day 12

    Siem Reap – Departure (B/-/-)
    We will have free time at leisure until transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure. End of services.

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