The best of Thailand and Cambodia

Day 1 – Flight to Bangkok

Departure by scheduled flight to Bangkok.
Overnight on board.

Day 2 – Bangkok

Arrival in Bangkok, reception and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. One option may be to enjoy a Thai style dinner at Silom Village which, designed like a traditional Thai village, offers an outdoor dining area and a night market. We can also stroll through any of the city’s night markets and enjoy a delicious street Pad Thai prepared on the spot with fresh produce.
Accommodation.

Day 3 – Bangkok

Breakfast. In the morning, meeting with our guide to visit some of the highlights of the city, moving by local transport. We will visit the Grand Palace, former residence of the kings and home of the Emerald Buddha, the “Wat Pho” or Temple of the Reclining Buddha, which in addition to the impressive image of Buddha, was the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage, and is considered the first university in the country.
We will also visit the What Arun and What Suthat. Finally, we will be able to contemplate the old town from the heights of the Golden Mountain.
Accommodation.

Day 4 – Bangkok – Train and floating markets

Breakfast. Early departure to visit Damnoen Saduak, the most famous floating market in Thailand. A labyrinth of narrow canals filled with traditional boats selling products that we will visit aboard a traditional boat.
Then we will move to the picturesque Mae Klong market, known for being located literally on the train tracks. If time permits, we will arrive just as the train passes.
Lunch at a local restaurant and return to our accommodation in Bangkok.

Day 5 – Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Lopburi – Sukothai

Breakfast. Depart from Bangkok to the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam, Ayutthaya. A city that is believed to have reached a million inhabitants when the main European cities were much smaller. Here the main nations of the world of the time sent ambassadors: Portugal, Spain, England, France, China and India.
We will explore its Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting some of its most famous temples: Wat Mahathat, Chai Wattanaram and Wat Pra Sri Sanphet. At Wat Mahathat we will be able to see the famous severed head of a Buddha statue that a tree has made its own and protected with its roots.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
We will try Candy Floss Roti, one of the most famous local delicacies, a crepe with cotton candy.
At the end of the visit, we will continue north through Lopburi where, if there is time, we will visit the Monkey Temple Wat Prang Sam Yod. We will have to be careful with our belongings since their main hobby is to steal things from tourists. Finally we will continue to Sukhothai.
Accommodation.

Day 6 – Sukhothai Historical Park – Chiang Rai

Breakfast. We will start the day enjoying a beautiful bike ride through the Historical Park of Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand in the 13th century.
Sukhothai is today a small town in central Thailand with about 40,000 inhabitants, but there was a time, about 800 years ago, when Sukhothai was the capital of an empire: The Kingdom of Sukhothai. This kingdom existed from 1238 to 1438 A.D., when it was absorbed by the other great Thai kingdom, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya.
We will continue heading north, stopping at the spectacular Phayao Lake.
We will arrive in Chiang Rai, where we will have free time to visit, on our own, the most popular places in the city without forgetting the night market.
Accommodation.

Day 7 – Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle – White Temple – Chiang Mai

Breakfast. We will start the day with a private visit to the “Golden Triangle”, where the Mekong River forms the border between Thailand, Laos and Burma.
We will also visit the Opium Museum, and Baan Dam, The Black House, a collection of traditional buildings interspersed with modern and extravagant designs as well as the famous Blue Temple. This temple is the new jewel of Chiang Rai. Recently completed (in 2016 although it was started in 2005), in which the color blue, the color of Dharma, dominates the space. Inside we will find a large Buddha image in white, something also unusual
Next, one of the most spectacular and different temples in the country, and in continuous evolution, the White Temple or Wat Rong Khun.
We will take a boat ride on the Mekong River and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Accommodation.

Day 8 – Chiang Mai

Breakfast. Meeting with our guide to visit some of the most famous places in Chiang Mai. We will visit the temples Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang, where we can be in contact with the Buddhist monks.
We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and if time permits, we will visit the Warorot Market, heart of Chinatown, one of the most bustling markets, and Ton Lamyai, the flower market.
Accommodation.

Day 9 – Chiang Mai – Elephant Sanctuary

Breakfast at the hotel. Group tour with English speaking guide. Visit Baan Chang, a non-profit organization for rescued elephants.
We will drive approximately 50 minutes north of Chiang Mai through the beautiful countryside, forest and local agricultural areas. We will arrive at Baan Chang Elephant Park, where we can wear traditional park clothing and meet the elephants. We will feed, walk and play with them.
We will prepare lunch for the elephants and enjoy some free time to spend with them.
Tea and coffee break. Towards the end of the day, we leave the park and return to our hotel in Chiang Mai.
Lodging.

Day 10 – Flight Chiang Mai – Siem Reap

Breakfast. Transfer to Chiang Mai airport for flight to Cambodia.
Arrival at Siem Reap airport and transfer to our hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 11 – Kompong Kleang Lake and Beng Mealea and Banteay Srei Temples

Breakfast. Today we will head to Kompong Kleang Lake, a hidden gem in the most remote and least touristic area of Cambodia. It is home to a community of fishermen who live in houses built on stilts, raised 10 to 12 meters above the water. We will continue to visit the magnificent Beng Mealea temple, a hidden treasure in the middle of the jungle. This temple, built on a similar scale to Angkor Wat, is one of the largest in the Angkor region. Although devastated by the recent wars in Cambodia, the temple of Beng Mealea remains a symbol of the might of the Khmer Empire. Lunch. Our next stop is Banteay Srei, also known as the citadel of women. This small temple is famous for its breathtaking beauty and is considered the cradle of Khmer architecture.
We then return to Siem Reap and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Day 12 – Angkor Complex

Our first stop today will be at the Ta Prohm temple, famous for being part of the scenes of the movie Tomb Raider. This ancient temple is wrapped in tree roots, creating a unique and evocative atmosphere. We will continue our tour visiting the temples of Bayon and Baphuon. Bayon Temple is known for its countless faces sculpted on the towers, while Baphuon Temple is noted for its impressive architecture and magnificent sculptures. We will also explore the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King, where you can admire the impressive decorations and artistic details that tell fascinating stories of the ancient Khmer civilization. We will enjoy lunch and then visit one of Cambodia’s treasures: the majestic temple of Angkor Wat, considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 13 – Morning with elephants – Return to Spain

Breakfast. We will take a group excursion with an English speaking guide to the Kulen Elephant Forest, a rehabilitation center for elephant elephants. We will have the opportunity to meet and greet these majestic animals. We will walk and interact with them respecting their welfare and habitat. Lunch followed by Khmer style cocktails.
Return to Siem Reap and transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Note: The elephant activity is only possible if the flight departs at night.