Day 1 Fly USA to Bangkok

Please note international air from the USA has not been included in the package price.

Day 2 Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand

Upon arrival and after clearing customs and immigration, a driver will meet you and transfer you directly to your downtown hotel.

An exciting brew of traffic and temples, luxury hotels and labyrinth-like streets, the “City of Angels,” is a hectic heaven. This inexhaustible energy is part of Bangkok’s charm, and it has made this feisty capital one of Asia’s favorite tourist destinations. Cutting through the heart of the city, the magnificent Chao Phraya River, “the River of Kings” provides easy access to Bangkok’s numerous Buddhist temples and the Grand Palace, as well offering insight into Thai life.

Day 3 Tour - Bangkok Grand Palace morning tour

This 3-hour morning tour is a “must see” for all visitors to Bangkok. The Grand Palace complex, which includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow), is unquestionably one of the wonders of the world today. Within its enormous grounds is the most exotic Buddhist temple and at the heart of the temple itself is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from one piece of Jade, which is the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today.

Nearby is the Grand Palace, once the official home for the Kings of Siam - built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with European designs. You can also see the Royal Funeral Hall and the Royal Coronation Hall.

Tour - Bangkok city and temple tour

This afternoon you will visit some other notable temples in the city. Thailand has over 26,000 temples (or Wats). This tour will bring you to three of the most distinguished temples in Bangkok. Wat Trimitr, the temple of the Golden Buddha, features a statue made from solid Gold weighing 5.5 tons. It is a fine example of Sukhothai art and was discovered by chance from a layer of stucco during construction of the temple.

Passing through Chinatown your next stop is Wat Po, the temple of the reclining Buddha which is the largest and oldest in Bangkok. Your last stop is at Wat Benchamabopit or the marble temple. This magnificent monastery was built with white Italian marble from Carrara.

Day 4 At leisure, Bangkok

Thailand's capital, Bangkok, is a city that displays 30,000 lavish temples and a great variety of colorful architecture. Treat your eyes to a parade of colorful canoes laden with everything from juicy mangoes to jolly-faced souvenirs at the Damnern Saduak Floating Market, or paddle up to one of the floating markets and order a bowl of steaming noodles.

Day 5 Fly Bangkok to Chiang Mai

An English speaking representative will meet you in your hotel lobby for your private airport transfer for your flight to Chiang Mai. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Chiang Mai is the gateway city to Thailand’s lush north and its rustic hill tribe villages. Dating back 700 years, the focal point is “Old City,” the walled and moated remains of an imposing fortress.

Surrounding this historic site is a blossoming city containing all the characteristics of a modern town. World class restaurants and idyllic hotel retreats include the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi. This is the place to pet an elephant as you enjoy off-road driving on the back of a gentle giant, or take to a bamboo raft for a watery fun-filled afternoon.

Day 6 Tour - Elephants at work half day tour

A pleasant morning is spent in the company of these magnificent gentle giants.

In present day Thailand, elephants are only used as tremendously powerful beasts of burden. But in the earlier times, they were a vital part of the King's army and played a very important role in Thai History.

On this trip you will witness the traditional techniques still used in the training process. Wonder at the delicacy and preciseness of such gigantic creatures in action. For a small fee, the adventurous can also enjoy the short but unforgettable elephant ride!

On the return journey to the hotel a stop is made at the beautiful Mae Sa Waterfall, as well as one of the region's orchid farms displaying a full variety of some of Thailand's exquisite blooms.

Tour - Chiang Mai city and temple tour

Today your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby, and you will depart for the tour. The city of Chiang Mai has a wealth of beautiful and historic Buddhist Wats (temples), 36 Wats within the old city walls and many more in the surrounding countryside, and on this tour a visit to the most fascinating Wats is made.

Near the summit of Doi Suthep, a 1,600 meters peak named after the hermit Sudeva who lived on the mountain’s slopes for many years is the 600 year old temple of Wat. After a drive up the mountain’s winding road, the final climb to the site is via an enormous mythological Nagas (Dragon-headed serpent) staircase of 306 steps. Inside the cloister is an intriguing copper-plated chedi topped by a five- tier gold parasol, which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. On a clear day, there are incomparable views over the city of Chiang Mai from the temple grounds.

Day 7 Fly Chiang Mai to Siem Reap

An English speaking representative will meet you in your hotel lobby for your private airport transfer for your flight to Siem Reap. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Protruding from steaming jungle, the ancient city of Angkor Wat is the main attraction to visitors of Siem Reap. The city’s proximity to the legendary sandstone complex makes it the ideal gateway or base camp for day trips and longer itineraries. Relax and unwind in a local restaurant after a long day of exploring the world’s largest religious monument, or stock up on necessities before tackling the 60 square miles of passageways and palaces.

Day 8 Tour - Angkor Temples and Angkor Wat full day tour

Start today’s tour with a visit to Angkor Temple, including Angkor Thom, a forbidden Royal City and The Bayon.  See the Victory Gate, Baphuon, Elephant Terrace and Leper King Terrace.  Return to town for lunch.

This afternoon tour Angkor Wat, which features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world running along the outer gallery walls, narrating stories from the Hindu mythology.  In 1992, UNESCO, declared the monument and whole city a World Heritage Site.

Day 9 Fly Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City

An English speaking representative will meet you in your hotel lobby for your private airport transfer for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, and one will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere. There are street markets, pavement cafes and sleek new cafes and pubs. The city churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are many years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture.

Still fondly referred to as Saigon by the locals, "The Pearl of the Orient" still retains a charm reminiscent of its French-European heritage in the midst of rapid commercialization. The city promises an endless fascination for tourists wanting to explore Vietnam's rich 4,000-year history.

Day 10 Tour - Ho Chi Minh City private full day tour

Today you will visit Jade Emperor Pagoda, a key meeting place for Chinese secret societies and has a very colorful and mysterious ambiance.  From there visit the Ben Thanh Market, Saigon’s central market and it’s the surrounding streets make up one of the city's liveliest areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the typical resident of Saigon is available here.

Continue on to the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883, set in the heart of Saigon's government quarter. It has a neo-Romanesque form and two high square towers, tipped with iron spires. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary.

From there visit two notable pagodas, the Thien Hau and Giac Lam. The Thien Hau pagoda was built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century and is one of the most active in Cholon, the cities Chinatown district.  Giac Lam is the oldest pagoda in Saigon, built at the end of the 17th century and the architecture, layout and ornamentation remain almost unaltered by the modernist renovations that have transformed so many other religious structures in Vietnam. Monks live in this pagoda, which also incorporates aspects of Taoism and Confucianism.

Day 11 At leisure, Ho Chi Minh City

 Ho Chi Minh City provides tourists with a glimpse of its 300 year old history while simultaneously spearheading its five million residents through the millennium. With incomes three times higher than the national average, residents enjoy a lifestyle rarely found in other parts of Vietnam. Savor Ho Chi Minh City with them, stop for a breakfast of coffee and croissants at a café before tackling a myriad of museums.

Stroll through the streets and chance upon elegant neoclassical buildings and sidewalk vendors selling French rolls with pate; hints of a bygone era when the French ruled Vietnam. Or visit the many art galleries or antique shops if your passion is collecting art pieces on a budget.

Day 12 Fly Ho Chi Minh City to USA

An English speaking representative will meet you in your hotel lobby for your private airport transfer.

Hotels

Bangkok

• Sofitel Silom
• Shangri-La Hotel
• The Peninsula

Siem Reap

• Angkor Village Resort
• Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor
•  Amansara

 Ho Chi Minh City

• Renaissance Riverside
•  Sofitel Plaza Saigon
• Park Hyatt Saigon

3/09