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HIGHLIGHTS OF BANGKOK & CAMBODIA
THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES………..
ITINERARY: DAY 1: Leave in the evening for Bangkok from San Francisco. DAY 2: Day in flight. DAY 3: Arrival into Bangkok in the morning. We will check into our hotel along the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, at the Montien Riverside Hotel (or similar.) This afternoon we will have free time in Bangkok to rest. You can take a river cruise or hop on the free shopping shuttle from the hotel. (meals-D)
DAY 4: We will begin with a tour that takes us to the most beautiful temple of an ancient Siamese court. Home of the Kings of Siam of the Chakri Dynasty, originally built by King Rama I, it served as the royal residence until 1946. Today the palace is still used on certain occasions for visiting royalty or special guests of the Kingdom. It used to be The Residence of the King of Bangkok. Here you will see the royal palaces, including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall and the Royal Guest house. Adjoining the Grand Palace you will find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keo), this is probably the best known of the royal temples. It is regarded as the most important temple in all Thailand and it is the venue of many of the numerous religious ceremonies in which the King participates. (meals-B, L)
DAY 5: Free morning. Then we will visit another famous temple, called the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Trimmit), the home of a 5.5 ton Buddha image, found when the port of Bangkok was being expanded and dating back more than 200 years. Finally, our last stop is Wat Po, is actually named Wat Phra Jetupon, and is famous as the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, with its precincts covering 80,000 square meters in all. It is famous for its huge reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf and 46 metres long. Everyone should get a Thai massage here! Tonight we will have dinner on the banks of the river with a view of the main temples lit up. Overnight in Bangkok again. (meals-B, D) DAY 6: Free day to take an optional tour, such as a visit of the famous snake farm, the famous bridge over the River Kwai or a day at the beach at Pattaya. Return to Bangkok in the evening. (meals-B) DAY 7: This full day tour of the famous floating market will leave early in the morning and allows you to experience the timeless world of "The Venice of The East". The Thai people still depend on the waterways to transport their merchandise, in particular rice, as the canals link the rice fields. You will cruise by traditional long-tailed boat, known as Klongs, through exotic flora and picturesque canal houses. Mid-way, the cruise will continue in a converted rice barge. We will travel to the floating market of Damnoen Saduak and take an exciting cruise through the legendary canals. After the cruise and market, we will drive to the famous Thai Rose Garden where we will be treated to a Thai Village show with over 150 performers portraying a fascinating cross section of Thailand’s culture. Return to Bangkok after approx. 9 hrs. Overnight again in Bangkok. (meals-B, L)
DAY 8: Today we will visit the beautiful ancient city of Ayutthaya, the ancient Thai kingdom from 1351 to 1767. It is located about 60 miles from Bangkok. All that remains of the old city are some impressive ruins of the royal palace. King Taksin established a capital at Thonburi, across the Chao Phraya from the present capital, Bangkok. The ruins of the historic city of Ayutthaya and "associated historic towns" in the Ayutthaya historical park have been listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. We will also visit some arts and crafts villages along the way. We will return back to Bangkok via a lovely river cruise. (meals-B, L)
DAY 9: Free day in Bangkok for shopping or relaxing. This evening we will see the world-famous Calypso Cabaret Show. (meals-B) DAY 10: Our flight leaves at 11:30am for Siem Reap, Cambodia. We will arrive at approx. 12:30 and transfer to our sprawling 4-star hotel, Angkor Century Hotel. This hotel was inspired by Khmer and has a resort feel with tropical gardens that are found throughout the complex. We will have time to walk into the “town,” have lunch at one of the outdoor cafes and get acquainted with the market. This afternoon we will go to the entrance of the Angkor Temples Complex to get our 3-day passes for the next morning. Then we will see the Land Mine Museum on our way back to the hotel. We recommend having a $4-an-hour massage in town at “Seeing Hands.” This is a local organization that trains the blind to become self-sufficient by offering massages for tourists. Although not the best massage in the world, it is still nice for sore feet and muscles and will help a worthy cause. Overnight again at the Angkor Century Hotel. (meals-B) DAY 11: Sightseeing with our private guide of the Angkor Complex. We will visit one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world. This vast area is home to dozens of important sites. Today we will visit the most popular and significant ones. Angkor Thom-a fortified royal city built by the king who ruled from 1181 to 1201. The city has 5 picturesque and monumental gates that guard what were are the city’s most important monuments. These include Bayon, Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and Phimeanakas with Royal Enclosure. We will then travel on through the miles of the complex to the spectacular site of Ta Prohm. This is also a popular “attraction” because much of the jungle has not been cleared away and you can get a sense of how this area was found when the Europeans first stumbled upon them. Later, we will have the option of returning to the hotel or staying inside the complex. For those who are interested, we will be able to take a quick elephant ride up the mountain path to see the Phnom Bakheng temple at sunset. This offers a gorgeous view of the most famous of the temples, Angkor Wat, as the sun sets behind it. We will visit the famous Happy Herb’s Pizza restaurant, where the pizza can be served “happy” or not. Overnight again at the Angkor Century Hotel. (meals-B, D)
DAY 12: We will return to more of the temples this afternoon, including Angkor Wat. This temple was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu by King Suryavarman, who reigned between 1121 and 1150. It took about 30 years to construct and is world famous for its beauty and deal. Angkor Wat also features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer walls of the temple and narrates stories from Hindu mythology with a detail and beauty that you will not believe! In 1992 UNESCO declared the whole city of Angkor a world heritage site. There are other activities available if you are “templed-out.” You can also take a hot-air balloon ride at sunset over Angkor Wat for about $80 per person. Overnight again at the Angkor Century Hotel. (meals-B, L) DAY 13: Because Angkor is just impossible to see in just a few hours, I would recommend hiring a tuk-tuk driver and visiting the sites again on your own for sunrise. You can rent your own for about $40 per day for 2 people and it is a great way to get around! This is also a great way to avoid the heat and the crowds that tend to come later in the day to see the most famous of the temples. After lunch, we will meet to visit the floating Vietnamese community on a half-day tour. Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner and cultural show that highlights the music and graceful dance of the Khmer people. (B, D)
DAY 14: Leave for US.
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