Cambodia | Thailand | Laos | Vietnam | Myanmar | Signature Tours | Mekong Experience Adventure Asia Tour
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This is a get-out-and-do-it-yourself tour. Peddle, paddle and plod your way through these amazing countries! This is a great tour for people on their first trip to Southeast Asia that don’t want to just see the highlights, but also want to get out and get active! From cooking classes to bike rides to elephant adventures, kayaking and trekking this is an amazing way to see Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. You’ll go home having seen all the highlights, but also having gone beyond!
Day 1 Bangkok - Arrival
Catch your flight. Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your Guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Day 2 Bangkok - Public Transport Tour
You will be met by your guide at your hotel at 9am before transferring to the Skytrain. Enjoy an elevated view of central Bangkok before boarding a river express boat to the Flower Market. Enjoy the sights and smells before taking an exciting tuk tuk ride to Wat Pho to see the famous Reclining Buddha.
Enjoy a thirty minute massage from the temple’s near by traditional Thai massage school. Break for lunch at a local restaurant, and then head to the pride of Thailand, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew housing the Emerald Buddha. Take a stroll down the street to a local Buddhist amulet market before boarding a river express boat to the Skytrain station and return to your hotel.
Meals included: Lunch
Day 3 Bangkok - Cooking Class at Blue Elephant
Your guide will meet you at 8am and take you to the Blue Elephant Cooking School. There you will be welcomed with a fresh Thai herbal drink and discuss with the chef the 4 course meal the group will prepare. Once you’re ready the group will take a ride by Sky Train to the Bang Rak morning market. Your instructor will advise the group and guide you in discovering the usage of Thai fruits and vegetables without forgetting the multicolored spices!
Once back at the school your instructor will present a cookery demonstration of the dishes that you will have to prepare! Each student will receive a booklet with the recipes of the day. Now it’s your turn! Assisted by our instructor you will learn and experience the culinary technique of Thai cuisine. The best part is last as you all sit down and enjoy what you made in the lovely Blue Elephant restaurant.
You will be met by our Bangkok director Jeab and she will take you to Silom Road and to her favorite local restaurant for dinner. The main dish is papaya salad, but she will many different dishes for you to try. After dinner anyone interested can head to a local nightclub with Jeab for some drink and dancing.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Ayutthaya Ride to the Green Day 1
You will be met in the morning by your guide and will take you by private air conditioned car to the ancient city of Ayutthaya. The tour starts with exploration of the island of the city, experiencing the highlights of the historical park by bicycle. Before heading out on your bicycle you can watch an informative overview of Ayutthaya at the multimedia information complex in the exhibition centre at the Old City Hall. Then ride to visit Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bopit, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Ancient Palace and Wat Na Phra Nain as well as Wat Mahathat.
After lunch, ride on back roads through the green scenery of the rural heartland of the central plain to explore many local communities, then cruise along the preaceful and ageless canal. In the evening you will ride to your homestay and will enjoy dinner with your hosts.
Overnight at Village Homestay
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Ayutthaya Ride to the Green Day 2
In the morning wake up early and join the local people in a merit-making ceremony by offering food to the Buddhist monks on their morning alms round by small paddle boat. Return to your homestay for a traditional breakfast. After breakfast, explore the local village before finally arriving back in Ayutthaya in the late afternoon. Your guide will then take you back to Bangkok by private air conditioned car.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep and City Temple Tour
You will be transferred to Bangkok Airport for your flight. You will be met at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your hotel.
In the afternoon visit Doi Suthep, the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below.
Have lunch with your guide at a local restaurant. Visit some of the more famous Wats, within the city walls of Chiang Mai, Your guide will discuss Buddhism and the role it plays in everyday life as well as showing you the many details of each temple.
Meals included: Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village Hotel - Superior Room
Day 7 Chiang Mai - Patara Mahout Traning at Patara Elephant Farm
You will be met in the lobby of your hotel at 730am and transferred to the Patara Elephant Farm outside of Chiang Mai. At the farm you will be given your Mahout outfit and a brief talk on working with elephants before heading into the bush to find them. You can learn about the elephant farm management and the breeding program taking place here. Meet the elephants and learn to approach them and work with them from the ground. You will take them to the river for their morning bath and then take a short ride to a local temple where you can learn about elephants in Buddhism and the Thai’s ancient relationship with these traditional beasts of burden.
Mid day you will set off for a ride through the jungle to some waterfalls where you will enjoy a picnic lunch and a swim with your elephant in the falls. Return to the camp in the afternoon and say goodbye to your new friends before being transferred back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village Hotel - Superior Room
Day 8 Chiang Mai - Flight of the Gibbon
You will be picked up at your hotel and will be transferred to Ban Mae Kampong to start your tour. Your guide will take you on a short jungle trek to the start of the "Flight of the Gibbon" – a 3 hour, 2km air trek high up in the rainforest canopy using zip lines and skybridges taking in the glory and majesty of old growth, high altitude pristine rainforest.
Lunch is served on your return, lastly there is a spectacular trek up beside the impressively beautiful Mae Kampong Falls. We will serve you by herbal juice before you return to the city of Chiang Mai there is an afternoon snack with locally grown organic Arabica coffee. Then it is into the VIP minivan and back to civilization.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village Hotel - Superior Room
Day 9 Chiang Mai - Bua Thong waterfall - Chiang Dao
You will be met at your hotel at 8am and you will start your ride at the Bua Thong Waterfall where you will take country back roads to Chiang Dao. The scenery is breathtaking and your guide will point out flora and fauna along the way. There are no major hills, but an undulating path that will allow you to enjoy the villages and scenery you're passing. Spend the night at a lovely eco hotel with much-needed swimming pool.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Bike ride to Visit Chiang Dao Caves
Today you will start your ride through ethnic hill tribe villages and a visit to the Chiang Dao Caves. Continue on to a new ecolodge for the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Bike Ride to Mae Salak and Mae Kok River
This morning you will follow the scenic Mae Kok River as it winds it's way through villages and past villages.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Bike ride to Chiang Rai
Today you will ride bikes, but also elephants and boats to the final destination of Chiang Rai. You will be dropped at your hotel around 5pm where you can relax with a cocktail by the pool.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at The River House Resort & Spa - Deluxe Room
Day 13 Chiang Rai - Golden Triangle and Opium Museum
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to the Queens Opium Museum, a fascinating look at the history and culture of the opium trade in the Golden Triangle. Then on to the Golden Triangle itself where you can see Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. In the afternoon head to the Thai Burma border and visit the market there before returning to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at The River House Resort & Spa - Deluxe Room
Day 14 Chiang Rai - Pakbeng
You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Mekong where you will check out of Thailand before crossing by boat to the Laos Immigration point at Houeisay. After checking take a short drive to board the beautiful LuangSay. Fitted out for comfort this 34 meter boat will provide a little luxury for this stretch of your travels and enable you to relax and watch the countryside slide past, read a book or get to know your fellow travelers a little better. You will stop and visit a local village before lunch is served on board.
Late afternoon the boat arrives at the delightful Luangsay Lodge. Dine on the beautiful terraced dining room over looking the Mekong.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Luangsay Lodge
Day 15 Pakbeng to Luang Prabang
After breakfast stroll thru nearby Pakbeng before joining the Luangsay again to continue downstream. You will stop at a Hmong village before lunch and the famous Pac-Ou Caves – the caves of 1000 Buddhas – and a local village where traditional rice alcohol has been brewed for centuries, before arriving at Luang Prabang. Your boat will pull into the ancient Royal steps and you will be met and transfered to your hotel.
Luang Prabang is a delight to walk around, choose your dinner spot from the many restaurants and visit the evening market. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Lotus Villa Hotel - Frangipani Room
Day 16 Luang Prabang - Sunrise to Sunset
Wake up at sunrise to give monks morning alms. You’ll be accompanied by your guide who can demonstrate the proper method of alms giving and explain this daily Buddhist ceremony. Return to your hotel for breakfast, after which your guide will take you on a tour of the city, including visits to The National Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visun and Wat Sen. Enjoy lunch in town at a restaurant of your choice. After lunch your guide will meet you and you’ll continue your tour, finishing with a hike up Mt. Phou Si in the late afternoon to see a sweeping view of Luang Prabang and watch the sunset.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Lotus Villa Hotel - Frangipani Room
Day 17 Luang Prabang - Cooking Class
Your driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Tum Tum Cheng Restaurant. Choose your recipes and drive to the Phou Si market to buy produce for the day. Return to the restaurant to learn about spices and preparation for these local dishes. After your cooking demonstration, you’ll have time to finish your dishes on your own before sitting down to enjoy the lunch that you’ve prepared. During lunch you’ll learn about local culinary traditions and customary dining etiquette.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Lotus Villa Hotel - Frangipani Room
Day 18 Luang Prabang - Trekking with Village Homestay Day1
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you'll be driven to Ban Long Lao, the starting point of your trek. From here your guide, along with a local village guide, will lead you through the mountainous surroundings. You will pass small Hmong villages on your way and stop along the path to enjoy a picnic lunch.
After lunch, continue your trek arriving at your final destination, Ban Nong Khouay, in the late afternoon. Ban Nong Khouay is a shared Hmong/Khmu community and the locals will make you feel right at home. Enjoy dinner cooked by your hosts and stay overnight with your village family, sleeping Lao style on a small mattress with a mosquito net.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 19 Luang Prabang - Trekking with Village Homestay Day2
Your host family will cook you a simple breakfast before your early morning departure. Continue your hike for another 4 or 5 hours, enjoying local life an peaceful scenery as you go. In the afternoon you will meet your driver and have lunch at a small local waterfall. After lunch you will be transferred by private van back to Luang Prabang.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Lotus Villa Hotel - Frangipani Room
Day 20 Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng
Enjoy an overland drive to Vang Vieng District which is known for its stunning landscape. Have the afternoon at leisure exploring this unusual area and spend the night at the Riverside Resort beautifully set on the banks of the river.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 21 Vang Vieng - Kayaking
At 9:00am transfer to the Nam Song River for four hours of kayaking through stunning scenery. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the riverbank. In the evening watch the sunset in the Nam Song Valleys.
Return to the Riverside Resort.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 22 Vang Vieng to Vientiane
Enjoy the onward drive through this beautiful landscape. On the way stop at interesting sites in Vang Sang and visit the Tan Chang Cave. Take a guided city tour including Hor Prakeo, Wat Sisaket, That Luange, and Pra Tou Chai before returning for a traditional dinner including a music and dance performance.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Green Park Boutique Hotel - Classic Room
Day 23 Siem Reap - Arrival
You will be transferred to Vientiane Airport in time for your onward flight. You will be met by a Journeys Within representative and taken to Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
Day 24 Siem Reap - Angkor Wat
This morning head to Angkor Wat in an air conditioned car, or if you choose by bike, with your guide. Explore this majestic temple throughout the morning while it is still cool and has fewer tourists. Return to Journeys Within for lunch and a nap or refresh with a swim.
In the afternoon head to Angkor Thom, the famous walled city and see the many temples within its borders, including the fascinating Bayon temple with its many magnificent faces smiling out. There are several beautiful spots from which to watch the sunset. Discuss with your guide where you would like to be and then relax and enjoy a memorable end to your day at the temples.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
Day 25 Siem Reap - Sunrise Kbal Spean & Banteay Srei
Wake up early and head out to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat, then grab a traditional breakfast of noodle soup like the locals do at local stall.
After breakfast you will head out of town continuing on a dirt road to Kbal Spean. Once there hike for about two hours to get to the “River of a Thousand Lingas.” In ancient times if water ran over lingas it was said to be holy water. The ancient Khmers therefore made thousands of lingas along this riverbed so the water that flowed to their rice fields was blessed. The lingas and other stone carvings remain today. Have fun exploring the surrounding jungle. Enjoy lunch at the local restaurent. Reture to Siem Reap stopping at Banteay Seri, an intricately carved known as the Lady Temlp.
Later in the afternoon head back to the temples where you will visit Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, two of the prettiest temples in the complex. Watch the sunset from inside Ta Prohm or from the Angkor Wat promenade.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
Day 26 Siem Reap - Kayaking
Experience a unique Journeys Within day kayaking on the Tonle Sap. You will set out with the rest of the group around 8am and drive for about an hour before boarding a boat for a 40 minute ride to one of the lake villages. Here the homes are built on stilts because, while in the dry season the surrounding area is dry, in the rainy season it is flooded and so they rise above the water level.
You will arrive at the local home that stores our canoes and after a short safety briefing head off with your guide who will lead you thru waterways, flooded forests and out into the Tonle Sap lake where you can take a dip if you wish. Then back to wind thru the village experiencing how the locals live in this watery environment before returning to the home for lunch and a leisurely boat and car ride back to town.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B
Day 27 Siem Reap - Visit Well
Today you will visit your donated wells. About an hour outside of Siem Reap we will take the van as far as possible and then walk the rest of the way if necessary. We will meet the recipients of the wells and talk about what clean water means to their life. Have lunch in the village and talk about the differences of village life to your own life back home.
Visit one of Journeys Within Our Community’s (JWOC’s) free schools to help in an English class. JWOC offers a wide variety of free classes to students who have the desire to learn, but lack the financial means to do so. Our English program for children and adults welcomes the participation of native English speaking volunteers who play an extremely useful role assisting the teachers with speaking activities, providing a model for students who often have limited opportunity to hear and speak English in their everyday lives. No experience is necessary – your ability to speak English is the only qualification you need to help. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the class starts to meet the teacher and find out what you will be doing.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 28 Phuket - Arrival
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight. You will be met at Phuket Airport and transferred to your hotel. Once you have checked in relax and enjoy your resort. There are restauraunts in the hotel and in the surrounding area, pools to enjoy and of course the beach!
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Mom Tri's Boat House Hotel - Superior Room
Day 29 Phuket - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Mom Tri's Boat House Hotel - Superior Room
Day 30 Phuket - Hongs by Starlight
You will be met at your hotel between 1230 and 1pm and driven with the rest of the group to the Ao Po Pier to board the boat. Cruise towards the National Park while you enjoy a light Thai lunch and listen to a briefing on the wildlife and your schedule. In the afternoon you will be taken by kayak into various hongs and caves, enjoying some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
In the evening you will enjoy a Thai Seafood dinner and you can make your own krathong to float for luck that evening. Enjoy the sunset on board and then return in the dusk to a hong where you will launch your kratong and enjoy this magical moment. At 8pm you will start your return to the island, enjoying the amazing views of the stars from the starlight deck. You will return to your hotel around 10pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Mom Tri's Boat House Hotel - Superior Room
Day 31 Phuket - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Mom Tri's Boat House Hotel - Superior Room
Day 32 Phuket - Departure
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $ 6,675.00 per person based on 2 people traveling.
Price includes:
- Air tickets Bangkok - Chiang Mai / Vientiane - Siem Reap - Phuket - Bangkok
- Boat tickets as specified above
- Accommodation as specified above
- Air-conditioned car/van with driver
- Licensed English speaking guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified in itinerary, including water
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Drinks (except water) and meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips
Cambodia | Thailand | Laos | Vietnam | Myanmar | Signature Tours | Mekong Experience |
