It’s time to say goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City and move toward the powerful Mekong River, so get up and shine! Take in the scenery from a window seat during the two-hour trip to Cai Be. When you arrive at Cai Be, take the wooden boat and relax as you go by the Mekong’s verdant islands. Savor your meal while on board. Discover the typical rural life on the Mekong by taking a cruise by little riverside towns like Vinh Long. After your cruise, you’ll have free time to explore Can Tho’s bustling town, vibrant riverfront, and charming backstreets!

The floating marketplaces in Cai Rang are the best spot to get a glimpse of river life. Take a boat excursion 6km from Can Tho to visit the interesting marketplaces, where hundreds of wooden rowboats trade everything from garments and rice to exotic fruits on the river, after you’ve finished your hearty breakfast at your hotel. Take a stroll around the markets on foot and stop at the Orchard Garden in the area. After that, proceed to Chau Doc for a boat tour of the Tra Su Sanctuary, which is deep into the Mekong Forest and is home to a variety of tropical birds and beautiful canals. Complete your activities in Chau Doc town and get some rest before we head over the border into Cambodia early the next morning!

Vietnam bye, and hello to Cambodia! Make sure to set an early alarm for your 7 a.m. public speed boat transfer to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Take a nap en route, and arrive in Phnom Penh by 1:00 pm, giving you plenty of time to spend exploring the fascinating city in the afternoon on a guided tour. First up, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex, one of the city’s most visited sights! Constructed in 1866 by King Norodom’s predecessors, the palace is one of the most remarkable examples of Khmer-style architecture in Cambodia. After that, pay a visit to Wat Phnom Temple and the Independence Monument for some breathtaking city views! Explore a horrific era by visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.

We’re heading to Battambang today. Explore more of history as we proceed to Phnom Udong, the former capital of the Khmer Empire! See the National Museum to gain knowledge about the past. Two sizable hills in the city offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Perched atop the twin humps are a number of striking stupas that have withstood bombing during Cambodia’s recent wars, by both the Americans and the Khmer Rouge. Continue to Kompong Chhnang after taking in the scenery, and make a stop at a nearby pottery village. The traditional Khmer pottery made in this area is well-known, having been passed down through the generations for more than 1,500 years! We’ll travel to the Phnom Sampeau Mountains as night descends over Southeast Asia to see thousands of nocturnal bats take to the skies via the caverns. Sitting at the base of the Phnom Sampeou caverns in Battambang, watching the sun set and a throng of thousands of bats darting through the caves and over the night sky, is a truly amazing experience. Don’t forget to pack your camera!

Have you ever taken a Bamboo Train ride? Come along as we go 8 kilometers through Battambang’s picturesque countryside and rice farms. The locals built this bamboo train to make it easier to move people and goods. With just one bamboo platform, four wheels, and a little motor, it is simple but efficient. Next, prepare your camera and trekking shoes for a visit to Phnom Banan, an 11th-century Angkorian temple. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with serene vistas of the surrounding countryside and more than 350 steps! Take in these gorgeous settings. We’ll depart Battambang and head for Siem Reap in the afternoon. Visiting a silk shop in Puok District is a fantastic opportunity to discover more about Cambodian silk. Here, we’ll spend some time studying the mulberry harvesting procedure, silkworm life cycle, and silk production process. We advise getting a good night’s sleep tonight in preparation for tomorrow’s much anticipated trip to the renowned Angkor Wat temples!

Get ready for an incredible day in Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world! You will start by going to the South Gate of Angkor Thom to witness the elaborate Bayon Temple. This temple is well-known for its 54 towers that are adorned with more than 200 huge smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara, as well as its Elephant Terraces. Then, we’ll visit the revered heart and soul of Cambodia—Angkor Wat—again, a temple included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Capture some stunning images of the temple reflecting in its magnificent moat. After that, stroll around the exterior gallery walls as your local guide tells Hindu mythological tales. We’re going to the Phare Circus in Siem Reap tonight to see some of the most amazing performers in Cambodia! Young performers and recent graduates have the chance to polish their skills and make a respectable living doing what they love in this distinctively modern circus!

After breakfast, the first part of our journey comes to a close as we continue to be amazed by the wonders of Cambodia. After checking out of the hotel, head to the airport to catch our aircraft to Bangkok, Thailand! After your private transfer drops you off at our hotel in Bangkok, you will meet your guide and have free time to explore the vibrant capital.

After enjoying a hearty breakfast at the hotel, spend the entire day seeing Bangkok with the help of the included City Tour. Explore Bangkok’s bustling streets and charming back streets with your local guide as you take in the two must-see attractions of the city. Explore China Town, make your way to the banks of the Chao Phraya River, and stop by Wat Pho to witness the renowned 46-meter-long, gold-leafed Reclining Buddha! To experience the enchanted ambiance, proceed to the Grand Palace, which is located close and serves as an ideal representation of an old Siamese court. Within the royal grounds lies the Temple of Emerald Buddha, which you might have the opportunity to visit. Be sure to cover your shoulders and knees with loose-fitting clothing, such as long shirts and jeans, as the Grand Palace has a rigorous dress code. traverse the Klongs (canals) of Thonburi and the Chao Phraya River, also known as “The River of Kings.” The city was dubbed the “Venice of the East” because of the tranquil family houses and temples that line the rivers, which you will have the opportunity to see and photograph. You will also visit Wat Arun, one of Bangkok’s most often photographed locations. The temple gets its name from the magnificent shrine, which features a 76-meter-tall pagoda and is adorned with glazed porcelain pieces that reflect the morning sun. After spending a full day discovering Bangkok, return to the hotel to spend the afternoon at leisure.

We leave Bangkok early in the morning and go to Kanchanaburi on an air-conditioned coach. Renowned for the bridge over the Kwai River, this location holds great significance in both Thailand’s dark military history and World War II. Commence your exploration of the region by paying a visit to the War Museum and Cemetery, which honor the deaths of the POWs who perished while building the bridge. Take a boat ride on the River Kwai to the well-known bridge, where you may stroll about the area and cross it on foot. Our next destination is the unique railway segment known as “Hellfire Pass,” which was constructed between 1942 and 1943 by allied prisoners of war in record time. After checking into the hotel and having some free time to continue your exploration on your own terms, have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Say goodbye to the ancient city of Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi! This city, which is brimming with Buddhist temples, monasteries, and historic statues that are unmissable, is referred to as Thailand’s hidden archeological pearl. Experience a walking tour with your guide around the 1350 UNESCO World Heritage site, which was once the largest city in the world and the capital of the Siamese Kingdom! Discover the three historic pagodas of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, as well as the majestic royal monastery at Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, Wat Mahathat. After that, we’ll travel to Ang Thong to see the magnificent Wat Muang temple, which is well-known for having the ninth-biggest seated Buddha statue in the world—standing about 100 meters tall—and the largest in Thailand. We travel to the city of Phitsanulok, which is in the center of Thailand and is regarded as one of the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the nation, after having a traditional lunch. See how the terrain changes as you travel, becoming greener and lusher until it resembles a jungle in terms of vegetation. Arrive at your 4-star hotel for some downtime after a full day of sightseeing and learning from your local guide.

For those who like an early start, we visit the hotel’s surrounds early morning to offer a gift to the monks and get a close-up look at one of the most representative features of Thai culture. We travel to Sukhotai, Thailand’s ancient center, by bicycle after breakfast. The Sukhothai Kingdom resided in this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage City from 1238 to 1438, and it served as the birthplace of Thai civilization. Take a walking trip with your local guide through the Sukhothai Historical Park to see the enormous Wat Sri Chum Buddha statue in a beautiful park setting, as well as the old temples and striking ruins. Next, take a seat by the window as we drive through the Lampang province on our way to Chiang Rai. We will stop for lunch and relaxation along the picturesque Phayao Lake shoreline en route. When you arrive in Chiang Rai in the late afternoon, take advantage of the leisure time to relax, go for a swim in the hotel pool, or explore the night market.

Start the day with a hearty breakfast since the stunning new Wat Rong Suea Ten, often referred to as the Blue Temple, will be our first trip. Explore the amazing paintings that bear a resemblance to the style of the well-known White Temple, whose architect received years of training here. Follow your guide to the village of Akha, an ethnic community well-known for its vibrant costumes and the surrounding scenic tea plantations, to fully immerse yourself in the native way of life. Proceeding towards the striking and modern White Temple, also known as Wat Rong Kun in Thai, situated on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, see how white embodies the wisdom and purity of Buddhism in an exquisitely serene and beautiful setting. The renowned painter and artist Chalermchai Kositpipat of Chiang Rai is the creator of this strange-looking temple. The structure is completely white, unlike the majority of Thai temples, and has mirrors and glass incorporated into the exterior to create a dazzling effect in the sunlight. Prepare your cameras because this temple is definitely worthy of an Instagram post! The greatest elephant sanctuaries in Thailand may be found in this hilly, forested location, which also offers tranquil landscape vistas and meandering rivers! Before a busy day ahead, spend the nighttime in Chiang Rai relaxing at our opulent 4-star hotel.

We’re off to the Elephant EcoValley for a fun-filled, animal-friendly half-day adventure today. In addition to learning everything there is to know about these amazing animals, you will have the opportunity to: Gather grass and other vegetation for the elephants to snack on; hike with the elephants to the Upper EcoValley on foot; plant a banana tree or herbs; make vitamin balls that are high in fruit and herbs; feed the balls to the elephants, who adore them; take a mud bath with your new friends (watch or wash ’em yourself!); and take a shower outside while taking in the view of a mountain stream! Once you arrive back in Chiang Mai in the afternoon, head to the well-known mountain temple Wat Doi Suthep, which is the ideal place to take in the magnificence of the city. Savor some alone time or take a stroll through the well-known night market to take in the lively ambiance at night.

We will say goodbye to strangers who soon became friends and check out of the hotel at 11 a.m. on the morning of our final day in Chiang Mai, following breakfast at the hotel. Fortunately, this is just a temporary goodbye till we meet again!