History of the Khmer Kingdom in Thailand and Cambodia

Arrival at Bangkok Airport (BKK). Welcome! Our driver welcomes you and transfers you to Bangkok by private car, about 01 hours.

Installation and relaxation in your hotel. (Your room will be available between 12:00 and 14:00).

Bangkok is not only a surprising city, it is disconcerting. Between street vendors and skyscrapers more than 100 meters high, you will fall in love with this city that never sleeps. Small quarters dating from the eighteenth century, temples, street vendors, floating markets, everything is here for a change of scenery.

Free day. Take the opportunity to rest or go to visit the city freely, here is a non-exhaustive list of excursions not included. 

Take a cruise along the Chao Phraya River

Visit the Grand Palais

Visit the Chatuchak market, open only on weekends. It is the largest open market in South East Asia, with over 10,000 stands

Visit Muang Boran: Located about 30 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, this park contains the reproductions of 109 monuments of Thailand, in a park of 320 acres (128 hectares), in the shape of Thailand.

Finding bargains in the markets. We particularly like: Ratchada Rot Fai Market, the most local; Srinakarin Rot Fai Train Market, the most original; or Chang Chui, the most modern.

Relax with a Thai massage (try the One Pho Massage, right next to the Wat Pho)

Going crazy in Bangkok malls

Taste the authentic Thai cuisine

You walk in the street Kao San

Explore the temples of Bangkok

Go see the Floating Market 

* ticket not included 180 thb valid between 9hr30 and 18hr, ( approx 4 euros/person)

Overnight in Bangkok at W 22 Hotel.

After breakfast, meet your guide to visit the capital’s main attractions, a nice introduction to the country’s religious history and Thai traditions.

You start by visiting the Royal Palace, symbol of the kingdom and the Wat Phra Kaew, the temple housing the most revered Buddha in Thailand.

Then continue your visit to the Wat Pho to admire the largest elongated Buddha in the world. You will have the opportunity to buy genuine amulets handmade by the monks by strolling through the meanders of the amulet market.

Your guide will take you to a local restaurant to sample typical Thai dishes before crossing the Chao Phraya and taking a boat tour of the unusual Khlongs of Thonburi.

Thonburi is the ancient capital of Siam and is the heart of Bangkok. Sail along the canals (or Khlongs) in your private boat.  Old houses, Buddhist temples, itinerant merchants and exotic wildlife will ensure a change of scenery.

Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Bangkok at W 22 Hotel.

After your breakfast, we will pick you up at your hotel at 9:30 am, to enjoy an extraordinary culinary and cultural experience across the capital. You will be accompanied by experts in Thai gastronomy.

They will make discover the district of Bangrak or more commonly called the "village of love". This area is home to many local stands and restaurants offering dishes that will take you on a journey through the flavours of the Kingdom.

During this morning, you will spend your time tasting typical Thai dishes but also tropical fruits carefully cut by the "mama" of the market. To our vegetarian friends, have no fear, the Thais being Buddhists, you will also have a large choice of dishes at your disposal.

This private tour will make you see all the colors.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon.

Overnight in Bangkok at W 22 Hotel.

After your breakfast, your driver will pick you up in Bangkok and drive you towards Kanchanaburi by private car, the journey will take about 02:30 drive.

Settle into your room and take advantage of this day to relax in your hotel or explore the city of Kanchanaburi. 

Kanchanaburi is a city in western Thailand known for the bridge over the River Kwaï and its atypical national parks. The waterfalls of Erawan are also majestic to visit. Do not hesitate to walk the alleys of this small town and visit its market.

During your free stay these activities are available to you (not included)

- Visit the town of Kanchanaburi and the Kwai River Bridge 
- Go to the giant tree
- Prasat Muang Sing (magnificent Khmer-inspired temple from the 12th century) 
- The Dragonhead Cave Temple, Wat Ban Tham (impressive scenery, you’ll end up in a dragon’s mouth)

Overnight in Kanchanaburi at Sabai@Kan.

After having your breakfast, your hiking team will pick you up to go to the stunning waterfalls of Erawan, do not forget your jersey!

On site, admire the fabulous 7-storey waterfalls considered the most beautiful in Thailand. The morning will end with lunch in a local restaurant.

Visit the Hellfire Pass Museum and then continue your day relaxing at the Hindad Hot Springs.

In addition to being able to relax, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Thai culture. Continue to your floating raft where a delicious dinner will be served on the river.

Overnight in Sai Yok Yai. (accommodation floating on the river Kwai in fan and shower, water at room temperature)

Dinner and overnight in your hotel on the river at Krit Raft.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel, you will start your morning at the elephant camp where you can observe them and spend time with these large pachyderms, a unique experience not to be missed under any circumstances.

During this hour of therapy with the animal, you will observe it while swimming in the mud followed by a bath in the river. Throughout this activity, you will be close to the pachyderm, then it will be time to reward it with fruit.

Don’t forget your camera to keep a memorable memory of this day.

After this privileged moment, you will regain strength by tasting typical dishes in a local restaurant and you will continue your expedition by visiting the Wang Pho viaduct, the Krasae cave and the Wat Tampuwa temple.

You will also have the opportunity to canoe/kayak on the famous River Kwaï or a longtail boat ride, ideal for families.

At the end of the day, return to Kanchanaburi and overnight at your hotel. (For ethical reasons, we do not offer a visit to the Tiger Temple because we absolutely do not support this activity.)

Overnight in Kanchanaburi at Sabai@Kan.

After your breakfast, your driver will pick you up in Kanchanaburi and drive you towards Ayutthaya in a private minivan, the journey will take about 02:30.

Ayutthaya is located about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok. Founded in 1350, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam and a prosperous international trading port, until it was razed by the Burmese in 1767. The ruins of the ancient city now form the Ayutthaya Historical Park, an archaeological site comprising palaces, Buddhist temples, monasteries and magnificent statues.

Settle into your room and enjoy your free afternoon to relax around the pool or to stroll through the city of Ayutthaya by yourself. 

Then around 5pm, your taxi (tuk-tuk) will pick you up, then you will board your private rice barge on the Chao Phraya River to watch the sunset over the temples of Ayutthaya. The cruise lasts about 1h30.

Overnight in Ayutthaya at Baan Thai House.

After enjoying a good breakfast, your French-speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel reception. You leave, in traditional Tuk Tuk of the Ayutthaya region, for your visit of the key places of the old capital. 

Enjoy the many temples and palaces such as the famous Wat Phra Sri Sunphet, Wat Lokayasutharam or Wat Napramain.

Return to your hotel in the late morning, and free time.

Your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Ayutthaya and transfer you to Khao Yai in a private minivan, the journey will take about 3 hours.

Khao Yai National Park is a heritage site located in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Covering nearly 2,168 square kilometres, it has massive biodiversity and provides habitat for more than 350 rare and threatened species. A must for nature lovers, between its lush jungle, its rivers, waterfalls, caves and wild animals.

When you arrive on site, settle in your tent and let yourself be lulled by the sound of the surrounding nature or enjoy the superb swimming pool overlooking the lake. You will have a unique experience and be close to the jungle. 

Overnight in Khao Yai at Lala Mukha Tented Resort Khao Yai.

Enjoy your free day in Khao Yai to explore the park by yourself, the choice of activities is wide.  

At your choice during your free stay these activities are available to you (not included):

Hiking in search of local flora and fauna

Observation of animals from a platform

Night safari

Discovery of caves housing thousands of bats

Overnight in Khao Yai at Lala Mukha Tented Resort Khao Yai.

Leaving your hotel this morning after breakfast, your driver will drive you to the Buriram region to visit the beautifully restored Khmer temple of Isan "Prasat Muang Tam". The journey will take approximately 03h30.

Less visited, this temple remains equally impressive with its lotus ponds, and its magnificent sculptures.

At 8 kilometers from the Phanom Rung, and built around between the 10 and the 11th century, it is dedicated to Shiva and presents a particular arrangement in the way its prangs (Khmer style towers) are arranged.
 
Then discover the Prasat Hin Phanom Rung. Be ready to be amazed by the most spectacular Khmer ruins of Thailand.
Built on an extinct volcano, this temple perfectly represents the Hindu paradise.  

Local lunch with your guide.

Then, your driver transfers you to the border of Aranyaprathet by private minivan, it takes about 2h of road.

You arrive at the border of Aranyaprathet you will pass the formalities to cross the border to Cambodia (Poi Pet Border).

Upon arrival in Cambodia, you will fill out a form to which you will attach a photo ID, you will pay a visa fee of 30USD/person.

Then your private driver from Cambodia and francophone guide will drive you from the border to your hotel in Siem Reap, in private vehicle, the journey takes about 03:00.  

SIEM REAP means «Siamese defeat» and evokes a battle between the Siamese and Khmer armies... and which saw the victory of the latter. Capital of the Province of Siem Reap it is located near the archaeological complex of Angkor and about 314 km north-northwest of the capital Phnom Penh. 

The city has an architecture of colonial and Chinese styles especially in the French quarter and around the Old Market.

It is a city in full development due to the booming tourist attraction that represents the temples of Angkor since the end of the war and the last Khmer Rouge attacks that took place until 1994. 

Tourism has particularly accelerated since the 2000s.  There remain a few buildings before independence, called Chinese compartments.

You then move into your hotel room. Enjoy your free evening strolling through the streets of the charming town of Siem Reap.

Overnight in Siem Reap at the Indochina Pavilion.

Your half day will start with preparing your own traditional breakfast. You will discover and help in the different stages of making rice noodles then you will savour your production with the family. After that, you will join another village specializing in making sticky rice cooked in bamboo and in harvesting coconut. You will witness the preparation and filling of the bamboo with Cambodian snacks and a fresh coconut.

On the road you will find different stands of sugar palms. Locals will explain to you all the ways they use fruit. Don’t be shy and try!

For your last stop, you will stop in a house where the family manufactures and sells handcrafts based on palm leaves. They will show you how to create an object that you can then keep as a souvenir of your experience. Free lunch.

In the afternoon, you will visit the marvellous and gigantic temple of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has remained a religious centre of great importance since its creation in the 12th century. It also offers a moment out of time, when you walk through its walls covered with vegetation...

Local flavours of Siem Reap. Walking through the center of Siem Reap, you will pass through many food stalls, you will taste a lot of delicious and surprising specialties of Cambodian cuisine. To start your exploration, in the heart of the city, in a local house, an aperitif will be served as well as an assortment of local dishes that the Khmers love.

You will continue to a secret but famous local destination where the traditional saak koh ang is served: grilled beef with vegetables, all accompanied by local beer or other drinks.

After breakfast, your private driver and French-speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the shores of the beautiful Lake Tonlé Sap. From there, you will board a local boat from Kompong Khleang and wind quietly on Lake Tonlé Sap to observe the small floating villages. The small local boat will allow you to move easily along the different canals that reach the big lake. Once at the mouth, when you only see water as far as the eye can see, this is where you will realize how huge this lake is!

During the dry season, you can stroll with the locals before boarding the cruise. Picnic lunch at home.

In the afternoon, you will visit Angkor Thom (the «great city»), starting with the southern portal, the famous Bayon (12th-13th centuries), dedicated to Buddhism, and composed of 54 gigantic towers with 216 faces of Avalokitesvara. Then you will discover the pyramidal temple of Baphuon (11th century), dedicated to Brahmanism, and representing Mt.

Then, the 350-metre Elephant Terrace, which hosted the splendour of royal audiences and public ceremonies; then the Leper King’s Terrace, a 12th-century platform that features several beautifully carved figures of the Apsaras (nymphs of great beauty).

Finally, you will end the morning with the discovery of Phimean Akas, the «celestial palace», a three-degree pyramid representing Mt.

In the evening, you will end this day with the show of Phare: the Cambodian circus. You will discover "Phare Ponleu Selpak", an NGO founded in 1994 with the aim of giving arts education to disadvantaged Cambodian youth. The show will give you a real insight into the history and culture of Cambodia: ideal for groups of all ages. Both performances are performed professionally by talented young artists. The show is dynamic, exciting and shows a vibrant Cambodia. The goal of each performance is to give travelers an idea of the modern art scene while revealing fragments of Khmer history. Some paintings will take you back to the Khmer Rouge era when others focus more on the problems of today’s Khmer society. All worth a look! The show starts at 8 pm.

Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap at the Indochina Pavilion.

Take advantage of your last free time to relax at your hotel or go shopping for souvenirs in downtown Siem Reap.

Your driver then transfers you by private minivan to the border of Poipet for your return to Thailand, the journey will take about 03:00.

You will then be transferred with your private driver from Thailand to the Laem Sok pier, in a private minivan, the journey will take about 04:00 hours.

You are welcomed and embark for Koh Kood in a fast catamaran, about 1h30 crossing.

A peaceful neighbour of the large island of Koh Chang off Trat, Koh Kood is still preserved from mass tourism. Here you will find yourself in an almost untouched nature landscape with a few resorts and few shops and restaurants. Here no jet-skiing and other water sports, no elephant rides and so much the better! You can dive or snorkel there. There are some agencies on the island. On the visiting side, Koh Kood has two waterfalls, two large banyan trees nestled in the deep forest and a huge Buddha structure with views and plenty of virgin beaches to discover.

Overnight in Koh Kood at Shantaa Koh Kood Resort.

At your choice during your free stay these activities are available to you (not included):

Diving or snorkeling 

Massage, spa, yoga

Go see the waterfalls of Klong Chao, Klong Yai Kee, Huang Num Keaw

Go fishing and visit the fishing village of Baan Ao Yai

Trekking to View Point on top of Battleship Mountain

Trekking and seeing the old trees of Koh Kood Forest

And of course enjoy your hotel and its beautiful beach.

Overnight in Koh Kood at Shantaa Koh Kood Resort.

At your choice during your free stay these activities are available to you (not included):

Diving or snorkeling 

Massage, spa, yoga

Go see the waterfalls of Klong Chao, Klong Yai Kee, Huang Num Keaw

Go fishing and visit the fishing village of Baan Ao Yai

Trekking to View Point on top of Battleship Mountain

Trekking and seeing the old trees of Koh Kood Forest

And of course enjoy your hotel and its beautiful beach.

Overnight in Koh Kood at Shantaa Koh Kood Resort.

At your choice during your free stay these activities are available to you (not included):

Diving or snorkeling 

Massage, spa, yoga

Go see the waterfalls of Klong Chao, Klong Yai Kee, Huang Num Keaw

Go fishing and visit the fishing village of Baan Ao Yai

Trekking to View Point on top of Battleship Mountain

Trekking and seeing the old trees of Koh Kood Forest

And of course enjoy your hotel and its beautiful beach.

Overnight in Koh Kood at Shantaa Koh Kood Resort.

Your hotel team will transfer you from Koh Kood to Bangkok by ferry and then by private car to Bangkok, the total journey with ferry and road by car will be about 06:00.

Then you will be transferred to your hotel near Bangkok Airport by private car, about 01 hour drive.

Installation and relaxation. Last night of relaxation in the land of smiles.

Overnight at Bangkok Airport (BKK) at Aranta Airport Hotel.

Your hotel shuttle transfers you to Bangkok International Airport, which is just a few minutes away.

It’s already the end of the holidays but you leave with memories full of head.