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Cambodia | Thailand | Laos | Vietnam | Myanmar
Signature Tours | Mekong Experience | Student Experiences
Journeys Within Custom Classic
Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia For Steve
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25 Dec 08 Bangkok - Arrival
Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your Guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 2Double + 1Extra bed Lemon Grass Double Room
26 Dec 08 Bangkok - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 1Double Lemon Grass Double Room
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 1Double + 1Extra bed Orchid Loft Suite Room
27 Dec 08 Bangkok - Public Transport Tour with Klong trip
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 heading off along the klongs (canals) finally boarding a river express boat to the Skytrain station and returning to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 1Double Lemon Grass Double Room
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 1Double + 1Extra bed Orchid Loft Suite Room
28 Dec 08 Day 1-Train to Bridge on the River Kwai
Wake up early and transfer to the train station where you will catch your train to Kanchanaburi. Enjoy the views along the way before arriving in the late morning to the Bridge Over the River Kwai. Take a look at the Railway Museum and learn more about the importance of the Thai-Burmese Railway commonly referred to as the “Death Railway” during the Second World War.
Board a train and cross the bridge on the way to Nam Tok Station, the present-day terminal station for the Death Railway. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then board a boat headed up river to the River Kwai Jungle Rafts with stunning views along the way. After dropping of your bags, take a one hour elephant ride through the bamboo forests.
Return to the rafts for a relaxing dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
29 Dec 08 Day 2-Rafting and Hellfire Pass
After breakfast take a lazy bamboo raft trip down the river where you may see water buffalo or elephants bathing along the banks. You will be met by an air conditioned van and transferred to the Hellfire Pass Memorial.
Look through the powerful displays at your own pace before hiking down to the Konyu Cutting – the infamous Hellfire Pass. The time is yours to trek as far as you choose along the 500 meter trail through incredible scenery, passing through cut-away stone passes and over trestle bridges built by POW’s and forced labor during the Second World War. Afterwards stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing back to the Jungle Rafts. The afternoon is yours to relax with a book or enjoy a traditional Mon/Thai massage right on the river. In the evening, enjoy dinner before watching a Traditional Mon Dance performance.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
30 Dec 08 Day 3-Kanchanaburi - Bangkok
Say goodbye to the Jungle Rafts and head back to Kanchanaburi to visit the Chung Kai Allied War Cemetery, the well-kept grounds for memorial of World War II POW’s. Continue on to Wat Tham Khao Pun, a cave temple that was used by the Japanese soldiers to store weapons and equipment during WWII. Return to Kanchanaburi for lunch at a restaurant of your choice. After lunch visit the JEATH Museum, a moving site dedicated to the trauma and hardships that Allied POW’s suffered. In the afternoon transfer to Bangkok in a private air conditioned van.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 1Double Orchid Loft Suite Room
Overnight at Old Bangkok Inn - 1Twin + 1Extra bed Orchid Loft Suite Room
31 Dec 08 Chiang Mai - Arrival
You will be transferred to Bangkok Airport for your flight - departing at 12:20 & arriving at 13:35. You will be met at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Pam's B&B - 1Double & 1Triple Standard Room
01 Jan 09 Chiang Mai - Elephant Riding & Trekking
Wake up early and your guide will escort you into Chiang Mai. Visit the Tapae Gate and witness the traditional Buddhist food offering to monks. Take a rickshaw ride from here to the Chiang Mai Gate to visit the morning market and see the Chiang Mai people go about their daily lives. Finally, visit Wat Srisoda to see the local monks in Morning Prayer.
You will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30am and driven in an air-conditioned van for a little over an hour to an elephant camp. Here you will take an hour and a half elephant ride before setting off to walk for about 40 minutes to a Meo Hill Tribe Village. Continue on to a Shan Village for lunch and then drive to a local Karen village from where you can walk another 15 minutes to a waterfall. Enjoy a swim and then take a bamboo raft down the Mae Win River. Return to Chiang Mai.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Pam's B&B - 1Double & 1Triple Standard Room
02 Jan 09 Chiang Mai - Boat Ride to Farmer's House and Rickshaw
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to boat pier where you will board a small river boat and cruise two hours upstream through Chiang Mai town and into the rural area. Here you will stop at a local farmer's house and see for yourself the cultivation of jasmine rice and a variety of herbs for use both in medicine and cooking.
Enjoy some tastes of the various fruits and some of there herbal juices. After enjoying the farm return by boat, stopping just out of town as a local market pier. Here you can wander through the market before catching a rickshaw back to Chiang Mai City in the early afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Pam's B&B - 1Double & 1Triple Standard Room
03 Jan 09 Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai
Have the morning at leisure and in the afternoon your driver will pick you up and take you on the three hour drive to Chiang Rai. Once there check into your hotel and then enjoy exploring the city.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at The River House Resort & Spa - 2Double + 1Extra bed Deluxe Room
04 Jan 09 Chiang Rai - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at The River House Resort & Spa - 2Double + 1Extra bed Deluxe Room
05 Jan 09 Chiang Rai - Pakbeng
Transfer from your hotel to Chiang Rai Airport for your onward flight -
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
06 Jan 09 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 Villa Santi Hotel - 2Double + 1Extra bed Suite Room
07 Jan 09 Luang Prabang - Day in the Life
Today you'll escape the tourist hubs in town and see Luang Prabang through the eyes of a local. First, you will drive up the Mekong to visit the small village of Ban Mueng Keo, known for its production of Lao whiskey. Here you will receive a demonstration of the whiskey-making process by a local Lao Lao producer. And if you're up for it, sample the finished product for an early morning punch! From here board a small boat and take a tour of the local fishing area, checking traps with the fisherman along the way and collecting any fish you might find. Return to Ban Pak Ou, where the former village chief and his family will cook you a Lao-style lunch and you'll learn about dining customs and etiquette.
After lunch, drive to the small weaving village of Ban Phone Xay, where you'll receive a weaving demonstration and have a chance to purchase handmade items directly from the source. Then take a tuk tuk with a local weaver to sell their products to the middle man and examine the handicraft business behind the scenes. You'll be the only tourist in town who knows the real story behind the bottles of Lao Lao, the grilled Mekong fish and the night market stalls.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Villa Santi Hotel - 2Double + 1Extra bed Suite Room
08 Jan 09 Luang Prabang - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Villa Santi Hotel - 1Double + 1Extra bed Suite Room
08 Jan 09 Phnom Penh - Arrival
Transfer to Luang Prabang airport from your hotel in time for your flight - departing at 10:50 & arriving at 14:15. Catch your connecting flight - departing at 17:10 & arriving at 17:50. Arrive in Phnom Penh where you will be met by an air conditioned car and driver. Transfer to your hotel for check in.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Himawari Hotel - 1Double Himawari Suite Room
09 Jan 09 Siem Reap - Arrival
Transfer to Luang Prabang airport from your hotel in time for your flight - departing at 08:00 & arriving at 09:40. Catch your connecting flight - departing at 11:35 & arriving at 12:35. You will be met by a Journeys Within representative and taken to Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast.
Head into town to enjoy a traditional buffet dinner and dance show in the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B - Family Bungalow
09 Jan 09 Phnom Penh - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Himawari Hotel - 1Double Himawari Suite Room
10 Jan 09 Siem Reap - Angkor Wat
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight - departing at 06:45 & arriving at 07:40. You will be met by a Journeys Within representative and taken to Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast.
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 - Family Bungalow
11 Jan 09 Siem Reap - Beng Mealea , Banteay Srei and the Ta Prohm
Enjoy breakfast at Journeys Within before leaving the crowds behind and heading to Beng Mealea, a temple only recently opened to the public; about one and a half hours drive from Journeys Within. After an hour you will leave the paved road and get onto a beaten track running through rice fields and villages of rural Cambodia.
At the temple our guide will help you imagine how it once was as you pick your way through the rubble now surrounded by jungle. In the afternoon head to Banteay Srei, an intricately carved temple known as the Lady Temple. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant near Banteay Srei and then on the way back visit Ta Prohm, one of the prettiest temples in the complex.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B - Family Bungalow
12 Jan 09 Siem Reap - Village and Market
Set out for our Journeys Within Village Tour. Our village guide will take you to his village showing you rice paddies and typical homes along the way. At his village enjoy a fresh coconut drink and meet his family and neighbors. Walk from here to West Baray Lake where you can take a local boat to an island with some picturesque ancient Khmer ruins. Return to shore where your car will be waiting for you.
Take a walk around the Old Market where the locals and tourists shop side by side. Then pay a visit to Artisans de Angkor to see their workshop in town. Here you will be taken on a short tour to see the students learning the skills needed to produce works of art in a variety of different materials before visiting their beautifully displayed shop.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Journeys Within B&B - Family Bungalow
13 Jan 09 Siem Reap - Departure
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight - departing at 17:00 & arriving at 17:55. Catch your connecting flight - You will be met at the airport by a hotel representative and transferred to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at The Royal Nakara Ao Nang Hotel - 2Double + 1Extra bed Superior Room
14 Jan 09 Krabi - Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at The Royal Nakara Ao Nang Hotel - 2Double + 1Extra bed Superior Room
15 Jan 09 Koh Lanta - Arrivial
You will be met at the airport by a hotel representative and transferred to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at La Laanta Hideaway Resort - 2Double + 1Extra bed Sand Castle Villa Room
16 - 18 Jan 09 Koh Lanta - Day at leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at La Laanta Hideaway Resort - 2Double + 1Extra bed Sand Castle Villa Room
19 Jan 09 Koh Lanta - Departure
Transfer to the airport in the time to catch your flight.
Arrive in Bangkok walk to gate C and turn right to meet Miracle Hometel's representative and transfer to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Miracle Hometel Suvarnabhumi Hotel - 1Double + 1Extra bed Deluxe Room
20 Jan 09 Bangkok - Departure
Check out of the hotel and catch the Shuttle to the airport for your flight - Departing at 06:00AM.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $ 4,245.00 per person based on 5 people traveling
Cambodia | Thailand | Laos | Vietnam | Myanmar
Signature Tours | Mekong Experience | Student Experiences
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