American breakfast (B) daily, 1 lunch (L); Local Host service in each city; city maps; sightseeing as outlined in day-by-day itinerary (inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE).
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. Welcome to Thailand’s capital city! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day #2 Bangkok. Today, enjoy a morning sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the stunning GRAND PALACE featuring the TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA. Also visit the TEMPLE OF THE RECLINING BUDDHA, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It houses more than 1,000 Buddha images, including the 49-foot-high and 151-foot-long massive Reclining Buddha. The balance of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the sights and sounds of this fascinating city. (B)
Day #3 Bangkok. Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore on your own. (B)
Day #4 Bangkok–Chiang Rai. Board your flight to Chiang Rai. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #5 Chiang Rai. Your sightseeing this morning includes a TRISHAW RIDE, the favorite local mode of transportation, through the city’s residential area and LOCAL MARKET. Also visit WAT PHRA KAEW, which once hosted the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok). The afternoon is at your leisure. (B)
Day #6 Chiang Rai–Chiang Mai. Today, drive to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #7 Chiang Mai. Today your morning sightseeing begins with a visit to WAT PHRA SINGH, with its famous Buddha image, and WAT DOI SUTHEP, a temple tucked away in the mountains. For the final ascent to the temple, you can take a tram car or walk up the Naga (dragon-headed serpent) staircase with over 300 steps. On a clear day, you will enjoy spectacular views of Chiang Mai. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #8 Chiang Mai–Siem Reap, Cambodia. Today, fly to Siem Reap. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #9 Siem Reap. Your sightseeing starts at the best preserved of all the temples—ANGKOR WAT, honoring the Hindu god Vishna. Next stop is ANGKOR THOM to see BAYON TEMPLE. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day #10 Siem Reap. Today, visit the temples of TA PROHM and BANTEAY SREI, then enjoy the afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day #11 Siem Reap–Luang Prabang, Laos. Today, fly to Luang Prabang. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #12 Luang Prabang. Today, enjoy a full day of sightseeing in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit WAT VISOUN, the ROYAL PALACE MUSEUM (closed Tuesdays), and a LOCAL VILLAGE to see silk weaving and rice papermaking demonstrations. (B,L)
Day #13 Luang Prabang. A full day at your leisure. (B)
Day #14 Luang Prabang–Phuket. Today, fly to Phuket. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #15 Phuket. Today, enjoy morning sightseeing around Phuket Island. Visit PHUKET TOWN, with its Malacca-style houses and bustling markets, before stopping to admire one of Phuket’s most famous temples. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #16 Phuket. Enjoy a full day at your leisure to explore Phuket. (B)
Day #17 Phuket–Bangkok. Today, transfer to the airport and fly to Bangkok. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and overnight. (B)
Day #18 Bangkok. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
