Compare Cambodia Express by Intrepid Travel vs Thailand to Cambodia 11 Days 9 Nights by Affordable World

Day 1 Bangkok

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Bangkok. This city has so much to offer – if you have time to explore, maybe take a riverboat to Chinatown to wander the crowded streets, uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, pay a visit to Wat Pho (home to the country's largest reclining Buddha), wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in some Thai massage. After the meeting, you might like to gather your fellow travellers and tuck into some world-renowned street food.

Day 2 Siem Reap

You’ll have a long drive by private minibus today, so get your favourite playlist or a good book ready. You’ll stop for lunch along the way, before arriving in Siem Reap – this small but expanding town is the gateway to Angkor. This is the most popular destination for travellers in all of Cambodia (maybe even in all Southeast Asia!). You'll probably notice a change of pace here, so maybe take a walk and enjoy the atmosphere. You could start by hitting the local markets to try some delicious street food.

Day 3 Angkor Wat/ Siem Reap

Today, spend a full day temple-hopping with your local guide to make the most of your visit to the world-famous complex, built between the ninth and 13th centuries when the Khmer empire was the pre-eminent influence in Southeast Asia. The ruins are scattered over some 160 square km, but the main cluster of temples is close to Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. The temples were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing, and there are spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day. This is the absolute highlight of your trip, with the added insight and knowledge of a local guide at your side, so take your time and soak it in.

Day 4 Siem Reap

This morning, embark on a private local boat to discover the floating villages and local daily lives of Chhong Kneas – a trading port of agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the local’s unique lifestyle on the waters and how people and nature are intertwined in the most profound sense. This afternoon, return to Siem Reap and enjoy a free evening.

Day 5 Phnom Penh

After breakfast, leave Siem Reap this morning and travel to Phnom Penh in a private minibus. The journey is a great opportunity to see the real Cambodia, with several stops at points of interest along the way. Visit the cottage industry at Santuk Silk Farm, where local women in the rural community are provided the opportunity for financial freedom to support their families. You’ll learn about the process from the silkworms to the final products. You’ll also stop at Skuon Market, where you might like to sample the local cuisine (deep-fried spiders). Cambodia's capital is set on a major junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some fine examples of French-influenced architecture. This afternoon, enjoy some free time. Maybe explore Wat Phnom – a peaceful temple situated on a hill. A great way to see the city's key landmarks is on a cyclo tour, which generally covers the Psar Thmei (Central Market), US Embassy, Wat Phnom, Mekong riverfront, Independence Monument and Royal Palace.

Day 6 Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh remains a living relic of the country’s past struggles and successes. Your day includes visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which tell the story of the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. S21 is a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre, and it’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are home to a stupa made up of some 8000 human skulls, marking the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng. After visiting both sites, you’ll have free time for the rest of the day. Maybe learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with a visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Alternatively, the National Museum, housed in a beautiful traditional building, is a great place to see some excellent Khmer craftsmanship. An ideal way to spend the late afternoon and evening is to stroll along the famous Sisowath Quay and enjoy a coffee or cocktail at one of the many riverside cafes.

Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, travel by local bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way, see the Neak Loeung Bridge, which is the biggest bridge in Cambodia, and then stop for lunch after immigration. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon. Maybe discover the city’s blend of old and new, east and west on a self-paced walk. Be sure to sample a baguette or some of the excellent coffee on offer – both markers of the city's strong French influence.

Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City

With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave at any time. If you’d like to spend more time exploring Ho Chi Minh City, just speak to your booking agent.

Day 1 & 2: USA – Bangkok

Accommodation: Centara Grand At Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok or Similar

Board our transpacific flight to Bangkok, the starting point of our Thailand Delight journey. *Thailand entry visa is not required for USA passport holders. For passports other than US passport, please get the entry visa on your own. Please click http://www.affordableworld.com/infocenter/passport-visa/thailand for more information.

Touch down in Beijing and catch a connecting flight to Bangkok, Thailand's capital city.  Guests flying with Cathay Pacific, will board a connecting flight in Hong Kong.  Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport, enjoy a transfer to your hotel and the remainder of the evening to rest and relax.

Day 3: Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Centara Grand At Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok or Similar

Bangkok is a city of gleaming modernity firmly rooted in ancient Buddhist tradition and beliefs. Depart on a half-day tour after breakfast to witness some of Bangkok’s most interesting sights. Visit the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Trimitr) to see its solid-gold Buddha, and peek inside the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), known for its monumental horizontal Buddha. Stroll through the Paklong Talat flower market, a whirlwind of stalls selling masses of perfumed orchids, marigolds and roses.  After a buffet lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy the afternoon independently, or explore Bangkok’s must-sees on our optional Landmark of Bangkok tour. Tour the splendid Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, see the riverside Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), and ride a motorboat along the Chao Phraya River.

*Men and women must have their shoulders, arms and legs covered when visiting the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple*

Optional Tours: The Landmark of Bangkok Tour with Boat Ride $45 pp

Day 4: Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Centara Grand At Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok or Similar

Following breakfast, depart Bangkok for Damnoen Saduak, one of Thailand’s most famous floating markets. Ride a long-tail speedboat around the lively canals, passing boats and stalls laden with fresh produce, spices, and handicrafts. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning back to the hotel.  Spend the evening as you wish or join our optional tour to Asiatique Riverfront Night Market and enjoy a classic Thai dinner and dance show.

Optional Tours: Asiatique Riverfront Night Market + Thai Dinner & Dance Show $40 pp

Day 5: Bangkok - River Kwai

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Felix River Kwai Resort or Similar

After an early start, travel into scenic Kanchanaburi province and visit the Bridge over the River Kwai, famously connected to the 'Death Railway' of World War II, and the poignant Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, home to 9,000 Allied war graves. Check in to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.  Alternatively, make the most of your time with our optional tour to the Elephant World Sanctuary for rescued elephants.  Admire, feed and help bathe these incredible animals in the river before enjoying lunch at the camp.

Optional Tours: Elephant World Sanctuary with Lunch $75 pp

Day 6: River Kwai – Ayutthaya

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Krungsri River Hotel or similar

After breakfast, journey to Ayutthaya, home to the UNESCO-listed ruins of the medieval capital of Siam. Founded in 1350, this royal city was a major power for over 400 years, until Burmese forces destroyed it in the 1700s. Stroll around the remains of this once-thriving city, seeing the restored chedi of the crumbled Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the blackened remnants of monasteries, the carved Buddha face entangled in tree roots, and the working Wat Yai Chaimongkol temple. Your tour also includes time at the Bang Pa In palace, a beautiful lakeside retreat of Thailand’s kings during the 19th century. Tonight, make the most of Ayutthaya’s setting by joining us for an optional dinner cruise on a traditional wooden rice barge.

Optional Tours: Ayutthaya at night by Tuk Tuk $40 pp

DAY 7: Ayutthaya – Pattaya

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Long Beach Garden Hotel & Spa or similar

Relax over breakfast before a scenic drive to Pattaya, a popular vacation spot on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand whose beaches and entertainments draw thousands of visitors annually. On arrival, experience the virtual ‘Theme Park - Dark Ride’ at a gems gallery, learning about Thailand’s most prized gemstones. Then, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day as you please, perhaps relaxing on the sands or by the pool. Later, you may wish to take our optional Pattaya by Night tour, savoring a sumptuous seafood dinner and cabaret show.

Optional Tours: Pattaya by Night/ Cabaret Show/ Seafood dinner $50 pp

DAY 8: Pattaya - Bangkok - Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Royal Angkor Resort Hotel or Similar

After breakfast, check out of your Bangkok hotel and transfer to Bangkok International Airport for your flight to Siem Reap, the capital of Cambodia’s northwestern Siem Reap province, and the gateway to the stupendous temples of Angkor Wat.  On arrival, meet your local tour guide and enjoy a convenient transfer to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day to relax and make use of your hotel’s comforts and amenities.

DAY 9: Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Royal Angkor Resort Hotel or Similar

Today is devoted to UNESCO-LISTED Angkor Wat, the jewel in Cambodia’s historical and cultural crown, and the world’s largest religious monument. Following breakfast at your hotel, set off on a guided tour of this magnificent complex, once the heart of the ancient Khmer empire that reigned supreme here between the 9th and 12th centuries. Your tour encompasses the fortified city of Angkor Thom, together with the stunning Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper Kings, the remains of the Baphuon temple, and the Royal Enclosure, pyramid-shaped Phimeanakas, and Bayon, famous for its incredible sculpted heads, all carved with smiles.  To finish, head to the top of an Angkor temple to witness a stunning Cambodian sunset, watching as the orange sun sinks below the spires, temples and palms.

DAY 10: Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Royal Angkor Resort Hotel or Similar

Leave after breakfast to visit the romantic temple of Ta Prohm, another of Angkor’s gems. This beautiful temple was the only one left in its original, dilapidated state by 19th-century archaeologists, and makes a magical sight, with its crumbled buildings and terraces enveloped in jungle foliage and giant tree roots. Continue from here to the 10th-century temple of Ta Keo, the 12th-century Chau Say Tevoda temple, and the Roluos group of temples, the earliest of Angkor Wat’s treasures.  Cap your day with a visit to Les Chantiers Ecole, a vocational center dedicated to preserving Cambodian culture by teaching young locals traditional arts and crafts skills.  Explore the workshops, seeing the students making stone- and wood carvings, painting delicate silks and crafting lacquerware and other items.

DAY 11: Siem Reap - Bangkok – USA

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy today free to explore Siem Reap, perhaps sampling some Cambodian cuisine at the restaurants or shopping for last-minute souvenirs. This evening, take the bus to Siem Reap International Airport for your return flight to the USA. If you are flying with Air China, your homebound flight departs in the early morning of the next day.