Guide

You will be led throughout by our team of expert guides . In Thailand, you will be led by a local expert. Once you enter Cambodia, you will switch to an expert local guide. The reason we switch guides is to ensure that you have access to language and the correct cultural rules throughout the trip.

Transport

All domestic transport, including transport from Thailand to Cambodia is included. We use several different types of transport from VIP minivan to traditional canal boat, local trucks, tuk tuk’s, airplane, bicycle and more!

Flights

Domestic flight from Bangkok to Buri Ram in eastern Thailand is included, with up to 20kgs of checked luggage . Inernational flights are not included.

Not included:

Insurance

Travel / medical insurance is required . Contact us if you would like a no-obligation quote. We will ask to be sent a copy of your policy cover note prior to your arrival in Thailand.

Others

All tourists travelling to Cambodia are required to purchase a visa before entry . Travelling from Surin via the land border at O’Smach means we are required to apply for the visa on entry to the Kingdom and after we depart Thailand. The cost here is $37 and you will be required to provide a recent passport photograph. Your guide will assist you with the application forms to ensure a quick and seamless transfer. *Drinks and meals not mentioned in the itinerary are not included *Any tips for your guides are not included

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Day 1 Welcome To Thailand!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Welcome To Thailand!

It’s finally arrived, and you’ve made it to The City of Angels! Welcome to Thailand, welcome to Bangkok and welcome to start of something very special.

To make sure you have the easiest arrival through one of the world’s busiest airports, we will organise a golf buggy to transport you form the plane to the VIP Fast Track immigration service where you’ll be through in minutes, rather than hours, and waiting for your luggage before anybody else!

Once you’ve collected your luggage and made your way through Customs, one of our team will be waiting to greet you and to ensure a swift transfer to your hotel located on the banks of the Chao Prayah River, in the heart of Bangkok’s exciting old town area. Check-in, chill-out and freshen up as the rest of today is your free time to do as you please as we arrange for all of your group to meet at the hotel.

Airport Pick-up Included
Day 2 Exploring Bangkok By Canal & River
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Exploring Bangkok By Canal & River

This morning kicks off with a tasty breakfast followed by a trip orientation from none other than our company founder, Steve. He’ll answer all your questions, explain more details about your trip and ensure that you have all the tools required to make the most from your time with us.

From here you’ll be transferred to one of the many canal piers to board your private longtail boat that will whisk you, James Bond-style, through the numerous waterways of the city. You’ll see and experience how Bangkok has so many canal communities and how they’ve utilized these natural and man-made waterways to really create such a fascinating and exciting city.

Once back at the hotel you’ll have time to freshen-up and prepare before we head out for a group dinner in a popular local restaurant – the official welcome party to start your trip!

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast & dinner
Day 3 We’Re Heading East
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

We’Re Heading East

Today we head east to a region of Thailand known as, “E-sarn”. This is an often-overlooked area of the country by foreign visitors and so has retained a lot of its natural and traditional style and customs. If you’re looking for a genuine reflection of Thai-life, away from the beaches and modernization of Thailand, this is the very area you need to be.

We take a 60-minute to the town of Buri Ram to take our private transport to our supported village. On arrival we’ll get settled into our homestay and meet our hosts before we meet up for a traditional home-cooked local feast and a walk around the village. We guarantee that this will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before and can so often be a life-changing event.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Discover Traditional Village Life
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Discover Traditional Village Life

For those early risers amongst the group, why not join-in with a traditional event that goes back centuries. As the sun rises over the vista of farmland and rice paddies, the monks from the local Monastery will arrive to accept donations of food in return for blessings from their Buddhist teachings. A truly unique experience!

After breakfast you’ll meet up with the elephants who are looked after in the village like pets. No longer used for farming or logging, these friendly giants still reside here as you or I would keep a dog or cat! You’ll hear about how and why the elephants are here, how they’re cared for and will have plenty of opportunity to physically ‘meet’ them!

This afternoon you’ll be taken on a village walk to learn about true rural Thai life. Meet the locals, join in with fun and games with the village kids, or you may choose to relax in the house and just “take it all in”! We’re going easy on you today to replenish your energy for the coming days activities.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Farming, Fishing And Fun!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Farming, Fishing And Fun!

For those who missed out yesterday, choose to start the day with the offering of alms to the local monks before group breakfast is served.

We’ll then take the elephants for some much-needed exercise and a stroll to one of the local rice farms where you’ll learn how this daily staple goes from farm to table. Surin is home to what’s considered the very best Jasmine rice on the planet, and today you’ll find out why.

After getting your hands dirty at the farm, it’s time to get wet as you’re introduced to the local fishing and boating techniques. The locals rely on the river for food as much as they rely on the farms, so we’ll show you how their daily feed goes from river to table!

After lunch, we’re exercising the elephants again, but this time we’ll take them to the river for a cooling swim and scrub. We guarantee that this will be one of the most unforgettable experiences during your time on the trip.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Elephants And Farming.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Elephants And Farming.

Life in this part of Thailand revolves heavily around farms and farming. Almost everything is cultivated here, from rice to watermelon, from peanuts to papaya. Today you’ll be helping the local farmers with whatever work is required at the time of your visit. Not back-breaking work but you’ll probably work up both a sweat and an appetite – good job lunch won’t be too far away!

Because this morning’s activities will be a hot one, this afternoon we’ll take a break. Those wishing to lay in hammock and dream the afternoon away are more than welcome too. Those wanting to take a dip in the river, let’s go! It’ll be a nice break this afternoon, so make the most of it.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 Silky Smooth!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Silky Smooth!

Amongst the other things that Surin is world-famous for, believe it or not, silk is produced here in huge amounts. Used to dress the Royal family here and around the world, silk is produced in large amounts and today you’ll find out how. We’ll be visiting one of the local silk producers that still does it by hand using handmade wooden looms. After learning all about the experience, we’ll have the opportunity to make our own silk souvenirs using these age-old techniques and process. Yet another wonderful reminder of this incredible and unique experience of rural Thai village life!

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 Farewell Village Life & Hello City!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Farewell Village Life & Hello City!

Our final morning in Surin will be spent in the presence of the stars of the show. The elephants will arrive and we’ll spend our time washing, exercising and playing with these incredible beasts. Time permitting, we’ll take them for another walk through the farms before returning them to their homes, and our last group lunch with the local community.

Following lunch our chariots will arrive to transfer to Surin city and to the comfort a wonderful hotel in the centre. We’ll have time to check-in and reorganize, take a ‘real’ shower and then we’ll head off to explore this wonderful city on foot.

After being show around the city, we’ll head to a local restaurant for our final dinner in Thailand, to swap memories from the village and to look forward to our trip to Cambodia tomorrow morning!

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Cambodia, Here We Come!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Cambodia, Here We Come!

At around 10am we’ll leave Surin city and head south to the border with Cambodia. Sadly, your Thai guide will be departing you today, but not before helping you to depart The Land of Smiles.

As you cross the no-mans land between Thailand and Cambodia, you’ll see your next guide waiting for you at the immigration checkpoint. He will assist you in entry to the Kingdom and will have you on board your bus further south to Siem Reap.

The transfer time to Siem Reap town is around 2-hours, through the northern farms and villages once littered with landmines from the Khmer Rouge empire. Mine clearing still takes place around these parts but you’ve nothing to worry about as the road, we promise, is landmine-free!

On arrival in Siem Reap, we’ll check in to our wonderful guesthouse and freshen up before we head off, once again, for a walking of this charming little town. We’ll take an official ‘welcome to Cambodia’ group dinner to celebrate the start of part 2 of this amazing journey.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, dinner
Day 10 Angkor Wat Sunrise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Angkor Wat Sunrise

Siem Reap is home to the incredible Angkor Wat UNESCO World Heritage Historical Park. Housing man-made temples dating back over 1,000 years, these are still in remarkable condition and you’re lucky enough to still be able to walk around, and even inside, these monuments. Angkor Wat itself is still the largest man-made religious building on earth!

You’ll get to spend time here and other temples as you hear all about their history, how they were only rediscovered just over 50-years ago and what they actually mean. This is a truly enlightening day and, along with swimming with elephants, is guaranteed to be a highlight of your trip.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch
Day 11 From Cycling To Circus
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Cycling To Circus

Just like Surin, Siem Reap is a particularly flat area of southeast Asia and is therefore, an excellent location to explore on a bicycle. Outside of the main town the land is countryside that hides many little secrets. Today we’ll explore these on a very leisurely bicycle tour. We’ll visit farms, local cottage businesses and meet the friendly and welcoming locals. This is a great way to experience the ‘real’ side of Cambodian life.

After having a chance to freshen up back at the guesthouse, we’ll be collected by local tuk tuk (known as a remork) for the short drive to the word famous Phare Circus to enjoy one of their mind-blowing shows. This circus was created to give some of the local children, who for whatever reason, couldn’t attend school, or were orphans living on the streets, an opportunity to mix with their peers, receive some structure and discipline and an opportunity to be creative. Over the years it’s developed in to one of the most respected and well-known circus shows on the planet. Nope, this is not a place with performing animals, it’s more akin to the circus of Cirque d’Soleil, where, in fact, several of the performers from Phare have moved on too in the past!

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast
Day 12 When Cooking & Culture Collides!
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

When Cooking & Culture Collides!

This morning we’ll be taking a light-hearted look at the local cuisine with a fun group cooking lesson held by a local chef. We’ll be creating our own pastes from ingredients that we either purchase from a local market, or pull from the ground where we’re learning. We’ll spend some fun time here trying to emulate the chef, who will make it “look so easy”, and once complete, we get to feast on our own creations! (Is that a good thing….?)

This afternoon we’ll take another look at local community here in Siem Reap, as we visit the incredible floating communities that call Tonle Sap home. Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Asia, and is created by water flowing in from the mighty Mekong.

These communities survive solely on the lake. They’ve created schools, business, healthcare centers and more, and love to have travellers come to see how they live. It’s a truly eye-opening experience and one that we know will be of interest to everyone.

This evening, sadly, is out last night together. Once we’re back to the guesthouse, there’s time to freshen up before we take the short walk to an excellent local restaurant to celebrate the end of the trip in style!

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13 An Epic Adventure Is Over
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

An Epic Adventure Is Over

Well, that’s it! The adventure has come to an end. Your guide will be sticking around until the afternoon so if you have any last-minute questions. We’ve included the transport back to the airport for you so whenever you need to head off, just let us know and we’ll have a ‘remork’ from you in no time.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast

+10

13 days tour

2Countries - Thailand & Cambodia - Ages 40+ Only

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 2Countries - Thailand & Cambodia - Ages 40+ Only

Welcome To Thailand!

Exploring Bangkok By Canal & River

We’Re Heading East

Discover Traditional Village Life

Farming, Fishing And Fun!

Elephants And Farming.

Silky Smooth!

Farewell Village Life & Hello City!

Cambodia, Here We Come!

Angkor Wat Sunrise

From Cycling To Circus

When Cooking & Culture Collides!

An Epic Adventure Is Over

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