Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!
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On sale prices include savings of up to $600 per couple if you reserve before December 16, 2009!
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Even the most sophisticated travelers long to visit Thailand, with its beautiful beaches and islands, fascinating culture, exotic architecture, and ancient ruins. Our Taste of Thailand tour showcases some of the highlights of this magnificent country, including the bustling capital city of Bangkok, the ancient city of Ayutthaya, and the historic River Kwai—all for an amazingly affordable price, despite the huge fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and Thai Baht that have caused tour prices to Asia's favorite destination to skyrocket. At prices this low, you can be sure that this tour will sell out quickly, so hurry to reserve your space soon!
Have more time? Check out our Treasures of Thailand tour!
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA. Your exotic journey begins as you check in for your flight to Thailand, via Taipei. Los Angeles flights depart from LAX mid-afternoon on day 1. New York flights depart from JFK one day earlier, shortly before midnight.
Day 2: En route. Cross the International Dateline and lose a day en route. (You'll recover this day on your return trip.)
Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
Day 3: Arrive Bangkok, Thailand. Arrive into Bangkok very early in the morning. After customs formalities, transfer to your centrally located hotel for check-in and rest for your afternoon tour.
Floating market, Ratchaburi
© Tourism Authority of Thailand
This afternoon, an exciting canal boat ride gives you a close up of traditional Thai life as you explore some of Bangkok's waterways. The network of canals (klongs) branching out from the main Chao Phraya river still follows an old lifestyle that leaves the modern face of Bangkok behind. Visit the Royal Barge Museum to view the beautiful barges used by the King on state occasions.
Wat Arun and the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
Continue to Wat Arun, the magnificent temple of Dawn with its 79-meter pagoda or 'prang,' built in Khmer style. Before returning to your hotel, disembark at the River City Shopping Complex to browse for some of the best treasures in Bangkok!
Supatra River House Restaurant, Bangkok
Tonight, enjoy a traditional Thai Set dinner at Supatra River House Restaurant. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, this beautiful two-storey traditional Thai house is the former home of Khunying Supatra Singholaga, a leading advocate of women's rights in Thailand. Its contemporary décor blends perfectly with the traditional architecture, and the views of the River, Grand Palace, and Wat Arun are downright spectacular.
The Eastin Makkasan (B,D)
Reclining Buddha, Wat Po
Day 4: Bangkok. Temples, along with the monarchy, are the fabric that binds together the national identity that is Thailand, and some of the most interesting of Thai temples are found in Bangkok. Today's sightseeing tour takes you to three of Bangkok's most visually stunning temples. The first stop is Wat Trimitr, where you'll view the 700-year-old Golden Buddha, the largest in the world weighing approximately 5 tons.
(Occasional maintenance work is conducted at Wat Trimitr, in which case passengers will visit Wat Saket instead.)
"Marble Temple", Bangkok
Continue to Wat Po, founded in the 17th century and the oldest temple in Bangkok. This temple is also home to the amazing Reclining Buddha, one of the largest in the world, whose face depicts the attainment of Nirvana and whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Conclude your temple tour at Wat Benchamabophit, also known as the "Marble Temple' because of its abundance of white Italian marble.
Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok
This afternoon, explore independently or join an optional tour to The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. For 150 years, the Grand Palace, served as the home of the King and his court as well as the entire administrative seat of government. Within its grounds, you'll also visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), a structure built to house a large Buddha image carved from a solid piece of green jadite (jasper). (B)
Bangkok children
Day 5: Bangkok. Today, you will have a full day at leisure to discover Bangkok on your own. Your tour director will gladly provide suggestions for independent exploration of this dynamic city.
Tonight's optional excursion offers you a visual extravaganza at the Ratchada Grand Theatre, one of the biggest stages in the world. Travel back in time through the Kingdom of Siam and experience Thai history and culture during this spectacular show. (B)
Buddha amongst ruins, Ayutthaya
Day 6: Bangkok & Ayutthaya. After breakfast this morning, drive north to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King U-Thong founded the city in 1350 as the capital of his kingdom of Siam. By 1700, Ayutthaya had as many as a million inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time. But in 1767, the city was invaded and destroyed by the Burmese army. Magnificent ruins of the old city still remain, some having been restored. Exciting archaeological excavations are still proceeding at many sites in the area.
Bang Pa-In summer palace
Today's sightseeing tour takes you first to Bang Pa to view King Rama IV's summer palace, used occasionally by the king and queen to host receptions and banquets. The palace and its surrounding temples, representing an appealing fusion of Thai, Chinese, and European architectural styles.
Continue to Wat Yai Chaimongkol, a temple best known for its enormous statue of the Reclining Buddha.
Wat Chai Watthanaram, Ayutthaya
Overgrown Buddha, Ayutthaya
Conclude the tour at Wat Chai Watanaram, a monastery commissioned by King Prasatthong in 1630 in honor of his mother. However, its striking resemblance to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat has lead some to believe that the King also built the wat to commemorate his victory over Cambodia.
Kantary Hotel, Ayutthaya (B)
Bridge over the River Kwai
Day 7: Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi & the River Kwai. Set out on a drive this morning through the picturesque rice fields of Suphanburi to Kanchanaburi. Upon arrival, visit the historic bridge over the River Kwai, part of the infamous Death Railway built by the Japanese using Allied prisoners of war during World War II. At the museum, you'll learn more about life in the camps, the building of the bridge, and the more than 8,000 POWs who died during construction.
River Kwai, Kanchanaburi
Take a train ride through the Kwai Noi gorge before continuing to your river resort. The rest of the afternoon is yours at leisure. We suggest a visit to the resort's spa for a Thai massage or steam bath, or a dip in the pool. Or head to river to help bathe the elephants (fee may apply).
Royal Riverkwai Resort & Spa (B)
Hellfire Pass War Memorial
Day 8: Kanchanaburi & the River Kwai. After a breakfast this morning, drive to the Hellfire Pass museum, a memorial complex dedicated to the men and women who died during the construction of the railway. Nighttime labor by torchlight on this particularly difficult section gave the pass its name. Briefly explore the area before embarking on a trek through the Memorial Walking Trail.
Elephant Camp
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure for independent exploration. Or, join a relaxing optional tour that includes a visit to an elephant camp, complete with an elephant ride through the jungle and alongside the river. Afterwards, enjoy a bamboo raft ride down the river's gently flowing waters. (B)
Bangkok sunset
Day 9: Depart Thailand. Enjoy breakfast and leisure time this morning before returning to Bangkok in the afternoon. Bid farewell to Thailand later today as you transfer to the airport to board your return flight to the USA via Taipei. Or, take advantage of your already-included international airfare and join our optional extensions to Angkor Wat or Phuket Island...or both! (B)
Phuket Island Extension
Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare and enjoy a luxurious and relaxing stay on Phuket Island, Thailand's most famous resort.
Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach & Karon Beach, Phuket Island
Day 9: Bangkok & Phuket. Today you'll fly to Phuket, where the balance of the day is at leisure. Your hotel is ideally located at Patong Beach, overlooking Kalim Bay. Novotel Resort (B)
Phuket Island Photo by Willem Proos
Day 10 & 11: Phuket. Two full days at leisure to relax, shop or tour this scenic island, Thailand's largest.
Phuket and the 39 smaller islands to the southeast are studded with tropical forests, mountains, gravity-defying limestone formations, and pristine beaches, surrounded by coral reefs and the aquamarine water of the balmy Andaman Sea.
Crown of Thorns starfish, Phuket
With warm, humid weather year-round, you'll enjoy plenty of sun-drenched days lounging on the beach and all manner of water sports, including jet-skiing, parasailing, surfing, scuba and snorkeling.
Most of the dive locations are suitable for all skill levels, and the waters abound with colorful coral forests, tropical fish and other marine life, including leopard sharks, moray eels, octopus and turtles.
Phuket is also the sailing and yachting center of Thailand and adjacent countries, with several races and regattas happening throughout the year.
And in the unlikely event that you can pull yourself away from the beach, you'll find opportunities to ride horses or elephants, hike, mountain bike, and even golf. Afterwards, unwind at one of the many spas or one of the excellent acrobatic, theatrical or cultural shows.
Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Ley, location of 'The Beach'
Join an optional tour to the breathtaking Phi Phi islands, filming location of
The Beach. Take a trip by boat and bus to Phang Nha Bay and to the famous limestone spire known as "James Bond Island" for its role in
The Man with the Golden Gun. (B)
Ko Tapu, 'James Bond Island', Phang Nha Bay
Beach resorts, Phuket
Phuket is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies, whom you'll find warm and welcoming.
The west coast of Phuket was hit severely by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, but the resilient people have quickly rebuilt, and almost no evidence of the damage now remains.
Leatherback Turtle, Phuket beach
Day 12: Phuket, Bangkok, USA. Enjoy a final day at leisure. Later today, transfer to the airport for the short flight to Bangkok. Continue to the USA via Taipei, arriving in Los Angeles later today. (B)
Angkor Wat optional extension
Take advantage of your already-included international airfare by joining our extension to Cambodia for a special opportunity to visit Angkor Wat, a massive complex of temples that ranks among the most fascinating religious sites in the world.
Angkor Wat temples
Angkor Thom west gate
Day 9: Bangkok & Siem Reap, Cambodia. Transfer to the airport to take a short flight to Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park contains the ruins of more than 1000 stone temples dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
Borei Angkor Hotel (B)
Overgrown doorway, Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat
Day 10: Angkor Explorations.
Built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, the temples at Angkor and the great city that surrounded them represent one of mankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements.
The structures you see today are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings—palaces, public buildings, and houses—were built of wood and are long since decayed and gone.
Angkor complex Map by Holger Behr
Satellite photographs reveal Angkor to have been the largest preindustrial city in the world, with an urban sprawl of 3000 square kilometers (the closest rival is Tikal in Guatemala, at most 150 square kilometers) and supporting a population of up to one million people.
Mysteriously abandoned in the 15th century, the Angkor site remained largely cloaked by the forest until the late 19th century, when archaeologists began to clear away the forest and embark on a long restoration process that continues today.
Bayon temple, Angkor Wat
After breakfast, begin your explorations at the mysterious royal walled city of Angkor Thom. Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight that most visitors never forget, with each of its surreal towers topped with four giant, barely smiling faces, staring out in the directions of the four points of the compass. The faces, which depict a Khmer royal ruler as a Buddhist deity, are identical, but the staggered height of the towers and the different viewpoint of each keeps the design from appearing repetitious. You are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic gaze of those faces, through half-closed eyes, staring out from a remote time in history.
Ta Prohm, Angkor
After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the temples of the Small Circuit. The most famous is Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground, giving it the most mysterious atmosphere of the temples in the Angkor area.
Aerial view over Angkor Wat complex
Carvings at Banteay Srei Photo by Vassil
Continue to the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple, built by Suryavarman II in early 12th century. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the history of the region. (B,L)
Banteay Srei temples
Day 11: Angkor Explorations. This morning's excursion takes you to three early-Angkor era temples of the Roluos Group: Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei, built by King Indravarman I and his successor in the 9th century.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the "Citadel of Women" of Banteay Srei and Bantay Samré, considered to be the birthplace of Khmer classical architecture. (B,L)
Boys selling postcards at Angkor
Day 12: Siem Reap, Bangkok, USA. Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Bangkok. Continue to the USA via Taipei, arriving in Los Angeles. Or, continue on our optional Phuket Island Extension. (B)
Destination FAQs
Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Thailand.
Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Cambodia.
In Cambodia, like many developing countries, people often struggle to obtain even the most basic necessities of life, such as clean, potable water. It takes only $200 to dig a well and install a pump that provides clean water to several dozen families, but it may as well cost a million. In a country where the average income is less than a dollar a day and 40% of the population lives in poverty, many Cambodians in rural areas simply can't afford the cost, so they live with the hardship and illness that comes with dirty water.
As a sign of goodwill and a thank you for welcoming us into their country, Friendly Planet has funded the construction of two wells in Cambodian villages and plans to purchase more. Several of our passengers, seeing the difference such a small investment can make, have volunteered to do the same. How thrilling to realize that our $200 investment yields a healthier life for these people, who have so very little. We are touched that this well, dug with our funds, was decorated with our company logo.
We booked this trip instead of going to Hawaii for our honeymoon. It was less expensive to fly half way around the world and stay for 3 extra days than what it would have cost to go to Hawaii. As for the trip, it was by far the best trip of my life. Lek, our guide, is a wonderful person; very accomodating, friendly and seemed to genuinely care about making our experience enjoyable. Thailand is an amazing country that combines beautiful scenery, a unique culture, friendly people, a good nightlife, and is very inexpensive. What more could you ask for? We are looking to book our next trip (Africa) and are definitely looking at Friendly Planet.
— Wade Honeyfield, Denver, CO
Just a short word about how WONDERFUL our trip was recently to Thailand!!! It was awesome and our tour guide, Jerry, was the best we've ever encountered.
— Doris Pecorino-Tzimolis, Los Angeles, CA
Just returned from Thailand, full to the brim! This was an exceptional tour—pace, activities, options, hotels, all exceeded expectations. Our guide, Lek, was outstanding—sensitive to our wants and needs, knowledgable and instructive, generous in providing "tastes" of Thailand on our excursion and arranging optional visits to places close to her heart that we otherwise would have missed. Our days were full; hers seemed to never stop. Cambodia too was an amazing experience, again with our guide Long catering to the special travel needs of our group. This trip changed my bias against directed tours...Thank you, Friendly Planet!
— Kristi McKenzie, Bingham Farms, MI
Even the most sophisticated travelers long to visit Thailand, with its beautiful beaches and islands, fascinating culture, exotic architecture, and ancient ruins. Our Taste of Thailand tour showcases some of the highlights of this magnificent country, including the bustling capital city of Bangkok, the ancient city of Ayutthaya, and the historic River Kwai—all for an amazingly affordable price, despite the huge fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and Thai Baht that have caused tour prices to Asia's favorite destination to skyrocket. At prices this low, you can be sure that this tour will sell out quickly, so hurry to reserve your space soon!
Day 1: Depart USA. Your exotic journey begins as you check in for your flight to Thailand, via Taipei. Los Angeles flights depart from LAX mid-afternoon on day 1. New York flights depart from JFK one day earlier, shortly before midnight.
Phuket is also the sailing and yachting center of Thailand and adjacent countries, with several races and regattas happening throughout the year.
And in the unlikely event that you can pull yourself away from the beach, you'll find opportunities to ride horses or elephants, hike, mountain bike, and even golf. Afterwards, unwind at one of the many spas or one of the excellent acrobatic, theatrical or cultural shows.
