Ringling College of Art & Design: Taiwan, Thailand & Cambodia

Overview

Detailed Itinerary

Deadline for reservation: August 1st, 2017 

Day 1: Tampa/Los Angeles

1 night Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Airport.

• Embark on you first leg of your Asia adventure today
• Arrive in Los Angeles

Full Day Itinerary: Your exotic journey begins as you check in for your flight from Tampa to Los Angeles. Afternoon & evening free at leisure.  Overnight at airport hotel in Los Angeles

Day 2: Depart USA

• Depart the U.S. today for Taiwan

Full Day Itinerary: Your exotic journey begins as you check in for your flight to Thailand, via Taipei.

Day 3: Arrive in Taipei

2 nights Palais de Chine Hotel, Taipei or similar.

• Arrive in Taiwan
• Transfer to your hotel 

Full Day Itinerary: Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Taiwan.   

Day 4: Taiwan

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning panoramic tour of Taipei
• Afternoon at leisure 

Full Day Itinerary: Your morning tour of Taipei begins with a panoramic drive through Taipei, passing the Presidential building, the home of the President of the Republic of China. Next you will visit the Chiang Kai-Shek memorial hall which is dedicated to the former President of the Republic of China. You will continue on to the Martyr Shrine, which is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Chinese Civil War. Then enjoy a tour of the National Palace Museum, here you can view the largest collection in the world of nearly 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts. Lastly, you will visit the Handicraft Center where you will be able to observe the research and creation of local crafts. 

The remainder of the day you have at leisure to explore the wonders of Taipei.

Day 5: Taiwan/Bangkok

5 nights Rembrandt Hotel (or similar), Bangkok. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Depart Taiwan for Thailand today
• Arrive in Bangkok

Full Day Itinerary: Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok.  After retrieving your luggage on arrival in Bangkok, continue to the Arrivals hall and look to the LEFT to find your guide holding a signboard with your name in a designated area for guides. Afterward, you will be transferred from Suvarnabhumi Airport to your Bangkok hotel accompanied by your guide in the comfort of a private, air conditioned vehicle.

Lunch at Supanniga Eating Room (Sathorn branch). Dinner at Supatra River House.

Day 6: Bangkok

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning or afternoon highlights of Bangkok tour
• Lunch at Cabbages & Condoms
• Dinner at The Deck

Full Day Itinerary: The National Museum was originally established by King Rama V around the private collection of antiquities of his father King Rama IV. It now contains a number of galleries that take you from the prehistoric period of Thailand, through the early kingdoms such as Lanna and Sukhothai, through Ayutthaya period and finally to the modern Thai kingdom established in Bangkok. Highlight is the palace’s private chapel, called Phra Thinung Phutthaisawan, the Throne Hall, now used for special exhibitions and the Red House.

Lunch at Cabbages & Condoms.  

Dinner at The Deck.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 7: Bangkok

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning tour
• Visit to the Grand Palace
• Afternoon boat ride

Full Day Itinerary: The tour starts with the Grand Palace where you visit the main sites including the magnificent throne halls and the Emerald Buddha. We then continue to Lak Muang, the City Pillar Shrine, which was built in 1782 and symbolizes the establishment of Bangkok. Always busy and full of color, you can light incense at the altar before returning to your hotel and if you’re lucky you might even see some traditional Thai dances performed regularly at this temple. The tour continues to nearby Wat Pho - Bangkok’s oldest temple and arguably it’s most impressive. Home to the magnificent 45-meter-long reclining Buddha, Wat Pho is also a place of learning, having served as Thailand's first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage. 

Note: Appropriate dress is required (or can be rented on site). 

Lunch at Jim Thompson Restaurant & Lounge.

Experience an exhilarating boat ride along the bustling Chao Phraya River and the quiet Klong (canal) in a boat. Be taken back in time to a more traditional way of life, far removed from Bangkok’s modern skyscrapers. Visit the Royal Barge Museum to witness the beautiful barges used by the King on state occasions. And Wat Arun, the magnificent temple of Dawn with its 79-meter pagoda or ‘prang’, built in the Khmer style.

Dinner at Sala Rattanakosin.

Day 8: Bangkok

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Temple of the Golden Mount - Wat Saket
• Drive through historical part of Bangkok
• Visit to Wat Ratchabophit

Full Day Itinerary: Your day starts at Wat Saket where you can acquire some spiritual insights into Buddhism as the monks chant their morning prayers. Partake in the offering of alms to the monks to gain some blessing for a healthy and safe trip. Then make a short climb up to the temple’s golden mount to enjoy the panoramic view of Rattanakosin Island while listening to the chimes of hundreds of temple bells. Continue with a drive through the historical part of Bangkok, passing some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks and temples. Along the way, we will make a stop to buy a bucket filled with food and utility items for “Sangkatarn” – a special kind of offering for monks at Wat Ratchabophit. Visitors to Wat Ratchabophit will be amazed by the perfect blend of Thai architectural exterior with exquisite European influenced interior. The tour will cap off at the Tiger God Shrine, one of the oldest Taoist temples in Bangkok and renowned for being the most popular worshipping place amongst the Chinese community in the country.

Lunch at Err.

Dinner at Khin Lom Chom Saphan.

Day 9: Bangkok

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Tour of architectural Bangkok today
• Visit to Jim Thompson’s mansion

Full Day Itinerary: An interesting tour into traditional Thai-style architecture and art! Start with Suan Pakkad Palace, Thailand’s first museum and a cluster of 5 traditional teak houses that used to be the home of the Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Chumbhot Nagara Svarga. The palace contains a showcase of the royal private collection of antiquities, passing down from generations through generations. Take a walk along the hallway of the palace through the Lacquer Pavilion, the Ban-Chiang Museum (Thai heritage), and Marsi Gallery.

Then continue to visit Jim Thompson’s mansion, a unique example of Thai residential architecture filled with one of the finest collections of Asian artefacts and antiques. Located along a canal in the city center, this beautiful teak mansion was the former residence of Jim Thompson, the charismatic American silk merchant. Comprised of several traditional teak buildings amid a leafy compound, Thompson spent years filling it with priceless antiques before his mysterious disappearance in 1967. You will take a tour through the house where you will learn more about the man himself, his involvement in the silk trade as well as about Thai culture and tradition.

Lunch at Baan Khanitha.  Dinner at Le Du.

Day 10: Bangkok - Siem Reap

4 nights Tara Angkor Hotel (or similar), Siem Reap. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Farewell to Thailand
• Arrive in Siem Reap
• Lunch at Chanrey Tree

Full Day Itinerary: Guests will be met at the hotel by their guide and transferred to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok in the comfort of a private, air-conditioned vehicle.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide who will escort you to your hotel for check in (at 14:00). Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.

Lunch will be served at the stunning Chanrey Tree, one of the best fine dining restaurants in town, who offer traditional Khmer cuisine in a lush contemporary setting. Located on the riverside in heart of Siem Reap, the Chanrey Tree combines the amazing taste of only seasonal traditional Khmer ingredients, with a relaxed but lavish environment to provide a unique Cambodian dining experience.

Afternoon, get first close glimpse of Angkor today at the early temples of the Roluos Group. Roluos is the site of an ancient center of Khmer civilization known as Hariharalaya. It was the first town built by the Angkorian kings in the 8th and 9th century and consists of three main temples: Bakong, Lolei and PreahKo. The surrounding countryside with its paddy fields and sugar palm trees is very typical for Cambodia. In the contemporary Roluos Pagoda in the vicinity of the monuments, Buddhist monks will celebrate a private blessing ceremony for you, wishing your health and a safe journey – a very special experience!

Along the way back, drive through the countryside around the Western Baray where you can spot water buffalos in swampy ponds, kids in school uniforms on their bicycles and oxcarts. Visit the Angkor Silk Farm 15 km west of Siem Reap, where you can witness the entire process of silk creation from growing and harvesting mulberry as food for the silk worms, the breeding process and life cycle of the silk worm to the spinning the silk, the dying process and the creation of beautiful silk weavings on wooden hand looms. Children will get the opportunity to feed the silk worms – a fun experience!

Dinner at Marum Restaurant.  

Day 11: Siem Reap

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Afternoon visit of Angkor Thom
• Bayon Temple
• Evening puppet show at Wat Bo pagoda

Full Day Itinerary: Get up early today and experience the break of dawn behind Angkor Wat. Watch as the first sunrise slowly climb over the towers of this magnificent building and paint the sky in beautiful colors. 

Return to hotel for breakfast.

Then, you will continue to visit the famous Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.

Lunch at the Square 24 restaurant.  

This afternoon, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces.

From here, continue to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

Return to hotel where you can refresh your body and relax.

Enjoy, a private performance of small puppet show at Wat Bo pagoda by a group of local artist of Cambodia Living Arts that are working to preserve the traditional Cambodian classical arts. 

Dinner at Viroth restaurant. 

Day 12: Siem Reap

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Visit to Ta Prohm
• Visit to Banteay Kdei – a Buddhist Monastery
• Visit to Srah Srang
• Afternoon at leisure

Full Day Itinerary: Today, start with a tour to the temples of the Small Circuit by local ‘remork’ (similar to the Thai tuk tuk).

The most illustrious of these is Ta Prohm, built between 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. This makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Your visit will also include Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”, Thommanon, Chau Say Thavoda, Prasat Kravan, Prasat Ba Chum, East Mebon(elephant sculptures), Baphuon, Phimean Akas and Preah Khan.

Lunch at Siem Reap Brew Pub restaurant.

Enjoy the afternoon free at leisure.

Tonight, a special Khmer dinner will be served for you to accompany a traditional Khmer Apsara dance at Por Cuisine. The Apsaras are legendary characters from the ancient Khmer tale of Reamker, which is closely related to the Hindu Ramayana. It takes years for the dancers to master the fine and elaborate gestures of the Apsara.

Day 13: Siem Reap

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning visit to Banteay Srei
• Visit of Banteay Samré
• Afternoon visit of Wat Bo pagodas 

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, travel to the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srei, which is best viewed in the warm morning light. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” was built between the 11th and 13th century and remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs, depicting Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

Also don’t miss to visit the Banteay Samre. The structure with its typical lotus flower shaped tower has compact proportions. This temple was built during the most elaborate period of Khmer architecture and its condition is almost perfect. 

Lunch at Sala Bai restaurant. 

Next, visit Wat Bo, one of the oldest pagodas in Siem Reap and has a number of well-preserved wall paintings from the 19th century. Although it is a Buddhist temple some of the wall paintings describe the famous ancient love story of Rama and Shita, the strongest man and the most beautiful women of all times. Still today the royal families of the Southeast Asian countries claim to be descendants of Rama. Anyhow, these wall paintings describe a Hindu story that is most remarkable in a Buddhist temple.

Wat Bo temple also contains a large collection of Buddha statues that you will find behind the main Buddha.

Dinner at Mahob Khmer restaurant.

Day 14: Siem Reap/USA

1 night Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Airport. Breakfast.

• Depart Siem Reap
• Arrive back in the U.S.

Full Day Itinerary: Breakfast at hotel.  Later today, you will be met and transferred to the airport to check-in for your flight back to the U.S.  On arrival to Los Angeles, overnight at an airport hotel.

Day 15: Los Angeles/Tampa

• Depart Los Angeles
• Arrive back in your home city of Tampa

Full Day Itinerary: Depart on board your domestic flight from Los Angeles to Tampa.  Arrive to your home city later this afternoon.

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 21 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Cambodia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Thailand? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Taiwan? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.