Great Kingdoms
It’s been years since we last took our travel club to Thailand and are long overdue for another off the path adventure to this great Asian kingdom with thousands of years of fascinating history and culture! What many may not know, is the remarkable relationship Thailand has had with Cambodia over their thousand year histories. From epic wars to crucial alliances, these nations have swapped territories and controlled each other’s lands countless times in years gone by. We’ll have the opportunity to experience the striking similarities and drastic differences these great kingdoms have in relation to each other.
From the great Angkor Kingdom at Angkor Wat, to remote villages steps from hidden ruins, to forests where elephants rule, to white sand beaches below gorgeous limestone monoliths overlooking turquoise waters, we’ll truly get a taste of all the great things these two countries have to offer.
Please e-mail us for the day by day itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
PLUS
Don’t forget to check out our Spectacular Singapore Group Tours Extension!
* 12 nights/13 days throughout the great kingdoms of Southeast Asia
* Charming boutique hotels throughout
* Breakfast Everyday
* 5 Lunches & 7 Dinners Included
* 2 Domestic flights Included (Siem Reap → Chang Mai AND Chang Mai → Krabi)
Cambodia (6 nights)
Cambodia offers a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and even some feel good social contributions to a country on the up and up after a devastating past. We’ll be indulging in in-room massages, temple trail adventures, & some truly life changing experiences in a remote village!
Siem Reap
“The life-support system and gateway for the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap (see-em ree-ep; សៀមរាប) was always destined for great things. The temples (are the highlight), of course, but there is plenty to do in and around the city when you’re templed out. Siem Reap has reinvented itself as the epicenter of chic Cambodia, with everything from backpacker party pads to hip hotels, world-class wining and dining across a range of cuisines, sumptuous spas, great shopping, local tours to suit both foodies and adventurers, and a creative cultural scene that includes Cambodia’s leading circus.” – Lonely Planet
* Multiple in-room massages to wrap up our bustling days in Cambodia
* Siem Reap! (Great Temples of Anchor, guided temple trail tour through 2,000 years of history! A day of amazing PICTURES!)
* Free time in Siem Reap to shop, eat, explore town, or head back to the temples!
* Visit the awe-inspiring Cambodian Landmine Museum dedicated to clearing all the landmines still active in remote areas of the country, and exposing the inhumane consequences of these terrible weapons in hopes of an internationally recognized ban by all nations.
* Dinner at Friends Restaurant (support a local NGO (non Government Organization) that trains street youth skills needed to be hired in the hospitality industry and provide a promising future for the younger generations soon to shape this burgeoning country!)
* Cambodia’s Great Lake (Tonlé Sap Lake ranges in size from 1860 square miles to 4500 square miles every year during the dry and wet seasons! Observe the wonders of rural khmer life where the locals live on the lake, literally (houses on stilts)!
* Phare: A Cambodian Circus (We’ll be astounded by this award winning circus composed of super talented young men and women trained in the circus arts. Each act shares a story meaningful to the struggles and history of these amazing people and the raw talent of the performers is unparalleled. Best part, the money supports the performers AND the great causes of Phare, a social enterprise and non-profit supporting the welfare of Cambodians in need across the country.)
One of a kind village stay!
We will be heading off to the village of Koh Ker. After you wake up to the sounds of the village, witnessing village life in a way you never could from the “highrise” views of a tree house accommodation, you can see what life was like, perhaps two thousand years ago. This is truly a dream come true for photographers, want to be anthropologists, and lovers of native cultures. After a hearty breakfast is served, we will explore the village and meet some of the people. We’ll supply school supplies and other necessities before bidding fair well to our new friends (all donations are included in the cost of the tour and handled by the travel club team but we do encourage guests to bring more. Never can have too much!). Before departing this peaceful place we’ll have a special guided tour of temple complexes older than Angkor Wat where very few tourists go! We’ll end up back in Siem Reap at our charming hotel. You will have an evening to tour the town on your own and taste the local flavors for dinner. A group dinner option will be available!
Thailand (6 nights)
“Friendly and fun loving, exotic and tropical, cultured and historic, Thailand radiates a golden hue from its glittering temples and tropical beaches through to the ever-comforting Thai smile.” – Lonely Planet
Chang Mai
Chiang Mai will steal our hearts with it’s charming, culturally infused “downtown”, welcoming people, & surrounding natural beauty.
* Mai Gate Food Market (Our favorite among all the markets, Mai Gate takes offers plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. Experience locals haggling, preparing delicious Thai breakfast, and colorful monks collecting alms. We’ll get a unique glimpse of the typical Thai life and barely see any tourists if we get their early!)
* Night Bazaar (Photograph vendors selling clothes, souvenirs, fake Rolex watches, cheap DVDs, & every other knick knack you can think of! Cheap prices for cheap things is the name of the game here, but if you’re not into shopping, the experience and photo ops alone will be well worth the visit. In addition, around the bazaar are restaurants with live music and traditional Thai dancers to add to the excitement!)
* Chang Mai Wilderness Adventure & Elephant Encounter (Hike through the lush forests of Northern Thailand and get away from city into one of the countries most beautiful regions. Endless photographs to be taken here of the landscapes and wildlife, not to mention an encounter with elephants at a well respected non-profit camp!)
* Cooking Experience at Organic Farm (Optional: Beginning at the morning market, we’ll be immersed in the way locals truly prepare and serve meals to their families every day. A gorgeous farm will be the location for the cooking class, a perfect setting for photos and enjoying our very own tasty creations!)
* Journey North; Chang Rai (Optional: Explore the regions north of Chang Mai known as the Golden Triangle, culminating at the northernmost town of Chang Rai. The epic road trip will take us to authentic hill tribes, the tri border between Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos with a stunning vista for photographs, & finishing at one of the most beautiful temples in Asia (Wat Rong Khun)
Koh Lanta
“Once the domain of backpackers and sea gypsies, Lanta has morphed from a luscious southern Thai backwater into a (paradise) getaway… Divine miles-long beaches unpolluted by jet skis (and) within eyeshot of Phi-Phi, charming Lanta remains far more calm, real and culturally rich, and effortlessly caters to all tastes and budgets.” – Lonely Planet
* Relax, swim, & explore the beaches of one of the most beautiful Thai Islands: Koh Lanta
* Guided Snorkeling Adventure (1/2 day experience full of colorful fish and reefs around the islands best spots! Snorkel Gear Included!)
* Lunch & monkey show at Lanta Animal Welfare Center (Proceeds go toward preserving & protecting the animals of the island)
* Phi Phi Island Hopping Adventure (Optional; Visit 3-4 of the otherworldly Phi Phi Islands for true immersion in paradise and eye candy for our photo lovers! A tasty lunch, snorkeling, sunbathing, and photographing the landscapes & island monkeys are some of the exciting highlights!)
* Guided Tour of Old Town & the Sea Gypsies (Sea gypsies, known in Thai as Chao Leh, are thought to be the very first inhabitants of the Andaman coastal regions of Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. Experiencing their culture first hand will be quite the treat!)
* As always this entire trip will be amazing for photography and 2 photographers will be there to help those who want to learn more about using their camera’s, taking better pictures, etc.
* All Transfers & taxes Included
* 2 Domestic flights Included (Siem Reap → Chang Mai AND Chang Mai → Krabi)
* International Airfare is not included but we are happy to help you find it as always. Flights needed: Fly into Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP) & Depart Krabi, Thailand (KBV)
**Don’t forget to e-mail us for the day by day itinerary of this Cambodia & Thailand Group Tours! (joinus@photoflytravel.com)
Don’t forget to check out our Spectacular Singapore Group Tours Extension!
Join Us!
Cancellation Policy & Refunds
There is a $100.00 administrative fee for all cancellations. Cancellations made 120 days or more prior to departure date (01/11/18) are fully refundable except for the $100 fee. Cancellations less than 120 days prior to departure date (01/11/18) will receive no refund of monies paid. No refunds on unused portions of the tour. After airline tickets are issued, airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy and are usually non-refundable and changeable with a fee plus new ticket price.
*Hotels subject to change based on availability
CST # 2101181-40