Two Kingdoms, One Adventure

Congratulations on arriving to the City of Angels! We are delighted that you have chosen to come to Thailand and experience all that Bangkok has to offer. To make your arrival as smooth as possible, we have organized a golf buggy to take you from the plane to the VIP Fast Track immigration service, so you can get through quickly and be the first one to get your luggage. Once you have collected your luggage and gone through Customs, one of our team members will be there to greet you and transfer you to your hotel conveniently located on the banks of the Chao Prayah River. Take some time to check in, relax, and enjoy the rest of the day as we arrange for all of your group to meet at the hotel.

Welcome, adventurer, to the dazzling City of Angels! From the moment you step off the plane, we’ve got you covered. Zoom through VIP Fast Track immigration on a golf buggy, grab your luggage, and meet our friendly team member who will whisk you away to your riverbank hotel. Ah, the joy of starting an adventure. Just relax, breathe in Bangkok’s vibes, and prepare for the unforgettable journey ahead!

We’re excited to kick off your trip with an informative orientation with our company founder, Steve. He’ll make sure you have all the information you need to make the most of your time with us. After that, you’ll board a private longtail boat and explore the many canals of Bangkok. You’ll be able to see first-hand how the locals have made use of their natural surroundings to shape the city into what it is today. When you’re done, you’ll head back to the hotel for a bit of rest and relaxation before we head out for dinner in a local restaurant. It’ll be a great way to officially welcome you to Bangkok!

Get ready to dive into Bangkok’s beating heart! After our company founder, Steve, orients you, hop on a private longtail boat and drift through the city’s enchanting canals. Witness how the locals meld nature into urban life, then dine with us as we toast to your great Thai adventure!

If you’re looking for an authentic experience in Thailand, then look no further than E-sarn! This often overlooked area of the country has managed to retain its natural beauty and traditional customs, offering visitors a unique insight into life away from the beach resorts and modern cities.
We’ll be taking a 60-minute journey to the town of Buri Ram, where we’ll board private transport to our supported village. There, we’ll be welcomed with a traditional home-cooked local feast and a tour of the village. This is sure to be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before and could even be life-changing! So don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to explore this undiscovered corner of Thailand.

Unveil the magic of E-sarn! Journey to Buri Ram and our supported village for a taste of Thailand unspoiled. With a traditional feast and village tour, immerse yourself in a world that promises to inspire and change perspectives!

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.

Greet the sunrise with monks, befriend village elephants, and walk through authentic Thai rural life. A day of joyous connections and unique experiences awaits!

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.

Join us in farming, fishing, and frolicking with elephants in the river! Taste the best Jasmine rice on Earth and immerse yourself in the daily rhythms of Surin.

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.

Break a sweat on the farm, then dream the afternoon away by the river. Embrace the simplicity and joy of life in this enchanting Thai corner!

Amongst the other things that Surin is 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!

Create memories and souvenirs as you dive into Surin’s rich silk-making tradition. Experience firsthand the art that graces royalty!

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!

Our last elephant playdate in Surin leads to a joyful exploration of Surin city. Relish the urban allure before our last delightful dinner in Thailand!

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.

Bid farewell to Thailand and embrace Cambodia’s welcoming charm. From historic landscapes to the vibrant Siem Reap town, the Cambodian chapter begins with a bang!

Siem Reap is home to the incredible Angkor Wat UNESCO 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 spend some 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.

Wander through time in Angkor Wat UNESCO Park. Explore man-made wonders dating back a millennium and savor a day of awe and discovery!

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!

Pedal through Siem Reap’s countryside secrets, then let your soul soar with the world-renowned Phare Circus. A day of thrilling discoveries and heartfelt connections!

Today we’ll be taking a very 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!

Cook up your own Cambodian feast and sail through the unique floating communities of Tonle Sap. It’s a day of taste, sights, and endless inspiration!

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.

Sadly, our adventure ends here, but the memories will last forever! We’ve got your airport ride ready, but our hearts and smiles will stay with you long after. Safe travels, dear friend, until we meet again!