Cultural hikes from Angkor to Bangkok in the heart of Asia

Today, explore Siem Reap by tuk-tuk : visit the city, the market, and the surrounding area. Discover the Lotus Farm and its unique textile workshop, then visit the Angkor National Museum . In the evening, enjoy a traditional dance show and dinner at the Angkor Village resort. A French-speaking guide will accompany you throughout the day.

The day begins with a tuk-tuk tour of the main temples of Angkor and Angkor Thom, including Angkor Wat , the symbol of the Khmer Empire's zenith; Bayon with its towers adorned with gigantic faces; Baphuon and its reclining Buddha; Phimeanakas ; as well as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King . The exploration continues at Ta Prohm , famous for its trees with sprawling aerial roots. The day can conclude with a sunset at Srah Srang, Pre Rup, or Phnom Bakheng.

The day begins with a visit to the Angkor Biodiversity Conservation Centre , where you'll learn about the conservation efforts for local species such as snakes, tortoises, birds, and exotic mammals. Next, an approximately one-hour hike leads to Kbal Spean , nicknamed "the underwater temple," with its lingas carved into the riverbed. After lunch, visit Banteay Srey , famous for its exquisite bas-reliefs, and possibly the nearby Banteay Samre temple . The day concludes with an evening circus performance .

The day begins with a private boat trip to the floating village of Mechrey , 25 km from Siem Reap, to discover the local way of life on the water with its floating houses, schools, restaurants, and pagoda. Next, head south of Battambang to visit the Banon Temple , perched atop a hill after climbing 358 steps, offering a beautiful panoramic view of the countryside. Along the way, stop in traditional villages to observe the making of rice paper and chat with the locals. After checking into the hotel, visit the Phnom Sampov Temple , nicknamed "the ship hill," to watch the sunset and the spectacular flight of the bats. There is also the option to explore the vineyards of Battambang and taste the local wine.

The morning is dedicated to a leisurely bike ride around Battambang , exploring the Cambodian countryside and meeting local communities. You'll visit a Buddhist temple, observe the daily life of the villagers, and discover various handicrafts such as bamboo sticky rice cakes, rice wine, banana chips, prahok, rice paper, and even a crocodile farm. After lunch and check-out, you'll depart by vehicle for the famous Battambang bamboo train , then continue on to Siem Reap .

Once you arrive in Thailand, our driver will take you to Amphawa , a town of 50,000 inhabitants whose life revolves around its markets and small riverside businesses. In the evening, we'll head to the docks to sample the local flavors of the Floating Market , which takes place on weekend evenings. Along the canals, many locals have come to dine. Just like them, we'll order our small dishes directly from each boat: a plate of stir-fried noodles, some shrimp or squid skewers, or perhaps some pre-cut mangoes.

We set off for the small floating market of Tah Kah , a vibrant mix of colors and aromas. Next, we head to the Mae Klong Railway Market , where four times a day, the fruit and vegetable stalls hurriedly fold down as the train passes through. Finally, we spend half a day exploring life in the mangroves. By boat, we discover this fragile ecosystem. During our excursion, we learn about the way of life of the fishermen (here, cockle fishing is done from surfboards) and visit a shellfish farm.

1. Optional activity: Thai massage

In the morning, we set off to meet the Ban Bang Phlap community. We hop on our bicycles for a tour of the coconut plantations, where we see how coconut sugar is made. During our visit, we encounter a group of women busy preparing dishes from bamboo, lemon, and papaya. We continue through the countryside to a traditional kite-making workshop. We return to our starting point for a coconut and grapefruit tasting. In the afternoon, we depart for Kanchanaburi to visit the magnificent Tham Suea Temple.

In the morning, departure for the train station and boarding around 10:40 am the infamous "death train" for an approximately one-hour journey to the Sai Yok region (70 km west). Arrival at Elephant Haven for lunch, followed by a meeting with the guide and mahouts. The afternoon is spent preparing food and getting to know the elephants , followed by a walk in the forest with them, mud play, and a bath in the river. At the end of the day, return to Kanchanaburi (60 km, approximately a one-hour drive).

We depart in the morning for Erawan National Park and Falls (60 km drive). This national park is home to a stunning waterfall cascading over seven levels, forming natural pools of emerald blue inhabited by Mahseer beards. While you can choose to stay around the first three levels, the easiest to access, and swim there, a climb to the seventh level, which isn't difficult, is rewarding: Phu Pha Erawan, the final waterfall and the most majestic of all. We then depart for the ancient royal city of Ayutthaya.

This morning, we explored the historic center of the city, including important temples such as Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, and Wat Chai Watthanaram . From Ayutthaya, we traveled to Bang Pa-in by traditional boat on the river. As we cruised along, we observed the Thai way of life, seeing wooden houses on stilts, convoys of rice barges being towed to warehouses in Bangkok, and temple spires reaching for the sky. Finally, we visited Bang Pa-in Palace , built in the 17th century and abandoned after the destruction of Ayutthaya. The palace was restored and expanded in the mid-19th century by the King, who used it as his summer residence.

In the morning, depart for the pier and board the public water taxis to reach the right bank and the Pak Khlong Talat flower market district. The tour begins with the Grand Palace of Bangkok and its Wat Phra Kaew , home to the Emerald Buddha, followed by a walk to Wat Pho to admire the reclining Buddha. Next, cross the river by boat to visit Wat Arun , followed by a ride on a longtail boat on the Chao Phraya River, discovering traditional life along the riverbanks.

Breakfast at the hotel, then free time to enjoy your last moments in Thailand. Depending on your flight schedule, you can stroll around the area, do some last-minute shopping, or simply relax before your departure.

Transfer to the airport scheduled at the agreed time for your return flight.