ON YOUR WORLD, YOUR WAY TRAVEL'S "ADVENTURE! THAILAND AND CAMBODIA" PROGRAM, WE'LL WALK, MOUNTAIN BIKE, CYCLE AND RIVER BARGE EN ROUTE TO EXPERIENCING THE BEST OF THAILAND AND AWESOME ANGKOR WAT

Discover the hidden sides of bustling Bangkok, explore the ancient capital of Siam at Ayutthaya, and experience the joy and wonders of Chiang Mai, Thailand's delightful number two city. Walks through remote hill tribe villages, an elephant trek through the mountainous north, boating in the golden triangle, and an exploration of Angkor Wat, one of the wonders of the ancient world, by bike are just a few of the highlights. At the end of the day, we look forward to some of the most delightful mountain inns and boutique hotels and resorts in the region.

HIGHLIGHTS

Walking, mountain biking and cycling, river trips, elephant trekking; nature and outdoors, temples, ancient ruins; hill tribes, arts and crafts, shopping, delightful lodgings, food

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrival in Bangkok. Welcome Dinner

Day 2 Bangkok. "Good Karma" tour: Grand Palace, Wat Pra Keao temple, and Emerald Buddha; Wat Po and reclining Buddha; National Museum; exquisite riverside brunch at Oriental Hotel; optional afternoon spa visit

Day 3 Ayutthaya. Visit the capital of ancient Siam, taking in ruined temples and royal palaces. Enjoy a cruise on a converted antique, teak wood rice barge and visit to neighboring craft villages

Day 4 Chiang Mai. Fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand's number two city, in the North. Walking tour of charming old city, taking in the ancient moat, city walls and gates; spectacular temples, varied craft workshops. Visit to ruined Wat Chedi Luang temple and monastery, where we meet the student monks during "Monk Chat"! Delightful riverside dinner in romantic gay-owned restaurant and shopping in night market

Day 5 Chiang Mai. Morning at leisure (optional visit to spa or neighboring craft villages). Late afternoon visit to mountaintop Doi Suthep, Northern Thailand's holiest Buddhist temple, for sunset

Day 6 Chiang Dao. Depart for Chiang Dao Valley. Visit Thai water buffalo camp en route to learn more about Southeast Asia's beast of burden. Morning visit to Chiang Dao Buddhist caves. After check-in at our secluded mountain resort, afternoon nature walk (moderate) through spectacular mountain scenery

Day 7 Chiang Dao. Mountain biking through beautiful surroundings (remote villages, rice paddies, plantations) to Sri Lanna National Park. Kayaking on Lake Mae Ngat with lunch on a "floating" restaurant! Cycle back to resort or return with support vehicle

Day 8 Doi Angkhan. Excursion to remote hilltribe villages, followed by an elephant trek through the forest. Transfer to Doi Angkhan mountain on the Burmese border. Check in at mountain resort. Afternoon visit to Royal Agricultural Projects and hilltribe villages; visit with local hilltribe school children

Day 9 Golden Triangle. Transfer to a small Lahu village for scenic boat excursion on the Maekok River to Chiang Rai, stopping at hilltribe villages en route. Continue on to the Golden Triangle, to our spectacular resort located on an island in the Mekong River, near the point where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet

Day 10 Golden Triangle. Today we'll tour the Golden Triangle, visiting Doi Tung mountain, the Hall of Opium museum, and traveling along a series of seldom-traveled byways through breathtaking scenery (in the not-so-distant past, lands ruled by opium warlords) to Mae Sai, on the Burmese border. Time permitting, we'll cross over into Burma to browse the sprawling market in Taichilek

Day 11 Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Transfer to Chaing Rai airport for our flights to Siem Reap, Cambodia. After check-in at our charming hotel, enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Siem Reap town, including visits to Artisans d' Angkor, an organization employing victims of the recent civil wars in making stunning crafts, the sobering Land Mine Museum of Mr. Aki Ra, and a local market. Before dinner, we'll make our way to the renovated Grand Hotel d'Angkor for happy hour drinks in the delightful Elephant Bar

Day 12 Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Bicycle through the impressive ruins of Angkor Wat - including Angkor Wat itself (with its miles of stunning bas reliefs), the mysterious royal city of Angkor Thom, and Ta Prom - an enormous temple and monastery complex completely overrun by the jungle.

Day 13 Angkor Wat, Cambodia. This morning we cycle through pleasant villages and rural countryside to the outlying areas of the ancient capital. We'll visit Banteay Srie, a small temple with astonishing carvings; Kbal Spean, where we hike to a river where hundreds of images have been carved into the riverbed in ancient times; and Bantei Samre, a sprawling, seldom-visited temple ruin. We'll have time in the late afternoon and early evening for last-minute shopping

Day 14 Bangkok. Transfer to airport for flight to Bangkok. Remainder of the day at leisure for last-minute shopping, perhaps a visit to a spa, or night out on the town. Farewell dinner at Bangkok's finest gay-owned restaurant

Day 15 Transfer to airport for departure flight

Meals
Program includes daily American Breakfast, about half of all lunches and three dinners.