1. Home
  2. Asia
  3. Cambodia
  4. Premium South East Asia in Depth
Map of Premium South East Asia in Depth including Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

Discover the charms of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia on an in-depth adventure

A realm of untold history, sprawling waterways and ancient temples, South East Asia is a wonderland for travellers and explorers alike. This 24-day Premium adventure delves into the heart of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, touching on the unique charm each region has to offer. Start your adventure in bustling Bangkok and venture north, where the wildlife, history and local food brings one surprise after the next. Travel into the depths of Vietnam, rich in old world culture and hidden treasures, before finally arriving in Cambodia witnessing the lost ruins of Angkor, uncovering the confronting history of the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and the tranquillity of the Tonle Sap confluence.

Start
Bangkok, Thailand
Finish
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Destinations
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Style
Premium
Theme
Explorer
Code
TTPEC
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

premium accommodation

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • Enjoy three fabulous Feature Stays – the immersive community-based Lisu lodge in Thailand, a tropical oasis wellness resort in Cambodia and a magnificent junk-style boat on Halong Bay in Vietnam.

  • Get to the heart of Vietnamese culture with Exclusive Experiences, including a soul-stirring Hat Xam performance, an afternoon in an ancient pottery village, and a cooking class with a local chef in Hue.

  • Enjoy two days of fully guided temple tours in Siem Reap, with in-depth insights into the history of these extraordinary structures and plenty of time at Angkor Wat, plus an Exclusive Experience morning accompanied by a private photography coach.

  • See the important sights of Phnom Penh on a full day guided tour. Visit the sobering Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, then stop by a working Buddhist monastery to meet the resident monks.

  • Learn about Thai culture during Exclusive Experiences – ‘make merit’ at a local temple in Bangkok, cruise on rice barges while enjoying traditional meals and visit the village of Kup Kap , home of the Lahu people.

Is this trip right for you?

  • In 2023, Tet (Lunar New Year) will run from the 21st to the 27th of January. This is a fascinating and rewarding time to see the region, however you do need to be prepared for some businesses to be closed, tourist sites to be very busy and for transport to be packed as many Vietnamese are travelling around the country. Please consider your travel arrangements carefully before booking travel for this period.

Vietnam insights with Peregrine Adventures: Sample local food at a street market
vietnam food local
TVPS - Couple lounging in front of Halong Bay, Vietnam
Vietnam snapshot with Intrepid Travel: Sample local food at a street market
vietnam halong bay
TTPT - Traditional Thai cuisine dinner
TTPT - Blue skies Sukhothai ruins and lotus pond in Thailand
TTPT - Local sleeping in a tuk tuk on the streets of Bangkok in Thailand
TTPT - Group touring around Thailand with tour leader
TTPT - Learning about elephants at the Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai Thailand
TTPT - Elephants mud bathing on a bright sunny day at Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai
TKPC - Group on a river boat taking a ride down the river
TKPC - The royal palace located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
TKPC - Monk man writing
TKPC - A monk and a traveller
TKPC - Traditional Cambodian meal
TKPC - Close up of stone faced Bayon temple located in Angkor Thom
TKPC - Walking group tour of the Angkor Wat temple
TKPC - View of Angkor Wat across lake on a sunny day

Itinerary
Expand All Collapse All

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 Jan 2022 to 31 Dec 2022.
 View the 2023 itinerary

Welcome to Thailand! Your journey begins in Bangkok, where you’ll be collected at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After settling into your room, an important welcome meeting will take place at 6pm. Please check for the Intrepid Premium noticeboard in the reception area of the hotel. If you arrive early, take some time to enjoy Bangkok’s irresistible energy. By day you’ll encounter a city steeped with history and tradition, but by night Bangkok is taken over by a flood of music and neon lights. Watch torrents of tuk tuks zip by while traditional khlong boats slowly wind down the Chao Phraya River. After your meeting, join your small group for a welcome dinner at an excellent local restaurant where your leader will introduce you to a food scene that’s bursting with local flavour.
Accommodation
  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Bangkok - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Rise early for an optional exclusive experience away from Bangkok’s well-trodden tourist track. Join the locals at sunrise for to a visit to a temple along the Chao Phraya River, where you’ll “make merit” by bringing an offering to the temple’s monks – a truly unforgettable moment. Today your leader will take you for a day of sightseeing and activities in lively Bangkok. Tour Wat Po, a larger-than-life temple complex in the city - home of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Also visit the majestic Grand Palace and learn about the site which has been the official residence of the kings since the 1700s, and enjoy a boat tour of the city's canals as your leader shows you how Bangkok’s locals live today. The afternoon is free to do as you wish, perhaps check out the art collection at the Jim Thompson house or relax with a Thai massage.
Accommodation
  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
  • Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
  • Bangkok - Temple Sunrise Merit Making
Optional Activities
  • Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB200
  • Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please note when visiting the Grand Palace clothes covering your shoulders and knees are a requirement for entry.

This morning head to Ayutthaya, one of the ancient capitals of Siam and a World Heritage site. Give your camera batteries a workout as you explore the photogenic 14th-century temple of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon while your leader shares knowledge of the complex’s history. Continue to the ornately decorated Wat Phanan Choeng, one of Ayutthaya's oldest temples and home to a 19-metre-high Buddha. Then you’re in for a real treat - the past will come to life as you board a traditional rice barge and explore Chao Phraya River while tucking into a delicious Thai lunch. Continue on to the 13th-century ruins of Wat Phra Mahathat and discover rows of Buddhas beheaded by the Burmese. Look out for the displaced Buddha head suspended in the roots of a Banyan tree - one of the country’s most photographed images. Return to Bangkok for the evening and enjoy some of the many amazing restaurants on offer.
Accommodation
  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ayutthaya - Rice Barge Lunch
  • Ayutthaya - Temple Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2 hours.

Travel by private transport to Kanchanaburi, a modern riverfront town with a dark past. Located at the meeting point of the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers, Kanchanaburi is home to the infamous 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. Many Allied prisoners of war and conscripted Asian labourers were engaged here to help build a rail route to Myanmar (Burma), including the passage infamously known as Hellfire Pass. Visit the memorial museum of the pass where your leader will provide more information about this chapter in history. Take a historical train journey across a portion of this 'death railway' along the Kwai Noi River and travel over the original wooden viaduct, known as the Bridge on the River Kwai, constructed by the allied POWs. Pass through peaceful and naturally beautiful scenery as you learn of those who lost their lives building this rail route. The evening is yours to explore the town.
Accommodation
  • U Inchantree Kanchanaburi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kanchanaburi - Historical train ride
  • Kanchanaburi - Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.

Make the 1 hour drive to the Erawan National Park, named after the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology, and visit the magnificent seven-tiered waterfall. Take a dip in radiant emerald green waters, climb the tiers to find different cascades at every level, or sit back and snap pictures of the luxuriant vegetation. On the way back to Kanchanaburi, stop in at the World War II cemetery and museum for a guided tour with your leader, who will share stories and explain the cemetery is the main resting place for the prisoners of war who laboured under Japanese rule in building the Thai-Burma Railway. Enjoy a free evening in Kanchanaburi - perhaps wander through the rows of street food vendors in town, or reflect on the day with a drink overlooking the River Kwai at one of many charming riverfront establishments.
Accommodation
  • U Inchantree Kanchanaburi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kanchanaburi - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
  • Kanchanaburi - Erawan National Park Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Erawan National Park will close for renovations in September 2022. Departures during this time will instead visit Saiyok Noi waterfall.

Depart Kanchanaburi in the morning and drive to Hup Pa Tat. Explore the beautiful valley surrounded by limestone mountains with your leader on hand to help spot wildlife and rare plants. Legend has it that centuries ago this valley was a gigantic cave, until the ceiling caved in; massive chunks of limestone lying on the valley floor support the theory. Continue to Uthai Thani where you’ll lunch enjoy lunch cruising on a traditional rice barge, watching village life along the riverfront stream by as your travel through beautiful countryside. Afterwards, stop by the transfixing glass temple of Wat Tha Sung before travelling on to Nakhon Sawan where you will spend the night. This evening perhaps check out the local market where you can get your hands on a range of enticing regional street food.
Accommodation
  • 42CThe Chic Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Uthai Thani - Hup Pa Tat
  • Uthai Thani - Wat Tha Sung
  • Uthai Thani - Traditional rice barge lunch cruise
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Today you will leave Nakhon Sawan and travel to the town of Sukhothai, stopping en route in the historic city of Phitsanulok. Here you will have the chance to pick up some lunch, and perhaps visit the temple of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, famed for its beautiful golden Buddha statue. Continue to Sukhothai, where the rest of the afternoon is free for your own discoveries. You may like to relax by the pool or unwind with a Thai massage, and for dinner this evening be sure to ask your leader where you can get a bowl of Sukhothai’s famously tasty noodles.
Accommodation
  • Legendha Sukhothai Resort or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Sukhothai, established in the 13th century, was one of the first ancient capitals of Siam. Famed for its World Heritage listed historical park, which captures the Golden Age of Thai civilisation, the capital's name literally means 'Dawn of Happiness'. Visit the historical park, which spans the ruins of the town, where you will rent a bicycle and take part in a cycle tour. As you ride around, your leader will let you know more about the history of this former metropolis and its fascinating structures. Enjoy a home-cooked picnic lunch in the beautiful grounds of Sukhothai Park. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the town, or you might want to simply read a book by the pool back at your accommodation. This evening, regroup and head to the home of one of our local friends where you’ll enjoy a wonderful homecooked dinner and a unique insight into life in this part of the country.
Accommodation
  • Legendha Sukhothai Resort or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park bike tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Travel from Sukhothai to the Mae Taeng region. Draped between tranquil rice fields and fruit orchards, you’ll find the echanting Lisu Lodge, your Feature Stay accommodation. The lodge is a community-based project that trains and employs Lisu villagers from the nearby hill tribe and aims to preserve their cultural heritage. The Lisu people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and one of the six main hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Meet the colourfully dressed villagers and learn more about the Lisu way of life - a truly special experience that is sure to be one of your enduring memories of Thailand. The lodge offers gorgeous guestrooms decorated in the traditional Lisu style with modern comforts. Savour unforgettable views of the surrounding hillside and valley, and enjoy a tantalising dinner of Thai food mixed with traditional Lisu dishes. You don’t have to look for a cultural experience here - it’s all around you.
Accommodation
  • Lisu Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mae Taeng - Lisu Lodge Dinnner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 7 hours.

Travel to the Elephant Nature Park - a unique project that provides sanctuary for elephants and other animals. Be greeted by an expert local guide and learn the stories of the rescued elephants and the issues they face in South-East Asia. Feed the elephants from a viewing platform, walk with the expert staff to watch elephants bathe and play, and enjoy a vegetarian buffet lunch. Then head to the village of Kup Kap, home of the Lahu people. Explore the village on foot as your leader provides insight on the Lahu way of living and what makes this hill tribe different. Experience a personal and intimate interaction as you are welcomed into a Lahu villager’s home for tea and coffee, then go on to learn how the local coffee is produced. This evening gather around the campfire for a traditional barbecue dinner on return to your feature stay accommodation.
Accommodation
  • Lisu Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Elephant Nature Park Half Day Trip
  • Mae Taeng - Lahu Hilltribe Village Experience
  • Mae Taeng - Mae Tamaan Base Camp BBQ Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1.5 hours. If visiting the Lahu village outside of coffee season, you will learn about the local herbal tea instead.

This morning you will visit Wat Ban Den, a sprawling complex filled with intricately decorated sacred temples. Enjoy views of the countryside as you pass through colourful buildings and whimsical statues. Carry on to Chiang Mai, a laidback city that has retained a mellow atmosphere and authentic feel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore - perhaps dive into Chiang Mai’s street food scene or check out more Buddhist temples - be sure to ask your leader for recommendations. In the evening, your group will be treated to dinner at an excellent local restaurant to celebrate your Northern Thailand adventure.
Accommodation
  • Bodhi Serene Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Farewell Dinner
  • Chiang Mai - Wat Baan Den Temple
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Today you will catch a flight from Chiang Mai to Hanoi to begin the Vietnamese leg of your journey. You’ll be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel where a meeting will take place at 6pm to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next part of your adventure. This evening, join your leader and small group for dinner at a beautifully decorated restaurant resembling an old-fashioned Vietnamese house. Dive into the exciting world of Vietnamese cuisine as your leader introduces you to a range of classic dishes made with the freshest local ingredients.
Accommodation
  • La Sinfonia Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Hanoi - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s flight is approximately 2 hours.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will likely change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary. We suggest you attend, as this is also a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers. It’s important that you attend the welcome meeting as your new group leader will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Depart Hanoi and travel to Halong Bay, one of the great natural treasures of Vietnam. Board your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening, a gloriously beautiful and traditionally decorated junk-style boat featuring modern conveniences. Set sail in total comfort as unforgettable views of scattered islands and towering limestone outcrops slowly unfold in front of you. Explore the bay while enjoying a pleasant seafood lunch onboard. Learn about the fascinating geography of the region and its importance to the Vietnamese people, visit Surprise Cave where your leader will point out interesting rock formations, and in the warmer months you can choose a swim from Ti Top Island Beach or take an optional kayaking tour. Sit back with a drink on the upper deck and face out to the spirit-lifting view that will be stamped on your memory of Vietnam. Soak in the stunning surroundings with a candlelit seafood dinner on deck before settling in for a night of stargazing and swapping stories.
Accommodation
  • Secret Halong Cruise (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Optional Activities
  • Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 3.5 hours. Your main luggage can be left in the hotel in Hanoi.

Surprise Cave is accessed via staircases but the pathways inside can be a little uneven and slippery, so good walking shoes or sandals will be useful. Swimming in the bay from the boats is banned by the local authority. Kayaking is restricted to designated zones within the bay.

Your junk-style boat has twin-share cabins with en suite facilities and air-conditioning. Due to the limited cabins on board, the single supplement is excluded, and accommodation will be on a twin-share basis.

Local authorities permit a limited number of boats to stay overnight in Halong Bay. To ensure all travellers can be accommodated on board available boats, on rare occasions you will stay on a larger boat (with up to 12 cabins) and share your boat with another group. Or your group may be split across different vessels, in which case a group leader will be present on each boat. The route taken and inclusions on board

Start your day with a peaceful breakfast and perhaps take part in some Tai Chi on board the boat before returning to Hanoi. This afternoon you’ll take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience and sit down to a soul-stirring traditional Hat Xam performance. Hat Xam is an art form of Northern Vietnam dating back to the Tran Dynasty. Originally, this was performed by blind performers, and was enjoyed by local working-class audiences, right up until the late 1950s, when a wave of communism deemed all art forms to be corrupting influences. Today these performances are rare, but you and your group will be taken to a private club house and treated to an exclusive performance in one of the few places where artists still sing acoustically. The performance takes around 90 minutes, and includes possible interaction with guests, so be ready to get involved!
Accommodation
  • La Sinfonia Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hanoi - Hat Xam performance
  • Halong Bay - Tai Chi
Optional Activities
  • Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD35
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

This morning you’ll get to know Hanoi’s charms on a half-day tour with your leader. Discover a captivating city where traditional and modern sit side by side as your leader shares knowledge on the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and the former residence of Vietnam’s most famous revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh. Today’s lunch is extra special as you will visit the fantastic KOTO café, a social enterprise that provides hospitality training and experience while empowering at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam – not to mention a creative menu of food made with local ingredients. This afternoon you’ll say goodbye to Hanoi and fly south to Danang. Drive on to Hoi An and take in views of lush scenery along the way. Arrive in Hoi An in the late afternoon and check into your boutique accommodation. The rest of the day is yours – maybe make the most of your hotel’s fabulous pool.
Accommodation
  • Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature
  • Hanoi - Lunch at KOTO
  • Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
Optional Activities
  • Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND30000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s flight is approximately 1 hour and transfer from the airport is approximately 1 hour.

Set off on a tour of Hoi An’s Old Town and discover a blend of traditional treasures and cultural influences from historical traders. Your leader will discuss the city’s history as you wander the pagoda lined streets, visit a Chinese assembly hall, cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, enter the ornately decorated historic house of a former trader and check out a local museum. Hoi An was once a great trading port for pottery, and centuries-old pottery villages still exist to this day. This afternoon, head out to the Thanh Ha Pottery Village – dating back to the 16th century, this is one of the oldest pottery villages in Vietnam. Stop by the home of an artisan couple. Now both in their 90s, they were once the only artisans in the village and have passed down traditional techniques and practices. Continue your explorations of the village, meet descendants of the artisan couple and find out how traditional pieces are made. Finally, sit down with a cup of tea and perhaps take the chance to test out your own skills and paint on a traditional pottery mask. Return to Hoi An for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation
  • Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hoi An - Pottery Village Experience
Optional Activities
  • Hoi An - Farm to Table dining experience at Tra Que Village and Mua restaurant - USD84
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

The morning is free for you to enjoy more of delightful Hoi An and the surrounding area. Perhaps browse the market for silk and other materials or collect any garments that you might have had crafted by the efficient tailors, or hire a bicycle and ride along the lanes and out to a nice nearby beach. Your leader will have great recommendations for places to eat and drink. In the afternoon, transfer back to Danang and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening – the bustling food stalls at Cho Ben Thanh market might beckon you over with the sweet and savoury aromas of pho and bun mam. Delicious!
Accommodation
  • M Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s flight is approximately 1 hour and transfer to the airport is approximately 1 hour. Rooms at the M Boutique Hotel (formerly the Millennium Boutique Hotel) , and in Ho Chi Minh City in general, are compact given the building style and central location.

Head out of the city to the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network dug by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong. Enter a widened section of the tunnels with your leader who will help you imagine what life underground must have been like and explain how the tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation and schools, and were used for refuge, storage and as a military base for the Viet Cong. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for a tour of the dynamic city where daily life plays out on the streets. Your leader will take you to the Reunification Palace, formally the Presidential Palace and the site of South Vietnam’s surrender in 1975, before visiting the War Remnants Museum. In the evening, perhaps spend some time with your fellow travellers and enjoy a final dinner at a local restaurant. Your leader will know of some wonderful options.
Accommodation
  • M Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace
  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Notre Dame Cathedral
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today you will say goodbye to Vietnam and catch a flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s lively capital city. A meeting will take place at your hotel at 6pm to welcome any new travellers joining you for the Cambodian portion of your trip. After your meeting, join your leader and small group for dinner at the wonderful Khéma La Poste. This delightful French restaurant is located in the center of the old colonial quarter next to the Phnom Penh Post Office built in 1890. After dinner perhaps cap off the night with a cocktail at the Le Moon Rooftop at Amanjaya Pancam Hotel.
Accommodation
  • Aquarius Hotel or similiar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s flight is approximately 1 hour.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will likely change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary. We suggest you attend, as this is also a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers. It’s important that you attend the welcome meeting as your new group leader will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Today your leader will introduce you to the sights of Phnom Penh during a full day city tour. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are home to King Sihamoni and closed off to the public, but you will be able to visit the sacred Silver Pagoda that lies in the palace complex. Your included visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek will tell the story of the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. There is an optional visit to Wat Phnom, the temple that gave rise to the foundation of the city in the 15th century.
Accommodation
  • Aquarius Hotel or similiar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
  • Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Optional Activities
  • Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
  • Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
  • Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are major parts of the experience here, but if you don't wish to visit them, please inform your leader.

Currently, the Royal Palace Complex and Silver Pagoda are closed to the public due to COVID. While they remain closed, you will instead visit the National Museum. Just next to the Royal Palace, The National Museum houses one of the world's greatest collections of Khmer material culture.

After breakfast, embark on a journey of discovery from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap in a comfortable private vehicle. Discover traditional Cambodian life at Skun Village and learn about the town’s deep fried tarantulas and other insects which the locals consume daily. You’ll also visit Santuk Silk Farm to learn about silk production and its work as a social enterprise, employing local women as artisan weavers. Share a simple, rustic local lunch prepared by the weavers before you continue to Siem Reap, stopping to see historic bridges along the way, before arriving at your hotel at approximately 5pm. This tropical oasis boasts three pools and an excellent restaurant with a focus on wellness. Bright and spacious rooms are in harmony with the lush grounds, and feature a veranda, private garden and rain showers. Tonight, you’ll enjoy delicious home-style Cambodian dishes.
Accommodation
  • Navutu Dreams Resort & Wellness Retreat (feature stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Skun Village Market Stop
  • Santuk Silk Farm Tour and Lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s itinerary involves approximately 5.5 hours of driving.

Embrace a very early start today if you wish to experience a sunrise visit to the Angkor complex (this is optional). After sunrise, head to the shores of the Srah Srang Lake. Here you will be treated to an incredible private catered breakfast – take a moment to soak in your stunning surroundings and enjoy a meal as wonderful as the landscape itself. After breakfast, you'll spend the day discovering the amazing temples of Angkor. The memories of seeing some of the world’s most important ancient sites are ones you’re going to want to preserve forever, so for the first half of the day you will also be accompanied by a private photography coach who will teach you how to take that one-in-a-million shot. Begin at Angkor Wat, the largest and most complete structure, and the only one of Angkor's temples that has its entrance facing west – the others face east. For lunch you'll visit the Sala Bai Hotel School where underprivileged local youths learn skills that enable them to find gainful employment in the hospitality industry. Here you can enjoy a meal prepared by students at the school. After lunch, visit Angkor Thom, the 'Great Royal City', a temple famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. Of all the temples visited today, Bayon temple is the centrepiece, with over 200 smiling carved faces and more than 50 gothic towers. Your leader will let you in on the secrets of the temples and share their remarkable stories. From here, you will head out of town to an ancient working monastery to gain a special insight into the life of a monk and Theravada Buddhism. You will get to meet the monks, enjoy a sacred water blessing for good luck and prosperity and have a red band tied around your wrist to keep you safe in your travels. The rest of the evening can be spent exploring the bars of Siem Reap, or relaxing in laidback luxury at your resort.
Accommodation
  • Navutu Dreams Resort & Wellness Retreat (feature stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
  • Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
  • Siem Reap - Lunch at Sala Bai
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Photography Coach
  • Siem Reap - Private Breakfast at Srah Srong Lake
Optional Activities
  • Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
The Sala Bai Hotel School is closed on public and school holidays, so on these days an alternative restaurant will be used.

After breakfast, it’s off to the Ta Prohm temple, which has large trees embedded in the stone foundations of the structure – powerful symbols of nature. Next, visit Banteay Srei to snap some enviable pictures of the temple’s intricate stone carvings. You can head back to the resort or use your ticket for the Angkor ruins to continue exploring the site and try out your new photography skills. The vaulted corridors of Preah Khan are well worth a visit, or you may prefer to spend the afternoon getting to know the town. Tonight, enjoy a final dinner at Lum Orng Cambodia's first Farm to Table restaurant and raise a glass to toast your Cambodia adventure with free flow pre-dinner cocktails and canapes before dining on delicious new Mekong cuisine. The restaurant is run by a talented local chef with a passion for sharing sustainable and seasonal food using organic ingredients grown on site.
Accommodation
  • Navutu Dreams Resort & Wellness Retreat (feature stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Siem Reap - Banteay Srei Temple visit
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
  • Siem Reap - Lum Orng Khmer Dinner
Optional Activities
  • Siem Reap - Khmer massage - USD17
  • Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake Boat Trip (guide and remork transport included) - USD15
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to expend your stay in Siem Reap, additional accommodation can be arranged in advance (subject to availability). .
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

21 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners

Transport

Boat, Plane, Private minibus, Train, remork (tuk tuk), Longtail boat, songtheaw, Bicycle

Accommodation

Hotel (15 nights), Resort (5 nights), Lodge (2 nights), Overnight Boat (1 night)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Bangkok - Welcome Dinner
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
  • Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
  • Bangkok - Temple Sunrise Merit Making
  • Ayutthaya - Rice Barge Lunch
  • Ayutthaya - Temple Visit
  • Kanchanaburi - Historical train ride
  • Kanchanaburi - Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
  • Kanchanaburi - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
  • Kanchanaburi - Erawan National Park Visit
  • Uthai Thani - Hup Pa Tat
  • Uthai Thani - Wat Tha Sung
  • Uthai Thani - Traditional rice barge lunch cruise
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park bike tour
  • Mae Taeng - Lisu Lodge Dinnner
  • Chiang Mai - Elephant Nature Park Half Day Trip
  • Mae Taeng - Lahu Hilltribe Village Experience
  • Mae Taeng - Mae Tamaan Base Camp BBQ Dinner
  • Chiang Mai - Farewell Dinner
  • Chiang Mai - Wat Baan Den Temple
  • Hanoi - Welcome Dinner
  • Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
  • Hanoi - Hat Xam performance
  • Halong Bay - Tai Chi
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature
  • Hanoi - Lunch at KOTO
  • Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hoi An - Pottery Village Experience
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace
  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Notre Dame Cathedral
  • Phnom Penh - Welcome Dinner
  • Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
  • Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
  • Skun Village Market Stop
  • Santuk Silk Farm Tour and Lunch
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
  • Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
  • Siem Reap - Lunch at Sala Bai
  • Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Photography Coach
  • Siem Reap - Private Breakfast at Srah Srong Lake
  • Siem Reap - Banteay Srei Temple visit
  • Siem Reap - Lum Orng Khmer Dinner

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium South East Asia in Depth trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Prices may go up, so secure your trip today!
Jump to a departure month

Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips that start on or before 31 December 2022 are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy.

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 13 (boat) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 
3. This trip includes domestic and international flights as indicated on the trip map. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
4. Full name exactly as per passport required at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on the passport), for internal flights. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
5. Due to limited luggage space in our vehicles, please ensure that you are packing light and compact. Large, bulky suitcases are unsuitable for this trip. Please refer to the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for details. 
6. Travel is always an adventure and, as destinations reopen, there are a few challenges as everyone gets back up to speed and adjusts to the new normal. Our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so pack your understanding and flexibility, sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.
7. Flight schedules within South East Asia are currently limited. Whenever possible, you will be on a direct fight. However, some flights may require a stop.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

Reviews

Go to dates