Cambodia & Thailand Overland

Cambodia & Thailand Overland

This relaxed two week Cambodia & Thailand itinerary combines the classic tourist hotspots of Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Angkor, with a peaceful Thai island and remote jungle lodge.

Your journey begins in Siem Reap with four days exploring the region including, of course, the temples of Angkor. In complete contrast, then travel into the Cardamom Mountains for a unique jungle-based rustic lodge experience. From here it’s a relatively short journey over the border into Thailand and time for some R&R on the tranquil, unspoilt island of Koh Chang, before ending in the bright lights of Bangkok.
  

Highlights

  • Explore Angkorian temples with an expert guide
  • Kayak through a flooded forest
  • Learn how Cambodians are recovering from their horrific recent history
  • Unwind amidst the natural beauty of Tatai River
  • Kick off your flip-flops on one of Thailand’s finest beaches
  • Savour Bangkok's finest streetfood

Siem Reap, Angkor Temples, Tatai River, Koh Chang, Bangkok


Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Siem Reap

On arrival in Cambodia, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel.

Day 2
Angkor Temples exploration

Begin your exploration of Angkor Wat, and the complex of ruined temples and palaces around it. You’ll be driven between them, so you can fit quite a few in (if you want to), and our guides know when to see the ruins at uncrowded times. If you wish, start the day with the magical (but popular!) sunrise over Angkor Wat, and let your guide know what kind of pace you prefer, whether you want to fill your day with archaeology, or spend some of it on Tonlé Sap lake, or even back at your hotel pool.

Day 3
Tonle Sap kayaking

Morning transfer to the Tonle Sap Lake where you board a private boat, visiting a floating fishing village and a flooded forest. If water levels are high enough you can kayak amongst the branches and paddle out over the lake to enjoy the scenery, keeping an eye open for its diverse birdlife. Much of Cambodian rural life takes place on rivers and lakes, and you can only truly comprehend what this lifestyle is like by taking to the water yourself. Back on dry land, transfer back to Siem Reap where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Day 4
Village Explorer

Explore rural villages, and learn about the daily lives of the local people. You'll be a world away from Siem Reap - it's a perfect opportunity to get ‘off the beaten track’ and gain a better understanding of Cambodian rural life, along with insight into traditional Khmer culture; something few visitors are lucky enough to experience. You'll explore a local market and purchase supplies for your lunch, and travel by an (almost!) pollution-free ox and cart. Still widely used throughout Cambodia, the cart allows you to travel gently along the narrow sandy village roads. Spend time at the home of a local family, where there will be plenty of time to relax and chat (with your guide acting as interpreter) as they prepare lunch using your market produce. You can help if you wish; this is a fantastic opportunity to further your understanding of typical Khmer cuisine. You meal is likely to be very different from those offered in Siem Reap's more westerner-oriented restaurants! Having enjoyed your lunch, there is time to explore the village before returning to Siem Reap.

Day 5
Phnom Penh

Depart by car for Phnom Penh, with stops to stretch your legs and enjoy a coffee in Kampong Thom and at Skun Village, famous for its deep-fried tarantulas! At 5pm, climb aboard a tuk-tuk for a food-focused tour of the city. Stop for a cocktail at a lively bar on Sisowath Quay and watch the sun set over the river, before heading down to the river, where roadside stalls sell a variety of edible bugs. Your guide will be on hand to decipher the surprisingly tasty offerings! Continue by tuk-tuk to the Russian Market, which draws local diners with typical Khmer food such as banh cheo, chicken rice porridge and beef skewers. Choose what you fancy, pull up a plastic stool alongside the locals, and soak up the atmosphere. Your final food stop for the evening will be freshly BBQ’d seafood, before you return to your hotel, again by tuk-tuk, and probably ready to loosen your waistband...

Day 6
Tuol Sleng & Choeung Ek Tour

Your guide will escort you around the Royal Palace complex, with its lavish ceremonial buildings. You’ll also have the option to visit the National Museum, which is full of intriguing artefacts from several millennia of Cambodian culture. Lunch will be at ‘Friends’, a restaurant which trains ex-street children and other vulnerable groups in the hospitality trade. The food also happens to be excellent! The afternoon will be a far more sombre experience: Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes and the Cheung Ek ‘killing fields’ will open your eyes to the true brutality of the Pol Pot regime. There’s no sugar-coating this deeply disturbing insight into human capacity for cruelty - but it’s essential to understanding Cambodia and its people today. Your guide will have almost certainly lost loved ones to the regime, and will answer your questions as you try to comprehend what you’ve learnt.

Day 7
Car & boat to Tatai River

Journey by car and boat to your Tatai River resort, arriving in time for a sunset drink!

Day 8
Relax & explore

Explore your scenic surrounds by boat or on foot, or simply kick back and relax.

Day 9
Boat & car to Thai border

Morning transfer by boat to Tatai Bridge and continue by road to the Thai border at Cham Yeam. Having cleared border formalities and entered Thailand, continue by car to Trat where you will board the ferry to Koh Chang. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and the remainder of your day will be at leisure to kick back and relax.

Days 10 & 11
Enjoy a few days R&R

Your days will be at leisure to relax and dig your toes in the sand.

Day 12
Ferry & car to Bangkok

Take the ferry back to Trat and continue directly to Bangkok. Your day will be at leisure until late afternoon, when your guide will meet you with a tuk-tuk for a tour of the city’s finest streetfood. Zigzag through the city, stopping off to savour local dishes from different parts of Thailand, fresh from Bangkok’s street stalls. Sput-sput past the Grand Palace Temples and stop to admire Wat Pho, all beautifully lit up at night, while your snacks go down before a drink at one of our favourite hidden bars, before more food, finishing by gorging on one of the best Pad Thais you’ll ever eat! With your appetite fully satisfied (and waistbands at bursting point!), you’ll be returned to your hotel.

Day 13
City Safari

It's time to plunge into Bangkok's bustle - the city is kept in perpetual motion by a buzzing public network whose modes of transport span from ancient to ultramodern. You'll step straight into the flow today on a tour of highlights, some well known, others further off the track. Begin your journey in one of the city's famous tuk-tuks, before switching to a public ‘bus boat’ through the city’s canals. Disembark to explore the historic house of Jim Thompson, a mysterious American silk merchant, before catching the ‘sky train’ (or jumping in a taxi) to your hotel, where the rest of your day will be at leisure.

Day 14
Depart Bangkok

Transfer to the airport in time for your onward flight.

Booking Policy

English speaking, local guide
All accommodation listed
Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
Any domestic flights listed (unless marked otherwise)
All admission fees at attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
All meals listed


Entry visas
International airport departure taxes
Any meals not listed in the itinerary
Drinks, other than water on activity days
Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tip...)
Travel insurance
All other services not listed in 'inclusive'

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What our clients say about us

Leslie
Feb 2023
star star star star star
An amazing trip out together by Stephen at My Way Travel! This was our second trip ( went to Vietnam and Cambodia 2019). Stephen is great to work with- very flexible and listens to what we wanted to do. This trip was originally scheduled for April 2020. A honest company that asked if I wanted my deposit back and I said no - that I would use it in a future trip! How many companies around the world did this???? We had great guides In Bangkok and Chiang Rai and Chiang Rai. Fon was full of energy and fun in Bangkok. Ann was one of the best guides I have ever had- she took us to a couple of places not noted on the tour. We went for a hike at a waterfall and visited the cave where the Thai boys were rescued in the cave. Both Ann and Fon gave us wonderful suggestions for restaurants. I would absolutely recommend Stephen and My Way Travel! We plan to use him again in planning Bali!
Lida
April 18, 2023
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Our group of 26 people traveled to Japan & Thailand with My Way Travel, and had an incredible time. This was our third trip with My Way Travel and the trip was planned perfectly with every detail accounted for. Our tour guides were exceptional in every way. They exuded a warmth and friendliness that immediately put us at ease, making our trip more enjoyable. Not only were they amiable, but they also had extensive knowledge about the places we visited. We would highly recommend My Way Travel to anyone planning a trip to Asia.
Erik
July 28, 2023
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We have just returned from a 16 Day/15 Night trip to southeast Asia including stops in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand planned by Stephen at My Way Travel. We reached out to My Way Travel with quite a tall order asking them to arrange a trip for us that included visiting 9 cities in 15 nights! From the first point of contact, our experience with My Way Travel was absolutely fantastic. Stephen was very attentive and let us customize our tour however we pleased. All of the hotels he booked for us were incredible and the tour guides and drivers made us feel like family. It was very easy to keep in touch with Stephen throughout our trip via Whatsapp. The only thing we really needed during our trip was to add baggage for one of our flights and he was able to take care of it the day before we arrived at the airport. All the drivers/guides showed up on time and made transferring from airport to hotel to tour to wherever extremely easy. I will definitely recommend this company to anyone that plans on traveling to Asia.
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