Southeast Asia: Bangkok, Laos & The Cardamom Mountains

Your chariot awaits. So, it's not technically a chariot, it's a tuk-tuk. But not any tuk-tuk. Your drivers are women from the Lady Tuk-Tuk drivers cooperative. This group was founded to provide women in Siem Reap the opportunity to earn an income and support themselves, their families and their communities. Hop aboard, whizz through Siem Reap en route to another community tourism initiative, Spoons Restaurant. Welcome to Siem Reap, and to Cambodia, we invite you to become part of the community.

Spoons Restaurant hosts your first meal in Cambodia. This restaurant provides vocational training for young people in the service industry, while of course, serving up delicious specialties like Num Kruk, a corn and coconut crisply dumpling, and Steak Lok Lak. Dig in and do good.

ACTIVITY: Sit down for a delicious dinner at Spoons Restaurant, part of SPOONS a Cambodian Organization that works with underprivileged young adults and gives them the opportunity to be self-supporting by providing them with education, training, and employment opportunities in the hospitality industry. Their vision is to create a future where all young adults will have equal opportunities to gain independence and be able to shape their own lives.

ACTIVITY: EVENING Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

It's possible that there is no quicker way to understand a culture than by cooking and eating. Spend the morning in the local market with a chef, smelling and tasting the local ingredients. Continue on to Chreav village just outside of Siem Reap and join the chef in cooking some delicious local dishes. With a full belly, the afternoon is yours to choose between a sunset bike ride from village to village, or a scenic boat tour to Kampong Khleang Floating Village.

Your OMG Day begins with an exclusive cooking experience in Chreav village, just a short tuk-tuk ride outside Siem Reap. In the afternoon you can choose between an exhilarating cycle through small villages, ending just in time to take in a peaceful sunset over the rice paddies with a cold drink. If you are looking to take it a bit easier, hop on a boat ride to the magnificent Tonle Sap. The boat will travel to Kampong Khleang floating village, passing by stilt houses, witnessing daily life and observing the marine flora and fauna along the way.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: Hop on a bike and cycle through the countryside of Siem Reap and enjoy the colours of sunset. Start in the streets of the city before venturing off the beaten path to ride through picturesque villages where you will make brief stops to learn about the livelihoods of the locals. Witness an authentic side of Siem Reap so few visitors get to see. Watch sunset over the palm trees with a cold beverage and a few local snacks. The activity lasts from 2:30pm to 7pm.

Option 2: Enjoy a half-day tour of Kampong Khleang Floating Village with a local guide. The drive time is about an hour to Tonle Sap, the world's second largest freshwater lake. It's here that you will board the boat and travel to the village getting a true sense of daily life on the water. The activity lasts from 2:30pm to 6:30pm.

ACTIVITY: Set off on an adventure on a Tuk Tuk orientation drive around Siem Reap finishing with a private cooking class at a local's home. Learn about the tips and tricks for preparing Cambodian specialties from your local expert and try your hand at cooking three authentic Khmer dishes. Transfer back to the hotel via Tuk Tuk.

The ruins of Angkor Wat stand as a testament to the dynamic history of the Cambodian people. Though they, like all ruined structures, are little by little being reclaimed by the jungle around them, luckily for us they defiantly remain standing ready to be admired. Witness sunrise at Angkor Wat with your fellow travellers and expert guide.

Your new friends from the Lady Tuk-Tuk cooperative greet you again just before sunrise to zoom you to Angkor Wat. Enjoy a magical sunrise over the ruins and then continue on exploring Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm with your local guide. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy a well-deserved bit of rest, or a dip in the pool.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend the afternoon in Siem Reap on your own. Consider a CEO-led visit to the Cambodia War Museum, or the Phare Circus. Dinner will be on your own tonight.

ACTIVITY: Travel by Tuk Tuk and enjoy a tour of impressive ancient ruins with a local professional guide. Wake early to watch the sun rise over the magnificent Angkor Wat temple. Visit the enigmatic faces of Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and tour Ta Prohm (aka the "Tomb Raider" temple), which is slowly being swallowed by the jungle.

Established in 1993, The Botum Sakur National Park in southern Cambodia, home to the Cardamom Mountains, has been continuously threatened by illegal logging and the poaching of endangered wildlife. The dense jungle of the Cardamoms is one of Asia's seven remaining elephant corridors and is home to gibbons, pangolins and hornbills. This remote and wild place is being protected by an alliance between a number of organizations, and our exclusive stay at Cardamom Tented Camp helps fund the Wildlife Alliance and its partners in protecting this vital piece of our planet.

After a short flight and transfer West, board a small boat to head down the Prek Tachan river. Spot birds overhead as you make the half hour journey to camp. Cardamom Tented Camp is our home for our jungle expedition the next two days, and a homemade Cambodian meal awaits you after settling into your tent. Oh, and don't forget to look up-the nighttime sky here is out of this world. (See what we did there?)

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Drive from Sihanoukville to the boat launch to catch your small boat to Cardamom Tented Camp. Enjoy an included lunch en route.

TRANSPORT: Enjoy a leisurely boat ride from Cardamom Pier to Cardamom Tented Camp for your OMG stay. You will travel along the Preak Tachan river.

Waking up in the jungle, in a safari style glamping tent, with the sound of the birds and the monkeys rustling overhead is probably not an experience you associate with Cambodia, but from now on it will be. After a refreshing sleep, it's time to explore the Cardamoms. Kayak downriver first en route to the old ranger station. Trek through the lush forest on old logging trails, crossing streams from time to time. Your local Cambodian guides let you in on the history of this special place while you explore.

After a morning of exploration, return to camp for another home cooked Cambodian meal. The afternoon offers you some much deserved leisure time to enjoy this remote paradise. Swim in the river or kayak the narrow tributaries looking for birdlife.

ACTIVITY: Embark on a kayak excursion to the old ranger station before taking to the trails and walking back to camp for lunch.

Length: 2-5km
Duration: 3.5-4 hours

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend a free afternoon enjoying the surroundings of your remote camp. Explore the trails close to camp, swim in the river, or go kayaking in search of wildlife.

As locals approached Koh Chang by boat four centuries ago, they remarked that the island's shape looked like an Elephant and thus Koh Chang translated to Elephant Island. Although it is possible to spot elephants here, the island is also home to an abundance of other bird, mammal and marine wildlife. Eighty percent of Koh Chang is designated as National Park and your exploration begins with a CEO-led excursion to a nearby waterfall.

Today, cross the border from Cambodia into Thailand. Take a short ferry to Koh Chang and explore the island with your CEO in the afternoon. A beachside barbecue is the perfect way to celebrate your first evening in Thailand.

TRANSPORT: MORNING Enjoy a boat trip from Cardamom Tented Camp.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle. Transfer to Cham Yeam/Khlong Yai for the Cambodia/Thailand border crossing and continue on to Trat for your boat transfer to Koh Chang.

TRANSPORT: Take a public ferry from Ao Thammachat Pier to Koh Chang and then transfer approximately half an hour to your hotel in Koh Chang.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Free afternoon in Koh Chang. Opt to visit Klong Plu Waterfall or relax on the beach.

Thailand shines in this full day exploration of Koh Chang by kayak. Paddle from island to island, stopping to jump into the refreshing water. Paddle to Koh Yuak where you stop for lunch and to snorkel the turquoise waters.

This full day adventure offers plenty of opportunity to get in the water and explore Thailand's marine life. Professional kayak guides lead the days's adventure from island to island.

ACTIVITY: After a safety briefing enjoy a kayak tour around Koh Chang. First stop is Koh Man Noi for a swim and some fresh fruit. Then, kayak further out to sea towards Koh Man Nok and Koh Phil. Lunch will be served near your snorkelling spot on Koh Yuak.

Distance kayaking: 10-15km
Hiking: 1-5km

After departing Koh Chang, arrive to Bangkok and explore its iconic food scene in an exclusive gastronomic adventure. Board a private longtail boat to head to your first stop-to try the one and only Pad Thai. Created by a politician during World War II, Pad Thai is the most famous gastronomic export from Thailand, and a trip to Bangkok wouldn't be complete without sampling it. Afterwards, head by tuk-tuk convoy to Rattanakosin Historical Island to sample a few more small bites. A sweet bite, like Mango and sticky rice, is the finishing touch on delicious evening. A sweet way to end an epic adventure.

Depart Koh Chang by ferry returning to Thailand mainland. Board a flight back to Bangkok. The afternoon is at leisure to relax and rest up before your final group meal.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

ACTIVITY: Sip a sunset drink by the river on the hotel terrace. Then, board a private longtail boat and ride to a restaurant along the river for some delicious Pad Thai. After eating your first course, board a tuk-tuk for the famous street food area of Bangkok where you will sample more Thai specialties. Cap it off with a local dessert and travel back to the hotel via tuk-tuk.

Life along Bangkok’s canals is a mix of old traditions and daily hustle. You’ll see stilted houses, temple spires reflecting on the water, floating markets selling fresh produce, and locals using longtail boats to carry handmade goods, to fish or commute along the tranquil khlongs (canals). The The Siam River, central to Bangkok, offers a glimpse of the city's harmonious blend of culture and urban energy, with its shimmering temples and modern skyline standing side by side.

After breakfast, cycle through Bangkok's Chinatown and ride a longboat up the charming canals of Bangkok toward its more rural side. Share a local meal in the area. After a free afternoon, join an evening dinner cruise up the Siam River. An evening full of delicious food and incredible views.

ACTIVITY: Cycle through the narrow alleys and frenetic side streets of Bangkok's Chinatown. Then climb into a long-tail boat and cruise along the river into a more rural Bangkok. Our cruise will introduce you to the charming canal lifestyle of Thais. Admire the scenes of classical wooden-framed homes on stilts, mothers doing their daily washings, and kids splashing away the tropical heat.

ACTIVITY: With an incredible view of Bangkok as the sun sets, board the Chaophraya River cruise boat for an elegant and charming dinner.

Begin your Thailand explorations by heading north to Kanchanaburi. Explore the Thai-Burma Railway Centre, an interactive museum dedicated to sharing the history of the railway to those who visit. Ride the Death Railway train over the steep cliffs and visit the famous Bridge over the river Kwai. As your Kanchanaburi explorations conclude, board a long tail boat to reach our floating accommodation for the next two evenings.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Visit the Thai-Burmese Railway Museum to learn about the Death Railway's dark history, and the Allied War Cemetery where more than 6,000 prisoners are buried.

ACTIVITY: Take a somber ride over the wooden railway bridge on the slope of a steep cliff, through the beautiful countryside of Kanchanaburi on the railway built by the Prisoners Of War in WWII.

TRANSPORT: Board a longboat and float down the river to your accommodations.

Named for the torturous and hellish-like conditions in which the workers toiled away on the railway, Hellfire Pass and it's namesake interpretive centre offer an incredible glimpse into this pivotal time in global history. Spend some time at the centre and then trek out to Hintok Cutting to experience the trail itself, and imagine what it might have been like for those workers. To cool off after the humidity of the morning, board a flat bottomed raft to float lazily back to your floating accommodation. Want to get a bit of exercise? Paddle yourself upstream a bit and race your neighbor. Enjoy a hearty lunch back at the lodge after working up an apetite.

ACTIVITY: Visit the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre. Learn about its dark history and how the track was built by Prisoners Of War who were made to cut through the rock of the Tenasserim Hills using only hand tools. Trek through the Hintok Cutting, about 5 km long with some steep and uneven climbs. Then climb into the River Kwai Jungle Rafter. Paddle down the river and arrive back to the resort.

Onward and upward today, quite literally. Flying north to Chiang Rai brings us to our last stop in Thailand and the opportunity to experience the unique culture of northern Thailand. Join your CEO and a local expert guide for a foodie walking tour designed to introduce you to some of the regions most famous dishes. Sample Sai Ou, a type of sausage from Laos and northern Thailand and douse everything in Nam Prik, chili sauce with lime, shrimp paste and garlic. You'll sample over ten types of food and drink, so there's almost a guarantee you'll identify your new favorite Thai food item before the night concludes.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

With so much to explore in Chiang Rai, there is no wrong way to spend your OMG Day. If you are looking for some exercise, get out on two wheels and explore Chiangsaen and the Golden Triangle area on a guided cycling tour. Visit an Opium Museum that gives context to the naming of the 'Golden Triangle' as you cycle through rice, cassava and pineapple fields. If you relish taking things at a less active pace, join some fellow travelers on an incredible Tea Journey. Head to an area one dominated-and destroyed by- the aforementioned Opium trade, and witness how it has been transformed into a thriving landscape of tea plantations. Join an expert guide as you learn all about tea blending and dipping, and sample some of the local blends. Enjoy an outdoor picnic lunch-with a cup of tea of course.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: Cycling around Chiangsaen Ancient City and see many historic sites around the city including Wat Phra That Chedi Luang, city wall and city moat. Cycle through the back road to Golden Triangle area where the three countries of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar touch. On the way you will experience the real local lifestyle and countryside. Visit a House of Opium (Opium museum) and learn about the history of opium trade that led to the area being called the Golden Triangle. Pass through some gently rolling hills of the countryside, rice fiends, cassava and pineapple plantations and stop for lunch at a local restuarnt.
Option 2: Travel to Doi Tung, home to the Shan, Lahu, and Akha communities. This area was previously dominated by opium farming and trade, which had a widespread devastating effect of the environment and local people. Today this mountainous district is incredibly beautiful and unrecognizable from the scarred landscape you see in old photos at the museum thanks to reforestation and sustainable agriculture efforts in the area. Visit the Tea Plantation and learn about the tea including the blending, dipping and sipping process! Then enjoy a picnic lunch served in banana leaves.

Bid farewell to beautiful Thailand as you board a private chartered slow boat in Laos to cruise along the Mekong River. Spend the day aboard the boat relaxing, snapping photos and taking in life along the Mekong from your unique vantage point. Dine on a delicious lunch aboard and disembark in the late afternoon to make your way to your comfortable hotel in Pak Beng.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Travel from Thailand to Laos, entering at the Huay Xai Border Crossing. Take a public bus across the Tha-Laos Friendship Bridge No.4 and pass through immigration to arrive in Laos.

TRANSPORT: Travel along the Mekong River in a luxurious riverboat. Travel from the border town of Huay Xai to Pak Beng. Have lunch and get hands on with a local experience on board.

A final morning on board the slow boat means a few final opportunities for photos of the famous Pak Ou caves and a final lunch on board as your slow boat expedition comes to an end. Journey into Laos further as you head to Nong Khiaw, an area of Laos not yet overly popular with international tourists. After two days of relative relaxation, choose to stretch your legs and see Nong Khiaw's undeniable beauty on a hike to the Som Nang viewpoint. Sunset from the viewpoint is spectacular, and worth the half an hour walk.

TRANSPORT: Continue to float down the Mekong River and travel from Pak Beng to Pak Ou Caves. Eat lunch on board before arrive, then disembark and explore the impressive and breathtaking Pak Ou Caves.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

FREE TIME: Spend a afternoon at your OMG Stay in Nong Khiaw.

Nayangtai Village welcomes you this morning for an immersion into the local Tai Lue community. Participate in the Baci Sou Kwan ceremony, a cultural and spiritual traditions of the Tai Lue tribe, and then join local artisans to learn about local pottery making and bamboo weaving. In the afternoon, board a traditional boat to ride upstream to Ban Sopkhong village, where a short trek brings you to a beautiful waterfall. Take some time to refresh yourself in the waterfall before returning back to the village and back downstream to your hotel on the riverside.

ACTIVITY: Visit the vibrant Nayangtai Village, founded by Pannavith Bounthiphanh, a proud native of the Tai Lue community. The village aspires to be a leading model of cultural tourism and community-based tourism. Participate in the Baci Sou Kwan ceremony, deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Tai Lue tribe, is a profound and meaningful ritual that celebrates the bonds of family, community, and the human connection to the spiritual world. This ancient practice, known across many Lao and Tai ethnic groups, holds a special place in the life of the Tai Lue people, marking significant life events, transitions, and communal gatherings. Then explore the village and its stunning natural landscapes. Learn traditional pottery and bamboo weaving directly from skilled local artisans. Share a delicious Lue cuisine lunch and watch an amazing performance.

ACTIVITY: Ride on a traditional boat upstream to Ban Sopkhong Village, a small khmu village. Trek along the small dirt road passing the village, through farmlands and rice paddies, finally reaching the beautiful limestone of Tad Mok Waterfall. Spend som free time enjoying a refreshing splash in the waterfall. Then trek back and board your boat to Nong Khiaw

If you are naturally early riser, take advantage of a guided hike to witness sunrise over Pha Daeng peak. This moderate hike features some challenging areas but hikers are rewarded with incredible views over Nong Khiaw and surrounds as the sun pops into the sky. If you are keen for a rest this morning, recharge your batteries with a later start and rejoin your fellow travelers for breakfast after the hike. Our explorations of Laos continue as we head further north to Nam Kay Yorla Pa, a protected forestry area along the Nam Kat river. Grab a few local items as the Muang Xai market before reaching the hotel.

ACTIVITY: An early yet rewarding hike to Pha Daeng Peak will have you reaching the summit just in time for an incredible view over the valley. If you look down (a long way down) you can see the Som Nang viewpoint below. This hike is medium difficulty, being steep in some places but not too extreme or long. Along the trail there are benches, swings and places to rest.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Witness some of Laos most stunning jungle foliage on a walk over 13 hanging bridges constructed throughout the protected area. These bridges bring you to a secluded waterfall where you will have time to swim and enjoy the sounds of nature around you. Enjoy some time at leisure in the afternoon to explore further on a hike or if you are in need of an adrenaline rush, a zipline through the canopy. Join together for an evening cooking class with your CEO and fellow travelers.

ACTIVITY: Trek through the jungle and cross the many hanging bridges. Sway with the tops of the trees and you admire the jungle from a Birdseye view. The adventure brings you to a waterfall,

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a fun cooking class and create some delicious Laotian dishes in an incredible place.

After a final morning and breakfast among the lushness of northern Laos, travel south on a high-speed train to Luang Prabang. Spend time exploring on foot with your CEO at the night market in the evening.

TRANSPORT: Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok, maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.

FREE TIME: Enjoy a free afternoon in the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang.

Choose to rise early this morning and join your CEO to witness and participate in the almsgiving practice near your hotel. Your CEO will guide you through the Luang Prabang market as it begins to open up, allowing for a less chaotic look at some of the more unusual items on offer. Return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast and choose to spend the day as you choose. You CEO will offer an to guide you on an excursion to the Kuang Si waterfall and Ban Ou, or choose to explore this UNESCO World Heritage area at your own pace. To celebrate a final evening together, join your CEO and fellow travelers for a dinner in the local community. You are welcomed with a traditional ceremony, offering blessings for your onward journeys upon leaving the country. Join your local hosts to help make lemongrass stuffed with pork and dine together on an indulgent meal.

ACTIVITY: Rise early and watch the daily dawn ceremony of saffron-robed monks walking through town to receive alms from local residents. Residents prepare food for the monks to subsist on. Seeing this custom is a beautiful way to gain some insight into the local culture and Buddhist religion. Please be respectful and quietly observe.

ACTIVITY: Walk along the quiet streets of UNESCO heritage town to the famous morning market where locals come to buy their fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. Some products are come straight from the jungle, and will seem otherworldly. You can find many different things for sale, like ox-blood in gelatinous cubes, serpents, bats, grilled insects (worms, grasshoppers, bee larvae, crickets, butterfly chrysalis), caramelized pork’s head, and all sorts of leaves and plants which are used to make the traditional dishes. What may be the bizarre to us, is a normal morning market to others.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy a free day to explore the beautiful town of Luang Prabang.

ACTIVITY: Join a local Laotian family for a home cooked meal and get hands on making minced pork stuffed in fresh lemongrass. Help the family cook and enjoy flower and banana leave folding and basket weaving as you wait for the meal. You'll receive a traditional scarf to wear, then join a Baci ceremony led by the elder, once a buddhist monk. The heart of the ritual is the ‘pah kwan’, a flower tray. People gather around it, praying together. During the ceremony, participants receive a white thread on their right wrist. This thread stands for purity and blessings. Holding their hand to the chest, they accept the thread, a mark of respect and good wishes. After the ceremony, sit down together for an incredible local meal full of chicken curry, fried vegetables and the lemongrass pork!

Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time today.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.