DEPARTS January 24 – February 7, 2027 – For those ready for an adventure, be sure to add the extension to Cambodia and experience Angkor Wat. Travelers have been compiling lists ever since Antipater of Sidon came up with his Seven Wonders of the World, in the second century B.C. On my own list of wonders, no place would have a more secure claim than Angkor, the capital of the ancient Khmer kingdom. What makes Angkor Wat unique is that since its construction, unlike other temples, Angkor Wat has remained a “working temple” since it was built in the 15th century and thus has never fallen into disrepair. UNESCO named the Angkor Archaeological Park, situated just outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia, a World Heritage Site for good reason.
Experience the Wonders of the Far East!
How does one describe “Legends of Siam?” Visions of ancient millennial temples, the timeless chants of Buddhist monks, flower markets, narrow canals and waterways, cuisine that bursts with flavor, shopping bargains galore, hill tribes clinging to traditional lifestyles, colorful costumes, and festivals, floating down a jungle river in a long-tail boat stopping at remote villages, a real-life setting that would be perfect for an Indiana Jones movie, and the “King and I,” all grace your imagination. You begin to realize this is no ordinary adventure. This is one of those extraordinary, life-changing experiences. This is an adventure for “travelers,” not for mere tourists.
For those who are really ready for an adventure, be sure to add the extension to Cambodia and to experience Angkor Wat. Travelers have been compiling lists ever since Antipater of Sidon came up with his Seven Wonders of the World, in the second century B.C. On my own list of wonders, no place would have a more secure claim than Angkor, the capital of the ancient Khmer kingdom. What makes Angkor Wat unique is that since its construction, unlike other temples, Angkor Wat has remained a “working temple” since it was built in the 15th century and thus has never fallen into disrepair. UNESCO named the Angkor Archaeological Park, situated just outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia, a World Heritage Site for good reason.
Please come and join me. Let me show you both Thailand and Angkor Wat!
Tour ID# 9227A24
To book this tour contact your favorite Morris Columbus Travel Advisor or the Group Tour Manager listed below:
Kim Meyer, Tour Manager
Tel: (801) 483-6315
Highlights
- First-class hotel accommodations/best available
- Admissions and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Services of expert local guides
Evening departure and fly west over the Pacific Ocean, crossing the International Date Line and “lose” a day (sorry if January 25 is your birthday!)
Meals : In-flight
Airport welcome by local hosts. Transfer to our hotel, perfectly situated in downtown Bangkok in close proximity to city attractions, nightlife, shopping, and restaurants. Balance of the morning and afternoon free. This evening after a restful afternoon we enjoy a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River to witness the temples and monuments illuminated at night. This is an exciting and memorable introduction to Bangkok.
Meals : Dinner, In-flight
After breakfast, we embark on an excursion to see the highlights of the city, passing through the narrow streets of Chinatown and past Pak Klong Talad, the colorful fresh flower market, to the historical roots of Bangkok. We continue on to one of the great Wonders of the World, the magnificent Royal Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, a Royal Temple within the palace grounds, dating back to 1782 AD and the Chakri Dynasty. (In Thailand, wat is a Hindu or Buddhist temple and a source of spiritual enlightenment.) The main chapel houses the most revered religious icon in Thailand, the magnificent Emerald Buddha, cloaked in seasonal costumes of woven gold and jewels. We continue on a guided tour of the grounds, including the house occupied temporarily by Anna Leonowens, the English school teacher depicted in the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, “The King and I,” starring Yul Brynner, and more recently by Jodie Foster in “Anna & The King.” One of the most impressive monuments along the river is Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. We will enjoy lunch at one of Larry’s favorite Bangkok restaurants, the Supatra River House located right on the Chao Phraya riverfront. This is just a great meal!
After lunch we depart in traditional Thai “long tail” boats and explore the city by water. Bangkok is the “Venice of the East” with more than 300 canals. We go where most tourists never go. We explore the residential canals (“klongs”) of the city where the common people live and work. It a sensory experience never to be forgotten.
Today is a free day to explore the many exciting areas of the city. It is easy to get around town, especially via Bangkok’s water and land taxis, Sky Train – the elevated rail system, and modern subway systems. It is a perfect day for relaxing, shopping, and mixing with the locals. Optional tours are available to Ayutthaya and the Summer Palace of the Royal Family, jungle bicycling, cooking classes, Weekend Market, and more for you to enjoy.
Morning flight to Chiang Rai. Our tour includes a visit to the famous Wat Rong Khun, better known to visitors as the “White Temple”. The temple is a contemporary, unconventional art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple. The main building of the temple is reached by crossing a bridge over a small lake. In front of the bridge are outreaching hands symbolizing unrestrained desire. The bridge proclaims the way to happiness is by foregoing temptation, greed, and desire. After crossing the bridge, we arrive at the “Gate of Heaven,” guarded by two creatures representing Death and Rahu, who decides the fate of the dead. After visiting this temple, we continue on to additional sites of Chiang Rai.
After breakfast, we depart for the ancient Lanna capitol of Chiangsaen on the Mekong River. Lunch at an exciting local restaurant tucked away in the jungle (you will never forget today’s jungle journey and lunch!) We then continue onward to Doi Tung Mountain, the beautiful Mae Fah Luang Botanical Gardens, and the Royal Villa. A walking tour of the interior is possible if members of the Royal Family are not in residence. The gardens remind visitors of the Buchart Gardens in Victoria, BC. Chiang Rai has its own very popular night market just a block away from our hotel.
We head northward through the increasingly hilly terrain. The surrounding mountains are actually the foothills of the Himalayas. Others drive to Chiang Mai but not us! We board long-tail boats for an exciting 2-½ hour ride up the scenic Kok River en route to Chiang Mai, stopping at a remote hill tribe village along the way. We continue by motorcoach into the lush Chiang Dao Valley for lunch at a resort hidden and tucked away in the middle of the jungle. After lunch, we continue on through the jungle and mountains to Chiang Mai.
Once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, the city of Chiang Mai is more than 700 years old and you can see it everywhere with massive walls surrounding the city, five gates, and a moat. You will find the northern province distinctively different from Bangkok and central plains with unique cuisine, art and architecture, and a charming and friendly “laid back” lifestyle. Outside the city, rugged mountains covered with dense forests and jungle provide ample habitat for elephants, wild orchids, and remote hill tribe villages. Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, we transfer to our hotel located adjacent to the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.
Today we explore the nearby national parks and forests and make our way to Wat Doi Suthep, a spectacular temple perched on the side of a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai and the Ping River Valley. (Wat Doi Suthep is the famous “gold temple.”) Our guide will relate the fascinating tale of how the temple site was selected and the superhuman effort that was involved in building the road leading up to it. You can climb the impressive 300-step naga staircase or use the funicular tram. This is a lively, working temple and a resident monk will give you a personal blessing if you like, then ring the temple bells three times for good luck. (Note from Larry: “Doi Suthep is my favorite wat [temple] in all of Thailand. It is a site not to be missed in your travels. It is also known as the “Gold Temple.” Words cannot describe it!”) We descend from the mountain, through the valleys, and back into Chiang Mai for a tour including major landmarks, temples, and shopping within the old city walls.
Chiang Mai is the handicraft capital of the Kingdom. This afternoon we visit Sankampaeng Road, home of traditional handicraft workshops and factories. Silk, cotton, hard-carved wood in all shapes and sizes, lacquerware, silversmiths, handmade paper, and umbrellas to name just a few of the shopping opportunities. For lunch, we visit a famous local restaurant for their Thai buffet featuring a delicious northern Thai specialty – khao soy – a savory chicken curry noodle soup, plus a wide variety of Thai and Western delicacies. The balance of the day is at leisure with plenty of shopping time. You will find “anything and everything” from inexpensive Thai souvenirs to silks, to food to jewelry to fine examples of traditional Thai workmanship and handicrafts. This will “blow you away!” Our hotel is perfectly located in the center of everything.
Following breakfast, we venture into the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai. Our first stop is the Elephant Camp for an “up close and personal” demonstration of the strength, agility, and intelligence of these massive pachyderms, followed by an unforgettable elephant safari through the forest and along the river. We continue to venture deeper into the Chiang Dao Valley…literally in the middle of nowhere! We next visit the famous orchid and butterfly plantation. We return to Chiang Mai late afternoon with plenty of time for shopping.
Late morning flight from Chiang Mai to the island of Phuket. We transfer from the airport to our resort. Phuket, the “Pearl of the South,” is widely known as the most beautiful of all the Thai islands. Phuket has a culture all of its own with a rich mixture of Thai and other Southeast Asia ethnicities. The island features the Andaman Sea and offers a varied terrain including powdery white sand beaches, limestone cliffs, forests, and tropical vegetation including microclimates throughout the island. Phuket is a bit of the Garden of Eden, South Pacific dreams, and Jurassic Park (without the dinosaurs). It really is a paradise never to be forgotten.
Early this afternoon we head north to the Phang Nga Bay. A distinctive feature of Phang Nga Bay is the sheer limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald green water. James Bond Island and Koh Pannyi are just two of the more famous spots in this bay. A leisurely afternoon cruise takes us through the dramatic limestone islands. The interior of these islands are hollow and this is where the fun begins. Our large cruising boat will stop at several islands. In pairs, we will board a kayak paddled by a local guide that will take us through a short exterior tunnel to the interior of the island which is hallowed and open to the sky. Tropical birds and monkeys inhabit many of these islands. (Larry’s note, “The Phang Nga Bay sea kayak is absolutely, positively my favorite excursion in all of Thailand. The guide does the paddling, you just sit back and take in the experience. It is sensory overload.”) This excursion is perfect for people of all ages. We return to Phuket in our large boat at sunset with a light dinner served onboard. This is an experience not to be missed and will be talked about forever! (Actual tour times will be set according to the tides.)
Today is a free day to enjoy the white sand beaches, blue ocean waters, gentle trade winds, rainforests, jungle, shopping, and wonderful dining. The food…oh my gosh, the food! You may want to just relax or visit Patong City with its many restaurants, shopping areas, and nightlife.
Morning at leisure to enjoy resort. Afternoon transfer to airport for flight back to Bangkok. Overnight at Novotel Bangkok Airport Hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the Airport terminal for overseas flight back home. Crossing the International Date Line, we “gain” a day and arrive home this same day.
We hope you will join us and continue on to Cambodia and experience Siem Reap!
Meals : Breakfast
February 6, 2027: Phuket – Siem Reap, Cambodia
February 7, 2027: Angkor Wat
February 8, 2027: Angkor Wat, Great Tonle Sap Lake, & Siem Reap
February 9, 2027: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh
February 10, 2027: Free Day in Phnom Penh
February 11, 2027: Phnom Penh – USA
Post-Tour Price: $1,195 per person (based on double occupancy) | Single Occupancy: $1.369 per person
Pricing Information
Pricing Options:
- Double Occupancy – $3,689 per person
- Single Occupancy – $4,699 for private room
Pricing Options:
- $500.00 deposit due at the time of booking
- Full payment due October 26, 2026
- $75 CASH DISCOUNT per person (Credit card allowed on initial deposit only, all other payments by check or ACH to qualify)
Please see our cancellation policy:
If a participant needs to cancel their reservation, written notice must be provided. Cancellations within seven calendar days of booking (if not past the final payment date) will receive a full refund, excluding airfares, which follow the airline’s policy. Cancellations after the seven-day grace period incur a 50% penalty on the deposit until the final payment date, and cancellations after the final payment date are non-refundable, including for unused portions of the tour.
- First-class hotel accommodations/best available
- Thailand airfare Bangkok to Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai to Bangkok
- Services of expert local guides
- Admissions and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Meals as listed
- Bottled water is provided with included lunches and dinners
- Airport and hotel luggage porterage
- Airport to hotel transfers when NOT arriving or departing at the same time as the group.
- All group transfers and ground transportation as per the itinerary
- All current & applicable Thailand hotel taxes and fees
- International air from your home city to Bangkok, Round Trip (Group air TBD)
- Airport to hotel transfers when NOT arriving or departing at the same time as the group.
- OPTIONAL Cambodia: international air Bangkok-Siem Reap & Phnom Penh-Bangkok ($1195.00)
- Prepaid tipping for Thailand Tour $110 per person
- Anything not specifically listed as included
- Tips and gratuities to local tour guides
- Note: Your Morris Columbus Travel Professional agent can assist you with international airfare
About Larry Gelwix
I am probably best known as the “Getaway Guru®” and host of the “Travel Show” radio broadcast on several radio stations. The weekly two-hour radio show highlights the best travel deals, lowest airline and cruise fares, and takes call-in questions from listeners. I also provide a travel segment that is broadcast on several TV stations. All across the country and overseas, I address groups on the dynamics of the travel industry as a motivational speaker.
My professional travel career includes CEO of an airline, member of car rental, airline, and cruise line national advisory boards, co-owner and Executive Vice President of Morris Travel, and published travel writer of books and travel-related articles.
I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Masters Degree in Organizational Communications. My wife Cathy and I have five children and reside in Salt Lake City.
