Thailand and Cambodia - Cooking and Culture

Begin your introduction to Bangkok with a visit to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home to the revered Emerald Buddha. These magnificent sites offer an insight into Thailand's royal and Buddhist traditions.
Continue to Wat Pho, one of Bangkok's oldest temples and an important centre of traditional Thai massage. See the impressive 45-metre reclining Buddha before experiencing a 30-minute traditional foot massage.
Later, board a traditional long-tail boat and cruise through the canals of Thonburi. Away from the skyscrapers and busy streets, discover another side of Bangkok, where homes, temples and everyday life continue along the waterways.
Your final stop is Wat Arun – the Temple of Dawn, whose intricate decoration reflects the artistry and craftsmanship found throughout Thailand.

Today, food takes centre stage as you discover the foundations of Thai cuisine.
Begin at a local market with an experienced chef, learning about the fresh herbs, spices, vegetables and other ingredients that give Thai food its distinctive balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours.
The market visit is an opportunity to meet local vendors, see how Thai people shop for their daily meals and gain an understanding of the ingredients that form the basis of traditional cooking.
Continue to a cooking studio for a hands-on Thai cooking experience. Under the guidance of your chef, learn traditional techniques and prepare a selection of authentic Thai dishes from scratch.
Sit down afterwards to sample the dishes you have prepared, bringing together the flavours and techniques discovered throughout the day.

Transfer to Bangkok Airport for your flight to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of northern Thailand.
On arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel.
Chiang Mai has a distinctive character shaped by its Lanna heritage, Buddhist traditions and northern Thai cuisine. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and begin exploring the local neighbourhood.

Today discover the cultural traditions of Chiang Mai through its historic temples and local neighbourhoods. Visit Wat Chedi Luang, an impressive 14th-century temple which once housed the Emerald Buddha, followed by Wat Phra Singh, one of Chiang Mai's most important temples and home to the beautiful Lai Kham Chapel.Continue to Wat Chiang Man, Chiang Mai's oldest temple and the former residence of King Meng Rai, founder of the city.
As you explore the Old City, discover small craft stalls, traditional shops and cafés serving locally grown coffee. There will be opportunities to see some of the skills and crafts that remain an important part of northern Thai culture.
Later, travel into the mountains to Doi Suthep, one of Thailand's most revered Buddhist temples. Its hilltop setting provides sweeping views over Chiang Mai and the surrounding countryside.

Today experience the flavours of northern Thailand from market to table.
Begin at a local market where your chef will introduce you to the ingredients commonly used in northern Thai cuisine. Learn how to select fresh produce and discover the herbs, vegetables and spices that give the region's dishes their distinctive character.

Continue to a cooking school, where you will gather fresh herbs and vegetables directly from the garden before beginning your cooking class. With step-by-step guidance from your chef, prepare three traditional Thai dishes and one dessert. Along the way, learn about local ingredients, cooking techniques and the stories and traditions behind the food. The experience concludes with a shared lunch featuring the dishes you have prepared.

After breakfast, transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your connecting flights to Siem Reap.
On arrival in Cambodia, meet your local guide and driver and transfer to your hotel.
Cambodian cuisine and culture have been shaped by centuries of Khmer heritage, agricultural traditions and influences from neighbouring countries. The next few days will reveal these traditions through both the country's remarkable heritage sites and its people.

Today explore the extraordinary cultural heritage of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Enter Angkor Thom, the ancient Khmer capital, through its monumental gates and discover the enigmatic smiling faces of Bayon Temple. Continue to the Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, where intricate carvings provide a fascinating insight into Khmer art, religion and royal life.
This afternoon, visit the magnificent Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most celebrated monument. Admire its extraordinary architecture and detailed bas-reliefs, which tell stories from Khmer history and Hindu mythology. Conclude at Ta Prohm, where enormous trees have become intertwined with the ancient temple ruins.
Throughout the day, your guide will bring the temples to life by explaining the beliefs, rituals, architecture and society of the Khmer Empire that created them.

Today step away from the temples and discover the food traditions and everyday life of rural Cambodia.
Begin with a local family and learn the traditional process of making rice noodles, taking part in the various stages of preparation. Afterwards, sit down with the family and sample the noodles you have helped create. Continue to another village where you will discover the production of bamboo sticky rice, a traditional Cambodian snack. Learn how the bamboo is prepared and filled before sampling the finished product with a fresh coconut.
Along the way, discover the importance of the sugar palm to Cambodian life. Local villagers will explain how the fruit is harvested and processed into a variety of traditional products.
The final visit introduces you to a family producing palm-leaf handicrafts. Learn the techniques used to create these traditional items and make your own piece to take home.
This is a genuine opportunity to meet local families, learn about their traditions and see how food production and handicrafts continue to support rural communities.

After breakfast, transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your onward flight.
As your journey comes to an end, take with you memories not only of Thailand and Cambodia's remarkable sights, but also of the flavours, traditions and people encountered along the way.
Later, travel by sampan through the narrow canals before returning by road to Ho Chi Minh City.

• 24/7 local operator support in Thailand & Cambodia
• 9 nights' accommodation in carefully selected hotels
• 9 breakfasts
• 4 lunches
• 2 dinners
• Economy Class Flights:   Bangkok-Chaing Mai-Bangkok-Siem Reap
• Private air-conditioned transfers and transportation throughout
• English-speaking local guides and entrance fees for all included sightseeing
• Bangkok market and Thai cooking experience
• Bangkok temple and cultural sightseeing
• Traditional long-tail boat cruise through Thonburi
• 30-minute foot massage at Wat Pho
• Chiang Mai cultural and temple sightseeing
• Doi Suthep visit
• Chiang Mai market-to-table cooking experience
• Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm sightseeing
• Cambodian village food and cultural experience
• Rice noodle-making experience
• Bamboo sticky rice experience
• Sugar palm experience
• Palm-leaf handicraft experience
• All sightseeing, excursions and cultural experiences as outlined in the itinerary
• Entrance fees to included sites
• Travel Notes - issued by Innovative Travel

• International airfares
• Optional tours and excursions
• Porterage
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal Expenses
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Visas (unless specified)
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above