Angkor Wat, Elephants and Phuket for the Family

After an early morning walk through Lumpini Park to see locals doing their morning tai chi and yoga, take a ride on the Skytrain, the city’s elevated train line, before boarding a public river boat that stops at Wat Pho temple and the Grand Palace. Next, jump in a tuk tuk and zip through the streets to Soi Ban Batra to visit a family-run workshop that produces monks’ alms bowls. Finally, take a ‘bus boat’ through the city’s canals to the Jim Thompson House Museum, and visit Bangkok’s vast shopping malls.

Bang Krachao is an idyllic network of peaceful roads, waterways and villages just moments from Bangkok’s bustling centre, an area so wonderfully untouched by modern life that it’s easy to forget you’re still in the city. This two-hour bike ride takes you past local markets, traditional Thai houses and golden temples, all under the peaceful canopy of tropical jungle. (If you’re cycling here on a Saturday or Sunday, you will also be able to experience the weekend Bang Nam Phueng market.)

Hop aboard a lively electric tuk tuk and dive into the bustling streets of Bangkok, where you’ll embark on a culinary adventure to sample some of its renowned street food, all while accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.

Begin your two-wheeled adventure at Srah Srang before cycling 11 km to Ta Prohm then continuing on a short ride through the forest to the seldom visited temple of Ta Nei (there is a reasonable chance of having this beautiful Angkor temple to yourself to explore). You’ll then pause for a light breakfast at this peaceful area before exploring further. The morning ends at Ta Keo temple, the ‘mountain with bronze peaks’.

Venture out of Siem Reap to kayak on the great Tonle Sap and learn how a subsistence fishing family lives. Depending on the season, visit either the village of Kampong Phluk or Kampong Khleang where the houses are built on stilts or float to cope with the lake’s 8m water level rise and fall.

Phare Circus works mainly with disadvantaged young people who learn circus skills, theatre performance, music and a range of visual arts. More than simply a circus, Phare is an amazing blend of traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society.

Visit the Chang Chill Sanctuary, committed to a hands-off policy, to watch their resident elephants from afar as they roam freely in the forest. Your guide will first provide you with an introduction and safety briefing before you head out into the wilderness to respectfully observe these gentle giants in their natural about elephant behaviour from the local mahouts. You’ll also have the chance to fill their feeding tubes with corn, sugar cane, grass and bananas before a wholesome lunch at the camp.

Depart at 6am for the foothills of Doi Suthep Mountain, in time to buy offerings and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony. This is a serene Buddhist procession where dozens of monks walk barefoot through the street collecting food and everyday items. Continue up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga stair case to reach its golden pagodas. Proceed to Wat Umong, a forested temple with mysterious tunnels, to experience your own private blessing ceremony. After that, enjoy a lunch of Khao Soy crispy noodles.

This full-day tour allows guests to discover the true heart of this ancient walled city, using several unusual methods of local transport, starting with travel by songtaew (local pick-up truck taxi) to the old trading community of Wat Gatekaram, with its small alleyways, old temples and local market, and on to the ruins of Wiang Kum Kam, a ‘lost civilization’. Then board a long-tail boat for a scenic ride down the Mae Ping River. After lunch, the tour continues by samlor (trishaw) to Wat Chedi Luang, one of the most spectacular ruined pagodas in the city, and ends with a tuk tuk ride to a local food market.

Embark on a privately chartered boat tour of Phang Nga Bay for an unforgettable day at sea. Dotted with spectacular limestone islands and filled with pristine beaches, this private cruise allows you to see the best of the Bay at your own pace – stopping to swim, snorkel or sunbathe as you wish. At midday, a delicious barbecue lunch is served on a secluded island.

Take to the streets of Phuket’s old town to discover the best local food. Spend the morning wandering from stall to stall, seeing the influences that the island’s multi-cultural background has had on its food. Taste a variety of different dishes and gain a better understanding of Thai’s culinary culture.