Thailand is a rush for your senses: a bustling, exotic, and vivid culture that never ceases to amaze visitors. On this cultural tour, you’ll visit Thailand’s gilded temples, one more gorgeous than the next, in the cities of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Mai. Other highlights include a cruise through Bangkok’s canals, an opportunity to ride an elephant through the jungle, and exciting shopping opportunities in Chiang Mai’s famous night bazaar.

Continue north to the “Golden Triangle,” where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) meet, an area famous for its colorful hill tribes. Crossing the border into Laos, board a cruise boat for a 2-day trip down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang.

Laos is less developed than Thailand and offers travelers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional Southeast Asian life. In Luang Prabang, well-preserved French architecture blends with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town rich in atmosphere and history, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.