Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and Dubai Winter Travel 2022
The trip of a lifetime! We spent winter break 2022 on an epic adventure across Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and Dubai: elephants in the jungle, Angkor Wat, ringing in 2023 in Cambodia, the Phi Phi Islands, the Supertrees of Singapore and a desert safari in Dubai. 🌏
Thailand 🇹🇭
Getting There
Our big winter adventure started with a long-haul flight to Asia, with a stop in Taiwan along the way. The girls loved the lie-flat seats!
Bangkok
First stop, Bangkok! Tuk-tuk rides through the city, golden temples, the giant gong and our first real Thai feast.
Chiang Mai
We flew north to Chiang Mai, walked through the old city gate, explored the temples and ate our way through the night markets.
Elephant Sanctuary
One of the best days of the whole trip: we fed, walked with and bathed elephants at an elephant sanctuary in the jungle. The girls will never forget it.
Chiang Mai Nights
Matching outfits, the big 2023 sign, coconuts and more night-market fun.
The Sticky Waterfall
We hiked to the famous “sticky waterfall,” where the limestone is so grippy you can walk right up the falls!
Doi Suthep
Lunch with a view, then up the dragon staircase to the golden temple of Doi Suthep, high above the city.
Cambodia 🇰🇭
Angkor Wat and the Temples
Next we flew to Siem Reap, Cambodia to explore Angkor Wat and the ancient temples: giant stone faces, trees growing through the ruins, sneaky monkeys and the famous Angkor Wat reflection.
Pub Street and Siem Reap
Evenings on lively Pub Street and lazy mornings by the hotel pool.
More Ruins and the Market
More jungle temple ruins, fresh coconuts and a walk through the local market.
The Floating Village
A boat ride out to a floating village on the lake, where whole communities live on stilts above the water.
New Year’s Eve in Cambodia
We rang in 2023 in Siem Reap with the night market, traditional dress and fireworks over the hotel pool!
Thailand 🇹🇭
Beach Time in Southern Thailand
Back to Thailand for the beaches: island views, warm water, fresh smoothies and new braids for the girls.
The Phi Phi Islands
A speedboat day to the Phi Phi Islands, with towering limestone cliffs, the most unreal turquoise water we have ever seen, and snorkeling with the fish.
Scooters and Sunsets
Scooter rides around the island, tide pools and a few more beach sunsets before heading on.
Singapore 🇸🇬
Singapore
A quick stop in Singapore: the Cloud Forest, the giant Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, hawker center dumplings and shopping.
Dubai 🇦🇪
Burj Khalifa
Last stop, Dubai! We went up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, for incredible views and fireworks over the fountains.
Old Dubai
Exploring the souks, a big Arabic lunch and treats in Old Dubai.
Desert Safari
Camel rides, dune buggies, falcons and sandboarding down the dunes. The desert safari was a total blast!
Penguins at Ski Dubai
Christmas trees in the desert, a fancy dinner and meeting the penguins at Ski Dubai, inside a mall!
Flying Home in Style
We finished the trip of a lifetime with an Emirates flight home, complete with a bar in the sky. What an adventure!
