Great Indochina

Highlights of tour:

Discover the cultural richness of the Indochinese peninsula, among the natural heritage of three Mekong countries.

Day 1: LUANG PRABANG (D)

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: LUANG PRABANG FULL DAY CITY TOUR (B,L,D)

Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the impressive temple of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham. Following lunch, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai and climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded Buddha as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: LUANG PRABANG – KUANGSI WATERFALL AND PAK OU CAVES (B,L,D)

First we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages” of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou “Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swimming in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. This afternoon is free at leisure for relax. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: LUANG PRABANG – VIENTIANE (B,L,D)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival you will be checked into your hotel and following lunch Your half day city tour enables us to see the major temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Lao national icon, That Luang temple, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s monument of Triumph. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 5: VIENTIANE – HA NOI (B,L,D)

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival, transfer to your selected hotel.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside), his former residence, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the Old Quarter.

Early in the evening, you will enjoy a traditional water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 6: HA NOI / HA LONG (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Ha Long city; board our traditional wooden junk boat, for an overnight journey. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink upon check in before you begin your cruise through the bay. Feast on a delicious lunch as you cruise among hundreds of islets (Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi – Fighting Cock islet, Dog islet, Finger islet, etc.) to discover rock formations of Halong Bay and visit Sung Sot cave, one of the most imposing grottos of the Bay. Swim at Soi Sim beach or Titov beach or a short trek to the top of Titov Mountain for a magnificent panorama scenery.

Enjoy your dinner with fresh seafood on board.

Overnight on Ha Long Bay aboard our Junk.

Day 7: HA LONG / HA NOI – DANANG – HOI AN (B/L/D)

For early risers complimentary tea, coffee, fruit and cake are served. Visit Luon cave on small bamboo boat paddle by out crew staff and enjoy the quiet atmosphere enclosed by high islets and mountains. Be back to our Junk. Sail past rock formations such as Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, Butterfly cave, Lion islet, Bai Tho Mountain, enjoy the tranquil scenery as the boat meanders its way through the bay on the way back to Ha Long city, etc. Arrange your luggage and do the check out onboard at around 9.00 am. Enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations.

Arrive back at Ha Long city for disembarkation where your driver waits to take you back to your Hanoi.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang.

Welcome by local guide, transfer to Hoi An, chekc in to hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: HOI AN (B/L/D)

Take a walking tour around Hoi An ancient town and explore its treasures: the Japanese Bridge, PhucKien Pagoda, PhungHung Old Merchant House, QuangDong Assembly Hall.

Cruise on Thu Bon River, visit of some traditional villages: Tra Que, Thanh Ha, Kim Bong.

Free on own leisure on beach. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: HOI AN – HUE (B/L/D)

Drive up to Hue via the Hai Van Pass through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. On road visit the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. Stop on Lang Co beach for leisure.

Arrive in Hue, visit Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.

Day 10: HUE VISIT (B/L/D)

After breakfast at hotel, take a boat for a cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda before visiting the Imperial Citadel and Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh’s Tomb.

Dinner and overnight in Hue.

Day 11: HUE – SAIGON (B/L/D)

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Hue airport for a morning flight to Saigon. On arrival, transfer to your selected hotel.

Discover bustling Saigon: Enjoy a tour in the Old Colonial Residential Quarter and discover the old Hotel de Ville, the Opera House, Notre-Dame Cathedral (built in the 19th century), the dazzling French-style post office and the Reunification Palace (outside).

Visit Cho Lon market end of the day. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 12: SAI GON / CAI BE / SAI GON (B/L/D)

Morning, drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be, situated in the heart of the Mekong Delta. On arrival board a sampan for a cruise on the Mekong River and its multiple canals. Visit Cai Be floating market, an old colonial house, a rice corn factory and taste local specialties for lunch. In the afternoon return to Saigon.

Visit Cho Lon and stop at Binh Tay Market.

Overnight in Saigon.

Day 13: SAI GON – SIEM REAP (B/L/D)

In the morning, transfer to the airport, flight to Siem Reap.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, you will be welcome by local tour guide and transferred to hotel.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon, we visit an amazing view of Ta Prohm Temple which has been deliberately left as it was discovered. Kapok trees clasp the sanctuaries in their mighty roots. Then, visit Angkor Wat, the most balanced, the most harmonious, and the most perfect Khmer temple. It shows Khmer art, which reached the height of it glory in the 12th century. The temple was built by king Suryavrman II and dedicated to god Vishnu. Climb up to Bakheng hill to have bird’s-eye view of sunset, Angkor Wat and western Baray.

Dinner at local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 14: Siem Reap (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning, visit south gate of Angkor Thom with two rows of its huge statues of demons and gods depicting the churning of the ocean of milk arranged on both sides of stone bridge and Bayon temple. Then, visit terrace of elephant, which used to be a base for the king’s grand audience hall; Terrace of Leper king supposed that it was a terrace housed the royal crematory.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon, visit Banteay Srei Temple, a tiny temple complex consider by many visitors to be the highest achievement in art and architecture of the Classic Angkor civilization. The glory of Banteay Srei is the beauty of its sculpture and decoration. The pink sandstone used in its buildings makes this temple more beautiful. On the way back to the town you will visit Banteay Samre.

Dinner with traditional show at local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 15: Siem Reap – Phnompenh (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Afternoon, visit floating village on Tonle Sap Lake, a biggest fresh water lake in south-east Asia. This floating village is definitely an option. Most people (90%) are fishermen living in their wooden houses built on small boats and rafts. The village has everything from floating stores, to a floating gas station and a floating school – including two gymnasiums for kids to play soccer or basketball. And for those who need their little prayer every day, there’s even a floating church.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon, you will be transferred to Siem Reap airport for taking domestic flight to Phnom Penh.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be welcome by tour guide in Phnom Penh and transferred to hotel for check-in and relax.

And circle around to visit independence monument before exploring the bustling Central Market.

Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 16: Phnom Penh departure (B/L)

After breakfast, start a city tour of some major sights of Phnom Penh. You will visit the National Museum, in which there is an attractive collection of ancient Khmer art: The sandstone sculptures dating from both the Angkorean and pre-Angkorean eras. You will also visit Royal Palace, the sacred Silver Pagoda, which is well known for its 5000 silver tiled floor. Then, you will follow your trip to Wat Phnom, The symbol of Phnom Penh.

Lunch at local restaurant. Visit of the killing fields in the afternoon. Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for departure.