The Journey of a Lifetime through South-Western China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam, following the course
of the mighty Mekong River.
Day 1. Arrive Kunming, China
Arrive Kunming, our Chinese representative will be at the airport to welcome you
& transfer you to your hotel. Afternoon city tour including the famous Bamboo Temple
dating back to the Tang dynasty with 500 colorful clay Buddhas & also the Taoist Golden Temple.
Day 2. Kunming - Jinhong
This morning visit Shilin's famous Stone Forest. Lunch at a local restaurant
with the fabulous local dish Yiliang Duck. Return to Kunming & transfer to airport for
your afternoon flight to Jinhong. Pick up & transfer to hotel.
Day 3. Jinhong
Today visit Ganlanba, morning market, water Dai villages, Burmese temple and rubber
garden on the way. After lunch visit the biggest botanic garden in China at Menglun.
Day 4: Jinhong - Chiang Saen (Thailand) - Chiang Rai
This morning transfer to pier to continue your journey by boat to Thailand on Mekong River.
Arriving Chiang Saen (Golden Triangle) at about 18:00, our Thai representative
will be at the pier to welcome you. Drive to Chiang Rai and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 5. Chiang Rai
Today's tour includes the
Yao & Akha Hill Tribe villages & the Opium museum. After lunch at Sri Wan
riverside restaurant, take a boat trip to Chiang Siang & visit Wat Chedi Luang.
Day 6. Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai
This morning drive to Chiang Mai. On the way visit Doi (Mountain) Suthep,
about 3500 feet above sea level. Also visit the most sacred Wat Prathad Doi Suthep
where the marvellous Golden Pagoda is situated, from there you can enjoy the
panoramic view of Chiangmai city. Upon arriving Chiang Mai, check in hotel.
This evening's dinner is at Chiangmai Cultural Center with traditional northern
food and Thai dance performances
Day 7. Chiang Mai
Today visit an Elephant Camp (60 kms north of Chiangmai), watching elephants
training & working, then take an elephant ride through foothills & jungle.
After the ride transfer by oxcart to restaurant for lunch. Afternoon trip
by bamboo raft to visit an orchid nursery & butterfly farm before returning
to Chiangmai. In the evening don't miss a stroll at the fascinating Night
Bazaar in the city.
Day 8: Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai
Drive from Chiang Mai to Chaing Rai, stopping at the hot spring market then
continue to boat landing to continue our journey to Chiangrai by boat on the
Mea Kok River. After lunch at local restaurant & drive to Golden Triangle &
transfer to hotel.
Day 9: Chiang Rai - Pakbeng
Transfer to Thai/Laos border to board the Luang Say Cruise Boat for the 2-day journey to Luang Prabang
on the Mekong River. The boat leaves Houei Say pier at 09:00 hrs towards Pakbeng.
En route one stop is made to observe rural life along the Mekong and visit
minority ethnic groups; then, a buffet lunchis served on board. Arrive Pakbeng
before sunset and check-in at LuangSay Lodge. Dinner on the terrace overlooking
the Mekong River.
Day 10: Pakbeng - Luang Prabang
Breakfast at lodge. (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the
surrounding minority villages exchange their goods). At about 09:00 re-board the boat
for the second leg of the cruise on the Mekong River. A short stop to
discover a Hmong village will be made before a buffet lunch on board.
Continue to Pak-Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River,
and visit Tam Ting "Cave of a thousand Buddhas". Arrive at Luang
Prabang before sunset, our Laos representative will be at the pier
to welcome you & transfer to your hotel.
Day 11: Luang Prabang
Today's city tour of the former Royal capital, Luang Prabang, the crown jewel
of the ancient Lane Xang Empire includes a visit to Wat Visoun, the site of the impressive Thad Makmo stupa.
Phou Sii hill stands right in the centre of this Luang Prabang. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding
views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain,
alongside the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Then continue to visit
Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) emphasizes
the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Wat Xieng Thong nearby has several roofs
that sweep low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life"
mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic
episodes from the Ramayan. Afterwards, visit the National Museum, which was once a king's
palace. Displayed inside is a collection of personal artifacts of the former
royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received
from dignitaries of foreign countries.
Day 12: Luang Prabang
Today we visit the Tad Khuang Sii waterfall. On the way we visit Hmong village
& Ban Ouh village for the Lao & Lu hill tribe people. The falls cascade over
many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool,
turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high
mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high
viewpoints on the way to the top! Enjoy a picnic lunch in the afternoon and
then return to the hotel to relax or explore at your leisure.
Day 13: Luang Prabang - Vientiane
If you like, we can take you into the centre of Luang Prabang at 5:30 in the
morning to watch local people give food & rice to the hundreds of monks who
line the street. You can also give rice to the monks - your guide will provide
sticky rice for you to give. (This dawn tour is optional - a very early start!)
Afterwards a stroll though the morning market before returning to your hotel for
breakfast. Transfer to airport for your flight to Vientiane. Pick up & transfer
to hotel. Lunch at local restaurant, then afternoon city tour includes Wat
Hoprakeo, built in 1566 by King Setthathirat to house the Emerald Buddha,
Wat Sisaket, the only temple in Vientiane that survived the destruction of
the city by the Siamese (Thai) in 1828; ThatLuang Stupa Museum shrine
(great Sacred Stupa) ,the most important national monument in Vientiane,
with a golden stupa believed to contain a relic of Lord Buddha; Pratuxay
Monument situated in the centre of Vientiane prefecture, its architecture
inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and incorporating typical Lao motifs.
Finally see the sunset at Mekong riverside. Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 14: Vientiane - Siem Reap
Transfer to airport for your flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Pick up & transfer to hotel. After lunch at a local
restaurant, take a boat trip & enjoy the wonderful
views of Tonlesap Great Lake in the afternoon, also
visit the beautiful Phnom Krom temple by the Tonle Sap
Lake. Evening at local restaurant with traditional Cambodian
dance performance on stage. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 15: Siem Reap (Angkor)
Full day visit to the ancient royal capital of Angkor
Thom: Bayon, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Terrace of
Elephants and Leper king and Taprohm temple. Lunch.
Afternoon Visit to the 7th World
heritage wonder of Angkorwat temple, Ta Som, Ta Keo,
Pre Rup temples return to town.
Day 16 Siem Reap - Phnom Kulen - Siem Reap
Morning trip to Phnom Kulen where the river of 1000 lingas features thousands
of carvings engraved into the sandstone rocks under the water. We also visit
the Rock temple with a large reclining Buddha. There will be a picnic lunch
by the waterfall. Afternoon trip to see the oldest temple in Angkor, Banteay Srei.
This temple has the best engravings among all the ruins.
Day 17: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
Transfer to airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. Pick
up & transfer you to your hotel. Today city tour
includes Royal Place, Silver Pagoda, Raung Damrei Museum
and National Museum of Fine Arts, Independence monument,
Central Market.
Day 18: Phnom Penh
Today visit Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide and Cheung-Ek Killing Fields.
Lunch at local restaurant, afternoon tour of Central Market and Russian Market.
Day 19: Phnom Penh - Chau Doc
Transfer to pier for your Mekong River journey towards the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
Arriving at Chau Doc, our Vietnam representative will be at the pier to welcome you &
transfer to your hotel. After lunch, a walking tour of market & then drive up Sam Mountain to watch the sunset over the Cambodian border. Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 20: Chau Doc - Can Tho
By boat from Chau Doc to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. Upon arriving at Can Tho
transfer to your hotel. Lunch at a bonsai garden with speciality food - "Elephant's
Ear" fish. Afternoon a motor-boat takes you along the Mekong river and follows small
canals flowing sluggishly between banks of luxuriant vegetation to Cai Be floating
market, one of the most typical floating markets of the Mekong Delta.
Day 21: Can Tho - HCMC
Drive to Ho Chi Minh City & transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 22: HCMC
Full day city tour includes a tour of The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace),
Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Lam Son Square, Ben Thanh Market, Thien Hau pagoda,
The Museum of HCM Campaign, China Town in Cholon & Binh Tay Market etc. Lunch included.Overnight in HCMC.
Day 23: HCMC
Enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay
Ninh Province in the west of Vietnam. At Tay Ninh visit the incredible Cao Dai
Great Temple, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney
fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique
religious cocktail. Lunch. In the afternoon visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an
underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters
during the long struggle for independence. Return to HCMC.
Day 24: HCMC - Departure
Free at leisure to relax or do some shopping until transfer to airport for your
flight to UK or next destination.
Please note that, whilst every effort will
be made to carry out the programme shown above, small changes may sometimes be necessary.
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