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Indochina Discovery (14-days)
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Please note that this itinerary is our
suggestion only- all our tours are custom made to your
requirements.
Phnom Penh
Royal Palace, Phnom Penh
Bayon Temple, Angkor
Carvings at Angkor Wat
Wat Phu
Si Phan Don - 4000 islands
Li Phi Falls
Victory Arch, Vientiane
That Luang Monastery
The Mekong at Luang Prabang
Plain of Jars
Your quoted price will normally include:
International flights
Accommodation with breakfast daily.
Lunch and Dinner where shown in the programme.
Transfers, tours with English speaking guide.
All entrance fees and boat fees.
Service charges, rooms tax and handling fee.
Domestic flights.
Your tour price will not include:
Visa fees
Drinks with provided meals
Departure taxes
Tips, personal expenses and other services which are not mentioned
in the program.
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The perfect introduction to the
fascinating countries of Cambodia and Laos
Day 1. Arrive Phnom Penh
Arriving Phnom Penh, our guide will be at the airport to
welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. After lunch at a local restaurant, our city tour includes
the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Independence monument & National Garden Park,
Raung Damrei Museum and National Museum of Fine Arts.
Day 2. Phnom Penh
Today visit Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide and Killing Fields Museum.
Lunch at local restaurant, afternoon tour of Central Market and Russian Market.
Day 3. Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (Angkor)
Transfer to domestic airport for your flight to Siem Reap.
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 lake. Evening at a local restaurant
with traditional Cambodian dance performance on stage.
Day 4: Siem Reap (Angkor)
Full day visit to the ancient royal capital of Angkor Thom: Bayon Temple,
Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Terrace of Elephants and Leper king and
Taprohm temple. Lunch. Afternoon visit the 7th World heritage wonder,
Angkor Wat, and the Ta Som, Ta Keo, Pre Rup temples. Return to town.
Day 5: Siem Reap (Angkor)
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 6: Siem Reap (Angkor)
This morning visit the West Mebon which is situated on a small island in the heart of West Baray.
Take a long-tailed boat ride to the island & visit the temple. After lunch at local restauarnt we will see
Eastern Angkor by visiting Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei & Taprohm temples, also visit Twin temples of
Thommanon & Chao Say Tevoda.
Day 7: Siem Reap - Pakse - Si Phan Don
Transfer to airport for your flight to Pakse. Our Laos representative will be at the airport to welcome you
& transfer to the boat landing for a leisurely trip to the former royal capital of Champasak, our base
for exploring the ruins of Wat Phu. This impressive site is well known as the most important Hindu
sanctuary of the Khmer Empire between 9th and 13th century. The festival of this site is yearly held
during the full moon in February and attracts numerous pilgrims from all over southern Laos. After
an enjoyable visit to the ruins of Wat Phu and some nearby temples such as Nang Sia and Thao
Tao we make our way to Khong Island & transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight in Khong Island.
Day 8: Si Phan Don (4000 Islands)
Heading out of town we embark on a long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong
River from where thousands of islets jut out in dry season, giving this area a lovely name” Si Phan Don ”.
Along the way we will anchor at the peaceful island of Ban Khone for a visit to the many relics of French
colonial period and the marvelous rushing Liphi falls also called the " Corridor of the Devil". The next stop
of our trip is Ban Na Kasang, a very pleasant village where we can see the different local lifestyle. After the
river trip we travel by roads southwards to explore the Lao-Cambodia border at Weukham and the
impressive sight of Khone Phapheng, which boasts Southeast Asia’s largest water falls. Dinner & overnight in
Khong Island at the Sala Phae Floating guesthouse on the river.
Day 9: Si Phan Don (4000 Islands) - Pakse
After breakfast we set off on our journey towards Tatlo, which is a great way to discover the real southern
Laos as we drive past many lush plantations, hills, forests and villages. The deep contrast of lush
vegetation and red surface of basaltic soil is incredible all along the way. On arrival at Tatlo we
visit the spectacular waterfall of Xeset and the nearby villages, home of the Kato, Alack and Nge
hilltribe groups. These ethnic minorities still retain their age old cultural traditions and are recognisably
distinct from each other by their dress. We continue our journey through Paksong and Boloven Plateau.
A part of our pleasure of travelling in this region is to observe the beautiful countryside and meet local people.
Dinner & overnight in Pakse.
Day 10: Pakse - Vientiane
Transfer to airport for your flight to Vientiane, our guide will be at the airport to welcome you
& transfer you to your hotel. After lunch in a local restaurant our 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) and
Pratuxay Monument . Finally see the sunset at Mekong riverside. Dinner at local restaurant
Day 11: Vientiane - Luangprabang
Transfer to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, pick up & transfer to your hotel.
Today city tour of the former Royal capital, Luang Prabang, the crown jewel of the ancient Lane
Xang Empire. Visit Wat Visoun, the site of the
impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Phou Sii
hill stands right in the centre of this small city. 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 is considered to characterize
the uniqueness of Luang Prabang's local style: its several roofs sweep low to the ground. See also the impressive
"tree of life" mosaic here. 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.
Return to hotel.
Day 12: Luang Prabang
After breakfast, begin a full day boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to visit the Pak Ou Caves with their lacquered
Buddha statues. Lunch. Then make a visit to the village of Ban Phanom where traditional Lao textiles are woven on ancient
wooden looms & the hand-made paper workshop. Return to hotel.
Day 13: Luang Prabang - Xiengkhouang
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. After breakfast we travel by road to Xiengkhouang,
which was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973 during Indochina War. The journey
takes us thorugh the most beautiful mountain stopping at various hill tribe villages en route.(Lunch included).
Upon arrival in Phonsavanh by late afternoon we check in at the Phouphadeng Auberge mountain lodge. Dinner at Lodge.
Day 14: Plain of Jars
After breakfast, we are heading out the town visiting the "Plan of Jars" an impressive archaeological site where hundreds
of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. Each of mysterious jars is thought to have been made more than 2000
years ago. If time permits, we are seeing the local central market, observing their daily lifestyle and colorful traders before
we catch the flight to Vientiane. Transfer to airport for departure flight to UK. (An additional overnight stay may sometimes
be necessary to take the return flight the following morning.)
Please note:
Hotels in Southern Laos are of a simpler standard than other places.
Every effort will be made to carry out the programme shown above, small changes may sometimes be
necessary.
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