Southeast Asia Discovery

📍 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport – Bangkok Airport (approx. 40 km): approx. 40 min – 1 hr

Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to hotel. Then free at leisure. 

Overnight in Bangkok.
 

Inclusions:

After breakfast at the hotel, The Royal Grand Palace is the nation’s landmark and the most revered royal monument. You will see palaces that were used for different occasions – the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the mysterious Emerald Buddha which is most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Appropriate dress is required. (Note: Grand Palace is one of the most popular destinations and is usually a number one must-see place in Bangkok. Not surprisingly, it receives millions of tourists annually. To get the best of your visit and avoid crowds on spot we will allow your guide flexibility to visit the temple either early morning or late afternoon if possible in your itinerary. If you by any means decide that there are too many people for your liking, the guide can bring you to an alternative temple in the area such as Wat Saket or Wat Suthat, this decision needs to be made before entering the Grand Palace.) Continue your visit to Wat Pho, the home of Thai massage and the Reclining Buddha.

This afternoon stroll through Chinatown where you visit interesting shops, tea shop, markets and temples to get a first-hand feel for old Bangkok. Continue to The Bangkok Folk Museum**, a seventy-year-old Thai house converted into a small but fascinating museum. Then hop on a long tail boat for a ride along the bustling Chao Phraya River and the quiet klongs (canals) of Thonburi where you see how Thai people have lived next to the water for centuries. Last stop is the magnificent Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn. (**Note: Bangkok Folk Museum is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays.)

Overnight in Bangkok.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Bangkok Hotel – Bangkok Airport (approx. 40 km): approx. 40 min – 1 hr Sukhothai Airport – Sukhothai Hotel (32.1 km): 37 min

After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Sukhothai. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to Sukhothai Historical Park which was once a walled city surrounded by a moat. Lunch possible in supplement if morning arrival. Sukhothai, a name meaning dawn of happiness, was founded in the 13th century and became the kingdom's first capital, overseeing a period known as the golden age of Thai history. The park contains almost 200 ruined chedis in remarkable condition. See the main sites of Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum, Wat Sri Sawai and War Sra Sri and Wat Trapang Ngoen and Ramkamhaeng Museum before checking into your hotel. Bike ride is possible in supplement in the historical park. A nice and easy way to stroll around the ruins!

Overnight in Sukhothai.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Sukhothai – Lampang (211 km): 3.00 hr Lampang – Chiang Mai (93.2 km): 1.27 hr

After breakfast, drive north to Si Satchanalai Historical Park on the bank of the Yom River north of Sukhothai. The ancient town, formerly called ''Muang Chaliang,'' was named ''Si Satchanalai'' during the reign of Phra Ruang and 134 ruined monuments have been discovered within the park. Vist the main sites of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, Wat Khao Suwan Khiri, Wat Chang Lom, Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo, Wat Suan Kaeo Utthayan Yai, Wat Nang Phaya, Wat Suan Kaeo Utthayan Noi and Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Center at Ban Ko Noi, some 4 kilometres to the north of Si Satchanalai. Drive to Chiang Mai via Lampang, with a stop to visit Phra That Lampang Luang, and arrive in Chiang Mai in the late afternoon. 

Overnight in Chiang Mai.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Travel thirty minutes by vehicle north of Chiang Mai city to a long-tail boat dock, where you will take a leisurely stroll around the grounds with a herbal garden. Then board a long-tail boat and enjoy a 30-minute cruise along the rural Mae Ping River. Along the river banks, you will see traditional wooden houses and modern residences. Arrive at a boat landing and walk for about 10 minutes from the landing to Waroros fresh food market for a visit, experiencing the Northern Thai way of life.  From the market you take a trishaw ride along Tapae Road past City Walls and along Ratchadamnoen Road to Wat Phra Singh.  

In the afternoon, explore ancient Chiang Mai, including its old city walls, gates, moat and markets. After visiting Wat Suan Dok, where the ashes of Chiang Mai’s royal family are interred, you continue to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the temple on the mountain, and the most sacred in Northern Thailand. Your experienced guide will explain the story of the temple, the white elephant and lead you around its impressive chedi and show its beautiful murals. In the late afternoon, the tourist masses have already left the temple grounds and dusk will give a very special atmosphere. After your private blessing ceremony, witness the magical evening chanting of the monks. End with the spectacularly romantic evening view over Chiang Mai with its millions of glittering lights.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Chiang Mai Hotel – Chiang Mai Airport (4.7 km): 11 min Luang Prabang Airport – Luang Prabang (4 km): 15 min

After breakfast, free at leisure until transfer to Chiang Mai airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.  

On arrival in Luang Prabang, transfer to hotel.

Free time this afternoon at your leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

After your breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel. 

Your city tour begins with a visit to the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish this morning with a visit to the beautiful Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most important temples in Laos.

Then transfer back to your hotel/restaurant (lunch at your convenience).

Your guide will pick you up again at your hotel in Luang Prabang at 14:00 with your adapted bikes.

The first stop of your afternoon bike ride is the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, a museum dedicated to exploring the rich diversity of Laos’ ethnic minorities. Traditional costumes, tools, and artifacts are on display alongside in-depth descriptions and written histories. It is a great opportunity to gain insight in to the Lao people (Note: closed on Mondays).

Continue riding to the Phousi Market, where you can join the locals and support vendors by buying fresh products or fruits. Your guide will be here to encourage you to taste some of the exotic flavors of the local fruits, help to identify new items not found in your grocery store back home!
 
Return to your hotel by bike.  

Lao cuisine relies heavily on the freshest produce and incorporates a range of intriguing flavors, many unfamiliar to the western palate. A cooking class at ‘Tamarind’ restaurant starts with an introduction to these main ingredients and how they are used in Lao cuisine. Then you will start preparing and cooking an assortment of dishes under supervision- a cheerful chef who will teach you the traditional techniques as well as information about Lao culture. A cooking class is an ideal way to experience a culture from inside as Lao people take pride in sharing their love for their cuisine with some introduction to distinctive Lao dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Recipes are provided for you to take back home.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Luang Prabang – Pak Ou (30 km): 1.30 hr

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting the alms.  As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents.  It is a beautiful, serene ceremony that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

You will then board a traditional wooden boat, Nava Mekong, for a relaxing cruise on the mighty Mekong River. Enjoy stunning mountain scenery and witness the simple rural lifestyles which rely on the river as you make your way upstream for 1.5 – 2 hours. You will reach Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid April. The boat then keeps cruising in the vicinity of the caves and will moor during lunch time at the foot of beautiful limestone cliffs. A selection of typical Lao dishes will be served onboard. Cruise back to Luang Prabang and return in the early afternoon. 

This afternoon you will have a chance to participate in a unique, traditional Lao ceremony.  The Baci is performed in celebration of an important event such as weddings, births, or for welcoming guests and is a means of expressing good will and good luck to others. During the Baci, special flower trays and food treats are prepared which are then touch by the participants while a Buddhist mantra is chanted.  After the chanting is completed, cotton threads are tied around the participants’ wrist whilst they receive an individual blessing.  
Continue to climb the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.  Stop at the evening hill tribe market.

Enjoy a delicious Lao set menu at the 3 Nagas Hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang Airport (4 km): 15 min Hanoi Noi Bai Airport to your chosen hotel in Hanoi (32 km): 50min

After breakfast, free time at leisure before transferring to the airport. 

Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, your private guide and driver will assist on arrival for the transfer to the hotel for check-in. 

Hanoi, a city of contrasts, defies easy categorization. It's both modern and traditional, chaotic and serene, and always full of surprises. But one thing is for sure: it's a place that’s captivating, to all the senses. 

Rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in Hanoi.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Hanoi to Haloing Bay (180 km): 2.5 hrs

The perfect way to see the UNESCO World Heritage areas of Halong and Lan Ha Bay is to spend a night aboard a charming boat. The mystical scenery, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into wonderous shapes covered in lush fauna is truly breathtaking.   

Following breakfast leave Hanoi for the 2.5hours drive to Halong City. Arrive at the pier around noon and proceed with check-in formalities. 

After the welcome onboard and checking into the cabin, lunch will be served whilst cruising. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits or activities (depending on the boat’s set itinerary). Towards the end of the afternoon the boat will anchor for the night surrounded by karst formations. 

Enjoy sunset on the deck followed by dinner, then retiring for the evening. 

Please note: Subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Overnight on Halong / Lan Ha Bay.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Halong Bay to Hanoi (180 km): 2.5hrs

Wake up to the fresh morning amidst the islands of the bay for breakfast (brunch on some boats) while enjoying the serene setting of the spectacular rock formations. 

Mid morning, proceed to checkout as the cruise cruises towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. 

Set off on a half day guided tour of Hanoi’s highlights. A city of contrasts, defies easy categorization, it's both modern and traditional, chaotic and serene, and always full of surprises. 

Dive right in with a visit to the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite, for an incredible 800-years.   

Conclude the exploration with a stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A maze of alleyways and hidden treasures, learn about local life in the ‘36-guilds’ as you weave through the frenetic streets on foot. 

Following the introduction to Hanoi’s highlights transfer back to your hotel. 
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Your chosen hotel in Hanoi to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (32 km): 50 min Hue Airport to your chosen hotel in Hue (18 km): 25 mins

This morning after breakfast, depart from your hotel to Noi Bai Airport for your Hue bound flight. Arrive Hue and hotel check in. 

In the afternoon, start your Hue discovery tour. Take a short, but insightful, tour through historic Hue. With hundreds of years of history, it would be impossible to see everything in a day but this tour gives a fabulous overview of the city’s culture and history.

Kick off this half-day tour in Hue with a visit to the UNESCO- listed Imperial Citadel. Roam the expansive grounds, admiring buildings that reflect the pomp and ceremony of the once-mighty Nguyen Dynasty. Hear the stories of the majestic buildings and intriguing former emperors. Take a look at areas damaged by conflicts, both ancient and modern, and learn of Hue’s role in Vietnam’s military history. 

Continue by cyclo to get a closer look at the tranquil gardens and traditional buildings of the areas. Arrive at Tinh Tam Lake, a lake filled with lotus flowers (season dependent). Meaning ‘Peace of Mind’ the emperors used to relax along the water's edge and is still a popular place for Hue residents to wind down.  

Then leave the city centre and travel through Hue’s beautiful countryside. Arrive at Khai Dinh’s tomb for a stroll. One of the Nguyen Dynasty’s former emperors, this remarkable complex blends traditional Vietnamese in design with European touches making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Return to the hotel or next destination after this last visit. 

Overnight in Hue.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 From Hue to Hoi An (100km): 3hrs

Leave Hue for Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. The scenic route passes through the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. 

In the afternoon take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market.  

Meet a knowledgeable local guide for this introductory, half day Hoi An city tour, learning all about its illustrious past as a trading port. Take a walk through town, seeing remarkably well-preserved traditional houses that have withstood hundreds of years of weather and war. 
Make a stop at the Japanese Bridge*, one of two such bridges in Vietnam. The bridge spans a small waterway and was built more than 400 years ago to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese who lived on the other side of the water. Admire the carvings and paintings inside the bridge, learning about their symbolism and cultural significance.

Continue to a Chinese communal hall, a colorful mélange of bright gates, dragon statues and elaborate rooftops. Get an introduction to ancestor worship while visiting the family altar and watching local devotees making offerings.

Explore smaller laneways and local neighborhoods, gaining a better appreciation of Hoi An’s endless charm. After this insightful glimpse of Hoi An,  return to the hotel or your next destination.

*The Japanese Bridge is currently under renovation until Q1 2024 (est) . Visitors are able to walk alongside the bridge (as of June 2023) on a purposely built metal platform however the actual structure is mostly covered in metal sheeting, therefore limiting photo op’s of the town’s most famous monument.

Overnight in Hoi An.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

Free at leisure. As a suggestion head down to Hoi An’s Cua Dai Beach with its stunning stretch of long white sands, crystal clear waters and island views. 

Overnight in Hoi An.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest

Transfer to Danang Airport after breakfast for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals. Once known as the ‘Pearl of Indochina’, Saigon boasts an enormous architectural wealth, mirroring its colourful history. From the pagodas, museums and European architecture of the city’s recent past to the growing number of skyscrapers, Saigon is like a trip through time. 

Upon arrival, start with a walking tour (depending on the season, this order might be changed) through the historic city center and CBD. See the architecturally splendid City Hall, historic Dong Khoi Street, the Continental Hotel and the Saigon Opera House. 
Then step off the main road into a historic building revolutionized by the city’s youth. Here, locally owned retail stores, coffee shops and art spaces offer a glimpse into the city’s creative  generation. If time allows, sit for a coffee at one of the building’s cafe’s. 

Continue on foot to the Central Post Office. Here, you can also glimpse the former CIA building, where one of the last helicopter evacuations took place in 1975.   
Stroll through lovely 30 April Park to perhaps the city’s most famous landmark - the Reunification Palace. Now preserved in a time warp, the ‘war rooms’ in the basement plus the opulent display’s are fascinating.  
Finish up the day at another historic site, the Ben Thanh Market. Still functioning as a local neighborhood market, the central location also welcomes travelers with a variety of stalls. 
Having gained greater understanding of Saigon's culture and history, return to the hotel or your next destination. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.  
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Siem Reap Airport - Siem Reap (8 km): 15 min Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 min

This morning is free at leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing before transferring to the
airport for the flight to Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer
empire. Arrive in Siem Reap by the morning flight and transfer to the hotel.

This afternoon, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom. This is the last capital of the Great Khmer
Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII: the city is surrounded by an 8m high wall, drawing a
perfect square. Enter through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with three-
headed elephants and capped by four giant faces.

From here, continue to Bayon Temple in the center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a
study in grandeur and is well-known for its murals depicting life at Angkor and 52 towers with
enigmatic faces of the Buddha looking out over the vast provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The
nearby Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are
both known for their intricate relief carvings.
Then, just as the sun begins to set, enjoy a relaxing cruise in a gondola paddle boat on the moat of
Angkor Thom while watching a spectacular sunset over Prasat Chrung temple.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Siem Reap – Tonle Sap (20 km): 30 min Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 min

Take a break from temple touring to experience authentic rural lifestyles. Drive to the outskirts of
Siem Reap, past expansive rice fields and through local villages where rice and fish can frequently be
spotted drying alongside the road. Next, board a private wooden vessel for a boat trip along a canal
that leads to the Tonle Sap Lake.

Cruise along the canal with houses on either side: depending on the time of the visit, the houses will
either have immediate access to the water or stand perched on stilts high above the ground, a
phenomena caused by the annual rising and receding waters of the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s
largest lake. Pass by the boats and nets used by local fishermen, some of whom will be fishing in the
waters through which the boat passes. Nearing the lake, see floating houses that move location with
the annual ebb and flow of the lake’s waters.

Along the way, gain a better understanding of the local lifestyle with lunch in a family house. This is a
unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the way of life of the local people- sitting inside
a stilted house while watching the boats pass outside.
With a full belly and a camera-full of remarkable images, return to Siem Reap in the afternoon.
(Note: Due to fluctuating water levels on the lake and canals, the village visited will depend on the
date and water levels at that time).

Later today, continue to a special sightseeing tour of the famous Angkor Wat by Remork (Cambodia
Tuk Tuk). While some wish to visit Angkor Wat at sunrise, which can be a wonderful experience, as
the only west-facing temple Angkor Wat is best to visit (and photograph) in the afternoon. Although
the walk across the moat and down the main causeway can be a bit hot, the intricately carved
galleries for which the temple are best known are within covered, open-air corridors providing
shelter from the heat of the afternoon sun. Ascend the levels to arrive at the uppermost platform
before 17:00 when there are far fewer visitors lingering about. Exit the temple with the setting sun
shining on the Vishnu image discovered beneath the temple’s central sanctuary — a magical sight to
behold and a fitting end to exploring the temple built by King Suryavarman, whose name translates
to ‘protected by the sun’.
Then you will be dropped off at your hotel for some refreshment before continue one of our evening
cultural show.
1930 Head to Phare Cambodian Circus Show. Set up by refugees of the Khmer Rouge era, Phare
promotes performing arts as a way to cope with trauma. Over the years they have not only helped
hundreds of Cambodians but also helped to promote traditional Khmer culture.
The lights will dim and the performers will take to the stage. The hour-long show tells stories of
modern life in Cambodia through a rich spectacle of song, dance and acrobatics. The performers
combine traditional Khmer theatre with modern influences resulting in an entertaining and
enthralling show.
Following the show there is an opportunity to take photos with the cast, a spectacular memory of
the evening’s performance.

After the show, we can drop you off at the night market, Pub Street or return to hotel as per your
choice.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 min Siem Reap - Siem Reap Airport (8 km): 15 min

Today, explore a few temples of the Small Circuit. The most illustrious of these is Ta Prohm. Built
between the late-12th to early 13th centuries, Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely
overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This
makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor
temples. As this temple has become increasingly popular, it’s best to visit at 7:30am, just as it opens,
entering from the East, the direction the temple faces and, conveniently, the opposite side from the
tour bus parking lot.

Next continue to the APOPO visitor’s center for an exclusive tour of this fascinating and life-saving
organization. Welcome by APOPO Center’s guide and spend up to an hour learning about the
devastating impact of explosives that lie buried in the Cambodian countryside and get first-hand
experience about this creative solution to the problem.
\
In a simulated minefield built for training purposes, help guide the rats as they sniff their way along
the ground in search of explosive material. Visit the room where the rats live and pose for a photo
with the furry rodents and their handlers. Watch an informative video and take the opportunity to
learn more about landmines, Cambodia, APOPO, and the HeroRATs through a Q&A session. Every
guided tour is led by a mine action professional with real-life experience of humanitarian demining.
Enjoy some time at leisure until it is time for your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. 
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast