Colorful Capitals

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

Welcome to Bangkok! Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of today is at your leisure to relax and enjoy. 

Overnight in Bangkok.
 

Inclusions:

After breakfast at your hotel, meet with your guide and head out of your hotel for an original full day of sightseeing in the City of Angels using exclusively public means of transportation. 

Walk to the nearest BTS Station and get on the Skytrain for a short ride to the terminal station of Saphan Taksin on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Continue by public boat to Tha Thien pier where you disembark to visit Wat Pho the home of Thai massage and the reclining Buddha. 

Continue to visit the Grand Palace. The Royal Grand Palace is the nation’s landmark and the most revered royal monument and host of the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Appropriate dress is required (or can be rented on site). (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.)

Lunch (own expenses) might be taken in a local restaurant nearby the palace. 

In the afternoon, take a Tuk Tuk to Soi Ban Batra, where a handicraft family is famed for the art making monk’s alms bowls and selling them, before boarding a "bus boat" for a journey along the historical Saen Saeb canal. Following a trip to Jim Thompson’s House Museum, which showcases the history of the famous and mysterious American silk merchant, the day ends with some retail therapy at Bangkok's vast shopping malls.

Overnight in Bangkok.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (approx. 40 km): approx. 40 min – 1 hr Luang Prabang Airport – Luang Prabang (4 km): 15 min

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and assist with your transfer to the airport for your flight …… to Luang Prabang.Upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport, your guide will be waiting to greet you and transfer you to your hotel.
 
This evening you will have a brief introduction to Luang Prabang. Climb the stairs of Mount Phousi and watch the sun set over the city and surrounding hills. Walk down the other side and explore the hill tribe evening market.
 
Proceed to l’Elephant, one of the finest restaurants in Luang Prabang, for dinner before being driven back to your hotel.
 
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

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.
 
Transfer by vehicle to the Historical Old Town of central Luang Prabang where your tour begins at the fresh market. Accompanied by your guide, walk through the rows of stalls looking at what is on sale. The locals come here every day to shop for vegetables, fruits and other exotic specialties and delicacies. The market is adjacent to the National Museum, your next stop.  Once the Royal Palace of Laos, the National Museum is filled with art, artifacts, and jewels and a visit examines the history and rich culture of the country.
 
After this, continue your tour of Luang Prabang by visiting some of the city’s most important temples. Start at Wat Visoun, where you will see the famous Watermelon Stupa, shaped like the fruit from which it takes its name. This temple was destroyed in 1887 by the invading Black Flags from China, and was restored in 1930 by Buddhist monks and local people. We will also visit Wat Aham where you will see the altar of the 2 guardian spirits of Luang Prabang.
 
Enjoy lunch in town at Tamarind restaurant where you will have a chance to sample unusual local specialties not available back home.
 
This afternoon, head to Ock Pop Tok to experience textiles in Laos - the history, methods, and cultural significance.
 
Take a break at Le Patio Café, located inside the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (TAEC), and sip a local brew of coffee. Then, take a tour of TAEC, 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.
 
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Caves by boat: 1,5 hours

This morning venture to Luang Prabang’s peninsula where the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers merge. The beautiful Wat Xieng Thong is located here and a visit to the temple unveils golden gates, ornaments, and colorful murals. 
 
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.
 
Located upstream from Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves, locally called Tam Ting, contains thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues crammed into two caves carved out of a towering limestone cliff. The statues range in size from a few centimeters tall to the size of a human, and the view from the mouth of the cave provides sweeping views of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The caves are also a destination for local pilgrimages, especially during the Lao New Year period of Pii Mai.
 
The boat continues 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 before you cruise back downstream.
 
The remainder of the day is at your leisure for additional sight-seeing or relaxing in this charming city.
 
Overnight in Luang Prabang
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang Airport (4 km): 15 min Vientiane Airport – Vientiane (4 km): 15 min

Free time this morning in Luang Prabang. Your guide and private car will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight QV102, departing at 1310 to Vientiane.
 
Arrive in Vientiane on flight QV102 at 1350.   Your guide and private car will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
 
This afternoon, visit COPE, an association working to help landmine victims. A visit to the center provides in-depth information about the history of the American/Vietnam war and the lasting impact of unexploded ordinances (UXO) in the area and the efforts underway to clear them.
 
Before sunset, enjoy a stroll along the Mekong River banks and stop, if you wish, to enjoy a cold drink at one of the many riverside food stalls.
 
Overnight in Vientiane

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Start this morning with a visit to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. Constructed by King Setthethirat in the 16th century, the temple is resplendent as the sun is shines upon its towering golden spire. Then, enjoy a panoramic view over the city as you climb the stairs to the top of Patuxai, Vientiane’s own “Arc de Triomphe”.
 
Continue down Lane Xang Avenue the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion in 1828. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the capital, and its breezy teak covered hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues.
 
Continue on to the nearby Wat Phra Keo.  Used as a religious museum, Wat Phra Keo displays a collection of both Lao and Khmer works of art.
 
Enjoy lunch at local Restaurant before being transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy shopping, more sightseeing, or a spa treatment.
 
For your final evening in Laos, you will have the unique opportunity to experience one of Laos’ oldest traditions: The Baci.  The purpose of the Baci, which is a mix of Animist and Buddhist beliefs, is to call back escaped spirits to the body. This is something that is very important before major events such as weddings, births, travel, welcoming friends and farewells.
 
Enjoy a delicious lao - style dinner at Lao Kitchen.
 
Overnight in Vientiane

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Phnom Penh Airport - Phnom Penh (10 km): 30 mins

Your guide and private car will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport onward flight to Phnom Penh.
 
Suggested flight:
Departure from Vientiane at 11:50 (QV921, Lao Airlines), arrival in Phnom Penh at 13:15
 
Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel right in the heart of the city.
 
Relax and unwind after your flight as you will have some time at leisure.
 
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, depart on a city tour in a typical cyclo. First, visit Wat Phnom, which is situated near the northern boundary of the city. The original temple was built in 1372 by a rich Khmer lady named Penh, who found a collection of statues of the Buddha washed up on the river bank and decided to house them on a nearby hill ("Phnom"). The site contains some good examples of Khmer architecture and statues.
 
You will visit the most remarkable sights Phnom Penh has to offer. First, you will head to the National Museum which was designed by George Groslier and the Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens. The museum was built in traditional Khmer style in 1917 and was inaugurated in 1920 by King Sisowath. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer archaeological, religious, and artistic  artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony!
 
Continue on foot to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and was the last palace built during the French colonial period. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5,000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.
 
Afternoon at leisure.
 
18:00 - This evening, get picked by Remork, a Cambodian tuk tuk, for a night to remember. On this Phnom Penh night tour, there is the chance to experience Cambodian cuisine, delicious cocktails, and local beer, while experiencing the unique nightlife that this vibrant capital city has to offer.
 
Start off the night at a chic bar for cocktails, get to know your tour guide, and kick off an evening of dining and exploring Phnom Penh. After cocktails, hop back into the Remork and join the locals in the bustling street traffic.
 
The next stop is a popular local restaurant with a charming atmosphere and welcoming Khmer hospitality. Try some delectable local cuisine, including lemongrass chicken and eggplant with pork, sharing the dishes Khmer style with a beer or soft drink.
 
After enjoying your meal, hop back in the Remork and visit a fresh market where locals pick up their groceries for the following day’s meals.
 
Along the way to your elegant after-dinner cocktail venue, ride past some of the famous sights of French-colonial Phnom Penh and stop at a beautiful monument for a brief story about the history of the city. Next up: drinks at one of Cambodia’s most legendary watering holes. (Note: while there is no dress code, you may feel more comfortable wearing a smart-casual outfit)
 
Zoom through the city lights once again, headed for a popular spot amongst locals for live music and late night dining. With a mix of top Cambodian songs and foreign rock hits, you’re bound to stay entertained as you sample some exotic local delicacies, such as spicy frog and beef with ants. After stopping off at one more iconic city landmark along the way, finish the evening at a charming street of small, hip bars for cocktails or a cold beer. (Time: 18:00 - 22:00)
 
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (314 km): 8hours (include some stops) Kampong Khleang – Siem Reap (50 km): 60 mins

Morning depart from Phnom Penh and travel through the Cambodian countryside and small villages towards Siem Reap (314 km/ approx. 5 hours).
 
Short stop on route for lunch on your own account.
 
On the way visit Naga Bridge in Kampong Kdei. 
 
Then continue to Kampong Khleang. Embark on an interesting boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake, where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. The Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, covering an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season. Due to a unique phenomenon, when the monsoon begins, the swollen waters of the Mekong River force the Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow northwards, feeding the Great Lake and spreading over the surrounding floodplain.
 
Board a local boat and visit the village of Kompong Khleang, where only few tourists venture. Embark on a boat ride through the village where the fisherman and their families live in stilted houses among the petrified mangrove forests and waterways. Enjoy the fascinating scenery of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. (Note: during the months Apr-Sep the water level may be too low for a visit by boat. However the village is still fascinating and can be visited by car. Quite dramatic to see how the stilted houses are exposed from the lake when water levels are low!)
 
On arrival in Siem Reap, direct transfer to the hotel.
 
19:30- This evening pick up by your local driver to attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Starting at 8pm, professional artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) will perform either Putho! or Eclipse.  Set up in Battambang in 1994 by young returnee Cambodians from the refugee camps who learned about using art as a means of coping with trauma, PPS has played an influential role in promoting and developing Khmer culture over the years after the Khmer Rouge genocide. The hour-long show mixes traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. Student performances can still be seen twice weekly in Battambang but now the circus has arrived in Siem Reap.
 
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 mins

In the morning visit the famous temple of Ta Prohm, built in the mid-12th to early 13th Centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.
 
Then you will visit the magnificent Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th Century, Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolising Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the images of more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple and construction of the temple is thought to have taken around 30 years of intensive labour. Today Angkor Wat features on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolises the soul of the Khmer people.
 
Return to the hotel for the mid-day break.
 
Afternoon countryside life tour by Vespa. Escape the tourist hub of the heritage town and take to the beautiful countryside that exists in the shadow of Angkor Wat, riding pillion on our modern Vespa.
 
This tour offers a wonderful insight into the Cambodian countryside and the lives of the people who live there!
 
We start at APOPO to learn about their Hero Rats that are helping to make Cambodia safe from landmines. Then we escape from the traffic of the city and follow tree lined side roads deep into the countryside. At the local market our guides introduce you to his favorite sellers and their exotic produce. We stop at beautiful temple where we receive a Buddhist blessing and gain an insight into the local belief systems and the daily life of a monk. We continue through the natural scenery of rice paddies and farmland towards our local family house where we stop for refreshments and to meet the family water buffaloes.
 
We will meet local families who epitomize the hard-working ethics of the rural people; a family of rattan weavers, sticky rice makers, sugar-palm harvesters and noodle makers and a traditional medicine man. It is a heart-warming day and you are sure to return with a smile!
 
Note:
Please note APOPO is closed during Big Public Holiday such as Water festival ceremony, Pchum Ben Day, and Khmer New Year etc.
The tour is based on a shared basis with other passengers, min. 2pax booking to run the tour. Private tours are also available for a supplement. Please enquire with your consultant for more information.
 
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 mins Siem Reap Hotel - Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (53 km): 60 mins Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport – Bangkok Hotel (approx. 40 km): approx. 40 min – 1 hr

This morning by Remork (local transport similar Tuk Tuk) visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII, surrounded by an 8m high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path a row of 54 gods and demons hold the sacred Naga snake.
 
From here you will continue to Bayon temple which is at the exact centre of the city. This 12th Century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is renowned for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-see visits as they’re both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.
 
Return to the hotel.
 
You will be transferred to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure to Bangkok.
 
Upon arrival in Bangkok you will be transferred to your hotel for an evening at your leisure.
 
Overnight in Bangkok.
 
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

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

This morning is free for last minute shopping or sightseeing before transferring to the airport for your departure flight. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast