Bangkok to Angkor Wat - 29 day tour

Saturday. Welcome to Bangkok, the ever-alluring capital of Thailand. Once you have checked into your hotel the rest of the day is free until 6pm when you meet your guide for a welcome meeting. We'll make our way to the lively Khao San Road area, here we'll enjoy a welcome dinner down the bustling street of Soi Rambuthri. After dinner your guide will assist you back to the hotel, alternatively you can continue the night at one of the many exuberant bars in the area.
Overnight: Bangkok  |  Dinner

This morning we set off to explore this sprawling metropolis. The first stop is at the 24 hour flower market where you get to view stunning orchids and roses on sale to the local restaurants and florists. We then jump on Tuk Tuks and take an exhilarating ride through the streets of Bangkok reaching our next stop Wat Pho, home to the famous reclining Buddha. Then we visit the spiritual and religious heart of the city - the striking Grand Palace. Topped by golden stupas, the complex has been the site of royal coronations and is home to the legendary Emerald Buddha.

After a break for lunch we board a longtail boat and set off on an exploration of the labrynth of klongs (canals) that criss cross the city. On our journey we’ll glide by stilted houses and gleaming temples whilst old men fish and children play about on the waters edge. Disembarking our boats the rest of the day is at leisure to further explore Bangkok independently.
Overnight: Bangkok  |  Breakfast

Bangkok - Chiang Rai. This morning we head for the airport before flying north to stunning city of Chiang Rai. This afternoon we'll visit fabulous White Temple of Wat Rong Khun which depicts scenes from movies including the Matrix, Star Wars and Superman! This temple is far from ordinary and it's white buildings glisten in the bright Thai sunshine.

This evening we will visit Chiang Rai night market, which boasts many interesting stalls selling local & national handicrafts and souvenirs. You'll also find a number of street food stalls offering a variety of delicious Thai dishes.
Overnight: Chiang Rai  |  Breakfast

Chiang Rai - Mae Rim. After a leisurely breakfast we set off towards the hill tribe region, located north of Chiang Mai, reaching our accommodation in the afternoon. From here we can explore the surrounding countryside to visit the some of the nearby hill tribe villages and gain a wonderful insight into the lives of some of the smaller minority groups in the Kingdom. In the evening we enjoy a sumptuous BBQ before being entertained by dancers from the local community.
Overnight: Mae Rim  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Mae Rim - Chiang Mai. This morning we visit the Araksa Tea Gardens, home to 110 acres of verdant tea plantations. You'll learn about the history of the tea plantation and their commitment to supporting the local people. You'll also discover the process of tea growing in this area and try your hand at picking before enjoying a cup of the freshest brew.

Later we continue to Chiang Mai and make our way to the imposing Doi Suthep Temple that stands like a sentinel over the city. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 and the beautiful golden stupa sitting in the centre of the temple complex is now the main attraction.

This evening your guide will give you an orientation of the sprawling night market of Chiang Mai. A perfect place to shop away the hours and try some exciting local food.
Overnight: Chiang Mai  |  Breakfast

This morning we head to a local cooking school to try our hand at preparing tasty local cuisine in a traditional Thai setting. This informative cooking class teaches us how to prepare three of Thailand’s most popular dishes that we’ll later get to enjoy for lunch.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore at leisure. In the evening we visit the Chiang Mai night market, a haven of souvenirs and works by local artisans.
Overnight: Chiang Mai  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Chiang Mai - Ayutthaya. This morning we make our way to the airport for our flight south, arriving at the airport we then drive to the former Thai capital of Ayutthaya.

This afternoon we explore Ayutthaya’s famous ruins, visiting the magnificent stupas at Wat Phri Sanphet and iconic Wat Mahatat where the head of a damaged Buddha statue has slowly been embraced and lifted by a nearby tree. This is one of Thailand’s most religiously significant places. This evening we continue to Suphanburi for our overnight stay.
Overnight: Suphanburi  |  Breakfast

Ayutthaya - Kanchanaburi. This morning we drive to the small town of Kanchanaburi. Here we pay our respects to the thousands of Allied POWs who perished in the area under the hand of the Imperial Japanese Army. After pausing at the Allied War Cemetery we continue to the infamous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’, immortalised by the film of the same name. You have a chance to take pictures before you board a train for a 2 hour journey that crosses the bridge before following the tracks dug by the POWs and locals some 75 years earlier.

Disembarking at Nam Tok we have a short drive to ‘Hellfire Pass’ where the POWs dug through a mountain often using only their bare hands. A fascinating museum at the entrance details the region’s history.

After our day’s sightseeing a leisurely longtail boat ride leads us to our fabulous floating jungle raft hotel. To the beauty of a hundred softly glowing lanterns and the sounds of the tropical forest and cool water flowing by we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening on the deck.
Overnight: Kanchanaburi  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Kanchanaburi - Bangkok. This morning you might be lucky enough to interact with the local resident elephant who occasionally pops down to the river bank next to the jungle rafts. We then travel on to the beautiful Erawan National Park to explore the rivers, waterfalls and trails on foot. You'll have time to explore the 7 tiers of waterfall, perhaps taking a swim in each of the pools formed by the falls. Departing Erawan we make our way back to Bangkok and to the airport for our late evening flight to Laos.

Arriving into Laos you'll be met and transferred to your hotel, where the rest of the evening will be at leisure.
Overnight: Vientiane  |  Breakfast

Today we embark on a sightseeing tour of the Laos capital. We'll visit some of the main highlights of this remarkable city including Wat Sisaket, the oldest Buddhist monastery in Laos, the former royal temple of Haw Phra Kaew and Pha That Luang monument, a impressive golden stupa and an important national monument. Next we'll pay a visit to the COPE Centre, a charity working with victims of unexploded bombs and mines. We'll also visit the imposing Patuxay Monument, Vientianes 'Arc De Triomphe', it was built using concrete donated by the USA and intended for a new airport.

This afternoon we'll visit the magnificent Bhudda Park, with it's enchanting collection of over 200 large Bhuddist and Hindu sculptures. End the day with a spectacular sunset dinner beside the Mekong River.
Overnight: Vientiane  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Vientiane – Vang Vieng. It's an early departure this morning as we journey northbound through the breathtaking scenery of the lush countryside and into the mountains. En route we'll stop at Ban Keun, famed for it's rudimentary salt extraction plant and distilleries producing local rice wine whiskey. We then continue to the colourful, bustling market of Thalat, where various local hill tribes come to trade goods and buy provisions.

We reach our destination of Vang Vieng this afternoon, perched on a bend in the Nam Song River, it is a quaint town with incredible scenery surrounding it. The remainder of the afternoon offers free time, perhaps opt to explore the local caves, take a scenic bike ride or go tubing along the river.
Overnight: Vang Vieng  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang. Departing Vang Vieng this morning we make our way to the famous Tham Jang cave, this beautiful underground cavern was used as a bunker to hide from the invading Chinese in the 19th century. Crossing the river we make our way to Ban Huai Ngai village where you'll learn about the customs and lifestyle of the local Laotian people.

Heading north we wind our way through incredible rugged mountain scenery until we reach our destination of Luang Prabang. This beautiful town is teeming with gleaming temples, fading colonial architecture and an awe-inspiring mountain backdrop.
Overnight: Luang Prabang  |  Breakfast

Consider rising early this morning to view the daily ritual of saffron-clad monks and their procession down the streets of Luang Prabang collecting alms from the residents.

After breakfast this morning we hop on a vintage tuk-tuk and explore the old town of Luang Prabang. Our first stop will be at the bustling morning market, discover the joyful atmosphere and perhaps purchase some of the local products on offer. We will then visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with it's low sweeping roof representing traditional Laotian architecture. We end our morning at the impressive former Royal Palace which is now a national museum filled with ornate reception rooms and spectacular artefacts.

This afternoon we make our way out to Khuangsi Waterfall, stopping en route at local villages to discover the different ethnic groups in this region. Finding ourselves at the falls we can take in a dip in the turquoise pools, enjoy the scenery or explore the forest on one the walking trails.
Overnight: Luang Prabang  |  Breakfast

Luang Prabang - Hanoi (Vietnam). This morning we head into the idyllic countryside to visit the Living Land Farm for a fun and hands on half day farming experience. Here we learn how rice is planted and cultivated in the rice paddy, we experience the life of a rice farmer and get to join try our hand at some of the farming activities. Then we enjoy a tasty lunch of traditional Lao dishes at the farm's Rice House, while soaking up the spectacular views of rice terraces and mountains beyond.

The afternoon is free for you to independently explore more of Luang Prabang. Consider visiting the sobering UXO Centre to learn more about the Second Indochina War, take in more of the city's beautiful temples or head to the Ock Pop Tock weaving centre set in beautiful tropical gardens.

Late this evening we head to the airport for our flight to Hanoi. Arriving into Hanoi you'll be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Hanoi  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Early birds can start the day with a relaxing Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional massage - the perfect way to start the day. Before heading back to port we'll explore by kayak the Floating Village of Cua Van, which is home to generations of fishing families. Here we’ll see the traditional and colourful floating wooden houses and the locals going about their daily lives.

On arrival back into Hanoi mid-afternoon we’ll explore the maze of streets in the French Quarter on our very only cyclo (rickshaws), taking in highlights such as the Opera house and Ly Thai To park. We then swap our wheels for a leisurely walk through ‘36 streets of the old quarter’, named after the numerous guilds that once set up shop on a particular street from silk tailors to traditional medicine shops.

Later this evening there's a chance to freshen up before boarding the train (4 berth sleeper cabin, basic standard) on the ‘Reunification Express’ railway line to Hue. An option to fly from Hanoi to Hue is also available.
Overnight: Overnight Train  |  Breakfast

On the morning of day 20 we explore some of the countryside surrounding Hoi An on a bicycle ride to Tra Que village. Here, we discover age old farming practices and learn about traditional medicine. It’s a hands on experience today where we’ll assist with tending the fields and gardens and cooking lunch. After lunch we'll hop back on our bikes and head back to Hoi An.

Day 21 offers a free day for you relax or further sightsee. You may wish to take a relaxing rowboat journey along the river or spend the day lazing by the beach or hotel pool. It’s also possible to take an optional excursion to the most holiest and evocative of Vietnam’s Cham sites, My Son or to Quang Ngai, the site of the My Lai massacre memorial. The massacre was a significant turning point in the Vietnam War and the story is told through photo presentation on a walk through the village.
Overnight: Hoi An  |  Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 1

Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho. We take an early flight to Saigon this morning before continuing to the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as it fantastic views while boating along the canals. Taking our sampan from Cai Be we’ll cruise through the maze of waterways watching the daily excitement of life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats and enthusiastic children we'll stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served today in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.
Overnight: Can Tho  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Today we’ll enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh. Our first stop will be the National Museum of Fine Arts, a graceful terracotta building of traditional design, which houses the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. We continue to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, famed for its lavish decorations – the floors are paved with silver tiles and statues of Buddha are encrusted with thousands of diamonds.

Later we come face to face with the horrors of the Pol Pot regime as we visit Toul Sleng (Security Prison - S21), a school that was gruesomely transformed into a torture chamber under the Khmer Rouge. Next we visit the Killing Fields where over 10,000 people were executed. As you walk through the area you'll be told the stories of those that came to be at the Killing Fields and the despicable acts that were carried out by the Khmer Rouge.
Overnight: Phnom Penh  |  Breakfast

Driving out of Siem Reap we head to Banteay Srei temple. En route we'll stop at the charming village of Preak Dak to visit villagers who are planting trees in a conversation effort, we'll then visit the Banteay Srei butterfly centre before we explore the temple. Banteay Srei was constructed in the 10th century and is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. After we return to the Angkor Temple Complex to explore the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The last capital of the Great Khmer Empire, it is home to the fascinating Bayon Temple, the Baphuon royal enclosure and the Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King.

This afternoon we continue on to Tra Prohm Temple, which unlike the other temples here has been left in the same ruined state that it was first discovered in with a tangle of trees growing out of its ruins. Tonight we attend the wonderful Phare Cambodian Circus - an NGO project that teaches children living on the streets how to become talented circus artists.
Overnight: Siem Reap  |  Breakfast

This morning we drive to Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three villages of stilt houses built within the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake. After a boat trip on the lake we return to Siem Reap for free time. Pick up some last minute souvenirs at the central market or head down to lively Pub Street.

Note: From March - September the water levels at Kompong Phluk village may be too low to go boating, if so, we will visit Chong Kneas floating village where it will still be possible to go boating.
Overnight: Siem Reap  |  Breakfast