HIGH LIGHT OF LAOS & CAMBODIA

(17days/16nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Bangkok - Chiang Rai  

Welcome at your arrival in Bangkok and assistance in catching your flight to Chiang Rai. Fly to Chiang Rai, welcome and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon free to explore the streets of this typical Thai city. In the evening, you will visit the night market, where numerous Akkha and Yao people come to sell handicraft products wearing their traditional costumes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2. Chiang Rai - Houey Sai - Pakbeng  

Very early transfer to Chiang Khong, where you will cross the border (and the river) to reach Houey Sai. Then you will start you cruise up the fabled Mekong River until Pakbeng. Picnic lunch on the boat. During the cruise, observe the how all life centres around the Mekong, and relax as you watch the mountain landscapes roll by. Arrive in Pakbeng at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 3. Pakbeng - Luang Prabang  

Back on the boat to continue your cruise up the Mekong toward the royal city of Luang Prabang. On the way stop for a picnic lunch and a visit to the fantastic grotto of Pak Ou, with its thousands of Buddha images flickering in the light of pilgrims' candles. Arrival in Luang Prabang at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4. Luang Prabang  

Spend the day visiting the charming UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang. Tour the Royal Palace and Museum and the lovely Wat Vixoun, then walk up the paths of nearby Mount Phousi. The view of dozens of temple rooftops dotting this quiet city nestled around the river is not to be missed. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the temples of Wat Xieng Thong and Wat San Ti Chedi Phon Phao. You will also make stops by the handicraft village of Ban Pha Nom and the temple of Wat Pra Bat Tai, where you can admire the sunset on the Mekong River. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5. Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng  

Departure by the road for Vang Vieng. You will make several stops on the way to look beautiful landscapes and visit local villages in this verdant valley. Arrival in Vang Vieng at the end of the afternoon and check-in at your hotel before lunch in a local restaurant. Explore sleepy Vang Vieng, a small city surrounded by karstic peaks. In the afternoon, you will visit the surrounding countryside and check out the deep caves and grottoes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. Vang Vieng - Vientiane  

In the morning, you will visit the local market and depart for the capital of Vientiane via the great artificial lake of Nam Ngum. Seafood lunch in a restaurant at the lake. Spend the day cruising on the lake and visiting the zoo of Bankeun, where you can observe various types of exotic monkeys and snakes. Arrival in the charming colonial city of Vientiane at the end of the afternoon. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. Vientiane - Pakse  

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Pakse. Welcome at your arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Then it's time for a boat cruise to the Khmer site of Wat Oumuang on the Mekong riverbank. Lunch in a local restaurant, then depart for the lush Boloven highlands to visit villages that specialize in coffee plantation. After a visit to the Tad Fane waterfalls, head back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8. Pakse - Khong Islands - Pakse   

Morning drive to reach the Khong Islands. Explore the waterways and villages of this colourful region of 4000 islands. You will visit the Khone Phapheng and Li Phi waterfalls. After lunch, take a walk and explore Bane Khone Island before driving back to Pakse at the end of the afternoon. Diner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9. Pakse - Vientiane - Phnom Penh  

Early transfer for the flight back to Vientiane. Visit Talat Sao, the city's enormous covered market-a great chance to check out famous Lao textiles. Lunch and transfer to the airport for an early afternoon flight to Phnom Penh. After completing customs formalities, welcome at the airport for transfer and check-in at your hotel. Visit the city of Phnom Penh, with stops at the Central Market, the old railway station and the Mekong River banks. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10. Kampong Thom  

Departure by vehicle to Kampong Thom (a four-hour drive) to visit Sambor Prei Kuk, the ancient capital city dating back to the 7th century. In the afternoon, you will also visit Kampong Thom. Back to Phnom Penh at the end of the afternoon. Dinner in a local restaurant and over night at the hotel.

Day 11. Phnom Penh - Battambang  

Early transfer to the airport for the flight to Battambang. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Check out the faded elegance of the French colonial-style Old Quarter along the riverbank before heading to visit the 11th century Wat Ek temple. Visit traditional villages along the way, and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will take a short trek in the countryside. Visit a typical Cambodian pagoda and watch the sunset over the rice paddies from the top of Phnom Sampeaou hill. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 12. Battambang - Siem Reap  

 In a traditional wooden boat, you will cruise down the Sangker River on a six-hour cruise to Preak Toal. On the way, explore floating villages, where you will be introduced to traditional techniques of fishing. Visit a village-based crocodile farm before lunch on the boat. Arrive in Siem Reap at the end of the afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in the hotel.

Day 13. Siem Reap  

 In the morning, you will start your tour. Marvel the famous south gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. After lunch, visit Angkor Wat to enjoy the many spectacular bas reliefs at the largest temple complex, then view the sunset from Phnom Bakheng Hill. Dinner with a show of traditional Apsara dancing. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14. Siem Reap  

In the morning, visit the Kravan, Pre Rup, Mebon Oriental, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan temples. After lunch, you will visit the Roluos group: Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei temples. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 15. Siem Reap  

Departure in the morning for a 90-minute drive and 45-minute walk to Kbal Spean, the Thousand Linga River. Admire the sculptures carved right into the riverbank, and if the water is high enough, enjoy a swim under the waterfall. Continue on to visit the splendid Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre temples. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit Srah Srang, Ta Prohm, Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda temples. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 16. Ton Le Sap Lake  

Departure in the morning for a 90-minute cruise on the biggest lake in Cambodia to the flooded forest of Kampong Phluk. You will also visit a floating village and enjoy a picnic lunch on the boat. Back to Siem Reap during the afternoon. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 17. Depart Siem Reap

 Half day free, which you can use to visit the Angkor Artisans workshop set up to rehabilitate artistic traditions in Siem Reap. Lunch in a local restaurant before transfer to the airport for your flight out.