Indochina Adventure: Explore Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam

Day 1: THAILAND: Arrive Bangkok

Welcome to Bangkok! Upon your arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your centrally-located hotel. You may want to relax this evening with a quiet drink or visit the bustling night markets of Bangkok. You meet your tour leader and other group members in the evening and perhaps gather afterwards for a meal at one of the nearby restaurants (optional and at own expense).

Day 2: Bangkok/Chiang Rai

Explore Bangkok today with a guided city tour. The tour will be conducted entirely on different forms of public transport available to the citizens of Bangkok (Skytrain and river ferry) to give you a true taste of life in this busy and varied city. You’ll visit the Grand Palace and the adjoining Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), a must-see for first-time travelers to Bangkok. The compound is made up of over 100 brightly colored buildings whose golden spires glitter in the sunlight. Besides the Emerald Buddha, the temple also has libraries with important Buddhist literature and the Royal Parthenon, which houses full-size statues of the first seven kings of the Chakri dynasty. You’ll also visit Wat Po, home of the famous Reclining Buddha. This gold-plated statue is over 150 feet long and 50 feet high, and the eyes and feet are engraved with mother-of-pearl decorations. It was designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. Transfer to the airport at the end of the day and fly to the northern city of Chiang Rai.

Day 3: LAOS: Huay Xai/Pakbeng

Rise early today and travel approximately 2.5 hours to Chiang Khong. After completing border formalities, you’ll take a small boat across the Mekong River to Huay Xai, your first stop in Laos. For centuries, Huay Xai was a disembarkation point for Yunnanese caravans led by the Chinese Muslims on their way to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Today it is a bustling ferry town on the banks of the Mekong. After transferring to the boat pier, board your slow boat for the trip down the Mekong. The relaxed pace lets you observe the local lifestyle up close. In the evening, the boat will arrive in Pakbeng, a colorful village situated at the junction of the Mekong and the smaller Beng river. Hmong and tribal Thais are often on Pakbeng’s main street, and vendors along the street sell textiles and handicrafts. Your overnight is in a hostel with very basic accommodations, but bear in mind that you are traveling in a remote area.

Day 4: Villages of the Mekong River

You’ll gain more insights into local life today as your private boat ride continues down the Mekong. On the way to Luang Prabang, the boat will make a stop at Pak Ou (whose name means “mouth of the Ou River”) to see Tam Ting Cave’s thousands of Buddha images. All of the images were brought to the caves by devoted local villagers, and they vary greatly in shape and size. You’ll also stop at the village of Ban Sang Hai, where the locals make potent rice wine. Today’s travel time will vary depending on the water levels, but you will likely arrive in Luang Prabang in the early evening. This beautiful town, with its gleaming temple roofs, fading French architecture, and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be “the best-preserved city in Southeast Asia.”

Day 5: Luang Prabang

In the morning, you will have the option of rising early to view the procession of monks on their daily outing to collect alms, a centuries-old practice. The people of the town wait out by the front of their houses with food for the monks to collect and take back to the temple. It is done early as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk, you "het bon" or make merit, which should bode well in your next life. After breakfast, you visit the major temples of Luang Prabang including the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers, and Wat Wisunalat, the oldest temple in the city. You continue on with your visit to the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, an interesting structure that dates back to the early 20th century and combines traditional Lao architecture with French colonial influence. The collection of treasures and artifacts reflects the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign, who was deposed in 1975.

Day 6: Xieng Khuang Province

At mid morning, you take with you your spirit of adventure and travel on your private bus to the remote Xieng Khuang Province, an area that was devastated by American bombing between 1964 and 1973. The high altitude means that the weather will be relatively cool. You visit the province's old capital of Muang Khun, largely destroyed in the bombing raids, as well as the nearby villages, home to the Hmong hill tribe who have an interesting local culture and colorful history. The Hmong people wear distinctive costumes and live at high elevations. You spend the night at a basic hotel in the town of Phonsavan, the province's current capital.

Day 7: Plain of Jars

After breakfast, you transfer out to the Plain of Jars, an archaeological site where hundreds of large stone jars are littered all over the plateau. It is said that these jars are over 2,000 years old, but there is no reliable way of dating them and archaeologists are still mystified as to their original purpose (opinions vary from burial urns to rice whisky vats). You are then transferred to the airport to catch a flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Day 8: Vientiane

A city tour here will take you to the imposing Patuxai monument, also known as the Anousavari, which means “victory” in Lao, Vientiane’s equivalent to the Arc de Triomphe. The next stop is Wat Si Saket, the city’s oldest temple. It was built in the Siamese style of Buddhist architecture to prevent invading Siamese armies from destroying it in the early 1800s instead of traditional Lao style. You’ll also visit Wat Prakeo, the former royal temple where the famous Emerald Buddha was housed before it was taken by the Siamese in the late 18th century. That Luang Stupa, the most famous structure in Laos, is the final stop on the city tour. The That Luang Festival takes place here annually on the full moon of November; the continuous weeklong celebration is the biggest annual event in Cambodia. Finish your stay in Laos with a drink at a riverside bar as you watch a glorious sunset over the Mekong River.

Day 9: CAMBODIA: Vientiane to Siem Reap

Say goodbye to your Lao leader today and transfer to the airport for you flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, you will be met by your Cambodian tour leader and transferred to your hotel.

Day 10: Siem Reap: Angkor Wat

Siem Reap is home to the world-famous temples of the ancient city of Angkor. The “Great Royal City” is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, with the impressive Bayon temple as its centerpiece. Angkor Wat is the largest and most complete structure. It is the only one of Angkor's temples with a western-facing entrance (the others face east), because it was constructed as a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II and a westerly countenance was seen to represent a sunset. Ta Prohm temple is also an incredible sight; the large trees embedded in the stone foundations of the structure give the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. End the day with a sunset view of Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng.

Day 11: Siem Reap: Angkor Ruins

Today you'll rise early and travel out to Banteay Srei, famous for its detailed and intricate stone carvings. It is not a big temple, but it is sometimes referred to as "the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art." After returning to the main temple complex, you'll visit Preah Khan, which contains a maze of vaulted corridors. It is another complex that has been largely reclaimed by the jungle. We have included a visit to the Sala Bai Hotel School, where underprivileged local youths learn skills which will enable them to find gainful employment in the hospital industry. You also enjoy a lunch prepared by students at the school.

Day 12: Siem Reap/Phnom Penh

This morning is free for you to explore your own interests before leaving Siem Reap. If you wish to stay in town, you can relax outside one of the cafes or visit the market in town, which sells some interesting artifacts and handicrafts. Other options include relaxing by the hotel pool or enjoying a massage from one of Siem Reap’s famed blind massage therapists. Afterwards, fly to Phnom Penh, where you'll notice a change of pace as you arrive in Cambodia’s bustling capital. A relaxing drink at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club is a great way to start your evening.

Day 13: Phnom Penh

Today’s city tour will introduce you to the sights of Phnom Penh, a city that lies near the junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are home to King Sihamoni and therefore closed to the public; however, it is possible to visit the nearby Silver Pagoda within the palace complex, the most sacred temple in the country. It was spared from destruction by the Khmer Rouge. Wat Phnom is the temple which gave rise to the foundation of the city in the 15th century. The bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge is a painful, but unavoidable, part of Cambodia's recent history, and visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek tell the story of this tragic legacy. (Note: These sites are a major part of sightseeing in Phnom Penh; however, if you do not wish to visit either of them, please inform your tour leader.) An ideal way to spend your last evening in Cambodia is relaxing in a cafe by the riverfront.

Day 14: VIETNAM: Phnom Penh/Saigon

You are transferred back to the airport in Phnom Penh where you say good-bye to your Cambodian tour leader and fly to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. Please note that you are likely to be unescorted on this flight and will be met on arrival in Saigon by your Vietnamese tour leader or local representative. This evening, you will gather together for a briefing with your Vietnamese tour leader. The meeting is generally followed by an optional group meal out at one of Saigon's many fantastic eating spots.

Day 15: Cu Chi Tunnels

Head out of town today to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi is actually the name of the district which covers an extensive underground network (approximately 125 miles) of tunnels dug initially by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong. The tunnels contained hospitals, housing, and schools; they were used extensively for refuge and storage and also utilized as a military base for the Viet Cong near Saigon. The 1968 Tet Offensive was launched from Cu Chi. Sections of the tunnels have been widened to give tourists a feel for what life underground must have been like. You'll also visit Tay Ninh, the headquarters of the Cao Dai religion, hopefully arriving in time for the mid-day church service. During the service, religious followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, symbols of the combination of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. (Please note that the church service is not held during Tet.)

Day 16: Danang/Marble Mountain/Hoi An

You depart Saigon and fly to Danang where you enjoy some sightseeing on the scenic drive to Hoi An. China Beach, enjoyed as an "R & R" spot during the Vietnam War, lies against a backdrop of the sensational Marble Mountains. The five peaks, which are actually limestone with marble outcrops, are also seen to epitomize the five elements: fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. The history of the mountains is a rich one. They were once used by the Champas for religious purposes, but in more recent times became a haven for the Viet Cong, with their clear view of the Danang air base, at one time the busiest airport in the world. You arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon and settle in for your three-night stay in this historical "oasis".

Day 17: Hoi An

Hoi An was originally a Cham port town, but has been influenced through the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. It has a distinctly Chinese appearance with pagodas and assembly halls scattered along the small streets. Hoi An was a bustling port town for centuries before the river silted up, and today it is a delightful backwater town with an air of liveliness. The tranquillity and charm of Hoi An, coupled with its low, tiled houses, makes it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam, a consistent favorite among travelers and our staff. During a walking tour of the city, you'll see a historic house that was once owned by a prominent local trader, the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall, and a museum. The Covered Bridge has stone dogs guarding it at one end and stone monkeys at the other, as well as a beautiful temple in the middle. You have the afternoon free to make the most of delightful Hoi An and its surrounding areas. The market is a good place to buy silk that can be made up into fine garments within a day's time. Close to town there is a nice beach, easily reached by bicycle.

Day 18: Hanoi

You will be transferred to the airport in time for a morning flight to the capital, Hanoi, one of Asia's most enchanting cities. Its relaxed ambience is a joy, with exploration best accomplished on foot or bicycle. The shopping is fun, and the many lakes and parks provide enjoyable escapes. You take a guided half-day tour of Hanoi, visiting the major sights, including the Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda, and paying a homage to Vietnam's most famous revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh. We have also included lunch at the KOTO cafe, an amazing project aimed at providing vocational training and experience in the hospitality industry for underprivileged young people. All the staff you meet at this cafe have come from poor backgrounds. In the evening, you may choose to enjoy a performance of the unique Water Puppets.

Day 19: Halong Bay

You can leave luggage behind at your hotel in Hanoi and pack an overnight bag for a three-hour drive to the famous Halong Bay, one of Vietnam's most spectacular natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Views of sailing junks navigating past over 3000 limestone islands and rocky outcrops jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. You travel to Bai Chay (Halong City West), where you board a boat for an exploration of the bay, enjoying a seafood lunch and dinner (non-seafood is also available), as well as a night onboard the boat. You visit a cave in the area, and in the warmer months, there is a chance to enjoy a swim. Conditions may be somewhat more communal compared to staying in a hotel; however, it is a wonderful experience to spend a night on the bay. Weather permitting, the views at sunset are incredible. Bedding and towels are provided. All boats used have twin-share cabins with en suite facilities and air-conditioning. There may also be a chance to do some kayaking (optional & additional cost) on Halong Bay. Note: Accommodations on the cruise are on a twin share basis, due to the small number of rooms available on the boats. If you have paid a single supplement, please note that this does not cover the cruise, where you will share a cabin.

Day 20: Halong Bay/Hanoi

In the morning, you sail back to the port where you disembark and drive back to Hanoi. Arriving back in the capital, you have free time to wander around and enjoy some of the city's other attractions. Perhaps some shopping on Hang Gai Street or afternoon tea at the Metropole Hotel.

Day 21: Onward

The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included. However, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.