Indochina Adventure Tour 16 days

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)   On arrival, pick up and transfer to selected hotel. Welcome dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi full day city tour (B/L)   After breakfast, spend your day touring the capital and visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, its former residence, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, discover Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and enjoy a rickshaw tour the Old Quarter with its antique shops. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi-Halong (B/L/D)   08.30 am pick up you at your hotel in Hanoi. Travel to Ha Long city for about 3 hours drive. Upon arrival, transfer to a junk for a cruise around Ha Long Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. An afternoon cruise on a boat in the crystalline emerald green water of Ha Long bay, among thousands of spectacular limestone islets and discover Surprising Cave. The boat stops at an ideal location for Sea Kayaking as we paddle through a maze of islets amid dramatic natural scenery. With the kayaking equipment, you are able to maximize on speed and maneuverability as we paddle through the open sea and explore the many hidden lagoons and stalagmite caves that are difficult to access by any other means. Dinner and overnight on the Junk.

Day 4: Halong - Hanoi (B/L)   After breakfast, brunch on boat and discover Man?s head Island, Tortoise Island, Luon Cave, Bai Tu Long Bay, Ton Island and Bai Tho Mountain.End of the cruise at 11:00, then drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi- Mai Chau-Puloung (B/L/D)   After breakfast we depart Hanoi for Pu Luong Natural Reserve via Mai Chau. This scenic drive takes around 4 hrs. Along the way we pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies. We will reach Mai Chau valley by lunchtime. Following lunch in Pom Coong Village, we drive 22km further into the reserve where we begin our biking. Biking about 2 hours before arriving at Hang Village, which is home to Thai ethnic minority. We spend the night with a local Thai family who will be our hosts in a traditional house built on stilts. Before dinner we can stroll around the village to observe daily life activities of the locals.

Day 6: Puloung - Moc Chau - Lao Border - Sam Nuea (B)   After breakfast at the local village, biking and driving back Mai Chau for transfer to Lao border. Tour Ends in Vietnam. Upon arrival at the Vietnam (5 hours driving from Hanoi) and Laos border, we will meet our local English speaking guide and minibus wait for you, after checking in Laos side there will be a transfer to Sam Neua on the way we will visit The Pathet Lao party caves if we have time, and then keep on going to Sam Neua. Approx 2 hours driving. Overnight in Sam Neua.

Day 7: Driving to Xieng Khuang (B)   Following breakfast, we will drive to Xieng Khouang. On the way we will visit Tham Peaw where the people died in the caves because of the Bom in Muang Kham. Approx 7 hours driving.

 

Today we will visit Royal Palace, Phousi hill, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Vixoun, Wat That Luang, Ban Pha Nom the weaving village and Ban Xang Khong. Free at leisure in the evening or to climb up Phousi hill for the excellent view of the town.

 

After breakfast, we will transfer to Tiger Trail for do the trip elephant riding and Kayaking, afterward return to the town and free at leisure.

 

After breakfast, heading south and travel to the sleepy riverside hamlet of Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng is a small town next to Nam Song River and surrounded by jagged limestones karsts. Along the way we'll stop for lunch at Kasi, you will pass through villages where local children will be playing in the streams, and where the villagers weave material for sale in local markets. we will be in the city around 1500-1600pm. If we have time enough we'll also to explore the town.

 

Today we will be biking around the town and cross the bridge to the other side and visit the caves. In the evening it?s free at leisure or relaxes at the restaurant and drinks some Beer Lao to see the sunset.

 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave our riverside paradise and drive to the sleepiest capital city "Vientiane" Pronounced " Vieng Chane ", the capital of Laos is a slow paced, clean city. The people of Lao and in particular Vientiane could be ranked among the most friendly and honest in the world. Vientiane sits on a bend in the Mekong River amid fertile alluvial plains. At times controlled by the Bermese, Siamese, Vietnamese, and Khmers, it was made a capital city by the French in the late 19th century and the retains flavours of all its past inhabitants. Like Luang Prabang, the main attractions of Vientiane are the Wats; Pha That Luang ( the Great Sacred Stupa built in 1566 and later covered with 500kg of gold leaf ), and the Wat Sisaket. The latter is the oldest monastery in Vientiane, built in 1824. Inside the walls surrounding the main temple are niches displaying Buddha's. It is said that there are over 10.000 representations of Buddha here. The Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos located just outside the city. A walk along the path beside the Mekong at the sunset is always popular for travellers and locals alike.

 

Today we have to get up early for the earlier flight from Vientiane to Siem Reap at 0630am. Upon arrival at Siem Reap, we are welcomed by our guide to transfer to the hotel. After the lunch break, we will head to Small Circuit to witness the Prasat Kravan (Cardamon sanctuary), where we will experience the stunning image of the eight-armed Vishnu in the largest central tower. Then we get going to Banteay Kdei, a massive Buddist temple with four concentric walls; Srah Srang (Royal Bath); especially to Ta Prohm, which is best known for its originally charming look, with trees and roots intertwined with the carvings and chambers of the buildings. Next, we move to just east of Angkor Thom where stand the Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda that seem to be known as the twin temple, and to Takeo, the only temple never completed and yet one among the finest. Finally, we enjoy the dinner in Siem Reap town. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

ANGKOR THOM & ANGKOR WAT In the early morning we will view sunrise at Angkor Wat. There you will see the wonderful spectrum of sun rise on the top of the five peaks of Angkor Temple, breakfast at hotel, then start the tour to South Gate of Angkor Thom, then go to Angkor Thom (the temple) which was built by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII. The major attraction of Angkor Thom is the Bayon, whose exact function and symbolism is still unknown until now. Then we go to Baphoun, which is one of the most spectacular of Angkor?s temples in its heyday; to Terrace of the Elephants that was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king?s grand audience hall; to Terrace of the Leper King, another of Angkor?s mysteries. In the afternoon, we visit the World Seventh Wonder -better known as Angkor Wat- that stands as the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Angkor Wat stretch over some 400 sq. km, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire. In the evening we view the sunset at Phnom Bakheng Hill before the dinner with Khmer Traditional Dance Show. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

Floating Village ? City Tour After breakfast at the hotel, this morning, experience boat trip on the Great Lake Tonle Sap, on the way if the time permits we will visit Pagoda to see the real Cambodian monk?s daily life. During the trip, the fresh water exhibition where we can see various kinds of fish in Tonlesap Lake. We will return to the town at 11:00pm, and enjoy lunch and the local restaurant. In the afternoon, we have city tour and free leisure until departure. Option I: Banteay Srei ? City Tour Today morning, we continue to visit Kbal Spean (The river of a Thousand lingas) and have lunch at the local restaurant nearby, then visit the exquisitely decorated pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srey, whose intricate carving has the example of Khmer classical art remaining and stands as the finest monument ever seen on the planet. About 2:30pm, we return back to the city center and are free leisure until departure. Overnight in Siem Reap. Option II-B: Banteay Srei ? City Tour Today morning, we continue to visit Kbal Spean (The river of a Thousand lingas) and have lunch at the local restaurant nearby, then visit the exquisitely decorated pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srey, whose intricate carving has the example of Khmer classical art remaining and stands as the finest monument ever seen on the planet. About 2:30pm, we return back to the city center and are free leisure until departure.