17 DAYS, BEYOND INDOCHINA & EXOTIC BEACH

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

 

DAY 1             LUANG PRABANG- ARRIVAL                                               (-/-/D)

Meet upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel.

The crown jewel of Laos and former Lanexang, Luang Prabang, is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia. Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao culture with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang as a World Heritage City. Check in the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner and accommodation at Villa Santi Hotel.

 

DAY2              LUANG PRABANG- PAK OU- LUANG PRABANG        (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit Vat Xieng Thong, considered as the most beautiful temple. The sim of the Vat represents the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in 1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal Funeral Chapel. Inside are an impressive 12-meter high funeral   chariot   and various funeral urns of each Royal Family’s member. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana.  

Then board a traditional riverboat for a trip upstream the Mekong River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of statues representing Lord Buddha.

Picnic lunch at a bamboo cottage overlooking the confluence between the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers.

Return to Luang Prabang by boat and continue by car to visit Ban Phanom, a weaving village populated by Thai Lu that originally came from Sipsongpanna in Southern China.

Dinner and accommodation at Villa Santi Hotel.

 

DAY 3             LUANG PRABANG- KHOUANG XI            (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure by road to the Khuang Xi Waterfalls (30 kms, approx. 1 hour drive). The waterfalls tumble over multi – tiered limestone formations into cool, clear pools ideal for swimming and relaxing. On the way to the waterfalls, visit the Khmu minority village of Ban Thapaene for a glimpse into their lifestyle.

Picnic lunch nearby the waterfalls.

Return to Luang Prabang. On the way, visit Ban Xom, a lowland Lao village known for its cotton production. Stop at Ban Xang Khong village to see how traditional Sa paper is made.

Dinner and accommodation at Villa Santi Hotel.

 

DAY  4            LUANG PRABANG – HANOI                                                 (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the National Museum (former King’s Palace) displaying a collection of personal artifacts of the Royal Family. Then stroll through the lively Central Market where  the ethnic minorities of the surroundings come daily to trade their goods. Lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Check in. Have dinner at restaurant.

Accommodation at Melia Hotel, Deluxe room

 

DAY 5             HANOI- HALONG - HANOI- NIGHT TRAIN TO LAOCAI (B/L/D)

Have early breakfast and drive to Halong Bay (165 km east of Hanoi), listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1,000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Enjoy a relaxing 5-hour boat trip through Halong Bay, fresh Seafood lunch is prepared and served on board. Return to Halong pier for land transfer back to Hanoi. Have dinner at restaurant in Hanoi before transfer to the railway station for the  night train to Lao Cai.

Overnight on Victoria Express Carriage in Superior 4-berth compartment ( 02 lower and 02 upper berths sharing with other passengers)

 

DAY 6             LAO CAI- SAPA                                                                     (B/L/D)

The train arrives at Lao Cai railway station early morning. Pick up and transfer to Sapa. Have breakfast at the hotel. Hotel check in time is 14:00; early check-in is subject to availability only.

Have a light trek to Ham Rong Mount, see the botanical garden and climb to the cloud platform for a panoramic view of Sapa Town. Back to the hotel.

Have lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, trek to Cat Cat, a Black H’mong ethnic minority village.

Evening free at leisure.

Dinner and overnight at Victoria Hotel in Sapa, Deluxe room

 

DAY 7             SAPA  - LAOCAI- NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI                            (B/L/D)

In the morning, transfer to visit Taphin village. Lying in a hillside meadow, it is home to Red Dzao and Hmong people. Getting to know the life and customs of Dzao People, another ethnic minority group of this region, appreciate the skill of the local women over their looms. Back to the  hotel for lunch.

Have extended check-out time.

Have dinner at the hotel and then check out and transfer to Lao Cai railway station for the night train to Hanoi.

Overnight on Victoria Express Carriage in Superior 4-berth compartment ( 02 lower and 02 upper berths sharing with other passengers)

 

 

DAY 8             HANOI- HOCHIMINH CITY                                                    (B/-/-)

The train arrives at Hanoi railway station early in the morning. Pick up and transfer to hotel in Hanoi for early check-in. Have breakfast and some more rest.

Check out from the hotel before 12:00 and transfer to the airport for the flight to Hochiminh City. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to the city centre for hotel check-in. Rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation Majestic Hotel, Colonial Deluxe City-view room

 

DAY 9             HOCHIMINH CITY – SIEM REAP                                               (B/L/D)

Breakfast. Check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap.

Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport, transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon)

Lunch at hotel.

In the afternoon, see the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as "The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset.

Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at Sokha Angkor Hotel

 

DAY 10           SIEM REAP                                                                               (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

Lunch at hotel.

Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat.

Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at Sokha Angkor Hotel

 

DAY 11           SIEM REAP                                                                               (B/L/D)

An early bird special:

Transfer to the archaeological site for sunrise from Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat.

Or sunrise at Srah Srang

Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

Lunch at hotel.

In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble.

Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at Sokha Angkor Hotel

 

DAY 12           SIEM REAP – PHNOM PENH – SIHANOUKVILLE              (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Early morning, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.

Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight FT993 (1105-1155) to Phnom Penh

Arrive in Phnom Penh, transfer without guide to Sihanoukville

Lunch and dinner not included

Accommodation at Sokha Beach Resort

 

DAY 13           SIHANOUKVILLE                                                                       (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Full day free at leisure (No car, no guide)

Lunch and dinner not included

Accommodation at Sokha Beach Resort

 

DAY 14           SIHANOUKVILLE                                                                       (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Full day free at leisure (No car, no guide)

Lunch and dinner not included

Accommodation at Sokha Beach Resort

 

DAY 15           SIHANOUKVILLE                                                                       (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Full day free at leisure (No car, no guide)

Lunch and dinner not included

Accommodation at Sokha Beach Resort

 

DAY 16           SIHANOUKVILLE                                                                       (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Full day free at leisure (No car, no guide)

Lunch and dinner not included

Accommodation at Sokha Beach Resort

 

DAY 17           SIHANOUKVILLE – PHNOM PENH -DEPARTURE              (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.

Morning free at leisure (No car, no guide)

Lunch not included

Pick up at 13:30, transfer without guide to Phnom Penh airport for departure flight to next destination .