20 DAYS, LUANGPRABANG -ANGKOR, PANDAW AND EVASON HIDEAWAY

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 01: ARRIVAL BANGKOK, EN FLIGHT TO CHIENGRAI
After landing at Bangkok International airport, catch your connecting flight to Pakse.
Greet upon your arrival at Pakse  airport and transfer to your hotel.

DAY 02: HOEISAY - LUANGSAY CRUISE (B,L,D)
Transfer to Houeisay pier for Luang Say boat cruise. LuangSay boat  leaves HoueiSay pier at 09h00 hrs for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route one stop is made to observe rural life along the Mekong and discover minorities, a buffet lunch on board. Arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at LuangSay Lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River

DAY 03: ARRIVAL LUANGRABANG . OVERNIGHT LA RESIDENCE PHOUVAO(B)
Full breakfast at lodge. (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding village of minorities exchange their goods). At 08h30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop is made to visit a hilltribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you visit Tam Ting “Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s”. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset.

DAY 04: LUANGRABANG . OVERNIGHT LA RESIDENCE PHOUVAO(B)
Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. Today we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang

DAY 05: LUANGRABANG . FLIGHT TO SIEMREAP(B)
Before transfer  to airport for your flight to Siemreap, we have a visit to the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign.
Overnight in Siemreap
 

DAY 06: SIEMREAP(B)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel
We will embark on an elephant ride to tour of Angkor Thom. This will include the South Gate, Bayon, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. From here you will then make your way to visit Ta Prohm before an afternoon visit to Preah Khan, Neak Pean, East Mebon and Pre Rup temples.
 

DAY 07: EMBARK PANDAW - SIEMREAP /TONLESAP(L,D)

OPTION ONE LOW WATER (approx June-Dec)
1030 Depart by speed boat from the Siem Reap port to cross the great Tonle Lake
1300 Embark on ship waiting at the Tonle river mouth
1430 Arrive Kampong Chhanaan for after noon exploration on foot of this traditional Khmer river town on the edge of the Tonle lake
1600 Depart Kampong Chhanaan sailing up the delightful and exciting Tonle River. Moor overnight at jungle village.

OPTION TWO HIGH WATER (approx Dec-April)
1300 embark Siem Reap for lunch or anytime in the afternoon
1500 motor boat excursion to floating villages of Tonle Sap
o/n moor over night in lake outside Siem Reap

DAY 08: PANDAW CRUISE -TONLESAP/ Upper Mekong (B,L,D)
OPTION ONE LOW WATER
700 cast off for morning cruise on Tonle River past Phnom Penh
am walk in Chong Koh village
pm walk in Peam Chikang village
o/n mid-stream south of Kampong Cham

OPTION TWO HIGH WATER
0500 cast off to cross the the Tonle Lake and River by ship
1200 Kampong Chhanaan for exploration on foot of this traditional Khmer river town on the edge of the Tonle lake
1400 explore the Tonle River and cruise past Phnom Penh to enter the Upper Mekong bound for Kampong Cham

DAY 09: PANDAW CRUISE KAMPONG CHAM (B,L,D)
0900 bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor and the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, or Man and Woman Hill.
1230 return to ship for lunch
1500 speed boat trip upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey.
O/n cast off and sail downstream mooring in river overnight
 

DAY 10: PANDAW CRUISE -PHNOMPENH (B,L,D)
1000 arrive Phnom Penh city centre port for morning sight seeing
1300 lunch on board
1430 sight seeing
O/N Phnom Penh

DAY 11: PANDAW CRUISE - CRUISING THE MEKONG  (B,L,D)
0500 cast off for day of cruising in the main Mekong channel
1000 morning walk in countryside
pm border formalities

DAY 12: PANDAW CRUISE - CHAUDOC(B,L,D)
0800 depart border then leave Mekong to cross by canal to Basac River
1100 explore Chau Doc by bus visiting the Nui Sam mountain
1300 cast off and traverse by back-water delta canals to the Mekong river

Day 13: PANDAW CRUISE - CAIBE - MYTHO(B/L/D)
0900 boat trip around Cai Be
1100 return to ship - cruising through the Mekong Delta
1430 sight seeing in and around My Tho by bus and boat

DAY 14: PANDAW CRUISE - SAIGON. OVERNIGHT PAK HYATT(B)
0900 disembark from ship at My Tho for transfer by bus to Saigon
1100 arrive Saigon for drop off at Renaissance Hotel, transfer to Park Hayatt Hotel
 

Day 15: CUCHI TUNNEL TOUR - OVERNIGHT PAK HYATT(B)
Transfer about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town. Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Cu Chi Tunnels consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels, the tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to crawl along.
Depart for Tay Ninh, the head quarter of Cao Dai region. On arrival we attend the fantastic mid-day mass when the followers fill the hall wear colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity and Buddhism.
 

DAY 16: SAIGON - NHATRANG EVASION HIDEAWAY(B)
Transfer to airport for your flight to to the beautiful beach of NhaTrang VN 452  1135  1230. Transfer to Evasion Hideaway Resort deluxe resort . Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in NhaTrang.
 

DAY 17:  EVASION HIDEAWAY(B)
At leisure. Water sports abound including parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing and relaxing boat trips to the outlying islands. If you prefer to keep your feet dry then hop into a taxi or take a cyclo for an exploratory trip around Nha Trang. Overnight at  Evasion Hideaway Resort.

DAY 18:  EVASION HIDEAWAY(B)
Free leisure to enjoy the beach time.
 

DAY 19:  EVASION HIDEAWAY(B)
Free leisure to enjoy the beach time.
 

DAY 20: DEPARTURE(B)
Free leisure until our transfer to airport for your flight to next destination.