3 week Journey through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia (ATD-M10)

You will arrive at Bangkok International Airport and from there you will be taken by private transfer to your hotel in the city centre. You’ll be free to spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Bangkok

Start your day with a guided tour to Wat Phra Kaew, the chapel of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the world’s most precious image of The Lord Buddha, the 75cm statue of jade sits atop an 11m golden pedestal surrounded by the lavish mural and richly decorated pavilions. Next, you will visit The Grand Palace – one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Thailand, which encompasses several major buildings (the Reception Palace, the throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the Funeral Palace).

Today you will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant sampling Thai delightful cuisine.

After lunch, you will visit Wat Traimit, the temple of the golden Buddha built with 5.5 tones of solid gold, sculptured in Sukhothai style. Continue to visit Wat Pho, the temple of the Reclining Buddha, a stunning statue with 46m long and 15m high covered in gold leaf.

End up your day by visiting the Marble Temple, a mixture of Thai and European architecture which houses a unique collection of rare Buddha images. Then return to your hotel where the balance of the day is free at your leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight in Bangkok

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the historical park of Ayutthaya. Arrive at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, built during the Ayutthaya era, you will visit the Ancient City, including;

– Wat Maha That, the heart and soul of  Ayutthaya people, a classic temple ruin of Ayutthaya and famous for the picturesque Buddha head engulfed by the Bodhi tree roots. The foundation size, remaining prangs, and towers attest to the significance during its time.

– Wat Na Phra Mane – Remains in perfect condition, as it was used as the Burmese headquarters.

– Wat Lokayasutharam which has a mysterious past, whereby its origins are unknown, to see the largest reclining Buddha of Ayutthaya at 8 meters high and 42 meters long. The Buddha image was made of brick and covered with plaster

After visiting the Ayutthaya Historical Park, you will return to Bangkok by a relaxing Cruise Trip. Lunch on board (buffet Lunch) “Delicious Meals served in the luxurious surroundings of the cruise boat.” Throughout the journey, you will be able to watch the Chao Phraya River banks scenery, either on deck in the fresh cool tropical air or from the refreshing air-conditioned passenger room. You will get an amazing ling clear view of the life of the inhabitants that dwell along the river, and the unforgettable scenery of children as they greet the visitors going by, making it an altogether worthwhile experience.

Arriving at the city, you will pass the Royal Grand Palace, followed by Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn). The temple was the former palace when the Thai capital of Ayutthaya was replaced by Thonburi.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Bangkok

After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for a short flight to Chiang Mai.

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and then taken directly to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Depart from your hotel and transfer to the foothill of DoiSuthep Mountain in time to buy offerings and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony. This is a serene Buddhist procession where dozens of monks walk barefoot through the street collecting food and everyday items. Continue up the mountain to WatDoiSuthep and climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to reach its golden pagodas.

Leaving WatDoiSuthep you will continue to discover one of the best–kept secret temples of Chiang Mai, Wat Palad, known as the Temple below the Temple. This temple is a significant element of the Chiang Mai area’s history with its temple grounds aged beyond 650 years old.

Next, proceed to Wat Umong, built in the 14th century, a heavily forested temple covered by moss and small plants offering a unique yet charming sense of natural decay. After a walk through its mysterious tunnels, you will reach the Viharn of the temple to experience your own private blessing ceremony.

After that, enjoy this lovely day with a delicious bowl of Khao Soy. This famous Northern Thai dish is a combination of coconut cream, crispy noodles and plenty of spice that is sure to delight!

After lunch, you will visit the Three Kings Monument, followed by Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center, located in an old building of elegant architectural design, built in 1927. Standing on the location of a former royal hall, the building was used as the central administrative office of Phayap administrative unit of Siam, and later as the Provincial Hall of Chiang Mai. (Note: Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center is closed on Mondays and during Songkran festival. Open from Tuesday – Sundays: 08:30 – 17:00)

Later, discover the lost city of WiangKumKam, “The Underground Empire,” one of the greatest cultural and historical significances. Following a massive flood, the city of WiangKumKam vanished without a trace. For over 200 years, WiangKumKam became a lost civilization buried under layers of earth. You will explore the main ancient ruined temples by bicycle: WiangKumKam, WatChedi Liam, Wat Phraya MengRai, WatKan Thom, and Koo Paa Dom.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon where the balance of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Chiang Mai

After breakfast, depart Chiang Mai heading out of the city to Thailand’s premiere National park, Doi Inthanon. On turning into the park, the road will start to climb towards Thailand’s highest peak. On the route up the mountain, your first stop will be at Siritharn Waterfall, then you will proceed further up the mountain to the king and queen pagodas. From these two iconic pagodas, you can enjoy some stunning views across the park to the valley below.

The trip will then proceed to the top of the mountain, at the top you can stand on Thailand’s highest point and get your photo taken at the famous highest mountain in Thailand sign. At the top of the mountain is the stunningly beautiful Angkha Nature trail, this is a short walk of 400 meters but it will take you through some unique flora and forest which can only be seen at this high elevation. After Thailand’s highest peak, you will drop by at the Hmong hill tribe market and then have lunch.

After lunch, it will be time for your walk which will take you deeper into the park and away from the well-visited tourist trail up the mountain. The walk will take around two hours and you will follow the beautiful Pah Dok Siew Nature Trail, the trail will take you through the rice paddies and forest and you will get to enjoy some unique views of the park which many visitors miss. At the end of the walk, it will be time to board the transport again for the trip back down to the mountain. En-route you will stop by at one of Inthanon’s most spectacular Wachiritharn Waterfalls, before winding your way back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Time will be on your own in the evening time, hanging around the Nigh Bazaar, exploring Chiang Mai by yourself.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Chiang Mai

The whole morning will be on your own until you are picked up and transferred to Chiang Mai Airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang, Laos.

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and driver and taken to the hotel in downtown for check-in.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Get up early in the morning to join the alms-giving ceremony, a longstanding tradition in Laos Buddhist culture. The ceremony takes place daily as the sun rises, beginning on the main street of Luang Prabang before spreading out to all the side streets. Around 200 Buddhist monks depart from temples in this UNESCO-listed town to gather their daily meals.

Get back to your hotel for breakfast and then embark on a city tour visiting Luang Prabang’s major top attractions. The first stop will be the Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham), which is now the National Museum. It houses many religious and cultural treasures, including the royal throne of the Lane Xang kingdom in its original splendor, and preserves some of the daily royal life up to 1975. The museum provides information about its exhibits in English, and our guide will be able to offer additional explanations about the artifacts inside.

You will then board a traditional long-tail boat for the Mekong River cruise to the famous Pak Ou Caves. Locally called Tam Ting, the caves are filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues, in a wide range of sizes. During the boat ride, take note of the fishermen and villagers going about their daily life on the river. For the local people, the Mekong River plays an integral role in daily life and represents one of the only means of transportation and commerce.

On the way back to town, you will stop at Ban Xang Hay, a village specializing in the making of rice wine.

Returning to town you will continue to visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall. This 15th-century wat is the most important in Luang Prabang and one of the most important in the entire country. Until the revolution of 1975, Wat Xieng Thong was a royal temple, supported by the royal family.

Proceed to Wat Mai (“New Monastery”), built in 1796. It was given its present name following the restoration undertaken by King Manthathourat in 1821. The most striking feature of the temple is the gilded relief panels covering the front facade. The panels tell the story of Vessentara, the highest incarnation of the Buddha. The gilded door frames merge into the relief panel, forming what looks like a monolithic wall of gold. Afterward, you will visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. From there, you will be transferred to Wat Prabath to admire the sunset.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch  
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Get visit the morning local market near the Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life.

Leaving the market you will drive through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Upon reaching the Waterfall, you will enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings or explore the dense jungle on foot. For the adventurous, it is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where beautiful views await. These waterfalls cascade down a multilevel limestone formation creating a series of turquoise blue pools perfect for swimming on a hot day (if swimming, please dress modestly).

There is also the chance to walk to the nearby village of Ban Thapene and explore the hidden waterfalls, which is rarely visited by other tourists. If time permits, you will also take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers

On the way back to Luang Prabang, you will stop at Ock Pop Tok, set in a tropical Mekong garden it opens doors to learning about Lao textiles and crafts. Bringing alive our concept of east meets west, the Living Craft Centre (LCC) is a place where you can meet silk weavers, craft artisans and silkworms and learn about textiles. Weavers work on traditional looms practicing the age-old techniques brought here to Laos over 1200 years ago. Intern artisans from the Village Weaver Projects work alongside the Ock Pop Tok weavers learning new skills that they, in turn, take home to their villages. The exchanges taking place at the LCC have proven to keep alive the spirit that was prevalent during the prime of the Silk Road and all that was instrumental then in the emergence of the silk industry and appreciation of silk textiles around the world.

Finish your day and transfer back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Luang Prabang

Spend a free day exploring all Luang Prabang has to offer. You can consider joining our recommended optional experience below.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Tasty street food to try in Luang Prabang

Time will be on your own, exploring Luang Prabang by yourself (Check out hotel is at 12.00). In the late afternoon, your driver will take you to the airport for a short flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at the Hanoi International Airport, you will be met and greeted and transferred in a private vehicle to the hotel in the downtown for check-in.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, dive into the sights, sounds, and aromas of Hanoi. Start with Ho Chi Minh Complex including his Mausoleum (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all afternoon, every Monday & Friday, and from late September until December), the Presidential Palace, the historic Stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Continuing on your journey through Hanoi, you head to Tran Quoc Pagoda (which means “Stabilizing the Nation”), the oldest pagoda constructed in the sixth century in the Westlake and also a famous attraction for pilgrims.

From there, you will proceed to the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy or “mandarins”.

Around 12.30: you will have lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch is aa short drive to the Museum of Ethnology, a museum of the 54 officially recognized Ethnic Groups in Vietnam (Ethnology Museum is closed every Monday).

Return to the City center to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart and soul of Hanoi.

End up your day with a fun cyclo/ rickshaw ride through the French Quarter and then enjoy a Water Puppet show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

Around 18.00 – 18.30, return to your hotel where the rest of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast you will leave the busy streets of Hanoi behind, bound for the serenity of Halong Bay where you will discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscapes. The limestone karsts and tropical islets rising up from the emerald waters provide an ethereal backdrop for your leisurely cruise.

Once there, you’ll be welcomed aboard your traditional-style Vietnamese Junk boat, each with its own individual route, to begin your cruise around the bay’s rocky islands and hidden caves.

After lunch on board, you will take a small boat transfer to the Tien Ong Cave and Cua Van Fishing Village, whose residents still live in traditional floating houses.

Return to your Junk boat for a cooking demonstration with the chef or enjoy a mesmerising sunset on the top deck before enjoying a scrumptious dinner and a peaceful overnight stay in this UNESCO-listed natural wonder.

Note: If your time permits, we would highly recommend an additional night on board which gives you a lot more time to relax and take in the amazing landscape. You’ll get to cruise deeper into the Bay where it’s more beautiful and less crowded. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight on board in Halong Bay

The graceful practice of Tai Chi eases you into your day as is the local custom. Join a ‘Local Specialist’ on the deck of the Junk boat for a morning class in exquisite natural surrounds. You’ll have time for an early morning swim at one of Halong Bay’s quiet beaches and, if you’re feeling energetic, a brisk walk to catch one last view of scenic Halong Bay before your drive to Hanoi Airport to catch your flight to Danang.

Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your driver and transferred in a private vehicle to the hotel in Hoi An for check-in. Then you will be free for the rest of the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hoi An

After breakfast, you will meet your tour guide and embark on a walking tour winding through the winding narrow streets of the Ancient Town. You will visit the town’s major top attractions including Chua Ong Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge. You will also attend a traditional music show and explore the Lantern making factories, a traditional hand-made product of Hoi An.

Leaving Hoi An Ancient town you will embark on a boat trip to visit Thanh Ha handicraft ceramic village, and Kim Bong Carpentry Village, famous for its carpentry and traditional woodworking products.

The rest of the day will be free at your leisure. You can visit the tailor shops to have some clothes made to measure within 24 hours. Or just relax and enjoy the comforts of the hotel

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Hoi An

The whole morning will be free at your leisure. Check out of the hotel at midday and then transfer to Danang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (widely known as Saigon).

On arrival at HCM City airport, you will be met and greeted and then taken in a private vehicle to your hotel for check-in.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, we will travel over 70 kilometers to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, which was built by the Viet Cong in the war battles for the South of Vietnam. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who lived almost entirely underground in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels, for up to 10 years!

Upon arrival, you will have a chance to watch a brief video that will introduce you to the Cu Chi tunnels, followed by a walk through the reserve. In this walk, you can see the Secret Entrance to the tunnels, workshops for the handmade weapons, the clinic bunker, the commander bunker, the meeting bunker and the kitchen bunkers, which are all open and above ground. Nearby is a chilling exhibition of the traps and weapons used during the war.  You can experience the Cu Chi tunnels by crawling inside to see how difficult life must have been, and discover the 3 levels underground.

For those who do not like the claustrophobic atmosphere, you will not have to crawl into these tunnels! The small replica displayed outside will give you a perfect example of what the interior looked like.

Finish the tour and return to HCM City around noon for lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, your guide will show you the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Depart from your hotel to the Reunification Palace; this beautifully preserved palace was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On April 30th, 1975 the American War officially came to an end here. Proceed to the War Remnants Museum, where you can see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting the second Indochina war.

Continue to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, which was built sometime between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Next will be Jade Emperor Pagoda, nestled in a quiet enclave in downtown HCM City, the Pagoda offers a calming sanctuary from the bustle of the busy streets outside

The final stop will be Ben Thanh Market where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs. You’ll find some of the friendliest, liveliest, most convivial people in the city here.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in HCM City

After breakfast, you will depart for a two-hour drive to Ben Tre Town, in the Mekong Delta, popularly known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, and is famous for its vast rice fields, orchard farms, coconut trees, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes.

Upon arrival you will embark on a motorized boat trip around the scenic Ben Tre River, viewing various local industries along the way. During the boat ride, you will stop to visit the small local factories where bricks and sleeping mats are made. Take a leisure walk along the village lanes visiting the local homes to try dry fruits, taste honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit a coconut mill workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

You next take a small sampan boat through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of Ho Chi Minh City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back a Motor Cart (xe lôi) passing rice and vegetable orchard farms while meeting with local people. Then head to a local restaurant for a simple lunch, after which you will be driven back to Ho Chi Minh International Airport for your flight to Siemreap.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Siemreap

After breakfast, you will start your day by visiting the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8m high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path – a row of 54 gods or demons is holding the sacred Naga snake. Continue on to the incredible Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground.

In the afternoon, you will visit the legendary Angkor Wat. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple.

End the day with the beautiful sunset view from the top of Phnom Bakheng hill. Once the sun has set, you will head back to town. Time will be on your own in the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Siemreap

In the morning you will embark on an incredible boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake (Kampong Phluk area), where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season, as it swells to about four times its size during the wet season. Board a local boat and visit Kampong Phluck, a village where you will see houses on stilts that are submerged when Tonlé Sap Lake swells. On the way, you will pass floating houses and impressive flooded forests, portraying life on the water.

In the afternoon, you will be taken on a drive through the countryside to a beautiful small farming village where life revolves around the seasons and family, located approximately 15 minutes outside of Siem Reap. Here you will be taken on a walking tour through the village and the local community, learning about their simple way of life, meet local people and you will probably want to chat with them or help them with gardening works or help grow vegetables in the gardens. You will be welcomed by the kids saying “Hello” to you. In the village, the tour guide will explain to you about Cambodian daily lifestyle, customers, cultures, and superstitions. Then you will also stop at a local pagoda for an intimate monk blessing (water blessing), wishing you good health and a safe journey – a very special experience!

This is a wonderful village tour that provides a lot of photo opportunities and local experiences. End of the trip, you will enjoy seasonal fruits & fresh coconut juice at a host family’s house before transferring back to your hotel.

*** Note: Today you need to wear proper clothes if you want to join the monk blessing at the local temple.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Siemreap

Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Siem Reap International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.

Meals included: Breakfast