The Best of Laos and Cambodia 14 Days

Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival (D, G)

Arriving in Luang Prabang International Airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After a short rest, you’ll be free to stroll around the city’s Night Market offering handmade textiles woven by local people and ethnic minority communities. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 2: Luang Prabang city (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun, Wat Mai temple and the ‘Day Market’.

After lunch, you will climb up to the top of Mount Phousi provides a panorama of the ancient royal city and the Mekong River. You’ll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 3: Luang Prabang/Kuangsi Waterfall/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

This is the morning when you need your alarm clock! Early in the morning after a sustaining beverage and a small snack, you’ll witness one of Laos’ unique ceremonies – the daily ‘alms giving’ ritual of saffron-clad monks walking in a long line holding black bowls to receive offerings from local people. The traditional gift is a handful of ‘sticky rice’, but nowadays money is equally acceptable.

You’ll then return to your hotel for a proper breakfast. Afterwards, you’ll be driven to the Kuangsi Waterfalls, a serene beauty spot where you can splash around in the pools or stroll the forest paths. From there, you’ll return to Luang Prabang and continue to Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village. It’s quite commercial, but if you look carefully you can pick up some authentic hand-woven material – they make good souvenirs. Returning to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon, you will be free. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang/Vang Vieng (B, L, D, G)

This morning, you will visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts and the Central market before driving to Vang Vieng. The intrepid journey will be strenuous as you drive along one of the most scenic but also one of the roughest routes in Asia.

Arriving in Vang Vieng, a small and tranquil town, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River in the mid-afternoon, you will embark on a boat for a well-paced trip along the Nam Song River, exploring the breathtaking mountain landscape then back to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 5: Explore Vang Vieng (B, L, D, G)

This morning, you will visit the beautiful Tham Jang cave, which was used by the local people as a refuge from Chinese invaders 200 years ago. After that, you will walk to the Tai Deang and the Souay hill tribe villages. The hill tribe people are unfailingly friendly; welcoming you with waving hands and smilling faces. The remainder of the day is free for your own exploration of the town and relaxation. You will spend the night in Vang Vieng.

Day 6: Vang Vieng/Vientiane (B, L, G)

Early morning, you will drive out of town to the fabulous capital, Vientiane. Along the way we make a stop to visit Vang Xang, a famous archeological site dating back 11th century. On arrival in Vientiane, you will visit the Wat Sisaket which is the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. This amazing structure features remarkable frescoes and Buddha images. You will then visit Waw Prakeo, the former royal temple of Laos monarchy and the Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane's own Arc de Triumph. You will spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 6: Vientiane/Pakse/Don Khone Island (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, you will catch an early flight to Pakse. On arrival, you will be driven on the National Road No. 13th south to Champassak and to visit the fascinating pre-angkorian ruins of Wat Phu, one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples - Wat Phu which is recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 10^th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. After that, you will continue our journey by long tail boat to Don Khong, the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. You will spend the night in Don Khone Island.

Day 7: Don Khone Island Surrounding (B, L, D, G)

After an early breakfast, you will explore the local villages of Ban Khone, where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with it’s locomotive. You will then continue discovering the 4000 islands area by boat at our leisure to visit the Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia, also known as the Samphamith. With lucks, you will see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. You will return to Ban Nakasang and drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east. Your overnight will be in Don Khone Island.

Day 8: Don Khone Island/Tadlo/Pakse (B, L, G)

Upon leaving Done Khone Island, you will continue our journey towards Tadlo, through Boloven plateau. The Boloven Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. This trip gives visitors the chance to venture off the beaten track and to discover some of the lesser-known areas of Laos, exploring the wild beauty of this southern region. Upon arrival at Tad Lo waterfall, you will visit the villages of Alak, Nge, and Katu, populated by ethnic minority groups. Returning to Pakse by late evening, you will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 9: Pakse/Siem Reap (B, G)

Free time until transferred to the airport for noon flight to Siem Reap. Arriving at Siem Reap airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll explore Angkor Wat, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex. You’ll overnight accommodation will be in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll begin with a visit to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon. You’ll then visit Ta Prohm. After lunch, you’ll be driven to Siem Reap River and Wat Athovea. There, you’ll embark for a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, a natural reservoir that partly controls the level of floods in the Mekong Delta, and visit a floating fishing village en-route. You’ll return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 11: Siem Reap/Beng Mealea/Siem Reap (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will drive you 50km through the countryside, the rice fields alongside the Kulen Mountain range to Beng Mealea Temple complex. Beng Mealea is almost the size of Angkor Wat and is one of the largest ensembles build during Khmer reign and still seldom visited. You’ll have a picnic lunch and drive back to Siem Reap in the afternoon. Return with a stop by at one more famous temple of Bantey Srey “the Citadel of Women”. This small pink sandstone temple (late 10th century) is considered as the crown jewel of classical Khmer art with the delicate beauty of its carvings. You’ll overnight at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Siem Reap/Phnom Penh (B, G)

Free time until transferred to the airport for noon flight to Phnom Penh. Arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be met and driven to the hotel. After a short rest, you will visit the National Museum and the Royal Palace with Silver Pagoda. You will finish your day with free time to visit and shopping at the Russian Market. You will spend the night in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Phnom Penh/the ‘Killing Fields’/Phnom Penh (B, G)

In the morning, you’ll visit the so-called ‘Killing Fields’. After lunch in the city, you will be free. Your overnight accommodation will be in Phnom Penh.

Day 14: Phnom Penh departure (B, GP)

Free time until transferred to the airport for departure flight. Tour ends.