Majestic Indochina 23 Days

Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival (G)

When you arrive at Pochentong airport in Phnom Penh, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After a short rest, you’ll visit the National Museum, the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. Your overnight accommodation will be in Phnom Penh.

Day 2: Phnom Penh/the ‘Killing Fields’ (B, G)

In the morning, you’ll be picked up and driven to the so-called ‘Killing Fields’. In the afternoon, your time will be free for souvenir shopping, sightseeing or whatever. Your overnight accommodation will be in Phnom Penh.

Day 3: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, G)

Today, you will take a noon flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll explore Angkor Wat itself, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex. As dusk nears, a walk to the summit of Phnom Bakheng Hill will afford a panorama of the whole complex lit by the rays of the setting sun, weather permitting of course. Your overnight accommodation will be in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Siem Reap (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll begin with a visit to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon. Your next visit will be to the Elephant and Leper Emperor Terraces, followed by the Baphoun Temple, which is now nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme. You’ll then visit Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of the whole complex when it was discovered in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot, and Neak Pean, a Himalayan-style lake and sanctuary.

In the afternoon, an hour drive will take you to Banteay Srey Temple which displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art with some of the most beautiful, deep and intricate carvings. You’ll return to your hotel with en-route visit to a local family that makes sugar palm. Your overnight stay will be in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siem Reap/Vientiane (B, G)

Free time until transferred to the airport for noon flight to Vientiane. Arriving in Vientiane, you will be met and driven to your hotel. If time permits, you will visit the impressive Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and the Buddha Park, a a scattered enchanting collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures on the Mekong Riverside meadow, close to the Friendship Bridge. You will spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 6: Vientiane City Tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, you will stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

After lunch, you will visit Wat Ong Tue and Wat Haisok. You will then stop at the Central Market of Talad Sao and Talad Kouadin where various goods are displayed for sale; including fresh food, household goods, souvenirs, textiles, gold, silver and antiques. You will spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 7: Vientiane/Luang Prabang (B, G)

Free time until transferred to the airport for noon flight to Luang Prabang. 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 8: Luang Prabang city (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit the 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 9: 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. You will also visit Ban Phanom, a well-known weaving village. You will spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 10: Luang Prabang/Hanoi (B, GP)

Free time until transferred to the airport for an afternoon flight to Hanoi. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel where you will spend the night.

Day 11: Explore the capital Hanoi (B, L, G)

Today, you will visit some of the must-see sites in Hanoi. First, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum’s complex including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, museum, his simple house-on-stilt and One-Pillar Pagoda. You will then visit oldest pagoda in Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda.

After lunch, you will visit the excellent Ethnology Museum and the bustling Old Quarter. You will finish your day by attending a Water Puppetry performance. You will spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 12: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

After an early breakfast, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas where you’ll board a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels. The cruising route will take you to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Meals will be provided on board with fresh seafood mainly. You will spend the night in a twin or double cabin with an en suite toilet and shower.

Day 13: Ha Long/Hanoi (Brunch, G)

You’ll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking around noon and leaving for Hanoi. You will spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 14: Hanoi/Hue (B, G)

You will be free until transferred to the airport for a noon flight to Hue. Arriving in Hue, you will visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the local Dong Ba market. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 15: Hue (B, L, D, G)

Your morning will begin with a cruise along the Perfume River to visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda. From there, you’ll drive to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. After that, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of city’s ‘garden houses’ and then return to your hotel to freshen-up.

In the evening, you’ll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings of the garden houses and enjoy some of the most typical dishes of Hue’s cuisine. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 16: Hue/Danang/Hoi An (B, L, G)

In the morning, your car will arrive to drive you to Danang via the high mountain pass of Hai Van. You will then visit the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An. After lunch, you’ll have a guided visit to the Ancient Town of Hoi An. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 17: Hoi An free (B)

The day will be free for strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 18: Hoi An/Danang/Ho Chi Minh City (B, GP)

Today, you will fly to the hustle and bustle Ho Chi Minh City where you will met on arrival. You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 19: Ho Chi Minh City orientation (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your guide will arrive to show you around Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll visit the History Museum, the Museum of War Remnants, the huge Ben Thanh market.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Jade Emperor Temple and a lacquer workshop. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 20: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

A morning drive will take you to Vinh Long where a Mekong River cruise will take you to visit the fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and some long established cottage industries. You’ll drive further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho where you’ll spend the night.

Day 21: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

In the morning, you will take a boat cruise in the Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong Delta and then return to your hotel to check out. On your return to Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll call in at the beautiful and ancient Vinh Trang pagoda, 3 km from My Tho centre. Your overnight accommodation will be in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 22: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)

A morning drive will take you to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See in time to watch the mid-day ceremony. After lunch, you’ll visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a Byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialise as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 23: Ho Chi Minh City departure (B, DP)

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