Cambodia | Thailand | Laos | Vietnam | Signature Tours | Mekong Experience
Undiscovered Southeast Asia Tour
Back to Signature Tours
Both quiet and small countries Laos and Cambodia have often felt the brunt of aggression from their neighbors and negative press from the West, but these two wonderful countries are brimming with beauty, culture and history.
This 14-day tour starts in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, where you will learn the sad facts of the Pol Pot Regime, but see the bright future in the Royal Palace and National Museum. A boat ride will get you to the world famous Angkor Wat just outside Siem Reap, the worlds largest religious monument and a testament to the once powerful Khmer Empire.
From there fly to Pakse, Laos and experience the beauty and majesty of the mighty Mekong. In Vientiane visit wats and marvel at the peacefulness of this quiet capital. Luang Prabang, with its French Colonial influence, is a lovely escape on the banks of the Mekong.
Enjoy day trips to waterfalls and caves and take a day to trek into the stunning landscape to visit hill tribe villages. This trip will give you a better understanding of these small countries and will leave you with an appreciation of their perseverance and culture.
Day 1 - Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields
Arrive in Phnom Penh where you will be met by an air conditioned car and driver. Transfer to your hotel for check in. Head to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum where your guide will explain the history of the Khmer Rouge and walk you through the different museum displays. After watching the movie they show every day, head out to the Killing Fields, where a memorial stupa and shallow pits remind visitors of the thousands killed under the Pol Pot Regime.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. On the way back stop at a local organization that takes at-risk and orphaned children and provides them with education and dance training, sit in on a traditional dance class and be amazed at the grace and persistence of these students
Return to your hotel and relax before dinner at a riverside restaurant serving traditional Khmer or Western food
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 - Phnom Penh - City Tour
In the morning your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a tour of the Royal Palace, still the royal residence. See the amazing royal collection and the beautiful architecture before heading to the National Museum where pre-Angkorean pieces, as well as special pieces from the temples are housed. Take a tour of the museum with a trained museum guide. Enjoy lunch at Friends, a restaurant benefiting at-risk street children.
After lunch your guide will take you to Central Market, reported to be the biggest domed market in the world, and to the famous Russian Market where everything from souvenirs to car parts is on sale.
Enjoy dinner at the FCC on the banks of the Mekong.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by Boat
Catch an early morning boat to Siem Reap. In the five hour journey you’ll pass floating villages, flooded forests and interesting bird and shore life. Arrive in Siem Reap around 1pm where you’re met by an air-conditioned car and your guide. You will be met by a Journeys Within representative and taken to Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast where you will meet your hosts Andrea and Brandon Ross.
In the evening head into town for a traditional dinner and dance show.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 4 - Siem Reap - Angkor Wat
After breakfast head to Angkor Wat in an air conditioned car with your guide. Explore this majestic temple throughout the morning while it is still cool and has fewer tourists. Return to Journeys Within for lunch and a nap. In the afternoon head to Angkor Thom, the famous walled city and see the many temples within its borders, including the fascinating Bayon temple. Watch the sun set over Angkor Wat, or climb Phnom Bakeng and watch the sunset from on high.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 - Siem Reap - Banteay Srei & Other Temples
After breakfast travel in an air-conditioned car with your guide to Banteay Srei, the intricately carved temple just 30 km beyond Angkor Wat. On your way back stop at the Land Mine Museum, a rather humble look at the land mine problem, past and present, in Cambodia. Later in the afternoon head back to the temples where you will visit Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, two of the prettiest temples in the complex. Watch the sunset from inside Ta Prohm or from the Angkor Wat promenade. Return to Journeys Within for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Pakse - Khong Island
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Pakse, Laos. Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by our Pakse guide and driven to Pak Song and the Boloven Plateau to visit the coffee plantations. From there drive to Vat Phou, a World Heritage listed site. Stay over night at Khong Island.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 - Pakse - Waterfalls
After breakfast transfer to Ban Na Ka Sang, followed by a longtail boat ride to the fishing village of Ban Khone. From there take a local motor cart ride to visit the fantastic Lipi Falls. In the afternoon drive to see the Khone Pha Pheng Waterfalls and on to Pakse. Spend the night at the Pakse hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 - Vientiane - Arrival
Arrive Vientiane where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Take a guided city tour including Hor Prakeo, Wat Sisaket, That Luange, and Pra Tou Chai. Take a two hour boat cruise on the Mekong River before returning for a traditional dinner including music and dance performance.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Vientiane - Luang Prabang
Visit the Khaisone Phomvihan Museum. See the traditional weaving village of Ban Nong Bua Thong and the busy central market. Transfer to the Airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to Le Calao Inn, a lovely boutique hotel overlooking the Mekong River.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 - Luang Prabang - City Tour
Wake up early to see monks receive morning alms. Return to your hotel for breakfast after which your guide will take you on a city tour including Phousi Mount, the National Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visun, and Wat Sen. Enjoy lunch in town followed by an afternoon free.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11 - Luang Prabang - Day on the Mekong
After breakfast, take a longtail boat crossing to the right bank of the Mekong and the pottery making village of Ban Han. From here take a thirty minute walk to Wat Long Khoune village. Another boat will take you from here up river to the rice-wine distilling village of Ban Sang Hai followed by a visit to the Pak Ou caves famous for miniature statues of Buddha. Return to Luang Prabang by longtail boat in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 - Luang Prabang - Trekking
You will be met at your hotel and driven to the starting point of your trek. Your local guide will introduce you to the three hill tribe groups as you walk through stunning scenery to remote villages, exploring how the Lao traditionally live. Hike to the Kuang Si Waterfalls where you can enjoy a well deserved swim and lunch and return to Luang Prabang by minivan.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13 - Luang Prabang - Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: starting at $1,785 per person double with $415 single supplement.
Price includes:
- Air tickets (Bangkok – Phnom Penh / Siem Reap – Pakse – Vientiane – Luang Prabang - Bangkok)
- Boat ticket (Siem Reap – Phnom Penh)
- Accommodation at Amanjaya Hotel, Phnom Penh
- Accommodation at Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast, Siem Reap
- Accommodation at Pakse Hotel, Pakse
- Accommodation at Villa Muangkhong, Khong Island
- Accommodation at Settha Palace Hotel, Vientiane
- Accommodation at Le Calao Inn, Laos
- Air-conditioned car with driver
- Licensed Cambodian and Laos guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified above
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Meals not specified above
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Alcohol
- Tips
Cambodia | Thailand | Laos | Vietnam | Signature Tours | Mekong Experience
|
