Day 1: Bangkok – Arrival
Arrive in Bangkok airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 2: Bangkok – City Tour
Morning visit the Grand Palace, the pride of Thailand. You will see the Emerald Buddha and the Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho. Here you will enjoy a 30-minute traditional massage. Overnight in Bangkok. (B,L)
Day 3: Bangkok – Klongs Tour
Early afternoon for a boat ride through the klongs and canals of Bangkok, seeing local life pass by. Stop at Wat Arun – the “Temple of the Dawn” – before continuing for a walk through the beautiful flower market and visiting the Golden Mountain before sunset. Overnight in Bangkok. (B)
Day 4: Bangkok – Kanchanaburi
Morning departure for the train station. Travel like the locals do to Kanchanaburi. Enjoy the beautiful views along the way with your guide available to answer any questions you may have. Take the train to the terminal station where you will be met by your private air conditioned vehicle and will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon drive to the Hellfire Pass Museum to learn more about the hardships suffered by the thousands of POW’s and forced labor. Transfer back to Kanchanaburi town to see the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai as well as other World War II memorials before heading back to Bangkok by private vehicle in the evening. Overnight in Bangkok. (B,L)
Day 5: Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep & City Tour
Transfer to Bangkok Airport for flight to Chiang Mai. Arrive at Chiang Mai Airport, meet and transfer to hotel. Then visit Doi Suthep, the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below. Have lunch with guide at a local restaurant. Visit some of the more famous Wats, within the city walls of Chiang Mai, Your guide will discuss Buddhism and the role it plays in everyday life as well as showing you the many details of each temple. Overnight in Chiang Mai. (B,L)
Day 6: Chiang Mai – Doi Inthanon National Park
After breakfast, set off for Doi Inthanon National Park where you will reach the summit of the highest mountain in Thailand. Enjoy beautiful scenery on the way to the national park. Visit a Karen Village and then stop at the peak of the mountain, 8,514 feet above sea level. Take a walk out into the jungle and look for bird life before returning back down, stopping at a beautiful waterfall on the way. Have lunch on the mountain and return to hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai. (B,L)
Day 7: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai
Visit the Elephant Nature Park, a wonderful organization dedicated to conserving and promoting elephants. Spend the day learning to bath, feed and command these amazing beasts of burden. Please bring a change of clothes or a swimsuit as you will get wet giving the elephants their daily bath.
Your driver will pick you up and take you on the three hour drive to Chiang Rai. Once there check into your hotel and then enjoy exploring the city on your own. Overnight in Chiang Rai. (B,L)
Day 8: Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle and Opium Museum
Morning visit the Queens Opium Museum, a fascinating look at the history and culture of the opium trade in the Golden Triangle. Then on to the Golden Triangle itself where you can see Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. In the afternoon head to the Thai Burma border and visit the market there before returning to hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai. (B,L)
Day 9: Chiang Rai – Pakbeng
Morning drive to the Mekong where you will check out of Thailand before crossing by boat to the Laos Immigration point at Houeisay. After checking take a short drive to board the beautiful LuangSay. Fitted out for comfort this 34 meter boat will provide a little luxury for this stretch of your travels and enable you to relax and watch the countryside slide past, read a book or get to know your fellow travelers a little better. You will stop and visit a local village before lunch is served on board. Late afternoon the boat arrives at the delightful Luangsay Lodge. Dine on the beautiful terraced dining room over looking the Mekong. Overnight in Pakbeng. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Pakbeng – Luang Prabang
After breakfast, stroll thru nearby Pakbeng before joining the Luangsay again to continue downstream. You will stop at a Hmong village before lunch and the famous Pac-Ou Caves – the caves of 1000 Buddhas – and a local village where traditional rice alcohol has been brewed for centuries. Your boat will pull into the ancient Royal steps and you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is a delight to walk around, choose your dinner spot from the many restaurants and visit the evening market. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, meet and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B,L)
Day 11: Luang Prabang – City Tour
Morning, take you a half day city tour, including The National Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, and Wat Visun. Enjoy lunch in town followed by a free afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)
Dayn 12: Luang Prabang – Waterfall
After lunch, take you on a scenic drive to visit the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall. On the way you’ll stop at a Khmu village for a glimpse of local life. Once you reach the falls, wind down with a relaxing afternoon dip in the serene pools. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)
Day 13: Luang Prabang – Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B)
Day 14: Luang Prabang – Hanoi
Transfer to Luang Prabang airport for flight to Vietnam. Arrive at Noi Bai Airport, meet and transfer to hotel. Take a one-hour cyclo tour of this charming capital city through the scenic Colonial Quarter, the Restored Sword Lake and the Old Quarter of “36 streets of 36 wares”. Attend a Water Puppet Show to experience a truly traditional Vietnamese evening. Dinner at restaurant. (B,D)
Day 15: Hanoi – City Tour
Breakfast, morning sightseeing tour to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his House on stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon, Visit Fine Art Museum and Temple of Literature. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 16: Hanoi – Traditional Village
Morning drive to visit King An Duong Vuong Temple (A Lu village) of Au Lac -2nd State of VN – establish his Capital Co Loa in 2nd Century BC with his son Lac Long Quan (Ancestor of VN). Then visit Dong Ho Folk painting village – Images of Tet Lunar New Year. Continue drive to Phu Son Resort to enjoy Quan Ho Folk Songs sung on various occasions as spring festival, wedding, and friend meeting…so we can exchange culture with the Artists and have lunch. Then visit Dong Ky Wooden Carving Village. Drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 17: Hanoi – Danang – HoiAn
Transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to Danang. Arrive in Danang, meet and transfer to HoiAn. In the afternoon, walking tour of HoiAn. Visit the Ancient Town including the beautiful Chua Cau, or roofed bridge, Hoi Quan, the ancient meeting places, some ancestral family homes and some of the lovely and hidden pagodas. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in HoiAn. (B)
Day 18: HoiAn – MySon
After breakfast, morning drive to My Son, a fascinating archeological site with ruinous temples featuring both Hindu and Buddhist influences. Walk through the beautiful park where a stream flows through the center and various temples dot the landscape. When you are done return to your van and head to a local families home for lunch. Here you will enjoy traditional HoiAn delicacies made by the family. Your guide is happy to act as a translator if you have any questions. Take a walk around the village and see how the Vietnamese live today. Return to hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in HoiAn. (B,L)
Day 19: HoiAn – Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own. Overnight in HoiAn. (B)
Day 20: Danang – Saigon – Arrival
Enjoy morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport for flight. Arrive in Saigon, meet and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Saigon. (B)
Day 21: Saigon – City Tour
Full day tour visiting historic landmarks, walking tour for photo opportunities to Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Lunch at the traditional Vietnamese Kinh Bac restaurant. Afternoon, visit Thien Hau Temple, Cholon Market – Chinese district established for over 200 years and largely unchanged with its old temples and house. Overnight in Saigon (B,L)
Day 22: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels / Meet with Vets
Take a full day excursion to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, a unique religion worshiping Jesus, Confucius and Buddha. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Tay Ninh. In the afternoon, continue to drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. On the way to Cu Chi Tunnels, visit a rice paper making village. Descend into the Cu Chi Tunnels where the guerilla fighters constructed an amazing underground base. Meet and talk with some Vietnamese Veterans about their life in the War and have dinner with them. Overnight in Saigon (B,L,D)
Day 23: Saigon – Siem Reap – Arrival
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap, meet and transfer to hotel. Head into town to enjoy a traditional buffet dinner and dance show in the evening. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,D)
Day 24: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat
This morning head to Angkor Wat in an air conditioned car, or if you choose by bike, with your guide. Explore this majestic temple throughout the morning while it is still cool and has fewer tourists. Have lunch and a nap or refresh with a swim. In the afternoon head to Angkor Thom, the famous walled city and see the many temples within its borders, including the fascinating Bayon temple with its many magnificent faces smiling out. There are several beautiful spots from which to watch the sunset. Discuss with your guide where you would like to be and then relax and enjoy a memorable end to your day at the temples. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L)
Day 25: Siem Reap – Village Tour
Set out for Village Tour. Village guide will take you to his village showing you rice paddies and typical homes along the way. At his village enjoy a fresh coconut drink and meet his family and neighbors. Walk from here to West Baray Lake where you can take a local boat to an island with some picturesque ancient Khmer ruins. Return to shore where your car will be waiting for you. From here head to Pua District and visit the Artisans de Angkor silk farm where many local women are trained in the art of silk weaving. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L)
Day 26: Siem Reap – Beng Mealea , Banteay Srei and the Ta Prohm
Enjoy breakfast in hotel before leaving the crowds behind and heading to Beng Mealea, a temple only recently opened to the public; about one and a half hours drive. After an hour you will leave the paved road and get onto a beaten track running through rice fields and villages of rural Cambodia. At the temple our guide will help you imagine how it once was as you pick your way through the rubble now surrounded by jungle. In the afternoon head to Banteay Srei, an intricately carved temple known as the Lady Temple. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant near Banteay Srei and then on the way back visit Ta Prohm, one of the prettiest temples in the complex. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L)
Day 27: Siem Reap – Departure
Take a walk around the Old Market where the locals and tourists shop side by side. Then pay a visit to Artisans de Angkor to see their workshop in town. Here you will be taken on a short tour to see the students learning the skills needed to produce works of art in a variety of different materials before visiting their beautifully displayed shop. Then transfer to the airport for the departure flight. (B)