Mekong And Temples

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days 14 From US$ 4,250

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highlights

Enjoy a two day cruise on the Mekong River
Discover the temples of Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos
Explore the ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Understand the dark history of the Khmer Rouge regime on a guided tour of Phnom Penh

This 14-day multi-country adventure features Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, offering a fantastic introduction to Indochina. You'll start in the Thai capital of Bangkok where you'll explore Buddhist temples and the opulent Grand Palace, and you'll then take a flight to Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. From Chiang Rai, you'll transfer to Chiang Khong on the Thai border before travelling across to Huay Xai in Laos. From here, you'll board a private boat to enjoy a relaxing two-day cruise along the Mekong River to Luang Prabang.

You'll have time to fully explore the enchanting UNESCO listed city of Luang Prabang before discovering the mysterious Plain of Jars at Phonsavan, and then you'll fly south to the Vientiane where you'll have time to explore the magnificent temples and monuments. Your next destination is the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, where you can see the ancient temples of Angkor Wat before flying to Phomn Penh. Here, you will learn more about the dark history of the Khmer Rouge regime with visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum (S-21) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields.

Please see more details in the included itinerary section.

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, transfer to hotel

Hotel

Upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport you will be met by a Wayfairer representative and transferred to your chosen accommodation. Your Wayfairer guide will meet you at your hotel in the evening to brief you about your itinerary and recommend some great places to eat in this exciting city.

Day 2: Bangkok city tour, fly to Chiang Rai

Hotel

You’ll have an early start today as it is a busy day! This morning your local guide will take you to Bangkok’s magnificent temples and palaces, including Thailand’s most sacred sites: the glittering Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and Wat Pho with its spectacular 46-metre long Reclining Buddha.

After lunch you’ll transfer back to the airport for a flight to Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, near the Golden Triangle bordering Myanmar and Laos. This evening you can explore the bustling Chiang Rai Night Bazaar where hill tribe people and lowlanders gather to sell their handicrafts.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 3: Mekong River Cruise

Cruise

It is another early start today. This morning you’ll take a two-hour trip to the Thai border town of Chiang Khong and then you’ll cross the border by boat to Huay Xai in Laos where your guide will help you get your Laos entry visas on arrival.

You’ll board a private boat for a two-day personalised cruise down the Mekong River passing beautiful jungle scenery and traditional villages. This slow cruise is a wonderful way to soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the upper Mekong and it is a great introduction to laid-back Laos.

This evening you’ll spend the night in Pakbeng, a small village in Laos located on the Mekong River halfway between Huay Xai in Thailand and Luang Prabang in Laos.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Mekong River Cruise

Cruise

Today you’ll continue your cruise south along the Mekong River towards Luang Prabang. Stop to explore the fascinating Pak Ou Caves which contain hundreds of Buddha statues before arriving in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

Luang Prabang has been claimed by UNESCO to be ‘the best-preserved city in Southeast Asia’. Here you can wander the streets and back alleys and you’ll soon discover why so many people fall in love with this beautiful town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading French architecture and stunning mountain backdrop.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Explore Laung Prabang and Kuang Si Falls

Hotel

We recommend that you get up early to join the locals as they offer alms to the hundreds of saffron-robed Buddhist Monks who line the streets of Luang Prabang every morning. This sacred ceremony is quite spectacular and in our opinion certainly worth getting up early to witness it.

After breakfast, you’ll embark on a guided walking tour during which you’ll visit Wat Xieng Thong with its sweeping roof and rare reclining Buddha, and Wat Wisunalat which represents the earliest style of Laotian architecture and Luang Prabang's oldest operating temple. You’ll then walk to the top of Phu Si Hill to take in panoramic views of the city.

After lunch, you’ll travel 29km outside of Luang Prabang to Kuang Si Falls, a beautiful cascading waterfall surrounded by lush jungle.

In the evening your Wayfairer guide will give you recommendations for Luang Prabang’s best restaurants.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 6: Explore Phonsavan

Hotel

Today you’ll travel to Phonsavan in the remote Xieng Khuoang Province in central Laos.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 7: Discover the Plain of Jars, fly to Vientiane

Hotel

After breakfast this morning, your guide will take you to the mysterious Plain of Jars, an ancient site where there are hundreds of large stone jars are scattered across the countryside, although no one knows exactly why they are there. The jars are carved from both sandstone and granite in various sizes from very small to about 3.5m high and are thought to be more than 2,000 years old.

In the afternoon you’ll fly to the peaceful capital city of Vientiane, located on the banks of the Mekong River.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 8: Vientiane city tour

Hotel

This morning you’ll explore Vientiane with your Wayfairer guide. You’ll visit Wat Si Saket which is the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane and home to over 10,000 Buddha images, and the golden stupa of That Luang (the Great Sacred Stupa) which is the most sacred monument in the country and is now recognised as the national monument and symbol of Laos. You’ll also visit Patuxai (Victory Gate of Vientiane) which is reminiscent of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and is one of the city’s most noticeable landmarks.

This afternoon you’re free to explore the Talat Sao Morning Market, which is confusingly open in the afternoon.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 9: Fly to Siem Reap

Hotel

Today you’ll fly from Vientiane to Siem Reap, the former capital of the great Khmer Empire. Your Wayfairer guide will meet you at your hotel and they will take you on a tour of this historical city.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 10: Explore the temples of Angkor Wat

Hotel

Today you’ll have a full day to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat, including the iconic temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Phrom.

The complex consists of hundreds of temples and monuments which were built by the Khmer empire between 800AD to 1300AD. After the fall of the Khmer empire they were abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle for centuries, but many of the temples have now been restored and more than two million tourists visit Angkor Wat each year. Your Wayfairer guide will provide detailed information on how these temples were built, and what purpose each one had within the complex.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 11: Discover Banteay Srei, visit Chong Khneas

Hotel

After breakfast you’ll travel to Banteay Srei, a temple famed for its intricate carvings depicting battles, scenes of conquest and Khmer daily life. Built in the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva, this remote temple is one of Angkor’s highlights.

This afternoon you’ll discover Tonlé Sap Lake and the floating village of Chong Khneas where almost 1000 families live and make their living fishing on the lake.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 12: Explore Siem Reap, fly to Phnom Penh

Hotel

This morning you’ll have some free time to explore Siem Reap. We recommend that you visit Wat Thmei which serves as a memorial to those who were killed at the site during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, explore the Old Quarter with its tree-lined boulevards and stunning French architecture, and learn about the fascinating story of the Angkor Empire at the Angkor National Museum. Later today we will transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 13: Explore Phnom Penh

Hotel

Today you’ll have a guided tour of Phnom Penh which will include a visit to the Royal Palace, home of the current Cambodian Monarch, King Sihamoni. There’s also the option to visit Tuol Sleng Prison Museum (S-21) where prisoners of the Khmer regime were held and killed. Then, this afternoon you’ll visit the infamous Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Killing Fields just outside the city.

Visiting Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek is a sobering experience that you will never forget.

Meals

Breakfast

Day 14: Transfer to airport for flight home

Sadly your Mekong and Temples holiday is drawing to an end. After breakfast this morning you’ll check-out of your accommodation and you’ll be driven to the airport for your flight home.

Meals

Breakfast

what’s included

13 nights accommodation
Transfers as stated in itinerary
Domestic flights as stated in itinerary
Entrance fees to sites as stated in itinerary
Local English speaking guide throughout
Boat cruise
Some meals, as listed in the itinerary

what's excluded

International flights
Optional excursions and activities not stated in itinerary
Visas and travel insurance

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Payment

A deposit of 20% is required when booking this tour. The remaining balance will be charged 45 days prior departure. For any bookings within 45 days of departure, the full tour amount will be charged upon booking.

Travel Insurance

We advise to take out Travel Insurance to cover for any unforeseen circumstances. Bookmundi recommends World Nomads' travel insurance.

Cancellation20% Deposit payable upfront. Remaining balance payable 45 days prior to trip departure. Free cancellation up to 45 days prior departure, but the 20% deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applicable within 45 days of departure.

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