Secrets of Southeast Asia (3 Star) - 16 days

On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be collected by a private driver at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Your first evening is at leisure to head out and explore.

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City. You leave the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City on today's group excursion, travelling to My Tho, a riverside town on the Mekong. On arriva, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, an impressive Buddhist temple dating back to the late 19th century.

Next, board a sampan to cruise along the Mekong, passing the four famous islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise. Stop at Unicorn Island to walk along quiet country lanes, visit orchards, taste tropical fruits and enjoy traditional folk songs performed by local people.

You then ride a hand-rowed sampan through the shady Thoi Son canal, taking in the tranquil countryside. Along the way, visit small family businesses, stop at a honey farm to try honey tea, and sample coconut sweets at a local workshop.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant before a short break. In the afternoon, you cycle through Tan Thach village to meet local residents and experience daily life in the Mekong Delta. If you prefer to relax, you may spend time in a hammock enjoying the cool breeze. In the late afternoon, return by road to Ho Chi Minh City.

Please note: Today's included sightseeing takes place as a group excursion, meaning you will join other travellers, not just those in your booking party.

Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City. Today, you depart Ho Chi Minh City at around 8:00 on a group excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located around 60km away. This extensive underground network stretches more than 220km. Built during the Vietnam War, the tunnels served as living quarters, supply routes and hiding places, and are now preserved as a key historical site.

Along the way, pass endless rice fields and rivers where ducks and water buffalo can be seen. It is hard to imagine that this peaceful landscape was once heavily bombed during the war, when Cu Chi was considered a “free target zone”.

On arrival, explore parts of the tunnel system, stepping inside hidden passageways and learning what life was like for the soldiers who lived here. You will also have the chance to see the ingenious smokeless stoves once used for cooking and even sample the simple meals eaten by resistance fighters. For those interested, there is also the option to try shooting an AK-47 rifle at a local range.

You return to the city in the afternoon, with the tour finishing at around 14:30 - the rest of the day is at leisure.

Please note: Today's included sightseeing takes place as a group excursion, meaning you will join other travellers, not just those in your booking party.

Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi. You have some leisure time to explore independently before transferring to the airport for your included flight to Hanoi. On arrival, you are met and taken to your hotel.

Hanoi - Ri - Moc - Hanoi. At 8:00 this morning your guide collects you from your hotel in Hanoi and takes you to Ri village. On arrival, you are welcomed into our host’s home with a drink before meeting Mr Duoc, a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner, who shares stories of his life and experiences. Follow him to his plantation, a peaceful area of lush greenery, where he shows you how to harvest the best tea leaves. At his small workshop, see how the leaves are processed by hand, continuing a traditional craft that has been passed down for generations.

From here, it's short distance to Moc village to join a cooking class with Mrs Chin. She introduces you to Vietnamese home-style cooking, and you prepare several dishes together before sitting down to enjoy them for lunch.

In the afternoon, stroll through the village to meet local families and learn how they make traditional products such as tofu and conical hats. You then take a leisurely cycling trip through rice fields, stopping to chat with farmers you meet along the way. The day ends with a traditional Muong-style foot bath, where warm herbal water offers a relaxing way to refresh after your ride. You return to Hanoi by car, arriving at your hotel around 16:00.

Please note: Today's included sightseeing takes place as a group excursion, meaning you will join other travellers, not just those in your booking party.

Hanoi - Halong Bay. After breakfast, leave Hanoi for Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders of the world. Around noon, you arrive at the jetty and transfer by boat to your cruise. After a warm welcome on board and check-in, lunch is served as you begin sailing through the bay, surrounded by hundreds of striking limestone islets.

In the afternoon you can join activities such as swimming, kayaking or exploring caves, depending on the boat’s itinerary. Alternatively, you may simply relax on deck and take in the scenery. Towards sunset the boat anchors for the night in a sheltered spot, giving you the chance to enjoy the view before dinner is served on board.

Please note: In the event of bad weather, if the cruise is not permitted to depart or to overnight at sea, the Halong Bay tour may be cancelled at short notice. In such cases, an alternative tour or a refund will be offered, depending on the circumstances.

Please also note: On the Halong Bay cruise, you will join other travellers, not just those in your booking party.

Halong Bay - Hanoi. This morning, wake to the sight of the sun rising over Halong Bay. Breakfast is served on board as the vessel makes its way slowly back towards the port. An early lunch follows before you dock around 11:30. After disembarking, transfer by road back to Hanoi, arriving in the afternoon.

Hanoi - Luang Prabang (Laos). The first part of today is free for you to enjoy at leisure. You may wish to relax or explore Hanoi independently until it is time to transfer to the airport for your included flight to Laos. On arrival at Luang Prabang International Airport, your driver meets you and takes you to your accommodation in the city centre. The rest of the day is free for you to rest after the journey and begin exploring Luang Prabang at your own pace.

If you wish, you can rise early to witness the moving daily ritual of saffron-robed monks collecting alms from local residents – a tradition that Laos uniquely continues to preserve. Later, visit the bustling Morning Market, where stalls offer everything from local tea and fresh produce to buffalo skin and traditional hill-tribe textiles.

Later, travel to nearby villages to meet ethnic minority groups, including the Hmong at Ban Na Oune, the Lao Loum at Ban Ou and the Khmu at Ban Thapene. Each village provides an insight into Laos’s diverse cultural heritage and traditional crafts.

In the afternoon, continue to the Khouangsi Waterfall, where turquoise pools invite you for a swim or, if you prefer, you may take a gentle walk along the forest trails. You return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon.

Luang Prabang - Siem Reap (Cambodia). The morning is free for you to relax until your driver transfers you to the airport for your included flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, you are met by your driver and transferred to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Spend a full day exploring the magnificent temples of the Angkor complex. You begin at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, renowned for its monumental stone faces, before continuing to the Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

The highlight of the day is Angkor Wat itself - the largest and best-preserved temple of the complex. Built in the 12th century and covering 210 hectares, this architectural masterpiece is filled with galleries, pavilions, courtyards, libraries and ponds that reflect its soaring towers.

In the afternoon, visit Ta Prohm, a striking temple where ancient fig trees and enormous creepers entwine themselves through the stone ruins, creating the dramatic impression of nature reclaiming man’s work. Return to Siem Reap for the night.

Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake - Siem Reap. On today's private excursion, you set out to explore the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake by traditional wooden boat. Life here is shaped by the cycles of the lake, which expands during the wet season to become one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. See stilted houses rising above the water, floating homes and schools, and fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on the lake’s abundance.

In the afternoon, visit the Western Baray, a vast man-made reservoir built during the Angkor period, measuring 8 km by 2.3 km. It once played a vital role in providing water for the intensive cultivation of rice around Angkor. Returning to town, you stop at Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d’Angkor - where young Cambodians are trained in the traditional skills of stone carving and wood sculpting, helping to preserve ancient Khmer craftsmanship.

You finish the day at Psar Chas, Siem Reap’s “Old Market”, a lively hub where everything from spices and fresh produce to handicrafts and souvenirs is on sale.

Siem Reap - Bangkok (Thailand). This morning is free for you to enjoy your final moments in Siem Reap before your private driver takes you to the airport for your included flight to Bangkok. On arrival in Thailand, you are met by your driver and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the Thai capital. The rest of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, you join a private excursion to explore Bangkok’s rich cultural heritage. Your first stop is Wat Traimit, a striking temple in Chinatown, home to the world’s largest solid-gold Buddha statue, weighing 5.5 tonnes. You then continue to Wat Pho, famous for its 45-metre reclining Buddha and known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy at leisure.

Today is free for you to discover Bangkok at your own pace. This is a city where old and new sit side by side, offering something for everyone. You might choose to wander through Chinatown and sample its famous street food, or spend the day shopping at Siam Paragon. If your visit falls on a weekend, the vast Chatuchak Market is well worth exploring - one of the largest outdoor markets in the world.

Sports enthusiasts may wish to experience a live Muay Thai kickboxing match, while those seeking cultural immersion could attend a traditional puppet show or browse modern art exhibitions at Warehouse 30. However you spend the day, a traditional Thai massage makes the perfect way to end it.

Your tour comes to an end today. After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, an included transfer takes you to the airport for your onward flight.