UNESCO Indochina Tour

Meet and greet at airport and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day if free for you to start exploring the local area.

After breakfast, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On arrival back in the city, we will visit magnificent Wat Xiengthong a superb piece of Lao temple architecture, which presents a sweeping two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics including a beautiful ‘tree of life ‘glass montage on the rear temple wall. Afterwards, we will visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. From there, we will transfer to visit Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the really peaceful place to catch the last beauty of the day. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Wake up as the sun rises, we will prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, which dates to the 14th century. More than 200 Buddhist monks depart from various temple to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. From there, we will visit the temporary morning market near the former Royal Palace. Just set on the ground, the local people come here to barter their day’s catch from rice, to vegetable, to fish, or chicken. This is the best chance to experience the flavor of local life. After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River. We then visit Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas. We then transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls which is the biggest in the Luang Prabang area with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into spectacular azure pools before flowing downstream. The pools also make great swimming holes and are very popular with both tourists and locals. We will also take a short visit to the Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers. Before returning to Luang Prabang, we stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed from 15 Apr – 30 Jun; 01-14 Sep, & 01 Jan every year), whose mission is to create a research centre studying and publishing about Laos butterflies, host plants and preservation. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, set serenely close to the Mekong, this beautiful, traditionally styled workshop, where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics, offers free tours every half-hour. You'll then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, where upon arrival you'll be met and transferred to your hotel.

This morning we drive to the coastal town of Halong where we transfer you to your private traditional wooden junk where you'll enjoy lunch onboard as you cruise into the bay. The scenery is just amazing as you pass close to the towering limestone karsts jutting up into the sky. At the end of the day you can enjoy a drink on deck whilst watching the sun set over the bay. Dinner will follow, freshly prepared seafood served under the stars, then it's off to your cabin for the night.

After an early breakfast we rise to see daylight emerging from the mist, revealing the dreamlike rocky formations of Halong Bay. Whilst sailing back to the mainland, why not join the onboard Tai Chi Class. From here, we return to dry land and make our way back to Hanoi for the overnight train to Dong Hoi.

We arrive into Dong Hoi station and transfer to Chay Lap village, a 45 minute drive and just on the edge of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Upon arrival at the village, you will then be warmly welcomed by a local family and invited to their house. You'll stay the night in a traditional, yet very comfortable house built built from local materials. Your day will be filled with activities including a Dragon Boat tour into the Phong Nha Cave. This enormous cave is one of the best in the world and holds for records: the longest underground river, the highest & longest cave, broadest and most beautiful fine sand beaches inside the caves, and the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. After returning to the village you can explore the local life of the villagers, and participate in social activities such as fishing in the pond, planting and gardening, or even playing football with the local children. In the evening you will be served dinner using fresh locally grown food.

This morning we'll transfer you to Hue. Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty 1802-1945 and this imperial city was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. There are many temples and palaces within the walls and although much was damaged during the Tet Offensive in 1968, there are plenty of impressive structures still standing. Your tour starts with the ancient walled Citadel, which contained the former Imperial Palace. We enjoy wandering through the enclosure during the afternoon before we take a cruise along the Perfume River.

Your morning is free in Hue before we drive south to the riverside town of Hoi An. The drive follows the coastline along the South China Sea as the road winds its way up Hai Van Pass ("Pass of the Clouds"). From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, renowned for its silk and popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century and much of the town is now heritage-listed.

We start the day early with a walking tour of this former trading port famous for its restored architecture, home-made silk, expert tailors and delicious noodles and seafood. Our first stop is Chua Ong Pagoda, dating back to 1653, built in honour of the Chinese general Quan Cong, worshipped by many as a symbol of loyalty and justice. Next stop is the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, where we will see the Jinshang Temple, dedicated to the goddess of the sea and the protector of sailors. A short walk takes us to Tam Ky House, which is a classic example of a 200 year old ancestral house. Finally we cross the well photographed 17th century Japanese covered bridge, which doubles as a temple and is a famous landmark of Hoi An.

Spend the day at leisure on the beach or having clothes made by one of the expert, inexpensive tailors Hoi An is famous for.

Today we transfer you to nearby Danang for your flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Upon arrival we'll transfer you to you hotel where the rest of the day is free for you to relax.

We start your tour of Angkor at the South Gate of Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. Next we head to the Bayon, known for the numerous smiling faces that line the towers. These bas reliefs tell a story of daily life and the great battles that were fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais. The next stop is Phimeanakas, which is shaped roughly like a pyramid and has two ponds in the rear. A climb to the top of the temple will be rewarded with a fabulous view over the Angkor complex. We move on to the Terrace of the Elephants, a rows of trunks that form the wall and was used as a platform from which King Jayavarman surveyed his army. Close by we visit the Terrace of Leper Kings, which includes a statue depicting Yana, the Hindu god of death. Then it's a short drive to the iconic temple, Ta Prohm. This small, crumbling temple, made famous in the Tomb Raider film, is pierced by giant tree roots giving it an almost magical feel. We head back to Siem Reap for lunch and to get out of the midday sun. Later in the afternoon we explore the mighty Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument. This massive, three-tiered pyramid rises 65m from the ground and is topped by five lotus towers. We end the day watching the sun set over the jungle from the top of Pre Rup Temple, before returning to Siem Reap for the evening.

Free time until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home.