Southeast Asia Grand Tour

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival - Siem Reap

  Welcome to Cambodia!

  Touch down in Siem Reap and settle down in the hotel for recovery from jet lag. At 7 pm, join your guide and travel fellows for the welcome dinner.

  Optional: Transfer from the airport to the hotel with an English-speaking guide.

  Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 2: The Angkor Archeological Park

  Get into Angkor Thom through its mighty South Gate, gaze at the impressive smiling faces of Bayon Temple, step on the Elephant Terrace where Angkor's king Jayavarman VII reviewed his returning army, and browse other highlights in the ruined Great City. In the afternoon, continue to admire its grandiose architecture and bas-reliefs in Angkor Wat, and then get up on Bakheng Hill or the less-crowded Pre Rup Temple to enjoy the sunset.

  Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 3: Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm Temples

  Get up early to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat if you wish.

  Today, we will get deeper into the rustic country of Siem Reap to some other hidden religious and architectural treasures of Cambodia, including Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple, and Ta Keo Temple.

  Late in the day, return to the town for a stroll around the lively Old Market.

  Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 4: Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh City

  Spend the morning cruising on Tonle Sap and meeting locals living on the lake for generations. After lunch, be transferred to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the economic heart of Vietnam. On arrival, be welcomed and escorted to your downtown hotel.

  Accommodation: Alagon D'antique Hotel & Spa or similar

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 5: Mekong Delta with Homemade Lunch

  After breakfast, a two-hour land journey will take us to Bến Tre located at the end of the Mekong River. Here, we will first visit a local market to see the rich products the fertile Mekong Delta has brought to Vietnam people. Then, get on a local boat cruising along the Ham Luong River fringed by waving coconut trees with small villages cloaked in. Get ashore to visit a couple of these hamlets, communicate with local villagers, taste freshly-made tropical juice and coconut candies, visit a local family and enjoy a home-cooked lunch there.

  Accommodation: Alagon D'antique Hotel & Spa or similar

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi

  Feel the city's historical throes at the War Remnants with a large number of exhibits revealing cruel details of the Vietnam War. Then, take a heritage tour to the Reunification Palace and Dong Khoi Street to take in the lasting charms of colonial Saigon. Before lunch and the flight to Hanoi, there is some relaxing time for you to explore Ben Thanh Market and seek some exotic souvenirs.

  Accommodation: The Lapis Hotel or similar

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  • Hanoi

• Day 7: The Capital of Vietnam

  Our discovery of the nation's capital is largely related to the great founder of the today's Republic of Vietnam. Start from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with a long line outside eager to pay respect to their beloved leader. Near it, we will also see the great man's living and working place, a simple but elegant stilt house. The famous One Pillar Pagoda is within a five-minute walk away. For the rest of the day, we will visit the historic Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and then sit back in a rickshaw cycling through the bustling Old Quarter of Hanoi.

  Accommodation: The Lapis Hotel or similar

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  • Hanoi

• Day 8: Hanoi - Halong Bay

  Today we will drive about three hours to embark on an overnight cruise around the UNESCO-listed Halong Bay. Board the boat before noon, check in to your cabin, and then enjoy a hearty lunch. The afternoon and evening are yours with ample activities for you to choose from: sunbathing, swimming, an excursion to the biggest island in Halong, a cooking demonstration on board, and squid fishing.

  Accommodation: Athena Luxury Cruise or similar

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  • Halong Bay

• Day 9: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Luang Prabang

  The cruise continues!

  The early riser may walk up the sun deck to join the Tai Chi class starting at 6:15 am. One hour later, there is a light breakfast with coffee, tea, and bakeries. After it, visit the Surprising Cave, the biggest among the countless karst caves in Halong Bay, and then return to the boat for check-out and brunch. Disembark the cruise at around 11 am and move on to Hanoi airport for a flight to Laos.

  When arriving in Luang Prabang in the early evening, be welcomed and transferred to the hotel.

  Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort Luang Prabang or similar

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 10: Luang Prabang: Temple, Cave, and Village

  Start the tour today from the Royal Palace Museum for a snapshot of Lao's history. Then, check out Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong before embarking on a leisure cruise to discover the country's beauty and cultural relics along the Mekong River in Laos. Stops during the boating tour include Pak Ou Cave hosting thousands of Buddha statues varying in sizes and materials and Ban Xangkhong Village famed for its traditional weaving and Saa-paper-making industries. After it, there is some time for you to see some more beautiful temples, such as Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, and Wat Mai as you wish.

  Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort Luang Prabang or similar

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 11: Luang Prabang

  Get up early this morning to participate in the alms-giving ritual, the best way to feel the devotional life of the Lao. After it, spend some time visiting the morning market and then get back to the hotel for breakfast. The rest of the morning is free for leisure.

  In the afternoon, we will start the guided tour to Ban Na Ouane ethnic village and the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfalls. When returning to the city by late afternoon, catch the sunset at Wat Phabath.

  Accommodation: Le Bel Air Resort Luang Prabang or similar

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 12: Luang Prabang - Bangkok

  Leisure time before heading to the airport for the flight to Bangkok.

  On arrival, be picked up and transferred to the hotel by your Thai guide and driver.

  Accommodation: Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18 or similar

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  • Bangkok

• Day 13: Bangkok

  Our exploration in Bangkok will start from the early-rising Flower Market. What's following is the glistening Grand Palace and many other splendid royal or religious buildings within its ground.

  After lunch, continue with a long-tail boat tour to feel the slow pace of Bangkok and the earthly life along the flowing Khlongs. At the end of the short cruise, you will spot Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn standing elegantly on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Afterward, move on to admire the massive Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.

  Accommodation: Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18 or similar

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  • Bangkok

• Day 14: Bangkok Leisure Day

  It's a leisure day at your disposal.

  Whether for shopping fans or food lovers, Bangkok always has much to offer. Those wanting a deeper understanding of local life may take an optional tour to a nearby floating market and a risky train market.

  Accommodation: Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18 or similar

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  • Bangkok

• Day 15: Bangkok - Departure

  The Grand Tour to Southeast Asia comes to an end today. Pack your luggage and happy memories well and get to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

  For those with a flexible schedule, we highly recommend an extended beach holiday to one of Thailand's many otherworldly islands, like Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, etc.

  Optional: Transfer from the airport to the hotel with an English-speaking guide.

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