In-Depth Tour to Southeast Asia

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Bangkok

  Upon your arrival at Bangkok airport, your guide will greet you and then escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to recover from the jet lag in your room or step out to discover the capital of Thailand.

  • Bangkok

• Day 2: Bangkok

  The tour today will start with a visit to the dazzling and spectacular Grand Palace, the city's most famous landmark built in 1782 and known for its beautiful architecture and intricate detail. Followed is the Wat Phra Kaew, commonly known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and identified as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

  After lunch, take a boat ride in the Chao Phraya River and admire the temples and historic sites along the river. After that, head for the Chinatown, where you can explore the bustling markets, taste delicious Thai food, and visit the Wat Traimit located at one end of Chinatown and housing the world's largest golden seated Buddha statue.

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  • Bangkok

• Day 3: Bangkok - Ayutthaya (By Car) - Bangkok (By Boat)

  After breakfast in your hotel, head for Ayutthaya, an ancient capital with remains featuring the reliquary towers and gigantic monasteries. Travel back in time by visiting the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings and famous for its eccentric palace, and the Wat Yai Chaimongkhol, a magnificent ancient royal monastery featuring a large reclining Buddha in saffron robes. After that, take a scenic boat ride in the Chao Phraya River back to Bangkok (a buffet lunch onboard included).

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  • Bangkok

• Day 4: Bangkok - Siem Reap

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted to your hotel to check in. This afternoon, drive to the Tonle Sap Lake, where you will board a rowing boat to reach the Kompong Phluk, a floating village built on stilts. You'll get an insight into the amazing lifestyle of the local people and be amazed by fishermen fishing with all types of homemade tools.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 5: Siem Reap

  After breakfast, drive to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, and visit the Bayon Temple, a spectacular 12th-century temple located at the heart of the ancient capital city Angkor Thom, followed by the Elephants Terrace, once used as a platform by an Angkor's king to view his victorious returning army. After having lunch at a local restaurant, tour Angkor Wat, the most iconic temple of Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. Later, climb up to the Bakheng Hill (AKA Bakheng Temple), where you will admire the splendid sunset view over the distant Angkor Wat in the jungle.

  Optional: The Apsara Dinner Show is recommended for this evening.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 6: Siem Reap

  Get up early in the morning to enjoy the spectacular sunrise view of the Angkor Wat if you would like to capture its unique beauty. Later, head for the beautifully carved Banteay Srei Temple, and visit some local villages en route. In the afternoon, visit the Ta Prohm Temple, where trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings make it one of Angkor's most visited temples, and the Ta Keo Temple, a massive unfinished mountain temple and one of the tallest monuments in Angkor.

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  • Siem Reap

• Day 7: Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh City

  After breakfast in the hotel, you will take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will firstly visit the Ben Thanh Market, a lively and bustling market in the heart of the city, and then check in to your hotel for a short break at noon. After lunch, start your city sightseeing tour with the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Tan Dinh Church, Old Saigon Post Office and Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat).

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

  After breakfast, visit the ornately decorated Cao Dai Temple to watch Caodiasts pray and experience the followers' mid-day service. After lunch, drive to Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels where you will get an insight into the underground life of Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War. After the tour, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy some free time.

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho - Can Tho

  After breakfast, head for Mekong Delta, where you will take a boat trip on the picturesque Tien River and visit My Tho Fish Market and Four Islands. After that, ride a cart to the Mr. Muoi Hai's House through a tranquil village to enjoy a cup of honey tea. Later, take a sampan cruising along the canals of Mekong River to My Tho pier, and then drive to Can Tho. After checking in to your hotel, you will have some leisure time to explore this beautiful area on your own.

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  • Can Tho

• Day 10: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City - Hue

  Take a boat cruising along the scenic waterway of mighty Mekong River. Later, visit the Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta where you can tell what they are selling by what is tied to the long pole set upright on the boat, followed by the Bun Tau Noodle Factory. This afternoon, transfer to Ho Chi Minh airport to take a flight to Hue. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted by your guide to your hotel for check-in.

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  • Hue

• Day 11: Hue

  After breakfast, visit the Royal Tomb of King Ming Mang famous for its architecture and lush forest. And then take a Royal Dragon Boat cruising along the picturesque Perfume River to the iconic seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, which is considered as the unofficial symbol of Hue. Later, tour the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, which reflect the historical architecture of the ancient capital Hue. Today's tour will end at the bustling Dong Ba Market, where you can bargain for some souvenirs.

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  • Hue

• Day 12: Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An

  This morning, drive to Hoi An. Stop by the Hai Van Pass to enjoy a fascinating bird's eye view of the coast and Da Nang City. You will also drop by Da Nang to visit the Non Nuoc Beach featuring soft white sands, unpolluted waters and mild waves, the Cham Museum housing the world's largest collection of Cham artifacts, and the Marble Mountain, a well-known pilgrimage site consisting of five hills made from limestone and marble. You will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 13: Hoi An

  After breakfast, walk around Hoi An to visit the Japanese Bridge, Chinese Temple, and Vietnamese former merchants house. This afternoon, take a boat ride sailing on the Hoai River to Thanh Ha Pottery Village, where you will get to know how the locals make potteries in a traditional way.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 14: Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi

  This morning, you will have some free time before driving to Da Nang airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted by your guide to your hotel for check-in and a short rest. Later, you will start a street food adventure (4pm-8pm) in Hanoi's small lanes to enjoy myriad exotic foods and drinks.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 15: Hanoi

  This morning, head for the Ba Dinh Square, and tour the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which is the final resting place of President Ho Chi Minh. Later, visit the Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilts, a modest 2-storey stilt house near the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple built of wood on a single stone pillar, and the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius.

  After lunch, proceed to the Hanoi Hilton (also called Hoa Lo Prison), which will give you an insight into the Vietnam War. Later, visit the Museum of Ethnology, where you will get to know the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam through its fabulous collections. This evening, enjoy an amazing Water Puppet Show performed in a water pool as the stage.

  Note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is not opened on Fridays and Mondays, and most museums are not opened on Mondays.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 16: Hanoi - Halong Bay

  After a 3-hour scenic drive to Halong Bay, you will board the Halong Bay cruise and check into your cabin. You will admire the ethereal beauty of the majestic natural wonder dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets during the cruise. The attractions along the way also include the Surprise Cave, the most magnificent cave in this fascinating bay, and enjoy some optional activities like kayaking, swimming and diving.

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  • Halong Bay

• Day 17: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Luang Prabang

  Today you will enjoy a half day on the cruise. At noon, you will disembark and drive back to Hanoi airport (about 4-hour drive) for a flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted by your guide to your hotel for check-in. The evening time is free for you to relax or explore local delicacies.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 18: Luang Prabang

  After breakfast, take a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, and visit the Pak Ou Cave, one of the country's most respected holy sites crammed with over 4,000 Buddha icons. Stop by the Ban Xanghai Village and Ban Xangkhong Village en route. Later, climb up the Mount Phousi to enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the city at sunset. This evening, stroll around the Phousi Night Market to discover local delicious foods or featured souvenirs.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 19: Luang Prabang

  It is recommended to observe the morning alms-giving ritual in the early morning for an insight into local people's devotion towards their religion. Later, visit the fascinating Royal Palace Museum featuring a combination of Lao tradition and French style in a well-tended garden; the Wat Siphouthabath to observe Buddhas footprints; Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most important Lao monasteries with over twenty structures on the grounds, the Wat Visoun, the oldest temple in the city housing an important collection of ancient Buddha images; the Wat Aham, a small Buddhist temple ideal for meditation; and Wat Mai, the largest and most elaborately decorated temple in the city.

  After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to the breathtaking Khouang Si Waterfall, where you can swim in the turquoise pools or stroll along the forest trails to admire its natural beauty.

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  • Luang Prabang

• Day 20: Luang Prabang - Chiang Mai

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel for check-in and have a rest. Later in the afternoon, visit the Wat Chedi Luang, which hosts monk chats every day and you can have a friendly talk with monks there; and the Wat Phra Singh, the second most revered temple in Chiang Mai and one of the best examples of classic Lanna style architecture in Thailand.

  Optional: This evening, the Traditional Khantoke Dinner Show is recommended to enjoy the traditional dances and iconic northern Thai dishes.

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  • Chiang Mai

• Day 21: Chiang Mai

  Today, spend the day caring for elephants in Baan Chang Elephant Park. At 8:30 to 9:00, leave by shuttle bus for the 50-minute drive to this elephant refuge for an Elephant's Day Care experience. Touch, play with and bathe the well-cared-for animals and even prepare their lunch and serve it to them! After your own lunch, visit the baby elephants in their special nursery area, before returning to Chiang Mai.

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  • Chiang Mai

• Day 22: Chiang Mai

  Start today's tour with a half-day Thai Cooking Class instructed by an experienced chef. Go through every step of cooking, from selecting ingredients on the local market, picking some ingredients in the vegetable farm, to preparing the materials and making your own dishes following the chef's instruction. This afternoon, visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, one of the most sacred and important temples of northern Thailand; and stop by Wat Umong, a 700-year-old Buddhist temple famous for its tunnels system and forest surroundings. Proceed to the Meow Hill Tribe Village, a great place offering an insight into hill tribe culture and lifestyle.

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  • Chiang Mai

• Day 23: Chiang Mai - Phuket

  Enjoy some leisure time before transferring to the airport for a flight to Phuket. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted and escorted to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is your leisure time.

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  • Phuket

• Day 24: Phuket

  The next two days are free for you to relax and enjoy on your own. You can explore what this island has to offer, from white sand beach, crystal-clear water to exotic foods and drinks.

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  • Phuket

• Day 25: Phuket

  Relax and refresh yourself in this paradise-like island.

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  • Phuket

• Day 26: Phuket - Bangkok

  After breakfast, have some leisure time to enjoy yourself before transferring to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival in Bangkok airport, you will be greeted and escorted to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

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  • Bangkok

• Day 27: Departure

  You will have some free time before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

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