Discover Laos & Cambodia

This new arrangement offers a fascinating insight into little-known Indo-China, ideal for those who have perhaps visited Vietnam or Thailand and want to explore further this part of the world. Following suggestions from our clients, we have extended the stay from July onwards in Laos and Cambodia and added an extension at the Cambodian coast. Laos is a surprising contrast to Vietnam, less developed with everything on a smaller, more personal scale - Luang Prabang was recently voted top city by Wanderlust readers.

Local colour sometimes equates to ‘tourist shows’, but here it is the Tagbat: 2000 monks walking around Luang Prabang at 5am every morning in a ceremony embraced by the local people, who give food to the monks. In fact the gentle people and beautiful scenery may stay longer in the memory than the impressive temples and palaces. Most of the population live along the Mekong and still follow the traditional way of life. In the south, tourism has only just started to change this amazing ‘4000 island’ and Waterfalls section of the Mekong. In Cambodia, the original Hindu Temples of Angkor were inspired by India but the later Buddhist additions came from further East. The combination is fascinating and awe-inspiring – after the temples were abandoned, nature overwhelmed the temples, only now partly reclaimed from the jungle. Angkor Wat is the most impressive but every temple represents a variation on the theme and the accumulated effect is astounding. The Rolous group of early temples is a quieter contrast to the main temples area and the Ta Prohm (‘jungle’) temple is the most photogenic. In the fascinating capital of Phnom Penh, once known as the ‘Pearl of Asia’, its ancient and royal heritage now contrasts with its French colonial past and still recent memories of the Khmer Rouge regime.

VJV Special Events - Baci Ceremony in Laos & Apsara Theatre & Association in Cambodia
Visit a Heritage House for a traditional Baci ceremony unique to Laos, with a shamam, a group of elders and traditional Lao musicians. In Cambodia visit the Apsara dance theatre and the Apsara Art Association which gives orphans and children in poverty access to music and education.