Grand Tour of Indo-China
The temples of Angkor, Mekong River and the ancient and modern capitals
In Brief
| Flight - 1 night. Ho Chi Minh - 3 nights. Hoi An - 2 nights. Hue - 1 night. Ha Long Bay - 1 night. Hanoi - 2 nights. Luang Prabang - 3 nights. Vientiane - 1 nights. Siem Reap - 3 nights. Phnom Penh - 1 night. Flight - 1 night. |
19-night itinerary (May-Oct 2011)
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow via Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2 Transfer to the 4-star Equatorial Hotel for a stay of three nights.
Day 3 Visit the underground tunnel network at Cu Chi and enjoy a tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Evening cruise and dinner on the Saigon River.
Day 4 A scenic drive through the Mekong Delta includes a cruise on the Tien River.
Day 5 Fly to Danang. Stay two nights at the 4-star Pacific Hotel in Hoi An. A walking tour visits merchants’ houses.
Day 6 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the My Son ruins. Sunset cruise on the Thu Bon River.
Day 7 Travel to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam, for overnight at the 3-star Huong Giang Hotel. Visit the Imperial Citadel and the elaborate Emperors’ Tombs.
Day 8 Cruise on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Afternoon flight to Hanoi. Transfer to Ha Long Bay for overnight at the 4-star Novotel Hotel.
Day 9 An extended cruise in Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with seafood lunch. Two nights at the 5-star Hotel Melia Hanoi.
Day 10 Tour of Hanoi including the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s home and Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Hoam Kiem Lake and old Quarter. Evening water puppet show, a Vietnamese art form.
Day 11 Fly to Luang Prabang for three nights at the 4-star Villa Santi Resort. Afternoon visit to the weaving workshop at Ok Pok Tok, Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Mai and Vat Vixoune.
Day 12 Cruise on the Mekong to visit sacred Buddhist caves and a rice wine distillery. Visit the paper making village of Ban Xang Khong. Evening Baci Ceremony. Traditional Laos show and dinner.
Day 13 Early morning, witness monks’ during their morning ritual of Tagbat. Visit Phousi Hill with its spectacular views, the Royal Palace Museum and the traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. Afternoon visit to Khmu village and Kuangsi waterfall (opportunity to swim in a water pool).
Day 14 Fly to Vientiane for overnight at the 4-star Novotel Hotel. A city tour takes in Vat Sisaket, Vat Phra Keo Temple, That Luang Stupa and a stop at Patouxay. Take a walk along the Mekong at sunset.
Day 15 Fly to Siem Reap for three nights at the 4-star Royal Empire Hotel. Afternoon exploring the fabled temples of Angkor and the 12th-century Angkor Wat.
Day 16 Further visits include the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon and Elephant terrace. Afternoon jungle temples include Ta Prohm, Preak Khan, Neak Pean and Ta Som. In the evening visit the Apsara dance theatre for a show and dinner.
Day 17 Visit the Temples of Banteay. Afternoon visit to a local market and The Apsara Art Association.
Day 18 Drive to Phnom Penh via Kampong Thom for an overnight stay at the Holiday Villa Hotel. Afternoon visit to Tuol Sleng, the genocide museum and to a local dance school, giving orphans and children in poverty access to music and education.
Day 19 A morning cyclo tour of Phnom Penh includes the Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace and Wat Phnom. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum and the Russian Market. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Bangkok and onwards to London.
Day 20 Arrive Heathrow in the early morning.
Extension - Bangkok/Bangkok & Hua Hin
Stay on for a further three nights at the centrally located 5-star Amari Watergate hotel in Bangkok. Extend further for four nights at the 5-star Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort (the former Railway Hotel), set in magnificent tropical gardens on the Gulf of Siam. Breakfast and transfers included..
