Cambodia and Laos Adventure Tour 14 Nights 15 Days

Your Cambodia and Laos Tour begins in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s industrious capital at the confluence of the mighty Mekong and the Tonlé Sap. Upon arrival, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours, perhaps to stroll along the idyllic, recently-remodelled waterfront.

After breakfast, your experience of this city rich in history begins with a stroll around the pristine gardens of the Royal Residence, before taking in the impressive collection of sculpture, relics and prehistoric artefacts in the National Museum of Cambodia. Next you’ll marvel at the soaring spires and golden nagas of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, glinting in the mid-morning sun before sampling the many artisans workshops nearby.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll spend a reflective afternoon touring the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Cambodia’s recent tragic history is well-known, yet you can’t truly appreciate the great strides forward this quaint Kingdom has made without understanding the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, committed less than 40 years ago. The evening is your own to indulge in all this now rejuvenated city has to offer.

Today you’re free to explore this lively city on your own, soaking in the carefree ambience and rich culture, perhaps visiting the sprawling Central Market housed in an unusual art deco mall. Indulge your senses with the fascinating new sounds, smells, and sights of the capital until lunch, after which your guide will drive you to Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s premier beach resort and gateway to the unspoiled islands that lie just off the mainland. After checking in at your beach front resort, the evening is yours to sample the fresh seafood and take in a sunset over the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll board a small cruise ship, sailing over the crystal-clear turquoise waters to the unspoiled island of Koh Rong Samloem. The island truly is a slice of paradise. Spend the day exploring its pristine jungle, diving, or drinking a fresh coconut while starting out into the endless blue abyss from one of the Island’s many beautiful white sand beaches. In the afternoon, you have the option of returning to your hotel in Sihanoukville, or spending the evening in a charming beach bungalow on the Island.

In the morning you are free to swim in the ocean and lounge at the beach before your guide takes you to the airport for your short flight to Siem Reap, your base for exploring the the enigmatic jungle temples of Angkor. A friendly local guide will be waiting to collect you at the airport and deliver you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this quaint yet bustling town, a hidden gem of world-class wining and dining, kind locals, and charming markets.

After breakfast at your hotel, your awe-inspiring tour of Angkor begins. Entering through the grand South Gate, you’ll explore Angkor Thom, the last capital of the once great Khmer Empire, with the 216 enigmatic faces of The Bayon at its centre. Still within the ancient city walls, you’ll marvel at the view from the summit of Baphuon, the enormous temple mountain, affording unspoiled views over the surrounding ruins. You’ll round off the morning poring over the intricate bas-relief of the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King, before having lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you’ll venture deeper into the jungle to the crumbling ruins of Ta Prohm. Here you’ll witness the monstrous jungle vines and sprawling tree roots that seem intent on claiming the ruins as their own. We cap off our day of adventuring with a delicious welcome dinner at a traditional Apsara dance performance at Angkor Village Resort.

After breakfast, you will witness the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat, in all its glory. This incredible twelfth century monument stands testament to the dedication and skill of the ancient Khmer people and is truly a wonder of the world.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll savour the remote peace of Banteay Srei, or the ‘Citadel of Beauty,’ some 20km away. This less-frequented woodland temple is beautifully preserved and is incomparable with any other in Angkor. En route to your hotel, we stop at a rural Khmer village to give you insight into the everyday lives of the friendly local people. The evening is yours to explore Siem Reap some more.

After breakfast you’ll head for the Tonlé Sap, dominating the map of Cambodia as the largest freshwater lake in southeast asia. While here, you’ll observe life on the lake for the fishermen and their families who make their homes on the stilt-housing in the water. Once back on dry land, you’ll have the chance to stroll through Psar Chas, a bustling old market, where you’ll find your pick of souvenirs to treat loved-ones back at home. In the afternoon, you’ll be taken to the airport for your short flight to Vientiane, Laos, leaving Cambodia with the fondest of memories.

After arriving in the charming backwater capital of smiling locals and steaming noodle stalls, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to soak in the city’s rich delights, perhaps treating yourself to a snack or two at the vibrant night market.

This morning, your Laos discovery tour begins with a serene cruise down the Mekong, idling past scenes of rural riverside life and spectacular mountain scenery until you reach the Pak Ou Caves. Nestled among the limestone cliffs where the Mekong and and Nam OU rivers meet, the caves are split into two: one called Tham Ting; and the other Tham Theung. Both are filled with thousands of Buddha images and statues which have been deposited here over the centuries.

A short distance away from Pak Ou Caves, we visit the village of Ban Xang Hai, which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays, the village also specialises in producing a wide range of ‘Lao Lao’ whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ wine. Be sure to try just a little before we head back down to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

After your trip to the caves, enjoy private tour of the city, calling in at Wat Xiengthong, Luang Prabang’s stunning Golden City Temple, Wat Aham, with its depictions of Buddha’s life painted on the walls, and the Royal Palace Museum, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about Lao history and culture. In the evening, you’re free to relax, or do a little exploring on your own.

After breakfast at your hotel, your journey of discovery starts with a fantastic city tour, beginning with the fascinating National Museum, where you’ll have a chance to gain a foundation understanding of Lao history that will help you get the best of the sights you’ll see later on the trip. After the museum, it’s on to Wat Sisaket, the oldest wat (temple) in Vientiane, serving as home to a host of gorgeous murals and a beautifully ornate ceiling. The final stop of the morning is Wat Prokeo, housing some of the country’s finest sculptures.

After lunch, you’ll be driven the short journey northeast of the city to Pha That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos. This beautiful golden temple sits at the centre of a high-walled  cloister with tiny windows and is said to enclose a piece of Buddha’s breastbone. After the Lao national icon, you’ll call in on a more recent monument, erected after Laos claimed independence from France, as you make your way back to the city. You’ll round off the day with a trip to Wat Si Muang, famed for its supernatural powers. The rest of the day is yours to relax, perhaps taking a sunset stroll along the Mekong before retiring to your hotel.    

In the morning you will be driven to Vang Vieng, a sleepy riverside town nestled between towering limestone karsts. En route, you’ll stop at the beautiful salt farms of Ban Bor village, and take in a local lunch amid the beautiful mountain scenery. After lunch, enjoy a gentle boat cruise on the Nam Ngum Lake, arriving in Vang Vieng by late afternoon. Once in Vang Vieng, the rest of the day is yours explore the charming rural town.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll start the day with a tour of the lively, bustling local market before moving on to explore the incredible Tham Chang Caves and the refreshing rockpools dotted around the area. Enjoy a quick swim with gorgeous jungle backdrops. Once you’ve soaked it all in in, you’ll be driven along the edge of the Nam Ngum lake to Luang Prabang, a sleepy blend of red-roofed Buddhist temples and French-colonial architecture nestled in the lofty green mountains. After check-in at your hotel, the remainder of the day is yours to marvel in the mystique of this former mountain kingdom, perhaps exploring the local night market.

This morning, your discovery of this once-mighty mountain kingdom begins with a serene cruise down the Mekong, idling past scenes of rural riverside life and spectacular mountain scenery until you reach the Pak Ou Caves. Nestled among the limestone cliffs where the Mekong and and Nam OU rivers meet, the caves are split into two: one called Tham Ting; and the other Tham Theung. Both are filled with thousands of Buddha images and statues which have been deposited here over the centuries.

A short distance away from Pak Ou Caves, we visit the village of Ban Xang Hai, which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays, the village also specialises in producing a wide range of ‘Lao Lao’ whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ wine. Be sure to try just a little before we head back down to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

After your trip to the caves, enjoy private tour of the city, calling in at Wat Xiengthong, Luang Prabang’s stunning Golden City Temple, Wat Aham, with its depictions of Buddha’s life painted on the walls, and the Royal Palace Museum, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about Lao history and culture. In the evening, you’re free to relax, or do a little exploring on your own.  

You’ll start the day by observing the early-morning alms ritual of the saffron-robed monks that call this city home, perhaps even receiving a blessing. After breakfast at your hotel, you will head to explore more of Laos’ natural beauty at the stunning Khouang Si Waterfalls. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a variety of Lao Minority Group villages, learning about their unique traditions and cultures, experiencing a totally different way of life. Spend the evening relaxing in your hotel, or venture out on your own.

Today is yours to relax until it’s time to head for airport for your ongoing flight, leaving Southeast Asia with many wonderful memories and stories to share with your loved ones back home.

7-Day Tour of Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang

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