| TOURS CONTENTS |
INDOCHINA HERITAGE ROAD (Laos/Vietnam/Cambodia) - 14 Days / 13 Nights
CODE: EX.R-ERT/IHR |
|
| TOURS CONTENTS | |
||||
INDOCHINA HERITAGE ROAD (Laos/Vietnam/Cambodia) - 14 Days / 13 Nights |
|||||
|
|||||
 |
 |
ARRIVE LUANG PRABANG (B) | ||||||
| Arrive in
Luang Prabang, the former capital of the former Kingdom of Lane Xang or Land
of a Million Elephans. Transfer to hotel before setting out to explore some
of the sights of this peaceful, provincial city There is little traffic on
the dusty Luang Prabang roads and monks in orange robes scurry in all
directions carrying umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun. The former
Royal Palace, now the National Museum, Vat Xieng Thong, Vat Sen, Vat Visun
and Mount Phousi with panoramic views over the city should not be missed.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.
|
||||||||
|
 |
LUANG PRABANG-PAK OU CAVES-LUANG PRABANG (B, L, D) | ||||||
| A full day
boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves.
Thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues are crammed into the two caves
carved out of a towering limestone cliff. They range in size from a few
centimetres to the size of a man. After a picnic lunch, visit a riverside
village where rice wine is produced and the village of Ban Phanom, where
traditional Lao textiles are woven on ancient wooden looms. In the late
afternoon attend a Baci ceremony, mixing Animism and Buddhism beliefs. The
purpose of the Baci is to call back escaped spirits to your body something
that is very important before major events such as weddings, births, travel
or welcoming friends. The ceremony is followed by a traditional dinner with
a Lao family. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
|
||||||||
|
 |
LUANG PRABANG-VIENTIANE (B, L) | ||||||
| After
breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Transfer to hotel
on arrival in Vientiane. In the afternoon a Vientiane sightseeing tour takes
in Vat Sisaket with its thousands of Buddha statues, Vat Phra Keo, That
Luang and Vientiane's own Arc de Triomphe, the Patouxai Monument. Overnight
in Vientiane.
|
||||||||
|
 |
VIENTIANE-SAVANNAKHET-LAO BAO-HUE (B) | ||||||
|
After breakfast, transfer by road to
Savannakhet, a long journey of around 7 or 8 hours and continue Lao Bao on
the Lao-Vietnam border. After completing visa formalities continue by road
to Hue. Arrive in the former imperial capital of Hue in the late afternoon
or early evening, and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue. Note:
Visas for Vietnam must be obtained in advance.
|
||||||||
|
 |
HUE (B, D) | ||||||
 A boat trip
on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue's best-known religious
site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang,
in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate
mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from
where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. If time permits
visit one of Hue's many garden houses or explore the lively Dong Ba Market.
In the evening enjoy a home-cooked dinner at the home of a local family
(groups of under 15 pax only). Overnight in Hue.
|
||||||||
|
 |
HUE - DANANG - HOI AN (B) | ||||||
 Leave Hue
after breakfast by road for Danang via the scenic fishing village of Lang Co
and the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Stop in Danang to visit the beautiful Non Nuoc
Beach and the Cham Museum containing the finest collection of Cham sculpture
in the world. On the road from Danang to Hoi An visit five sacred hills
known as the Marble Mountains containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. On
arrival in Hoi An transfer to hotel. Hoi An was a major Asian trading port
in the 17th and 18th centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle
has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town
centre to visit former merchants' houses, the 400 year old Japanese Covered
Bridge and the colorful market. Overnight in Hoi An.
|
||||||||
|
 |
HOI AN - MY SON - TRA KIEU - HOI AN (B) | ||||||
|
A half day trip to visit the capital and
religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km south-west
of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and
sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries. On the way back
to Hoi An stop to visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion
Citadel, the capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th centuries. Some of
the finest sculptures in Danang's Cham Museum originated from here. On
returning to Hoi An, the afternoon is free to relax perhaps browsing for
souvenirs in Hoi An's art galleries and silk shops, or maybe cycling to the
nearby Cua Dai Beach. Overnight in Hoi An.
|
||||||||
|
 |
HOI AN - DANANG - HO CHI MINH CITY (B) | ||||||
 After
breakfast transfer to Danang Airport for the earliest flight to Ho Chi Minh
City. Upon arrival a sightseeing tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still
called Saigon by many locals, takes in the former Presidential Palace, The
War Museum, The Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquerware
factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in the city's bustling chinatown. Overnight in
Ho Chi Minh City.
|
||||||||
|
 |
HO CHI MINH CITY - VINH LONG - HO CHI MINH CITY (B, L) | ||||||
| Leave Ho Chi
Minh City after breakfast for Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. On arrival at
Cai Be board a boat to explore the floating market, typical of the Mekong
Delta. Continue by boat to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island to visit orchards of
tropical fruit and have lunch in the famous Bonsai garden of Mr. Sau Giao.
After lunch continue by boat to Vinh Long and then by road back to Ho Chi
Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
|
||||||||
|
 |
HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI - PHNOM PENH (B) | ||||||
| After
breakfast leave Ho Chi Minh City for Phnom Penh by road, stopping en route
to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network
constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for
independence. Continue to Moc Bai on the border between Vietnam and
Cambodia, and complete the visa formalities. Continue the journey by road to
Phnom Penh with a Cambodian guide and vehicle. Arrive in Phnom Penh and
transfer to hotel. This city was once considered one of the most beautiful
in the Orient, and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains a
colonial charm. In the afternoon visit the National Museum, the Silver
Pagoda, the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom hill, founding place of the city.
Overnight in Phnom Penh. Note: Visas for Cambodia must be obtained
in advance.
|
||||||||
|
 |
PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP (B) | ||||||
| Transfer to
Pochentong Airport after breakfast for the morning flight to Siem Reap.
Alternatively take the new speed boats to Siem Reap leaving Phnom Penh at
08:00am and arriving in Siem Reap around 12:30pm. Siem Reap is the base for
exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer
empire. On arrival begin a tour of the temples that includes the
early-Angkor ara temples of the Roluos Group - Preah Ko, Ba Kong and Lo Lei
and in the afternoon continue to Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Chau Say Tevoda,
Thommanon, and the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of
enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Overnight in Siem Reap. Note:
If traveling by boat the morning tour in Siem Reap will not be possible.
|
||||||||
|
 |
SIEM REAP (B) | ||||||
| After
breakfast a morning tour of the temples takes in the South Gate of Angkor
Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the
Leper King. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat.
Return to hotel after watching the sun set over Angkor Wat. Overnight in
Siem Reap.
|
||||||||
|
 |
SIEM REAP (B) | ||||||
| After
breakfast depart for a visit to Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean (River of 1000
lingas) and Banteay Samre. In the afternoon, visit the Grand Circuit taking
in Pre Rup, Neak Poan and Preah Khan. Overnight in Siem Reap.
|
||||||||
|
 |
DEPART SIEM REAP (B) | ||||||
| After
breakfast take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake (best from July-February) and
afterwards visit the Siem Reap market and the workshops of Artisans d'Angkor
(wood and stone carving) and/or visit the Landmine Museum of Mr. Aki Ra
before transferring to Siem Reap Airport for departure flight. Note:
This tour includes a 3-day Angkor Temple Pass.
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
1820 West
3600 South, Suite #C |
||||||||
