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Best of Laos - Cambodia 16 days
Experience the wonders of the mystical ancient capital of Laos. This unique
voyage will make you discover the marvelous city of a UNESCO Heritage Site,
also the ancient city of Buddhist temples and pagodas surrounded by a
beautiful natural environment. then pass the laos - cambodia border to Siem
reap, Get a great insight into Cambodia's most breathtaking and mystirous
cultural and historical attractions s, the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, and
the beautiful beaches of Sihanoukville.
Destinations: Luang Prabang | Pak ou | Tat Khuang Si Water Fall | Vientiane | Parkse |
Phnom Penh | Siem Reap | Sihanoukville
Highlights
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Experiencing the beauty and serenity of Luang Prabang, spiritual centre
and former capital of Laos
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Witnessing an ancient Buddhist offering to hundred of orange-robed monks
as the sun rises over the mountains beyond Luang Prabang
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Learning how to cook delicious Laotian dishes
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Cruising on the Mekong River in a local slow boat
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Staying in exclusive Kamu Lodge an eco-lodge set in lush tropical
wilderness
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Trying your hand at rice planting and traditional fishing in rustic
villages
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Visiting the remains of pre-Angkorian Khmer civilization in southern
Laos
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Witnessing the architectural legacy of the mighty Khmer Empire - once
the greatest power in South East Asia
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Absorbing the beauty of the temples of Angkor
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Feeling welcomed by the smiles and hospitality of the Khmer people
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Riding through the jungle
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Walking alongside the Mekong River in sleepy Phnom Penh
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Unwinding on beaches of Sihanoukville – soaking up the sun, the warm
water, and the tranquility.
Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival
Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak ou cave
Day 3: Luang Prabang Khuang Si water fall
Day 4: Luang prabang - Vientiane
Day 5: Vientiane - City tour
Day 6: Vientiane -Pakse - Khong Island
Day 7: Khong Island - Tado - Pakse
Day 8: Pakse - Siem Reap
Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor temple excursion
Day 10: Siem Reap - Angkor temple excursion
Day 11: Siem reap - Tonle sap
Day 12: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
Day 13: Phnom Penh
Day 14: Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville
Day 15: Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh
Day 16: Phnom Penh Departure
Itinerary in details
Day 1: Luang Prabang arrival
Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcome and transferred to the hotel.
Luang Prabang is perhaps the best - preserved traditional city in Southeast
Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural
scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to
visit in Laos. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat
Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of
Phousi Mount for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as
well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From
there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely
collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding
Luang Prabang.
O/N in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang - Pak ou cave
After breakfast, we enjoy a short - guided tour seeing the city’s oldest
temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs
sweeping low to the ground, which represent the classical architecture of
Luang Prabang temple. We then board a cruise upstream on the Mekong River,
which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as
an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with
thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes.
Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the
potent local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Xang Khong
and Ban Xienglek, well known for its hand made of Jute Sar paper.
O/N in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang Khuang Si water fall
Breakfast; this morning you may want to rise early and participate in the
daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black
Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the
ubiquitous sticky rice. From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market
where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea
and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos
is also known for its traditional crafts, and toDAY you will visit local
village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene drive to
the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools
or walk along the forest paths, return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon
and continue to Ban Phanom, a well known weaving village, return to the city
by late evening observing the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.
O/N in Luang Prabang
Day 4: Luang prabang - Vientiane
The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely
collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating
from the DAY s of the early kings right through the last sovereign, and the
Central Market are not to be missed. We visit these sights, this morning
before we catch a flight back to Vientiane. Upon arrival, we see the major
temples including the oldest Wat Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha
statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the
famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous, sacred structure of
That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay
Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. O/N in Vientiane.
Day 5: Vientiane - City tour
Breakfast, AM: you are met to continue exploring Vientiane capital city , we
start to visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat
Sisaket with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal
temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On
the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to
take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as
Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. PM: continue to visit the rest of Vientiane
by walk, visit Wat Ong Tue, Wat Inpeng, Wat Haisok. Then we pass by the
major shopping area continuing to the Vientiane Central Market of Talad Sao
and Talad Kouadin where the major goods display; including fresh food,
household, textiles, gold, silver and ancient souvenir varied display and
return to Mekong Riverside and late evening., by late afternoon observing
sunset by Mekong.
O/N in Vientiane.
Day 6: Vientiane -Pakse - Khong Island
Breakfast, we take an early flight to Pakse. On arrival, we drive on the
National Road No. 13th south to Champassak and visit the ruins of Wat Phu,
which is well known as the most important Hindu sanctuary of the Khmer
Empire between 9th –13th centuries. Here is also a chance to visit some
nearby Khmer temples and Buddhist shrines, after a shortstop visit, we
continue to Khong Island by road:
O/N in Khong Island.
Day 7: Khong Island - Tado - Pakse
Breakfast; upon leaving Khong Island, we continue our journey towards Tadlo,
through Boloven plateau where famous tea and coffee plantation and other
lush vegetation and red surface of basaltic soil are incredible all along
the way. En route, there are some opportunities to explore a part of Boloven
plateau and visit some hill villages of the Katu, Alack and Nge ethnic
minority people, return to Pakse by late evening.
O/N in Pakse
Day 8: Pakse - Siem Reap
Breakfast; there is a free time for your own exploration of Pakse Town
before catching either flight to Siem Reap. On arrival at Siem Reap
International Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. The town of
Siem Reap is our base for visiting the world famous temples of the ancient
city Angkor, which was l the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire from 802
AD to 1350 AD. After checking into hotel, we drive to the archeological area
to visit the Roluos Group of temples including Lo Lei, Preah Ko, Bakong.
O/N in Siem Reap.
Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor temple excursion
Today , we continue exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate
of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces
carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure,
Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the
largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. A view of the
Atacular contrast colours of the sunset over these sandstone monuments is a
perfect way to finish the day .
O/N in Siem Reap.
Day 10: Siem Reap - Angkor temple excursion
The temple of Ta Prohm, with enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers
embracing themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the
impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of
nature is an incredible sight. We explore this masterpiece as well as its
surrounding temples of Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, TA Keo, Thommanon, Chau Say
Tevado. The grand circuit including Preah Khan, the Kravan, Neak Pean, Krol
Ko, TA Som, East Mebon, Pre Rup Temple is also visited, this afternoon
before we walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill for the sunset watching.
O/N in Siem Reap.
Day 11: Siem reap - Tonle sap
Heading out of the town, we visit some outlying sights including the Preah
Dark village, the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay
Srei, the River of 1000 Lingas, locally named Kbal Spean and the Banteay
Samre Temple, with its impressive relieves depicting scenes of Vishunu as
well as Krishna legends. The remainder of the DAY is free for your own
exploration of the town and strolling around the shopping area.
O/N in Siem Reap.
Day 12: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
An early morning start to navigate by hydrofoil on the Tonle Sap River to
Phnom Penh (from January to June, it is difficult to cruise by boat due to
the water is very low in Tonlé Sap Lake). The cruise is long; however the
picturesque scenery changing along the way makes for an interesting journey.
The capital city of Phnom Penh was once considered the loveliest city of
Indochina. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still maintains
considerable charm. A half DAY city tour acquaints us with some major sights
of Phnom Penh. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are now home to the
royal family and are therefore very close to the public. At the northern
area of the palace grounds is Silver Pagoda, which is the most sacred temple
in the country. We visit both structures as well as the National Museum,
with an excellent collection of actefacts illustrating the splendor of Khmer
history. O/N in Phnom Penh.
Day 13: Phnom Penh - City tour
The sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh begins with a visit to the Royal
University of Fine Arts where the young Cambodians learn the ancient arts of
their ancestors. The most interesting part of this structure is the Dance
Academy. Here, many young children practice the graceful movements of the
beautiful national dances. We then continue to one of the city's lively open
markets, Psar Toul Tom Pong, all called the " Russian Market" where anything
and everything is for sales. The Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious
'Killing Fields' of Choeung Ek are not to be missed. A visit to these sights
provides us a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge.
O/N in Phnom Penh.
Day 14: Sihanoukville
Today, we travel by road to Sihanouk ville which boasts Cambodia's most
important sea port .Although the recent development of tourism; the beaches
of Sihanouk Ville are some of the most unspoiled in all Southeast Asia.
After checking into hotel, we take a short guided tour to catch a glimpse of
the city and spend the remainder of the DAY on the turquoise water enjoying
swimming or lazing on a beach. O/N in Sihanoukville.
Day 15: Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh
A free morning on beach. As an option, we visit the Ream national park with
its mangrove forest and ecosystem before driving back to Phnom Penh. Along
the way, you can make stop as you please, to stretch your legs and admire
the scenic countryside. An ideal way to spend your last evening in Cambodia
is to relax in a cafe by the riverfront.
O/N in Phnom Penh.
Day 16: Phnom Penh Departure
There is a free time for your own exploration of the town and strolling
around the shopping area. The tour ends after your transfer to Pochentong
Airport for departure.
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