Laos & Cambodia Culture: Discover Vibrant Lands & People

Itinerary Summary

Day	Place	Highlights	Hotel Options
1 - 2	Phnom Penh	Cambodia’s Capital, Royal Palace, Riverside Promenade, Colonial Architecture	Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel, Raffles Hotel Le Royal
2 - 5	Siem Reap	Angkor Wat Temple Complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tonle Sap Lake, Khmer Architecture, Rice Fields	Angkor Village Resort & Spa, Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor
5 - 7	Champasak	Beautiful Khmer Ruins, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bolaven Plateau, Riverside Province	La Folie Lodge
7 - 8	Vientianne	Mekong Valley, French Mansions, Blooming Bougainvillea-Lined Streets	Ansara Hotel, Green Park Boutique Hotel
8 - 11	Luang Prabang	UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mekong River, French Colonial Buildings	Le Sen Boutique Hotel, Maison Souvannaphoum

Itinerary Details

Day 1 - 2

International Arrival

Transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to Hotel

Phnom Penh

1 Day

Phnom Penh offers a heady mix of bustling city life and a sincere cultural experience. It’s a harmonious blend of the past and present, tempered with delicious Khmer and French cuisine.

Included Activities

Highlights of Phnom Penh
Explore the finest examples of Khmer architecture with this marvellous city tour. The Royal Palace is a grand building overlooking a tranquil plaza and still houses Cambodia’s royalty, King Sihamoni. On the south side of the palace lies the Silver Pagoda, which is aptly named as it has been crafted out of 5,329 solid silver tiles. Wander along to Wat Preah Keo Morokat, the Buddhist temple where Royal ceremonies are performed, or Wat Phmom, the namesake of the city. You can also visit The National Museum, which houses many fascinating and historical relics, and King Ang Doung Stupa, the burial site of King Norodom Sihanouk, the 20th century monarch. To respect local customs, please dress conservatively.

Hotel Options

Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel – Opt 1

Room
Meals	Breakfast

Raffles Hotel Le Royal – Opt 2

Room	Landmark
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Heritage

Day 2 - 5

Transfer from Hotel to Phnom Penh Airport

Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Transfer from Siem Reap Airport to Hotel

Siem Reap

3 Days

Siem Reap is a most marvellous window to the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Temple complex, with its fascinating Khmer architecture in varying states of preservation.

Included Activities

Full Day Tour Of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm
Explore one of the seven wonders of the world with a fascinating full day tour of the glorious, ancient and impressive Angkor Wat. This stunning temple complex boasts five magnificent towers and vast gallery complex, with the main attraction being the dominating Angkor Wat, which magically reflects in nearby water at sunrise and sunset. Head onwards to Angkor Thom, a moated royal city in the bayon style of large faces on all sides. Discover Ta Phrom, a quiet and sprawling jungle clad monastic complex engulfed by massive fig and silk cotton trees. With incredible legend of regal feuds and religious overhaul, this temple complex is undoubtedly one of the finest in the world. For this reason, it can sometimes become busy with crowds.

Day Trip To Banteay Srei & Beng Mealea
Discover ancient mysteries! After a hearty breakfast, embark on a pleasant 1.5hr drive through the beautiful Cambodian countryside to reach Beng Mealea – a sprawling temple complex within a dense jungle. One of the most mysterious ruins of Angkor, it is believed to have inspired the famous Angkor Wat. Hike through the temple ruins which sit on an ancient road, and were undiscovered for centuries! Savor a traditional Cambodian lunch and head toward the Banteay Srei Temple or ‘Citadel of Women’ which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. The beautiful architecture, sculpture, and Khmer artwork will give you much insight into the ancient Angkor civilization. Kindly note that this activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, due to lack of access.

Tour Of Kampong Khleang And Beng Mealea
Discover the fascinating water world of Kampong Khleang and the picturesque temple ruins at Beng Mealea on this day tour. Take a two hour ride on a local boat to reach Kampong Khleang, and learn how nearly 20,000 people still live the way their ancestors did, near the beautiful Tonle Sap Lake. Admire the ecological and social intricacies of the land that have sustained the local community through the years. Watch the flooded forest (the waters recede during the low water season) and the colorful floating houses, before settling down to a scrumptious picnic lunch. Enjoy local delicacies from Downtown Siem Reap in a traditional wooden house by the lake. After a satisfying luncheon eaten out of packed baskets, travel down to the ruins of Beng Mealea. This is essentially the ruins of an ancient, 900 year old temple complex overgrown by jungles. Relive your childhood fantasies of exploring overgrown temple ruins, right out of those adventure stories! (Full Day; Private Activity & Transfers; Duration: 8 hrs; Meals included: Lunch; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable walking shoes).

Hotel Options

Angkor Village Resort & Spa – Opt 1

Room	Park View Rooms
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor – Opt 2

Room	Landmark
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Heritage

Day 5 - 7

Transfer from Hotel to Siem Reap Airport

Flight from Siem Reap to Pakse

Drive from Pakse to Champassak (40 km, 1 hr)

Champasak

2 Days

Champasak is a quaint and unique riverside province in southern Laos.

Included Activities

Full Day Mekong River Boat Ride
Aquatic adventures await! After a hearty breakfast, step aboard a private boat for your full day tour of the 4,000 islands in Si Phan Don. At the picturesque island of Don Khone, you can take a bicycle ride through the French colonial-style remains, past abandoned railway tracks to the furious Liphi Waterfalls which is also called the Corridor of the Devil. The return journey will take you to the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls which stretches for an impressive 10 km. Don’t’ miss your chance to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphins from a boat which takes you to the deep pools near the Cambodian border. In the late afternoon, a car will take you back to Khong Island.

Hotel Options

La Folie Lodge – Opt 1

Room	Superior Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 7 - 8

Drive from Champassak to Pakse (40 km, 1 hr)

Flight from Pakse to Vientiane

Transfer from Vientiane Airport to Hotel

Vientianne

1 Day

Vientiane, located in the Mekong Valley, is the small, quiet and picturesque capital city of Laos.

Included Activities

Half Day Sight & Sounds Tour of Vientianne
Enjoy a half day city tour starting with a leisurely stroll in Vientiane, a quaint and easygoing town. Admire French colonial architecture betwixt beautifully gilded temples. Start with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the oldest surviving Siamese temple containing over 8,000 Buddha statues, followed by the erstwhile royal temple of Wat Ho Phra Keo, former home of the Emerald Buddha statue, now serving as a museum of arts and antiques. Then, travel up Lanexang Avenue for photographic moments of the Patouxay monument or Arc de Triomphe, commemorating the dead of past wars – uncannily similar to its Paris sibling. Climb to the top for panoramic views of Vientiane. Continue on along Rue Singha 23 to Laos

Hotel Options

Ansara Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Savvy Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Green Park Boutique Hotel – Opt 2

Room	Deluxe Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 8 - 11

Transfer from Hotel to Vientiane Airport

Flight from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Transfer from Luang Prabang Airport to Hotel

Luang Prabang

3 Days

Luang Prabang is considered the jewel of Indochina, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Included Activities

Day Trip to Kuang Si Waterfalls & Pak Ou Caves
Discover beautiful landscapes! After your breakfast, enjoy a relaxing upstream cruise on a private boat past tranquil countryside vistas and moored wooden canoes on the Mekong. Disembark at the Ban Muang Keo village and take a short trek to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, which house thousands of Buddha figurines in varying sizes! On your way back to Luang Prabang for lunch, stop to explore the artisans colony at Ban Nongxai. Drive out to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls in the afternoon, where a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters do much to revive you. A visit to the Bear Rescue Centre to see the rehabilitated rare Asiatic Black Bears, can be a rewarding experience before you return to your hotel in the evening.

Highlights of Luang Prabang & Morning Alms Giving Ceremony
Arrange an optional pre-dawn start with your guide (0530 hrs) to witness Tak Bat, or alms-giving ceremony, to hundreds of saffron-clad monks – an awe-inspiring ancient ritual. Visit a bustling morning market before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Take a guided audio tour of the Royal Palace Museum, housing precious possessions of the former Lao Royal family. Explore various architectural feats, including 19th century Wat Xiengthong Temple, and Wat Visoun, nicknamed the watermelon stupa. Gain insight into the ethnic culture at the Arts and Ethnology Center, and head to the textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek. Venture to the monk school of Wat Siphouthabath to interact with a young monk and ascend 328 steps up Mount Phousi to watch the sunset over the Mekong. Kindly note that the Royal Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

Hotel Options

Le Sen Boutique Hotel – Opt 1

Room	Deluxe Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Maison Souvannaphoum – Opt 2

Room	Garden Wing
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Heritage

Transfer from Hotel to Luang Prabang Airport

International Departure

Price & Inclusions

Option 1 From $ 3,655 /person
Option 2 From $ 5,640 /person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) on the indicated meal plan for 10 nights.
Economy flights for all sectors : Phnom Penh – Siem Reap, Siem Reap – Pakse, Pakse – Vientiane, Vientiane – Luang Prabang
All activities as listed :
- Phnom Penh: Highlights of Phnom Penh
- Siem Reap: Full Day Tour of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm
- Siem Reap: Day Trip to Banteay Srei & Beng Mealea
- Siem Reap: Tour of Kampong Khleang and Beng Mealea
- Champassak: Full Day Mekong River Boat Ride
- Vientianne: Half Day Sight & Sounds Tour of Vientianne
- Luang Prabang: Day Trip to Kuang Si Waterfalls & Pak Ou Caves
- Luang Prabang: Highlights of Luang Prabang & Morning Alms Giving Ceremony
All airport and hotel transfers
A high-quality air conditioned vehicle with a safety-tested chauffeur for all activities specified in the itinerary
All activities specified in the itinerary, including entrance fees wherever applicable, accompanied by our tour guide
Your Trip Coordinator: a 24/7 point of contact, supporting you during your trip
Welcome kit including all important documents and information regarding your itinerary
Insolvency insurance
Fees and taxes

This listed price is based on two people sharing a double room. The price may vary due to the time of year you travel, the size of your group, and accommodation availability.

Ancient Wonders of Cambodia and Laos

Itinerary Summary

Ideal For

Itinerary Details

Phnom Penh

Siem Reap

Champasak

Vientianne

Luang Prabang

Price & Inclusions

Price Includes