Discovery Cambodia & Laos

Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival 

Pick up and transfer to the hotel check in. Later in the afternoon, we will visit Wat Phnom and city tours for the rest of day. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Discovery Cambodia & Laos – Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap 

Breakfast at hotel. Continue your visit to Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Afternoon, visiting Toulsleng prison (also known as S21) and the killing field of Choueng Ek, where is about 12km away from the town. Later afternoon, you will be transferred to Siem Reap by a short flight from Phnom Penh international airport. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Siem Reap 

Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor. Afternoon, proceed to visit Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in the area. Lunch box will be provided at villager’s house in Srah Srang Village and Preah Khan, built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. The same afternoon, touring with REMORK (Tuk Tuk) to the fresh air in Siem Reap Village by viewing the local daily working along the Siem Reap Riverside, making Brou Houk (Tipical Khmer food), dry fish, dry snake. Come back to the hotel.

Day 4: Siem Reap 

Breakfast at hotel, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat.The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Continue to visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the Victory Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, Terrace of Elephant, Bayon temple is the most famous temple built by King Jayavarman VII with 226 faces of the Avolokitesvara on the Top of 45 towers. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Discovery Cambodia & Laos – Angkor

Day 5: Siem Reap 

Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60Kms from Siem Reap). There is a lot to see in the approximately 2 hours drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th century), strangled by the jungle. A further 1 hr drive brings you to Koh Ker, situated in the northeast of Siem Reap. Discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of northern Cambodia. Also known as Chok Gargyar, it served as the capital of Jayavarman IV (reigned 928-42). His son and successor Harshavarman I moved the capital back to Angkor in 944. There are a remarkable number of religious buildings in the Koh Ker region, considering the short space of time that it was the capital of the empire. There are more than 30 major structures and experts believe there may have been as many as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region. It was also a prolific period for gigantic sculpture and several of the most impressive pieces in the National Museum in Phnom Penh come from Koh Ker, including a huge garuda (half-man, half-bird creature). Return to Siem Reap. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 6: Siem Reap – fly to Pakse

Breakfast at the hotel drive to Choueng Kneas village, where you will take the boat to visit the way of life Cambodian poor people along with schools, restaurants, hospitals and much more floating on the great lake of Tonle sap. Transfer to the airport for the afternoon flight to Pakse. Being pick-up and transfer directly to Don Khone the area of 4000 islands, which is the widest it ever reaches of Mekong River in rainy season. During the dry months the river recedes and leaves behind thousands of islands and islets and this area of the river is also famous for being the home to the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, south of Don Khone where you stay. En route, we stop to visit the ruins of the Khmer temple of Oup Mong at Ban Houei Tomo and continue driving to Don Khone Island at Ban Nakasung pier and board a long tail motor boat to a peaceful Don Khone Island before sunset. Overnight in Don Khone Island.

Day 7: French Colonial Remnants – Niagara of the East – Elephant Ride

Early morning breakfast, we explore the local villages of Ban Khone, where the old French colonial houses and its retrace the old colonial past with seeing the first Lao railway with its locomotive. We continue discover the area of 4000 islands by our leisurely boat to visit one of the most beautiful waterfalls of marking the end of Lao boundary to Cambodia call Liphi waterfall, known as the Samphamith. If we have luck, we may be seen the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. Return to Ban Nakasang and drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng. The largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east. In the afternoon drive to Pakse and, on the way stop in Phou Asa to visit the vestiges of this temple dating from the 18th century [ if time permits and elephants available] we experience elephant riding for 2hrs through the forest path and then driving to Pakse before sunset and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Pakse.

Meals included: breakfast

Discovery Cambodia & Laos – Elephant riding

Day 8: Coffee Plantations on Bolavan Plateau – Minority Villages – Overnight near Waterfall

After breakfast excursion drive to Tadlo via the plateau of Boloven where tea and coffee plantations growing and most famous Lao coffee. You have chance to observe the traditional coffee and tea maker. En route visit the minority villages of Ban Tateng and experience the daily lifestyle of ethnic minority people of Alack, Katu, Nge that remain not so much change their lifestyle, we continue to Tadlo and visiting the charming village of Tadlo area then transfer you to Tadlo resort, enjoy swimming in the pool of Tadlo waterfall where your accommodation near by. Overnight in Tadlo.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 9: FLy to Vientiane – City Tour

Very early morning, we drive to Pakse to board a flight to Vientiane Capital, upon arrival; you are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. A city tour acquaints us with the major sights of the capital. We visit the sacred Wat Sisaket the oldest temple 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, sunset by Mekong Riverside and late evening. Overnight in Vientiane.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 10: Fly to Luang Prabang – Discover World Heritage Sites

After breakfast, then free time until your transfer to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang. Check in the hotel. Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Phou Sii hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain, alongside the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Then continue to visit Wat Mai. Built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) emphasizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Wat Xiengthong is considered to emphasize & characterize the uniqueness of Luang Prabang’s local style: its several roofs sweep low to the ground. See also the impressive “tree of life” mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana; visit the National Museum, which was once a king’s palace. Displayed inside is a collection of personal artifacts of the royal family, including photos, musical instruments, and many gifts received from the dignitaries of foreign countries. Then return to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included: breakfast

Discovery Cambodia & Laos – Alms Giving

Day 11: Morning Alms Giving – Mekong River Boat Cruise – Pak Ou Buddha Caves

Early morning, enjoy giving Alms Bowl to the monks on the street for making a merit. The Buddhist monks carry for their collection of food as they walk around the village near by only one time a day, early morning. It’s a belief that in order to give people to gain merit before they will start their day life, normally people will have to go to Buddhist temple, but in this case it’s to give people opportunity to do at home, it is not the way of begging as they never ask for any food and even wait for those who are late for giving alms in the morning.

After breakfast, begin a full day boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to visit the Pak Ou Caves with their lacquered Buddha statues. Then make a visit to the village of Ban Phanom where traditional Lao textiles are woven on ancient wooden looms. Then return to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast, relax before you transfer to the airport, or enjoy our optional program.

Meals included: breakfast