Cambodia & Laos |
Cambodia
Laos
North of Vientiane is Luang Prabang, famous for its Khmer Temples and mountain scenery. We can arrange a combination tour of these two cities plus the Mekong River for around 4-5 days.
Laos 7 days / 6 nights
Day 1 Vientianne –Sightseeing in Vientianne The capital city and seat of government sits in a bend of the Mekong River amidst fertile alluvial plains. Vientiane (pronounced 'Wieng Chan' by the locals) is a laid-back city with interesting wats and lively markets. THAT LUANG (Great Sacred Reliquary or Great Stupa): built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD, it is the most important national monument in Laos, a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. HO PHA KEO is the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy built in 1565 by King Setthathirat and now converted into a museum containing some of the best examples of Buddhist sculptures found in Laos. WAT SI SAKET: constructed in 1818 by King Anouvong in the early Bangkok style, the interior walls of the cloister are punctured with small niches that contain more than 2000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. PATUXAI: a large monument reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the huge arch at the end of Thanon Lan Xang has a stairway that leads to the top levels of the monument, providing a good view of the city. Excursion to National Ethnic Cultural Park and Buddha Park This day's excursion combines visits to two very different open-air museums. WAT XIENG KHUAN (BUDDHA PARK) is an collection of whimsical but compelling statues of Buddhist and Hindu gods. Together with the NATIONAL ETHNIC CULTURAL PARK, an outdoor exhibition with displays and houses of different ethnic minorities, it offers a valuable glimpse into some modern-day practices of Lao culture and tradition. Overnight in Vientianne
Day 2 - Vientianne to Vang Vieng By vehicle from Vientiane to Vang Vieng - Sightseeing around Vang Vieng This small town north of Vientiane is nestled in a scenic bend in the Nam Song River. The west bank of the river is lined with tunnels and caverns and the limestone cliffs are beautiful. Visit some of the caves for which the town is famous, including CHANG CAVE, used as a bunker against marauding Chinese in the early 19th century, and XANG CAVE, or "Elephant Cave", which contains a few Buddha images and a Buddha footprint plus the elephant shaped stalactites which give the cave its name. Overnight in Vang Vieng THE ELEPHANT CROSSING HOTEL Day 3 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Journey north passing through Ban Phatang and Muang Kasi Overnight in Luang Prabang LA RESIDENCE PHOU VAO Day 4 Afternoon sightseeing of Luang Prabang ‘s temples – Sightseeing in Luang Prabang Set between the Nam Khan and Nam Ou rivers, Luang Prabang is an enchanting town filled with historic temples and colonial style buildings. The entire town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Start the day at the NATIONAL MUSEUM (ROYAL PALACE), a modest but graceful building which combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. This turn-of-the century royal residence has been preserved as it was when the royal family last lived here and provides unique insights into the history of Laos. Afterwards, visit WAT MAI and WAT VISOUN (Wat Wisunalat). The oldest living temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Visoun dates back to 1513 and contains a collection of antique wooden Buddhas. Visit the nearby WAT AHAM before continuing to WAT XIENG THONG, the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in the city. Its many ornate buildings feature exquisite mosaic and gold-stenciled murals. From there, stroll down the main street of Luang Prabang, stopping at some of the many temples that line its sides, including WAT SIBOUNHEUANG, WAT SI MOUNGKHOUN, WAT SOP and WAT SENE. Visit Mount Phousi Climb the hillside stairs to the small temples atop PHOU SI, the 100m high hill which sits in the middle of the town, offering beautiful views over the temples and river. Overnight in Luang Prabang Day 5 Luang Prabang – Full Day Kuangsi Waterfall KUANG SI FALLS: located in a perfect natural setting near Luang Prabang this multi-tiered waterfall tumbles over limestone formations into a series of turquoise pools. It is a nice place for bathing and having a picnic. Continue to BAN THA PENE, a nearby Khmu village, and BAN LONG LAO before returning to Luang Prabang by vehicle. Overnight in Luang Prabang Day 6 - Luang Prabang to Pakbeng via Pak Ou – LUANGSAY CRUISE Embark on the Luangsay boat, a traditional style wooden boat with open decks and beautiful views. Cruise upstream towards Pakbeng stopping at BAN BAW to observe the making of traditional Lao rice wine and whisky. Continue to the famous PAK OU caves, natural shrines which have been filled over the centuries with hundreds of Buddha images in every style and material. Lunch is served on board, followed by a visit to a fishing village before arriving in Pakbeng in the late afternoon. Overnight in Pakbeng Day 7 - Pakbeng to Huay Xai – LUANGSAY CRUISE Early morning the Pak Ou boat leaves the pier for a leisurely cruise up the Mekong towards Huay Xai (Lao-Thai border). Several stops along the way offer the opportunity to sample rural life first-hand and marvel at just how little has changed over the centuries. Arrival in Huay Xai is in the late afternoon. On arrival at approximately 1700 hrs - Meet at Huay Xai and cross the border into Thailand by boat and land
MEKONG CRUISES -ON BOARD THE VAT PHOU Day 1 - PAKSE - CHAMPASSAK The Vat Phou sets off early morning . Dock at Champassak for a guided tour of Vat Phou temple. Overnight on board . Day 2- CHAMPASSAK - KHONG ISLAND Arrive at Khong Island and explore the “4000 islands” area . Take a short walk through the peaceful island of Khong and continue by long tail boat to the roaring falls of PhaPheng . Picnic on the riverside before returning to the Vat Phou for overnight. Day 3 - KHONG ISLAND - PAKSE cruise along river villages , pagodas and fishermen’s houses . Dock at Ounmoung , a 12th century Khmer sanctuary hidden in the tropical forest . Return to the Vat Phou for a romantic view of the Mekong at sunset. Day 4- PAKSE - Arrival - end of cruise .
CAMBODIA 8 days / 7 nights
DAY 1 - SIEM REAP Meet on arrival at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the Raffles or the Sofitel Hotel DAY 2 - Sightseeing in Angkor PREAH KHAN: a temple built by King Jayavarman VII with towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors in a jungle setting. Preah Khan covers a very large area but the temple itself is enclosed within a rectangular wall of around 700 by 800 meters. NEAK PEAN: built by King Jayavarman VII (ruled 1181 to 1201), it is a Buddhist temple consisting of a square pool with four smaller square pools arranged on each axis. In the centre of the large central pool is a circular island encircled by two nagas with intertwined tails. TA SOM: built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII for his teacher, Som. Ta Som means old Som. EASTERN MEBON: temple erected by Rajendravarman (ruled from 944 to 968), it is located on a former islet in the centre of the Eastern Baray. The base of the temple is guarded at its corners by stone figures of harnessed elephants. PRE RUP: built by Rajendravarman II (ruled 944 to 968), it consists of a pyramid shaped temple with the upper-most of the three tiers carrying five square shrines arranged as a quincunx. The name means "turning the body" and refers to the traditional method of cremation. Visit Angkor Wat The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, ANGKOR WAT is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, ascend through a series of galleries and courtyard before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stonecarvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Angkor Wat is stunning at any time of the day, but sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful times to watch the play of light on the stones.Visit Phnom Bakheng for sunset - Overnight in Siem Reap DAY 3- SIEM REAP Balloon over Angkor Located half a kilometer to the west of Angkor Wat, this stationary balloon offers stunning views over Angkor, Phnom Bakheng, the Western Baray and Siem Reap town. The duration of each visit is approximately ten minutes. Sightseeing in Angkor - Visit Angkor Thom The fortified city of ANGKOR THOM covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor's most popular sights. Enter by the monumental SOUTH GATE over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS and the TERRACE OF THE LEPER KINGS, former spaces for public cermonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined BAPHUON, ROYAL ENCLOSURE and PHIMEANAKAS before continuing to the mysterious BAYON TEMPLE. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will find giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle. TA KEO: built by Jayavarman V who ruled from 968 to 1001), it was the first Angkorian monument built entirely of sandstone and was dedicated to Shiva. The summit of the central tower is 50 meters high and is surrounded by four lower towers. TA PROHM: one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. PRASAT KRAVAN: the five brick towers were built for Hindu worship in 921 and are notable for the bas-reliefs cut into the bricks on the interior walls. DAY 4 -SIEM REAP TO KAMPONG THOM SAMBO PREYKOK Collect by car and depart for Kampong Thom. Visit the Tonle Toch River and the nearby fishing villages. Overnight at the Stung Sen Royal Garden Hotel. DAY 5-KAMPONG THOM TO KAMPONG CHAM Continue by road to Kampong ham. Visit the Wat Nokor , the holy mountain Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei. Overnight at the Mekong Hotel DAY 6- KAMPONG CHAM TO PHNOM PENH - Visit the village of Rocca Kong and the Silk Island. Afterwards an excursion by boat on the Mekong River down to Phnom Penh. Arrive Phnom Penh for 2 nights at the RAFFLES LE ROYAL . DAY 7-PHNOM PENH Sightseeing in Phnom Penh - Visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda The ROYAL PALACE AND SILVER PAGODA stands on the site of the former citadel, Bantey Kev (built in 1813). Visitors are not allowed to some portions of the grounds, as the palace is the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. The silver pagoda is often called the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Preah Kaeo after the statue housed there. The wooden temple was originally built by King Norodom in 1892 and inside its floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver blocks which together weigh nearly 6 tons. Visit Tuol Sleng Learn about a chapter from Cambodia's more recent, tragic, past at the TUOL SLENG MUSEUM (Museum of Genocide). Formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975, this became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime - at that time known as Security Prison 21, or simply S-21. Kept largely unchanged, this prison now showcases photographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims that passed through these doors - only seven of whom came out alive. Day 8 – Departure
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Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia
and the international gateway. We can arrange a 3 day tour to include the capital
city and the killing fields plus roundtrip flight to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor Wat
complex, one of the seven wonders of the world.
Laos is a landlocked country in the centre of Indochina,
being mainly mountainous and forested, with the Mekong River running along the border with
Thailand. Situated on the Mekong River is the capital and gateway city of Vientiane,
where there a number of famous temples, stupas, and monasteries.