HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTHEASTASIA

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, meet your fellow travellers over welcome drinks while your Tour Leader explains some important details and logistics of the journey ahead.
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Overnight in SAIGON

After breakfast venture to Cu Chi tunnels. Established as a means of waging guerrilla war the tunnel network stretched over 250 kilometres (155 miles) and extended to three levels below ground and provides an insight into the method and determination of Communist forces during the war years.
After lunch, depart from your hotel for a half day tour of vibrant Saigon. This dynamic city has a unique life of its own. Visit the former Presidential Palace, it was towards this modern building that North Vietnamese resistance fighters tanks (Viet Cong) rolled on the morning of April 30, 1975 as Saigon fell. From the palace you will go on foot (your car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City including the red-brick Catholic cathedral of Notre-Dame, the nearby 19th century Empire-style Post Office, and the next door ‘Hotel de Ville’ or City Hall all look indomitably European, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Opera House. Continue your tour by stopping at Ben Thanh market, one of the biggest market in the downtown area of Saigon. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbol of Saigon, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, ’’ao dai“ (Vietnamese traditional custom), and souverirs, as well as local cuisine.
Breakfast and Lunch included
(B, L)
Overnight in SAIGON

An early morning departure from your hotel takes you to Cai Be, deep in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Embark on your wooden boat to explore the Mekong Delta’s unique market and, also the symbol of the region, Cai Be floating market. This is not the biggest floating market, but it is good to understand the life of the river, one of the tourist magnets of the Mekong Delta. Just only 2
hours away from Saigon, beautiful countryside sceneries and surprisingly hospitable people are waiting for you. Board our traditional boat at the local Cai Be pier and start cruising along the floating market while sampling our tropical fresh fruits, letting the cool breeze touch your hair, you will find the place a truly destination to spend the day relaxing. You will be surprised by the way the locals trade and advertise their products. Disembark the boat temporarily to explore deeper about the local life by visiting the town’s business and craft factories. Have fun with a leisure sampan ride through canals before we transfer you to an ancient house where a delicious home hosted lunch with Mekong’s specialties awaits. After lunch, continue to cruise upstream the Mighty Mekong toward Vinh Long. Along the way, you will observe the typical Mekong Delta rural local life with stops at a local brick & pottery making factory and a floating fish farm before we take you back to the mainland where your car already waiting to take you back to Can Tho for overnight.
Breakfast and lunch included
(B, L)
Overnight in CAN THO

Can Tho is a university town on the confluence of three rivers in the heart of the delta. The Mekong Delta was once part of the Khmer Kingdom, and today many ethnic Khmers still live here. You make an early start this morning to visit the floating markets of Cai Rang which are in full swing at 0700. You’ll take a small boat and explore the waterways, which are packed with people who have come from the surrounding rural areas to sell all manner of fruits and vegetables. It’s a lively and colorful scene. After that you will leave Can Tho for Chau Doc.

Upon arrival in Chau Doc you will take a boat to Chau Giang District where a tiny mosque serves the local Cham community. The Cham minority who dominated coastal Vietnam from the 2nd to the 9th centuries were originally Hindu, but became Muslim as a result of contact with Arab seafarers and merchants in the Middle Ages. In South-East Asia Islam was disseminated primarily by merchants who, following the monsoon winds, lived in various coastal towns for months at a time. The Chams also practice silk weaving and you may have the opportunity to see them at work. The architecture here is rather distinctive. You’ll visit a beautiful Khmer temple, and later visit the floating houses that double as catfish farms, now a huge industry for the country.
Breakfast included
(B)
Overnight in CHAU DOC

After breakfast board a speedboat to the Cambodian border and after clearing custom and immigration formalities with the Cambodian authorities, cruise along the Mekong River to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.

During arrival transfer to check in at hotel, your guide will brief your program and enjoy a welcome drink at hotel.

In the late afternoon, enjoy a river cruise along the Tonle Sap River and the Mythical Mekong, Comfortably installed on the deck in a breezy atmosphere, you just have to relax and enjoy unique panorama on the Cambodian capital, scenic landscapes on the banks of the Mekong including floating fishermen villages, and a spectacular sunset over the Phnom Penh skyline.

Breakfast included (B)
Overnight in PHNOM PENH

Start the day with an early visit at the Central Market, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts and jewelry. Explore “the old” Phnom Penh by cyclo, a chaotic, energetic and always fascinating city. First, visit the Royal Palace, the residence of King Norodom Sihamoni, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which contains a comprehensive collection of Khmer art. Then, see the Wat Phnom, the birthplace of the capital. In the afternoon, visit the Toul Sleng Museum, formerly a High School which became the interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime. Continue southwards outside the city to Chong Ek, where you will visit the Killing Fields Memorial to learn more about the chilling history of Cambodia.

Breakfast included
(B)
Overnight in PHNOM PENH

This morning, sit back and relax as we drive overland to Siem Reap, along the way stop to visit the infamous Spider Market in Skun and Naga Bridge in Kampong Thom. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.

Breakfast included
(B)
Overnight in SIEM REAP

Don’t forget to set your alarm, today we start at pre-dawn to witness the breathtaking view of Sunrise Over Angkor Wat temple, breakfast box is recommended to pack to remain our travel loop smoothly
Later, we can visit the bas-relief and central complex of Angkor, you can have Angkor Wat all by yourself to explore during the early time.

Afterward proceed to reach the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom ‘Great City’. This will include many of the finest Temples of King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181 to 1220. At the southern gate of Angkor Thom, you will marvel at the imposing 23m (75-foot) high stone faces of Avalokiteshvara, featured in the Tomb Raider movie. These astonishing carvings inspire awe and wonder in all who view them. At the centre of this citadel lies the state temple of Bayon, which we will also visit. This temple-mountain, built at the end of the 12th century, is adorned with hundreds of gigantic stone faces. This tour also includes the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King. Later in the day you will discover the most famous temples from the 11th century: Baphuon, Phimeanakas.

Today we will witness a religious ceremony Monk Blessing at pagoda nearby the temple, The Blessing is a sacred ritual that is performed in Pagodas across Cambodia. The blessing brings cleansing and luck and is performed by a Monk in the grounds of an active Pagoda; a truly wonderful and memorable ‘real life’.

Afterwards we will visit Ta Prohm. It is unforgettable due to the massive trees with thick roots that entangle the walls. They were left here intentionally by the archeologists working on the site. While clearing back the forest it was decided to leave them in place to serve as a reminder of how the original discovers found it and other temples. Many of the trees have grown around and through the remains, and soar high above the temple.

Breakfast included
(B)
Overnight in SIEM REAP

This morning we leave from the city to Kampong Kleang floating village that situated about 55kilometers from Siem reap town. This village is a huge place nearby Tonle Sap which is the biggest lake in South East Asia. You will arrive Kampong kleang and take a boat trip to Tonle Sap and across the villages that their family economics is support by fishing. The floating village is something different to see, and you get an idea of a different way of life. Kompong Khleang is a permanent community within the flood plain of the Lake, with an economy based in fishing and surrounded by flooded forest, actually several dozens of wooden houses floating on the river. The village moves along the river according to the seasons and enjoys the view on this lake very nice landscape view.
In the afternoon enjoy an excursion to Banteay Srei where was consecrated in 967 A.D, Banteay Srei was speculated to have been known earlier as Banteay Serai, which literally means the Citadel of Victory. This was the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch; its construction is credited to a courtier named Yajnavaraha, who was a scholar and philanthropist and a counselor to king Rajendravarman.

Banteay Srei is built primarily in red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable in fine details today. On the way back we will see Banteay Samre temple.

Breakfast and lunch included.
(B, L)
Overnight in SIEM REAP

Begin your journeys today with an overland transfer to Poipet border for your cross to Thailand. From here you will be transferred to your hotel in Bangkok. The remainder of your day is free and yours to do as much or as little as you like.

Breakfast included
(B)
Overnight in BANGKOK

Begin today with a visit to The Grand Palace or Wat Phra Kaew or known generally among foreigners as the temple of the Emerald Buddha. Wat Phra Kaew is regarded as the most significant of all Thai temples, and the small green-jade statue of the Buddha, high on its golden altar in the Chapel Royal, is the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand. Then visit Wat Pho, it is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples. Wat Pho was built by King Rama I about 200 years ago and houses the gigantic gold plated Reclining Buddha image. This unique image is 49 meters long and 12 meters high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl soles.

Lunch at local restaurant

Depart to Rattanakosin Island, the original area of Bangkok when it was first established as the capital over 200 years ago.

Visit The the canal (klong) tour along Bangkok’s legendary Chao Phraya River and in the Thonburi area is one of the most interesting ways to discover the traditional charms of this city, known as the ‘Venice of the East’. Thonburi lies across the Chao Phraya river and tours on longtail boats around its numerous klongs (canals) are popular. Bangkok’s waterways are an integral part of the city’s landscape and offer a visitor fascinating glimpses into the traditional Thai way of life and drop of at Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn): You’ll stop at the dazzling Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) along the way. This is the most well-known landmark and photographed image of Bangkok. It over 70 metres high, the spire is beautifully decorated with tiny pieces of coloured glass and Chinese porcelain placed delicately into intricate patterns. The smaller towers are equally beautifully adorned with ceramics that sparkle in the sun. Although it is known as the Temple of the Dawn, it is absolutely stunning at sunset.

Breakfast and lunch included
(B, L)
Overnight in BANGKOK

Spend a free day exploring Bangkok at your own pace. Perhaps make your way to Khaosan road where you can stroll through the shops or enjoy the day relaxing by the pool.

(B, L, D)
Overnight in BANGKOK

It’s time to say goodbye, but just think of all the wonderful stories you will take home. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward travels. Breakfast included.

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