The Best Of Cambodia & Laos 9 Nights and 10 Days

Arrive Phnom Penh

• Welcome to the start of your holiday. Upon arriving at the Pochenthong airport in Phnom Penh, you will be picked up by your guide and transferred to the hotel. Shortly after, excursions begin you discover why Cambodia's capital city was once called the jewel of Southeast Asia. 

• Your city explorations begin with a visit to the National Museum and see some of the beautiful antiquities from the Khmer civilization.

• This will be followed by trips to the remarkable Silver Pagoda, a tour of the Royal Palace with its ornate grandeur, and Wat Phnom Pagoda. 

• Then we return to your hotel for the overnight stay in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh - Siem Reap and Angkor

• Post breakfast transfers to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. 

• Your Angkor explorations begin in the morning with a visit to the 9th century Roluos temples - Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei. 

• More discoveries await you in the afternoon with a visit to three impressive temples from the 10th century - Eastern Mebon, Pre Rup and Prasat Kravan. 

• Here you can marvel at their intricate and ingenious designs. 

• There is also time to take in the canals and waterways of ancient Takeo province. 

• The first day concludes with panoramic views of Cambodia's spectacular sunsets and Angkor Wat from temple mountain, Phnom Bakheng, dating back to 900 AD. 

• Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Angkor

• Following breakfast this morning, enjoy a morning excursion to Banteay Srei, a temple that dates back to 967 AD.

•  The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is famed for the intricate friezes carved into its red sandstone walls.

•  On the way back, we will visit Banteay Samre, which was built during Suryarvaman II's rule in the middle of the 12th century. 

• In the afternoon, you will have a chance to discover the pride of Cambodia's heritage - the majestic temples of Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm. 

• Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap

• Shortly after the breakfast, and the trip begins with a visit to one of the jewels of Cambodia - the awe-inspiring Angkor Thom or 'Great City.' 

• This will include many of the most exquisite Temples of King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181-1220.

•  At the southern gate of Angkor Thom, you will marvel at the imposing 23-meter high stone faces of Avalokiteshvara, which featured in the Tomb Raider movie. 

• These astonishing carvings inspire awe and wonder in all who view them. 

• At the center 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 and the 12 identical towers of Prasat Suor Prat. 

• Later in the day, you will discover some of the most famous temples from the 11th century: Baphuon, Phimeanakas, North Khleang, and South Khleang. 

• You will also visit the other notable temples of Jayavarman VII: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Prom. 

• The evening is given over to entertainment - a visit to the Apsara Theatre to enjoy an elegant Khmer dinner and traditional dances. 

•  Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap - Luang Prabang

• Enjoy the morning with a relaxing boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake. Here we will visit the floating villages of Chong Kneas commune. 

• In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the airport for flight to Luang Prabang in Laos. Upon arrival center, the airport Luang Prabang, transfer to the hotel. 

•  Leisure time for you to explore on your own. 

• Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang - Pak Ou - city tour

• Luang Prabang is the best known for its beautiful scenery and high numbers of ancient temples. 

• This former capital has a wide variety of architecture from the old facades of French colonial homes to the glittering temple rooftops. 

• After breakfast, its time to enjoy an excursion by boat on the Mekong river to the Holy caves of Pak Ou (Tham Ting and Tham Poum). 

• The caves are crammed with the images of Buddha. 

• Along the way, we will visit Ban Shanghai to learn about the traditional process of making local rice alcohol or whiskey and weaving. 

• We will have a picnic lunch before returning to Luang Prabang. 

• Later, we will visit the Royal Palace, and then we embark on a tour of this enthralling town visiting Wats Xieng Thong, the Golden City monastery. 

• Dating back to the 16th century, this splendid temple is considered to be the finest in Laos.

•  We will also visit the beautiful temples of Wats Mai, Visoun, and That Luang, Wat Siboun Huang, Wat Si Moungkoun, Wat Sop, Wat Sene. 

• Following in the day, we adjourn to the Phousi Holy Hill to enjoy the excellent views of the town and a magnificent sunset. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang - Kuang Si

•  We recommend you rise early and participate in a daily Lao morning ritual (Optional). 

• Monks carrying their bowls, wander through town blessing local people who give those offers (mostly sticky rice). 

• After breakfast, enjoy a day trip to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls where turquoise waters cascade over limestone formations. 

• The abundance of water forms a magnificent display of nature. 

• Below the Kuang Si are large ponds perfect for swimming and cooling off under the spray. Before enjoying a picnic lunch next to the pools, we will pass breathtaking landscapes, teak forests and several ethnic minority villages (Hmong and Khmu). 

• In Ban Thapan, a weaving village, we can find excellent pieces of Lao textiles. 

• Near the waterfalls, it's worthwhile to visit a center where the endangered black Asiatic beers found a safe shelter. 

• Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang - Vientiane - city tour

• It is time to be transferred to the airport this morning post breakfast in time to leave our riverside paradise and fly to the sleepiest capital city "Vientiane," pronounced "Vieng Chane," the capital of Laos is a slow-paced, clean city. 

• The people of Lao and in particular Vientiane could be ranked among the most friendly and honest in the world. 

• Vientiane sits on a bend in the Mekong River amid fertile alluvial plains. 

• At times controlled by the center, Siamese, Vietnamese, and Khmers, the French made it a capital city in the late 19th century, and the retains flavours of all its past inhabitants. 

• Like Luang Prabang, in the afternoon, we will visit the main attractions of Vientiane are the Wats Pha That Luang (the Great Sacred Stupa built in 1566 and later covered with 500kg of gold leaf), and the Wat Sisaket. 

• The latter is the oldest monastery in Vientiane, built-in 1824.

•  Inside the walls surrounding the main temple are niches displaying Buddha's. 

• It is said that there are over 10.000 representations of Buddha here, 

• We also visit Ho Prakeo, the Emerald Buddha's house and Patuxay, the victory gate (Arch de Triumph).

•  Evening set free for you to enjoy a walk along the path beside the Mekong at sunset is always accessible for travellers and locals alike. 

• Overnight stay in Vientiane.

Vientiane - Buddha Park

• Post breakfast this morning, a drive to the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos located just outside the city and visited the Buddha Park, where you can find many statues and Buddha images situated near the Mekong Riverside.

• En-route, we will also visit the National Ethnic cultural park.

•  Its time to return to Vientiane later and the rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the capital city yourselves. 

• Overnight in Vientiane.

Vientiane - Departure 

• Following breakfast this morning, it's time to transfer to the airport for your onward departure.