Indochina Dec 2009

Day 1
Start Bangkok. There will be a welcome briefing this evening with dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2
In the morning we board the BTS Skytrain for the start of our exploration of Bangkok and a true look at the city. From the Skytrain we catch a local "klong" or canal boat followed by a public bus to our final destination, Ratanakosin Island. (The "island" is really an artificial construction formed by a loop in the Chao Phraya River and by canals cut in the 1700s). Here we visit what to this day remains the home of the Thai Royal family. We visit the Royal Palace complex and Wat Phra Kaew, home to the Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand's most venerated images. Another highlight is Wat Po, the largest temple in Bangkok, housing a 46m long, 15m high gold-plated reclining Buddha. We then head down the Chao Praya River on a local ferry, passing Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, built in the early part of the 19th century on the site of King Taksin's Palace when Thonburi was briefly the capital of Thailand. At Taksin Bridge we leave the ferry and board the Skytrain for the journey back to the hotel through Silom; formerly swampland, it is now a bustling district of business, entertainment and shopping. This afternoon is free for personal exploration.

Day 3
Today we fly north to the city of Chiang Rai. On arrival we transfer to the town of Chiang Khong (2 hours) where we overnight. Here we get our first sight of the mighty Mekong River and Laos beckoning to us from the other side.

Day 4
An early morning transfer takes us to the Thai / Laos border where we pass through immigration formalities. We say good-bye to our Thai Tour Leader and hello to our Laos Tour Leader. A short boat ride across the river drops us at Laos Immigration, followed by a tuk tuk ride to the river port where we board our private slow boat for the journey to Pak Beng.

Day 5
Boarding our private boat again, we head further down river with Luang Prabang as our final destination. En route we will visit the famous Tam Ting Caves, cut out of the limestone banks which line the river at Pak Ou. These caves are filled with thousands of Buddha images brought by the surrounding villagers as a sign of their devotion. If there is time we will also stop at a number of minority villages on the way but this will depend on the water level, which affects the speed of travel on the river. Mid to late afternoon we arrive in the enchanting town of Luang Prabang, nestled in a narrow valley cut by the Mekong and Khan Rivers. This beautiful town was designated a World Heritage site in 1995. The afternoon is free to explore the town and stroll amongst the ancient red roofed temples and French colonial architecture. There are also a number of interesting temples to visit including Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Wisunalat.

Day 6 - 7
After an early breakfast we will visit Phu Si Hill for stunning views over the city and the Mekong River below. The climb includes 329 steps and the path zigzags its way to the gilded stupa at the summit past various temples. After the climb we will visit the National Museum. The rest of the day is free for individual sightseeing and the opportunity to sit back and relax in this pleasant town. On the second day of our visit we will head out to the Kwang Si Waterfall, where we have the chance to swim in the pools. Luang Prabang is also a centre for markets in the region and there are many opportunities for the souvenir hunter to gather a few special items. For those up at dawn there is chance to witness the daily parade of saffron-robed monks receiving alms.

Day 8
An early morning departure from Luang Prabang as we drive to the township of Vang Vieng. Surrounded by lime karsts and set on the banks of the Nam Song (Song River), it is a beautiful location. The stunning drive will take approximately 6 hours to complete on roads that wind their way through the surrounding hills. Watching the sun set on the banks of the Nam Song is ample reward for the day's journey.

Day 9
Vang Vieng is a tourist friendly town set between limestone karst towers that pierce the countryside and rolling hills. In the morning we climb the 136 steps to the Tham Jang caves, used as a hideout by the local community during periods of war. The rest of the day is free to explore. Optional excursions and activities are easily arranged and there are plenty of opportunities for walks in the surrounding hills, day visits to the numerous caves that punctuate the limestone scenery, or for kayaking or relaxing in an inner tube while floating down the Song river (note that during the rainy season tubing may not be an option due to high river levels). There are a number of Lao and minority tribe villages in the area, which can also be easily reached in a day trip. Bicycles can also be hired for those who wish to tour the beautiful countryside on two wheels. Alternatively just sit back, relax and soak up the beautiful view.

Day 10
We leave Vang Vieng in the morning and descend from the hills to the capital Vientiane and our hotel located near the banks of the Mekong River� the name of the city translates as Sandalwood City. We take an afternoon sightseeing tour of this relaxed low-rise city including Wat Sisaket, and Haw Pha Kaew. The temples themselves are noticeably different in style and character from those found in Thailand and there are certainly fewer tourists! In the evening the perfect option is to retire for a refreshing beverage and watch the sunset over the Mekong River.

Day 11
We transfer to the airport for our flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. We have the afternoon free in Hanoi to wander around the lake, discover the old quarter or perhaps enjoy a coffee and a baguette in a lakeside café.

Day 12
Today we make an early start for the 4-hour journey to Halong Bay. This is one of the most stunning sights in South East Asia with 3,000 limestone peaks rising vertically from the emerald sea. We cruise amongst this amazing karst scenery, stopping to swim in the sea and enjoying a seafood lunch on board. We spend the night on board our boat in cabins with en suite facilities.

Day 13
We cruise back to port in the morning but should have time for some optional kayaking first. We transfer back to Hanoi where the rest of the day is at leisure. Hanoi is a good place for shopping and there are numerous tailor shops offering silk clothing at very reasonable prices.

Day 14
We spend the morning sightseeing in Hanoi, including the one-pillar pagoda and the Old Quarter of the city. One of the more enjoyable ways to get around is by cyclo and this can easily be arranged on the street. In the afternoon we board the famous Reunification Express for the overnight journey to Hue, 500km to the south. We will have 4 berth carriages with soft beds for the journey. No trip to Vietnam is complete without a journey on this great train.

Day 15
Arriving mid-morning in Hue, we transfer to our hotel. Hue claims to be the cultural and historic centre of Vietnam, and there is plenty to see. The most outstanding sight is the Imperial Citadel with walls six miles in length: inside are the palaces and halls of the Mandarins, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor and his eunuchs and concubines were allowed. We have a guided tour of the citadel and then visit Dong Ba market. We then take a boat along the Perfume River to the famous Thien Mu pagoda, seeing life on the river on the way. The pagoda was a centre for anti-government protest in the early 1960s and it houses the Austin car that transported a monk, Thich Quang Duc, to Saigon in 1963 where he burned himself as a protest against the president. The photograph of his self-immolation was printed in newspapers all around the world.

Day 16
If the weather is good we will take a cycle ride out to the extravagant mausoleums of the great Nguyen emperors who ruled Vietnam from Hue between 1802 and 1945. Among others, we visit the mausoleums of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. In the late afternoon we transfer to Hoi An. The 130km journey takes us through the peninsula of Lang Co, which lies between the crystal waters of a lagoon and the South China Sea, and then passes over the Hai Van pass ('Pass of the Ocean Clouds') where the views are spectacular.

Day 17
This morning we explore Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-sixteenth century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchants' houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is a marvellous place to wander around and enjoy the thriving riverside market. As an alternative to the sightseeing tour there is also an optional trip to My Son, the Cham civilisation's spiritual home, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. Although wartime bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are a number of interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. This afternoon is free to explore Hoi An on foot as cars are banned from this world heritage site.

Day 18
Today we transfer to Danang for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand defiantly alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free market city where anything goes. Our hotel is in the heart of this incredible city. We include a visit to the Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum. The Museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. Please be aware that some images at the museum are very graphic.

Day 19
Leaving the city behind us, we head north and visit the infamous Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers 3 levels and approximately 240km of tunnels. Traditionally these were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine! In the afternoon we return to Saigon and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration.

Day 20
We drive to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta via a Cao Dai temple used by devotees of this strange indigenous religion that fuses all the great religions of the east and west. The author Graham Greene toyed with the idea of converting to Caodism. The Mekong is locally known as the rice bowl of Vietnam and produces much of Vietnam's fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. En route we pass magnificent countryside and stop at some small cottage industries. We take a relaxing sampan cruise in the afternoon before arriving at our accommodation. We enjoy dinner at Binh Hoa Island in a tranquil setting and enjoy some 'Delta' hospitality. We spend the night sleeping communally in the village in a local homestay.

Day 21
After a morning walk through the village we board our boats once again and cross the main channel to Vinh Long where we re-join our vehicle for the drive further into the Mekong Delta and the small border town of Chau Doc. After checking into the hotel, the evening is free to wander the town, which is situated on the banks of the Mekong River.

Day 22
After driving approximately 1 hour to Tinh Bien / Phnom Den land border we will bid farewell to our Vietnamese leader and cross into Cambodia where we will meet our Cambodian leader. We continue by road to Phnom Penh.

Day 23
Phnom Penh still retains a frontier town atmosphere and today we have a full day of sightseeing in the capital city. The day will include the beautiful Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, so named for the solid silver tiles that make up the floor. Thankfully the complex escaped the worst excess of the Khmer Rouge rule. Similar in style and scale to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Royal Palace has significantly fewer visitors and there is plenty of time to wander among the traditional buildings. There is also time today to shop at either the impressive Central Market or the sprawling Russian Market, a souvenir hunter's paradise! We visit Tuol Sleng museum or S21 (Museum of Genocide), which graphically displays the horrors of the 4 years when Pol Pot systematically ordered the murder of between 2 and 3 million Cambodians. Tuol Sleng was originally a school but was used as a torture and interrogation centre between 1976 and 1979. It is a sobering and disturbing place to visit. We complete our day with a moving late afternoon visit to the Killing Fields. The visits to the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields are included in the itinerary but please be aware that the images at the museum are very graphic.

Day 24
Today we have a long drive to Siem Reap (approximately 6 hours). En route we stop at the town of Skuon, famous for its local delicacy � fried spiders. After checking into our hotel at Siem Reap we will drive to the fascinating site of Angkor and watch the sun set over these ancient monuments from Phnom Bakheng temple.

Day 25 - 26
We spend two full days exploring the temple complex at Angkor. We visit the incredible Angkor Wat, the many temples inside the Royal City of Angkor Thom, including the magnificent Bayon, which comprises 54 intricately carved towers in one single temple. The Bayon certainly left an impression on an early traveller in 1925 who stated 'we stand before it stunned. It is like nothing else in the land.' We will also see other less-visited outlying temples. Particularly impressive are Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, still covered in jungle, just as it was when it was first came to light. Discovered in the 1870s and famously described as being "grander than anything of Greece or Rome" by the French explorer Henri Mouchot, this world heritage site stands alongside the Pyramids and Machu Picchu as one of the world's most spectacular archaeological sites. Angkor is a truly magical experience and a photographer's paradise, one of the real highlights of our trip. You may choose to spend some time in Siem Reap to visit the Central Market or see the Temple of Banteay Srei, part of the Angkor temple complex.

Day 27
Today we fly back to Bangkok, the time depending on flight availability. On arrival we will be transferred to our accommodation. The afternoon is free for final shopping, sightseeing or relaxing.

Day 28
This is our final day in Thailand and there is free time in Bangkok. There is a wealth of activities to enjoy in this vibrant city, and your Tour Leader will be more than happy to advise on how best to use your time.

Day 29
End Bangkok.

Thailand

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