Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang- Meals
- Dinner (Laos feast served in family style with chunky bamboo soup, sausages and dips, sticky rice, herbed fish in banana leaf, lemongrass stuffed chicken, pumpkin with kaffir lime and ginger, and sweet Laos confections)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Laos feast with local dishes served family-style
Optional Activities
- Explore Luang Prabang on foot
- Travel by Jumbo (local transport) for local perspective on the town
Landmarks Luang Prabang Mekong River Khan River - Day 2
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Luang Prabang's oldest temple Wat Sene
- Visit Wat Xiengthong
- Visit National Museum (former Royal Palace)
- Visit Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
- Mekong River cruise upstream with visit to Pak Ou Caves
- Visit Night Market
Optional Activities
- Climb Mount Phousi (approximately 330 steps, roughly 15-20 minutes) to explore the sacred gilded stupa and view the city and Mekong River at sunset
Landmarks Wat Sene Wat Xiengthong National Museum Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre Pak Ou Caves Mount Phousi Night Market - Day 3
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with Lao dishes at farm restaurant overlooking the farm)
Included Activities
- Half day at community-based rice farm with farm activities
- Tour of organic garden and learning about traditional herbs
- Lunch at farm restaurant overlooking the farm
- Visit to Kuang Si Waterfall
- Visit to villages of Laotian minorities (Ban Quay, Ban Ou)
- Visit to Ock Pop-Tok Living Crafts Centre
- Drink at Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Café
Optional Activities
- Early morning participation in monk alms collection (early start)
- Swimming in turquoise pools at Kuang Si Waterfall
- Walking forest paths at Kuang Si Waterfall
- Visit to bear sanctuary near the waterfall (run by Free the Bears Fund Inc.)
Landmarks Kuang Si Waterfall Ban Quay Ban Ou Ock Pop-Tok Living Crafts Centre Free the Bears Fund Sanctuary - Day 4
Luang Prabang to Pakse - Champasak
Luang Prabang to Pakse - Champasak- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to airport for domestic flight to Pakse
- Transfer from Pakse to Champasak
- Explore Wat Phou Temple with its lower palace buildings and upper temple sanctuary
- Optional climb to main temple sanctuary via staircase adorned with nagas
Optional Activities
- Climb the old staircase to the main temple sanctuary for surrounding scenery views
Landmarks Wat Phou Temple - Day 5
Champasak to Bolaven Plateau
Champasak to Bolaven Plateau- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Bolaven Plateau
- Visit Tad Fane Waterfall
- Explore cultivation of coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas and other crops in the area
Landmarks Tad Fane Waterfall Bolaven Plateau - Day 6
Bolaven Plateau to Ban Kiet Ngong - Phou Asa Mountain
Bolaven Plateau to Ban Kiet Ngong - Phou Asa Mountain- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Kingfisher Ecolodge
- Trek to Phou Asa Mountain with village guide
- Explore archaeological site at Phou Asa
- Learn about medicinal plants and non-timber forest products
- Observe wildlife signs and features of the forest
Landmarks Phou Asa Mountain Vat Phou Asa Xe Pian National Protected Area - Day 7
Ban Kiet Ngong - Wetlands Birdwatching Safari
Ban Kiet Ngong - Wetlands Birdwatching Safari- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning trek along Ban Kiet Ngong Wetlands edge
- Bird hide experience at sunrise
- Observe rare water birds including Giant Ibis, White-winged wood duck, Sarus Crane, Lesser Adjutant and White-shouldered Ibis
Optional Activities
- Afternoon visit to nearby village with guide
Landmarks Ban Kiet Ngong Wetlands - Day 8
Ban Kiet Ngong to Don Khone - 4000 Islands
Ban Kiet Ngong to Don Khone - 4000 Islands- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Ban Nakasang pier
- Local boat to Don Khone
- Explore Ban Khone by bike or tuk-tuk
- View old colonial houses and first Lao railway
- Boat trip to Liphi waterfall (Samphamith)
- Sunset viewing over Mekong River
Landmarks Si Phan Don (4000 Islands) Liphi Waterfall Mekong River - Day 9
Don Khone to Kratie
Don Khone to Kratie- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to Ban Nakasang
- Visit Khone Phapheng waterfall
- Cross Lao-Cambodia border at Voeun Kham / Dom Kralor
- Travel to Kratie
- Visit local market in Kratie
- Local boat from Kratie to Koh Trong island
- Evening cycling or horse cart tour around Koh Trong island
- Visit island Pagoda
Optional Activities
- Sample local snacks at leisure from wooden house shops
Landmarks Khone Phapheng Waterfall Koh Trong Island - Day 10
Koh Trong to Kompong Cham
Koh Trong to Kompong Cham- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cart transfer to ferry terminal
- Boat crossing of Mekong to mainland
- Irrawaddy dolphin spotting tour
- Walking tour of Kratie colonial town
- Visit local market in Kratie
- Transfer to Kompong Cham
Optional Activities
- Stop to view and purchase goods at strategically placed market
Landmarks Mekong River Kratie - Day 11
Kompong Cham to Phnom Penh
Kompong Cham to Phnom Penh- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Golden Pumpkin Restaurant - family-run eatery incorporating pumpkin into traditional Khmer cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei twin temples
- Cycling tour of Koh Paen island
- Explore fishing, tobacco and sesame cottage industries
- Drive to Phnom Penh via Skuon
- Dinner at Golden Pumpkin Restaurant
Optional Activities
- Sample fried spiders (spiders available at Skuon)
Landmarks Phnom Pros Phnom Srei Koh Paen - Day 12
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Phnom and Lady Penh legend site
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda tour
- National Museum visit
- Tuol Sleng genocide museum (S-21 interrogation prison)
- Cheung Ek Killing Fields memorial
Optional Activities
- Stroll along Sisowath Quay
- Coffee or cocktail at cafes along Sisowath Quay (own expense)
Landmarks Wat Phnom Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda National Museum Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Cheung Ek Killing Fields Sisowath Quay - Day 13
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Travel to Siem Reap with stops to see rural Cambodia
- Visit Sambor Prei Kuk temple site
- Old market exploration in Siem Reap
Optional Activities
- Shadow puppet show at local restaurant (evening)
- Sample amok (Cambodian specialty curry)
- Evening dining at local restaurants
Landmarks Sambor Prei Kuk - Day 14
Siem Reap - Angkor Complex
Siem Reap - Angkor Complex- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning transfer to Angkor Wat West Gate for sunrise
- Angkor Wat temple complex visit
- Breakfast at local restaurant outside Angkor complex
- Banteay Kdei temple visit
- Ta Prohm temple visit
- Ta Keo temple visit
- Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon twin temples visit
- Angkor Thom walled city exploration
- Terrace of the Elephants visit
- Terrace of the Leper King visit
- Bayon temple with 216 smiling faces visit
- Private boat to Prasat Chrung Temple for sunset
Landmarks Angkor Wat Banteay Kdei Ta Prohm Ta Keo Chau Say Tevoda Thommanon Angkor Thom Bayon Temple Prasat Chrung Temple - Day 15
Siem Reap - Countryside and Tonle Sap Lake
Siem Reap - Countryside and Tonle Sap Lake- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Malis restaurant - award-winning Khmer cuisine by Master Chef Luu Meng featuring fresh seasonal produce and countryside dishes)
Included Activities
- Visit Beng Mealea jungle temple
- Explore Roluos Group temples (Bakong, Lolei, Preah Ko)
- Local boat tour to Kompong Pluk village on Tonle Sap Lake
- Visit stilted houses at Kompong Pluk
- Observe flooded forests
- Dinner at Malis restaurant
Landmarks Beng Mealea Roluos Group Bakong Lolei Preah Ko Tonle Sap Lake Kompong Pluk - Day 16
Siem Reap to Banteay Srei
Siem Reap to Banteay Srei- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Banteay Srei temple
Optional Activities
- Stop at local communities along the way
- Taste palm juice and palm sugar (seasonal)
Landmarks Banteay Srei
