INDOCHINA HIGHLIGHTS

USD$2,850.00

This trip starts and finishes in fascinating Bangkok. In between there will be nothing other than highlights as this trip takes in most of the more famous attractions in the region plus a couple of other Baktrax destinations as well. This trip is just one highlight after another. And note also that all travel is done during the day which means a comfy bed every night.

GROUP SIZE: Minimum one, maximum eight.

Guaranteed to depart.

English speaking tour coordinator.

VISITING:
BANGKOK - LUANG PRABANG (Laos) - MEKONG RIVER - VANG VIENG - VIENTIANE- SAVANNAKHET - HUE (Vietnam) - HOI AN - MUI NE - HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CU CHI TUNNEL COMPLEX - MEKONG DELTA - PNOM PENH (Cambodia) - TONLE SAP RIVER - SIEM REAP - ANGKOR WAT.

ACCOMMODATION:
One to two star guest houses and hotels, (12 nights).
Simple guest houses, (14 nights).
Basic guest house, (1 night).

TRANSPORT:
Plane, bus,boat, taxi.

DAY TRIPS:
Unguided boat trip on the Mekong river to visit a cave and local villages, (half day).
Cu Cu Chi Tunnel complex, (half day).
Mekong Delta, (full day).
Killing Fields of Choeung Ek & Tuol Sleng Museum, (half day).
Angkor Wat, (two to three hours at sunset followed by a full day).

ENTRANCE FEEES:
All included when part of the itinerary.

MEALS:
31 meals as per itinerary. B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.

NOTE: While breakfast will always be tasty and filling it may be limited to a few choices at times. Toast, eggs and jam for example. Noodle soup with the locals will usually be available also. On some long travel days when not included it may be on the run also.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: BANGKOK - Your trip officially starts when you check into your Bangkok accommodation. A welcoming dinner will be had in the evening. D.

DAY 2: BANGKOK - A free day to relax or explore the Thai capital with your tour coordinator on hand to offer advice on what to do. B.

DAY 3: LUANG PRABANG - A short international flight today will see you in world heritage city of Luang Prabang in Laos. In the evening you can have your first Beerlao beside the Mekong river. B. D.

DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG - A half day unguided boat trip on the mighty Mekong will give you a glimpse of local life as you visit a spiritual cave and local villages. B.

DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG - A free day to visit temples, markets and riverside restaurants will soon show you why Luang Prabang is a favorite destination with all travellers. In the evening a local market sets up on the main road with lots of arts, crafts and clothing to tempt you also. B.

DAY 6: VANG VIENG - A long days travel by bus through the greenery of Laos will see you in the limestone Karst surrounded town of Vang Vieng for an overnight stop. B. D.

DAY 7: VIENTIANE - A short bus trip today will see you in the regions most laid back capital city. Again beside the Mekong sits Vientiane. Is there a better place to have dinner with a Beer Lao than by the riverside in the capital as the sun sets over neighbouring Thailand? B. D.

DAY 8: VIENTIANE - A free day to go strolling without the usual hustle and bustle of big Asian capitals. The morning market, a cultural centre or a temple or two are only a few of the things to see today. B.

DAY 9: SAVANNAKHET - Back on the road again today for the another long bus trip to Savannakhet, another town beside the Mekong, for an overnight stop. B. D.

DAY 10: HUE - Another long day by bus as we cross the border into Vietnam and arrive in the central city of Hue. No meals.

DAY 11: HUE - A free day to see the sights of Hue. Maybe the old citadel or an ancient tomb or two. B.

NOTE: For a few dollars there are some optional day trips from Hue which can be booked on arrival. A trip on the Perfume River or a visit to the DMZ are just two available.

DAY 12: HOI AN - From Hue we head south today for the quaint and charming town of Hoi An. If anybody wishes to have a short stop in Danang along the way to visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture we can do that also. B.

DAY 13: HOI AN - Another highlight place to go strolling, Hoi An has enough shops and riverside cafes to keep you relaxed today. Yet again, another must see for all travellers. B.

DAY 14: MUI NE - Further South again today will see you rewarded with three nights in the beautiful seaside town of Mui Ne. Being week days the weekend masses from Ho Chi Minh City will be missing which means even more tranquility on this spectacular stretch of coastline. B. D.

DAY 15:MUI NE - It will most likely be beachside today, either with a book, or for the more active, if conditions are suitable, you can windsurf, kite surf or if the surfs up grab a board. (Book and other equipment not included). B.

DAY 16: MUI NE - Refer to day 15. B.

DAY 17: HO CHI MINH CITY - A shorter trip by bus today to the South Vietnamese capital of Ho Chi Minh City. The rest of the day is free. B.

DAY 18: HO CHI MINH CITY - After breakfast a local operator will take you on a half day trip to visit the famous and fascinating Cu Cu Chi tunnel complex. On your return around 1.00 p.m. those wanting to visit the war remnants museum will be dropped off at the entrance. (Entrance fee not included). B.

DAY 19: HO CHI MINH CITY - Today another local operator will take you on a full days tour by bus and boats for a fabulous close up look at life in the Mekong Delta. B. L.

DAY 20: HO CHI MINH CITY - A totally free day to catch any of the other attractions you don't want to miss in this truly Asian city. B.

DAY 21: PHNOM PENH - By bus again today across another border into Cambodia and the capital of Phnom Penh. No meals.

DAY 22: PHNOM PENH - Today you will get a glimpse of the recent history of the Khmer Rouge. By moto for half a day you will firstly visit the killing fields of Choeung Ek before a visit to the genocide museum of Tuol Sleng. Both very sobering experiences. The afternoon is free to explore a market or one of the other interesting attractions. B.

DAY 23: SIEM REAP - By boat today across the enormous Tonle Sap lake to Siem Reap with lots of lake and riverside life to interest you along the way. No meals.

DAY 24: SIEM REAP - A free day to explore sleepy little Siem Reap before late afternoon a moto or car will take you to Angkor Wat for the sunset views. B.

DAY 25: SIEM REAP - After seeing some of man's inhumanity it's now time to see some of his ingenuity with a full day by moto or car to visit all the main temples of the majestic and mysterious Angkor Wat complex. We know it's a huge call but we think we kept the highlight till last. B.

DAY 26: BANGKOK - Our last long trip back to Bangkok includes a Cambodian road experience along the way . Dust or mud is not uncommon before the Thai border. (Cambodian roads can give you a rocky ride but are improving all the time). No meals.

DAY 27: BANGKOK - Along the way you've seen some laid back places. Now you have a free day to see the opposite. Being a Sunday the traffic may not be as bad if you want to visit the weekend market or go anywhere else in this frantic city of angels known as Krung Thep to the locals. A farewell dinner will be had in the evening. B. D.

DAY 28: Your trip is officially over when you check out of your Bangkok accommodation. An airport transfer is included also. B.

TOUR DATES;
2009: Jan 6; Mar 3; April 7; May 5; June 2; July 7; Aug 4; Sept 1; Oct 6; Nov 3; Dec 1, 15.

2010; Jan 5; Feb -; Mar 2; Apr 6; May 4; Jun 1; Jul 6; Aug 3; Sep 7; Oct 5; Nov 2; Dec -.

Any other date on application. (Minimum two people).

PRICE:
P/P, land only;
USD$2,850.00.
Single Suppliment: USD$850.00