This Indochina small group tour 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 1, Maximum 8

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 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
Bus, Boat, Taxi, Plane.

Day Trips

• Unguided boat trip on the Mekong river to visit a cave and local villages, (half day).
• 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).

Entry Fees

All included when part of the itinerary.

Meals
31 meals included as per itinerary.
B = Breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.

Itinerary

Day 1:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; BANGKOK - Our Indochina small group budget tour officially starts when you check into your Bangkok accommodation. A welcoming dinner will be had in the evening. If you arrive early enough your free time could be spent visiting  Wat Phra Kaew & the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, MBK or Siam shopping centres or take a boat ride with the locals on the Chao Phraya express to some local shops in Nonthaburi.         

A few of the  dozens of other options may be Vimanmek Teak Mansion, Chinatown, Wat Traimit, Jim Thompsons House, Silom or Sukhumvit road shops.

OR? Maybe just lay back and have a traditional Thai Massage. A month in the capital wouldn't allow you enough time to see it all. 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:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; LUANG PRABANG -  A short international flight today will see our small group tour in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang in Laos. Will there be a better highlight?

WHERE TO START? Just about anywhere as Luang Prabang is one of the great travel destinations in Asia today. First up, while you still have the energy, try walking up the hundred or more steps to Phu Si Temple with fantastic views as the reward. Then onto, in no particular order, The Royal Palace Museum, Wat Ho Pha Bang, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun, Wat That Luang, Wat Manolom or another dozen or so other Wat's.

Cooking courses can be found  at: Tamarind or Tamnak Lao Three Elephants Cafe;  Massage and Spa's are another way to enjoy Luang Prabang for the not so energetic. Markets and other great eateries will see you get enough nourishment to complete the task at hand whatever you decide on. Dinner by the Mekong with a Beerlao being the perfect way to finish the day. B. D.

Day 4:

LUANG PRABANG - A half day unguided trip on the Mekong today to visit the spiritual caves of Pak Ou and a local village or two. 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:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; VANG VIENG - Today by bus our small group tour will see some of the loveliest scenery in all South East Asia as you approach Vang Vieng for an overnight break. Vang Vieng itself is surrounded by stunning limestone karst scenery and on arrival you can sit down and relax with the sunset. B. D.

Day 7:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; VIENTIANE - A short drive today sees us in what surely must be South East Asia's smallest and sleepiest capital city. Without any sign of hustle or bustle beside the Mekong lies Vientiane. Sightseeing begins with a short Jumbo ride to the most important temple in Laos of Wat That Luang. After that most sights can be seen on foot and include  Wat Si Saket, Wat Si Muang or wat Mixai among others. Then the Arc De Triomphe look alike of Patuxai, Lao National Museum or enjoy a drink at the central Fountain Circle. B.

Day 8:

VIENTIANE - A free day to explore this sleepy hollow. Don't miss the Morning Market, (open all day).   You can again enjoy a Beerlao beside the Mekong, with the spectacular sunset over Thailand, as the perfect way to make a toast to Languorous Laos. B.

Day 9:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; SAVANNAKHET - Back on the road again today for the long bus trip to Savannakhet, another town beside the Mekong, for an overnight stop.

Apart from dinner beside the Mekong with a farewell to Laos Beerlao there wont be much time for anything else apart from a short stroll arond town. B. D.

Day 10:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; HUE - Another long day by bus as your small group tour crosses  into  Vietnam at the Dansavanh/Lao Bao border checkpoint and later on arrive in the historical city of Hue. No meals.

Day 11:

HUE - A free day to see the sights of Hue. Maybe the Citadel, a Pagoda, Church or Museum? Far to many sights to list here. Hire a cyclo or stroll is the way to go. 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 with some tomb visits along the way or a visit to the DMZ are just two available. B.

Day 12:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; HOI AN - From Hue our small group tour heads 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 and/or the Danang Cathedral we can do that also. B.

Day 13:

 HOI AN - Hoi An is also the place to look out for that tailor   made suit you were thinking about or just relax with a coffee by the Thu Bon River. Hoi An is a favorite with all travellers. For sightseeing there are numerous attractions on an easy half day meander around   town. Start at the Phac Hat pagoda followed by the Truong family   chapel, the assembly hall of the Fujian Chinese congregation, the Quan   Cong Temple, the Quan Am Pagoda and history museum, the museum of Sa   Huynh Culture, the Hoi An Church, the Japanese covered bridge and   finish with a local coffee or 40 cent glass of beer Hoi ("fresh", draught beer)  riverside.

The above sights are only a few of the many available.   Most places are free to visit while a few charge a small entrance   fee or ask for a  donation. B.

Day 14:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; MUI NE -  Another long trip by bus today even further south again  will see our small group tour rewarded with three nights in the beautiful seaside town of Mui Ne to re-energise after some long travel days. 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 - Another relaxing day or maybe hire a motor bike taxi  for a dollar or two to take in the nearby fishing village, the famous  sand dunes where local children rent out boards for those wanting to  try sand sleding. Heading the other way towards the larger town of  Phan Thiet  you can visit the small Po Shanu Cham  tower with some great scenery from the hill it occupies. B.

Day 17:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; HO CHI MINH CITY (More often than not still called SAIGON by the locals) - A shorter bus trip today will see our small group tour in the capital of the South, Ho Chi Minh City.  Our free time after that can  be used to visit the nearby Ben Thanh  market or the Huynh Thuc Khang street market. A taxi ride to Cholon  will see you in either the Binh Tay or  An Dong markets with the latter particularly good for clothing and cheap local eats. B. D.

Day 18:

HO CHI MINH CITY - A local operator will take our small group tour on a half day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, 30 minutes away by bus. You will see a documentary film on the legendary tunnel system which is  over 220 kilometres long. For the slim and brave you may wish to limbo along a short  stretch of tunnel to experience it first hand.  Above the ground you will see some of the booby traps and other ingenious contraptions used to survive in this tunnel city. On your return those wanting to visit the War Remnants Museum will be dropped off  for a look at the horrors and futility of war. B.

Day 19:

HO CHI MINH CITY - A full days tour with a local operator by bus and boats to the Mekong Delta to get a close up view of the lifestyles of the locals. Firstly by bus to the town of My Tho, 70 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City. Then by boat you will visit Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands. Sights along the way include a fishing port and stilt houses. Lunch will be had riverside in an orchard. Then it will be by a small local rowing boat through some smaller  jungle shrouded channels to try some local fruits and honey as well as  be entertained by some island villagers performing Southern Vietnamese  folk music. 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:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; PHNOM PENH - By bus again today our small group tour will cross the border at the Moc Bai/Davet immigration checkpoint  into Cambodia and the capital of Phnom Penh. No meals.

Day 22:

PHNOM PENH - Today our small group tour 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 (S21). Both very sobering experiences. The afternoon will be free to explore the capital of this friendly and interesting country. Maybe buy a T-shirt for a dollar or two in the Central Market where, as in all Asian markets, bargaining is compulsory. Other sights include the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Wat Phnom, Wat Montrei, Wat Ounalom or Independance monument just to name a few of the many attractions. B.

Day 23:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; SIEM REAP - By bus on the much improved road today your small group tour heads to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. No meals.

Day 24:

SIEM REAP - A free day to wander around sleepy Siem Reap. Late afternoon you will be taken to Angkor Wat by Tuk Tuk or Moto for the sunset views of this amazing temple complex.

A few of the Siem Reap sights and/or activities beforehand in your free time may include:

The Angkor National Museum or a  
Cooking course.        
        

For shoppers:

Artisans d'Angkor has a shop selling various pieces relating to local culture.

Shops set up to benefit the blind, disabled and other worthy causes include Krouser Thmey, Nyemo,Rajana, Rehab Craft, Sentaurs d'Angkor and Tabitha Cambodia. These shops sell a variety of goods which include silk products, arts and craft, clothing, wallets, bags and the like. 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 of highlights until last. B.

Day 26:

Tonight our Indochina Highlights small group tour will stay in; BANGKOK - A last interesting days trip by bus' will see our small group tour back in Bangkok after crossing the border at the Poipet/Aranya Prathet immigation checkpoint. No meals.

Day 27:

BANGKOK - Along the way your small group tour has seen some laid back places. Now you have a free day to see the opposite in the Big Mango. 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:

Our Indochina small group budget tour is officially over when you check out of your Bangkok accommodation. An airport transfer is included also. B.

Tour Departure Dates

2012
05 Jun, 03 Jul, 07 Aug, 04 Sep, 02 Oct, 06 Nov, 04 Dec

2013
08 Jan, 05 Mar, 02 Apr, 07 May, 04 Jun, 02 Jul, 06 Aug, 03 Sep, 01 Oct, 05 Nov, 03 Dec

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

Price

P/P, land only;
USD $2,850
Single Suppliment: USD $850