THIS SMALL GROUP TOUR COMBINES THE BEST OF LAOS AND CAMBODIA WITH ALL THE MUST SEES FROM OUR LANGUROUS LAOS AND CENTURIES IN CAMBODIA TRIPS.

Group Size: Minimum 1, Maximum 8

Guaranteed to depart

English speaking tour coordinator

Visiting
BANGKOK - CHIANG MAI - CHIANG KHONG - PAKBENG (Laos) - LUANG PRABANG - VANG VIENG - VIENTIANE - PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) - SIEM REAP - ANGKOR WAT.

Accommodation

• One to two star guest houses and hotels, (5 nights).
• Simple guest houses, (11 nights).
• Basic guest house, (1 night).
• Overnight sleeper train, (1 night).

Transport
Bus, Train, Boat, Taxi, Plane.

Day Trips

• Angkor Wat, (two or three hours at sunset followed by a full day).
• Killing Fields and S21 Museum, (half day).

Entry Fees

All included when part of the itinerary.

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

Itinerary

Day 1:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; BANGKOK - Our Laos and Cambodia small group 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 the enormous Chatuchak weekend market and/or, 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:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay on; OVERNIGHT TRAIN - A free morning in Bangkok for some more of the sights before our small group tour catches an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai. B

Day 3:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; CHIANG MAI - Our small group tour will arrive a.m. in Chiang Mai with the rest of the day free to explore the Northern Thai capital. Just a few of the easy to visit sights by foot or Sawngthaew, (share taxi) include Wat's Phra Singh, Chedi Luang, Jet Yot and Phan Tao among dozens of others.

For shoppers it doesn't get much better than Chiang Mai. After a day at Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Centre, Worowat Market, and/or dozens of other speciality shops all over the place you can barter hard at the famous Night Bazaar. Arts and crafts, textiles, silver and clothing are but a few of the great bargains to be had in Chiang Mai. A budget trip to a dentist is another possiblity as well.   No meals.

Day 4:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; CHIANG KHONG - Today our small group tour will travel by bus to the Mekong riverside town of Chiang Khong for an overnight stop and your first look at a Mekong riverside town. Chiang Khong has one minor attraction for temple addicts in Wat Luang but for most it will be  the first of many chances to relax with a bite and a beer Mekong riverside. B.D.

Day 5:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; PAKBENG - MEKONG RIVER TRIP; An early start across the river will see our small group tour in Laos. After immigration duties we take a slow boat to the interesting Laos riverside village of Pakbeng for the night. The scenery along the way is fantastic. If time permits there are two temples of interest in Wat Khok Kho and Wat Sin Jong Jaeng. In general though PakBeng is only an overnight stop and most travellers find a walk around town at dusk is the most interesting thing to do. You may see some Hmong or Thai minorities along the way also. There is also the chance of a massage and sauna if you need to limber up after the long boat trip. B. L.

Day 6:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; LUANG PRABANG -  By slow boat again today will see our small group tour in the wonderful Unesco World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. The best way to see Luang Prabang is with a leisurely stroll.

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; Tamnak Lao Three Elephant 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 7:

LUANG PRABANG - A  totally free day to explore this highlight of Laos. B.

Day 8:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination 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 we approach Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng itself is surrounded by stunning limestone karst scenery and on arrival we can sit down and relax with the sunset. No meals.

Day 9:

VANG VIENG - A free day to wander around this friendly little town.    For the more active you may wish to take a tube down the river, go rock climbing or cave exploring. Coffee and cake in a local cafe sounds ok too. B.

Day 10:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; VIENTIANE - A short drive today sees our small group tour in what surely must be South East Asia's smallest and sleepiest capital city. With only a little bit of the usual Asian big city hustle and 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 cosmopolitan central Fountain Circle. No meals.

Day 11:

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

Day 12:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; PHNOM PENH. A short international flight will see our small group tour in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The rest of the day is free. No meals.

Day 13:

PHNOM PENH - A day to try and fully comprehend the short but brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge. A visit to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek where the Khmers have made fantastic efforts to come to terms with their recent history. Then to the just as infamous S21 which is now Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Here you can view 100's of black and white photos Pol Pot's regime took both before and sometimes after torturing his victims. This experience will stay with you forever. You will come away with far more compassion and concern for your fellow man.

The rest of the day is 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 and activities 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. A cooking course maybe at Cambodian Cooking Class.

Shoppers wont be left out either. Options include The markets of  Psar Thmei, Psar Tuol Tom Pong,(Russian Market), Psar O Russei, Psar Chaa and Psar Olympic. Art galleries and other shops are scattered around the main tourist area of Sisowath Quay by the river. The Cambodian Craft Cooperation, has some great silk, silver and pottery products among other things. There are a number of other charitable shops also. In between sights you can sup on some great food. A few of a number of restaurants where the profits go to worthy causes are. Cafe 151; Friends;   Lazy Gecko Cafe, Le Rit's, Cafe, Yejj and Romdeng with the latter serving up lots of local Khmer specialities including the now famous deep fried spiders. B.

Day 14:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; SIEM REAP - Today our small group tour heads for Siem Reap by bus on the much improved Cambodian roads.

The rest of the day will be free to explore Siem Reap. No meals.

Day 15:

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 courses.       

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 16:

SIEM REAP - A full day by Tuk Tuk or moto with a local guide to explore the majestic and mysterious spectacle of Angkor Wat. Apart from the main Angkor Wat complex you will also visit the Bayon, Tha Prohm and Angkor Thom. B.

Day 17:

Tonight our Laos and Cambodia combination small group tour will stay in; BANGKOK -  Our small group tour will go back to Bangkok today by bus via the Poipet/ Aranya Prathet border crossing. No meals.

Day 18:

BANGKOK - A last free day in the city of angels to sight see, shop or just relax. Your tour coordinator will help you decide which way you want to go today. A number of optional day tours are also available. A farewell dinner will be had in the evening. B. D.

Day 19:

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

Tour Departure Dates

2012
03 May, 07 Jun, 05 Jul, 02 Aug, 06 Sep, 04 Oct, 01 Nov, 06 Dec

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

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

Price

P/P, Land only; (includes one way international flight from Vientiane to Phnom Penh).
USD $1,850
Single Suppliment: USD $650