Upon arrival in Phnom Penh Airport, you will be met by your tour guide to travel to your hotel to check in and freshen up.

This afternoon you will visit The Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom; the Palace is made up from a number of structures within a pagoda-style compound one of which is The Silver Pagoda. The Silver Pagoda takes its name from the 5,000 silver tiles and the building itself holds a number of national treasures.

Continue to visit the National Museum, a Khmer temple inspired building that houses the world’s largest collection of Khmer art sculptures, ceramics and bronzes from different periods of Cambodian history. Finish the tour with a local shopping experience at Toul Tom Pong Market (also the Russian Market) where you can find silk, silver and countless souvenirs.

White Mansion, Phnom Penh

This morning, our guide will drive you to visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school. During the Pol Pot regime, people were taken here for detention and torture.

Then continue to Cheung Ek, a profoundly moving experience, where during the Khmer Rouge years, thousands of Cambodians were moved here from Tuol Sleng to be exterminated. They were buried in mass graves and today over 8,000 skulls are displayed behind the glass of a memorial stupa, erected in 1988 to honour those who died.

This afternoon, you will be transferred to airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel for check in with the rest of day is at leisure.

The Aviary Hotel, Siem Reap

Breakfast

This morning, take Remok tour to visit the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom – last capital of the Khmers, with its Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the stunning Bayon temple.

Continue your exploration of the Angkor Temples at Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in its natural state since its “re-discovery” by French explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees, which envelop the stone like tentacles.

This afternoon, your guide will drive you to visit Angkor Wat, arguably the largest religious building in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Enjoy the knowledge and history your guide has, whilst watching the sunset in the evening.

The Aviary Hotel, Siem Reap

Breakfast

This morning, visit Banteay Srei; ‘the Womans Citadel’ – a tiny, enchanting temple, which is one of the jewels in this remarkable city. Built of red sandstone in the tenth century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the carved male and female figures in the niches are exquisitely executed in both style and proportion. This is the most Indian of all the temples in Angkor and in the words of H.W. Ponder, is “a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest.”

Continue to Banteay Samre, built under Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. Named after the Samré, an ancient people of Indochina, the temple uses the same materials as Banteay Srei.

This afternoon, you will visit Preah Khan “The Sacred Sword”, an extensive monastic complex covering over 56 hectares built by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a monastery and teaching complex. Continue to Pre Rup temple which is about 2 km northeast of Srah Srang and about 500 meters south of the East Baray. The temple was built in 961 during the reign of King Rajendravarman, dedicating to Shiva Brahmanism.

The Aviary Hotel, Siem Reap

Breakfast

On arrival into Luang Prabang, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, head out with your local guide to see some of the sights that have made this town the World Heritage Jewel that it is!

Begin with a personal blessing by a monk who will perform a traditional ceremony by sprinkling water, jasmines and flowers over you which is believed to cleanse bad spirits and bring good luck. Then visit Vat Visoun with its impressive stupa, Vat Aham which is one of the city’s major tutelary shrines, and Wat Mai which is famous for its five-tiered roof built in the traditional style of Luang Prabang.

Phou Sii hill stands right in the centre of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Sunset can be enjoyed with a cold drink at one of the cafes located along the Mekong River.

This evening, head out for a delicious dinner at Tamnak Lao restaurant for a great introduction to Luang Prabang style Laotian cuisine. After dinner, take a tour around Luang Prabang’s fabulous night market with your local guide, where there is an overwhelming selection of local handicrafts on offer.

Maison Dalabua, Luang Prabang

Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel head off with your guide to visit Wat Xieng Thong – often said to be Luang Prabang’s most beautiful temples. After visiting the temple begin the road journey out of Luang Prabang town to visit Kuang Sii Waterfalls passing through very scenic Laotian countryside, with rice paddies and many ethnic minority villages along the way. On arrival at Kuang Sii you can visit the ‘Bear Rescue Centre‘ where they conserve the black bears in the northern part of Laos. At Kuang Sii Waterfalls, if water levels permit, there is time to enjoy a refreshing dip in the falls. These beautiful falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools.

Enjoy a local style lunch at the waterfalls, before returning to Luang Prabang town. En route, it is possible to stop at the village of Ban Phanom, a weaving village populated by Lu minority people that originally came from Sipsongpanna in Southern China.

On your return to Luang Prabang, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

Maison Dalabua, Luang Prabang

Breakfast and lunch

Start the day early with one of the most memorable sights of Luang Prabang – ‘Tak Bat’. At dawn hundreds of saffron robed monks move silently through the streets to collect alms (offerings of food). Your guide will explain the background behind this ritual which is still very much a part of everyday life and you will have the chance to make ‘merit’.

After breakfast back at your hotel, take a boat trip along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou caves. En route it is possible to stop at small riverside Ban Thin Hong weaving and fishing village, where you have an opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about rural Lao life and handicrafts. You are welcomed in the village with the traditional Laotian Baci ceremony. ‘Baci’ plays an important role even today to welcome or farewell, bring good luck and ward of bad spirits for any major event in the life of local people.

Then continue along the river to the Pak Ou caves, which contain many thousands of Buddha images that were placed here by local people since 16th century after King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. After exploring the caves and lunch at a local restaurant, its time to return to your boat and begin the journey back to Luang Prabang town where this afternoon is at leisure.

Maison Dalabua, Luang Prabang

Breakfast and lunch

Visit the National Museum which displays an impressive collection of personal artefacts of the former royal family, before transferring to the airport for your short flight to Vientiane.

This afternoon you will visit the Patouxai Victory Monument which was inspired by the Arc De Triomphe in Paris as well as Wat Sisaket which is the oldest original temple in the city. There will be a visit to Wat Phra Keo and That Luang, the most revered shrine in Laos finishing off with a stroll through Talaat Sao food and vegetable market to experience daily Laotian life.

Salana Boutique, Vientiane

Breakfast

Time to bid farewell to Indochina as you head back to the Airport for your scheduled flight back to the UK.