Highlights of Laos & Cambodia 9 days

Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant and bustling capital city. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in.  

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Spend the day on a tour of Cambodia’s vibrant capital city. Start by learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent, bloody history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”.

After lunch in the downtown, visit the National Museum and the Royal Palace – home to the Royal family and the opulent Silver Pagoda.

In the late afternoon, take a short flight to Siem Reap, the provincial capital and gateway to the ancient Angkor Temples. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srei and the legendary Angkor Wat. Upon arrival, your tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and drive you to the hotel to check in.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Enjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Wake before dawn and take a “tuk-tuk” ride to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat - the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture.

After that return to hotel for breakfast then set back out on the tour to visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm. From there you will proceed to Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Spend the rest of the day to enjoy swimming at the pool of hotel or take a short walk to Old Market in the center of Siem Reap City.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

After breakfast, drive 25 kilometers to the countryside to see the “gem” of the Angkor area: Banteay Srei Temple. Banteay Srei, also known as “Citadel of the Women”, remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer Art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srei is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

Return to your hotel for lunch break then continue to visit Tonle Sap in the afternoon. Immerse yourself in the rich culture surrounding Siem Reap on a boat tour along the Asia’s largest freshwater lake, where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. This visit includes: flooded forest, floating village, crocodile & fish farm…

(Due to low water levels during the dry season, the boat trip is possible from July to February, however, an alternative floating village at Chong Kneas can be arranged instead).

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

This morning is free at your leisure before taking the flight to Pakse, the capital city of Champasak province of Southern Laos, sits at the confluence of the Mekong River and the Se Don (Don River). Upon arrival, your guide and driver will welcome and transfer you to hotel.

Rest of the day you are free at leisure.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Pakse

This morning, continue the trip to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wat Phou a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple. Then a short stop at Ban Nong Bune will give you the opportunity to observe wood carvers at work before continuing to Ban Kiet Ngong a small Lao village where you will embark on a 90 minute elephant ride through the forest up to Mount Asa.

Ride through the Xe Pian Protected Area whose wetlands and forest offer a biodiverse ecosystem. This tour program was developed to provide the local villagers with a sustainable tourism project from which they can get profit. Continue on to Khong Island, the biggest island in Southern Laos and the start of the 4,000 islands (Siphandon) region.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Khong Island

After breakfast, explore Siphandon. During the rainy season, the Mekong River reaches a breadth of 14 kms, the river’s widest reach along its 4,350 km journey from the Tibetan Plateau towards the East Sea of Vietnam; when the river recedes, it leaves behind thousands of islands and islets.

You first hike along its ancient railway in Khong Island built by the French in 1897 in order to bypass the powerful rapids when transporting goods from Cambodia. You then drive to Khone Phapheng waterfall, which spans 14km across the width of the mighty Mekong River, is listed as the world's widest waterfall. More akin to tumbling rapids than a waterfall from a Western perspective, it is still quite impressive, especially during the rainy season when the water is running fast and furious.

In the afternoon, drive back to Pakse Airport to take the flight to Luang Prabang, the best preserved city in South East Asia. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to hotel in town for check in.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

After breakfast, you will take the cruise along a Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves, where you will discover gold-lacquered Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes nestled deep in the limestone caverns. Embarking on a cultural tour of Luang Prabang in the afternoon, you will visit the Royal Palace (official name "Haw Kham") which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family; the gilded temples Wat Mai and Wat Xieng Thong.

You then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

This morning is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing before transferring to airport to catch your departure flight.

Meals: B

Accommodation: N/A