Best of
Southeast Asia
27-day Private
Journey
(One day
longer than last year)
Starts in Bangkok on February 1,
2011
Visiting Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, the Golden Triangle, Pakbeng, Luang Prabang,
Hanoi,
Hue, Hoi An, Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap (Angkor)
including
four UNESCO
World Heritage Sites
|
TUESDAY
1 FEB |
BANGKOK – GUEST ARRIVALS
Today is set aside as an
arrival day for all guests.
For those who would prefer to arrive prior to the first day
of the tour, we can arrange an extra night at the
starting hotel according to your wishes.
We would be pleased to discuss details of the various options
available.
Upon your arrival today at Bangkok Airport you will be met and
transferred downtown to your hotel.
The tour leader will meet you at the hotel. No activities are planned for today
since guests will be arriving at various times according to
their own schedules.
Bangkok is one
of Asia's most distinctive and captivating destinations and the
award-winning Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel is a landmark, located
on the banks of the mighty Chao Phraya river in the heart of the
city. It is renowned for its refined accommodation and
its exceptional service.
Overnight in a deluxe river-view room at the Royal Orchid
Sheraton Hotel. |
|
WEDNESDAY
2 FEB |
BANGKOK (B, D)
Breakfast at hotel.
We suggest you take it slow this morning and give yourself time
to adjust to the new time zone. It’s still a good idea not to
sleep in too late but you certainly don’t need to get up at the
crack of dawn.
Have breakfast when you feel hungry and take some time to get
organized or simply relax and enjoy the facilities at the hotel.
Later this morning we’ll have a short orientation session at the
hotel covering a number of important items related to the entire
trip including food and beverages, personal security, money,
daily activities, day pack contents, traffic safety and more.
This afternoon we climb aboard our own longtail boat and head
out on Bangkok’s main river for a glimpse of life along the
waterway and some of its canals. We also visit the beautiful
Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun) and finish up at Bangkok’s
fabulous Grand Palace where we take time to explore the palace
wat and the captivating Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
This evening we’ll get together at the hotel bar for our first
‘happy hour’ and then settle in for
dinner together.
Overnight in a deluxe river-view room at the Royal Orchid
Sheraton Hotel. |
|
THURSDAY
3 FEB |
BANGKOK – CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (B, L, D)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we’ll check out of the hotel and depart for the
Bangkok airport to board our flight to the northern city of
Chiang Mai. Lunch
on board.
Upon arrival in Chiang Mai we’ll transfer to our hotel which is
situated in the heart of town with the bustling night bazaar,
restaurants and entertainment at its doorstep. You couldn't ask
for a better location.
We purposely avoid any pre-planned activities for the rest of
the afternoon so you can take time to ease into the culture of
northern Thailand and shake your remaining jet lag! You can
choose to walk around in the pleasant streets of downtown Chiang
Mai or to simply relax by the hotel pool.
Late afternoon happy hour at the hotel followed by a casual
evening dinner at one of our favourite restaurants located in
lush gardens alongside the Mae Ping River.
After dinner you can return on foot to the hotel, making your
way through the busy night bazaar, the world’s largest craft
market.
Overnight at D2 hotel. |
|
FRIDAY
4 FEB |
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel at one of the finest breakfast buffets in
Thailand.
Today we drive about an hour north of the city into the jungles
of Northern Thailand and visit an elephant camp where we witness
the close relationship between the elephant and his trainer,
watch the elephants at work & play and spend an hour or so on
our own elephants along the jungle trails. We then set off on
simple bamboo rafts for a gentle drift down the pretty Mae Taeng
river before transferring by road to Lisu Lodge for lunch.
Nestled in a rich green valley that time seems to have forgotten
is a Lisu tribal community that has managed to hold onto its
cultural origins while benefiting from the progress of
responsible tourism. A key factor in this success story was the
creation of the Lisu Lodge, a small group of thatched roof
buildings with bamboo walls reflecting the traditional style of
the Lisu tribe. There is a tranquil and soothing atmosphere here
and the food is wonderful.
Staffed and managed by the people of the tribe, the lodges
overlook the lush fields of the valley and serve as a relaxing
spot for our Thai lunch. After we’ve eaten and had a short rest,
we’ll spend some time exploring the Lisu village, meeting some
of the local tribe members and learning about their lifestyle.
We return to the hotel late in the afternoon just in time for
happy hour.
Free for dinner. Your tour leader will have suggestions.
Overnight at D2 hotel. |
|
SATURDAY
5 FEB |
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we concentrate entirely on Thai food! We begin by
heading over to the local market for a demonstration of fresh
ingredients used in Thai dishes including various types of
basil, coriander, chilis, eggplant, lemongrass, kafir
lime and so on.
Next we drive about 30 minutes away from the city to the cooking
school located in quiet surroundings. Here we spend the rest of
the morning attending lectures and cooking lunch. Each of us
will have our own cooking station and will prepare our
four-course meal with the assistance of the experienced staff.
When all the food is ready, we’ll take time to enjoy the fruits
of our labour in the restaurant.
Lunch generally consists of a Thai soup, a Thai green curry, a
chicken dish, Thai fried noodles (Pad Thai) and a dessert such
as steamed banana cake or mango and sticky rice. The menu is
subject to change depending on the ingredients available that
day.
After we enjoy our lunch we return to the hotel. The afternoon
is free for exploring some of Chiang Mai's streets, alleys, wats
and shops on your own or for simply relaxing or catching up on
your notes.
Free for dinner.
Overnight at D2 hotel. |
|
SUNDAY
6 FEB |
CHIANG MAI TO CHIANG RAI, THAILAND (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast we’ll depart by road toward the north.
We'll
stop along the way at the Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm and at
Hmong hill tribe village and museum at Ban Pa Nok Kok and will
arrive at Thaton around noon. Here we'll enjoy lunch at a local
restaurant and then transfer to our own long tail boats for
the trip to Chiang Rai. We’ll spend a few hours boating along
the pretty Kok river, passing many hill tribe villages along the
way. Upon arrival in Chiang Rai we check in at the Legend
Resort for a two-night stay.
Situated next to the banks of the river, the resort is
secluded from the city of Chiang Rai yet is just a quick tuk-tuk
ride away. The buildings reflect contemporary Lanna style and
Thai culture, rich in architectural design, paintings and
pottery. You may wish to make the most of your stay by
pampering yourself with traditional Thai herbal massage
treatments in the local spa.
The rest of the late afternoon and evening are at leisure. You
may choose to explore the Chiang Rai night bazaar in the centre
of town where you’ll find a unique selection of Northern Thai
crafts and a small selection of restaurants and local watering
holes. Alternately, you may choose to enjoy the spa and the local
restaurant at the resort.
Overnight at the Legend Resort. |
|
MONDAY
7 FEB |
GOLDEN TRIANGLE (B)
Breakfast at the resort.
Today we drive northward to the Golden Triangle, the point where
the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma converge. From the
lookout we can clearly see all three countries at once.
From here we continue on to visit one of the local tea
plantations and to try some of their products.
We then drive westward to visit the town of Mae Sai situated on
the Burmese border at the northern-most point of Thailand. Here
we may be able to cross the river into Burma to take a quick
look at the border town of Tachilek. (If you choose to do this
you may have to pay a small amount on the spot for a short-term
tourist visa stamp.)
We return to the resort later in the afternoon.
The rest of the day is free to enjoy the facilities of the
resort or to head into Chiang Rai city for a look at the local
night market and the downtown area.
Free for dinner.
Overnight at the Legend Resort. |
|
TUESDAY
8 FEB |
CHIANG RAI, THAILAND TO PAKBENG, LAOS (B, L, D)
Breakfast at the resort.
Early morning departure from the hotel and transfer by road to
the Thai town of Chiang Khong - the gate to Indochina. Here we
clear Thai immigration and cross the Mekong River to the town of
Houeixay in Laos.
Here we obtain our Lao visas, clear Lao immigration and board
our private riverboat for a two-day journey down the magnificent
Mekong River. Using our own boat offers us the chance to
discover the delights of Northern Laos in style, safety and
comfort while travelling through a region that has hitherto been
virtually inaccessible.
Our route takes us on a stretch of the Mekong between the Lao
town of Houeixay and the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang,
the former royal capital of Laos and one of the best preserved
ancient cities in Asia.
En-route today, a stop will be made at a Lao hill tribe village
to observe rural life along the Mekong. We’ll enjoy a simple and
traditional Lao home-style lunch on board as we cruise down the
river and we’ll arrive at Pakbeng village before sunset. Here
we’ll check-in at Luangsay Lodge, a beautiful, rustic Laotian
style teakwood lodge featuring a score of simple cottages
connected by wooden walkways on the north bank of the Mekong
river in the middle of nowhere.
The rest of the late afternoon and evening are at leisure. Happy
hour on the terrace. Dinner in the open-air restaurant high
above the Mekong River.
Overnight at Luangsay Lodge. |
|
WEDNESDAY
9 FEB |
PAKBENG TO LUANG PRABANG, LAOS (B, L, D)
Breakfast at the lodge.
After breakfast we'll take a walk to Pakbeng village, about a
kilometer away where you'll find lots of good photo
opportunities in the local market and along the main street.
Afterwards we board our boat for the second leg of the cruise.
We’ll make a stop at another Lao hill tribe village this morning
and will once again enjoy lunch on board as we continue down the
river.
In the afternoon as we approach the mouth of the Nam Ou river
you will see a huge cliff and a cave with several steps leading
to a semi-open entrance. This is the famous Tam Ting cave
containing over a thousand Buddha images of all sizes and shapes
which have been deposited there during the 18th and
19th centuries.
According to local history this cave was a place where
occultists came to perform ritual ceremonies and to pay homage
to spirits, souls and gods.
Before sunset we arrive at the wonderful UNESCO-protected city
of Luang Prabang. We are met at the boat landing and transferred
to the BelleRive Hotel where we check in for a three-night
stay.
Join us for happy hour and dinner together this evening.
Overnight at the BelleRive Boutique Hotel. |
|
THURSDAY
10 FEB |
LUANG PRABANG, LAOS (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Luang Prabang city is currently home to about 30,000 people.
Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital
of the Kingdom of Laos. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site
chosen as an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional
architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the
European colonial authorities (primarily French) in the 19th and
20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape
illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct
cultural traditions.
This morning we’ll enjoy an escorted walk through the town with
our guide.
We begin by taking a leisurely stroll through the morning
market, an excellent example of a typical Lao market with local
people selling vegetables, fruits, meats and related food items.
From here we continue on to the fascinating and unique Royal
Palace museum, the former residence of the royal family prior to
their removal in 1975. Parts of the building are preserved as if
the residents had just gone out for a brief walk.
After we tour the palace, we’ll continue our walk to visit the most famous and most well-preserved
temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Xieng Thong.
Around lunch time we’ll be dropped off in the centre of town
where we’ll have an opportunity to enjoy lunch on our own before
rejoining the guide for a leisurely drive about 30 minutes from
town to visit the famous Kuang Xi Falls and explore the beauty
of the countryside around the well-known waterfall. Intrepid
guests may wish to bring their bathing suit for a cool dip in
one of the pools at the base of the falls.
We return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Free for dinner. Your tour leader will have suggestions.
Afterwards you may wish to explore the beautiful night market
along the main street of town.
Overnight at the BelleRive Boutique Hotel. |
|
FRIDAY
11 FEB |
LUANG PRABANG, LAOS (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today you have a full day at leisure to explore this amazing
town.
We suggest getting up early today or tomorrow to observe the
monks' walk and alms-giving. This is a site you will only see in
this town. Hundreds of monks in their saffron robes walk slowly
through the streets of the town as they collect their breakfast
of sticky rice from the local people. A makeshift tripod or
steady hand will help in the low light of the early morning.
Later today, about 4:30 pm, you may wish to visit Wat Phousi to
view one of the best sunsets in Asia.
Free for dinner.
Overnight at the BelleRive Boutique Hotel. |
|
SATURDAY
12 FEB |
LUANG PRABANG TO HANOI, VIETNAM (B, D)
Leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
Morning free until we transfer to the airport for our flight to
Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, we meet our guide and transfer to the
Sofitel Metropole hotel for check-in.
Located in the heart of downtown, this beautiful French Colonial
hotel has been a celebrated landmark since the turn of the last
century.
The hotel is situated within easy walking distance of Hanoi’s
Old Quarter and just a block from Hoan Kiem Lake.
This evening we have a “welcome to Vietnam” dinner together.
Overnight at the Sofitel Metropole. |
|
SUNDAY
13 FEB |
HANOI, VIETNAM (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the excellent breakfasts available
at the hotel for your entire stay in Hanoi. These are some of
the best breakfasts of the entire trip.
Today, we spend the entire day visiting the most interesting
sites of this exciting city.
In the morning we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum as well as
Ho’s former residences, we’ll walk by the Presidential Palace
and will visit the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature
and the wonderful Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54
tribal groups.
Lunch is included at one of our favourite Hanoi restaurants.
In the afternoon we visit Hoa Lo prison (the famous Hanoi
Hilton) as well as Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son temple. We’ll
also enter Hanoi’s Old Quarter and travel through the warren of
small streets by rickshaw. We’ll finish off with a live
performance of the famous Vietnamese Water Puppets.
The exact timing of these activities throughout the day is
subject to adjustment depending on local events and traffic
patterns.
Optional happy hour.
Overnight at the Sofitel Metropole. |
|
MONDAY
14 FEB |
HANOI, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today is entirely free for you to take a closer look at the Old
Quarter and French Quarter of this exciting city.
Early birds may wish to enjoy a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake just
around sunrise. Here you can find people do their morning
exercises – the older people usually practice some form of Tai
Chi while others may jog or play badminton. Even at other times
throughout the day there is always lots of activity around the
lake and especially at the north end near Hang Gai street.
Photographers will find many subjects and shoppers will find
many bargains.
Free for dinner this evening. Your tour leader will have
suggestions.
Overnight at the Sofitel Metropole. |
|
TUESDAY
15 FEB |
HANOI – HUE, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we transfer to the airport for our
flight to Hue
city.
Upon arrival
we meet our guide and transfer to the hotel for check in.
This
afternoon we board our dragon boat and enjoy a trip down the
Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda & the royal tomb of
Minh Mang.
Return to the
hotel in the late afternoon. Join us for happy hour if you wish.
Free for
dinner.
Overnight at
La Residence |
|
WEDNESDAY
16 FEB |
HUE TO HOI AN, VIETNAM (B, L, D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we begin with a visit to the Imperial Citadel,
a
UNESCO World Heritage site.
Afterwards we
begin our drive south, across the Hai Van Pass toward the city
of Danang. On the way, we’ll stop for lunch at the beach at Lang
Co.
After lunch
we continue on to Danang and Hoi An.
Upon arrival
at our hotel in Hoi
An, we check in for a three-night stay. The hotel is a
beautifully- designed property immediately adjacent to the old
town and only a short rickshaw ride from China Beach.
The town of Hoi An has a population of about 30,000, and is a
former harbour town of the Champa people on the estuary of the
Thu Bon river. It was an important trading centre in the 16th
and 17th centuries where Chinese from various provinces as well
as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled. In 1999 the old town was
declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO as a well-preserved
example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th
centuries whose buildings display a unique blend of local and
foreign influences.
Join us this evening for a combined happy hour and dinner at one
of the town’s many restaurants.
Overnight at the Life Heritage Resort. |
|
THURSDAY
17 FEB |
HOI AN, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Entire day at leisure to explore the streets, markets, shops,
restaurants and bars of old Hoi An, to spend part of the day at
China Beach or simply to relax at the resort.
Evening at leisure.
Overnight at the Life Heritage Resort. |
|
FRIDAY
18 FEB |
HOI AN, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Another entire day at leisure to explore the town or to relax at
China Beach or at the resort.
Evening at leisure. Be sure to get some sleep. We have an early
start tomorrow.
Overnight at the Life Heritage Resort. |
|
SATURDAY
19 FEB |
HOI AN TO PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (B, D)
Quick breakfast at the hotel.
Early morning departure from the resort to the Danang airport to
board our flight to Saigon.
Here we transfer to the international terminal for our
connecting flight to Phnom Penh.
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh we transfer to the Amanjaya hotel and
check in for a three-night stay.
The Amanjaya is
a small Khmer-style hotel with a unique contemporary interior of
rosewood floors and liberal use of Khmer art and textiles.
Private balconies overlook the Mekong River and the famous
Sisowath Quay, the heart of downtown Phnom Penh. We couldn’t ask
for a better location.
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Join us for happy hour
if you wish.
Afterwards, we'll have a group dinner at one of the local
restaurants along the quay.
Overnight at Amanjaya Hotel. |
|
SUNDAY
20 FEB |
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (B,L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we visit the impressive Royal Palace and some of
its important buildings including the Silver Pagoda a structure
so named because of its 5000 floor tiles made of pure silver.
The compound is home to the Cambodian King Sihamoni – the son of
Sihanouk.
Afterwards we proceed to the unique National Museum where we
explore a few of the more interesting ancient Khmer artifacts
with our guide.
Group lunch at one of our favourite restaurants.
Optional afternoon visits to the Central and Russian markets to
look for bargains among a dizzying array of Khmer and Vietnamese
crafts, textiles, hardware, clothing, food, knock-off jewelry
and watches, clandestine CDs and DVDs of the latest audio and
video hits and software.
Join us for happy hour if you wish. Free for dinner.
Overnight at the Amanjaya Hotel. |
|
MONDAY
21 FEB |
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we begin with a one-hour cyclo tour of the downtown
followed by a visit to Tuol Sleng Prison (S21), the world-famous
headquarters of the Khmer Rouge interrogators. Afterwards we
visit the Killing Fields at Cheoung Ek. We'll return to the
hotel area around lunch time.
Afternoon free.
Overnight at the Amanjaya Hotel. |
|
TUESDAY
22 FEB |
PHNOM PENH TO SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (B,L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the
airport for the morning flight to Siem Reap, the town which
supports the incredible Angkor Temple Complex, the most famous
archaeological site in Southeast Asia.
Angkor was the site of a series of capital cities of the Khmer
empire for much of the period from the 9th century to the 15th
century. Their ruins are located amid forests and farmland to
the north of the Great Lake (Tonle Sap) and are a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The temples of the Angkor area number over one
thousand, ranging in scale from nondescript piles of brick
rubble to the collection of unique temples in the city of Angkor
Thom to the magnificent Angkor Wat, said to be the world's
largest single religious monument. Visitors to Siem Reap
approach one million annually.
Because the weather here can be hot at mid-day, we limit our
sightseeing activities over the three days to early morning and
late afternoon.
Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, we transfer to the hotel for
check-in. The Victoria Angkor Resort is an elegant and refined
hotel in the style of the 1930’s graceful colonial architecture.
The Hotel has been designed to be in total harmony with its
natural surroundings and is conveniently situated a few blocks
north of the town, opposite the Royal Park.
We’ll enjoy
lunch at the hotel then depart for a late afternoon visit to the
most famous temple of them all, Angkor Wat. We’ll
return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Join us for happy hour at one of our favourite bars in downtown
Siem Reap if you wish. From here, whenever you get hungry, you can wander
over to any of the scores of interesting restaurants along Bar
Street or the Alley.
Overnight at Victoria Angkor Resort. |
|
WEDNESDAY
23 FEB |
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning visit to the magnificent city of Angkor Thom including
the South Gate, the Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Elephant
Terrace and Leper Terrace. Afterwards we visit Preah Khan, the
first of the two famous jungle temples at Angkor.
We return to the town in the late morning.
In the afternoon we drive to the far north of the temple complex
to visit the beautiful temple of Banteay Srei, the pink and
green “Citadel of the Women”. This temple, although tiny, has
the most perfectly preserved stone carvings in all of Angkor.
Free for dinner.
Overnight at Victoria Angkor Resort. |
|
THURSDAY
24 FEB |
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning visit to Ta Prohm temple, the second of the two famous
jungle temples, and the one which is being steadily attacked by
huge tree roots which are pulling the blocks of the temple apart
and leaving it in ruins. This temple is a magnificent site and
shouldn’t be missed.
Afterwards we depart for the village of Chong Khneas and head
out onto the Tonle Sap lake to examine the unusual Vietnamese
floating villages on its north shore.
We return to Siem Reap around lunch time. Later this afternoon
we make a visit to the very interesting silk farm at Puok where
we can examine the entire silk-making process from the mulberry
bush to the finished product.
Free for dinner.
Overnight at Victoria Angkor Resort. |
|
FRIDAY
25 FEB |
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA TO BANGKOK, THAILAND (B,D)
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to the airport for our morning flight to Bangkok.
Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel. Ideally
located in the heart of the 'City of Angels', the Dusit Thani
hotel sits opposite Lumpini Park at the intersection of Rama 4
and Silom Road. The hotel is adjacent to both the sky train and
subway systems and is within walking distance of Jim Thompson’s
flagship location, Patpong Market, Suan Lum night bazaar, Silom
Road shopping and numerous pubs, bars and restaurants.
The afternoon is entirely free for exploring the area around the
hotel or visiting other Bangkok sites as you wish. Your tour
leader will have suggestions and local maps and will be
available to provide advice and assistance.
Tonight we have a special happy hour together at one of
Bangkok’s most unusual bars and a farewell dinner at one of
Bangkok’s finest restaurants. You won’t want to miss this.
Overnight at the Dusit Thani Hotel. |
|
SATURDAY
26 FEB |
BANGKOK, THAILAND (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel.
This morning we enjoy our last sightseeing together as we head
out of town to Thailand’s most famous floating market at Damnoen
Saduak. Afterwards we’ll enjoy a simple Thai lunch at a local
restaurant.
We return to Bangkok in time to have much of the afternoon free
for last-minute shopping, packing or relaxing.
Free for dinner.
Overnight at the Dusit Thani Hotel. |
|
SUNDAY
27 FEB |
BANGKOK DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until your transfer to Bangkok
airport to board the flight home. We will arrange transfers to
the airport at appropriate times for all guests.
For those who wish to stay longer in Thailand or in any of the
surrounding countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Burma or
China, we can create a post-tour itinerary according to your
wishes. We would be pleased to discuss details of the various
options available. |
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