Best of
Southeast Asia
26-day Private
Journey
Starts in Bangkok on January 7,
2009
Visiting Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Luang Prabang, Vientiane,
Hanoi,
Hoi An, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Angkor)
including three UNESCO
World Heritage Sites
|
WEDNESDAY
JAN 7
|
BANGKOK – GUEST ARRIVALS
Upon your
arrival today at Bangkok Airport you will be met and transferred
to our beautiful hotel, situated on the banks of the Chao
Phraya, Bangkok’s main artery.
The tour
leader will assist you with the check-in procedure. No
activities are planned for today.
Overnight
at the Montien Riverside hotel. |
|
THURSDAY
JAN 8
|
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 hotel.
This
morning we’ll have a short orientation session at the hotel
covering a number of important items including transportation
options, traffic safety, food and beverages, money, local maps
and more.
This
afternoon we climb aboard our own longtail boat and travel down
the famous Chao Phraya river for a glimpse of life along this
famous waterway. We visit the beautiful Temple of the Dawn (Wat
Arun) and finish up at Bangkok’s fabulous Grand Palace where we
take time to appreciate the beautiful and famous Emerald
Buddha.
This
evening we’ll get together at the hotel for our first ‘happy
hour’ and then head out for dinner together at one of our
favourite local restaurants.
Overnight
at the Montien Riverside hotel |
|
FRIDAY
JAN 9 |
BANGKOK – CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (B,D)
Enjoy a
leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
This
morning we’ll depart for the Bangkok airport and board our
flight to the northern city of Chiang Mai. TG110 departs at 1240
and arrives at 1350.
Upon
arrival we’ll transfer to our hotel for check-in. Our hotel is
situated in the centre of town, just steps from the famous
night-bazaar. You couldn't ask for a better location.
We
purposely avoid any pre-planned activities this 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 evening dinner at
one of our favourite restaurants in Chiang Mai city.
After
dinner you have the option of walking over to the night bazaar
and spending a few hours exploring the world’s largest craft
market or simply returning to the hotel.
Overnight
at D2 hotel. |
|
SATURDAY
JAN 10 |
CHIANG
MAI, THAILAND (B,L)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
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.
Overnight
at D2 hotel. |
|
SUNDAY
JAN 11 |
CHIANG
MAI, THAILAND (B,L)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
For those
who would like to try their hand at Thai cooking, we'll offer a
morning class and Thai lunch at one of the local cooking
schools.
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. |
|
MONDAY
JAN 12 |
CHIANG
MAI TO CHIANG RAI, THAILAND (B,L)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
After
breakfast we’ll depart by road toward the northern city of
Thaton and we'll make a few stops along the way to explore some
of the local Thai culture.
Once we
reach Thaton, we'll enjoy lunch on the edge of the river and
then transfer to our own boat 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 to the Legend Resort.
Situated
next to the banks of the Kok 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 one-night stay by pampering
yourself with traditional Thai herbal massage treatments in the
local spa.
The rest
of the day and evening are at leisure. This evening you may wish
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.
Overnight
at the Legend Resort. |
|
TUESDAY
JAN 13 |
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.
We 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 traditional
Lao home-style buffet 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 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
JAN 14
|
PAKBENG TO LUANG PRABANG, LAOS (B,L)
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. 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 a buffet 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 UNESCO protected city of Luang Prabang.
We are met at the boat landing and transferred to the hotel
where we check in for a three-night stay.
The rest
of the afternoon is at leisure. Join us for happy hour if you
wish . Free for dinner.
Overnight
at Villa Maly |
|
THURSDAY
JAN 15 |
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.
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 walking 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. You
may also wish to visit the morning market as well, an amazing
example of a typical local Lao market full of photographic
opportunities. About 4:30 pm you may also wish to visit Wat
Phousi to view one of the best sunsets in Asia.
Free for
dinner.
Overnight
at Villa Maly |
|
FRIDAY
JAN 16 |
LUANG
PRABANG, LAOS (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
This
morning we’ll enjoy an escorted walk to a few of the most
important temples of Luang Prabang with our guide including the
famous Wat Xieng Thong - the most well-preserved wat in the city
and a magnificent example of a traditional wat.
Afterwards we'll take a leisurely drive about 45 minutes out of
town to visit the famous Kuang Si Falls and explore the beauty
of the countryside around the well-known waterfall.
We return
to the hotel in the early afternoon.
Join us
for happy hour before dinner if you wish.
Overnight
at Villa Maly |
|
SATURDAY
JAN 17 |
LUANG
PRABANG TO VIENTIANE, LAOS (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
This
morning we enjoy a guided visit to the fascinating and unique
Museum & Royal Palace, the former residence of the royal family
prior to their removal in 1975. The building is preserved as if
they had just gone out for a brief walk.
Afterwards we transfer to the airport for our flight to the
capital city of Vientiane. QV102 departs at 1220 and arrives at
1300.
Vientiane
is a small city with about 200,000 inhabitants, situated on a
sweeping bend of the Mekong River across the border from
Thailand. It became the capital of the French Protectorate of
Laos in 1899 and remains the capital of the country today.
Originally “Viang Chan”, the
French chose the romanized spelling "Vientiane" because of the
difficulty they had with pronouncing the hard "ch" syllable.
Upon
arrival we transfer to the beautiful French Colonial-styled
Settha Palace hotel, the best hotel in the city and one of our
favourite small hotels in all of Southeast Asia.
The
remainder of the afternoon and evening is free for exploring the
downtown on your own. Join us for happy hour, if you wish, on
the shore of the Mekong River.
Overnight
at the Settha Palace |
|
SUNDAY
JAN 18 |
VIENTIANE, LAOS TO HANOI, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
This
morning we invite you sleep in a bit and to relax and enjoy the
beautiful pool at the hotel.
This
afternoon we will visit a few of the important sites of
Vientiane with our guide including the beautifully-preserved Wat
Sisaket, the Ho Phra Keo museum and the impressive That Luang
stupa. We’ll do a quick photo shoot at Patuxai monument as well
if time permits prior to our departure for the airport for our
flight to Hanoi. VN840 departs at 1800 and arrives at 1900.
Upon
arrival in Hanoi this evening, we transfer to the beautiful
Sofitel Metropole hotel for check-in. The hotel is situated just
a few blocks south of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and just a block from
Hoan Kiem Lake.
Overnight
at Sofitel Metropole |
|
MONDAY
JAN 19 |
HANOI,
VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
Free
morning to explore the area around the hotel. Early birds may
wish to enjoy a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. Here hundreds of
people do their morning exercises – the older people practice
Tai Chi while others may jog or play badminton. Even later in
the morning 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
lunch.
In the
afternoon, we will be picked up at the hotel and we'll visit
Ngoc Son temple with its beautiful Chinese-style red bridge and
afterwards we'll head into the narrow streets of the old quarter
in our own cyclos (Vietnamese rickshaws) to experience the
hustle and bustle of this busy part of town. From here we head
over to the theatre for an afternoon performance of the
world-famous Water Puppets.
Free
evening.
Overnight
at Sofitel Metropole |
|
TUESDAY
JAN 20 |
HANOI,
VIETNAM (B,L,D)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
This
morning we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential
Palace and Ho’s former residence, the house on stilts. We
continue on for a quick stop at the One Pillar Pagoda then move
on to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam
and for centuries the principle center of learning. Parts of the
temple date from 1070. The temple is still actively used as a
place of worship, with many altars of burning incense and
statues of the Buddha.
At an
appropriate time we stop for lunch at Wild Rice, one of our
favourite local restaurants.
In the
afternoon we visit the wonderful Museum of Ethnology, a
collection of indoor and outdoor exhibits depicting the life and
culture of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Then we move on to Hoa
Lo Prison for a look at the 'Hanoi Hilton' where US pilots were
held during the American war.
Tonight
we have happy hour and dinner together.
Overnight
at Sofitel Metropole |
|
WEDNESDAY
JAN 21 |
HANOI
TO HOI AN, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
This
morning we transfer to Hanoi airport for our flight to Danang.
VN315 departs at 1020 and arrives at 1135.
Upon
arrival we take a short drive to the UNESCO World Heritage town
of Hoi An and check in to the hotel, a 5-star beach resort on
China Beach. We’re here for a three-night stay.
Hoi An,
with a population of about 30,000, is a former harbour town of
the Champa people at 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.
The rest
of the day and evening are free to explore parts of the town or
simply to enjoy the resort.
Join us
for happy hour if you wish.
Overnight
at the Life Resort |
|
THURSDAY
JAN 22 |
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 or simply to relax at the
resort.
Happy
hour. Evening at leisure.
Overnight
at the Life Resort |
|
FRIDAY
JAN 23 |
HOI
AN, VIETNAM (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
Another
entire day at leisure to explore the streets, markets, shops,
restaurants and bars of old Hoi An or simply to relax at the
resort.
Happy
hour. Evening at leisure. Be sure to get some sleep. We have an
early start tomorrow.
Overnight
at the Life Resort |
|
SATURDAY
JAN 24 |
HOI AN
TO PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (B)
Early
morning departure from the resort to the Danang airport to board
our flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city). VN321 departs at 0800
and arrives at 0910.
Here we
transfer to the international terminal for our connecting flight
to Phnom Penh. VN817 departs at 1225 and arrives at 1315.
Upon
arrival 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. Free for dinner.
Overnight
at Amanjaya Hotel |
|
SUNDAY
JAN 25 |
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 the more important ancient Khmer artifacts with our
guide.
Group
lunch at Friends Restaurant.
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 and knock-off watches and clandestine
CDs and DVDs of the latest audio and video hits.
Join us
for happy hour. Free for dinner.
Overnight
at the Amanjaya Hotel |
|
MONDAY
JAN 26 |
PHNOM
PENH, CAMBODIA (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel.
Morning
visit to Tuol Sleng Prison (S21), the world-famous headquarters
of the Khmer Rouge interrogators. Afterwards we visit the
world-famous Killing Fields. We'll return to the hotel area
around lunch time.
Afternoon
free.
Join us
for happy hour if you wish. Free for dinner.
Overnight
at the Amanjaya Hotel |
|
TUESDAY
JAN 27 |
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. FT992 departs at 9:35 and arrives at
10:15.
Upon arrival, transfer to
the hotel for check-in.
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.
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 time for happy hour. Evening at leisure
in Siem Reap.
Overnight
at Victoria Angkor Resort. |
|
WEDNESDAY
JAN 28 |
SIEM
REAP, CAMBODIA (B,D)
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 hotel 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.
This
evening we head for the Apsara theatre for a Cambodian dinner
and Khmer cultural show.
Overnight
at Victoria Angkor Resort. |
|
THURSDAY
JAN 29 |
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 the
unusual Vietnamese floating villages on the north shore of Tonle
Sap. On the way back to Siem Reap we’ll stop to visit a typical
and picturesque Cambodian town.
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 see the
entire silk-making process from the mulberry bush to the
finished product.
Join us
for happy hour at the FCCC if you wish.
Overnight
at Victoria Angkor Resort. |
|
FRIDAY
JAN 30 |
SIEM
REAP, CAMBODIA TO BANGKOK, THAILAND (B,D)
Breakfast
at hotel.
Transfer
to the airport for our morning flight to Bangkok. PG924 departs
at 9:50 and arrives at 10:45.
Upon
arrival, transfer to our hotel which is located in the heart of
Bangkok on famous Silom Road.
The
afternoon is free for visiting a few of Bangkok's interesting
sites on a casual basis. Your tour leader will have suggestions
and local maps and will be available to provide advice and
assistance.
Tonight
we have happy hour together at one of Bangkok’s most unusual
bars and a group farewell dinner at one of our favourite local
restaurants.
Overnight
at 222 Silom Hotel |
|
SATURDAY
JAN 31 |
BANGKOK, THAILAND (B)
Breakfast
at hotel.
Full day
free for last-minute sightseeing, shopping, packing or relaxing.
No planned activities.
Free for dinner.
Overnight
at 222 Silom Hotel |
|
SUNDAY
FEB 1 |
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. |
|