Cambodia - Vietnam Tour 13 days: Angkor to Central Highland

Morning arrive at Siem Reap airport and transfer to the hotel, visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.  Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.  Lunch at local restaurant. Visit the South Gate , the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight in Siem Reap
 

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Overnight in Siem Reap. 
 

Morning after breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap, pick up and transfer to hotel in Phnom Penh. Afternoon, visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures â€“ from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel and drive to Kratie via Kompong Cham. Lunch at local restaurant. Arrival in Kratie and check in at hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of this small provincial town with its good examples of sumptuous colonial architecture. This tiny town on the Mekong is an unexpected delight, with a relaxing, indolent atmosphere. Further north stop at the best riverside vantage point from which to view the rare freshwater Irrawady dolphins which can be best seen late afternoon. Then, drive back to Kratie. Overnight in Kratie.

Morning time- we drive to Ban Lung, the capital of Ratanakiri, nicknamed the Red City because of the omnipresent laterite. Transfer to Terres Rouges Lodge (superb house built of precious wood, located by a lake, in the middle of a wonderful garden) for a quick check in and then continues for a small trip through rubber plantations towards the nearby waterfalls, we end up with a detour to Yaklaom lake, a beautiful and perfectly-round stretch of water, surrounded by forest, for a late afternoon swim. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge in Ban Lung

Leaving in jeep on a bumpy road to the discovery of the surrounding waterfalls. Teuk Cha Ong is the most impressive of them. Then direction northwest today, we cross bamboo forests before reaching the village of Voeune Sai located on the left bank of the SeSan river; the view on the Chinese village on the other side of the river is quite pretty. Besides, this place is nearly a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory, most villagers are the thirties, don't even speak Khmer. Upstream of the Se San are a certain number of Tampoun villages that practice funeral statuar.. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge in Ban Lung

Morning after breakfast and departure for O Yadao border gate, the visa beforehand must be requested for crossing border gate to enter Vienam. Once you are in Le Thanh, Vietnam side. Our Vietnamese guide will pick you up and transfer to Pleiku around 2 hours. Arrival in Pleiku. Afternoon, drive to visit the villages Dektu and Deron (36 Km). Return to Pleiku city in the late afternoon. Overnight in Pleiku. 

After breakfast we leave for Buon Ma Thuot (230 Km) and visit the Draysap waterfall en route, followed by lunch. We will continue to Lak Lake and then have an elephant ride before we enjoy a dugout canoe ride at Lak Lake. Then on to Jun, home to M'nong people. Dinner and overnight in Long house at Lak Lake.

Morning after breakfast, departure for Nha Trang, stop at Buon Me Thuot for a short visit of the Ethnographic Museum, which is housed in a Palace of former king Bao Dai. Then we take the scenic road towards the coastal plains to Nha Trang with a short stopover at Po Nagar Cham Towers, built between the 7th and 12th centuries. Check in hotel. Time free. Overnight in Nha Trang.
 

Morning depart for an excursion out to the bay of Nhatrang, one of 28 best bays in the world. Our first stop is at Mun Island, one of the reserved islands in the area. You can spend time for swimming, snorkeling or take a ride on the glass-bottom boat to explore the beautiful underwater life. Nha Trang is the best place in Vietnam for coral, different species of sea creature and crystal blue water. Then we will have lunch on Tam Island, relax on the beach or experience some water sports like parasailing, canoeing, jet-ski…. On the way back, we visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium where you can see some sea creatures you might have not known before take a walk over fishing village on Mieu Island. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Morning transfert to airport for the flight to Saigon. Afternoon we pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the WarRemnant Museum, Ben Thanh Market.  Overnight Saigon.
 

There will be a transfer to airport for your flight home today. End of the service.