Cambodia Laos Tour 11 days: Cultural Expedition

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, meet and transfer by the local guide to the hotel for check-in (Early check-in is NOT included and is subject to the hotel’s availability).

Welcome to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is a sleepy backwater serving as a gateway to the ancient capital of Angkor. It is hard to believe that at its peak in the 12th century, this was one of the most advanced civilizations in the world and home to more than 1 million inhabitants

Take a Siem Reap Orientation Tour, starting with Preah Ang Check Preah Ang Chom which is the biggest local shrine in the city center. Locals throng here to pray for luck, especially newlyweds, and it is an atmospheric place to visit in the late morning or late afternoon, as the incense smoke swirls around. Then we continue to walk along the Siem Reap riverside to visit the Wat Preah Prom Rath, it is a functioning Buddhist monastery featuring a typical Khmer-style pagoda, a courtyard with statues depicting different Buddhist beliefs, and a hall surrounded by hand-painted picture walls containing a giant statue of seated Buddha and a reclining Buddha. Return to hotel for refreshment

Late afternoon, our guide and driver will meet you again to take you on to walk through the street foot hall where all the locals come for a picnic and drinks after work. You are invited to taste some snacks, drinks, and fruits as much as you can before we go to one of the local restaurants for dinner along with the Khmer Classic Live Band (black forest).

Meals included: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Start to tour to visit Angkor Wat Temple, one of the modern wonders of the world. Be amazed by the sheer size of the temple and learn how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th centuries, around the time when Angkor Wat was built. Stroll through the intricately carved hallways that show hundreds of fine carvings and discover small shrines still in use today by the local people. And then, continue to the picturesque Ta Prohm. This beautiful temple is overgrown with fig trees, giving a haunting yet exotic atmosphere. The magnificent roots of the trees have merged over the centuries with the temple’s huge stone blocks, emphasizing a ‘forgotten city’ feeling. Return to hotel for relaxation

Lunch at the local restaurant

After lunch, we will visit Angkor Thom, the ancient royal city of the Khmer Empire with its centerpiece; the Bayon temple. As you approach, you will notice the enigmatic faces of former King Jayavarman VII looking in every direction. Your guide will take you to the Terrace of the Elephants, which served as a platform from where the King could welcome back his victorious army, and the Terrace of the Leper King, which holds detailed carvings winding along a narrow passageway that leads to the Baphuon complex. Next, we drive to West Baray to get the nicest spot to view the sunset over this manmade lake, and enjoy the snacks and drinks (local beers and snacks) while the sunset is setting down.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel.

Check-out from the hotel, our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive about 45 minutes to the countryside, stopping en route to visit a local village. Arrive at the quay and board a local boat for a 1.5-hour ride on the Tonle Sap Lake (Kampong Phluk Stilt House Village), also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia. Find out how communities live and work on the lake; see the schools, markets, pagodas, and police stations, among others; and observe their daily lives. Ride the boat back to the pier and proceed to Phnom Penh, we will stop for lunch at the local restaurant on the way, also making a few more stops to visit the ancient bridge and spider market. On arrival at Phnom Penh Hotel, check-in and free at leisure. Meet the local guide in Phnom Penh, he/she will ride you by tuk-tuk to discover Phnom Penh after dark through the riverfront where the walking area is, and the main road of Norodom Boulevard (Around the Independent Monument) before having dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

After breakfast at the hotel, visits Toul Sleng, which was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era, and today it is a genocide museum. It tells the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. Walking through the narrow corridors and former classrooms of the buildings will give you an eerie feeling of being part of Cambodia’s turbulent past. The stories of the victims are documented and some torture devices are on display for visitors to learn about the suffering the people endured. Photographs were taken of each prisoner passing through the prison and hundreds of the haunting black and white photos are now on display in the museum. While this experience may be depressing, it is recommended to visit in order to truly understand the cruel methods of control the Khmer Rouge implemented over the country, and visit the Russian Market. Enjoy the buffet lunch at Tonle Basak Restaurant, or the Khmer Set Menu at another local restaurant, or walk the central market and eat as locals in the foot hall area (you can taste any kind of food, fruits, drinks, and snacks as your lunch).

Afternoon, visit The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda two of the most striking buildings in the capital and are considered some of the finest examples of Khmer architecture. They were initially constructed in 1866 by the French. The Royal Palace is home to the current King Sihamoni. The neighboring Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The floor consists of 5,329 solid silver tiles to which the building owes its name. The building houses many golds and jeweled Buddha statues including the highly prized 17th-century baccarat crystal Buddha. Other important buildings that can be found within the compound include Wat Preah Keo Morokat, where Royal ceremonies are performed, and stupas such as King Ang Doung Stupa – the burial site of former King Norodom.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until transfer to the airport for your next flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, get transfer to hotel in Vientiane.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accomodation: Hotel in Vientiane

This morning, transfer to visit Tam Jang cave 172 steps where you can see the spectacular views of the city and the landscape.

Next, visit Tham Nangfa cave, considered a big cave that massive eerily lit up with gel spotlights that filling by the huge limestone formations and has spectacular stalactites in various unique formations, whether in Buddha, kitchen, or animals, and so forth. The head to Vang Vieng for your overnight.

Meals on your own.  Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accomodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng

In the morning, descending the Nam Song by boat leads us through idyllic scenes of rural life: a unique sight with the limestone mountains in the background.

And then drive to Luang Prabang, drive passes through splendid scenery and past many panoramic lookout points on the winding mountaintop road.  There are several stops en route to take photos in the scenery.  

Meals included: Breakfast

Accomodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.

This morning, depart to visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao.  Continue to visit Wat Aham. Then, visit to the most photographed temple, Vat Xiengthong. Located at the end of peninsular closed to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River.

This afternoon, continue to former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

This morning, drive to Nong Khiaw. Stop to visit Nam Bak market and Ban Nayang village. Arrival in Nong Khiaw. Lunch on your own. Then embark on long tail boat for a relaxing cruise (~1h40mns) on Nam Ou river to Ban Sojam village where you learn about local life and culture. Then continue your cruise to Muong Ngoy.  Arrival and check-in guesthouse in Muong Ngoy.

Meals on your own. Overnight in guesthouse (Simple comfort)

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Guesthouse in Muang Ngoy

After breakfast, embarking on boat to cruise back Nong Khiew. On the way, stop to visit an authentic village Houi Hoy, located on the bank of Nam Ou river.

Drive from Nong Khiew to Luang Prabang. On the way, wisit Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In these 2 caves are displayed hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities around mid-April. Heading to Luang Prabang by van. Arrive and check in hotel in Luang Prabang.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Free time until your transfer by our driver to the airport for your international flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: None