Laos Cambodia Tour 12 Days: A Culture Heritage Expedition

Arrival at Luang Prabang international airport, get transferred to your hotel. Check-in time at hotel is between 13h30-14h00. Time for resting at hotel.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang 

Meals               : NA

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. Enjoy your UNESCO morning walk to understand insight of this charming town then back to hotel for breakfast.

Then go up Phousi Mount. The hill is popular as a place to watch the sunrise over the Mekong River. From the summit, you can enjoy a spectacular 360 degrees outlook across the city and its many temples, and out over the surrounding landscape to the mountains in the distance.

This morning, visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Aham.

Visit Wat Xieng Thong further emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic here. The gilt panel on the exterior of the chapel depicts semi-erotic episodes from the Ramayana.

This afternoon, visit the National Museum, explore the city’s fascinating array of shimmering temples and French colonial buildings.

Then explore Wat May built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden Sim (chapel) epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang 

Meals               : Breakfast

After breakfast, your private guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and then drive to the ethnic Khmu village of Ban Long Lao. You will be able to observe the lifestyles of these two culturally very different minority groups and see how despite their differences they manage to work together on a day-to-day basis and even sharing the same school.

As we continue onwards the trail leads through rice paddy and vegetable fields before reaching the mountainous forest. Afterward, your trekking brings you to one of the many springs which feed Kuang Si waterfalls, a beautiful pool full of sacred fish can be seen here.

You also can visit the bear conservation center which is located nearby and home to many bears which have been rescued from illegal farms. Return to Luang Prabang and stop at a nearby Khmu village of Ban Thapene.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang 

Meals               : Breakfast

Notes:

1. This tour includes elephant bathing

2. Itineraries are subject to change based on seasonal conditions.

3. In case that the water level of Tad Sae falls is too low during dry season, we offer you to relax and swim in our beautiful Shangri Lao swimming pool.

Itinerary:

8:00 am – 8:30 am: Pick up by our English-speaking guide and Elephant camp driver from your hotel lobby

Arrive at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by your guide and participate in a short briefing about elephants

Elephant Feeding: Get up close and personal with elephants

Explore Elephant Village: Visit elephant hospital, museum, photo gallery and dung paper making area

Learn to communicate with elephant: Enjoy the impressive experience of being a mahout and how they communicate with the elephants.

Bathe the Elephant: Take the elephants down to the Nam Khan River for an exhilarating bathing experience!

Trek along the Trail of Falls: Enjoy a 2 km trek along our exclusive Trail of Falls through

Lunch: Dine in the forest surroundings with a picnic box lunch prepared just for you at our camp restaurant (vegetarian options available).

Continue of the Trail of Falls: Enjoy another 1 km trek on foot along the Trail of Falls, which follows a beautiful stream leading up to Tad Sae Waterfall.

Tad Sae Waterfall: Arrive at Tad Sae Waterfall and relax, dip your feet or take a swim in the clear, cool water

Boat trip back from Tad Sae Waterfall: Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sae Waterfall

Depart: Transfer back to your hotel in Luang Prabang between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Dinner on your own. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang 

Meals               : Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast is served at the hotel. We start this morning for the drive to Vang Vieng. Take your time to contemplate the authentic nature of Laos on the way getting to Vang Vieng town. Stop at some high view-points to enjoy the beauty of the tropical forest.

We arrive at Vang Vieng, descending the Nam Song by boat leads us through idyllic scenes of rural life: a unique sight with the limestone mountains in the background.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Vang Vieng  

Meals               : Breakfast

Transfer to visit the Tham Phoukam cave and Blue Lagoon. Continue to visit the Hmong village Ban Nasom. Then heading to Tam Jang cave 172 steps where you can see the spectacular views of the city and the landscape.

Then transfer to Vientiane, about 2-2h30mins. Arrival and check in hotel for resting.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Vientiane  

Meals               : Breakfast

This morning, we start our city tour by visiting the oldest Wat Sisaket which houses thousands of tiny Buddha images and row after row of seated Buddhas.

Our next destination is Haw Phra Kaew, the royal temple that once enshrined the Emerald Buddha. Today it is a museum where there resides a tremendous collection of religious art.

Vientiane’s own Victory Monument, which looks like the Arc de Triumph. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. 

Then it is the golden Pha That Luang - the most important national monument in Laos - a symbol of Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty.

In the afternoon, transfer to the amazing Buddha Park (also called Wat Xieng Khouane) which is definitely worth a visit during your tour to the capital of a million elephants.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Vientiane  

Meals               : Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. Time at leisure until the transfer without guide to airport for the departure flight. Arrival in Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, collect your luggage after clearing customs and immigration. Walk to the terminal where you will find your English speaking guide holding a welcome signboard with your name on it.

Transfer to your hotel for check-in or luggage drop-off. Regular hotel check-in time is from 2pm and early check-in is subject to room availability.

Start your visit to the Angkor National Museum. Opened its door in 2007, this museum offers a comprehensive collection of Cambodian artifacts showcasing the origins of Khmer art, culture, and architecture. With eight galleries in total, it covers in depth the history of Cambodia and the Khmer Empire as well as a fascinating collection of Buddhist artifacts. Next, visit the handicraft centre of Artisans D’ Angkor. Founded in 1992, this organization creates job opportunities for young people from the rural areas while reviving traditional Khmer craftsmanship. Ancient techniques are still practiced here such as wood and stone carving, lacquering, gilding and silk painting.

Return to the hotel for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Siem Reap  

Meals               : Breakfast

Beat the crowd early morning by 7 am, visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat - one of the world’s most impressive ruins.  The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.

Lunch at the local restaurant (own account).

Afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal city of Angkor Thom. Visit its centerpiece of Bayon with 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance, it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic, silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit the surroundings of the complex including the Baphoun, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace, and Royal Place area.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Seim Reap 

Meals               : Breakfast

Our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel in Siem Reap and drive to visit the jewel of Khmer art, Banteay Srei temple, located one hour from Siem Reap. This red sandstone temple is one of Angkor’s most significant structures as its walls are decorated with elaborate carvings in an amazing state of preservation. On the way back to the Angkor area we will stop to visit the sugar palm village to see the locals making sugar palm and palm leaf weaving. Lunch on your own account, and then we visit to Preah Kahn temple, situated on the Grand Circuit and often neglected by tourists, allowing you to take in the secluded atmosphere. Built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII to commemorate his father, it is said that it once housed over 100,000 officials and servants and continues to Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, and Pre Rup temples.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Siem Reap  

Meals               : Breakfast

Located 65km from Siem Reap, it is a pleasant 1.5-hour drive through the Cambodian countryside to reach the sprawling jungle temple of Beng Mealea. Constructed in a distinctly Angkor Wat style by King Suyavarman II in the early 12th century, Beng Mealea preceded and may have served as a prototype for Angkor Wat. Today the temple is largely overrun by vegetation and the stone walls are crumbling which adds to its charm in a unique way. Accessibility has improved as elevated walkways have been set up throughout most of the temple, although to see all corners does require a sense of adventure as you will need to climb over stone blocks or walk through narrow passageways

Lunch on your own account.

Transfer back to the hotel for relaxation.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Siem Reap  

Meals               : Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. Free time until taken to the airport for your departure flight.

Accommodation : NA 

Meals               : Breakfast