Uncover Indochina

A visit to the Royal Grand Palace, the nation’s landmark and most praised royal monument in Thailand, with the enclosed and dazzling Wat Phra Keo with its revered Emerald Buddha, the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings and the Eight Coloured Towers, is a must. In Thailand by many, it is considered to be a living example of classical Siamese Court, being the former residence of the kings of Thailand.

Wat Pho is also regarded as the first centre of public education and is sometimes called ‘Thailand’s first university’. Mural paintings, inscriptions, and statues found in the temple-educated people on varied subjects such as literature, warfare, archaeology, astronomy, geology, meditation and to be considered, home of the Thai traditional massage.

Experience an afternoon trip along the bustling Chao Phya River and the quiet KLONGS (CANALS) in a long tail boat enjoy scenes of life by water. We bring you to a more traditional way of living, more serene and traditional, away from all the high-rise and modern buildings of Bangkok City Centre, as we gently pass Thonburi residential areas. A stop will be made at the “TEMPLE OF DAWN” (officially named Wat Arun). Return to hotel and free at leisure.

After breakfast, take flight to the north of Thailand – that is Chiang Mai. Arrive in Chiang Mai, meet the tour guide and then transfer to the hotel for check-in. Have lunch (on your own).

In the afternoon, transfer to visit Doi Suthep Temple which is one of the most sacred temples in Chiang Mai – Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Located on hilltop in Northern – Thai style and containing holy relic of Lord Buddha and enjoy seeing panoramic view of the whole city. Return to the hotel and relax on own.

After breakfast, transfer to Karen Hill Village in Baan Thong Luang. You’ll have time to explore the village of Baan Thong Luang. You’ll have ample time to explore the village of this hill tribe, which migrated from Myanmar (Burma) and retains its cultural traditions and customs, including the brass rings the women wear around their necks as a sign of tribal and individual identity. Your guide will tell you about the hill tribe’s subsistence farming and point out their unique crafts, including beautifully woven textiles.

Have lunch (on your own) in a local restaurant. Then, transfer to Maesa Elephant Camp. One of the most delightful experiences for most tourists to Thailand is their experience riding in a safe howdah on the back of an elephant. Riding on the elephant through the lush tropical jungle of Chiang Mai’s Maesa Valley. Return to hotel and free at leisure.

After breakfast at hotel, have some time on your own before we depart Chiang Rai and stop at the hot spring for relax. Continue driving through the countryside, passing rice paddy fields & mountains. Visit a unique White Temple built by one of the best national artist. Have lunch (on your own) in a local restaurant on the way. Then, transfer to hotel for check-in and free at leisure.

After breakfast, go to visit the botanical garden at Doi Tung and the Royal Palace. The Doi Tung project was initiated by King Bumiphol’s mother to encourage tribal people to reduce their dependence on opium as a source of livelihood. The crop replacement project introduced new types of agricultural crops such as Arabica coffee and Macadamia nuts.

Have lunch (on your own) in a local restaurant on the way. Then, go to visit the Golden Triangle in Chiang Sean, where the three borders of Myanmar-Laos-Thailand are met. We take long tail boat to Laos side and see hill top viewpoint, marvel at the splendor of the mighty Mekong joining with the Ruak and forming the actual “Triangle” with Laos Burma and Thailand. Return to hotel and free at leisure.

Early morning at 6:00 am, we depart for Houeisay border (through border of Thailand and Laos) in Chiang Khong. After take visa to Laos and clear custom procedure, meet our Laos tour guide and transfer to Houeisay pier to embark the cruise at 9:00 am. Boat trip starts at 9:30 am for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route one stop is made to observe the rural life of the river tribes at Ban Gon Durn (Tai Leu) weaving village along the Mekong. A buffet lunch is served on board. The boat arrives at Pakbeng before sunset for overnight stay.

A continental breakfast is served at the terrace. Your first stop is at Ban Baw to observe the making of the traditional rice alcohol. A buffet lunch is served on board. The boat stops again opposite the mouth of the Nam Ou River to visit Pak Ou caves where there are two caves ‘Tham Ting’ and ‘Tham Phoum’ and thousands of Buddha images are found. The boat arrives in Luang Prabang (a UNESCO world heritage city) before sunset.

Wake up early before dawn (around 5:00 am) to catch up with traditional Alms Giving Ceremony. The unique and must-see activities in Laos.

In the early hours of the morning each day, as the sun is rising, the local Buddhist monks pad softly around the streets barefoot in single file, accepting gifts from the locals. All around the town, locals kneel down on the street, offering the monks gifts of rice, fresh fruit and sweets to contribute to their one meal of the day. Back to hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, we take the route No. 13th south of Luang Prabang, after 30 minutes we arrive at Ban Ansavanh where we cruise the Khan River in a long tail motor boat for about 10 minutes . On the way you will experience authentic Lao life style with villagers fishing and growing vegetables along the way we arrive at stunningly beautiful Tad Sae waterfall, where you will ride the majestic elephant through the waterfall area surrounded by beautiful scenery for about 30 minutes. Afterwards you can spend your time swimming and relaxing in the gorgeous natural pools until it is time to return back to Luang Prabang and continue to visit Wat Visoun. The 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts: Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana – Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple which, more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; From there, we explore Street Night Bazaar, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, before we take a drive (30 km South) to visit Kuangsi Waterfall, which, though not very high, is spectacular and really beautiful with its green surroundings as the preserved National park. We stop en-route, stop to visit a fresh produced market namely Talad Phosy, and also visit Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe group “Hmong”, probably the best-known minority group in Laos.

Just before arriving at Kuangsi waterfall, there is another village of Khmu minority group, namely Ban Tha Pane that we will visit. Our picnic lunch is served at the shady park nearby Kuangsi waterfall. There is plenty of time for relaxing and a swim in cool water, before we head back to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is spent by visiting various craft-shops, including silver smiths’ and also Hmong market in town, where some skilled embroidery-works of H’mong ladies can be seen.

After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for a flight to Pakse, the capital and the most populous city in the southern part of Laos. Upon arrival, you’re greeted by our guide and start excursion by road (known as the old coffee road ) toward Tat Lo, stop over at 35 km to visit the famous Tat Fan Waterfall, Tat Yeuang, and ethnic villages in the surrounding countryside.

Take a morning drive to Champassak to visit Wat Phou (Khmer ruins dated back 11th century and the second most important site after Angkhor) then take a drive toward Khong Island in the heart of the Mekong delta. Visit on the way the beautiful Phasouay waterfall and local villages such Alak, Katou.,etc. then continue our trip to Khong Island.

After early breakfast, catch the boat for an hour trip to Done Khone zig-zaging between the small islands of the Mekong Delta. Visit the famous Li Phi (Devil’s Corridor). If you are lucky you can observe the famous Irriwady fresh water dolphins (around 06:00-09:00 am or 16:00-18:00 pm ) and the remnants of the French colonial area (old pier, stream rail way, former French hospital buildings and La Messagerie Maritime Office) then catch the ferry boat to Ban Nakasang village and take a drive to visit Khon Phapheng (The Niagara of Asia).

After breakfast, you will be transferred by boat and road to Voeung Kam/Dom Kralor for border-crossing to Cambodia. You will get your Cambodian visa at the border gate and cross to the Cambodia side. Our Cambodian guide will greet you and take a 6 hours drive to Siem Reap along National Highway 64, passing through rustic villages and small towns along the way. Arrive in Siem Reap late afternoon, check in your hotel for refreshment and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel: Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature.

This morning, you will depart by boat to Battambang Province, the major rice grange in Cambodia. Since you will start this early morning trip at 6:00 AM, you will enjoy sunrise and sounds of awakened animals. This is the tour by boat with visit of floating fishermen’s villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia. Whole day you will dedicate to flora and fauna, an observation of birds in the Bird Sanctuary, the largest ornithological reserve of South East Asia. Picnic or lunch in local restaurant is provided. Return to Siem Reap.

Day at leisure until to transfer to the airport to take flight back to your country.