Thailand & Laos & Cambodia Through Border

Welcome to Chiang Rai, transfer to your hotel for check in. Rest of the day at your leisure.

Morning, have breakfast at hotel then transfer to visit Doi Tung (The Flag Mountain) known by locals as Thailand’s Switzerland.  Visit the Doi Tung Royal Villa, the former residence of the Princess Mother (Mother of the present king) and houses a museum and displaying her work to improve the life quality of local tribal people. Continue to Mae Fah Luang Gardens, a botanical park located on the slopes below the royal villa. Flowers and plants grow among rock formations. Depart to Chiang Khong for overnight.

After passing through immigration, you will cross the Mekong River to Houei Sai in Laos where your guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board a traditional boat for the trip down the river. The scenery along this part of the Mekong is arguably at its most beautiful. En route, you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, you visit local market; experience daily lifestyle of colorful hill tribe traders exchanges their goods. Overnight in Pakbeng.

Today, you will continue sail downriver past areas of evergreen forest with small villages along the banks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You will also visit a fishing village and a rice wine making village, taste some Lao rice wine. Next stop is Pak Ou Caves noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of small wooden Buddhist figures are laid out over the wall shelves. They take many different positions like meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining. Arrive in Luang Prabang late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel for check in.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron‐clad monks collecting offerings of alms from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

After breakfast, we visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts.  Our next stop is the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We will also take a look at the Traditional Art & Ethnology Center to learn about the diversity of Lao ethnic groups. We then visit Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddha.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit some local villages of ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

On the way back, stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesday), one of the must‐visit spots. Return to Luang Prabang, ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and Mekong River.

After breakfast, our car and guide will pick you up at hotel for a drive to the Elephant Village, an elephant sanctuary focus on protection and rehabilitation of elephants in Laos. Here, you will take a 30-minute elephant ride on the Howdah (Elephant seat), follow with a return boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall and spend some time to cool off in the clear water. Have lunch at the Elephant Village Restaurant (Buffet lunch served with coffee or tea and drinking water). Back to your hotel at 1.00 or 2.00 PM. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

In the morning, you will take the short flight to Vientiane QV112 LPQ VTE 07:40 08:30. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour to discover the hidden charms of this capital city. Located on the banks of the Mekong, Vientiane delivers a relaxing riverside break with a mix of French colonial architecture and Buddhist temples.

Begin your day at COPE (Cooperative Orthotic & Prosthetic Enterprise), an association working to help landmine victims. A visit to the center provides in-depth information about the history of the Vietnam War and the lasting impact of unexploded ordinances (UXO) in the area as well as the efforts underway to clear them.

Afternoon, continue to the Patuxay monument, Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe, where you can climb the stairs to the roof for sweeping panoramic views of the city. Next stop is That Luang, a national symbol (its image is on Laos’ official seal) and also the most sacred monument in the country. It was originally built in the 3th century to house a breastbone of the Lord Buddha brought to Laos by an Indian missionary. However, the current structure was built by King Setthathirat in 1566 on the site of a 13th century Khmer ruin.

Head to the banks of the Mekong River for a stroll around and enjoy some drink and snack. Then have a short visit to Talad Kuadin market before visit Wat Si Muang, which is very famous for its supernatural power. A spectacular view over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Free at leisure before taking a flight QV303 VTE PKZ 10:45 12:00 to Pakse, the biggest city of the Southern Laos. Upon arrival, transfer to the Bolaven Plateau, known for its cool temperature thanks to its location high above the Mekong Valley. Stop at a tea plantation, followed by a brief visit to Tad Fan Waterfall, a picturesque twin chute waterfall. Last stop is at a coffee plantation. Overnight at Sinouk Coffee Resort.

We leave Bolaven Plateau and enjoy a leisurely trip to the former royal capital of Champasak, our base for exploring the ruins of Wat Phu, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. This wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 9th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A festival of this site is held yearly during the full moon in February and attracts numerous pilgrims from all over southern Laos. We then drive further south to Don Khong, in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos. Overnight in Don Khong.

Heading out of town, embark on a long tail boat for venturing into the widest reach of the Mekong River, in the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area a lovely name “Si Phan Don”. We explore the local peaceful villages of Ban Khone featuring an array of relics from the French colonial era including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with its locomotive. We continue to discover the 4000 islands area by tuktuk and visit the marvelous Liphi waterfall, also called the "Corridor of the Devil", one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking Lao border with Cambodia. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone. Overnight in Done Khone Island

In the morning, we will take a long‐tail boat to Ban Nakasang, from there drive south to visit Khone Phapheng, which is considered the largest waterfall by volume in Southeast Asia, set within an area teems with wildlife, creating a breathtaking scenery. We then cross the border to Cambodia at Dom Kralor. Arrival in Dom Kralor Boarder, welcome by our guide then transfer by car about 6 hours to Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast at hotel, take a full-day tour exploring the famous wonder of Angkor Thom. Start from the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (built in 12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon, continue to explore 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. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Today, you will travel out of the city to the countryside where you can spot water buffalos in swampy ponds, kids in school uniforms on their bicycles and oxcarts. Visit a silk farm to see the entire process of silk making from growing and harvesting mulberry as food for the silk worms, the breeding process and life cycle of the silk worm to the spinning the silk, the dying process. Enjoy a delicious lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon, visit the floating village of Chong Khneas located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake or Great Lake, one of the largest lakes in Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. See local life on waters with floating schools, floating police station, and so on. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and current. And then visit “Les Artisans d’ Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Today, our car will pick you up for a drive to Phnom Penh through the National Number 6 (314 Km). On the way we stop to visit at Sambor Prei Kuk and Skun Village. Lunch at local restaurant

Arrive in Phnom Penh, transfer to the hotel for check in and refreshment. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Start a full-day tour in Phnom Penh. First stop is Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school was turned into a prison by the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975. Next, visit Cheung Ek better known as the Killing Fields. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit Royal Palace built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor 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. Continue to the nearby National Museum. Built in 1917 it is an exceptional example of traditional architecture and is exclusively devoted to preserving and displaying Khmer art and sculptures, hundreds of pieces are housed here including both pre‐ and post‐Angkor Ian pieces.  Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Free at leisure until transfer to Phnom Penh international Airport for departure flight.