Land of Laobodia
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Overview
Time for a game of ‘Spot the best Chinglish menu item’. Look out for: Braised dork, Upland forest trees pork ribs author, Bean salad with disabilities, Pork with fresh garbage, Slippery pig red paper fish chives*
*yes these are actual menu items we’ve seen
(Was Laos & Cambodia)
Itinerary
Day 1-2 - Bangkok
If you want to be formal you can refer to Bangkok by its traditional name: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. We're sure nobody will mind if you want to keep things casual.
Day 1
- Arrive in Bangkok and get to grips with this awesome city
Day 2
- Visit some of Bangkok’s most famous sights, including the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha
- Enjoy the rest of the day to further explore the city
- Shop for bargains, eat in exotic restaurants and perhaps hit some bars or nightclubs
Day 3 - Chiang Mai
Test your haggling skills at the Night Bazaar and see who can buy the cheapest DVD. Loser buys the khao soi.
- Spend a free day exploring the northern city of Chiang Mai, with over 120 temples in the centre alone
- Visit the Tribal Research Institute and gain excellent background information on the cultures and customs of the various inhabitants of the hill regions Thailand and Laos
- Set off on an excursion to the top of Doi Suthep, with fantastic views over the city
- Perhaps get a traditional Thai massage or even partake in a cooking class
- Why not visit the Night Bazaar a great chance to practice those bargaining skills
Day 4-5 - Huay Xai - Mekong River - Pakbeng
Cruise the Mekong on a slow boat, from one sleepy village to the next. You can’t miss the colourfully dressed Hmong hill women who come down from the mountains each day.
Day 4
- Take a small boat across the Mekong River to Huay Xai, the first stop in Laos
- Enjoy time to wander around this small place and perhaps ascend the Naga stairs to Wat Jom Khao Manilat
- Perhaps visit a nearby minority village, where they make rice whiskey, noodles and handicrafts
Day 5
- Board a slow boat for a trip down the Mekong River
- Arrive in the late afternoon at Pakbeng; a colourful village situated at the junction of the Mekong River and the smaller Beng River
Day 6-7 - Luang Prabang
Sounds like the name of an Italian fashion designer. In fact, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for temples and caves.
- Continue on the private slow boat, stopping to stretch your legs and explore the Pak Ou Caves, which contain hundreds of Buddha statues
- Arrive in Luang Prabang in the evening and wander the streets of ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’
- Trek to the beautiful Kuang Si Falls
Day 8-11 - Vang Vieng - Vientiane
Wow, two villages starting with 'V'. Lots of free time to explore caves, kayak on the Nam Song River or just wander aimlessly.
Days 8-9
- Transfer to a local fan cooled bus and head toward the village of Vang Vieng, located on a bend in the Nam Song River
- Cross the river to explore the huge caves that line the West Bank
- Enjoy plenty of time to make your own discoveries or partake in an optional kayaking day trip along the Nam Song
Days 10-11
- Continue to the Lao capital, located on the banks of the Mekong River
- Arrive in Vientiane and explore this small and laid-back capital on bicycle or on foot
- Set off on a walking orientation tour takes you to the oldest remaining temple in Vientiane, Wat Si Saket
- During free time, further explore Vientiane’s other historical sites, including Haw Pha Kaew
Day 12-14 - Siem Reap - Angkor
Clear some space on your memory card, because everything at Angkor is photo-worthy. Our picks are sunset at Phnom Bakeng, the faces of Bayon and meeting the monks at Angkor Wat.
Day 12
- Drive out to the Angkor temple complex to watch the sunset from one of the structures; Phnom Bakheng, Pre Rup temple, Sras Srong, Phnom Krom or Phnom Bok
Day 13
- Take an informative day-long tour of the Angkor complex, visiting the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Baphoun, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Leper King, Ta Prohm and, of course, Angkor Wat
Day 14
- Free time to do some exploring of your own
- Optional visit to the rose-coloured Banteay Srei Temple
- Perhaps visit Banteay Srei, located about 30 kilometres north of Siem Reap - considered to be the best preserved of all of Cambodia’s temples
- Optional trip with into the countryside to discover facets of rural life with a local site guide
- Kick back in Siem Reap and just wander around the town, visiting its market, shops and restaurants
BreakfastDay 15-17 - Phnom Penh
Heaps to do here: Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng Prison, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Wat Phnom. Toast the end of your trip with a cocktail at the Foreign Correspondents' Club.
- Take a cyclo sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh to include the Royal Palace and the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison
- Join a bus to visit another reminder of the Khmer Rouge atrocities, the Choeung Ek killing fields
- Visit the Central Market, located in an old French colonial building - a good place to look for clothing or sarongs
- Enjoy the rest of the day exploring Phnom Penh city
- Perhaps stop by the Silver Pagoda, the temple of Wat Phnom, the National Museum and the French Quarter
Breakfast -
What to Know
What's Included
• Gecko’s expert English-speaking local tour guides throughout the tour, and local site guides at some sites.
• Day tour of the Angkor complex including the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Baphoun, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Leper King, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat.
• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where relevant): Bangkok, Vientiane and Phnom Penh.
• Slow boat trip down the Mekong River with a night in a simple hostel in Pakbeng and a visit to the Buddha statues at Pak Ou Caves.
• Trek to Kuang Si Falls and exploration of Vang Vieng caves.
• Free time to explore Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Huay Xai, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
• Local flight from Vientiane to Siem Reap.
• Overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Not Included
- International flights, arrival and departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price 29 May 2013 - 14 Jun 2013 1 Request US $1,920 Book Now 12 Jun 2013 - 28 Jun 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 10 Jul 2013 - 26 Jul 2013 1 Available US $1,720 Book Now 04 Sep 2013 - 20 Sep 2013 6 Available US $1,920 Book Now 02 Oct 2013 - 18 Oct 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 16 Oct 2013 - 01 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 30 Oct 2013 - 15 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 13 Nov 2013 - 29 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 27 Nov 2013 - 13 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 11 Dec 2013 - 27 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 25 Dec 2013 - 10 Jan 2014 3 Available US $1,920 Book Now 01 Jan 2014 - 17 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 15 Jan 2014 - 31 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 22 Jan 2014 - 07 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 05 Feb 2014 - 21 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 19 Feb 2014 - 07 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 05 Mar 2014 - 21 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 19 Mar 2014 - 04 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 02 Apr 2014 - 18 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 09 Apr 2014 - 25 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 16 Apr 2014 - 02 May 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 23 Apr 2014 - 09 May 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 30 Apr 2014 - 16 May 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 21 May 2014 - 06 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now 18 Jun 2014 - 04 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $1,920 Book Now -
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