Day 1 – To Luang Prabang: Fly from London
Gatwick to Luang Prabang, via Hanoi with
Vietnam Airlines. (N)
Day 2 – Luang Prabang: Arrive and transfer
to the Villa Maly for 4 nights. Luang Prabang,
a world heritage site with 32 golden temples,
is the best-preserved town in south-east Asia.
Afternoon at leisure. Evening introductory
lecture and welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3 – Luang Prabang: Temple tour,
including Wat Mai, Wat Visoun and Wat
Xieng Thong, seeing fine secular architecture
and French colonial buildings along the way.
Continue to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology
Centre for a special visit, introduced by the
centre’s curator. This evening, enjoy a traditional
baci welcome ceremony at a 115-year-old
Unesco-listed historic residence. (B)
Day 4 – Pak Ou: Cruise on the Mekong
river to the Pak Ou caves, filled with
buddha images. Have lunch in a wooden
cottage overlooking the river before visiting
a picturesque village to see silk weaving,
sericulture and mulberry paper production. Late afternoon at leisure, with a chance to visit
Mount Phousi at sunset. (B, L)
Day 5 – Luang Prabang: Morning visit to the
National Museum, formerly the Royal Palace, a
blend of Lao and French architecture and home
to a collection of regalia. Afternoon at leisure
with an opportunity to visit other temples and
look at murals and iconography. (B)
Day 6 – To Vientiane: Fly to Vientiane and
transfer to the Green Park Hotel for 2 nights.
Visit Wat Sisaket, Wat Phra Ko, Patuxai
Monument and, time permitting, That Luang,
the national symbol of Laos. (B)
Day 7 – Vientiane: Continued city visits
followed by a visit to silk-weaver Carol
Cassidy’s Lao Textiles Gallery, finishing at
Talat Sao market. Optional afternoon visit to
the National Museum in Vientiane. (B)
Day 8 – To Angkor: Fly to Siem Reap and
stay 4 nights at the Victoria Hotel. Afternoon
introductory lecture followed by a visit to Ta
Prohm, a romantic temple enveloped in jungle.
(B)
Day 9 – Angkor: Morning visit to the early
Roluos group of temples: Preah Ko, Bakong
and Lolei, the oldest temples in Angkor.
Afternoon visit to Angkor Wat. Stay until
sunset to admire the bas-reliefs of the Hindu
epics. (B)
Day 10 – Angkor: Morning at Angkor Wat.
Afternoon visit to Angkor Thom, the Bayon,
Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the
Leper King. (B)
Day 11 – Angkor: Morning visit to the
fairytale red sandstone temple of Banteay Srei,
followed by Banteay Samre. On the return
journey, pass through local villages en route
to a private dance foundation where a special
display has been arranged. Afternoon at leisure
with optional excursions to other, less visited,
temples. Enjoy an exclusive farewell dinner
with authentic Khmer food and traditional
dance. (B, D)
Day 12 – Angkor: Day at leisure to relax
and explore local markets. Optional visits to
the Angkor National Museum and further
temples. Late afternoon transfer to Siem Reap
airport. Fly to London, via Ho Chi Minh City
(Saigon), with Vietnam Airlines (B)
Day 13 – To London: Early morning arrival at
London Gatwick. (N)
Extensions: If you wish to extend your stay to
discover more of what Indochina has to o® er,
please contact us for details.
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
