Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you're greeted by a local representative and taken to your hotel. The rest of today is free to relax or explore at your own leisure. 

Please note standard check-in time is 14:00.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

After breakfast, visit a small village which over 400 years the families in here have been making pottery. This tour will help to preserve this amazing history as it's slowly fading away with only six families still preserving these techniques. On your tour, you not only get a behind-the-scenes look at these ancient techniques but will also have an opportunity to get hands-on with the clay yourself. Our skilled pottery makers will help guide you as you experience, up close and personal, a truly Lao cultural activity. 

NOTES: Capacity: 12 people

In the evening, participate in a unique traditional Lao ceremony known as the Baci with the local community on the island. The Baci is performed in celebration of important events such as weddings, births, or for welcoming guests, and is a means of expressing goodwill and good luck to others.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

For early risers, there is a very special dawn visit to watch the monks collecting the alms. As the sun begins to rise, long lines of orange-robed monks leave their pagodas and walk barefoot down the streets collecting offerings from Luang Prabang residents.

From here, head to the stunning Kuang Si Falls, where you can enjoy breakfast and take a swim if you wish. In the afternoon visit Mandalao, one of the best and most ethical elephant experiences in the area to see these gentle giants up close. 

Returning to Luang Prabang late afternoon, you have the evening free to explore the Night Market, dine in one of the many restaurants in town or relax at the hotel. 

Overnight in Luang Prabang

This morning is free to relax or explore at your own leisure

Drive to the airport this afternoon by private transfer to catch a flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. 

On arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

Depart hotel for a walking tour to explore the famous Old Quarter, then Vietnam’s first university - the Temple of Literature, and the Museum of Ethnology. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant with authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

Water puppetry is a unique art that originated in Vietnam’s wet rice civilization. This afternoon, drive 30 minutes from your hotel to a local house situated in a small alley of Hanoi to meet with a water puppet artisan.  Sit down for a cup of tea and learn his stories about how the water puppet originated, his memorable experience traveling to different corners of the world to bring Vietnamese culture & folklores to international friends. Then join a 30-minute show seeing lion dances, buffalo fighting, rice farming, and boat racing, etc. at his private mini water puppet stage on his top house floor. After the show, get yourself in artisan’s role to handle puppets in the water or join with the artisan to make and paint the puppets.

Overnight in Hanoi

Depart Hanoi for 2-hour drive to Ninh Binh, a province known for its spectacular landscapes of rice paddies and limestone karsts. Visit the ancient Bich Dong Cave and Pagoda, a remarkable series of temples and communal houses dating back hundreds of years. Afterward, enjoy a scenic boat trip through the wetlands of the Van Long Reserve with spectacular views of its 32 stunning grottoes. This area has recently become famous as one of the filming locations for the blockbuster movie “Kong: Skull Island”.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

In the morning, leave Ninh Binh for Halong Bay, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin. 

Arrive at noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on Halong Bay.

• Distances and journey time: 3h 30minutes 
• Hanoi to Halong Bay (160km): 3hrs30mins

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Breakfast is served on board (brunch on some boats) while the cruise will tour around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning.

Then transfer back to Hanoi for a flight to Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An

Pick up at hotel and transfer/cycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake, raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables, and many other gardening activities. After that, you will take a short rest and enjoy soft foot massage before getting to preparing lunch with a local family.

A delicious farm-to-table lunch including typical local food like ‘Tam Huu’ spring roll, Banh Xeo or local pancake is prepared by an expert chef. You also can join the cooking on these meals. 

After lunch time, transfer back to your hotel in the Hoi An town.

In the afternoon, take a short walking tour to explore Hoi An town. It was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years.

Visit a local workshop and learn how to make your own miniature Hoi An lantern taught by the workshop staff. Take your unique lantern home as souvenir.

Overnight  in Hoi An

Spend today at leisure, you may wish to visit Hoi An's beach or explore the charming old town. Be sure to try some of the excellent restaurants serving cuisine that can only be found in central Vietnam.

Overnight in Hoi An

Spend the morning relaxing before your evening flight to Siem Reap, gateway to the Temples of Angkor. 

Upon arrival, your driver and guide will meet you for the drive to your hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Today explore the marvelous temple of Angkor Wat by tuk-tuk, a world heritage site featuring the most extraordinary towers and bas-reliefs that date back thousands of years ago.

In the afternoon, visit the Great City of Angkor Thom beginning at the south gate and the famous Bayon temple of the 12th and 13th centuries.

Overnight in Siem Reap 

Optional: Dinner With Apsara Dance Performance (Angkor Village Apsara Theatre)

Traditional Apsara dancing has a long history in Cambodia, dating back to the 7th century according to some stone temple carvings. In Hindu mythology, Apsaras were beautiful female creatures who descended from heaven to entertain gods and kings with their dancing. This traditional dance is meaningful in many ways as it constitutes a link between the different religions prominent in Cambodia, including Animism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Also notice symbolic and elegant finger gestures and the ornate silk costumes inspired by the wall carvings of the Angkor temples. Tonight, spend an evening at Angkor Village Apsara Theatre, the only air-conditioned theatre in town, as dancers, singers and musicians bring ancient Khmer culture to life while you enjoy the best of Cambodian cuisine.

NOTES

• Availability: Evening
• Suggested departure time: 19:30
• Tour duration: 2-3 hours
• Performance daily from 19:30 in high season and only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 19:30 in low season.

Morning breakfast at hotel then transfer to visit Tonle Sap Lake for cruising, visiting fisherman’s life, floating fishing village dot the semi-submerged forest that lines the flood plant rim of the lake, back to visit Chantier Ecole-Artisan d’Angkor, the place are in the Ministry of Education was constructed in 1992 and this place renowned woodworking, stone carving and polychrome training center and workshops. Free tour of the classes and workshops offer a glimpse into the unique skills training program, teaching young artists in the techniques and styles of classic Cambodian artistry. 

Back to Siem Reap for free at leisure. 

In the evening, attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Phare Circus works mainly with disadvantaged young people. They learn circus skills, theatre performance, music and a range of visual arts. More than simply a circus, Phare is an amazing blend of traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society.

NOTES

• Daily-nightly performance for one hour show 
• Time:  8:00pm to 9:00pm

Optional: Angkor Zipline

Nestled in the heart of the Angkorian jungle, this is truly a fun, family-style activity. On ziplines or suspended bridges, climb, slide and admire the views from the tree house at 50m (164ft) above the ground. The 3hr adventure is all about nature and wildlife with some of the best, most experienced guides in the country. Highlights of your morning include stunning views over the Angkor jungle and the possibility of spotting the only gibbon family in Angkor.

NOTES

• Availability: Morning
• Suggested departure time: 06:45
• Tour duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
• No sandals allowed
• Maximum weight: 125 kg; Minimum height: 1m (3ft 4in)

Optional: Siem Reap Balloon Ride (Join-In)

Enjoy the magnificent view of the sacred temples complex from above. Get on a tethered helium balloon and rise over 200 meters upon the sky to witness the temples gradually fall into dark under the last rays of mysterious sunset (if weather permits)

NOTES

• Suggested time: 08:00, 14:00
• Maximum 15 paxs 
• This balloon service is subject to availability due to weather condition

Optional: Khmer Countryside On Horseback

Depart from your hotel and head to The Happy Ranch, a well-established institution in town which take great care of forty horses available for riding. Visit the ranch and get to know your guide and horse. Then, for two hours, horse ride across the countryside, rural villages and rice paddies. At a slow pace, be amazed by the green scenery and welcomed by fascinated children (horses always have that effect). An experienced Cambodian or foreign instructor will join you all the way. If riding is not for you, horse carts are also available.

NOTES:

• Availability: Morning, Afternoon
• Suggested time: 08:30, 14:00 or 16:00-18:00
• Duration: 3 hours
• This activity is for all levels. Beginners can be accompanied by a guide at all times. Experienced horse riders can have a tailor-made tour. 
• As the breed of horse in Cambodia is small, to ensure the welfare of the animals a strict weight limit is enforced of 90 kilograms/200 pounds or 14 stones. For guests exceeding this weight a horse cart ride is offered as an alternative.
• The best time to experience this activity is around sunset (16:00 - 18:00) or during the rainy season where the rice paddies are greener.

Optional: Visit Artisans D'angkor Workshops 

Start by a visit of the Angkor Silk Farm. Located 20 minutes away from downtown Siem Reap, the silk farm is an extensive and well documented foundation that gives excellent insight into how silk is traditionally made in Cambodia. The farm supports vulnerable women to make a living for their families. Visit the Silk Farm and follow each step of the silk process, from growing the mulberry trees to providing the essential ingredients to grow and feed silkworms. There are craftswomen at work allowing you to observe how silk is processed traditionally. They remove the silk thread from the cocoons and work the thread prior to weaving. An on-site shop allows you to bring home some memorable souvenirs or gifts for your loved ones back home. 

Then, head to Artisans d’Angkor, back in Siem Reap. The focus is on training unschooled rural youth in traditional handicraft skills. Here you can discover traditional Cambodian handicraft skills and observe the artisans at work. Ancient techniques are still practiced such as wood and stone carving, lacquering, gilding and silk painting. A guided tour will provide you with more insight into this organization and you may direct any questions to one of the artisans through your guide. Learn about the overall operations and their goals for the future. You will also learn more about the artisans’ backgrounds and how this training has helped them to get a head start in life. Bid farewell to the artisans and return to your hotel.

NOTES:

• Availability: Morning, Afternoon
• Suggested time: 08:00, 13:30
• Duration: 4 hours

Enjoy some time at leisure until the transfer to the airport for your individual departure flight.

Our services include:

• Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room

• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)

• English or French speaking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply)

• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle

• Entrance fees for mentioned visits

• Boat trip as mentioned in the itinerary 

Our services do not include:

• Other meals than mentioned

• Other services than mentioned

• International and domestic Flights

• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature

• Tips, Travel insurance

Notes: 

• We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.