Bamboo Travel

• Day 1

  Fly from London Heathrow to Siem Reap, via Bangkok, Thai Airways & Bangkok Airways.

  

  Flight: TG911 London Heathrow - Bangkok 11.50 - 06.10 (overnight)

• Day 2

  Bangkok - Siem Reap

  

  Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport you will be welcomed to Cambodia by your private English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 3 nights at the HanumanAlaya Boutique Hotel (Superior Room).

  

  Afternoon guided tour of the temples at Angkor: This afternoon you will visit the jungle temples of Preah Khan, Neak Pean and Ta Prohm. Here you will see huge Banyan trees which have grown on top of the temples and whose roots are now intertwined with the ancient brickwork. Later you will view the sunset from Pre Rup Temple, returning to Siem Reap early evening.

• Day 3

  Siem Reap - Angkor - Tonle Sap - Siem Reap

  

  Morning guided tour of the temples at Angkor: After breakfast your guide will collect you from the hotel and you will drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor. Start your visit at the South Gate of Angkor Thom. After this you will see the enigmatic faces cast in stone at the Bayon. From here you will see some of the other famous ruins in the area such as the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant.

  

  Afternoon guided tour of Tonle Sap Lake: This afternoon you will be picked up from the hotel and driven to Chong Kneas, the fishing village on Tonle Sap Lake. Here you will board a traditional wooden boat for a cruise on the lake to get an insight into the centuries old traditions and daily life of the villagers here and also the natural splendour of this part of the country.

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 4

  Siem Reap - Angkor - Siem Reap

  

  Morning guided tour of Angkor Wat: This morning journey out to the mother of all temples - Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at Angkor. Your guide will begin by unravelling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs that tell of tales from Hindu mythology and of the glories of the Khmer empire. Stretching for almost one kilometre, these intricate carvings are a candidate for the world's longest unbroken piece of art. Following in the footsteps of the devout and the destructive before you, continue to the upper levels of the inner sanctuary.

  

  Lunch at Sala Bai Cookery School & Restaurant: On your return to Siem Reap you will head to Sala Bai Cookery School for a delicious lunch of Cambodian delicacies prepared by the young chefs here. The Sala Bai Cookery School is famous for helping under privileged Cambodians achieve a skill with which they can forge a worthwhile career in catering or tourism.

  

  Afternoon at leisure: After lunch you are free to explore independently.

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 5

  Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Kep

  

  Private transfer: After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the Bangkok Airways flight to Phnom Penh.

  

  Flight: PG999 Siem Reap - Phnom Penh 11.00 - 11.55

  

  Private transfer to Kep with sightseeing: On arrival in Phnom Penh you will be met at the airport by your guide. You will then set off by road for the Cambodian coast. On the way you will make a stop off to explore the cave pagodas of Phnom Sor and afterwards continue on to the old colonial town of Kep which will be your base for the next few nights. The whole journey should take around 4 hours. On arrival check into your hotel and relax.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 3 nights at the Beach House Hotel (Standard Room).

  

  Breakfast

• Day 6

  Kep

  

  Half day tour of Kep's markets and the Kampot Pepper farm: After breakfast you will be collected from the hotel and taken for a tour of the local markets. You will witness the local fish market in action and then visit the fresh market to see the different types of fruit and vegetables that are cultivated in the region. Afterwards visit a local pepper farm where the famous Kampot pepper is being re-introduced to the region after years of dwindling interest in this fantastic spice. Return to the hotel around lunchtime.

  

  Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon you are free to relax

  

  Breakfast

• Day 7

  Kep - Rabbit Island - Kep

  

  Guided excursion to Rabbit Island: After breakfast you will be transferred to the port from where you will take a local fishing boat to Koh Tonsay (perhaps better known as Rabbit Island). The boat ride will take 40 minutes and on arrival you will have a day to explore the island or relax on the beach. Today's lunch will be served at a beachside restaurant which is famous in the region for its signature dish of swimmer crab and Kampot pepper. Late afternoon you will begin the return journey to Kep by boat and then by car.

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 8

  Kep - Phnom Penh

  

  Private transfer to Phnom Penh: After breakfast you will be transferred back to Phnom Penh, a drive that will take around 4 hours. On arrival check into your hotel.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 2 nights at the River 108 Hotel (River View Room).

  

  Afternoon guided tour of Phnom Penh: This afternoon you will set out on a tour of the Cambodian capital. Start with visits to the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum and afterwards Wat Phnom. This will be followed by free time to shop at the nearby Russian Market before you return to your hotel.

   

  Suggested restaurant for dinner: We suggest you try Malis, serving haute cuisine Khmer style! A new trendy restaurant that has taken traditional Khmer recipes and given them a modern twist. Relax in the stylish surrounds and enjoy first class local fare. Malis Restaurant: 136 Norodom Boulevard (Tel: (0)23 221022).

  

  Breakfast

• Day 9

  Phnom Penh

  

  Half day Khmer cuisine cooking class at Frizz Restaurant: After breakfast you will be picked up from the hotel and taken for a tour of the local market. Here your chef for the day will show you the key ingredients in Khmer (Cambodian) cuisine. Afterwards you will head for the cooking school where you will learn how to prepare traditional, delicious Khmer dishes under the guidance of an enthusiastic, friendly and experienced English-speaking teacher-cook. They will explain everything about Cambodian vegetables, herbs, spices and other ingredients and teach you the art of Khmer Cuisine. You will explore traditional methods of food preparation, particularly the use of mortar and pestle to pound and grind herbs and spices to enhance their flavours and nutrition. You'll make everything from scratch with the freshest possible ingredients. Each student gets their own working area and burner on a cool open-air rooftop terrace. You cook while the teacher demonstrates and troubleshoots. Once you have prepared the food you will get a chance to enjoy it.

  

  Afternoon at leisure: After lunch you will be returned to your hotel and you are then free to explore independently.

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 10

  Phnom Penh (Cambodia) - Tan Chau (Vietnam)

  

  Private transfer to the port: After breakfast you will be transferred to the port in time to board the Bassac for your cruise through the Mekong Delta to Can Tho in Vietnam (please note that you will need to have obtained your Vietnam visa before you leave the UK).

  

  Mekong Delta Cruise on the Bassac: Board at 9am at Phnom Penh port with the aid of a local boat. On arrival a welcome drink will greet you and there will be an introduction to the ship and crew before you check into your cabin. The Bassac then sets sail, leaving the Tonle Sap and Phnom Penh behind. Enjoy the sight of the river banks as the Bassac runs downstream on the Mekong towards Vietnam. Lunch is served around noon. By mid-afternoon the Bassac stops at the Cambodian, then at the Vietnamese border offices for immigration formalities. Rejoin the boat once the formalities have been completed and then the Bassac gets under way. Rest on the deck or around the bar. Dinner is served as the Bassac drops anchor for the night near the Tan Chau Canal.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 2 nights onboard the Bassac (Double Cabin).

  

  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Day 11

  Tan Chau - Long Xuyen

  

  Mekong Delta Cruise on the Bassac: Breakfast is served from 6:30am as the Bassac resumes her journey along the Tan Chau canal, then downstream on the Bassac River towards Chau Doc. Upon arrival at Chau Doc transfer onto a local boat for a visit to a village of the Muslim Cham minority and a floating fish farm. Re-join the boat at noon at the Chau Doc pier for a welcome back drink! Then departure downstream on the Bassac River as the crew serves lunch. Upon arrival at Thot Not you will transfer on to a longboat for a visit to a ‘bamboo thatching' village which will give you an opportunity to appreciate the way of life, and hospitality, of the Delta inhabitants. You will also visit one of the nearby orchards or rice fields. Returning to the boat you will be presented with a complimentary drink as the sun starts to set. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac cruises along heading towards her anchorage point for the night, near Long Xuyen.

  

  Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

• Day 12

  Long Xuyen - Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City

  

  Half day cruise in the Mekong Delta:H Early this morning the Bassac will leave its moorings and set off for Can Tho. Breakfast will be served as you cruise and there will be a stop en-route to visit the Delta's largest market at Cai Rang. On arrival at a nearby dock you will board a sampan boat to explore the frenetic activity of the market at Cai Rang. The seemingly chaotic gathering is mostly large boats wholesaling vegetables and fruit, but there are also local traders selling groceries to the larger boats. Weave around the vessels and observe the frenzied trading. The tour continues with a trip along the small canals, through local villages, to a fruit orchard garden. Afterwards you will resume your journey to Can Tho and on arrival at the Ninh Kieu Pier you will disembark and will be met by your driver and guide.

  

  Private transfer: After disembarking you will be transferred by car to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch taken at a local restaurant along the way. On arrival you will check in to your hotel and then you are free to explore the former Saigon.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 2 nights at the Asian Ruby Hotel (Superior Room).

   

  Evening Dinner: This evening you will be taken to Quan An Ngon Restaurant for an authentic Vietnamese dining experience. Quan An Ngon has become a Saigon institution, and is always packed with both locals and tourists. The atmosphere is chaotic: a cacophony of laughing, chattering guests, shouting waiters, and clanging pots and pans.

  

  Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

• Day 13

  Ho Chi Minh City

  

  Half day Vietnamese cuisine cooking class: Early this morning you will be collected from the hotel by your guide and chef for the day. They will escort you on a cyclo ride from your hotel through the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the Central Market. Here you will learn how to choose good fresh ingredients. After the shopping you will transfer by car to the Cookery School, located in a charming and authentic Vietnamese garden. Each person is provided with their own kitchen corner including utensils, cooking ingredients and workspace. A professional MC will translate the chef's instructions and brief you on the origination and culture of Vietnamese cuisine. You will learn how to cook some of Vietnam's specialties, how to use a variety of herbs and also how to prepare different sauces. Once you have completed the course you will have mastered the use of chopsticks and learnt the etiquette of Vietnamese dining. After all the hard work you get a chance to enjoy your own cooking and receive a certificate of participation.

  

  Afternoon guided tour of Saigon: This afternoon visit some of Saigon's historic landmarks including the 1880's General Post Office, the late 19th century Notre Dame Cathedral which is located in a peaceful part of the city and the former Presidential Palace which was once headquarters for the Saigon Government during the "American War". You will also visit the War Remnants Museum and afterwards see China Town.

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 14

  Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi

  

  Private transfer: After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi.

  

  Flight: VN218 Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi 10.30 - 12.30

  

  Private transfer: On arrival at Hanoi airport you will be met by your guide and then transferred to down town Hanoi to check into your hotel.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 2 nights at the Maison D'Hanoi Hanova Hotel (Classic Room).

  

  Afternoon guided tour of Hanoi: This afternoon start your tour of Hanoi with a visit to the 900 year old Temple of Literature, Vietnam's principal Confucian sanctuary and its historical centre of learning. Later continue to the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation's independence in 1945. Visit the museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh before passing through the mausoleum. Afterwards you will visit his former residence and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. The afternoon ends with a visit to Thang Long Theatre to see the famous water puppet show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam and the artists waist-deep in the water manipulating the puppets, making them move about, talk, laugh and even dance on the surface of the water.

   

  Evening Dinner: After the show you will be taken to Chac Ca La Vong Restaurant for dinner (drinks to be paid for locally). Here you can try the deep fried catfish for which the restaurant has become famous.

  

  Breakfast & Dinner

• Day 16

  Hanoi - Halong Bay

  

  Road journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay: This morning drive for approximately 3 hours through the Red River delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin.

  

  Overnight Halong Bay Cruise on the Huong Hai Junk: On arrival in Halong board the Huong Hai Junk in time for lunch, and set sail across the bay. After lunch take the cruise of Halong Bay takes you to Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, Sung Sot Cave and for a swim at Titov Beach. Enjoy dinner on board while watching the sunset and then bed down for the night in your comfortable cabin. The Huong Hai Junk is an old style wooden junk that offers cruises around the spectacular scenery of Halong Bay. The junk has three decks with a restaurant & bar, a greeting room and a large sun deck. The nine cabins are comfortable and air-conditioned with an en-suite bathroom. All activities arranged on the cruise are on a shared basis.

  

  Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

• Day 17

  Halong Bay - Hanoi (Vietnam) - Bangkok (Thailand)

  

  Morning's Cruise: Enjoy an early breakfast and then visit Luon Cave on a small bamboo boat. Afterwards return to the junk and this morning's cruise takes you to Man's Head Island and Tortoise Island. After seeing these amazing rock formations return to the quay in Halong City around midday.

  

  Road journey from Halong Bay to Hanoi: On arrival at the quay you will be met by your guide and transferred back to Hanoi. En-route you will stop off at the Phu Long ‘ceramic village' where the villagers have been practicing this traditional craft for generations. On arrival in Hanoi you will transfer to the airport in time to catch the Thai Airways flight to Bangkok.

  

  Flight: TG565 Hanoi - Bangkok 20.25 - 22.15

  

  Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport you will be welcomed to Thailand by your private English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 3 nights at the Siam Heritage Hotel (Superior Room).

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 18

  Bangkok

  

  Morning at leisure: You have this morning to have a lie in.

  

  Afternoon guided tour of Bangkok including the Grand Palace & Wat Pho: Around midday you will be collected from your hotel for a tour of Bangkok. You will start at one of the city's biggest food markets where you can try the legendary Pad Thai if you so wish. Afterwards you will set out to visit three of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Bangkok. Firstly visit Wat Traimit with its invaluable Golden Buddha (5 ½ tons of solid gold). Next visit Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok, with the colossal Reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings, and lastly the Grand Palace which is one of the most beautiful examples of ancient Siamese architecture and has been the residence of the Kings of Thailand for over two centuries. Here you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.

   

  Optional Evening Dinner: This evening, if you would like, we will book a table for you at Prince's Chef Restaurant which was established in 1925 and offers a delicious and varied menu with many dishes hailing from Royal Thai cuisine. You will pay for the meal and drinks locally.

  

  Breakfast

• Day 19

  Bangkok

  

  Morning guided tour to the Floating Market: After an early breakfast set off for the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is situated 70 miles west of Bangkok and is a very attractive place for visitors to see the old style and traditional way of selling and buying fruits & vegetables from small boats. You will also see traditional Thai houses as well as see how the way the people here live and travel by boats. The tour includes a visit to Nakorn Pathom, site of the highest Chedi in Thailand called "Phra Patom Chedi" which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia.

  

  Afternoon free: This afternoon you are free to relax or to make the most of Bangkok's excellent shopping opportunities

  

  Breakfast

• Day 20

  Bangkok - Hua Hin

  

  Private transfer: This morning you will be picked up at the hotel and then and transferred to Hua Hin for a few days relaxation. The drive will take around 3 hours and on arrival you will check into your beach hotel.

  

  Accommodation: Stay 4 nights at the Baan Talay Dao (Studio Room).

  

  Breakfast

• Day 21

  Hua Hin

  

  Half day Thai cuisine cooking class: Early this morning you will be collected from the hotel by your chef for the day. They will escort you to the market. Here you will learn how to choose good fresh ingredients. After the shopping you will transfer by car to the Cookery School. Each person is provided with their own kitchen corner including utensils, cooking ingredients and workspace. A professional MC will translate the chef's instructions and brief you on the origination and culture of Thai cuisine. You will learn how to cook some of Thailand's signature dishes and best of all - get to eat them.

  

  Afternoon free: This afternoon you are free to relax.

  

  Breakfast & Lunch

• Day 22&23

  Hua Hin

  

  At leisure: You are at leisure beside the beach.

  

  Breakfast

• Day 24

  Hua Hin - Bangkok

  

  Day at leisure: You have the best part of the day to relax.

  

  Private transfer: This afternoon you will be transferred back to Bangkok in time to check in for the Thai Airways flight back to London.

  

  Breakfast

• Day 25

  Bangkok - London Heathrow

  

  Flight: TG910 Bangkok - London Heathrow 00.15 - 06.20

Price guideline:

The price for the above services will be £3,495* per person based on 2 people travelling and sharing a double / twin room.