Flight: VN921 Hanoi - Vientiane 09.55 - 11.05

Meet & greet: On arrival in Vientiane, you will be welcomed to Laos by your local guide and transferred to the Beau Rivage Hotel in a chauffeur driven car for a two-night stay. After checking in, the rest of the day will be free at leisure for you to relax after your journey.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Beau Rivage (Mekong View Room)

Half day tour of Vientiane: Your tour of Laos' capital city starts with a visit to the enchanting Si Muang Temple. Continue to the Siamese style Wat Si Saket and the That Luang Stupa, the bright golden monument which represents a lotus bud and is used as a symbol of the Lao nation, and Patuxay Monument, Vientiane’s very own Arc de Triumph. The tour ends with a visit to the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting a much overlooked aspect of Laos and a major problem many of the local people face on a day to day basis in the form of unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era.

Exploring Vientiane by night: In the early evening (around 6pm), you will be met at the hotel by your guide, and together you will head out for an evening exploration of the Laotian capital. Travelling by tuk tuk, your first stop will be at the night food market near That Luang. This spot comes alive at night and is a firm favourite amongst locals seeking a cheap and tasty meal, with few tourists to be seen. Your guide will walk you through the market, stopping to learn about the different dishes and local dinner culture. Try some of the tasty dishes on the spot, or bring them along with you to our next stop: a traditional Lao style BBQ, or 'sindat'. This hotpot BBQ meal is a deep favourite of locals, and often overlooked by tourists! This hotpot BBQ meal is a favourite of locals, and often overlooked by tourists! Your guide will introduce you to some of his favourite dishes and let you find your own. After dinner, you will return to your hotel by tuk tuk.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Beau Rivage (Mekong View Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Road journey from Vientiane to Hin Boun: You will be picked up this morning from your hotel and transferred south along route 13 to the central Lao province of Khammoune. En route there is a stop at Prabaht Ponsan, a stupa dating back to the 15th century.  It is also home to the Buddha's footprint, left when, as legend has it, he was crossing the Mekong. Following lunch (payable locally), make a stop at the interesting Ban Ton Na Mae Hmong Market, then continue onwards into Khammoune province and into the mountainous area, where a stop at a view point near Khoun Kham offers a breathtaking view over the karst scenery, or ‘limestone forest’. Your last stop of the day is Ban Thabuk, the ‘bomb boat village’, where locals use old bomb casings from the Vietnam War as boats. You will reach Hin Boun late this afternoon in time to relax with a sun downer, and dinner.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Spring River Resort (Riverview Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Boat trip through the Kong Lor Cave: After breakfast at your lodge, drive to Kong Lor village and board a small local boat into the famous Kong Lor Cave. Navigate through the cave, which is over 7km long and includes a spectacular cavern over 100m high, as well as a breathtaking stalagmite gallery, which you can explore on foot. On the other side of the cave, you will take a short walk past some tobacco drying huts to Ban Pon Ngam, a remote village, where you can enjoy your picnic lunch.  Following lunch, return through the cave by boat, then continue by river downstream for a 2-hour boat trip, taking in the spectacular limestone scenery en route. You will arrive back at your lodge by late afternoon, where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Spring River Resort (Riverview Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Bomb boat adventure on the Nam Theun River: After breakfast this morning, head back to Ban Thabak, named after the barge service crossing the river. Before a bridge was built here, villagers used discarded aluminum fuel tanks that were dropped by Phantom F-4 planes on aerial bombing missions during the Indochina war. Originally constructed to carry a 700kg payload, they were built light and streamlined enough to make excellent boats for fast river travel. Today, you will board one of these boats (max 3 pax per boat) for a 2.5-hour cruise up the Nam Theun River to the Tha Sala Waterfalls. Returning to the minivan, continue west with an optional stop at the Tham Nagkone or “Dragon Cave” - which was used as an air-raid shelter during the war and is now used for ceremonies that worship the dragon spirit and a local earth-spirit (Chao Then Chao Than) - before crossing the mysterious Nam Theun NPA, home of a large hydro-project which flooded the plateau here in 2008. Just after the village of Nakai you will find the Nam Theun Visitors Centre which provides excellent information on the development in the region (please note that opening times are irregular).

Road journey to Ban Langkhang: Continue on to your overnight destination in Ban Langkhang, arriving in the early evening.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sai Phou Luang Guesthouse (Standard Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Exploring the Ho Chi Minh Trail: After breakfast, visit a local market, where your guide will buy local specialties for today's lunch. Continue by road to the nearby village of Ban Nong Bua to meet Lung (Uncle) Ky. Ban Nong Bua is located on the northern tip of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, where intense US bombing rained down uninterrupted between 1964 and 1973. Lung Ky will take us to the cave, where together with his parents and 15 other families he lived for almost 9 years during the bombing campaign. He will share his personal story of survival and the life of people in the region during Laos’ “Secret War”. 

Travel by road & boat to Ban Nong Ping: After lunch, travel south following the Ho Chi Minh Trail further to the village of Ban Phakpanang. Here, we board boats and cruise for 2.5 hours upstream along the Xe Ban Fai River to the village of Ban Nong Ping, a Lao Yaoi village, where you will stay overnight. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Nong Ping Homestay (Basic Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Exploring Xe Bangfai Cave: An early rise really gives us a chance to see village life come alive, and after sharing a local breakfast with our hosts, we follow the Xe Ban Fai River further upstream to the Tham Khoun Xe Cave, the largest active river cave system in the world. Over 7km long with an average height of 60 metres and width of 76 metres, it’s exceptional spacious for a cave. We will explore the first few hundred by boat, and make a small trekking by foot in the cave, to realize just how incredible this natural setting can be. 

Boat & road journey to Thakhek: After this morning's adventure in the cave, make the return journey by boat down the Xe Ban Fai River. After cruising for around 1.5 hours, you will arrive back at your minivan that awaits at the boat landing in Ban Pakphanang. You will then drive back to Ban Langkhang and onwards to the provincial capital of Thakhek. Arrive in the sleepy historical town centre by early evening.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Le Bouton D’Or (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning hike to the Tham Pa Fa Cave: This morning, depart Thakhek by tuk-tuk, following the old French railway track destined for Vietnam but never finished, to the village of Ban Nakhang Xang, where you will meet a village guide to escort you on today’s gentle trek through Khammouane's unspoilt countryside. The trail passes through secondary forest before entering a cave which opens out onto a striking valley with towering cliffs and forest. Continue along the trail, which follows the shoreline of Lake Nong Thao, where you will see local fishermen at work. On arrival at Tham Nong Paseum Cave, more adventurous swimmers can explore the 400-meter long cave with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Continue to the little-known Buddha Cave of Tham Pa Fa for a traditional Lao lunch of Mekong fish, sticky rice and spicy papaya salad. After lunch, visit the Buddha Cave, which was rediscovered in April 2004, in which there is a collection of 229 bronze Buddhas thought to be over 300 years old.

Road journey to Savannakhet: After this morning's hike, travel south by road towards Savannakhet. En route, there will be the chance to visit the Soundra Salt Factory for an interesting tour on local salt production methods and the sacred That Inhang. 

Afternoon tour of Savannakhet: Time-permitting this afternoon, visit some of Savannakhet's places of inerest. These include the boutique cafés in the old French Quarter, which was once the busy city market, the interesting Savannakhet Museum and the well-maintained art deco Soumphonphakdy House, which once housed the French security office. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Daosavanh Resort & Spa Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Savannakhet to Champasak: This morning, leave Savannakhet and continue your way southbound. After 45 minutes, there will be a stop at the interesting Don Mak Fai Forest market, where the sellers offer a wide selection of various items, straight from the forest. After another 2 hours, make another short stop at the village of Ban Napong, which is famous for its grilled chicken. Your next stop is at Ban Chomphet, a temple complex that offers various Buddha carvings. Having reached the Provincial capital of Pakse, cross the Mekong and transfer further south to the historical town of Champasak.

Guided tour of Wat Phou: Take a guided tour of one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples, the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou near Champasak. Founded in the first decades of the 9th century by Jayavarman II, the first king of an independent Khmer nation, Wat Phou served for some time as the Khmer capital. Wat Phou is often compared to Angkor, not only because it was built in the same style but because it too was lost to the jungle for centuries. Whilst the structures themselves are thrilling, it is the jungle overgrowth that creates the atmosphere. The Wat stood unused for centuries because it is a Hindu temple, in what became a devoutly Buddhist land.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Folie Lodge (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road & boat journey from Champasak to the 4000 Islands: Continue south by road to the 4000 Islands jetty, where you will board a local boat for the journey to your hotel on the islands.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sala Don Khone (French Residence Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure to explore Don Khone: Today is free to explore Don Khone Island by bicycle or on foot, and have some time to relax at your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sala Don Khone (French Residence Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Boat & road journey to the Cambodian border: After breakfast, board a boat and return to the mainland. Set off by road towards the border town of Dom Kramlor, making a stop en route at the spectacular Khone Phapheng Falls, which is considered the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. After completing the border formalities, you will be met by your Cambodian guide.

Road journey to Stung Treng: Your Khmer guide will welcome you to Cambodia before you set off for the sleepy Mekong town of Stung Treng, a drive of approximately 1.5 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Golden River Hotel (River View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Kayaking Adventure in the Ramsar Wetlands: Early this morning, drive to a place near Ou Svay, from where you will start kayaking through the flooded forests to Vuen Sien village, located in the extremely remote Ramsar wetlands. The flooded forest supports a large variety of birds along the river. Enjoy the remoteness of the area, feeling completely at one with nature. We will stop on one of the many sandy beaches for a picnic lunch, before continuing to Koh Ky. On arrival at Koh Ky, we will travel by boat to Stung Treng province.

Road journey from Stung Treng to Preah Vihear: This afternoon, depart Stung Treng and travel along the jungle road to the Sra Em commune of Preah Vihear Province for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Preah Vihear Boutique Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning visit Preah Vihear temple: After breakfast, drive a short distance north to the remote temple of Preah Vihear. The road snakes up the mountain, and is very steep in places, eventually emerging at the second enclosure of this 'King of the Mountain' temple. Set on the Dangrek Mountains, Preah Vihear towers hundreds of metres above lowland Cambodia, offering breathtaking views. The foundation stones of the temple stretch to the edge of the cliff as it plunges precipitously away to the plains of Preah Vihear province below. You will have plenty of time to explore the temple complex on foot before the day trippers from Siem Reap arrive. 

Road journey from Preah Vihear to Siem Reap: After this morning's tour, travel south back to Siem Reap via the town of Anlong Veng, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold until the end of the civil war in 1998. Now a boomtown, there is also the option to visit the former house of military strongman Ta Mok. Arrive in Siem Reap late this afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Moon Residence (Landmark Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure in Siem Reap: Today is free to relax at your hotel and explore Siem Reap, or arrange an excursion through your guide.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Moon Residence (Landmark Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Backroads cycling tour of Angkor: This morning, explore some of the most impressive temples at Angkor on two wheels, taking advantage of back roads and jungle paths to get off the beaten path and experience Angkor without the crowds. Leave Siem Reap early using a forest path to avoid the traffic and wind our way past the walls of Banteay Kdei to the North Gate of Ta Prohm. The ‘jungle temple’ has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.

Continue cycling to Ta Nei, a small temple that has been forgotten in the jungle and sees few visitors. You will need to carry your bike across an old French dam to cross the Siem Reap River. You will then enter the immense walled city of Angkor Thom, the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII, through the Victory Gate and continue to East Gate. Ascend the walls of Angkor Thom and ride around the southeast quadrant to stop at atmospheric Prasat Chrung, a seldom visited temple overlooking the vast moat of Angkor Thom. Cycle from South Gate to the Bayon and explore the main temples of Angkor Thom, including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Preah Palilay, Terrace of the Leper King and Preah Pithu.

Bayon temple is famous for its enigmatic faces of Lokesvara, the Buddha of Compassion, said to bear an uncanny resemblance to the great King Jayavarman VII himself. Baphuon is nicknamed the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle as the French took it apart stone by stone in the 1960s for restoration, only for all records to be destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. Cycling along the back paths to the lesser known temples of Angkor Thom such as Preah Palilay and Preah Pithu is a rewarding experience. Return to your hotel later this afternoon for some time to rest and relax by the pool.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Moon Residence (Landmark Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport.

Flight: VN834 Siem Reap - Hanoi 20.30 - 22.10