12 Days Heritage Trails Through Laos And Cambodia

Pick-up at Luang Prabang International Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

If you’re able to wake up before dawn (5:30 am) to witness and participate in offering alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks - an awe-inspiring sight dating back generations in Laos. Optional walking through the morning market where all local products are being sold, watching the town come to life in the morning then returning to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, drive south to one of Luang Prabang’s most picturesque sights, the Kuang Si waterfall. On arrival, take a leisurely hike through the national park towards the Kuang Si waterfall. For the more adventurous, continue to the top of the main waterfall where you may choose to swim in a large pool

In the afternoon, start your visit to the Royal Palace, which is now a National Museum and houses the precious exhibits that used to be possessions of the former Laos Royal family. (Open from 8:30 am to 11.30 am and from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm daily except on Tuesdays) Continue with the exploration of the main Buddhist temples of Luang Prabang including; Wat Visoun, a 16th-century temple which serves as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, built in the early 19th-century temple and Wat Xiengthong, a 16th-century temple that epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture. Take the opportunity to interact with the monks at the Wat Mai temple before ending the day with a climb of 328 steps to the top of Phousi Hill where you can watch the sunset over Luang Prabang town. Transfer back to your hotel by private vehicle. Free time to explore the colorful night Bazaar. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Embark on a two-hour cruise in a long-tail boat on the Mekong River and visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. En route, typical Laotian villages are barely visible behind thick foliage. Wooden canoes bobbing by the shore attached to bamboo poles can be seen everywhere while floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Arrive at Pak Ou and explore the sanctuaries which consist of two large caves. Both repositories house thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeters to two meters in height. Returning to Luang Prabang by car.

Have free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the bus station to go to Vientiane. Upon arrival at the bus station, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Check in and relax. Overnight in Vientiane.

Embark on enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city’s major historic sites including religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple that survived from the Siamese war of 1828 with its cloister containing more than 8000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Phra Keo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in and around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa, containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Lao Arc de Triomphe), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today the landmark of Vientiane. Heading out for one hour drive southeast of the city to Buddha Park. It is a fanciful sculpture garden full of Buddhist and religious images dating back over 500 years. Of particular interest is a giant concrete pumpkin, its interior consists of three levels representing hell, earth and heaven. Overnight in Vientiane.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Wattay International Airport, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Check in and relax. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

We will visit The Silver Pagoda (or the temple of the Emerald Buddha). The Pagoda’s steps are of Italian marble and inside, its floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver tiles, which together weigh nearly 6 tons. We will then move to The Royal Palace which was built by the French in 1866 on the site of the old town. The main building on the compound is the Throne Room. It was built in 1917 in the traditional Khmer style and has a tiered roof and a 59-meter tower, which is influenced by Angkor Thom’s Bayon Temple. On the compounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The Pagoda’s steps are of Italian marble. On the inside the floor is comprised of more than 5000 silver tiles, which together weigh nearly 6 tons. At the end of the tour, visiting Wat Phnom located on a man-made hill, 27 meters high, in the middle of Phnom Penh. The pagoda was built for the first time in 1372 and the house for four Buddha statues, which are said to have been deposited by the waters of the Mekong River. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the bus station to go to Siem Reap. The bus trip will pass through the countryside, so you can see the local house during the way. Upon arrival at the bus station, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Check in and relax. Overnight in Siem Reap

We will spend a full day visiting the famous temples of Angkor Archaeological Park. You will have the opportunity to experience the breathtaking views at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, the latter being one of the most photographed temples in the Angkor complex. Constructed in the Bayon style between the late 12th and early 13th century, Ta Prohm was left pretty much untouched by archaeologists. Then back to the hotel for breakfast and continue the tour to visit Angkor Thom,. which translates to “Great City”. The city covers an area of 9sqm in which numerous breath‐taking monuments were built. The South Gate offers the grandest access to the city where the Victory Gate grants access on the East side, leaving the East Gate, which is also known as the Gate of the Death beautifully untouched in a very quiet part of the complex. The Terrace of the Elephants is a 300 meters long terrace that has three main platforms and two subsidiary ones. Likewise, the Terrace of Leper King was constructed in the 12th century. The curious name of this terrace refers to a statue of the Leper King that is on the platform of the terrace. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Free time at your leisure in the morning. In the afternoon, visit one of Siem Reap’s authentic floating villages. The small village is home to families who, unlike other floating communities, still live in wooden house boats. The village moves throughout the year, depending on the water levels of the lake. At the end of the dry season when the lake’s water levels are at its lowest, the villagers move closer to shore and live primarily from agricultural activities on land. By visiting a local home, you will get a better understanding of life on the lake. Return to the port and visit the Silk Farm of Artisans d’Angkor, located a 15 minute drive away. Here people with underprivileged backgrounds are given an opportunity to improve their livelihoods by reviving the ancient crafts of making art and producing silk. A local representative accompanies you and walks you through the farm and explains all the steps necessary to produce quality silk. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Free time all day to explore Siem Reap on your own. Overnight in Siem Reap.