Laos & Cambodia: Kingdoms of Wonder

Upon arrival, you are met by your guide and driver for a short transfer to your hotel. Stay 2 nights at Lao Poet Hotel.

Enjoy a morning tour of Vientiane, starting at Wat Sisaket temple, which is guarded by statues of water spirits and houses over 2,000 Buddhas. Continue to Wat Prakeo, a royal temple turned arts museum; and the local pilgrimage site of Wat Simuang. After passing the Patuxai War Monument – inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe – you arrive at the landmark golden stupa of Pha That Luang. Finish at the COPE Visitor Centre where you learn about Laos’ ongoing challenge of unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War era. This afternoon, you visit Buddha Park, a 1950s creation where eccentric religious sculptures sprinkle the banks of the Mekong. En route back, you have the option to visit the Lao Disabled Women’s Centre and speak to the inspiring women there. Return in time to see the sun setting over the Mekong.

You have the option to start today early in order to witness Tak Bat, the daily alms giving by locals to Luang Prabang’s monks, as well as visiting an authentic Laotian market. After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to the Kuang Si Waterfall, with the option to swim in the tranquil pool at the base of the cascades, or walk along the forest trails. Return to Luang Prabang by afternoon, with the option of a guided tour of Ock Pop Tock silk-weaving centre.

Today you explore the jungle-bound Khmer temples that lie to the north of Siem Reap. This includes Angkor Thom and the ruins of Bayon, with their smiling faces of Brahma; Ta Prohm temple, home to bas-reliefs mottled with moss and tangled in tree roots; and Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world. You have the option to stay into the late afternoon to see Angkor Wat in the warm glow of sunset.

Begin the day with an excursion to the village of Kampong Phluk, whose houses – nicknamed ‘bamboo skyscrapers’ – sit on stilts over Tonle Sap Lake. During the dry season, you can visit the floating village of Chong Kneas, while in the rainy season, you can explore the forest via a traditional small boat called a pirogue. This afternoon, visit the Lotus Silk Farm on the outskirts of Siem Reap, where a guided tour reveals the sustainable process of transforming lotus flowers into silk. Your experience at this social enterprise includes a boat ride through the lotus fields, a visit to the farm shop, and a hands-on workshop in creating handicrafts out of lotus flowers.

Head into the countryside to Phnom Sampeau, a limestone outcrop that shelters several temples. It is also the site of the infamous Killing Caves of the Khmer Rouge, and this dark past is retold here. Continue to the Bamboo Train, a simple, uncovered and motorised platform used to transport goods and passengers along an eight-kilometre stretch of railway. Return to town for a guided tour of Battambang’s handsome French-colonial buildings, which include the Governor’s Palace, House of Courts and a number of shopping arcades, most dotting the riverfront.

This morning, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, where graphic exhibits illuminate the brutality enacted by the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled here between 1975 and 1979. This afternoon, browse at two of Phnom Penh’s popular covered markets, followed by cruising on the Mekong River in time for a scenic sunset. Your boat journey takes you past traditional fishing villages to witness daily local life, with a commentary from a knowledgeable guide.

Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your departure flights.

Your flight arrives home.