The Indochina Experiment
Visiting: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, VietnamCode: GTIL
Tour price from USD 2815.00 for 33 days - Land Only
The Tour Price displayed here is for the tour only and does not include international flights. Our flight prices are very competitive, please ask for a quote when making your booking
Plus a local payment of pp payable locallyThis is a payment for your trip that must be paid locally to your tour leader on the 1st day of the trip, in the specified currency.
Visiting: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
One of our biggest and best.
The Indochina Experiment
Log out, switch off and unplug because the only project you’ll be working on for the next few weeks is your tan. (Was Thai Indochina Loop)
Day
Bangkok
Let your local tour guide show your around their home town. Don’t miss Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho. Rest up on your overnight train journey to Chiang Mai.Day 1Arrive in Bangkok and get to grips with this awesome cityDay 2Visit some of Bangkok’s most famous sights, including the Grand Palace and Emerald BuddhaEnjoy the rest of the day to further explore the city Shop for bargains, eat in exotic restaurants and perhaps hit some bars or nightclubsDay
Chiang Mai
You’ll come for the 120 temples but you’ll stay for the Thai massage, cooking class, night bazaar and the trek to the top of Doi Suthep.Spend a free day exploring the northern city of Chiang Mai, with over 120 temples in the centre aloneVisit the Tribal Research Institute and gain excellent background information on the cultures and customs of the various inhabitants of the hill regions Thailand and Laos Set off on an excursion to the top of Doi Suthep, with fantastic views over the city Perhaps get a traditional Thai massage or even partake in a cooking class Why not visit the Night Bazaar a great chance to practice those bargaining skillsDay
Huay Xai
A bus, bus, then boat takes us to our first stop in Laos. Head to a nearby village for some rice whiskey and a bowl of steamy noodles.Take a small boat across the Mekong River to Huay Xai, the first stop in Laos Enjoy time to wander around this small place and perhaps ascend the Naga stairs to Wat Jom Khao Manilat Perhaps visit a nearby minority village, where they make rice whiskey, noodles and handicraftsDay
Mekong River - Pakbeng
Take it down a notch on a slow boat on the Mekong. Meet some of the colourful Hmong people from a nearby remote hilltribe. Stay the night in a cheap and cheerful hostel.Board a slow boat for a trip down the Mekong River Arrive in the late afternoon at Pakbeng; a colourful village situated at the junction of the Mekong River and the smaller Beng RiverDay
Luang Prabang
Three whole days with no travel means you might start to get feeling back in your bum, Show everyone how good your underwater handstands are when we go for a dip in Kuang Si Falls.Continue on the private slow boat, stopping to stretch your legs and explore the Pak Ou Caves, which contain hundreds of Buddha statues Arrive in Luang Prabang in the evening and wander the streets of ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’ Trek to the beautiful Kuang Si FallsDay
Vang Vieng
Set on a bend on the Nam Song River, this chilled out town is popular for its unexplored caves, kayaking and limestone cliffs.Transfer to a local fan cooled bus and head toward the village of Vang Vieng, located on a bend in the Nam Song River Cross the river to explore the huge caves that line the West Bank Enjoy plenty of time to make your own discoveries or partake in an optional kayaking day trip along the Nam SongDay
Vientiane
The Lao capital lies on the banks of the Mekong with some great cafes and bars. Explore by bike or on foot. Continue to the Lao capital, located on the banks of the Mekong River Arrive in Vientiane and explore this small and laid-back capital on bicycle or on footSet off on a walking orientation tour takes you to the oldest remaining temple in Vientiane, Wat Si Saket During free time, further explore Vientiane’s other historical sites, including Haw Pha KaewDay
Lak Sao
You’re gonna see some pretty remote country today, including Ho Chi Minh’s birthplace. Then we board the Reunification Express for our overnight trip to Hanoi. Don’t get this confused with the luxurious Orient Express!Day 13Travel through stunning mountain scenery and a Stone Forest to the town of Lak SaoDay 14Cross the border into Vietnam and head for the port city of Vinh, birthplace of Ho Chi MinhBoard the Reunification Express sleeper train for the 300-kilometre train journey to HanoiDay
Hanoi
Strap on your walking shoes for a locally-guided tour of the city. During your free time indulge in a local feast at KOTO restaurant, which gets kids off the street and into a career in hospitality. Tell Jimmy we sent you! *image of Jimmy Pham and the kids (with arrow pointing to Jimmy saying ‘this is Jimmy’!) Begin by visiting the One Pillar Pagoda near the Soviet-inspired mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh Walk to the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first educational institute Visit the Hoa Lo Prison, probably better known to most as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’Enjoy a free afternoon to wander around town and check out the lifestyles of Hanoi’s people Perhaps stop by the city’s Old Quarter, situated to the north of the lakeBoard the Reunification Express in the evening for the trip to Hue (2B)Day
Hue
Back in the saddle as we cruise the streets on local ‘shopping’ bikes (as they’re known). Check out the Forbidden Purple Palace and some royal tombs.Mount local ‘shopping’ bikes, as they’re known here, and cycle down to the riversidePlace the bikes on board a ‘Dragon Boat’, and enjoy a cruise up the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu pagodaChoose to either cycle back into town from here, approximately 8km, or staying on the boat to head back down river to the Citadel Spend a couple of hours exploring Hue’s massive walled citadel and the Forbidden Purple Palace enclosed withinPerhaps cycle out to one of the Royal tombs such as the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of the best remaining examples of its kind Alternatively, set off on an optional motorcycle tour of the sights in Hue and some surrounding villagesDay
Hoi An
(3B)Day
Nha Trang
Break out the factor 40 because we’re hitting the South China Sea. The crew will catch you a fresh seafood lunch and there's plenty of time to swim and snorkel. Then it’s another night on the train to Ho Chi Minh City.Enjoy plenty of time to worship the sun during two full days in Nha Trang Head out onto the water for a day to cruise around the islands Spend stacks of time swimming and snorkellingIndulge in a lunchtime feast of freshly caught seafood and other delights for non-fish eaters Board the Reunification Express for the final time and make our overnight journey to Ho Chi Minh (L)Day
Ho Chi Minh City
What’s not to love about Ho Chi Minh City? Pho on every corner, Ben Thanh Market bargains and the friendliest locals you’re likely to find. Who’s game to try squeezing down into the Cu Chi Tunnels?Day 24Arrive in Ho Chi Minh and explore this fascinating citySpend free time visiting all the city’s restaurants, bars, nightclubs and most interesting sights Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and the adjacent Gustav Eiffel designed Central Post Office are all within walking distance of each other Consider hiring a ‘cyclo’ (bicycle rickshaw) for touring the city sightsDay 25 Crawl through a section of the Cu Chi Tunnels Learn how the brave men and women of Cu Chi built underground hospitals, kitchens and meeting rooms during their struggle Spend the last afternoon in Vietnam shopping in the city’s main business district, or take a cyclo ride through the busy city streets to Saigon’s Chinatown district, CholonDay
Phnom Penh
It ain’t the prettiest town but all is forgiven when you tuck into your first bowl of amok – Cambodia’s national dish. Take a stroll on the palm-fringed riverfront and a sobering visit to the killing fields at Choeung Ek.Take a cyclo sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh to include the Royal Palace and the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison Join a bus to visit another reminder of the Khmer Rouge atrocities, the Choeung Ek killing fields Visit the Central Market, located in an old French colonial building - a good place to look for clothing or sarongs Enjoy the rest of the day exploring Phnom Penh city Perhaps stop by the Silver Pagoda, the temple of Wat Phnom, the National Museum and the French Quarter (B)Day
Siem Reap - Angkor
Angkor Wat is the obvious highlight but you’ll get a real kick out of counting the faces of Bayon and the jungle of Ta Prohm. There’s a bit of temple overload here, so take some free time to haggle for souvenirs at the market or get a pedicure from thousands of tiny fish.Day 28Leave Phnom Penh on a private bus and head towards Siem ReapFollow the Tônlé Sap River and pass through fishing villages Drive out to the Angkor temple complex to watch the sunset from one of the structures; Phnom Bakheng, Pre Rup temple, Sras Srong, Phnom Krom or Phnom Bok Day 29Take an informative day-long tour of the Angkor complex, visiting the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Baphoun, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Leper King, Ta Prohm and, of course, Angkor WatDay 30Free time to do some exploring of your own Optional visit to the rose-coloured Banteay Srei Temple Perhaps visit Banteay Srei, located about 30 kilometres north of Siem Reap - considered to be the best preserved of all of Cambodia’s templesOptional trip with into the countryside to discover facets of rural life with a local site guide Kick back in Siem Reap and just wander around the town, visiting its market, shops and restaurants (3B)Day
Siem Reap - Bangkok
Travel day. Yawn. Set off for the hustle and bustle of Bangkok (2B)Day
Bangkok
Finish things off with a bang in Bangers. Catch a Ladyboy show and the view from Sky Bar at Lebua (as seen in The Hangover). It will be hard to say goodbye to your new friends but hey, that’s what Facebook is for.Jump into local mini-vans for an adventurous journey to the Cambodian/Thai border town of Poipet Stop for lunch in the Thai border town of Aranya PrathetContinue on by local bus to BangkokPerhaps visit Bangkok’s famous clothing markets, grab a traditional Thai Massage or wander down Khao San Road and catch up on the news of the worldWhile the information presented here details our planned itinerary, including routes taken, activities included, accommodation and meeting times, please accept that unforseen changes may occur. We are constantly on the lookout to improve our program and further enhance your experience. Naturally, we will keep you up to date with any last minute amendments to your tour.
Key: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner
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