Southeast Asia Encompassed

Arrive at any time. Today is arrival day, so there are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting. Relax, explore the city, and adjust to the pace of life in Bangkok.

The welcome moment begins at 18:00. Please ensure you arrive at the joining hotel by then to ensure you do not miss the meeting.

Included Experiences

• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Guided longboat tour of Bangkok’s klongs and Wat Po. Optional Grand Palace and National Museum visits. Overnight train to Chiang Mai. Enjoy a 1-hr longtail boat tour of Bangkok's famous klongs (canals). The trip finishes at the Royal Temple of Wat Po for a guided tour. After, there is time for shopping, a visit to Grand Palace or a stroll along Khao San Rd. In the evening, board the overnight train to Chiang Mai.

Note: Due to disruptions of Thai trains in the north during the monsoon season, and a long public holiday, trips running July through October may use alternative transport.

Included Experiences

• Klong Riverboat Tour: Travel by longtail boat on the busy Chao Phraya River and through the small canals of western Bangkok's Thonburi district. Observe colourful scenes of everyday life along the river banks.
• Wat Po Guided Tour: Immerse yourself in Thai Buddhist culture and visit the famous giant 46m (151ft) reclining Buddha, covered in gold leaf. Relax with a traditional Thai massage at the country’s leading school of massage at Wat Po.
• Free Time: Use some free time in Bangkok to make the most out of this city.
• Basic Overnight Train (beds): Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.

Optional Experiences

• Wat Arun Visit: Visit Wat Arun, a Buddhist temple and one of Thailand’s best known landmarks. Tour inside to see its central prang (a Khmer-style tower) adorned with colourful porcelain.
• Thai Massage: Lie back and soothe aching muscles with a wonderful Thai massage. Affordable and amazing—don't miss out! (15-30 USD per person)
• Jim Thompson's House Visit: Tour the Jim Thompson House, a Bangkok museum that was once the home of American businessman Jim Thompson, the “Legendary American of Thailand.” See his collection of Buddhist and secular art, amassed while building his silk company.
• National Museum Visit: See Thai artifacts on display from the Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods as well as other Southeast Asian collections. Please note the cost of this optional activity does not include the entrance fee.
• Entrance - Royal Barge Museum: Located along the Chao Phraya River, the museum is home to many ceremonial barges. The barges are only used for special occasions so this is a chance to catch a rare glimpse of their ornate decorations and symbolic features.
• Grand Palace Visit: Visit the King’s official residence (made up of many buildings, halls, lawns, gardens, and courtyards) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Please note the cost of this optional activity does not include the entrance fee.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a guided tour of Doi Suthep temple. Optional activities include a cooking class or visit to the night market. Arrive early morning and use some free time to explore. Choose from a range of optional activities or stroll the city independently. Experience the flavours and scents of traditional northern Thai cuisine by pre-booking the Northern Thai Cooking Class. In late afternoon, set off to visit the temple complex, Doi Suthep. If you're lucky, you may witness the chanting of the monks.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: With so much to do in Chiang Mai, make the most of your free time here.
• Doi Suthep Temple Tour: Climb the 300-step naga (mystical serpent) staircase to one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, or opt to take a cable car and enjoy the view. Learn all about Doi Suthep’s history from a local guide – built on top of a mountain, the temple sits among pagodas, statues, bells and shrines.

Optional Experiences

• Northern Thai Cooking Class: Channel your inner chef with a home-style Thai cooking class. Take a trip to the market with your teacher and learn about regional flavours as you pick out fresh ingredients. Head back to the cozy kitchen for a hands-on lesson in whipping up delicious local favourites like hot and sour soup, green curry, and sticky rice.
• Chiang Mai Cycling Tour: This Chiang Mai half-day ride takes you on a memorable tour of the countryside's most interesting sights. You'll go beyond the city to see local Buddhist temples, markets, organic farms, rice paddy fields and more. Get a sense of how the locals live, stop when you want for photos, and check out the nature along the city's main river, the Ping.
• Khantoke Dinner and Show: Enjoy dinner northern Khantok style, with local entertainment. The main dishes on the Khantok usually include sticky rice, Hang-le curry (Burmese-styled curry), and some chilli pasted with crispy pork.
• Street Food Walk at Chiang Mai Night Market: Pick up a a souvenir at this shopper's paradise. Wander through the market to find music, food, and local artists selling handmade crafts.

Explore Experiences

Head to Chiang Khong via Wat Rong Khun and enjoy the view of the mighty Mekong. Drive to Chiang Khong, a sleepy trading town nestled on the bank of the Mekong River. En route, visit Wat Rong Khun — the dazzling 'White Temple'. Wander the local food market or sit back and enjoy a slower pace of life relaxing in Thailand with river views of Laos.

Included Experiences

• Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) Visit: Visit Wat Rong Khun (better known among foreigners as the White Temple), an unconventional Buddhist temple designed by prominent Thai painter-turned-architect Chalermchai Kositpipat. Be wowed by the temple’s contemporary exterior made up of a mosaic of mirrors. View the interior walls that have a pop culture and sci-fi influence. Find murals of Batman, Superman, Predator, and the Matrix.

Explore Experiences

Cross the border into Laos then travel by traditional boat down the Mekong River. Experience a local homestay in a nearby village. Here, enjoy traditional Laotian food while getting to know your host family. Your CEO will provide insight into the way of life of village residents. Cross the border to the Laos immigration area, then take a songthaew (local bus) to a traditional slow boat. Travel down the Mekong River and adjust to the relaxed pace of life in Laos. This predominantly mountainous country has unsurpassed views of the riverside villages, the tropical jungle, and the mountains.

Included Experiences

• Border Crossing (Thailand - Laos): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
• Mekong River Slow Boat: Enjoy the ride down the Mekong on our private boat (it’s pretty comfortable and spacious, and there’s a toilet on board). Have some fruit, tea, and coffee (free of charge); water and soft drinks are available for purchase. Bring some warm gear – it can be quite cold from November to February.
• Mekong River Homestay & Traditional Performance: G Adventures and the Planeterra Foundation have worked with a community in the Mekong River to help develop their homestay programs, providing a unique cultural experience for travellers and the local community. Here you have the chance to stay overnight in a Mekong village to get a glimpse into rural daily life. Enjoy dinner with your hosts. Experience a traditional Khamu Cultural Performance, and enjoy the chance to dance with the locals.

Continue down the Mekong for most of the day. Take a guided tour of the Pak Ou caves before arriving in Luang Prabang. Continue on by slow boat down the mighty Mekong. Before arriving at Luang Prabang, enjoy a visit outside to the Pak Ou caves. After, re-board the boat and continue to Luang Prabang, arriving in the early evening.

Included Experiences

• Mekong River Slow Boat: Enjoy the ride down the Mekong on our private boat (it’s pretty comfortable and spacious, and there’s a toilet on board). Have some fruit, tea, and coffee (free of charge); water and soft drinks are available for purchase. Bring some warm gear – it can be quite cold from November to February.
• Pak Ou Caves Visit: Visit these dramatic caves considered an important spiritual site by many Lao people. See thousands of Buddha statues and images that line the limestone walls.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a guided tour of the Ethnology Museum and Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre before heading to the new Planeterra project Ban Ou community. Relax in the afternoon at the Kuang Si waterfalls. Take a tour of the Ethnology Museum — a great chance to learn more about the dress and customs of local people. Drop into Ock Pop Tok for an introduction to Laos textiles and handicrafts. Then, take a half-day trip out to the stunning Kuang Si waterfalls and be sure to pack a swimsuit.

Included Experiences

• Ethnology Museum Guided Tour: Take a guided tour of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) to learn about the traditional arts and cultures of Laos’s many diverse ethnic groups. Shop in the TAEC Boutique for authentic village-made handicrafts and relax with a drink at the museum café.
• Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre Visit: Visit Ock Pop Tok "East Meets West" Living Crafts Centre on the banks of the Mekong River to learn from artisans about Laos handicrafts and the importance of woven textiles in Laos culture. Wander around the grounds for free, for opt to enjoy a drink in the cafe, join a workshop, or take an audio tour.
• Meal with Local Baan Ou Community: Enjoy a delicious meal with the local Baan Ou Community. Learn about Laotian cuisine and life in Luang Prabang. Start the visit with a welcome drink and a brief introduction to the village before a Baci Welcome ceremony. Then walk through the village and visit the noodle house and weaving house. Sit down for a lunch prepared by a group of women in the community.
• Kuang Si Waterfalls Excursion: Journey to this magnificent tiered waterfall, where relaxing is highly recommended. Opt for a dip in the turquoise waters and explore multiple picture-perfect pools, framed by the jungle landscape.

Optional Experiences

• Night Market Visit: Shop until your heart’s content at the night market in Luang Prabang – one of the best in Southeast Asia. Head to the market around dusk. Tour the vendor stalls lining the streets offering food, wooden statues, clothes, trinkets and souvenirs to dozens of people wandering up and down the market. Don't miss the opportunity to interact with the sellers and gently negotiate a good price.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a free day exploring all Luang Prabang has to offer. Options include cooking classes, temple visits, massages, night market shopping, and cycling.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: There's a wealth of activities going on in and around Luang Prabang. Pick and choose what sounds best.

Optional Experiences

• Cycling: Get on your bike and enjoy the ride.
• Wat Xieng Thong Visit: Once a royal temple where Kings were crowned, the importance of this 16th-century Buddhist temple as a religious monastery is not lost on visitors. Wat Xieng Thong stands resplendent among shrines, pavilions, chapels, towers and gardens, and its gilded wooden doors, mosaics, and ceiling displays are representative of typical Laos art and craft.
• Royal Ballet Theatre: Enjoy a traditional performance at the Royal Ballet Theatre and learn more about Laotian culture through the art of dance.
• Royal Palace Museum Visit: The ornate rooms of this royal palace-turned-museum house the country’s crown jewels, many religious artifacts, and a 50kg (110 lb) Buddha, cast of gold, silver and bronze. Gifts from visiting heads of state are on display, as are the beautiful silk screens crafted by the Queen.
• Phousi Temple Visit: Climb more than 300 steps to the top of Mount Phou Si for a panoramic view of the sunset over Luang Prabang. Ornate Buddhist shrines dot the pathway up and the glistening seven-tiered golden pagoda of Wat Chom Si awaits at the summit.
• Wat Visoun Temples Visit: Originally built in 1513 and still operational, Wat Visoun is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple. Over the years invaders stole many of its priceless Buddha images, but this temple still offers some unusual architecture like the domed lotus flower stupa, designed by a royal and affectionately called "The Watermelon Stupa."

Take a high speed train to Vang Vieng this morning. Enjoy the afternoon free to rest or explore! Ride a high speed train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. Enjoy free time.

Included Experiences

• Bullet Train: Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
• Free Time: Spend the afternoon free in Vang Vieng.

Enjoy free time in Vang Vieng, an ideal location for exploring the countryside by bicycle or kayak.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: With many options for Vang Vieng, choose what suits you best.

Optional Experiences

• Cycling: Get on your bike and enjoy the ride.
• Kayaking: Grab your life jacket and tour local waters by kayak. Get up close to marine life and see many sights you may miss on shore.
• Vang Vieng Adrenaline Bundle: Head North of Vang Vieng where you’ll grab a kayak and depart downstream on the NamSong river. Passing greenery, mountain karst, and small rapids, you’ll arrive at the Tham None cave. Adventure through the cave to the other side of the mountain where you will enjoy lunch before continuing on towards Vang Vieng. The last stop will be at the infamous Blue Lagoon; swim or hang out along the banks after an afternoon of adventure before heading back to the town.

Explore the capital of Laos. Opt to visit temples, see the National Museum, or explore highlights of the town. Head out of the mountains to one of Asia's sleepiest capital cities. Opt to visit some of the highlights of Vientiane including Wat Sisaket, one of the city's oldest and most fascinating temples, and Wat Phra That Luang, Lao's national symbol and one of her most sacred sites. For those who like to shop, don't miss the morning market, which, incidentally, is open all day!

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Opt to visit the sights, get a massage or indulge in one last day of Laotian cuisine in Laos' capital city.

Optional Experiences

• Wat Sisaket Visit: Visit one of Vientiane’s oldest and most fascinating temples featuring a cloister wall filled with thousands of Buddha images.
• Wat Pha That Luang Visit: See Laos’ national symbol and most important sacred monument, Pha That Luang (Great Stupa), completely covered in gold leaf. Every November, devoted Buddhists come here to celebrate Vientiane’s most important festival, Bun That Luang, with parades, music, and religious ceremonies.
• National Museum Visit: Learn about the history, culture, and people of Laos at the National Museum, including the story of the Pathet Lao. See exhibits containing ancient items ranging from dinosaur bones to early Khmer sculptures.
• Buddha Park: Travel approximately half an hour from the city to visit Vientiane's famous Buddha Park, or Xieng Khuan as it is otherwise known. Marvel at the scale and detail of the hundreds of religious statues that inhabit the park, including a 40 metre high statue of Buddha. Please note that transportation to Buddha Park will cost an additional $50.

Explore Experiences

Fly from Vientiane to Hanoi. Take a short flight from quiet Laos into the bustling capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. Take a leisurely walk through the Old Quarter to get to know the narrow streets of this city.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy a free morning in the capital before you take flight.
• Plane: After the short flight to Hanoi, a private vehicle will transfer the group 45 mins to the hotel in the city centre.
• Old Quarter Orientation Walk: Take an orientation walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, a maze of streets, each one traditionally devoted to a different product or industry. Each street is named after the trade practiced on that street for several generations; it's an interesting glimpse into the life of a Hanoian in one of the oldest parts of town. Need a rest? Stop at Bia Hoi corner and pull up a plastic stool. Drink the local brew with the locals and make new friends.

Explore Experiences

Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, stilt house, and Presidential Palace. Enjoy an included water puppet show. Opt to visit the Temple of Literature, museums, and Hoa Lo Prison.

Included Experiences

• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum Visit: Please note: the mausoleum and museum are closed for refurbishment from October-November each year.
• Free Time: Choose what interests you most with some free time in Hanoi.
• Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre Performance: Watch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show with beautiful live music and intricate puppets dancing in a water stage.

Optional Experiences

• Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu) Visit: Visit this sprawling temple built to honour Confucius, sages, and scholars. Dedicated to learning, it housed the country’s first university in 1076. Explore its five courtyards, containing various gates, altars, sanctuaries, shrines, the stelae of doctors, and the Well of Heavenly Clarity.
• Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour: Indulge your inner foodie with a street food tour through bustling Hanoi. Follow your guide through the back streets and markets of the city’s old quarter, sampling local fare along the way. Mingle with city natives and experienced street food artists alike, as you taste a variety of Hanoi faves like “nem ran” and “banh goi.” Stop at a streetside bar to savour a draught beer like Hanoians do. Cap off the tour at the Hanoi Food Culture restaurant, a G Values Fund Project, and try the city’s signature specialty coffee.
• Tran Quoc Pagoda Visit: Visit one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam located on the eastern shore of Tay Ho. Learn about Tran Quoc's history from the 17th-century stela found on site. View it later in the day, if you can – the tall structure is striking against the setting sun.
• Museum of Ethnology Visit: Learn about Vietnam’s various ethnic groups on this visit to the Museum of Ethnology – considered to be the finest modern museum in Vietnam.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner. Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves. In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.

Included Experiences

• Shared Van: Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
• Junk Boat: Skim across the water aboard this iconic traditional Asian sailboat.
• Halong Bay Overnight Cruise: Board a traditional junk boat at Ha Long Bay harbour and cruise out onto serene waters. Marvel at massive limestone karst mountains jutting out of the water, creating unforgettable spectacular scenery. Swim, kayak or go cave exploring on one of the islands, if conditions are right. Indulge in fresh seafood meals with a variety of dishes to sample. Drift to sleep in a cozy cabin on board. On rare occasion Halong Bay is closed to tourist vessels by the government authorities due to extreme weather conditions. Should this occur, an alternate activity will be provided.

Optional Experiences

• Kayaking: Transfer from boat to kayak in this guided water tour, giving you the chance to get even closer to the stunning natural surroundings.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a few hours exploring this beautiful capital city. Visit some shops, have a bia hoi on a street corner or grab a coffee in a lakeside café.
• Overnight Train (beds): Drive about 15 mins to the station and then board the southbound train for the overnight journey.

Optional Experiences

• Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour: Indulge your inner foodie with a street food tour through bustling Hanoi. Follow your guide through the back streets and markets of the city’s old quarter, sampling local fare along the way. Mingle with city natives and experienced street food artists alike, as you taste a variety of Hanoi faves like “nem ran” and “banh goi.” Stop at a streetside bar to savour a draught beer like Hanoians do. Cap off the tour at the Hanoi Food Culture restaurant, a G Values Fund Project, and try the city’s signature specialty coffee.

Pull into Hue early in the morning and dive right into the city, starting with a guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda. The rest of the day, you are free to explore the city how you'd like.

Included Experiences

• Thien Mu Pagoda Visit: Visit Tien Mu, one of the tallest and, perhaps, most elegant pagodas in Vietnam, at seven storeys high. Take a step back in time touring this historic temple - built more than 400 years ago along the north shore of the Perfume River, it has been the site of many political protests.
• Imperial Citadel Tour: Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards, and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War.
• Royal Tombs Visit: Visit the Royal Tombs along the Perfume River in Hue. Embracing the concept of Feng Shui, these tombs are extremely ornate and provide fantastic insight into the lives of the former rulers.

Optional Experiences

• Hue Motorbike Tour: Grab a helmet, hop on a motorbike driven by your experienced local guide, and get ready for a crash course in authentic Viet culture. Spend the next four hours exploring the stalls of a local market, admiring the view of the Perfume River, learning to plough and make rice, creating your own incense sticks, and seeing the most iconic local sights. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Explore Experiences

Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins. Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon. With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Use free time in this quaint town to explore any way you like.

Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.

Included Experiences

• Oodles of Noodles: Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.
• Free Time: Explore this charming city.

Optional Experiences

• Bike Rental: Rent a bike from a local shop and head out to explore.
• Tailor Shops: Go home with some new (handmade!) clothes from one of Hoi An’s famous tailor shops. Walk the streets lined with hundreds of local shops that turn out gorgeous suits, dresses, winter coats, shoes, purses – almost anything – in a day's time to create next season's wardrobe.
• Thu Bon River Boat Trip: The Thu Bon River plays an important part in Hoi An's history and culture. Take a trip down the Thu Bon by river boat for an alternative tour of the city.
• Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour: Stroll through the narrow winding streets of Hoi An’s old town to see Chinese assembly halls, ancestral homes, The Japanese Covered Bridge, and well-preserved pagodas on this self-guided tour. Opt to try local delicacies and fusion food at one of the restaurants for which Hoi An is becoming famous.
• Mỹ Sơn Excursion: Travel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.

Explore Experiences

Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy free time in this charming town.

Optional Experiences

• Thu Bon River Boat Trip: The Thu Bon River plays an important part in Hoi An's history and culture. Take a trip down the Thu Bon by river boat for an alternative tour of the city.
• Mỹ Sơn Excursion: Travel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.
• Hoi An Cooking Class: Take a cooking class to learn more about Vietnamese food and its distinct flavours. Tour the local market to buy fresh ingredients before preparing some popular regional dishes. Enjoy your creations when you're done!

Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic and amazing city. Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country’s commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Explore Experiences

Take a guided tour of famous Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy free time. Use free time to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. The Reunification Palace, the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum are also well worth a visit.

Included Experiences

• Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour: Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.
• Free Time: Enjoy free time to explore this hectic city any way you like.

Optional Experiences

• Reunification Palace Visit: Wander the historic halls of the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace), a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. This former home of the South Vietnamese president during the Vietnam War became the location of the end of the war when a North Vietnamese tank pushed through the palace gates on April 30, 1975.
• Thien Hau Pagoda Visit: Visit the Thien Hau Pagoda, a beautiful temple in the Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City. Learn more about the customs associated with this 19th-century monument – it is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau (the 'Lady of the Sea') who is worshipped in Chinese communities throughout Asia by those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
• Cholon Visit: Take in the busy rhythm of daily life in Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. Tour the area full of teahouses, pagodas, and people, and learn a little more about the unique culture within the city.
• Ben Thanh Market: Wander this bustling market for more insight into Ho Chi Minh City. Pick up souvenirs, sample local cuisine, and experience local living. Learn a little history along the way; Ben Thanh started as a cluster of street vendors selling wares by the Saigon River, and was formalized into a true market in 1859.
• Giac Vien Pagoda Visit: Find this hidden pagoda behind some small alleyways – it’s a rare treat of a monument that has been spared the over-restoration that has been done to so many temples. Tour the inside of this 18th-century pagoda to see nearly 100 carvings of divine beings.
• War Remnants Museum Visit: Visit the War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware. Learn about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today.

Explore Experiences

Spend today free in Ho Chi Minh City. Opt to take a boat cruise through the villages, islands, and markets of the Mekong Delta, and visit traditional candy factories. Or if you prefer, head to the famed Cu Chi Tunnels for an underground tour.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy a free day to explore Ho Chi Minh City.

Optional Experiences

• Cu Chi Tunnels Countryside Cycling Tour: Meet your guide at the hotel and drive 90 minutes to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. After hopping on the bike, you'll ride beneath rows of rubber trees and past countless forest vistas that offer incredible photo opportunities. Along the way, you'll also have the opportunity to visit a rice paper making station, farmers working in the fields and taking care of their livestock and local villages. Bike until you reach the famous Cu Chi tunnel, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.Afterwards, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
• Full Day Mekong River Delta Tour: Trade the city bustle of Ho Chi Minh City for the slower rural life on the Mekong Delta. Begin by exploring the peaceful Vinh Trang Pagoda, then cruise the legendary Mekong River, visiting Unicorn Island to enjoy fresh fruits and traditional music. Sample local chocolates and fresh honey tea from a bee farm. Experience local life with a peaceful rowboat ride through narrow canals, a tuktuk adventure, and a stop at a coconut candy workshop. Indulge in an optional riverside lunch before we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Travel day with border crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia. Enjoy a cyclo tour through the city. Drive to the border and cross into Cambodia. Continue on to the capital, Phnom Penh, and enjoy a cyclo ride through the city for a street-level perspective.

Included Experiences

• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Border Crossing (Vietnam - Cambodia): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
• Phnom Penh Cyclo Tour: Settle in a traditional cyclo and depart from Wat Phnom. Tour busy streets to soak up the real vibe of the city. Pass the post office and Van's restaurant, both stunning colonial buildings, and make your way to the Royal Palace and National Museum. Go along the riverside road and take in the atmospheric cafes that line the street.

Explore Experiences

Guided tour of Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison) and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields). Opt to visit the Royal Palace, the National Museum or the Central Market. Meet a local guide to learn more about the dark side of Cambodian history. Visit to Choeung Ek, the site of the infamous Killing Fields. After, visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison), the notorious Khmer Rouge prison where thousands of Cambodians perished. Enjoy a free afternoon to sightsee. Opt to explore the city's many sights: the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. With time, choose to visit the Russian Market, Wat Phnom or sip a drink at a riverside café.

Included Experiences

• Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) Guided Tour: Learn more about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge visiting the killing fields of Choeung Ek; the grounds now stand as a powerful memorial filled with victims’ skulls and mass graves. Tour this sombre, yet serene, site with a guide.
• Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison) Guided Tour: Learn about the dark history and devastation that occurred at Security Prison 21 (S-21); the prison, used by the Khmer Rouge regime, is now Tuol Sleng Museum. Take a guided tour to hear the stories behind the sombre photos lining the museum walls.
• Free Time: Use free time to customize your experience and see the sights that interest you most.

Optional Experiences

• Russian Market: Visit the Russian Market for a selection of souvenir stalls along with jewellers and fabric sellers.
• Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda Visit: Visit the Royal Palace, a complex of buildings where the kings of Cambodia have resided since the 1860s (except for during the reign of the Khmer Rouge). Be sure to tour the Silver Pagoda compound (aka the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the central compound. See the many magnificent treasures inside this beautiful vihara (Buddhist monastery), including its floor lined with more 5,000 tiles of silver.
• National Museum: Visit Cambodia's largest museum of culture, history, and archaeology. Tour its buildings inspired by Khmer architecture – constructed in the early 1900s, they house one of the world's largest collections of Khmer art. Visits here are well worth your time.
• Wat Phnom Visit: Visit Wat Phnom (Hill Temple) in late afternoon, a historic monument with lots of green space. Keep an eye on your food and belongings; cheeky monkeys like to get a hold of anything they can.

Explore Experiences

Drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the home base for exploring incredible Angkor Wat.

Included Experiences

• Shared Van: Drive through the beautiful Cambodian countryside.

Optional Experiences

• Phare Circus: Enjoy a stellar performance by Phare, a unique and socially conscious circus that injects Cambodian culture and history into its inspiring shows. See acrobatics, contortion, and aerial arts melded with theatre, modern dance, and more. Take in stories of war, relationships, and discrimination, inspired by the real-life experiences of Phare’s creators and performers.

Explore Experiences

Watch the sun rise over the massive Angkor temple complex with a guided tour. Opt to visit the Tonlé Sap floating village and the Angkor National Museum. Enjoy a traditional meal of Khmer food at a G Adventures for Good-supported project. Spend two days exploring Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer kingdom and one of the wonders of the archaeological world. See some of the highlights of this ancient capital, like sunrise at the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, the enigmatic Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm, also known as the 'Tomb Raider' temple. Enjoy a traditional meal to learn about Khmer food and meet some friendly locals. Alternating locations of our included local meal means we can support multiple small businesses and projects in the area. Each experience is truly unique and memorable.

Included Experiences

• Angkor Wat Guided Tour: Follow a local expert through the massive grounds of Angkor Wat for 2 days. You'll have the opportunity to go in and out of the complex, resting at the hottest part of the day.
• Free Time: Enjoy free time in Siem Reap.
• Local Khmer Meal: Depending on the day of the week your tour visits Siem Reap, you will either enjoy a traditional meal at the G Adventures-supported New Hope project or in a local home in a nearby village. With so many travellers coming through this area, alternating experiences helps to allow multiple small businesses to flourish. Both experiences are truly unique and memorable. The New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, an initiative kickstarted by G Adventures, provides skill-building opportunities to marginalized community members. The project also funds the adjacent free community school and health centre. Meals at Phila's house support the education of underprivileged children in the area. Visit either project – both run by locals – and see how they have supported positive change in the community.

Optional Experiences

• Angkor Museum Visit: Learn about the story of Angkor and the Khmer empire at the interactive Angkor Museum. Explore the museum’s inspiring galleries and interactive technology, which bring Angkor’s past to life. Opt to rent an audioguide (5USD) for the full experience.
• Tonle Sap Floating Village: Tour the floating villages of Tonlé Sap. See what life is like living on a lake — rice planting, attending churches and school, are all done on top of water. (Please note: this activity runs seasonally.) (25-30 USD per person)

Explore Experiences

Spend another day exploring the temples of Angkor. In the afternoon, opt to going further afield in Siem Reap.

Included Experiences

• Angkor Wat Guided Tour: Enjoy another day touring the impressive ancient ruins with a local guide.
• Free Time: Get out and explore.

Optional Experiences

• Tonle Sap Floating Village: Tour the floating villages of Tonlé Sap. See what life is like living on a lake — rice planting, attending churches and school, are all done on top of water. (Please note: this activity runs seasonally.) (25-30 USD per person)

Fly from Cambodia to Thailand. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore bustling Bangkok as you wish.

During the winter months, flights arrive in Bangkok in the late afternoon. If you wish to spend more free time in the city, we suggest adding a post-night to your trip.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Free Time: Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Bangkok.

Depart at any time. Not ready to leave this vibrant city? Extend your stay with post-tour accommodation – your CEO can give you a hand.