Inside Indochina

Welcome to Laos! Airport arrival transfer from Vientiane airport and hotel check in. The rest of the day is free to relax and spend at leisure.

After breakfast we explore the charming capital of Laos on a city tour. Highlights include Wat Si Saket - the oldest Buddhist monastery temple in the country, the former royal temple of Haw Pha Kaeo, Pha That Luang monument and the Buddha Park with its incredible array of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. We also visit to the COPE Centre, a charity working with victims of unexploded bombs and mines. End the day with a spectacular sunset dinner beside the Mekong River.

We leave the capital early and journey north through lush countryside to Vang Vieng, peaceful village of Vang Vieng, situated on a curve of the Nam Song River.

In the afternoon, we cross the Nam Song River and venture to the other side, traversing a picturesque, unpaved route that winds through the Vang Vieng countryside, passing small villages and rice fields. This journey leads us to the blue lagoon and the Tham Pou Kham cave. The striking landscape, with its towering karst rock formations between Vang Vieng and the blue lagoon, is a sight to behold and makes the trip truly worthwhile. Inside the cave, we find a maze of chambers, galleries, and crevices adorned with stalagmites and stalactites, and the air inside is cool and damp.

Following our exploration of the cave, we descend to the Blue Lagoon, where you can relax, swim, or simply unwind in the refreshing waters. Returning to Vang Vieng, we continue our sightseeing with a visit to the famous Tham Jang caves, once used by the local people as a hideout from Chinese invaders. From here, we journey to Ban Na Khae village, home to both the Hmong and Kamu communities. As we explore the village, we gain a fascinating insight into the daily lives, traditions, and culture of the locals.

After breakfast we take a short transfer to the station for our one-hour express train to Luang Prabang. With its gleaming temple roofs, graceful colonial architecture, and stunning mountain backdrop, this charming town has been recognised by UNESCO as the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The streets are quiet and relaxed, where orange-robed monks carrying umbrellas drift peacefully between temples.

We arrive in Luang Prabang in the early afternoon, and the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy at your own pace.

We head out of town to a local farm to learn about rice production. After lunch we cruise up the Mekong River to visit the Pak Ou caves crammed with Buddha images of all shapes and sizes, stopping Ban Xanghai village en route to sample local rice wine. Returning to Luang Prabang we stop at Ban Phanom village - known for its hand weaving, before boarding our evening flight to Hanoi.

Day 7 offers free time for you to explore Vietnam's capital, or better still, why not opt to get off the beaten track and explore Hanoi with us on our optional Back Streets of Hanoi add-on which explores the quaint districts of Cho Buoi, Hoang Hoa Tham and Vinh Phuc, and also includes an exhilarating local experience - riding pillion, on taxi-motorbikes through a maze of tiny streets and along the shore of beautiful Ho Tay Lake.

A scenic bicycle ride into the countryside leads us to Tra Que village this morning (we can arrange alternative transportation at no extra cost for those who don't wish to cycle). Here we discover age old farming practices and learn about traditional medicine. It's a fun, hands on experience today where we'll don conical hats and assist with tending the fields. Then we'll enjoy an entertaining cooking demonstration and help to cook a tasty lunch.

A free day for you relax or further sightsee. You may wish to take a relaxing rowboat journey along the river or spend the day lazing by the beach or hotel pool. Alternatively you can opt for an excursion to the UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary or enjoy a day trip to the popular Ba Na Hills mountain resort, where you will ride the second longest cable car in the world and walk along the striking Golden Bridge (book and pay locally).

Early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon). Drive to the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl' of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as it fantastic views while boating along the canals. Taking our sampan from Cai Be we'll cruise through the maze of waterways visiting local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served today in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.

Early today we visit the ever lively Cai Rang floating market. Watch as melons, pineapples, fresh greens, sacks of rice and children's toys get tossed from one sampan to another at great heights and speed before driving back to Ho Chi Minh City. Once called the Pearl of the Orient, modern Ho Chi Minh City is a thriving metropolis on the move. Sleek sky scrapers, gourmet restaurants, designer malls and swanky bars and spas are scattered between ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks and lively street markets.

On a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City we will see the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post office before visiting the sobering War Remnants Museum. Evening at leisure.

Please note: Itinerary change from 28 June 2026 onwards - the visit to Cai Rang floating market will be replaced with a visit to Con Son Islet floating fish farm. After breakfast we take a short cruise to Con Son Islet, where we visit the fascinating floating fish farm, set on the Hau River. Here, local families raise a wide variety of fish species that thrive in the region's rich waterways. Stroll along the floating bridges and see these unique fish up close. Watch fish leaping from the water during feeding time and for a fun experience, dip your feet into the water for a fish massage!

This morning we visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a sprawling underground network of tunnels and living quarters used by the Viet Cong during the war. Then we drive to the Cambodian border (crossing at Moc Bai/Bavet) and continue on to the capital of Phnom Penh. Today the nation's capital offers a bustling mix of Asia's past and present, a city quickly taking its place amongst the trendy capitals of the region with superb restaurants and a number of attractions.

This morning, check out and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Siem Reap. After freshening up, our touring will start with a visit to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. This monumental fortified city is encircled by a 100m wide moat and is famed for the huge statue heads that glare down from every angle.

In Angkor Thom we will see the fabulous Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King. Last but not least is atmospheric Tra Prohm Temple where vast muscular tree roots envelop the crumbling towers and walls whilst the trees' foliage dapples the temple in shade.

This evening we attend the wonderful Phare Cambodian Circus. The Phare NGO circus project trains street kids to become talented circus artists and the popular show blends circus skills with interpretations of modern life and issues in Cambodian society.

Early this morning, there's an optional sunrise visit to Angkor Wat to marvel at this magnificent temple bathed in the golden light, before our tour of Angkor Wat after breakfast. This awe-inspiring monument to man's devotion to his gods is believed to be the largest religious building in the world, adorned with thousands of intricate wall carvings and extensive bas-reliefs. There are countless opportunities to capture stunning photographs at this iconic site.

From Angkor Wat we travel to the village of Preak Dak, where each member of the group has the opportunity to plant mango or jackfruit saplings as part of our tree-planting initiative, operated in partnership with this local community. Then we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the beautiful Angkor temple of Banteay Srei. Cut from pink-hued sandstone, this Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva features lavishly decorated libraries and magnificent reliefs of divine figures.

Later this afternoon we drive to Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three stilted villages within the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake. Here, you'll see homes perched high above the water and, depending on the season, the hauntingly beautiful petrified trees of the flooded forest.

Today marks the end of our holiday. Lap up the hotel facilities this morning before hotel check out and included departure transfer to the airport.