Day 3
Included floating markets and Bangkok city tour - Immerse yourself in Thai culture with a full-day sightseeing tour around the colourful national capital. Your first stop will be the floating markets at Damnoen Saduak, where you can watch the locals buy fresh produce from the traders on the boats. Next, head back into Bangkok for a guided tour of the Royal Island. Here, the Grand Palace adjoins the Wat Phra Kaew Temple, with its marvellous Emerald Buddha, as well as the less formal Wat Pho Temple, home to the gigantic Reclining Buddha statue.
This evening, head back to the hotel.
Day 4
Day at leisure with optional River Kwai excursion - Enjoy the city or join the optional excursion through a fascinating region of rice fields and sugar-cane plantations, and on into the jungle to explore the part of the world forever associated with WWII, the construction of the infamous ‘Death Railway’ and the 1957 war epic, The Bridge over the River Kwai.
Day 5
Fly to Siem Reap - An early start sees your tour manager collecting you from the hotel before travelling to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap.
On arrival, meet your friendly Cambodian guide, and after immigration formalities are completed, head into Siem Reap town for lunch. Afterwards, check into your inner-city hotel for the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 6
Included visit to the Kok Sangke community - After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the Kok Sangke community to visit the home of a local family who’ll teach you how several traditional Khmer desserts are made.
You’ll then learn about the village’s sustainable farming techniques with a stop at the community centre, which teaches farmers about eco-friendly agricultural practices. While in the village, your guide will show you some of the nearby farms, ahead of an authentic Cambodian lunch.
Later this afternoon, call at Wat Luang Proleung and the village of Kampong Khleang, on the banks of Tonle Sap Lake, where you’ll have time to admire the stilted houses and colourful floating markets. Return to Siem Reap this evening for dinner at the hotel.
Day 7
Included Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat excursion - Once you've had breakfast, discover the Bayon, which was built under King Jayavarman VII as the heart of his new capital, Angkor Thom. This grand citadel was the greatest complex of its kind in the Khmer Empire and remains one of Southeast Asia’s most spectacular sights after almost 600 years. Its ruined boulevards and gateways cover a vast area to the north of Siem Reap.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, before exploring vast Angkor Wat, the undeniable highlight of the region’s ancient ruins. Ringed by a moat stretching more than five kilometres in length, this iconic landmark is the world's largest religious building, and its five great towers and carved bas-reliefs are a truly spectacular sight. Its silhouette has been represented on Cambodia's national flag since 1875.
After a fascinating day’s exploration, return to the hotel later in the evening.
Day 8
Drive to Battambang and included Wat Ek Phnom and Cambodia Peace Gallery visits - Once you've had breakfast, travel by coach to Battambang, a historic city known for its colonial architecture, art scene and agricultural importance.
In the afternoon, visit Wat Ek Phnom, a pre-Angkor period temple on the banks of the Sangker River, and the Cambodia Peace Gallery, where you'll learn about Cambodia's journey from war towards peace and reconciliation.
The rest of the afternoon will be free to spend as you see fit, and dinner will be served at the hotel this evening.
Day 9
Drive to Phnom Penh and afternoon at leisure - Rise early this morning, with breakfast at the hotel, and travel by coach to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, stopping for lunch on the way.
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, head to the hotel for check in ahead of an afternoon at leisure. This French-colonial city, nestled on the banks of the River Mekong, is a treasure chest of heritage sites, and you can spend your time as you see fit. Of the city's landmarks, the most impressive are the city’s Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, with its priceless Buddhist artefacts.
However you choose to spend your afternoon, reconvene at the hotel for dinner.
Day 10
Included Tuol Sleng Museum visit and Mekong fast boat journey into Vietnam - Spend a thought-provoking morning at the Tuol Sleng Museum, which chronicles the Pol Pot years and the reign of the Khmer Rouge.
Afterwards, you'll visit the Wat Phnom before you board a fast boat along the River Mekong to feel the wind on your face on a thrilling boat ride into Vietnam.
Arrive in Chau Doc later this evening, where you’ll check into your new hotel and enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers.
Day 11
Included Nui Sam excursion and drive to Can Tho - Your day begins with breakfast and a morning visit to the holy mountain of Nui Sam. Studded with pagodas and temples, this sacred peak promises truly spectacular views over the Mekong Delta, and you’ll have some time to soak up the scenery before continuing your journey south along the river. Call at a local restaurant en route for lunch before arriving in the university town of Can Tho, with its colourful floating markets, busy working harbour and sacred Khmer pagoda, Munirangsyaram.
Here, once you’ve checked into your hotel, you’ll be free to relax for a few hours before dinner.
Day 12
Included visits to Can Tho and Cai Rang and drive to Ho Chi Minh City - Have breakfast and check out of the hotel, then take a fascinating boat ride to the floating markets of Cai Rang and visit the delta town of Cai Be where you’ll have lunch.
Afterwards, journey on the coach through the Mekong landscape of rice paddies, flat-bottomed boats, fruit trees and bougainvillaea, and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, this evening.
Day 13
Included Cu Chi Tunnels excursion and Ho Chi Minh City tour - This morning, take breakfast at the hotel before boarding the coach for a scenic drive north past traditional rice paddies to the rural outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you'll find the remarkable Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground complex that provides a poignant reminder of the country's recent history. Enjoy an introductory talk, outlining the wartime experience of the Vietnamese people, and settle in for up-close demonstrations of the cunning traps created by the Viet Cong.
If you're feeling adventurous, you'll have the opportunity to delve beneath the surface for a crawl through a section of this 200-kilometre tunnel network. Formerly used as a base of operations for the Viet Cong's guerrilla campaign, this underground complex now serves as a national memorial for those who lost their lives in the conflict.
Afterwards, head back into Ho Chi Minh City for a guided tour. This excursion will reveal the city's fascinating blend of French-colonial history and modern Vietnamese life. Highlights include the grand General Post Office, the Reunification Palace on the site of the former President's Palace, the Xa Loi Pagoda with its bronze Buddha, and the War Remnants Museum.
The day will end with a celebratory dinner, the perfect opportunity to look back on your holiday so far and relive the many highlights.
Day 14
Morning at leisure and travel to Hồ Tràm - Spend the morning relaxing by the poolside or exploring Ho Chi Minh City a little further. If you have the chance, consider wandering around the colourful Ben Thanh Market with its vibrant spice stalls, handicraft souvenir shops and delightful street food vendors.
Later this afternoon, board a coach for the drive out of the Vietnamese capital to the coastal haven, Hồ Tràm. Sandwiched between lush rainforest reserves and pristine white-sand beaches, the local area promises the perfect setting for a rejuvenating seaside escape. Upon arrival this afternoon, settle into your new resort and spend the rest of the day at your own pace.
Day 15
Day at leisure - You’ll have the choice to do as much or as little as you like on Vietnam’s east coast with a day entirely at leisure.
Those favouring relaxation will find plenty of ways to unwind, both at the hotel and in Hồ Tràm’s natural stretches. With easy access to unspoilt stretches of the region’s white-sand beaches, manicured gardens and two outdoor swimming pools, this boutique resort makes lazy days on the coast even easier. If you’d like, you can also take a treatment or two at the spa or ride the property’s complimentary shuttle bus service to the nearby Binh Chau Hot Springs.
For a more active time in Hồ Tràm, you can also partake in optional activities at the resort, ranging from kayaking and beach volleyball to archery and tennis, to keep you entertained throughout your stay. Other available activities include authentic Vietnamese cooking classes, yoga sessions and cycling tours. Several breath-taking trails can also be explored under guidance, offering sights of local spice plantations and the dense tropical woodland of the neighbouring rainforest reserve.
Day 16
Day at leisure - You’ll have the choice to do as much or as little as you like on Vietnam’s east coast with a day entirely at leisure.
Those favouring relaxation will find plenty of ways to unwind, both at the hotel and in Hồ Tràm’s natural stretches. With easy access to unspoilt stretches of the region’s white-sand beaches, manicured gardens and two outdoor swimming pools, this boutique resort makes lazy days on the coast even easier. If you’d like, you can also take a treatment or two at the spa or ride the property’s complimentary shuttle bus service to the nearby Binh Chau Hot Springs.
For a more active time in Hồ Tràm, you can also partake in optional activities at the resort, ranging from kayaking and beach volleyball to archery and tennis, to keep you entertained throughout your stay. Other available activities include authentic Vietnamese cooking classes, yoga sessions and cycling tours. Several breath-taking trails can also be explored under guidance, offering sights of local spice plantations and the dense tropical woodland of the neighbouring rainforest reserve.
Day 17
Day at leisure - You’ll have the choice to do as much or as little as you like on Vietnam’s east coast with a day entirely at leisure.
Those favouring relaxation will find plenty of ways to unwind, both at the hotel and in Hồ Tràm’s natural stretches. With easy access to unspoilt stretches of the region’s white-sand beaches, manicured gardens and two outdoor swimming pools, this boutique resort makes lazy days on the coast even easier. If you’d like, you can also take a treatment or two at the spa or ride the property’s complimentary shuttle bus service to the nearby Binh Chau Hot Springs.
For a more active time in Hồ Tràm, you can also partake in optional activities at the resort, ranging from kayaking and beach volleyball to archery and tennis, to keep you entertained throughout your stay. Other available activities include authentic Vietnamese cooking classes, yoga sessions and cycling tours. Several breath-taking trails can also be explored under guidance, offering sights of local spice plantations and the dense tropical woodland of the neighbouring rainforest reserve.
Day 18
Return to the UK - Enjoy a last breakfast on Vietnam’s east coast this morning and set off for your journey back home. Afterwards, drive to the airport for your overnight return flight to the UK.
Day 19
Arrival in the UK - Touch down in the UK this morning at the end of an extraordinary Southeast Asian adventure.