10 Days Cultural Heritage Tour of Laos and Cambodia

ITINERARY

Day 1: Luang Prabang | Arrive in Luang Prabang

International Flight: Excluded

Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Feel free to explore the beautiful city of Luang Prabang on your own to discover night markets selling local tapestries and souvenirs.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 2: Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Waterfalls and Laotian Monasteries

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
First, we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang.

Wat Xieng Thong Temple – 10 Days Cultural Heritage Tour Laos Cambodia

In the afternoon, your half-day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 3: Luang Prabang | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, transfer to Elephant Village – an elephant sanctuary with a focus on rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants. Here you’ll meet the camp manager and receive a short briefing about the elephants. Throughout the day, you’ll take place in the following activities:

• • Riding an elephant – you’ll have the opportunity to ride directly on the neck of an elephant
  • Mahout Training – learn about the commands of how to communicate to the elephant
  • Enjoy lunch at the outdoor garden restaurant
  • Bathe your elephant – Go down to the nearby Nam Khan River to bath your elephant; perhaps the elephant will bathe you as well!

Then return to your hotel for leisure time.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 4: Luang Prabang | Boat Trip to Pak Ou Caves

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You’ll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we’ll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving.

Pak Ou Cave – 10 Days Cultural Heritage Tour Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 5: Luang Prabang – Siem Reap | Flight to Siem Reap

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
Morning is at your leisure to relax or explore the rest in town.

In the afternoon, take a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Siem Reap is a quaint town in Cambodia and the gateway to the vast remains of the Angkor empire. Discover the Royal Gardens on your own with ancient trees home to a colony of giant fruit bats. Take a stroll along the scenic riverside and visit the night markets to find unique souvenirs. You may also want to spend the evening with a visit to Pub Street with several restaurants and bars that stay open late into the night. Many restaurants have live entertainment in the evening.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 6: Siem Reap – Sra Em | Koh Ker Pyramid | Jungle Temple of Beng Mealea

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, transfer to the largest lake in Southeast Asia, the Tonle Sap. You’ll take a boat ride to Kampong Phlukk which means, Harbor of the Tusks due to its history in the elephant trade several centuries ago. You’ll also see the mangrove forests nearby. After the tour, you’ll return to your hotel to relax for rest of the day.

Next, continue to visit Beng Melea while the morning dew and fog still cover this Indiana Jones-esque temple. Wind through maze-like tunnels, swing on ancient tree vines and chart your own adventure while you climb through this amazing complex hidden in the jungle.

Then you’ll travel further to what was once the great city of Koh Ker, which was the capital before Angkor Thom. You’ll visit many temples, ancient pools, and ruins in the vast area. Then you’ll finish with a visit to the pyramid temple of Koh Ker. After this, you’ll continue to Sra Em for overnight.

Accommodation: Preah Vihear Boutique Hotel

Day 7: Siem Reap | Lonely Mountain Temple

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
You’ll get an early start driving by private car up to the northern mountain range where Cambodia borders Thailand. There, your car will stop at the bottom of the mountain where a 4WD car awaits to take you up the mountainside to a gem that has just recently become safe to visit. As you climb the mountain, take a deep breath of the clean mountain air before the stunning view takes your breath away again. Perched atop the mountain is the magnificent Preah Vihear Temple, which is among one of the largest complexes in Cambodia. On a clear day, you can see more than 50km of Cambodia on one side and Thailand on the other.

After you’ve finished exploring this mountaintop wonder, you’ll return to Srah Emm for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll return to Siem Reap by private car.

The evening will be at your own leisure.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 8: Siem Reap | Angkor Thom Ancient Capital

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you’ll begin your explorations of the remains of an ancient civilization that once ruled much of Southeast Asia. Today, you’ll be visiting the ancient capital city of Angkor Thom. On your way to Angkor Thom, you’ll catch a glimpse of the front of Angkor Wat as you pass by, which will leave you with a tingling feeling on the back of your neck as you take your first glance of the enormity and wonder of the largest religious complex to ever exist.

South Gate of Angkor Thom – 10 Days Cultural Heritage Tour Laos Cambodia

Magnificent Temples in Angkor Thom

However, we’ll be saving the best for last as you go on today to see some other equally impressive structures of Ta Prohm Temple, Bayon Temple, Banteay Kdei, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, and the Royal Palace. First on the agenda is Ta Prohm. Worn by time, rain, and overpowered by the jungle, this immaculate structure is hidden under canopy will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped into the movie set of a treasure hunt adventure. Your private tour guide will give you the history and stories passed through oral tradition.
After you’ve had lunch, your exploits will continue as you visit Banteay Kdei (“Citadel of Chambers”). You’ll also visit Victory Gate, Terrace of the Leper King, the Royal Palace, Baphuon and Bayon. Bayon sets itself apart with its almost 200 smiling faces, sure to make you feel welcome on your second day to the Kingdom of Wonders. With its winding tunnels, chambers, and daring climbs, Bayon will give you many picturesque moments to keep your camera busy.

As the sun approaches the horizon, you’ll enjoy a sunset from the top of the pyramid-shaped temple of Pre Rup. After sunset, you’ll be taken back to your hotel for the evening.

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 9: Siem Reap | Angkor Wat Sunrise

Meals: Breakfast
Before the light of day, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the front of Angkor Wat Temple. From here, you’ll watch one of the most revered sunrises in the world. Our guide will arrange a light picnic breakfast for you to enjoy in front of the world’s #1 Heritage Site. Then in the early hours, you’ll explore the vast temple with your guide bringing to life the stories of Angkor. In the morning, the rays of the light play through the chambers as the morning haze settles and giving the temple a mystical ambiance while there are few tourists who visit during this time of day. Return to the hotel after the tour and the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Angkor Wat Temple – 10 Days Cultural Heritage Tour Laos Cambodia

Accommodation: Shinta Mani Villa – Bensley Collection

Day 10: Siem Reap | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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