Journey Along the Mighty Mekong

Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. Rest and relax after your journey. Optional exploration of nearby attractions depending on arrival time.

Montien Hotel Surawong, Bangkok (5-star)

Visit the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Explore the bustling markets and vibrant street life of Bangkok. Evening leisure time for shopping or exploring the city's nightlife.

Montien Hotel Surawong, Bangkok (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Bangkok city sightseeing tour (morning)

Breakfast

We journey by road from the urban sprawl of Bangkok to the peaceful province of Kanchanaburi. Here, we’ll explore the harrowing stories and history behind the Burma Railway, known as the ‘Death Railway’, which was built using forced POW labour during WWII. We’ll take a ride on the train and see the Bridge over the River Kwai - heavy with history and made famous in film - and after lunch we’ll visit the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, resting place for almost 7,000 British and Allied soldiers. Lastly we’ll witness Hellfire Pass and its Memorial Museum, which tells the human suffering behind this infamous engineering feat, before we return to Bangkok.

Montien Hotel Surawong, Bangkok (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: The Burma Railway ‘Death Railway’, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and Hellfire Pass and Memorial Museum (all day)

Breakfast & Lunch

Today, our journey takes us to Cambodia as we cross the Phsar Prom Border on foot and meet our Cambodian guide. After completing immigration formalities, we head towards the relaxed city of Battambang. In the afternoon, a leisurely walking tour awaits, allowing us to explore the charming surprises of this historic town. We'll stroll over the Sangker River and marvel at architectural gems like the Central Market, boasting art deco influences, and the Sangker Cinema, known for its striking modernist facade. Later, we'll venture to Wat Kor, where heritage Khmer homes stand proudly, offering a glimpse into village life and the rich cultural heritage of Cambodia.

Classy Hotel & Spa, Battambang (3-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Battambang sightseeing and visit to Wat Kor village (afternoon)

Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

Today, we're treated to stunning vistas as we explore the 11th-century Wat Phnom Banan, nestled atop a 400m-high hill. The panoramic views of the Cambodian countryside are simply breathtaking. Following this, we embark on an unforgettable adventure aboard the Battambang Bamboo Train. Seated on straw mats atop a simple bamboo flatbed, this rickety and occasionally bumpy ride offers a unique experience like no other. In the afternoon, our journey continues to Siem Reap, the gateway to the iconic temples of Angkor. Later in the evening, we're in for a treat with a visit to the Big Top of Phare. Here, talented young circus performers dazzle audiences with their acrobatics and captivating stories, offering insights into Cambodian history and folklore. It's sure to be an evening filled with wonder and excitement.

Borei Angkor, Siem Reap (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Wat Phnom Banan temple visit and Bamboo Train ride (morning)
Cultural evening including Phare Cambodian Circus (evening)

Breakfast,Lunch & Dinner

The first stop on today’s temple tour is 12th-century Bayon, known as the ‘face temple’ thanks to the 216 smiling Avalokiteshvara faces carved into its façade. Explore the vibrant markets and artisan workshops of Siem Reap.Finally, we come to Angkor Wat, Witness the breathtaking sunrise over Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Explore the ancient temples of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei. Enjoy a traditional Khmer dinner with Apsara dance performance.Visit local markets and interact with villagers.After lunch at a local restaurant, spend an afternoon relaxing at the hotel.

Borei Angkor, Siem Reap (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Temple tour including Bayon and Angkor Wat (morning)

Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

Today we turn our focus to the water, specifically the stilted Khmer villages on Tonlé Sap Lake, which farm fish and vegetables on floating platforms. Boarding a local boat we’ll sail out through mangrove forests, keeping a look out for birds and wildlife, to visit one of these fascinating floating communities. We’ll get hands on in the art of broom making with a local family, and help with village chores - farming, fishing or taking care of animals - during a guided walk. After a simple Khmer lunch, there’s time to see or try more activities, or just chat with the villagers about life on the lake. Heading back to Siem Reap, we’ll stop at a Buddhist temple to receive a blessing from the monks and tonight we’ll take our seats for a traditional Apsara Dance show - a memorable end to a memorable day.

Borei Angkor, Siem Reap (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Tonlé Sap Lake with visit to Khmer communities (morning)
Cultural evening with Apsara Dance show (evening)

Breakfast,Lunch & Dinner

Continue the Mekong River cruise to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Explore the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Visit the bustling markets and enjoy Khmer cuisine.

Palace Gate Hotel, Phnom Penh (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Mekong River sunset cruise (evening)

Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

Today we’ll lean into the history of Cambodia and Phnom Penh. Visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. Explore the National Museum of Cambodia. Sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap River. Spend the afternoon at the central market and Wat Phnom monument.

Victoria Chau Doc Hotel (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (morning)
Tuol Sleng Museum (morning)
Speed boat ride on the Mekong River to Vietnam (afternoon)

Breakfast & Lunch

Our early morning boat journey will enable us to visit a floating market. We return to the township of Can Tho to visit the Mekong Delta museum and local Khmer pagoda. This afternoon we drive to Chau Doc and take a boat ride to visit a traditional house boat and a nearby Cham community before viewing some of the temples characteristic to the region.ater we’ll see a different side to life in rural Vietnam as we take a small boat downriver to a Muslim Cham village, whose mosques and stilted houses have a distinct architectural style. Back on board we’ll cruise to Sam Mountain, the highest peak in the Mekong Delta and a Buddhist pilgrimage site, for spiritual temples and spectacular views over the surrounding paddy fields.

Victoria Can Tho (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Chau Doc walking tour (morning)
Boat ride to Cham village and Sam Mountain (afternoon)

Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

Today, we embark on a water adventure as we journey to My Tho. Here, we board a motorized wooden sampan and cruise across the Mekong Delta to explore the floating farms around Tan My and Tho Son islands. Engaging with local fishermen, we swap our sampan for a rowboat to navigate the charming canals shaded by water coconut trees. Continuing our exploration, we hop on bicycles to discover various cottage industries such as mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, and traditional weaving. For lunch, we indulge in delicious Mekong delicacies served al fresco in a local family's garden. Afterward, we return to the mainland by sampan and make our way back to Ho Chi Minh City, concluding our day's adventures in the late afternoon. It's a day filled with immersion into local life and the natural beauty of the Mekong Delta.

Mai House Saigon (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Mekong Delta cruise and bicycle tour visiting local cottage industries (all day)

Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

Once known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is as fast and furious as it is timeless and serene. Today’s tour shows us both sides of the city, starting at Vinh Nghiem, the first traditional Vietnamese pagoda in Vietnam to be constructed in concrete. We’ll see history first-hand at the War Remnants Museum and at Reunification Palace, which witnessed the end of the Vietnamese War in 1975. And we’ll visit the Central Post Office which was designed by the French architect Gustav Eiffel. Lastly, we’ll explore the graceful curves of one of the city’s most flamboyant and beautiful buildings, the Saigon Opera House. Spend this afternoon at leisure, exploring more of the city or relaxing at the hotel.

Mai House Saigon (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Guided sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City (morning)

Breakfast & Lunch

This morning we’ll delve deeper into Vietnamese history as we go underground at the Cu Chi Tunnels. Today, the Cu Chi Tunnels are seen as a testament to the spirit and resilience of the Vietnamese people. After an afternoon at leisure, tonight we’ll toast the end of our tour with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Mai House Saigon (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels (morning)

Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner

Our Southeast Asia tour comes to an end this morning, as we return to the airport for the flight back to the UK.

Ho Chi Minh City - UK

Today includes…

Breakfast