Beyond the Mekong
Overview
Highlights
- Experience life along the mighty Mekong River
- Discover the fascinating cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang
- Explore the magnificent temples of Angkor
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Itinerary
Arrive in Thailand's capital, the lively metropolis of Bangkok. The bustling street life of this energetic city is set to a backdrop of colourful, ornate shrines and modern glass-fronted high-rises, which jostle for position to dominate the city's skyline. It is a pl...
This morning's sightseeing takes us by bus and boat to Bangkok's iconic sights including the spectacular Grand Palace complex with its collection of palace buildings, golden stupas, temples, known as wats, and decorative statues. The most revered of the wats here is W...
Thailand's second city of Chiang Mai, in the north of the country, is surrounded by jungle covered hills at an elevation of 300m and offers a respite from the heat and noise of Bangkok. Today we enjoy an orientation walk of the old walled city, with its many ancient t...
This morning we leave Chiang Mai and drive further north through hilltribe country to Tha Ton, a small rural town on the Kok River. Here we board longtail boats for the relaxing cruise downstream towards Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai has a large hilltribe population, attrac...
Today we travel to the interesting fortified city of Chiang Saen which can only be described as a lively one street town surrounded by scattered ruins of temples, crumbling stupas and grass covered walls and ramparts. Founded in 1328, the town was once a Burmese stron...
This morning we board our boat and start to cruise along the Mekong River. Travel today is slow, but this allows us to absorb the sense of remoteness and timelessness of life on the river. We pass hills covered with dense vegetation, rugged cliffs, small fishing villa...
This morning we continue our journey along the Mekong River towards Luang Prabang. En route we will stop and visit Pak Ou Caves where we climb steps up a limestone cliff to reach the sacred Buddhist shrine, crammed with small Buddha images of all shapes and sizes. We ...
One of the most peaceful experiences in Laos is seeing hundreds of saffron-robed monks of Luang Prabang walking through the streets at sunrise collecting alms. You may choose to get up early to enjoy this experience. Today has been left free for you to enjoy Luang Pr...
After breakfast we travel by bus to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, around 45 minutes from Luang Prabang, with a short stopover at Wat Mai temple. Passing forested hills and several ethnic minority villages we arrive at the limestone falls that cascade into several clear pools below. We return to Luang Prabang for our afternoon flight to the Laos capital of Vientiane.
This morning we explore the low-rise French colonial capital and explore some of the main sights including the Victory Gate, a Triumphal Arch affording us good views of the city; That Luang stupa, said to contain a hair of the Buddha; and Wat Sisaket, packed with fine...
Leaving Laos we fly to Cambodia and another of Indochina's charming French colonial capitals, Phnom Penh. Here we visit the National Museum of Arts, which contains a notable collection of Khmer Sculpture that has been rescued from the temples of Angkor, giving us a flavour of things to come. We also explore the ornate Royal Palace with its stunning Silver Pagoda.
Today we continue our sightseeing in Phnom Penh and discover some of Cambodia's dark history. We pay a visit to the emotive Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, once a high school that became the Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation centre. We then take a short drive o...
We make an early start for today's drive to Siem Reap, we will pass through small provincial towns and stop somewhere for lunch along on the way. Later in the day after we have checked in to our hotel in Siem Reap we begin our exploration of the ancient temples of An...
Today we pay a visit Ta Prohm, lying half consumed by the jungle and made famous by the movie 'Lara Croft'; Banteay Srei, a small temple with exquisitely carved lintels, and finally the most iconic of all - Angor Wat itself. Built in the early 12th century by King Sur...
We have a few final hours this morning to visit the temples one last time. You may choose to make an early start and watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. This morning after breakfast we visit the temples of King Jayavarman VII, including the walled city of Angkor Thom, ho...
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Bangkok. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Bangkok at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like t...
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Explore! Reviews & Ratings
Top of my list of preferred travel operators
Has now put Explore on top of my list of preferred ...
Has now put Explore on top of
Has now put Explore on top of my list of preferred ...
You have a gold mine in Wit.
You have a gold mine in Wit. He is the best advertisemen...
You have a gold mine in Wit
You have a gold mine in Wit. He is the best advertisemen...
Excellent trip
Excellent trip, with an exceptionally good leader, Wit. The local guides in Cambodia were also very good, and it was extremely powerful (and moving) to hear their pe...
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