Highlights Trip for Explorers
Highlights Trip for Explorers
from Bangkok via Laos to Ho Chi Minh City
Highlights
Itinerary
Arrival in Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok, the city of luminous temples and palaces. Upon your arrival, our local driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Relax and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. You spend your first night in Bangkok.
(D)
Bangkok Temples and Palaces
Today you will visit the main attractions of Bangkok with your local guide. First stop is Wat Traimit Temple, also known as the Temple of Golden Buddha because of its 5.5 ton solid gold Buddha statue. Then you will go to Wat Pho, a Buddhist temple known for its giant reclining Buddha statue and considered the first public university of Thailand. Next, you take a ferry across the Chao Prayer River and visit the Temple of the Dawn - Wat Arun, one of the most iconic monument of Thailand with its dazzling Khmer style pagodas decorated with tiny pieces of colored glass and porcelain. After lunch, continue on to the Grand Palace complex before returning to your hotel. You will spend the night in Bangkok.
(B, L, D)
Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Today you will be transferred to the airport and fly to Chiang Mai. Upon your arrival at Chiang Mai airport, you will meet your local guide who will accompany you to the hotel. After a short break, you will be driven to the top of Doi Suthep, a mountain west of Chiang Mai. On the way, visit a Meo hill tribe village. Afterwards, head to the sacred Buddhist temple Wat Phra That (also known as Wat Doi Suthep), which will impress you with its Buddha statues and panoramic views of Chiang Mai. After the tour, you return to your hotel in Chiang Mai and have the rest of the day for yourself. You then spend the night in Chiang Mai.
(B, L, D)
Full Day Elephant Safari Tour
Today you will spend the whole day at an elephant camp and have a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these majestic but so gentle mammals. After meeting with elephants, feeding them, and bathing them, you return to the camp in an ox cart and enjoy a Thai lunch there. In the afternoon, you will go bamboo rafting on the Mae Taeng River. Afterwards, on the way back to Chiang Mai, you will visit an orchid nursery before returning to your hotel in Chiang Mai to spend the night.
(B, L, D)
Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang
Enjoy your free in the Chiang Mai until get transferred to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Our local driver in Luang Prabang will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. You spend the night in Luang Prabang.
(B, L, D)
Luang Prabang City Tour & Kuang Si Waterfall
Today you have an option to start your day with participating the almsgiving ritual in the very early morning. After the ceremony, you return to your hotel to have breakfast before going on a half day city tour. Your local guide will take you to visit the city's oldest temple Wat Sene and the formal royal temple Wat Xieng Thong. Then continue on to the Museum of the Royal Palace and the Ethnology Museum. Enjoy lunch before heading out to the beautiful Kuang Si waterfall with a stop at the Bear Rescue Center nearby. The next destination is Mount Phousi, the highest hill in Luang Prabang standing at 300 feet above sea level. From the summit, you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view across the city and its many temples, and over the surrounding landscape to the mountains in the distance. Here you can also visit the temple Wat Chomsi, a golden Buddhist shrine dating back to 1804. At the end of the day, make a visit to the night market in Luang Prabang before returning to your hotel to spend the night.
(B, L, D)
Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves & Artisan Villages
Today you are going to go on a boat trip along the Mekong River to visit Pak Ou Caves. Packed with over 4,000 Buddha icons, the caves are set in a dramatic limestone cliff at the point where the Mekong joins the Nam Ou River. On the way back, you will make stops at local artisan villages known for their production of rice wine, textiles, handwoven silk, and special Saa paper, which is made from naturally shredded barks so no trees are harmed in the process. At the end of the tour, return to your hotel in Luang Prabang and spend the night here.
(B, L, D)
Luang Prabang - Hanoi
Enjoy your free time today before flying to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, our local driver will take you to your hotel. You can then relax and explore the area at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy your dinner in a nice local restaurant before spending the night in Hanoi.
(B, L, D)
Hanoi City Tour
After breakfast in the hotel, a tour of the city is on. Starting with a visit to the President Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the next door Ho Chi Minh Palace where lies the modest stilt house of the Vietnam's first president. Next stop is the Temple of Literature - the first university in Vietnam. After lunch, you will visit the Vietnamese Ethnology Museum before returning to the Old Quarter to walk through its lively streets. Afterwards, you will enjoy a unique show at the Water Puppetry Theatre. Dinner and overnight will be in Hanoi.
(B, L, D)
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay
Today you will go to Ha Long and embark on a two-day cruise trip in the amazing Ha Long Bay. After boarding the cruise, you will enjoy a fresh seafood lunch followed by a cave excursion. Later you can explore the bay by kayak, then return to the cruise to join a cooking class on board before enjoying your sunset dinner. Spend the night on board the cruise.
(B, L, D)
Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City
Wake up early today if you can to catch the limestone cliffs in fog and the slowly rising sun. After a hearty breakfast, you can swim, kayak or relax on the sundeck. After lunch, the cruise returns to the port where you disembark and get transferred to Hanoi airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon your arrival, your local driver will take you to the hotel. Relax and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. In the evening, you will have dinner in a local restaurant before staying overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
(B, L, D)
Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh & Cu Chi Tunnels
Today you will first be heading out to visit the Great Holy See Temple in Tay Ninh, where you can observe a daily prayer session with participated by hundreds to thousands worshippers. You can also explore the temple's unique architecture and colorful interior. Have lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to visit the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels - an extensive network of underground system of great importance during the Vietnam War. You will learn about the history of the tunnels and will have a chance to actually traverse and navigate through them. Afterwards, you can have hot tea and try cassava - the staple food during wartime, before returning to Ho Chi Minh City to spend the night.
(B, L, D)
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta
After breakfast, you will head to Mekong Delta by car. Once there, board a motorboat to get to the floating market. Then transfer to a small rowboat to cruise through the small channels until you arrive at a large orchard, where many fresh local fruits are available for you to taste. You will also get to sample coconut sweets, crispy rice cakes, and see unique pottery products made by the locals. Afterwards, you can bike through a village to visit some rural shops, or alternatively, just relax in a hammock. After the tour, you will return to Ho Chi Minh City to rest and spend the night there.
(B, L, D)
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Today you can enjoy your breakfast and free time before going to Ho Chi Minh City airport for your flight home. Safe travel and see you next time!
(B)
Route
Destination
Vietnam, Laos, ThailandDeparture
Bangkok / Ho Chi Minh CityDeparture Time
dailyIncluded
Accommodation as described in programAirport TransfersBoat trips as described in programDaily breakfast in accommodationDomestic flightsEnglish speaking private tour guideEntrance fees & excursions as per tour programMeals as specified in tour program (B,L,D)Mineral water during excursionsprivate transfer in air conditioned carTravel insuranceNot Included
Intl. flightsVisa feesOptional
Additional tours & activitiesprivate tour guide in other languages on request