Scenic Tours
1300 SCENIC (723 642)
Journey along the Mekong
(18 days, Ho Chi Minh City - Luang Prabang, 2012)
This 18 day journey along the Mekong River from Ho Chi Minh City to Luang Prabang includes a seven night luxury cruise and a visit to the famous Angkor Wat temple.
Your 18 day journey begins in Ho Chi Minh City before transferring to My Tho in the Mekong Delta to board your luxurious Mekong River cruise boat. Your first stop will be Chau Doc, where you will visit the busy markets and its temple before exploring the unique floating villages and catfish farms.
You will then cross the border into Cambodia and stop at Phnom Penh, where you will visit the Genocide Museum and learn about Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge history and the Cambodian Civil War. Next you will cruise to Kampong Chan and visit the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey, which offers some of the best views of Cambodia and dates back to the 8th century.
Your journey continues along the Tonlé Sap River to the great lake of Tonlé Sap, which is more than 150 kilometres in length and dominates the Cambodian landscape. Arriving in Siem Reap you will disembark your boat to travel to the magnificent 12th century World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple complex, the ancient capital of the great Khmer Empire and one of the most superb wonders of the world. From Siem Reap you will travel to Don Daeng Island in Laos, where you will visit the World heritage-listed Wat Phuo, a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways.
Next you will arrive in Vientiane, the vibrant Laotian capital, before finishing your tour in Luang Prabang, a World Heritage-listed city where you will visit the Pak Ou Caves, home to hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images, the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities.
- 17 night tour
- 10 night land tour
- 7 night luxury cruise on the Mekong River
- All-Inclusive Touring
- Authentic cultural experiences
- Seven night luxury Mekong River Cruise
- Luxury Cabin on The Jahan
- Three night stay at Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Spa Resort, Siem Reap
- Three night stay La Residence Phuo Vao by Orient Express, Luang Prabang
- Small Group Touring
- Domestic flights throughout
- Professional Tour Director
- Knowledgeable local guides
- Scenic Free Choice activities INCLUDED
- Scenic Enrich - highlight experiences allowing you to live the destination not just travel through
- Airport Transfers
- ALL TIPPING, GRATUITIES and PORTERAGE INCLUDED
Included Scenic Enrich
- Visit a pagoda where Buddhist monks will celebrate with a private blessing
- Dine at Sala Bai, a school training young Cambodians from poor family backgrounds in the principles of hospitality
- Enjoy a delicious picnic with the local Laos people who will explain their local culture
- Travel by elephant through the forest, a sustainable tourism project to provide the local villagers with income
- Eat a delicious Lao-style lunch at Makphet Restaurant, aiming to train street children in hospitality
- Watch the monks move silently through the streets to collect alms, a beautiful, serene ritual
- Experience one of Laos’ oldest traditions, The Baci ceremony
Included Scenic Free Choice
- In Siem Reap, explore the 12th century Beng Melea and Banteay Srei temples; or take part in an authentic Khmer cooking class; or cruise on Tonlé Sap and enjoy a traditional lunch in the home of a local family
- In Vientiane, visit a weaving village; or discover the variety of orchid species native to Laos; or learn to cook traditional Laos cuisine
Included Scenic Dining
- 43 superb meals including 17 Full Buffet Breakfasts (FB), 3 Highlight Lunches (HL), 9 Lunches (L), 6 Highlight Dinners (HD) and 8 Dinners (D)
Included Scenic Special Stays
- The Jahan, launched in October 2011, is the newest and most luxurious vessel cruising the Mekong River
- The Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Spa Resort, set amidst tranquil landscaped gardens is the closest hotel to the famous Angkor Wat
- La Residence Phuo Vao by Orient Express is perched on a hillside with stunning views towards Mount Phousi
Included Scenic Highlights
- Take a tuk tuk ride to the temples of Angkor Wat
- Glimpse the morning light at the magnificent Ta Prohm temple
- Ride a cow cart as you immerse yourself with the local village people
- Uncover the secrets to the wonderful taste of Laos coffee
- Visit Wat Phuo, a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields
- Discover the charm of Vientiane on sightseeing tour
- Explore Buddha Par with more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues
- Witness the beauty of Luang Prabang and its temples and monuments on a tour
- Climb Mount Phousi for spectacular panoramic views
- Leisurely cruise past peaceful rural sceneries to Pak Ou caves
- Excursion to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, cascading down limestone formations
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Cruise
(HD)
Xin Chao and welcome to Vietnam! Today you will be met and transferred* to My Tho in the Mekong Delta to board The Jahan, for your Included luxurious Mekong River cruise. (Departure from a central Ho Chi Minh City hotel will be at 1.00pm). On board The Jahan meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a briefing. This evening enjoy a cocktail reception which will be followed by a welcome dinner.
Seven Night Special Stay: The Jahan
Seven Night Special Stay: The Jahan
Day 2: Cai Be - Chau Doc
(FB,L,D)
Board your sampan for an Included cruise to Dong Hoa Hiep Island. Along the way you’ll discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life. Visit Ba Duc ancient house before boarding the Cai Be Princess for an Included cruise to Cai Be’s colourful floating market where locals trade fruit, vegetables, fish and much more. After lunch the cruise will continue with a visit to some interesting home factories to see how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, then reboard and continue cruising towards Chau Doc.
Day 3: Chau Doc - Border crossing into Cambodia
(FB,L,D)
Today, enjoy an Included tour around the bustling border town of Chau Doc and surrounding area. Visit the local, busy market and temple before exploring the exciting floating villages and catfish farms. Witness masses of basa fish being fed by hand, then visit the village of the local Muslim Cham community. Reboard mid-afternoon and cruise towards Phnom Penh. Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia!
Day 4: Phnom Penh
(FB,L,D)
It’s an early start this morning to witness a truly memorable scene whilst approaching Phnom Penh’s river promenade. After breakfast, embark on an Included city tour of this dynamic, historical capital of Cambodia which has retained its French colonial charm. Sightseeing will include the dazzling white and gold architecture of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. After an Included lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Genocide Museum and learn about Cambodia’s grim past under the Khmer Rouge regime and the Cambodian civil war. This evening enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance. Experience the brilliance and richness of the Cambodian culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a delicious Khmer food buffet.
Day 5: Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham
(FB,L,D)
Depart before the break of dawn from Phnom Penh with a stop at the little known Chong Koh silk weaving village for a leisurely walk then cruise past the Mekong’s tranquil villages and bustling river life with scores of fishermen on duty. Included visit to rural Angkor Ban with a beautiful pagoda and old houses and take part in some of the activities to experience village life. Then reboard the ship and cruise towards Kampong Cham.
Day 6: Kampong Cham - Wat Hanchey
(FB,L,D)
Wake up early this morning to embark on an Included journey upriver to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river, it offers some of the best views in Cambodia. Dating from the 8th century, these ancient structures do justice to the architecture of the Chenla Empire which predated the glories of the mighty Angkor. Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding, well organised rice paddy plains and take part in a travellers blessing performed by the local monks. Cruise towards Kampong Cham for an Included visit to Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple that holds a timeless story then visit one of the local orphanages in Kampong Cham.
Day 7: Kampong Cham - Kampong Chhnang - Tonlé Sap
(FB,L,HD)
Before the sun rises, The Jahan sets sail to Kampong Chhnang via Prek K’dam along the meandering Tonlé Sap River, which narrows through leafy swaths of the South East Asian jungle. This afternoon take an Included motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region. Further down the river we take part in an ox cart rally. This is the day to truly experience rural Khmer life. In the evening, a mouth-watering farewell dinner will be served.
Day 8: Tonlé Sap - Siem Reap
(FB,HD)
The great lake of Tonlé Sap which is over 150 kilometres in length dominates Cambodia. Witness the stillness and tranquillity on the way in to the charming, little city of Siem Reap, the gateway to the majestic temples of Angkor. Disembark The Jahan and transfer to your hotel (The water level of Tonle Sap fluctuates greatly and may impact the disembarkation of your cruise.) This afternoon, depart on your unique Included tuk tuk visit to the magnificent 12th century UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Wat temple complex. The ancient capital of the great Khmer Empire, Angkor is beyond doubt one of the most magnificent wonders of the world! This evening enjoy your Included sumptuous buffet featuring Western and Asian cuisines.
Three Night Special Stay: Siem Reap
Three Night Special Stay: Siem Reap
Day 9: Siem Reap
(FB,HL)
Leave the city behind and drive through the countryside for your Included visit to the temples of the Roluos Group, an ancient centre of Khmer civilization and the oldest monuments in the Angkor area. Enjoy your Included cow cart ride, a great way to get in touch with rural Cambodia. SCENIC ENRICH visit a small pagoda where Buddhist monks will perform a private ceremony, wishing health and a safe journey – a very special experience. SCENIC ENRICH lunch at Sala Bai, a school training young Cambodians from poor families in the principles of hospitality. Included visit to the unique Ta Prohm, one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Explore more of the marvellous Khmer architecture with your Included visit to Angkor Thom, and its impressive stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces before visiting Bayon Temple with 54 towers.
Day 10: Siem Reap
(FB,HD)
Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE activity choose from: (1) explore the 12th century Beng Melea and Banteay Srei temples; or (2) visit a local market and take part in an authentic Khmer cooking class; or (3) cruise on Tonlé Sap, through floating villages and enjoy a traditional lunch in the home of a local family. This evening enjoy your Included delicious authentic Khmer set dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Day 11: Siem Reap - Don Daeng (Laos)
(FB,L,D)
Transfer to the airport for your Included flight to Pakse. Sabaidee and welcome to Laos! Discover the quaint capital of Southern Laos, situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Sedone Rivers on your Included visit to colonial and Chinese-style buildings and the huge local produce market. After your Includedlunch drive east to the Boloven Plateau, an area of highlands featuring coffee, tea and cashew plantations. Learn about Lao coffee on your Included plantation visit and discover why it is sometimes called the “Champagne of Coffee”. Continue south and transfer to Don Daeng Island.
Two Night Stay: Don Daeng
Two Night Stay: Don Daeng
Day 12: Don Daeng Island
(FB,HL,D)
Included visit to Wat Phuo, a spectacular pre-Angkorian temple that sits amidst the rice fields and waterways. This UNESCO World Heritage temple was built by the rulers of the Khmer empire before the construction of Angkor Wat. SCENIC ENRICH enjoy a delicious picnic with the locals who will explain their traditional local culture. SCENIC ENRICH travel by elephant through the forest up to Mount Asa, a sustainable tourism project developed to provide the local villagers with income and awareness of elephant conservation (2 persons per elephant).
Day 13: Don Daeng - Vientiane
(FB,D)
Transfer to the airport for your Included flight to Vientiane the charming Laotian capital, whose name means ‘the city of sandal wood’. Included visit to Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Thai invasion, Prutuxi (Victory Monument) for sweeping panoramic views and the royal stupa, That Luang, the holiest site in Laos with its Golden spire. Your Included dinner will be at one of the finest French restaurants in the city.
Two Night Stay: Vientiane
Two Night Stay: Vientiane
Day 14: Vientiane
(FB,HL)
Drive along the road which serves as an important link between the Lao capital and Thailand. En-route take photos of the Friendship Bridge, built by the Australian government in 1994 which links Laos and Thailand. Included visit to Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan, which is filled with over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. SCENIC ENRICH enjoy a delicious Lao-style lunch at Makphet Restaurant, a charity-run restaurant aiming to train the area’s street children in the hospitality industry. Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE activity choose from: (1) visit a weaving village and learn the about the Laos textile industry; or (2) discover the variety of orchid species native to Laos with a visit to a local farm; or (3) head to the markets to buy ingredients for a traditional Laos cooking lesson.
Day 15: Vientiane - Luang Prabang
(FB,HD)
Transfer to the airport for your Included flight to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos. Situated at the picturesque junction of the Mekong and Nam Kham Rivers, surrounded by mountains and with its glittering temples and wandering monks, this charming town is justifiably a UNESCO World Heritage site. Included visit to the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a beautiful dazzling golden façade. Finish at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang, decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics, and was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat. Watch the sun set from top of Mount Phousi on your Included visit. Climb the 328 steps for the panoramic views of the town and surrounding countryside before heading to the evening hill tribe market. This evening unwind in a beautiful garden setting whilst enjoying your Included local Lao dinner accompanied with traditional dance and music.
Three Night Special Stay: Luang Prabang
Three Night Special Stay: Luang Prabang
Day 16: Luang Prabang
(FB,L)
Included leisurely cruise past peaceful rural sceneries to Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. In the caves are hundreds of sacred centuries-old Buddha images which are the object of pilgrimages during the Lao New Year festivities. Cruise further and stop at the foot of beautiful limestone cliffs for your Included lunch selection of typical Lao dishes.
Day 17: Luang Prabang
(FB,L,HD)
Start the day early with a very special SCENIC ENRICH visit to watch the monks move silently through the streets to collect alms. It is a beautiful, serene ritual that highlights the spiritualism of the Laos people. Your Included excursion to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, cascading down limestone formations creating a series of turquoise blue pools. The top of the falls can be reached via a steep path through jungle and dense woods filled with wildlife. The views from the top are stunning and well worth the walk. SCENIC ENRICH experience one of Laos’ oldest traditions, The Baci. The purpose of the Baci, a mix of Animist and Buddhist beliefs, is to call back escaped spirits to the body. This is something that is very important before major events such as weddings, births, travel, welcoming friends and farewells. This evening your sumptuous Included farewell dinner combines inventive French cuisine with traditional Laotian touches. A perfect blend as you relive many beautiful memories of Cambodia and Laos.
Day 18: Luang Prabang
(FB)
After breakfast transfer* to the airport for your onward or homebound flight (flight not included).
*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
