Begin your adventure on the bustling streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter.

On arrival into Hanoi's international airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After having some time to relax and freshen up, this afternoon you will head out into the city to explore the life of Vietnam's capital. Beginning with a stroll around the Old Quarter, pass by Hoan Kiem Lake and the beautiful St. Joseph's Cathedral. Continuing on, escape the bustling city heading down an alley to a late 19th Century French Colonial house where a very special encounter awaits with the local family that has lived there for four generations. Learn about their local history through a cultural exchange over a cup of tea before bidding them farewell and taking a walk along Hanoi's neighbourhood railroads (not to worry the train only trundles along twice a day!). Originally built in the 1880s during French colonial rule, these tracks remain a vital part of everyday life in Hanoi.

Engage in a casual chat with the locals who are cooking in front of their house or playing chess by the tracks before ending the day at the railway station at the other side of the Red River and mingle with locals during a ten-minute train ride back into the heart of Hanoi, admiring the beauty of Vietnam while heading back into the city's old quarter.

Overnight: La Siesta Trendy

Leave the city behind and head into the beautiful countryside of the Mai Chau Valley.

Depart Hanoi early on day two for the four-hour drive to Mai Chau, weaving through mountains, fertile valleys and traditional villages along the way.

On arrival into the picturesque Mai Chau Valley, surrounded by spectacular karst rock formations and rice paddies, you will break for lunch before spending the afternoon exploring the idyllic natural surroundings, beginning with light trek through rural villages.

This evening enjoy a traditional Thai performance of music and dance. The Thai ethnic group has inhabited this area for centuries and much of their lifestyle and traditions have remained unchanged over the years.

Distance and journey time:
Trekking: 3hrs
Difficulty: Easy

Overnight: Mai Chau Ecolodge

Head further into the reserve to begin your trek through the verdant hills and ethnic villages.

After breakfast on day three, drive 22km further into the reserve to begin your trek. The trek lasts for approximately 3 hrs, traversing the rolling hills, valleys and rice fields, before arriving at Hang Village, home to the Thai ethnic minority. Here you will spend the night with a local Thai family in their traditional house built on stilts to learn about their local life and customs. Enjoy a stroll around the village to observe daily life activities before sitting down with your hosts for dinner.

Distance and journey time:
Trekking: 3hrs
Difficulty: Medium

Overnight: Hang Village Homestay

Continue through the rolling hills and mountains to the Pu Long Nature Reserve.

On day four, for those who don't mind the early wake up, there is the option to take part in local morning activities or to take a stroll around Hang village before breakfast. Today is a harder day of hiking, 50% on village paths and 50% on an old, disused, unpaved French road. There are some steep climbs throughout the day, as well as some stream crossings. While trekking becomes more remote, one is never far from a villager tending fields or walking back from the early morning market.

While lunch is being prepared, relax from the heat of the day in a local home inside the village. After lunch, continue along the old jeep road to a village nestled between steep karst mountains.

Distance and journey time:
Trekking: 6hrs
Difficulty: Medium

Overnight: Pu Luong Retreat

Heading along winding mountain roads, cross the border into Laos and onwards to the fascinating Vieng Xai Caves.

After an early breakfast on day six, you will journey by road approximately three hours to the Laos border at Na Meo. After completing the necessary border formalities you will be met by your Laotian guide and continue along stunning mountain passes to Vieng Xiay, a town which contains hundreds of caves which sheltered local people and the country's future leaders for a vital period in world history.

In the 1960s Laos was caught up in the conflict known to the world as the Vietnam War. For nine years, from 1964 to 1973, more than 20,000 people lived in this 'hidden city' they built inside the limestone peaks all around the area to try to survive daily aircraft bombing raids directed by US forces.

They were only able to farm or work at night, so inside the caves they built everything they needed for their society to survive, including schools, hospitals, markets, a radio station and the headquarters of the Lao Patriotic Front - also known as the Pathet Lao. After visiting the caves, continue to nearby Sam Nua for an overnight stay.

Overnight: Keochinda Guesthouse

Get a taste of the jungle today with the Nam Nern Night Safari.

On day seven, take breakfast at a local restaurant before a two hour drive along winding roads through gorgeous mountainous landscapes to Ban Son Koua, a Khmu Village and the start of the incredible Nam Nern Night Safari.

Village guides and boatmen will be waiting to greet you and take you on a short tour of the village where you will learn about daily life and the animist tradition of appeasing the village spirits before embarking on a one and a half hour journey to the park substation on the Nam Nern River by long-tail boat.

After arriving at the park substation, you will be shown to your accommodation for the night, bamboo huts close to the river, and to sit down for a lunch prepared by the village cooking group. After lunch, receive a briefing by park staff about the on-the-ground efforts in protecting tigers and their prey before taking the boat again in the mid-afternoon to continue the journey upriver. After about 50 minutes the boats will stop, where you will hike into the forest to visit a salt lick. The local guide, a skilled hunter and tracker, explains how local people track deer and other wild ungulates, while pointing out evidence of wildlife, such as tracks or scat at the salt lick.

The boats continue upriver to the dinner site, a sandy, flat bank, where you will take a picnic around a campfire. After dinner, the guides might share with you the Khmu folktales and stories about dragons, wildlife, and ghosts. The guides will also explain about the wildlife that you may encounter during the evening safari and explain the rules and expectations for spotlighting.

You will then depart for the night spotlighting once it's total dark, floating down the river with engines off. The guides (1 per boat) use their headlamp to spot wildlife, giving a clear sign if they see anything. You will then be able to switch on your own flashlight to have a better look at the animal. Animals that might be seen include Sambar deer, otters, barking deer, various species of civets, loris, porcupine and owls. (Seeing tigers is very rare because they usually don't come close to the river).

Overnight: Nam Nern Jungle Huts

Take a short hike around the jungle before continuing to the provincial town of Muang Hiem.

Awake to the sounds of the jungle on day eight and before breakfast, the local guides will take you on a walk around the forest, teaching about the use of some medicinal plants and explaining the history of the site, which was once a major settlement during the Secret War. After breakfast, the boats float back through the core zone at a relaxing pace with engines off, while the guides point out wildlife along the way.

Upon arrival in the village, you are invited to fill out a wildlife monitoring form that is used to monitor wildlife abundance before continuing by road to the quaint provincial town of Muang Hiem, the gateway to the Nam Et Phou Louey National Protected Area (NEPL NA) treks.

Overnight: Dok Khoun Thong Guesthouse

Head deep into the core area of the NEPL NPA, trekking through the dense jungle and keeping your eyes peeled for its elusive and endangered wildlife.

After meeting your trekking guide on day nine, hop into a four-wheeled-drive vehicle for the bumpy 30 minute journey through gorgeous mountainous landscapes to Ban Nam Poung Village, an ethnic Khmu village situated on the edge of the national protected area boundary.

You will be met by the village guide, porters and cooks at the village visitor centre for a brief orientation about the area and itinerary for the next couple of days. From here take a 7km journey on board a hand tractor (tok tok) – a tractor for plowing rice paddies that can be converted into a transportation vehicle and pass through this Khmu village. This is a good opportunity to see the daily village life and briefly learn about Khmu culture.

At edge of the fields and forest, enjoy a local picnic lunch inside a farmer's hut while the guide explains about the different management zones of the park and how local people coexist with nature. After lunch, start trekking into the forest following a 7km trail built and maintained by the village, passing through a thick jungle and mixed deciduous forest. The local guide will show you medicinal plants and spot animal tracks and birds along the way and after approximately four hours of walking, you will arrive at The Nests campsite and will be shown to your accommodation – the truly unique hanging spherical “nest”. Here enjoy free time to relax, bathe in the nearby river and enjoy the nature.

Enjoy traditional Khmu dinner prepared by the village cooking group before it becomes dark while receiving a briefing about wildlife viewing at the Poung Nied Salt Lick – one of the largest salt licks in the protected area, and about the species of animals you may see and explain the rules and expectations for spotlighting. Keep your eyes peeled for the NPA's incredible wildlife as you stay at the observation tower for a few hours (depending on your curiosity and patience). The most common animals that you might spot include Sambar and barking deer (AKA Muntjak) and various species of civets, although, if lucky, you may see also other protected animals such as bears, dhole, several species of wild cats and others.

Distance and journey time:
Trekking: 4-5hrs
Difficulty: Challenging

Overnight: The Nests

Awake to the sounds of the jungle and continue through the mountains to the limestone karst vistas of Nong Khiaw.

Before breakfast, your guide will walk you back to the salt lick to identify different wildlife tracks that have appeared overnight. You will also spend approximately an hour in the observation platform, as morning is a great time for bird watching before following the guide to check the wildlife camera traps to see what animals have been in the area recently.

Once back to the camp, enjoy breakfast and head on a trek back through the forest to the village's fields. Enjoy a farmer's picnic lunch before riding the tok tok back to the village where your village hosts will bid you goodbye as you depart by car through the endless mountains to Nong Khiaw.

Distance and journey time:
Trekking: 4-5hrs
Difficulty: Challenging

On day 11 you will have a full day out to explore the stunning karst vistas, serene rivers and ethnic villages around Nong Khiaw. Beginning with an hour cruise up the scenic and peaceful Nam Ou River, arrive at Muang Ngoi village.

In Muang Ngoi you will have time to have a take a walk around the village which has become a bit of a travellers retreat with local cafes sprinkled along the one road that the village is built around. Venture out to a nearby cave where people lived during the Secret War before kayaking downstream on the Nam Ou River for approximately two hours where you can admire the mountains and jungle, passing small villages, stopping at the rural Sopkong village along the way.

A simple walk across the countryside, panoramic rice paddies and through the jungle, you will reach the beautiful Tadmok limestone waterfall. Here you will have a chance to cool off and swim in the natural pool at the base of the waterfall before continuing on a short trek back to the village and enjoy another relaxing scenic slow boat ride returning to Nong Khiaw in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Nong Khiaw Riverside Resort

Your journey ends in Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos.

On day 12 depart Nong Khiaw heading southwards to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. After checking in you will head out on a walking tour this afternoon to explore its hidden wonders and historic streets.

Start at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, before continuing to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief and Wat Xieng Thong, one of the most famous and picturesque temples in the city.

End the day taking a serene two-hour sunset cruise on the Mekong River. With a sundowner and canapes in hand, enjoy the views of the river, surrounding mountains and beautiful town as the sun sets over the hills.

Rising early on day 13, you will be met by a specialist elephant guide and transferred to the Mandalao Elephant Sanctuary, a beautiful elephant oasis just 40 minutes outside of Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will meet with one of the directors of the Elephant Sanctuary who will fill you in on more detail with some fascinating stories about the elephants and their refuge. Learn the challenges they've faced and how they are learning to improve the situation one elephant at a time. After being regaled you will cross the river by boat where you will be met by two adults and a baby Asian elephant! Your guide and the mahouts will help you feed and later bath these majestic creatures in the river before following the elephants on a one-hour trek through rice paddies and meandering creeks during which you will witness the unique bond between the mahouts and their elephants while the guide explains more about the incredible history that Laos has with the elephant. After saying goodbye to your pachyderm friends, you'll head back to camp where a tasty lunch of local specialties awaits you.

Enjoy your last afternoon at leisure to further explore the beautiful town or simply relax by the pool at your boutique hotel before bidding farewell to this fascinating country as you transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Overnight: My Dream Boutique Resort