Cambodia & Laos Revealed

Day 1

Upon your arrival Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by your English speaking local guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.

The rest of the day free at your own leisure before you can enjoy an included welcome dinner to meet your fellow travellers.

Day 2

Today we visit Ta Prohm temple, made famous in the Tomb Raider film and unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. Your next destination is the city of Angkor Thom, surrounded by an 8m high wall, in a perfect square. Walking from temple to temple is a unique way to see these magnificent ruins: glimpses of small temples can be spotted amongst dense jungle, towers appear looming overhead, and the sheer number of ruins along the way is staggering. Finish at the Bayon Temple in the exact centre of the city. After some lunch we head to Angkor Wat, we will see how the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people.

Day 3

Today embark on an authentic rural Cambodia tour to learn about life in a typical village. Take a 30 minute ox cart ride through Ta Brak village on the way to the local market. Explore the colourful displays of vegetables, herbs and other locally-grown produce, and mingle with the shoppers who come every morning to buy fresh ingredients. Continue on foot through the village and depending on the time of the year, watch locals planting rice, weaving thatch coverings for their roofs, harvesting vegetables, or other similar tasks. The morning will come to and end with a special Buddhist ceremony whereby local monks will impart wishes of good luck and success in age-old tradition. Lunch is served in a traditional Khmer wooden house where you can enjoy locally sourced delicacies.

The rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Optional Activity: Cooking class. Prices from $22 per person, dependent on the number of participants.

This evening, you can join your local guide to Siem Reap's famous Street 60 just out of town. This is a local hang out with an incredible variety of all kinds of Khmer foods on offer. Here you can sample a range of exotic fruits, fried insects, snails, roasted frog, fired chicken, roast belly pork, crispy duck and fried chive cakes to name but a few!

Overnight: Damrei Angkor

Day 4

Depart Siem Reap travelling through the beautiful Cambodian countryside and rural villages to Battambang for hotel check-in (transfer time 3 hours).

This afternoon tour through some of Cambodia's most beautiful countryside to Wat Banan temple, an 11th century temple on a hilltop, set amongst fragrant flowering trees, and offering sweeping vistas over the countryside. Along the way make a stop at Cambodia's only commercial winery for wine tasting that includes a red wine that is a blend of cabernet and shiraz, a brandy and ginger juice.

Next we head towards Phnom Sampeau, home to the notorious killing caves, cruel reminders of Cambodia's troubled past. Your visit will last until dusk – a time when millions of bats emerge from a cave and create patterns as they fly in tandem across the sky – a nightly spectacular show of nature!

Day 5

Today have a fun morning cycling around local villages, arranged by a local social enterprise. A leisurely 25-30km (15-18miles) it is suitable for people of all fitness levels. A tuk tuk is available for part of the journey if preferred. During the cycle tour there are several stops along the route to interact with local communities and learn some of the local industries; making produce rice paper, prahoc (typical Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo) and other Cambodian treats.

A stop will also be made at Wat Ek Phnom, an atmospheric, partly collapsed 11th Century temple. This is a very popular picnic and pilgrimage destination. You will also see the decrepit 1960s Pepsi bottling plant, abruptly abandoned in 1975 when the Khmer Rouge came into power in an attempt to eradicate Western influence.

You will return back into Battambang town at approximately 12:30 where the afternoon will be at leisure.

Optional afternoon Activity: Contemporary Arts tour. Prices from $40 per person, dependent on the number of participants.

This evening a special visit awaits you at Phare Circus. This performance is a mix of acrobatics, theatre and story-telling, a success story of how humanitarian aid work can turn into a display of zest for life and creativity – it's not to be missed!

Overnight: Classy Hotel & Spa

Day 6

On our journey to Phnom Penh there are a couple of stops along the way, first at Kampong Chhnang, known for its traditional pottery and rice wine production. Continue to Oudong, the former royal capital of Cambodia, where you will see temple mountain with its dozens of stupas from afar. After a traditional picnic lunch you may choose to climb the stairs to the top for magnificent views over the plains below.

Also located in Oudong is Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Centre, with a jade Buddha, mummified monk and the brightly painted walls.

After checking in to our hotel in Phnom Penh, enjoy a cruise on the mighty Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.

This is the end of the Cambodia section of this tour. You may choose to break away from the tour at this point, or continue on, where we will journey into Laos

Overnight: Villa Langka

Day 7

This morning take a walking tour of Phnom Penh through the small streets seeing old pagodas, the Independence Monument, spirit houses and ending with a visit to the Royal Palace.

Optional Activity: Visit to the Toul Sleng Museum. Prices from $5 per person.

After some free time at the hotel, you will transfer to the aiport for your short flight to the Laotian capital; Vientiane.

Laos' capital Vientiane is one of the world's smallest and most relaxed capital cities. Situated on a bend in the Mekong River directly across from Thailand, the city has an air of faded grandeur with a host of charming French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, gilded temples and riverside cafés.

Day 8

Today you can enjoy a half day guided tour of this city, wandering the streets to see Lao and Khmer art, old colonial buildings and a visit to COPE, an association that works with landmine victims, a legacy of the American-Vietnam war. Learn about the effects of the mines and the efforts to rid the country of the unexploded ordinances. The morning tour will come to a finish with a visit to That Luang, a towering golden stupa built in the 16th century. It is Vientiane's holiest site and often busy with local pilgrims.

This afternoon visit Carol Cassidy's Lao Textile workshop, studio and gallery for hand-woven silk with pieces featured in various galleries and museums through the United States. After your visit, you will enjoy drinks in the garden with her.

This evening is time to explore the street food of Laos with visits to various areas known for their stalls of tasty snacks, all washed down with a BeerLao, perhaps!

Overnight: Sabaidee @ Lao

Day 9

After breakfast, enjoy free time at leisure for last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for a flight to Luang Prabang.

A local guide will take us round this UNESCO World Heritage site and also learn about Laos' rich, colourful culture. Start off at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Continue the tour visiting some stunning temples with great examples of ancient craftsmanship while learning about Buddhism and how its influence pervades the local culture. As the day comes to a close there there is an opportunity to visit the evening hill tribe market.

Day 10

Depart the city early and cross the Mekong River by ferry boat to a rarely-explored part of Laos. Travelling by tuk-tuk, venture up the western banks of the Mekong River seeing ancient temples and tropical surroundings. Continuing on, stop at a local village and meet with the residents whose daily life remains largely untouched by the modern world.

Visit a pottery village and watch as the locals use traditional techniques to craft bowls that are then fired in underground kilns.

We return to Luang Prabang by boat, admiring the picturesque landscapes and river villages as they pass by.

Overnight: Sanakeo Boutique

Day 11

Start with a private cruise on the lifeblood of Laos; the Mekong River. The passing scenes are fascinating to watch as the boat makes its way to the Pak Ou caves. Go ashore and take a short walk to see the cavernous limestone structure which is filled to the brim with Buddha images of all ages. It is no surprise this cave is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Laos. After the boat trip we journey to Nong Khiaw where you can check in for the afternoon at leisure.

There is an optional trek that takes you to the historical cave of Phatok. The gentle 30 minute takes you from Nong Khiaw and through beautiful scenery.

Day 12

Today we take a day trip up the river to visit several different ethnic villages. Ban Sop Jam village is famous for its traditional silk and cotton textiles. There will be beautifully handwoven scarves and throws aplenty to purchase as souvenirs. On the way back we stop off for a small trek which takes us through some gorgeous scenery consisting of limestone cliffs, mountains, rice paddy fields and bomb-shelter caves.

Overnight: Mandala Ou Resort

Day 13

After breakfast, you will transfer back to Luang Prabang for your final night. Enjoy free time and take advice from your guide if there is something you wish to do.

Enjoy an included welcome dinner tonight to say goodbye to your fellow travellers.

Day 14

After breakfast, your guide and private car will meet you again at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departing flight.