Overnight international flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival in Saigon, airport reception and transfer to the hotel in a private vehicle. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Morning city tour with a private guide. In this essential highlight tour, visit the former Presidential Palace, which is now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunkers, headquarters for the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the History Museum, which houses an excellent display tracing the origins of the indigenous Vietnamese. Take the opportunity to see a delightful performance of water puppetry in the grounds. Then visit the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, an impressive neo-Romanesque cathedral in the center of city, the "wedding cake" styled Hotel De Ville, and Dong Khoi street, formerly the center of haute couture in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) when it was known as Rue Catinat.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by a privately guided half day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast underground network of tunnels was first built as a defense against the French, and later expanded during the American War. It was from here that the North Vietnamese waged their guerrilla warfare. Marvel at the ingenuity and resilience of the secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms.

The more adventurous travelers may explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels. For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. The guide will advise guests of the length and level of difficulty of each tunnel before entering. Some are easily accessed by stairs. Good walking shoes and sun protection are recommended for this tour. Return to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.
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Transfer approximately 3 hours, in a private vehicle, to the Mekong River town of Cai Be. Board a motorized sampan for an introduction to life on the river with a private guide. Cai Be is known for its large floating market, where displays of food produce are hung from the bamboo poles over the host boat in order to attract customers.

From here, the journey continues across the upper reach of the river to a maze of tributaries and fruit plantations. Barges ply the route, overloaded with rice husks used as fuel for the region's numerous brick kilns. Depending on the season, a sample of local tropical fruit will be served with lunch in a local farmer's home before returning to the craft for the leisurely cruise to Vinh Long. From here, drive and ferry to the Delta's economic hub city of Can Tho. Check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
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Early morning cruise with a private guide to Cai Rang, which is a bustling market town. Enjoy a sampan ride through the colorful congestion of women and children jostling for space and vying to sell their goods. Return to Can Tho town to visit their museum and a Khmer pagoda in Can Tho City. After lunch at a local restaurant, depart the town for a visit to the Bang Lang Stork Garden and the Binh Thuy Ancient House. Return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Private morning transfer to Chau Doc near the Cambodian border. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant en route and in the afternoon visit Sam Mountain, a popular pilgrimage center for many Vietnamese and home to a collection of ornate and colorful temples and pagodas. Climb or drive to the top of the hill for an unparalleled 360-degree vista of nearby Cambodia.


The Mekong River at this point is decorated with hundreds of floating homes, each a self-contained farm where local families raise and sell fish to passing boats. With a private guide, there will be an opportunity to visit some of them before returning to the hotel in Chau Doc for the evening.
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Private transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a flight to Phnom Penh. Reception at airport and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

This morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, embark on a cycle tour to visit the Royal Palace, which was built in 1866 and is comprised of numerous structures, one of which is the popular Silver Pagoda. Constructed with over 5,000 silver tiles, this building also houses a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha that is decorated with 9,584 diamonds and is one of Cambodia's national treasures.

After lunch at a local restaurant (included) continue on a boat along the Mekong River, which offers magnificent views of the Phnom Penh Riverfront, the Royal Palace, Wat Ounalom and the ever-changing skyline. Cruise to the point where the Tonle Sap meets the Mekong and be sure to have a camera on hand for the spectacular sunset. At the end of the day, enjoy an hour long Kher massage.
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Morning visit to the Apsara Arts Association, a local non-governmental organization whose aim is to see Cambodian arts and culture become more valued and popular in Cambodia after having been destroyed by the ravages of war. Continue to visit the National Museum, a Khmer temple inspired building that houses the world's largest collection of Khmer art sculptures, ceramics and bronzes. Although the emphasis is on Angkorian artifacts, there is also a great collection of pieces from later periods, including a special exhibition on post-Angkorian Buddha figures.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, which is essential for first time visitors to Cambodia. During the Pol Pot regime, Toul Sleng, formerly a high school, was converted to a detention center known for interrogation and torture of prisoners before being transferred to the "Killing Fields." Enjoy a bit of local shopping at the Toul Tom Pong Market, before visiting the fields at Cheung Ek. Today, the site is a memorial for Cambodians and visitors to pay their respect for those lost. A memorial stupa has been erected and displays over 5,000 human skulls, bones and clothes of the victims. This visit is a profoundly harrowing experience of Cambodia's recent past.
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This morning, drive along National Highway 3 to Takeo Province. On the way, stop at Tonle Bati, Ta Prohm and Yeay Peou Temple before visiting Prasat Neang Khmau. Continue to Chiso Mountain to visit the 11th century Khmer Brahmanic mountaintop temple. Boxed lunches will be provided on site before proceeding to Kampong Trach to visit limestone caves and passages that shelter Wat Kirisan. Admire the various stalactites and stalagmites in the shapes of dragon heads, monkeys, whales and mushrooms.

Continue the trip to Kep Province, a coastal city with mountains, evergreen tropical forests, unspoiled islands, coral reefs, sandy beaches and fresh seafood. Founded during the French colonial period, the city was afterwards renovated into a beautiful seaside resort in the 1960s during Prince Norodom Sihanouk's Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime. The name Kep is derived from the French words "le cap," or "cape" in English. Overnight in Kep.
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Take an excursion to visit Kampot, a small provincial town with colonial houses that is widely considered to be the durian plantation of Cambodia. This region is known not only for producing the best durian in all of Southeast Asia, but also for its abundance of other tropical fruits including mangosteen, rambutan, mak prang, pineapple, grapefruit, custard apple and coconut. Additionally, Kampot's Chamkar Mrich ("pepper plantations") are renowned for producing one of the world's finest peppers. Visit a farm and Tek Chhou Waterfall and discover the surrounding countryside during stops at different villages to chat with villagers. Enjoy free time to relax on the beautiful beach of Kep until sunset. Lunch at a local restaurant is included. Overnight in Kep. ...read less

Transfer to the pier for a short boat ride (20-30 minutes) across the bay to the small, beautiful, and undeveloped island of Koh Tonsai or Rabbit Island. There is a walking track that circumnavigates the island, passing small fishing villages and farm land. There are also some crude trenches and bunkers left from past conflicts. This beautiful walk takes about 2.5 – 3 hours along beaches and flat jungle trails and offers some great photo opportunities.

Alternatively, take this time to ramble and explore the island and its lovely beaches at leisure. Snorkeling equipment will available for exploring the waters. Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant, and there will be time to relax in a hammock, swim or explore before heading back to Kep. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel.
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Before departing town this morning, make a stop at the famous Kep Crab market to experience the bustling activity and local interactions. Continue the drive to Phnom Penh, to take the connecting flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to the hotel. After lunch take a tour around Luang Prabang with a private guide. First visit Vat Visoun, the site of an impressive stupa, That Makmo. The next stop is Luang Prabang's National Museum, formerly the Royal Palace (not open on Tuesdays). Displayed inside is an impressive collection of personal artifacts of the royal family.

Continue on to visit Wat Mai - built in 1796, the five-tiered roof of the wooden sim epitomizes the graceful Luang Prabang architectural style. Phou Sii Hill stands right in the center of this small city. Climb its 350 steps to enjoy panoramic views for many miles in each direction. The sunset can be enjoyed at Vat Siphouthabath or with a cold drink at one of the cafes located along the Mekong River. Enjoy the evening at leisure before returning to the hotel for the night.
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Start the day early with one of the most memorable sights of Luang Prabang; Tak Bat. At dawn hundreds of saffron robed monks move silently through the streets to collect alms (offerings of food). The guide will explain the background behind this ritual which is still very much a part of everyday life in Laos and there will be a chance to make 'merit'. It's early but well worth the wake-up call!


After breakfast head off with a guide to visit Wat Xieng Thong - often said to be Luang Prabang's most beautiful temple. Then head to the river to begin a relaxing riverboat trip with the guide on the mighty Mekong to visit Pak Ou Buddha Caves. En route it is possible to stop at Ban Xanghai, where local people produce Lao rice wine. Pak Ou caves have been home to many thousands of Buddha images that have been placed here by local people since the 16th century, when King Setthathirat found the caves and declared them a holy spot. Today many people still pay respect to this tradition.


After exploring the caves and enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, return to the boat and journey back to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, transfer to a private vehicle and drive to the nearby village of Ban Phanom, a weaving village populated by Lu minority people that originally came from Sipsongpanna in Southern China. This village was once famed for producing silks for the Royal Palace, and Lao textiles are still woven here in the traditional manner on ancient wooden looms. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.
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Transfer to the airport for a connecting flight home or continue with an optional Yampu Tours add-on.