Mekong Treasures: River Cruise & Temples

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Mekong Delta by shuttle bus and enjoy the scenic views on your way there. Once you have arrived at your destination, indulge in a two-night journey aboard a wooden cruise vessel* that blends regional boat-building traditions with modern comforts. This all-inclusive package is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of the authentic Mekong Delta. Overnight on board.

*Please Note: The activities offered on board are subject to change depending on the time of the year, weather conditions and logistics: either the upstream or the downstream cruise will take you to some of the more secluded areas of this fertile land.

A variety of shore excursions on foot or by bike will be offered, including visits to local handicraft production sites, colorful brick kilns, opulent orchards, charming little villages as well as Cai Rang, a well-known floating market offering an array of local delicacies. If you are up for the challenge, you will have the opportunity to explore the Delta by rowing a sampan through a network of tiny canals.

Continue your boat journey through the Mekong Delta and enjoy all meals on board. Overnight on board. 

Breakfast on board. Disembark the cruise and transfer back to Saigon by shuttle bus. Upon arriving, private transfer to Mui Ne, Phan Tiet. Mui Ne is a charming resort town well-loved for its beaches and relaxed atmosphere. Check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Take this time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Overnight stay in Mui Ne.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entirety of the day at your leisure, perfect for you to take in the beauty of Mui Ne’s waters. Why not visit the White Sand Dune of this region, also known as the ‘Little Sahara Desert’? Overnight stay in Mui Ne.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy another relaxing day in Mui ne. Alternatively, we suggest visiting one of the local fishing villages where you can acquaint yourself with the everyday life of locals? Overnight stay in Mui Ne.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer back to Saigon to make your way to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arriving at your destination, you will be greeted by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Why not adventure through the famous Pub Street or explore the Siem Reap night market? Overnight stay in Siem Reap.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Start your day visiting Angkor Thom, a former great Khmer city where you will marvel at its Bayon Temple, a unique monument known for its 54 towers adorned with hundreds of smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, a significant figure in Buddhism. From here, make your way to the Baphuon Temple, also called the ‘Golden Mountain’, today an important religious and spiritual site for practitioners of Theravada Buddhism.

Other temples you will visit include: the Ta Prohm and arguably the most famous of all, the Angkor Wat, established as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to its impressive 81 hectares, comparable in size to the Imperial Palace of Peking.

End your day gazing at the sunset over the Angkor Wat before returning to your hotel. Alternatively, take part in our optional night street food sampling by tuk tuk*. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

*Optional Night Street Food Sampling by Tuk Tuk: Sample some of the best and most unusual culinary delights Cambodia has such as grasshoppers and cockroaches before heading over to a traditional Khmer restaurant for an unforgettable experience.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy your last full day in Cambodia at your leisure; use this time to take in the beauty of the country before departing. Alternatively, we recommend taking part in our half day optional pagoda blessing ceremony and visit to Tonle Sap Lake*. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

*Optional Half Day Pagoda Blessing Ceremony and Visit to Tonle Sap Lake: Conducted by local monks of Wat Damnak in a beautiful pagoda, take part in this blessing ceremony where holy water will be poured on you to bring you good fortune and prosperity and a thread will be wrapped around your wrist to protect you before being gifted a souvenir from the Monks themselves to remember this experience by.

From here, head over by boat to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and sail along until you reach the floating village, where you will see floating pig farms, schools, gardens and spirit houses.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Laos. Upon arrival, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure; the perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with the cultural capital of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perched in a mountain valley at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers.

Considered by many as the very center of Lao culture, this picturesque location reflects the fascinating mixture of French and Buddhist influences by housing a stunning landscape of palm-lined riverbanks, ornate golden temples, and ancient monuments. Landing in Luang Prabang, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at the hotel. For early risers, observe a morning ritual where monks in orange robes leave their pagodas to collect offerings from Luang Prabang residents. This serene ceremony highlights the spirituality of Laotian people. Make sure you visit Morning Market before returning to your hotel for breakfast.

From here, take part in a full day guided tour of Luang Prabang where you will familiarize yourself with the city’s most emblematic attractions. Start by visiting the Royal Palace, a National Museum home to an array of Royal artifacts. Next, visit Xieng Thong, a charming neighborhood known for its mosaics and traditional Laos-style architecture.

In the afternoon, discover the famous Pak Ou Caves that sit beneath a dramatic karst formation about 25 kilometers away from downtown Luang Prabang. Located next to the mighty Mekong these two magical caves are embedded into limestone cliffs and house several sacred Buddhist statues. Then, embark on a boat trip into the caves themselves where you will explore their intricate cave system; from the lower cave to the upper cave find the array of Buddha statues dispersed all throughout.

Finally, head over to Xang Hai Village and observe how locals make ‘Lao Lao’ (fermented rice liquor) and sample the concoction. Return back to your hotel and overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entire day at your leisure; take this time to appreciate the beauty of this magnificent city one last time before departure. Alternatively, take part in our optional full day excursion featuring a visit to Kuangsi Waterfalls with complete Buddhist experience*. Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

*Optional Visit to Kuangsi Waterfalls with Complete Buddhist experience: Start your day getting to know more about traditional Lao culture and the daily lives of Buddhist monks as you watch them partake in a chanting ceremony in one of the sacred temples. From here, drive south of Luang Prabang until you reach a hill tribe village to take in the sights and sounds of local life before visiting one of the country's most beautiful natural landscapes; Kuang Si Falls, known for its series of shallow pools flowing downstream into the jungle river.

Take a leisurely hike through the natural park past the Asian Bear Rescue Center, home to more than 20 rescued Asian Black Bears. Conclude the excursion by visiting a Laos-based social enterprise situated by Mekong River for an insight into Lao textiles and handicrafts. You will learn about silkworms and receive a brief introduction to the different natural dying methods using the natural plants from the home-grown garden.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart the hotel this morning ready to take a flight to Bangkok. Touch down in the buzzing capital of Thailand and transfer to the hotel. Bangkok is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, located in the heart of the country. It offers a variety of unique experiences, from its impressive temples and lively culture, to its exciting night markets and world-renowned cuisine. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure and discover this fascinating city. Overnight stay in Bangkok. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, get ready to discover the city and its temples on an exciting tour! Begin along the main avenues of Bangkok to reach the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood. Our first stop will be at Wat Traimit Temple or better known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It houses a 5-ton solid gold Buddha loaded with history as it remained hidden for centuries after being covered in plaster to prevent its destruction during the war. Our next stop will be the Wat Pho Temple or Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of the largest reclining Buddhas in the world at over 150 feet-long, where you’ll find a spectacular engraving of 108 images representing positive actions of Buddhism. To finish the tour, head to a local precious stone factory where you will see a demonstration of how local craftspeople make their products. We recommend an optional excursion to the Grand Palace* to learn more about the culture of this country. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Bangkok.

* Optional excursion to the Grand Palace: Discover the impressive Grand Palace complex, symbol of the city and former official residence of the King of Thailand between the 18th and mid-20th centuries. Considered one of the most beautiful in the world for its exquisite decoration, it mixes traditional Thai style with Renaissance influences. During the visit to the Grand Palace we will also visit Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most important in Thailand.

Please note: For the Grand Palace visit you should wear long pants that cover the ankles and a long-sleeved shirt.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy the day at leisure to continue exploring the capital. Why not discover some of its many markets, where you can sample some of the famous street food dishes. We recommend an exciting and entertaining optional excursion to visit the train market and floating market* or an optional trip to Ayutthaya**. Overnight stay in Bangkok. 

* Optional Excursion to the Train Market and Floating Market: Travel by road to the town of Mae Klong where you’ll see a curious market installed on the train tracks. If time and luck permits, we will be able to see how the train crosses through the market and, in record time, the merchants collect all the products they have on display on the train tracks. From there, head to the Klong Damnersaduak floating market in Ratchaburi province, considered the most important in the country. Arrive at a pier in the vicinity of the floating market. Take a motor boat ride through the canal area to reach the market itself, disembark, and enjoy free time to walk around, explore their products and enjoy the lively atmosphere. After the market visit, return to Bangkok and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

** Optional Ayutthaya excursion (outward journey by bus and return by boat): Departure by bus to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam, the name given for over 400 years to the lands that now form Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and part of Myanmar. Discover Ayutthaya and its archaeological site, which is of great historical interest and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At the end of the visit,  continue to Bang Pa-In, where the official summer residence of Thailand royalty is located. Visit the complex and then embark on a river cruise that will you on an interesting three-hour tour along the Chao Phraya River to the city of Bangkok. During the trip a buffet lunch will be served on board (drinks not included), arriving in Bangkok in the afternoon.

Please note: Optional excursions on this day cannot be done together, you will only be able to choose one of them.