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33 Days
Days 9-10/Vang Vieng Situated on the banks of the Nam Song River and surrounded by stunning lime karst cliffs, Vang Vieng is a popular place for travellers to chill out. Days 11-12/Vientiane The Lao capital lies on the banks of the Mekong it is a relatively small and quiet city with some great cafes and bars located on the riverside and a definite French influence still evident. Days 13-1/Lak Sao - Vinh We travel by local bus through spectacular mountain scenery to Lak Sao on the Vietnamese border. Continuing through the Vietnamese countryside, we stop at Vinh, birthplace of Ho Chi Minh, before boarding the Reunification Express overnight train for the journey to Hanoi. Days 15-17/Hanoi Hanoi is a charming city, with French influences evident in its colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards. A city tour showcases the major attractions, but a walk on your own in the Old Quarter will reveal many of the citys hidden faces. On the evening of Day 17 we board the southbound overnight train for Hue. Day 18/Hue Hue was the base of the last Vietnamese royal dynasty the Nguyen. Evidence of past grandeur can be seen amidst the ruins of the Purple Forbidden City and the imperial tombs in the surrounding countryside. We enjoy Hue by combining riding bicycles with a boat ride on the Perfume River. Days 19-20/Hoi An The drive from Hue to Hoi An takes us over the Hai Van Pass, through some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Vietnam. Hoi An reeks of history the old towns narrow streets still retain remnants of Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese influences. Nearby are the world-famous China Beach and Marble Mountains. Days 21-23/Nha Trang We head to Nha Trang, the countrys premier beach resort, where we enjoy a cruise on the waters of the South China Sea and enjoy a delicious seafood lunch. Theres plenty of time to enjoy swimming and snorkelling before boarding the train for the overnight journey to Saigon. Days 2-25/Cu Chi Tunnels - Saigon Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is Vietnams largest city a place of frenzied activity and what seems like a million motorbikes! There are also many sites that played a prominent role in the Vietnam War not least of which are the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels, a former Vietcong stronghold. Days 2-27/Phnom Penh A bus journey takes us across the border into neighbouring Cambodia and on to the capital, Phnom Penh. We take in the sights of the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace before visiting Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek chilling reminders of the countrys recent past. Later we have enough free time to visit some of Phnom Penhs other important attractions, such as the temple of Wat Phnom. Days 28-30/Siem Reap - Angkor The world famous Angkor Wat is the jewel in the crown, but there are other equally amazing splendours in the Angkor temple complex. Seeing the elaborate stone carvings of Angkor Thom and experiencing the lost city feel of Ta Prohm are things you will remember forever! Day 31/Siem Reap - Bangkok Saying goodbye to Angkor, we travel on a rough road to the CambodiaThai border and continue on to bustling Bangkok. Days 32-33/Bangkok Our Asia loop is complete as we are reacquainted with Thailands modern and vibrant capital. Theres a chance for some last minute shopping before the end of our epic adventure.
Thai-Indochina Loop
This is the ultimate Asian adventure! Starting and finishing in Bangkok, it completes a huge circuit that covers the very best of the three nations that form Indochina Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. From the great Temples of Angkor to sleepy villages along the Mekong, this is a trip you will never forget.
n bangKoK n Chiang Mai n huay Xai n MeKong river n luang prabang n vang vieng n vientiane n hanoi n hue n hoi an n nha trang n Saigon n Cu Chi tunnelS n phnoM penh n SieM reap n angKor Wat n angKor thoM
Days 1-2/Bangkok No activities are planned for Day 1 so you may arrive at any time. On Day 2 we visit the Grand Palace and discover the other magnificent temples of Bangkok before boarding our northbound overnight sleeper train. Day 3/Chiang Mai Chiang Mai has been called the Rose of the North a city with wonderful hidden temples, fascinating hill tribe cultures and delicious cuisine, as well as the famous Night Bazaar, which offers a great chance to hunt for bargains. Day /Huay Xai We continue further north and cross the mighty Mekong River into Laos. The border town of Huay Xai is an ideal introduction to this tranquil country. Day 5/Mekong River - Pakbeng Travelling on a slow boat down the Mekong is a great way to observe the unhurried pace of life in the villages dotted along the banks of the river. Pakbeng is a small village where we stay the night in a simple guesthouse. Days -8/Luang Prabang We board another slow boat for a ride down river to Luang Prabang. En route, we stop and visit the peaceful Buddhist caves at Pak Ou. Luang Prabang is the countrys cultural treasure trove and home to many exquisite temples.
Group size: Maximum 15. Grade: Moderate. Transport: aircon bus, bicycle, local bus, mekong slow boat, mini-van, songthaew, train, tuktuk. Accommodation: 4 nights sleeper train, 10 nights guesthouse, 18 nights hotel. Meals: 16 breakfasts, 1 lunch Local payment: Your tour leader will collect US$400 from each person on Day 1. Want more? Link this trip with another Geckos adventure: Best of Burma. Tour Code: GTIL. Prices: See page 2. Further Info & Trip Notes: www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/gtil
Starts Sat 2007 06-Oct 13-Oct 20-Oct 27-Oct 03-Nov 10-Nov 17-Nov 24-Nov 01-Dec 08-Dec 15-Dec 22-Dec 29-Dec 2008 05-Jan 12-Jan 19-Jan 26-Jan 02-Feb Finishes Wed 07-Nov 14-Nov 21-Nov 28-Nov 05-Dec 12-Dec 19-Dec 26-Dec 02-Jan 09-Jan 16-Jan 23-Jan 30-Jan 06-Feb 13-Feb 20-Feb 27-Feb 05-Mar 09-Feb 16-Feb 23-Feb 01-Mar 08-Mar 15-Mar 22-Mar 29-Mar 05-Apr 12-Apr 19-Apr 26-Apr 03-May 10-May 17-May 24-May 31-May 07-Jun 14-Jun 21-Jun 28-Jun 05-Jul 12-Mar 19-Mar 26-Mar 02-Apr 09-Apr 16-Apr 23-Apr 30-Apr 07-May 14-May 21-May 28-May 04-Jun 11-Jun 18-Jun 25-Jun 02-Jul 09-Jul 16-Jul 23-Jul 30-Jul 06-Aug 12-Jul 19-Jul 26-Jul 02-Aug 09-Aug 16-Aug 23-Aug 30-Aug 06-Sep 13-Sep 20-Sep 27-Sep 04-Oct 11-Oct 18-Oct 25-Oct 01-Nov 08-Nov 15-Nov 22-Nov 29-Nov 06-Dec 13-Aug 20-Aug 27-Aug 03-Sep 10-Sep 17-Sep 24-Sep 01-Oct 08-Oct 15-Oct 22-Oct 29-Oct 05-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov 03-Dec 10-Dec 17-Dec 24-Dec 31-Dec 07-Jan 13-Dec 20-Dec 27-Dec 2009 03-Jan 10-Jan 17-Jan 24-Jan 31-Jan 07-Feb 14-Feb 21-Feb 28-Feb 07-Mar 14-Mar 21-Mar 28-Mar 04-Apr 11-Apr 18-Apr 25-Apr 14-Jan 21-Jan 28-Jan 04-Feb 11-Feb 18-Feb 25-Feb 04-Mar 11-Mar 18-Mar 25-Mar 01-Apr 08-Apr 15-Apr 22-Apr 29-Apr 06-May 13-May 20-May 27-May
trip info
CHINA
Luang Chiang Huay Xai Prabang Mai Pakbeng Vang Vieng
VIETNAM
Hanoi
LAOS
Vinh Vientiane Lak Sao Hue Danang Hoi An
. ong R Mek
THAILAND
Bangkok Angkor Wat
Siem Reap
CAMBODIA
Phnom Penh Cu Chi
Nha Trang
Thai-Indochina Loop
Saigon
2
Hoi An waterfront
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