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22 Days
Bangkok to Saigon
Huay Xai Pakbeng Chiang Mai
LAOS
Luang Prabang Vang Vieng
An awesome trip! Travelling by land and water we head out from bustling Bangkok in Thailand to explore the highlights of Laos and Cambodia including the spectacular temples of Angkor before crossing into Vietnam to vibrant Saigon.
n bangKoK n grand palaCe n Chiang Mai n huay Xai n MeKong river n luang prabang n Kuang Si WaterfallS n paK ou CaveS n vang vieng n vientiane n SieM reap n angKor Wat n angKor thoM n phnoM penh n KaMpot n SihanouKville n reaM national parK and jungle treK n Saigon
Vientiane
THAILAND
kong Me
R.
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Bangkok
Angkor Wat Siem Reap
CAMBODIA
Bangkok to Saigon Sihanoukville Phnom Penh Kampot Saigon
Days -2/Bangkok No activities are planned for Day 1, so you may arrive at any time and start your adventure! The following day we explore some of Bangkoks highlights before boarding a northbound overnight sleeper train for Chiang Mai. Day 3/Chiang Mai Chiang Mai is an ancient walled city dotted with temples and markets and here we have a free day to explore. In the evening head to the famous Night Bazaar for a bowl of delicious tom yum before trying your hand at bargaining for some great buys. Days 4-5/Huay Xai - Mekong River - Pakbeng We travel through beautiful countryside and cross the border into Laos, spending the evening in a sleepy Laotian riverside town a great spot to unwind. The following day we meander down the mighty Mekong on a boat, watching life on the river as we cruise by. In the late afternoon we arrive at the small village of Pakbeng where we stay overnight in a rustic guesthouse. Days 6-7/Luang Prabang Another slow boat take us on a ride down river to Luang Prabang. On the way, we visit the Buddhist temple caves at Pak Ou. In Luang Prabang the many beautiful temples and French architecture make for great photographic opportunities. We also take an excursion to the spectacular Kuang Si Waterfall.
Days 8-/Vang Vieng - Vientiane Beautiful Vang Vieng, located on the banks of the Nam Song River and surrounded by stunning limestone cliffs, is our next stop. Continuing south we reach Vientiane, the small and laidback capital of Laos. Here we take a walking tour of the city and visit some of the magnificent Buddhist temples. Days 2-4/Siem Reap - Angkor We fly from Vientiane to Siem Reap in Cambodia, where we explore the town before driving out to the Angkor Wat complex to watch the sunset from Phnom Bakheng. We then have two full days to explore the Angkor temples. The first day is spent with a guide who can explain the significance of the many 12th-century buildings. The following day is free so you can go back to your favourite spots or head further afield and explore some of the more remote temples. A visit to Angkor is something everyone should do once in their life! Days 5-6/Phnom Penh In Phnom Penh we come face to face with the grim realities of Cambodias recent past. The former Tuol Sleng Prison and the Killing Fields are sobering reminders of the terrifying Khmer Rouge era. After visiting these sites there is free time to visit other important attractions, such as the Royal Palace, the sacred Silver Pagoda and the temple of Wat Phnom.
Days 7-9/Kampot - Sihanoukville We climb up to the temple at Phnom Chisor before continuing to the charming coastal town of Kampot and the resort of Sihanoukville, famous for its palm trees and white sandy beaches. We take a guided jungle trek in Ream National Park up to Meditation Mountain and a boat ride through mangrove estuaries and fishing villages. Days 20-22/Phnom Penh - Saigon We return by road to Phnom Penh, where we spend a night before completing the final leg of our journey to Vietnam. Our adventure finishes after breakfast in Saigon on Day 22.
DiD yoU know?
Between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, well stop at the provincial town of Skuon, where the local delicacy is fried spiders!
Trip info
Prices: See inside cover.
Group size: Maximum 15. Grade: Moderate. Transport: aircon bus, local bus, mekong slow boat, mini-van, pirogue (narrow canoe), riverboat, songthaew, taxi, train, tuk-tuk. Accommodation: 1 night sleeper train, 12 nights guesthouse, 8 nights hotel. Meals: 11 breakfasts. Local payment: Your tour leader will collect US$350 from each person on Day 1. Want more? Link this trip with another Geckos adventure: Reunification Express. Tour Code: GTBN. Further Info & Trip Notes: www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/gtbn
Starts Wed 2007 03-Oct 10-Oct 17-Oct 24-Oct 31-Oct 07-Nov 14-Nov 21-Nov 28-Nov 05-Dec 12-Dec 19-Dec 26-Dec 2008 02-Jan 09-Jan 16-Jan
Finishes 23-Jan 30-Jan Wed 06-Feb 13-Feb 24-Oct 20-Feb 31-Oct 27-Feb 07-Nov 05-Mar 14-Nov 12-Mar 21-Nov 19-Mar 28-Nov 26-Mar 05-Dec 02-Apr 12-Dec 09-Apr 19-Dec 16-Apr 26-Dec 23-Apr 02-Jan 30-Apr 09-Jan 14-May 16-Jan 28-May 11-Jun 23-Jan 25-Jun 30-Jan 09-Jul 06-Feb
13-Feb 20-Feb 27-Feb 05-Mar 12-Mar 19-Mar 26-Mar 02-Apr 09-Apr 16-Apr 23-Apr 30-Apr 07-May 14-May 21-May 04-Jun 18-Jun 02-Jul 16-Jul 30-Jul
23-Jul 06-Aug 20-Aug 03-Sep 17-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
13-Aug 27-Aug 10-Sep 24-Sep 08-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 14-Jan 21-Jan
2009 07-Jan 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
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
www.geckosadventures.co.uk
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