Mekong Cultural Journey
15 Nights / 16 Days

Destinations: Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos-Thailand (Hanoi-Halong Bay-Angkor Wat-Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Pak Beng-Hauixai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai and Bangkok)

Activities: Sightsee extraordinary natural and cultural landscapes of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand; visit the Nature World Heritage site of Halong Bay, Cultural World Heritage sites of Angkor Wat, Vientiane, and Luang Prabang, cruise upstream on the Majestic Mekong River, excursions to hill tribe villages to explore ethnic cultures and scenic places, visit the Golden Triangle, golden temples of north Thailand, Bangkok Grand Palace and ancient temples, and savor the delicious cuisines of the Mekong Sub-Region countries.

Trip Grade: Easy and fun filled trip
Best Season: October to March is the best time to visit the Mekong Sub-Region countries.

Itinerary: Mekong Cultural Journey 16 Days:
Day 1 Day 1 Arrive Ha Noi
Meet on arrival at Ha Noi (Noi Bai International Airport), transfer to hotel for check in. Then, depart to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his former residence, the One Pillar Pagoda, and Art Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. End of tour, return to hotel and remaining time at leisure.
Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi.
Meals: BL.

Day 2 Ha Noi - Ha Long
Breakfast at hotel, and drive to Ha Long Bay (165 km east of Ha Noi), boarding and discover Ha Long Bay, which is listed as a Would Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. "Dragon descending to the sea" as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay. Seafood lunch on board. Visit Sung sot cave and Titop. Enjoy seafood dinner on boat and overnight.
Meals: BLD.

Day 3 Ha Long - Ha Noi
Breakfast onboard, and drive back to the pier, a fresh seafood lunch is prepared and served onboard. After lunch, drive back to Ha Noi. Visit Temple of Literature, walking tour in Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, you will attend the performance of the famous Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry at Thang Long Theatre. Dinner is own arrangement. Evening: farewell dinner. Accommodation at hotel in Ha Noi.
Meals: BLD.

Day 4 Hanoi-Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport for a flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, meet guide, visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Bapuon, Terrace of Elephants and Leper King, Preah Palilay, Phimean Akas, Jouneay 20Kms. Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon, visit the famous Angkor Wat, sunset view at Angkor Wat. Dinner at hotel & overnight in Siem Reap.
Meal: BLD.

Day 5 Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel, then, visit Main Circuit, with the visit of Pre Rup, Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan (passing from East to West). Jouneay. 37 Kms. Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon, visit Ta Keo, Ta Prohm ( passing West to East), Banteay Kdei, Terrace of Sras Srang, Prasat Kravan. Dinner at hotel & overnight in Siem Reap.
Meal: BLD.

Day 6 Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel, visit Banteay Samre, Banteay Srei. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon, visit Gate of the Death, Thommanon, Chau Say, Spean Thma, North Khleang, Preah Pithu. Dinner at hotel. Overnight in Siem reap.
Meal: BLD.

Day 7 Siem Reap-Vientiane
Breakfast at hotel, and transfer to Siem Reap Airport for Vientiane.
End of Cambodia Services. Meet on arrival at Bangkok International Airport and transfer to hotel.
Remaining time at leisure.

Welcome at Vientiane Airport, and transfer to hotel.
PM-visit the historic temples, Wat Prakeo, Wat Sisaket, Thatluang and Patuxai (Victory gate). Overnight at Lao Plaza Hotel.
Meals: BLD.

Day 8 Vientiane-Luangprabang
After breakfast, transfer to airport flight to Luangprabang by QV101 10:20-11:00AM. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Visit the royal temples; Wat Visun, Wat Saen, wat Xiengthong and Phousi Mount and watch sunset over the Mekong river. Overnight at Rama Hotel or Ban Lao Hotel.
Meals: BL.

Day 9 Kuangsi Waterfalls and Luangprabang
After breakfast, drive to Kuangsi waterfalls and visit the hill tribe village Ban Tha Paen. Afternoon, drive back to Luangprabang and visit the former king's palace, and local markets. Overnight at Rama Hotel or Ban Lao Hotel.
Meals: BL.

Day 10 Luangprabang-Pakbeng
After breakfast, transfer to boat (slow boat) cruise upstream on the Mekong River to Pakbeng via Pakou cave. Overnight at Villa Salika Hotel.
Meals: BLD.

Day 11 Pakbeng-Hoeisai-Chiang Khong
After breakfast, boat trip (slow boat) to Hoeisaai. Upon arrival, transfer to pier to cross Mekong River to Chiang Khong, Thailand; meet our Thai guides and drive to the Golden Triangle for overnight.
Meals: BLD.

Day 12 The Golden Triangle of Chiang Rai to Thaton
Breakfast at hotel, check out, and drive to Chiang Saen National Museum; next, we drive to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Lao PDR borders meet. We enjoy the scenic views of the Mekong River and triangular border area from the Thai side. Then, continue by journey to Ban Lorcha, a village of Akha hill tribe people to see their way of life, and drive to Huai Khum Village Resort at the bank of Mae Kok River, the only boutique as well as eco resort in the Mae Kok River valley, is truly a paradise. Remaining time, swim and relax at the pool. Evening-dinner with Lahu folk song and dance show.
Meals: BLD.

Day 13 Elephant trekking, Bamboo rafting and Wat Doi Suthep
Breakfast at resort, take a short long tail boat and drive to Chiang Dao elephant camp. Take one-hour elephant ride through the semi-jungle vegetation; then, return to the camp, watch the elephant skills demonstrations. Next, we bamboo raft for 45 minutes down the river. At the end of bamboo rafting, drive to Wat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai for sunset and scenic views.
Wat Prathad Doi Suthep, which proclaim to have a holy relic of Lord Buddha, is the most celebrated temple in Chiang Mai located on a scenic hilltop inside the Doi-Pui National Park. To reach the temple, we drive up the base of Doi Suthep, and climb up 300 steps to get to the temple courtyard. Both sides of the steps are flanked by enormous mythological Nagas (snakes). A panoramic view of the city can be seen from here at 3,500 feet above sea level. Those of you do not wish to walk up the stairs can take the tram both ways. Then, we drive to Chiang Mai town for overnight. Dinner is on your own as there are plenty of local and international cuisines in town. The dazzling night bazaar of Chiang Mai opens from around six in the evening to midnight. Stroll at leisure to pick up your favorite souvenirs.
Meals: BL.

Day 14 Chiang Mai at Leisure
Breakfast at the hotel and day at leisure to relax and pick up some fine souvenirs. Chiang Mai is famous for its Thai silk and cotton loom industries, Bo-sang the paper, umbrella-making village, lacquer-wares, teak-wood carving, jewelry, and silverware artworks. This is the best place to buy souvenirs. Chiang Mai also offers various spa facilities to pamper you.
Visiting Chiang Mai National Museum and the Hill-Tribe Museum is another option you can do on a leisure day.
Evening-farewell dinner.
Overnight at hotel in Chiang Mai.
Meals. B.

Day 15 Chiang Mai to Bangkok Palace and temples
Breakfast, check out, and transfer to airport for a flight to Bangkok.
On arrival in Bangkok, transfer to visit Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) is the oldest, largest and most visited temple in Bangkok, which is also well known as the first open university of Thailand; for example, Thai people learned therapeutic Thai massage techniques from this temple.

Visit the Royal Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) located within the palace complex, various halls of royal function such as Amarindra Throne Hall, Chakri Mahaprasart and Dusit Mahaprasart Throne Hall and the residential area. Wat Pra Keow (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is one of the most beautiful temples in the royal grand palace compound. The temple itself is being used for principal royal function and royal chapel. This temple is the repository of The Emerald Buddha, the most holy Buddha Image of Thai Buddhism. The Image is carved in semiprecious green stone 66cm high. The temple is regarded as the oldest and the most beautiful decoration in the country. End of tour transfer to your hotel for check in and at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: BL.

Dress Code: Semi formal casual attire is required to enter the Royal Grand Palace. Thus, please be in comfortable casual semi formal clothes while touring the Royal Grand Palace. High cut shorts, skirts, beach attires, and bare shoulders are not allowed. If you are not in proper attire, you will be asked to rent one at the palace gate! Recommendation on Foot Wear: Wear comfortable walking shoes such Tevas, tennis shoes and others that you can easily take off and put on because you are required to take off your shoes while visiting the temples.

Day 16 Departure from Bangkok
Breakfast at hotel and at leisure until transfer to airport for your homeward bound flight.
Meals: B.

Tour Cost Includes:
Fifteen nights accommodation in quality hotels on twin sharing with breakfast,
Meals are based on half to full-board as stated in the day-to-day itinerary,
Tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
Entrance fees to monuments and parks visited on this tour,
English speaking local tour guide service throughout the tour,
Transportation by air-conditioned tour coach, van and boat on the tour, on arrival and departure (one group arrival transfer to hotel in Bangkok and one group transfer out to airport in Chiang Mai) and insurance for the duration of the tour while in Thailand.

Tour Cost Does Not Include:
Thailand visa fees (US Citizens are exempted; other nationalities, contact your nearest Thai consulate),
Vietnam Visa on arrival can be arranged through us at US$55 per person, Cambodia visa is issued on arrival at US$20 per person,
Laos visa fees upon arrival at the airport US$30 per person,
international airfares, airport departure tax (Thailand US$12, Hanoi US$14, Siem Reap US$25 and Luang prabang/Vientiane US$10; these figures are guide lines only and are subject to change);
meals not mentioned in the program, personal insurance, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, political unrest, and emergencies.

Tour Leader Policy:
For every 15 paying adults in a group, one tour leader will be offered free of charge except airfares. Group size 13 to 14 full paying adults, one tour leader will be offered 50% (fifty percent) discount for the trip except airfares; group size 10 to 12 full paying adults, one tour leader will be offered 25% (twenty five percent) discount for the trip except airfares, and group size between 6 to 9 people, tour leader pays same as the trip members.

Package Prices Terms and Conditions:
All package prices are net per person in US Dollars. The package prices are subject to change should there be changes in government tax policies, local currency exchange rates and major changes in US Dollar exchange rates.
We reserve the right to alternate an itinerary in the event of natural disasters, bad weather, civil unrest or other unforeseen factors that pose threat to our guests and us (the tour operator) in the planned destination. In such events, alteration of an itinerary is done for the safety of our clients, and any extra charges in situations beyond our control will have to be born by the guests.
An itinerary may slightly change between now and by the time the trip departs. Changes are usually caused through development in the planned route, environmental changes and government regulations to natural and cultural landscapes. Changes are usually made for improvement and safety.