Travel Beauty of Indochina – 13 Days 12 Nights

After landing at the beautiful capital of Vietnam, you’ll get a hearty warm welcome to the sun-soaked nation and be taken to your hotel ready for your inspiring tour that’s up and coming for you to experience…

You’ll need all that energy, as your second day is going to be as exciting as it is busy! A full tour of Hanoi awaits, including an enlightening trip to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.

And with lunch quickly following, you’ll be given an insight into Vietnam’s fascinating, turbulent and enigmatic history with a trip to the Museum of Ethnology. Awaken your spirit right in the very heart of the great city; the Hoan Kiem Lake. In the beautiful sunshine, if you haven’t already built up that sun-kissed tan that holidays are famous for, this is the perfect chance! Soak it in and calm yourself on the tranquil shores of the lake…

Take a cyclo ride through the bustling Old Quarter. Lastly, enjoy a fantastic water puppet show which is unique in Vietnam.

It’s not just by land; your trip is beautifully accented with an experience atop the myriad of sparkling emerald oceans and the purest blue waves of Halong Bay. You’ll be sleeping and dining in style on the surface of the water while you take in the magical sights of the thousands of rock formations and tiny rocky islands that make up the bays.

It’s a chance to feel the wave’s crash upon your body as you take a relaxing swim in the bay to a sunset over the thousands of limestone peaks that may up the cove. A full 577 square miles of pure, uncensored mystical beauty meets the eyes of every travel the Halong. And with your own private cabin to rest your weary head in the lap of comfort and luxury, it’s a great way to spend the early stages of your holiday!

The magical trip atop Halong bay doesn’t finish after the first day; you’ll be up in time for a swim before a hearty breakfast on the upper deck of your ship. You can put your feet up and bask in the pleasant breath of sunshine that awaits you. It makes for one of the most memorable travelling experiences anywhere in Asia!

Take a cruise through the bay to see the fascinating natural formation to match the glory of the world’s greatest wonders. But it’s all setting you up for the rest of your tantalising and enriching journey across the continent, your next stop will be to make Hue City for sunset!

Morning enjoy a cruise on the romantic Perfume River to visit Hue’s oldest and most revered site Thien Mu Pagoda, then the Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang.

You’ll be let loose upon the Old Imperial city, the pinnacle of politics and religion under no less than thirteen emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. It’s full of rich culture and is a fabulous jewel of history that every explorer and tourist is just sure to love. Walk through the Thai Hoa Palace, made from the most ornate decorations in this corner of the globe, and supported by 80 beautiful pillars which each tell their own story, adding just more jigsaw pieces to the enigmatic history of Vietnam… See the Forbidden Purple City Site. See the Halls of Mandarins… broaden your spectrum of knowledge… experience something new at every twist and turn…

Then visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc and the bustling Dong Ba market.

Feel the sand between your toes and the sun on your back as you immerse yourself in the town of Da Nang. My Khe Beach awaits. Now’s the time to build up that beautiful sun kissed look beneath the sun with the beautiful, clear blue waves washing over your ankles. With several miles of golden beaches and fantastic shoreline for your feet to wander, there’s no shortage of places to kick back, collect the breeze and smile. Mingle with your friends, family, and your fellow tourists as you enjoy the sites and sun…

You’ll also get the chance to witness the most amazing collection of Cham sculptures available anywhere in the world! And full of riches and ancient buildings, including the 200 year old Tan Ky house, Assembly hall and even the former merchants’ houses, and it’s all yours to see!

Free at your leisure until transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in the entire country. On arrival, pick up & transfer to hotel for check in.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today, you’ll find yourself atop the waves once more, though this time, you’re experiencing the sheer beauty of nature that is the Mekong Delta. Surrounded by a picturesque plethora of natural orchards and rice fields, maintained by generation after generation of local farmers, you’ll get an insight into the operation that produces grain for every city in the entire country.

And you’ll even get the chance to absorb some of their culinary wisdom, and be taught how to craft your very own coconut candy to take home to your friends and family. Next time you need a cooking ace card up your sleeve, this might very well be it. And once you’re all worn out from your day of sight-seeing, it’s back to Ho Chi Minh City.

You’ll find the perfect moment of your journey across these marvelous nations, and give you something concrete to treasure, whether you want something traditional, contemporary or modern. It’s a pure jewel of culture, and it’s yours to seize with open hands! It’s all available from the pleasant street markets, cultural sidewalk cafes and the beautiful bars for engaging in some of Vietnam’s atmospheric nightlife. It’s a wealth of timeless traditions, classics and a mix of many cultures. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral which is of neo-Romanesque architecture with two high square tower and iron spires. Visit the Central Post Office and see the amazing fusion of French and Vietnamese architecture. Next, visit the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace. the Jade Emperor Pagoda, Chinatown and Binh Tay Market – the central market for the city and one of the liveliest areas. And you’ll be doing it in pure style with a 6 hour coach which will take you from the heart of Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Phnom Penh is a city live with scenic beauty and some of the finest landscapes and skylines the world has to offer. It’s home to hundreds of jewels of historical importance, all of which you’ll sink your teeth into. Indulge your inner curiosity with a visit to the highly notorious Tuol Sleng Museum and the brutal Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. It’s an induction into the volatile and fascinating history of the region that’ll satisfy your mind and heighten your curiosity. And you’ve also got a great chance to visit the Russian Market and pick up a souvenir to immortalise your unforgettable journey…

And when the shopping is done, you’ll be flown to the airport at Siem Reap for the final leg of your unique experience into South East Asia!

A relic of both peace and war times, a visit to the highly fortified, militarised city of Angkor Thom will ensnare all the senses of any historian and cultural explorer! It’s a beautiful, popular sight adorned with some of the country’s most famous landmarks, including the Terrace of the Leper Kings, Terrace of the Elephants, and many statues of demons and gods from the ancient culture, all rounded off with a trip to the mystique surrounding the Bayon Temple. It’s the perfect way to induct you in style right into the heart of Cambodia and all it has to offer! It’s no surprise that the sunsets here are some of the most mesmerising sights to behold on the entire planet, and it’s here for you to see…

And why travel to Siem Reap without seeing all it has to offer?

Next, visit Ta Prohm, one of the most popular attractions of the area. As beautiful as it is mysterious, it retains its aura around the revelation that it was once abandoned by its inhabitants, left at the mercy of mother nature and the surrounding jungle, completely against the typical structures in the area.

Don’t forget, it’s all across the city you’ll be seeing, from the national symbol of Angkor Wat; a must see for any visit to Cambodia, to the 1,700 celestial dancer carving of the Angkor temple walls, making up the longest continuous bas-relief in the whole world. It’s a testament to the deep, rich history of Hindu mythology, enough to inspire anyone! And it can only be added to by bearing witness to this mystical place as the sun is rising and setting…

Morning transfer to Banteay Srey temple (35 km) – the Citadel of women. This Hindu temple, dating back to the 10th century, has three central towers each decorated with superbly intricate reliefs of male and female divinities, carved from pink sandstone contrasting with the main walls made of laterite. While many of Angkor temples are impressive because of their sheer size, Banteay Srei stands out by the quality of craftsmanship. Next, visit Banteay Samre, a small temple in the jungle built Angkor Wat adapt.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon we transfer to visit Kbal Spean, one of the most complete complex at Angkor, restored with the method of the anastylosis. Built under the reign of Suryavarman II during the mid-12th century, its unique feature is the interior moat covered with a laterite paving. Not very touristic, you should appreciate its peaceful atmosphere.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

You shall be heading back to Siem Reap for your final departure. But it need not be goodbye…

After all, we believe that when you choose to get away from your local area and explore another country, it seems all too easy to stick to exactly what you’re used to; the same food, the same activities, the same everything. It is only when we challenge ourselves, try something new and exciting and explore the world from new perspectives, and experience new cultures do we truly find out who we are and what we’re capable of. Our cross nation trips to South East Asia aim to do exactly that.

Don’t just be a tourist. Be a time traveller. Be a historian. Be a socialite. Be an explorer. Be an adventurer.

It’s time for you to get the wheels moving on your dream holiday! Don’t just leave it to chance and familiarity. Leave the plans to the expert. We’ll let you get on with what you do best. The experience!