Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Bangkok
An English-speaking assistant will meet you at Gate 4 when you land at Bangkok Airport. You'll get a car transfer to your hotel, and room check-in opens at 14:00. After that, the day is yours to settle in and relax.
- Day 2
Bangkok
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll meet your guide and head to Wat Pho to see the Reclining Buddha Temple, the oldest Buddhist monastery in the city. From there, you'll take a public boat across to Wat Arun, known as the Temple of Dawn. Walking through the Kudi Chin district comes next, where you'll stop by Thanusingha Bakery House, check out the Baan Kudi Chin museum, and visit Kuan An Keng Shrine. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, then in the afternoon you'll see the Royal Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew with its Emerald Buddha. You'll head back to the hotel around 16:30/4:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha Temple)
- Public boat to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
- Explore Kudi Chin district
- Visit Thanusingha Bakery House
- Visit Baan Kudi Chin museum
- Visit Kuan An Keng Shrine (Taoist temple)
- Visit Royal Grand Palace
- Visit Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha Temple)
Landmarks/POIs Wat Pho Wat Arun Kudi Chin Thanusingha Bakery House Kuan An Keng Shrine Royal Grand Palace Wat Phra Kaew - Day 3
Ayutthaya - Chao Phraya Cruise
You'll travel about 60 kilometers north after breakfast to Bang Pa In, a summer palace dating back to the seventeenth century. Then it's on to Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former Siamese capital from around 1350. After visiting temples there, you'll board the Grand Pearl Cruise Line at Wat Chong-Lom pier for a buffet lunch while cruising the Chao Phraya River. Coffee's served on board as you pass by the Royal Barge House, Royal Grand Palace, and Temple of Dawn. You'll get off at River City around 16:00/4:00 PM and head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sumptuous buffet lunch with variety of Eastern and Western cuisines on Grand Pearl Cruise Line), Coffee (Coffee served on board during Chao Phraya River cruise)
Included Activities
- Visit Bang Pa In palace
- Explore Ayutthaya Historical Park
- Temple visits in Ayutthaya
- Chao Phraya River cruise with lunch buffet
- Cruise past Koh Kred and landmarks including Royal Barge House and Temple of Dawn
Landmarks/POIs Bang Pa In Palace Ayutthaya Historical Park Koh Kred Royal Barge House Wat Kallayanamitr - Day 4
Bangkok to Vientiane (Overnight Train)
Meet your driver in the hotel lobby three hours before your flight after breakfast. You'll go to the train station to catch an overnight train heading to Vientiane.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 5
Arrival in Vientiane
After getting through immigration at Khamsavath train station on the Lao side, you'll transfer to Buddha Park to see roughly 200 Buddhist and Hindu sculptures from over 500 years ago along the Mekong River. The views across the water are quite good, then you'll head to your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll visit Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of small Buddha statues inside, then the former royal temple Wat Prakeo, the sacred That Luang Stupa, and the Patuxay Monument, Vientiane's version of the Arc de Triomphe.
Included Activities
- Visit Buddha Park
- Visit Wat Sisaket
- Visit Wat Prakeo
- Visit That Luang Stupa
- View Patuxay Monument
Landmarks/POIs Buddha Park Wat Sisaket Wat Prakeo That Luang Stupa Patuxay Monument - Day 6
Vientiane to Vang Vieng
You'll head out early after breakfast going north through the countryside toward mountain areas. There's a stop at a colorful village market where hill tribes trade goods, then you'll continue to Vang Xang, an archaeological site from the 11th century. Later you'll reach Vang Vieng, situated on a bend of the Nam Song River with nice limestone formations around it. After checking in, you'll drive through rice paddies to Tham Phoukham caves, limestone caverns with natural forests nearby. You'll meet local villagers and learn about how they live, with time to swim in a natural pool or explore the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit colorful village market
- Visit Vang Xang archaeological site
- Visit Tham Phoukham caves
- Swim in natural pool at caves
- Explore local cultures and meet villagers
Landmarks/POIs Vang Xang Nam Song River Tham Phoukham Caves - Day 7
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
After breakfast, you'll explore Tham Jang cave, which served as a hideout from Chinese invaders back in the early 1800s. In the afternoon, you'll transfer to the train station for the EMU C82 Express train departing at 14:27 and arriving at 15:30. When you get to Luang Prabang train station, your guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of your day after check-in is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Tham Jang cave
Landmarks/POIs Tham Jang Cave - Day 8
Luang Prabang
You'll explore Luang Prabang, one of Southeast Asia's best-kept traditional cities. Start at the National Museum in the former Royal Palace, which has Lao cultural items from the early kings through the last ruler. You'll see the impressive stupa at Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Sene, the city's oldest temple, and Wat Mai. The magnificent Wat Xiengthong has remarkable architecture with gilded decorations and classical Laotian three-tiered roofs. Climb Mount Phousi to visit the sacred gilded stupa and catch the sunset views of the city and Mekong River. End by checking out the Night Market for handmade textiles from local people and hill tribes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit National Museum at former Royal Palace
- Visit Wat Visoun
- Visit Wat Aham shrine
- Visit Wat Sene
- Visit Wat Mai
- Visit Wat Xiengthong
- Climb Mount Phousi and visit sacred gilded stupa
- Explore Night Market
Landmarks/POIs National Museum at former Royal Palace Wat Visoun Wat Aham Wat Sene Wat Mai Wat Xiengthong Mount Phousi Night Market - Day 9
Luang Prabang
You'll take an upstream cruise on the Mekong River with quiet countryside views. The Pak Ou Caves come next, two connected caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues left behind by pilgrims over time. You'll stop at Ban Xanghai village where local rice wine gets made. At Phousi Market, you'll see dried buffalo skin, local tea, saltpeter, chickens, vegetables, and hill-tribe weavings. Later, Ban Thapene, a Khmu village, is on the itinerary. The day ends at Khouangsi Waterfall where you can swim in the pools or take forest trails.
Included Activities
- Mekong River cruise upstream
- Explore Pak Ou Caves
- Stop at Ban Xanghai village
- Visit Phousi Market
- Visit Ban Thapene Khmu village
- Visit Khouangsi Waterfall
Landmarks/POIs Mekong River Pak Ou Caves Ban Xanghai Phousi Market Ban Thapene Khouangsi Waterfall - Day 10
Departure from Luang Prabang
Have breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Luang Prabang airport for your onward departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
