Itinerary
- Day 1
Phnom Penh
You'll arrive in Phnom Penh with a welcome meeting at 6pm. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk around and check out the French colonial architecture scattered throughout the city. Dinner takes you to a riverside local restaurant where you'll try traditional Cambodian dishes like beef lok lak or fish amok.
- Meals
- Dinner (Riverside local restaurant with traditional Cambodian dishes including beef lok lak or fish amok)
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Phnom Penh streets and explore French colonial architecture
- Day 2
Phnom Penh
Today covers Phnom Penh's most significant sites on a full city tour. You'll visit the Silver Pagoda, the country's most sacred temple within the Royal Palace complex. The included stops at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek show Cambodia's difficult history. If you're interested, there's an optional visit to Wat Phnom, the temple that founded the city back in the 15th century. By evening, you have free time to relax along the riverfront.
Included Activities
- Phnom Penh city tour
- Silver Pagoda visit
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) visit
- Killing Fields of Choeung Ek visit
Optional Activities
- Wat Phnom temple visit - USD2
- Mekong Sunset - Free
- National Museum visit - USD10
- Riverfront cafe relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Silver Pagoda Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Wat Phnom - Day 3
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
A scenic drive to Siem Reap takes about 7 hours with stops along the way. You'll stop at a local village restaurant for lunch during the journey. After arriving in Siem Reap, you can explore at your own pace, wandering through the old market with its colourful silks, cottons, sarongs, and silver items, or trying cheap street food. If shadow puppetry interests you, catch a show at a local restaurant while you have amok, Cambodia's signature curry steam-cooked in banana leaves.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local village restaurant meal)
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Siem Reap
Optional Activities
- Visit old market and surrounding shops
- Try local street food
- Shadow puppetry show at local restaurant
- Explore city atmosphere
- Day 4
Siem Reap
You'll spend a full day at Angkor, exploring the temples of this UNESCO World Heritage site. The group tour takes in the Bayon temple with its 200+ smiling carved faces and 50+ towers, then visits an ancient monastery where a monk will chant, sprinkle holy water, and tie a sacred thread around your wrist. Lunch is at Spoons Restaurant, which supports young people learning hospitality skills. You'll finish at Ta Prohm, where nature and massive trees have reclaimed the stone. Optional sunrise or sunset visits can be arranged with your leader.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at The Spoons Restaurant and School)
Included Activities
- Angkor Temples guided tour
- Bayon temple visit
- Buddhist monk blessing ritual
- One day Angkor Pass
- Lunch at The Spoons Restaurant
- Ta Prohm temple visit
Optional Activities
- Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat temple - Free
- Sunset view of temples
- Phare Circus ticket - USD18
- Khmer traditional massage - USD17
- Landmine Museum visit - USD5
- Angkor Zipline - from USD54
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat Bayon Temple Ta Prohm - Day 5
Siem Reap
After breakfast, you'll head to Kampong Phluck lakeside village with its stilt houses built to handle regular flooding. A riverboat takes you through mangrove forests to see how locals live. Later, you'll tour the surrounding countryside villages and rice fields around traditional stilt houses. A local family welcomes you into their home for sunset drinks and snacks. The day ends with a farewell dinner celebrating authentic Cambodian cuisine with your travel group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at local restaurant with authentic Cambodian cuisine)
Included Activities
- Kampong Phluck lakeside village visit
- Riverboat exploration
- Countryside village walk
- Sunset drinks and snacks with local family
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks/POIs Kampong Phluck - Day 6
Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll transfer to the airport and fly unescorted to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. After landing, you're picked up and transferred to your hotel. This is where your group leader may change and new travellers join the group. There's an optional meeting later to meet your Vietnamese tour leader and fellow travellers, often followed by an optional group dinner at one of Ho Chi Minh City's many restaurants.
Optional Activities
- Group meeting attendance
- Optional group dinner at Ho Chi Minh City restaurant
- Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City
The day starts at the Cu Chi Tunnels, a former Viet Cong stronghold that shows Vietnamese resourcefulness and underground life during the Vietnam War. You'll return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch on your own. Then you'll visit the Reunification Palace, the site where South Vietnam surrendered, ending the war. You can optionally see the War Remnants Museum with military equipment including an F5A fighter and helicopter, or head back to your hotel to plan your evening.
Included Activities
- Cu Chi Tunnels tour
- Reunification Palace visit
Optional Activities
- War Remnants Museum visit with military equipment exhibition
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum - Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
You'll fly to Danang and travel by private vehicle to Hoi An. In the late afternoon, your leader takes you to Tra Que where you'll tour a local chef's garden, picking fresh herbs and vegetables for a special group dinner. You'll relax in the peaceful surroundings as a private chef prepares a seasonal feast using what you selected from the garden.
- Meals
- Dinner (Exclusive group dinner at Tra Que with dishes prepared by local chef using fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden)
Included Activities
- Garden-to-Table with a Local Chef at Tra Que
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que - Day 9
Hoi An
Your leader gives you a walking tour of Hoi An's Old Town, a former trading port with architectural influences from Europe, China, and Vietnam. The restored city looks much as it did over a century ago. You'll see a historic house, the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall, and a museum. The rest of the day is free to explore as you like, or check out street stalls selling paintings, woodwork, ceramics, and lanterns. Local tailors can create custom items within a few hours if you're interested.
Included Activities
- Old Town walking tour
- Historic house visit
- Japanese Covered Bridge visit
- Chinese assembly hall visit
- Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
- Private Bike, Boat and Dinner Experience - USD85
- Explore street stalls with paintings, woodwork, ceramics, and lanterns
- Custom tailoring services
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 10
Hoi An to Hanoi
You'll fly to Hanoi for a guided half-day tour covering major sites like Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, the Temple of Literature, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Lunch is at the KOTO café, a project that provides vocational training for disadvantaged young people. The afternoon is yours to spend however you like, asking your leader for advice based on your interests. You could stroll around the city's parks and lakes, or experience Vietnam's street culture in small roadside bars called Bia Hoi where locals drink freshly brewed draught beer.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at KOTO café, a vocational training project for disadvantaged young people)
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh's stilt house visit
- Temple of Literature visit
- One Pillar Pagoda visit
- Lunch at KOTO café
- Old Quarter walking tour
Optional Activities
- Explore parks and lakes
- Visit Bia Hoi roadside bars
- Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
- Water puppet show - VND100000
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House Temple of Literature One Pillar Pagoda - Day 11
Hanoi to Halong Bay
You'll travel by private vehicle to Halong Bay, one of Vietnam's most spectacular natural areas. A long, slow cruise takes you through green waters where you can explore the Surprise Cave. There's a chance to swim from Ti Top Island beach. Watch the sunset over limestone karsts before spending the night in a comfortable twin-share cabin onboard with air-conditioning and private facilities. Fresh seafood is served for lunch and dinner at the boat's dining room and bar.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch served on board), Dinner (Fresh seafood dinner served on board)
Included Activities
- Halong Bay overnight boat cruise
- Surprise Cave exploration
- Ti Top Island beach swimming opportunity
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Surprise Cave Ti Top Island - Day 12
Halong Bay to Hanoi
If you'd like, you can wake early to watch the sunrise, then enjoy a leisurely morning sailing across Halong Bay before heading back to port. The drive back to Hanoi is relaxed, and you'll have free time to explore the city on your own. You could visit Dong Xuan market to shop, grab a caf drink like an egg coffee, or stop for bia hoi at one of the city's microbars. If you want, there's an optional group dinner to celebrate the end of your trip.
Optional Activities
- Sunrise viewing from boat
- Visit Dong Xuan market
- Egg coffee at local café
- Bia hoi at roadside microbars
- Optional group dinner celebration
Landmarks/POIs Dong Xuan Market - Day 13
Hanoi
After breakfast, you're free to leave whenever you like since no activities are scheduled. If you'd like to spend more time in Hanoi, additional accommodation can be arranged subject to availability.
- Meals
- Breakfast
