17-Day Thailand, Laos and Vietnam Highlights Tour

Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand’s throbbing metropolitan capital. Upon your arrival, your friendly local tour guide will be waiting to meet you and take you to your hotel for check-in. Spend the evening indulging in your first REAL taste of vibrant, world-renowned Thai-cuisine, or living the high life at a rooftop bar, marvelling at the pulsating city below.

After breakfast at your hotel, your local guide awaits to begin your discovery of the Land of Smiles. After a short drive to Ratchaburi Province, you’ll spend the morning aboard a private longtail boat, snaking your way through the winding canals to one of the country’s most iconic sites, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Grab a fresh coconut juice or mid-morning snack from one of the vendors as they paddle by in their wooden canoes laden with tropical fruit.

After the market, you’ll be driven back to heart of Bangkok to explore Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. These two dazzling 18th-century structures are some of Thailand’s most striking, and it’s easy to see why the western world was once so envious of their architectural brilliance. Wat Phra Kaew is the holiest site in the country, and home to its most important icon, the Emerald Buddha; the Grand Palace has been the official residence to the Kings of Siam since 1782, and it’s not hard to see why with the kind of oriental opulence displayed here. After the Palace, you’ll make a quick stop to admire the world’s largest solid gold Buddha, standing some three metres high, before moving on to Wat Arun, or ‘Temple of the Dawn’, Bangkok’s towering, most-distinctive landmark, considered one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. We end the day at Wat Pho, the city’s oldest temple and home to the magnificent forty-five metre-long Reclining Buddha, a depiction of the true Buddha entering nirvana. The temple is also a centre for traditional medicine, and is the ultimate place to unwind with a Thai massage before you’re taken by to your hotel for the night.

Enjoy one final morning in the bustling capital, perhaps enrolling in a Thai cooking course so you can take some of this spectacular country home with you. Your guide will collect you late-morning for your flight to Chiang Rai, at the heart of the Golden Triangle. Upon your arrival at the airport, another friendly local guide will be waiting to meet you and take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to relax or do a little exploring of this totally walkable city.

Today’s tour begins with an adventure to the heart of the Golden Triangle, Sop Ruak, where the Thai, Myanmar and Laos borders meet. Gaze into each of these ancient kingdoms from Wat Phra That Phu Khao Temple, a temple that has watched over the region from its hilltop vantage point for over a thousand years. Next you’ll get a chance to learn about the fascinating culture in the curious village of Mae Salong, a hilltop of ramshackle housing and tea plantations settled by Chinese hilltribes yet officially remains part of Thailand. After lunch, you will spend the afternoon in a village of Karen Long-necked women, your knowledgeable guide explaining their unusual yet ancient traditions. After driving back to Chiang Rai, the evening is yours to relax in your hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide awaits to drive you to the extravagant yet highly unusual ‘White Temple’ of Wat Rong Khun. While much of Thailand’s temples have centuries of history, this is a modern take on a classic design, a brilliant-white temple encrusted with clear-mirrored chips that make for a dazzling sight in the morning sun. It’s quite unlike any other temple in Thailand, or elsewhere for that matter. Next, you’ll wind through the lush forests and limestone mountains of Chiang Dao, where you will visit a sacred cave extending some 10km into the mighty Doi Chiang Dao Mountain, Thailand’s third tallest peak stretching some 2,175 metres into the heavens from the fertile plains below. After lunch, you’ll continue towards Chiang Mai, taking in the breathtaking scenery as you drive, as well as making stops at rural villages to see unique hilltribes. Once in Chiang Mai, the evening is your own to relax.

After breakfast, you’ll visit the nearby Maetaman Elephant Camp. Here, you’ll have the chance to trek through the forest and across shallow rivers on the back of one of the Camp’s gentle giants. After a local lunch, you’ll spend some time up close with the animals, aiding in the feeding and bathing process, during which the young elephants are especially playful. Later in the afternoon you’ll try your hand at bamboo rafting along a relaxing stretch of the river, and take a leisurely oxcart ride through the countryside before your driver returns you to Chiang Mai. The rest of the day is yours to relax.

Enjoy one final morning in Thailand’s enchanting second city, perhaps signing up for a local cooking course so you can take a little of this spectacular country home with you.When the time comes, your guide will take you to the airport for your flight to the stunning town of Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your new guide who will take you to your hotel for check-in. Tonight is yours to explore this iconic city on your own.

This morning, your journey of discovery begins with a serene cruise down the Mekong, idling past scenes of rural riverside life and spectacular mountain scenery until you reach the Pak Ou Caves. Nestled among the limestone cliffs where the Mekong and and Nam OU rivers meet, the caves are split into two: one called Tham Ting; and the other Tham Theung. Both are filled with thousands of Buddha images and statues which have been deposited here over the centuries.

A short distance away from Pak Ou Caves, we visit the village of Ban Xang Hai, which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays, the village also specialises in producing a wide range of ‘Lao Lao’ whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ wine. Be sure to try just a little before we head back down to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

After your trip to the caves, enjoy private tour of the city, calling in at Wat Xiengthong, Luang Prabang’s stunning Golden City Temple, Wat Aham, with its depictions of Buddha’s life painted on the walls, and the Royal Palace Museum, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about Lao history and culture. In the evening, you’re free to relax, or do a little exploring on your own.  

You’ll start the day by observing the early-morning alms ritual of the saffron-robed monks that call this city home, perhaps even receiving a blessing. After breakfast at your hotel, you will head to explore more of Laos’ natural beauty at the stunning Khouang Si Waterfalls. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a variety of Lao Minority Group villages, learning about their unique traditions and cultures, experiencing a totally different way of life. Spend the evening relaxing in your hotel, or venture out on your own.

The rest of the morning is for you to enjoy your last few moments in Luang Prabang. When the time comes, your guide will take you to the airport for your flight to Vientiane, a charming backwater capital of smiling locals and steaming noodle stalls. Upon arrival, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to soak in the city’s rich delights.

After breakfast at your hotel, your journey of discovery starts with a fantastic city tour, beginning with the fascinating National Museum, where you’ll have a chance to gain a foundation understanding of Lao history that will help you get the best of the sights you’ll see later on the trip. After the museum, it’s on to Wat Sisaket, the oldest wat (temple) in Vientiane serving as home to a host of gorgeous murals and a beautifully ornate ceiling. The final stop of the morning is Wat Prakeo, housing some of the country’s finest sculptures.

In the afternoon, you will be whisked back to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, leaving this beautiful country with many wonderful memories and stories to share with your loved ones back home. Upon arrival to Hanoi, your friendly local guide will greet you at airport and then take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to relax, settle in and do a little exploring on your own. An irresistible balance of big city and cultural charm, this lively city is the heart and soul of Vietnam.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a lovely morning touring around Hanoi city. You will begin with a visit to The Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Stilt House, Presidential Palace and Museum. Then, you will discover the One Pillar Pagoda, a temple which rises from the centre of one pillar and is said to be have been built in the shape of a lotus. Finish your day with a stroll around the Fine Arts Museum; showcasing pieces from a range of historical periods.

Following a delicious local lunch, your afternoon will be spent at the fascinating Ethnologic Museum, where you can learn a bit about the many different ethnic minorities in Vietnam. After this, you'll be taken to visit the ancient Hoan Kiem Lake, where you will learn about the interesting mythology that surrounds it. Today’s tour ends with a special tour where you may discover the picturesque Old Quarter by cyclo or rickshaw.Return to your hotel to freshen up and relax. This evening, enjoy a cultural treat! You will be attending a famous Water Puppet Show at the theatre.

Today, you will be whisked away early in the morning to Halong Bay where you will board your Bhaya Cruise!  Settle into your cabin and prepare for a breathtaking day-long journey. After a brief check-in and orientation, enjoy a refreshing welcome drink as we set sail into the mystical Halong Bay.

You will be given a buffet lunch as the boat cruises southeast, passing by Trong Mai Islet and Titov Island. You will then transfer to a small local sampan boat to discover the floating village of Vung Vieng. Once returning to the ship, if weather permits, you will be given kayaks to further explore the surrounding area.

Next, you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck. The bar opens at 17:30 with a “buy one get one free” happy hour. A set menu dinner will be served in the restaurant. The rest of the evening is yours to relax, watch a movie in the restaurant, or enjoy a 30% discount at the bar.Overnight on cruise at Halong Bay.

Today, you will begin your early morning with some spiritual and relaxing Tai Chi on the sundeck. Complimentary tea and coffee will be served as your ship cruises through the mysterious and majestic caves of Trong, Trinh Nu, Me Cung, and Sung Sot, along with the islet of Coc Ngoi.A buffet brunch will be served on board as the ship cruises back towards the harbour. You will disembark at Tuan Chau Marina where you will be transferred back to the airport to continue your journey onto Ho Chi Minh City.Upon your arrival in Ho Chi Minh, the rest of the day is yours to relax or explore on your own.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will start your day with a fascinating tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network of tunnels made by the Viet Cong during the war. These mysterious tunnels functioned as underground cities, complete with living quarters, hospitals, schools, meeting rooms, kitchens and supply routes. On the way back to the city, you will join a traditional Vietnamese cooking class, including a charming trip to a local market where you can pick your own ingredients. At the end of the lesson, you may sit down to enjoy your delicious meal!

After lunch, drive back to Ho Chi Minh and enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing, which will include admiring the architecture of the Central Post Office, a taste of a local marketplace at the Binh Tay Market, learning more about the wars of Vietnam and their effects on the country at the War Remnants Museum and finally visiting the impressive French colonial-style City Hall.The evening is yours to explore the city and sample some of the world's favourite food.

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel in the early morning and your guide will transfer you to Ben Tre. You will meet your guide at Ham Luong River where you will board your Mango Cruise. Settle into your cabin and prepare for a breathtaking 2-day journey along the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail as we set sail to Mo Cay. Our first stop will be the Mo Cay local wet market where you will see many food stalls full of local produce and fresh meats, including strange exotic delicacies such as rat and snake. As we continue to cruise through the canals, we will make another stop to see the local coconut pressing where coconut oils and fibers are made.

Upon your return to the ship, you will be given free time to relax and have a cold drink and delicious lunch on deck. We will then head down the Vung Liem Canal to visit the traditional brickworks in the lively town of Vung Liem. Next, you will be given a bicycle tour around town, visiting the fascinating Cao Dai and Khmer temples.

We will now set sail to Tra On, where we will stop for the night. You will be given some free time to lounge and freshen up before a cooking demonstration and mouth-watering 5-course dinner on board. The rest of the evening is yours to relax and enjoy the sounds of the surrounding nature.Overnight on board.

Arise early to explore the Tra On floating market as we make our way towards Can Tho. Next, visit the spectacular Cai Rang floating market, where we will transfer to a smaller boat and mingle amongst the thousands of trading vessels. Wander through the local boats and enjoy tasting the various fruits and drinks from the stands.

After our visit to the floating markets, you will return to your cruise and enjoy the dazzling scenery before being dropped off at Ninh Kieu Quay in Can Tho where you will again be greeted by your private guide.In the afternoon, you will be taken back to Ho Chi Minh City where you’ll have your last chance to wander around the city and soak up the thriving atmosphere.When the time comes, your guide will take you to the airport to continue your onward journey. Vietnam is a unique cultural experience and hopefully you will have a newfound appreciation for this incredible country and it's people.

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