South East Asia Adventure

Arrive in Rangoon and check-in at the hotel. We make a late afternoon visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, the most revered Buddhist temple in Burma, whose golden stupa dominates the city skyline, making it the ideal spot from which to watch the sunset.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we fly north to Bagan. Without doubt one of the world’s premier archaeological wonders, the vast plain of Bagan is studded with literally thousands of 1000 year old temples and stupas that rival those in Angkor for their splendour. Over the next two days we will visit some of the most distinctive temples such as Shwezigon, a prototype of later Burmese stupas; Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi, a 13th century cave temple with some interesting frescoes; and Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best preserved in Old Bagan. We visit Ananda ok Kyaung – a former monastery with 18th century wall paintings. We will also add variety and local life to our itinerary with a visit to Phya Saw village where we walk about to see the traditional ways of life that have changed little over the centuries, such as cotton weaving by hand, grinding peanut oil with oxen and caring for various village animals. We may also have the chance to learn about local life by visiting some houses and chatting with locals. On our second afternoon a horse drawn carriage will take us through the temple complex and for a memorable sunset view we will head to the upper terraces of one of the temples.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

 Further sightseeing in Bagan, refer to day 2.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The morning is left free for further optional exploration in Bagan. In the afternoon we drive back to the airport for our return flight to Rangoon.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning’s sightseeing takes us by foot and bus to Rangoon’s major sights. We start in the downtown area with a walk along Pansodan Street where many of the British colonial period buildings can be found alongside sidewalk markets. Next stop is the Chaukhtatgyi Paya, home to a giant 70 metre long reclining Buddha whose serene features are topped by a crown encrusted in diamonds and other precious stones. If time permits we will continue to Chinatown - also in the downtown area where we can see interesting and exotic products for sale at sidewalk markets and also see some small Chinese temples. Later in the afternoon we drive to the airport for our flight to Hanoi in Vietnam.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we make a tour of the main sights of Hanoi. Architecturally styled like a French provincial town with tree-lined boulevards and substantial low-built houses, the city is wonderfully nostalgic. Among the interesting sights are the charming One-Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace, a very fine example of French colonial architecture. Ho Chi Minh himself, a spartan-living and scholarly man, chose not to live in the Presidential Palace; he preferred instead a simple teak 2-storied stilt-house specially built for him in the grounds (it reminded him of the many years spent in the forest directing his wartime campaigns, first against the French, then the Americans). In the afternoon you are free to explore the Old Quarter, through the city’s bustling street markets. streets are named after various crafts or specialities: Paper Street, Silk Street, Basket Street etc. The shops themselves have very narrow frontages but are actually quite deep; they are known locally as ‘tube’ shops, while on the pavement food sellers sell noodles, snacks and stir-fries from shoulder panniers.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to the magnificent Ha Long Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thousands of jagged limestone islands rise out of the jade green waters like the hairy scales of a submerged dragon. In fact Ha Long means ‘where the dragon descends to the sea’, as legend tells that the rugged seascape was created by the pounding tail of a dragon as she ran from the mountains into the sea, carving islands in her wake. We spend the night on board our junk with twin share cabins and ensuite facilities. All bedding is provided. N.B. Due to the nature of this trip a small number of other travellers may occupy other cabins and our group may be split between two boats overnight in the same location.

Overnight Simple Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will enjoy the romantic scenery cruising amongst the islands. We’ll have the chance to stop at some of the hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs and perhaps pull into a quiet beach, fringed with thick jungle.  It is also interesting to see the curious assortment of boats, junks and wooden sampans, their sails hoisted, gliding through Ha Long Bay. We then return by bus to Hanoi and board the ‘Reunification Express’ to Hué.  Please note: when travelling on the overnight train you may be sharing the four bed cabin with strangers or members of the opposite sex.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

We arrive in Hué, one of the great cultural and religious centres of Vietnam, a quietly impressive place and a major highlight of our trip. The Perfumed River divides the city in two; it has been the inspiration for poets and painters for many centuries. In the afternoon we plan to take a trip by boat on the Perfumed River from Hué to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu Pagoda has its roots in a local legend: an old woman once appeared on the hill and said that a Lord would come and build a Buddhist pagoda for the country's prosperity. Hearing of this, Lord Nguyen Hoang ordered the construction of the pagoda of the "Heavenly Lady" (Thien Mu). This lovely monastery is the oldest in Hué.  

Overnight Standard Hotel

On the Left Bank is the Old Citadel, the palace built by the Nguyen dynasty (Vietnam’s ruling emperors from the early 1800s to 1945). The Citadel has formal moats and impressive ramparts which were constructed by 20,000 men and was an exact copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Although most of the Inner City was totally destroyed during the month-long Tet Offensive (1968), the vast outer walls and the West Wing remain and are an eloquent reminder of the palace’s former glory. To appreciate Hué’s fascinating history we’ll tour the citadel in the morning including the Tomb of Tu Duc, which is one of the most striking pieces of architecture in Vietnam. The rest of the day free for personal exploration.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We enjoy a scenic drive across the spectacular Col des Nuages(the Pass of Ocean Clouds), passing rural scenes of thatched, wooden houses and lime-green rice paddies. Pausing at Danang, the one-time centre of the important Kingdom of Champa (2nd century AD – 1720) we visit the Cham Museum, which houses a fine collection of Cham sculptures, such as sandstone altars and many images of Shiva, the Hindu god. We then visit the nearby five peaks of the Marble Mountains, originally islands, said to represent the five elements (water, wood, fire, gold and earth). The naturally formed grottoes have been transformed into heavily carved buddhist sanctuaries and Thuy Son hillock, representing water, is especially hallowed. About 1km from the mountains are the white sands of China Beach – an ideal spot to rest awhile and view the South China Sea. Finally we continue to the ancient town of Hoi An, first colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The historic merchant town of Hoi An had become one of the busiest international trading ports of southeast Asia by the 17th and 18th centuries and it still retains its medieval charm with many of its old buildings superbly preserved. The day is free to explore at leisure. You may choose to visit the Japanese Bridge, built in the 17th century, whose undulating yellow and green tiled roof gives the impression of moving water. Alternatively there are many markets which are an ideal place to pick up silk paintings and tailored silk clothing, including the early morning fish market where you will see many conical hats!

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive back to Danang and take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). We plan a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s central sights. Our programme will include such interesting places as the Presidential Palace (renamed Reunification Hall) and the War Crimes Museum.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is left free for further personal exploration of this popular city. We do offer an optional boat trip to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. This takes approximately 7 hours and visits a range of local villages on islands as well as a floating fish market.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we’ll take a short drive out of the city to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels which formed an amazing underground command base for 10,000 Viet Cong troops, and were a major part of the 1968 Tet Offensive. We continue on to Cambodia and its capital, Phnom Penh.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we include a city sightseeing tour which will take us to the National Museum of Arts (which contains a notable collection of Khmer sculpture), the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (a High School which became the Khmer Rouge’s main torture and interrogation centre), and the ‘Killing Fields’ (a huge glass tower memorial filled with human skulls), a sombre reminder of the scale of Pol Pot’s atrocities. You should be aware that many people do find Tuol Sleng and the ‘Killing Fields’ quite distressing.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We drive to Siem Reap, our base for exploring the ancient temples of Angkor. This amazing ruined city, built between the 9th and the 13th centuries, deep in the Cambodian jungle is spread out over some 155 square kilometres, scattered with walled cities and magnificent stone temples, sculptures, causeways and reservoirs. Our exact sightseeing programme may change slightly at the tour leader’s discretion (to avoid crowds, coincide with sunsets etc.). On our first day we plan to include the 2nd Angkor Capital which contains Kravan, Sta Strang, East Mebon and Pre-Rup. On our second day we will visit Ta Phrom – lying half consumed by the jungle, before continuing on to the 3rd Angkor capital and the temples of Suriyavarman II to include Banteay Srei and the famous Angkor Wat.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we continue our explorations with a visit to the temples of King Jayavarman VII, reputedly Angkor’s greatest king. The complex includes many of the most impressive buildings and temples in Angkor including Angkor Thom, the Bayon and the Terrace of Elephants. In the early afternoon we transfer to the airport for our flight to the former Laos Royal capital of Luang Prabang. Situated among the rolling hills of the upper Mekong, this tranquil little town is celebrated for its exceptionally lovely setting. This evening we suggest you climb to the small temple on top of Mount Phousi to enjoy sunset views of the town.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

All the main places of interest are close together, so this morning we explore on foot. Our tour includes Wat Xieng Thong (Golden Temple), built in 1559 is perhaps the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang, and we also visit the shimmering Wat Sen. This afternoon we walk to the jetty and board boats for a journey up the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves. The river is quite wide here and is often lined with bamboo. We will stop to visit the Pak Ou Caves, where we climb steps up the limestone cliffs to reach the sacred Buddhist shrine. Although now abandoned by the monks, there is an altar for incense burning, flower offerings and numerous rock shelves crammed with thousands of Buddha images of all shapes and sizes. Later we’ll return to Luang Prabang and you will have the possibility to visit the wonderful night market.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning We head out of town to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall. On the way you may want to visit some local villages at Ban Ou and Ban Thapene. The afternoon is left free in Luang Prabang for further exploration.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Tour ends after breakfast. If you have time relax in a riverside cafe and watch the world go slowly by.

Included meals: Breakfast