Cambodia and Laos Extension Itinerary
Click here to view the itinerary for the Burma conference.
The price of the extension does not include the optional tour programme as described below. Full details of these tours and their costs will be available shortly.
Tuesday 28th September
Leave Heathrow 18:30 SQ319.
Wednesday 29th September
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Arrive 17:25 MI 608 via Singapore.
Transfer to Raffles Le Royale Hotel. Evening at leisure.
Thursday 30th September
Siem Reap (Ankor Wat)
Tour of Phnom Penh. To include the Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek) and the Russian Market. This tour will give you insight in to the nature of Cambodian society and to the psychology of the people as they try to readjust to the horrors of the 1970s.
We will then take a late afternoon flight to Siam Reap and check in at the Residence d'Ankor Orient Express Hotel.
Friday 1st October
Siem Reap
Morning Tour of Angor Wat site visiting Angkor Thom and the Bayon including an Elephant ride around Bayon.
Ankor Wat is one of the new 7 wonders of the world and a magnificent collection of Khmer temples in the Cambodian Jungle.
The whole site is full of historic archaeological treasures and the two chose for our visit encompass the history and attainments of the ancient Khmer empire.
Afternoon at leisure.
Saturday 2nd October
Siem Reap
A morning at Ta Phrom & Preah Khan, the former being the wonderful atmospheric jungle temple where nature has half reclaimed the archaeology, creating images straight out of Indiana Jones. It is incredibly photogenic and its images will remain with you throughout this trip.
The afternoon tour is to Tonle Sap, of the largest lakes in Asia and home to thousands of people who make their living in floating villages. Our boat tour will allow you to relax and view the bustling life around you.
Evening at leisure - there will be a pre arranged dining option.
Sunday 3rd October
Luang Prabang, Laos
We leave Siem Reap and fly to Laos and the wonderful town of Luang Prabang (flight may operate via Bangkok).
Surrounded by thickly forested mountains and situated at the confluences of the Khan and Mekong Rivers, Luang Prabang has a tranquil, old world charm rarely found in Asia today. This fascinating town was the capital of the Lane Xang (million elephants) kingdom until the mid-sixteenth century. In colonial times it served as a provincial headquarters of the north. The legacy of the European presence here - well preserved French architecture and careful street planning - has blended delightfully with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town rich in atmosphere and history. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang as a World Heritage City.
Afternoon check in to our hotel the delightful peaceful Phou Vao Orient Express hotel. Then head into town and climb Phou Sii Hill to visit the very hill top temple you can see from the pool. Amazing views of the town and a chance to catch an incredible sunset over the Mekong.
We will visit the attractive and least hassling night market in S E Asia. It is full of real craft rather than high tack and is a wonderful way to walk to this evening's restaurant.
Monday 4th October
Luang Prabang
In Vietnam they plant the rice; in Cambodia they watch it grow; in Laos they listen to it grow! What better way to tour this relaxed town than by bicycle. We shall head to a few of the surrounding villages where various minority people have set up their weaving, silk producing and paper manufacturing handicrafts (mini vans for those who don't wish to cycle).
Then we will head into town itself and continue our tour with some of the many temples and stupas that make up the ethereal atmosphere of this former royal capital. We will visit the national museum in the former Royal palace as well as Wat Xieng Thong, Vat Mai and the H’mong market.
Then head back to the hotel to spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, or stay and explore the town a little more on your own. This evening there will be a dining option.
Tuesday 5th October
Luang Prabang
A really early start to catch a really intriguing sight. At dawn the thousands of monks in this religious town walk around the town to receive alms and food from the inhabitants and ( of course ) tourists. It may be early but just listen to the tranquillity of the streets and experience the strange atmosphere as the town fills with saffron.
Then back to the hotel for your breakfast. The rest of the day will be a river trip up the broad MeKong to the Pak Ou caves which contain 3,000 images of Buddah.
We will have lunch at the village of Ban Xanghai and the chance to sample Laos Rice Wine. After lunch there will a 1 hour drive through the countryside to the Kuang Sii Waterfalls where, weather permitting, you can swim in the cascades.
Then a drive back to the hotel for leisure and our dinner programme.
Wednesday 6th October
Breakfast then departure for our private charter flight to Mandalay where we shall join up with those coming from London for the Burma portion of the trip.
Click here to view the itinerary for the Burma conference.