The program days are numbered below to correspond with the itinerary for the Dutch travelers. Day 1 is a travel day.

Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Day 1  Transit day
Day 2 Chiang Mai – Land program begins
Day 3 Chiang Mai - Chiang Saen

The journey begins in a part of the former French Indo China in the Thai royal city of Chiang Mai. In the capital of Northern Thailand, you can get acquainted with the oriental atmosphere and the local diet. For example, try out the local  “sticky rice”, “pad thai” or “tom-yam soup”. Chiang Mai is completely surrounded by a wall. It is situated on the Ping River at the foot of Doi Suthep Mountain (1685 m high), where you will find the beautiful temple What Pratat, which dates back to the 16th century. Wat Phra Sing, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Pa Pao are also temples worth visiting.

To visit the various temples, the tuk-tuk is the optimal vehicle. In the suburbs you can admire the silk weavers, the hand-painted umbrellas, the lacquer workers, the silver smiths, and the wood workers. In the evening you can shop for a variety of souvenirs. While enjoying a traditional Thai massage, you can get some rest to gear up for the incredible adventure you will be taking through Indochina.

From Chiang Mai we follow a beautiful route through the area of the Golden Triangle to Chiang Saen. This village, located on the banks of the Mekong River, offers a first look at Laos, or Lanexang (the country of 1000 elephants).

Laos

Luang Phabang

Day 4  Chiang Saen - Mekong - Pak Beng
Day 5  Pak Beng - Luang Prabang
Day 6  Luang Prabang
Day 7  Luang Prabang

We leave Thailand on a longtail boat on the Mekong, which will take us to Pak Beng after we pass through customs. We cover the route Houisay - Pak Beng - Luang Prabang by ''slow boat”. Halfway through this tour we will stay in Pak Beng, a small village on the Mekong River. En route you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the life on and along the mighty Mekong River. The next day we sail to Luang Prabang.

The old royal capital Luang Prabang is nestled between two rivers, the Mekong and the Nam Khan. Hills, forests and rivers surround the city. The city is decorated with many golden temples with dragon ornaments on the roofs. You can find local food from Mekong, for example, something fried with sesame seed, a local delicacy. The former royal palace is now used as museum. Low, hanging roofs and intricate details like carvings and mosaics characterize the many temples.

If you have seen enough of the temples you can go on a quiet boat ride through the green rice fields, passing many buffalo and fishermen on the way. From Luang Prabang you can visit the Pak Ou caves, which offer magnificent views over the Mekong River. In these caves you will find various depictions of Buddha. You can make a trip to the Tat Guangxi waterfall, and also check out some of the small villages of minority tribes in the outskirts of Luang Prabang.

Vang Vieng and Vientiane

Day 8    Luang Prabang - Phonsovan
Day 9    Phonsovan - Vang Vieng
Day 10  Vang Vieng - Vientiane

We travel south on mountainous terrain. The ride is enchanting as we pass small villages, colorful markets and friendly locals.  We interrupt the trip for one night in Phonsovan. This is the base for an excursion to the famous Plain of Jars. The next morning, we will explore Phonsovan and see the large number of huge jars, that were randomly distributed over the area. The weight of the jars varies from about 600 pounds to six tons. Archaeologists frequently visit the area. Collectors have snatched the smaller jars over the years, so the ones you are left with are no easy souvenirs to carry! It’s best to walk through this landscape to truly experience it fully.

 From Vervolgenms we drive on to Vang Vieng, located in the bend of the Nam Song River. The area is dominated by several limestone rock formations which rise from the  river. In this small town, there is a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere and you are free to walk or bike along the banks of the river and enjoy the tranquility and beautiful nature. The next day we drive to the capital of Laos, Vientiane.

Vientiane

Day 11 Vientiane
Day 12 Vientiane - Savannakhet

Situated on the Mekong, Vientiane is a quiet place with a provincial atmosphere. It is full of old colonial buildings and lively charming locals. You can take all the time you want to explore the streets, temples, and busy markets. Around Nom Phou fountain there are many nice restaurants. The Luang Stupa is the main temple complex of the country. In addition to temples you will find the Patuxai, the Laotian version of the Arc de Triomphe. The French influences appear in historic buildings’ architecture and sometimes in the cuisine. Try a grilled Mekong fish on one of the terraces along the water.

We can also visit the Nam Ngum dam, 90 km from Vientiane. This is a beautiful area where you can take a boat trip to an island on the lake. After the quiet capital we continue our route south to Savannakhet, an active trade stop on the Mekong. The bustle of the area, colonial buildings and temples are a contrast to the small villages of Laos that you have visited so far. 

Savannakhet and Khong Island

Day 13 Savannakhet - What Phou - Khong Island
Day 14 Khong Island

You notice that tourism in the south of Laos is less developed than in the north. The roads are certainly of lesser quality. After a night in Savannakhet we drive towards the deep south of Laos. We make a stop at the ruins of Wat Phou in Champassak province. We travel across the river to get to the temple. This Hindu temple, 200 years older than the temples of Angkor, served as a model for the builders of Angkor.

In the evening we arrive at Khong Island, a beautiful place in the Mekong. You can bike or walk along the riverbanks. You are surrounded by rice paddies and temples, which you can explore at your own pace. The area is known for its peaceful environment. On a terrace you can drink delicious coffee or try Lao-lao’s locally brewed spirits. You are about an hour bus ride from the foot of a large waterfall on the border of Cambodia.

Thailand

Surin

Day 15   Khong Island - Surin
Day 16   Surin - Siem Reap

After a relaxing day on Khong Island we continue on to Chong Mek, again on the Mekong River, and carry on the route to Thailand. We travel with our own locally hired bus driver. We breathe easier on the better bus routes en route to the town of Surin. Here we have a night before we enter Cambodia.

After we pass through border customs, you will immediately notice that Cambodia has a very different atmosphere than Laos and Thailand, and that the tourism infrastructure in the countryside is almost nonexistent. The length of the tour depends on the condition of the roads as they may be unpaved and full of holes. So prepare for a bumpy, exciting ride! The environment and the little villages are very attractive. After rinsing under a hot shower, you are ready for the discovery of the temples of Angkor.

Cambodia

Siem Reap, Angkor Wat

Day 17 Siem Reap
Day 18 Siem Reap

We stay in a centrally located hotel in the lovely town of Siem Reap, which serves as the basis for one of the highlights of this trip: a visit to Angkor, the world famous temples of the Khmer classical style from the 9th to 12th century.

We have alternate options for the next few days so that you’re not over saturated with temples and similar surroundings. A moped driver brings you to the remains of the walled capital of Angkor Thom where you can also visit the Royal Palace and the mystical Bayon temple. You have the option of taking a bike to this site. You are surrounded by beautiful temple complexes, like Preah Kahn, and the mysteriously uninhabitated Ta Prohm. Banteay Srei is located further north, and has undergone beautiful relief work. The most breathtaking peak is the great Angkor Wat because of its stunning architecture and decorative elements. This temple was built in the 12th century as a mausoleum for King Suryavarman II and is now used as a Buddhist temple. The complex is surrounded by a 200 meter wide moat and is dominated by a 50 meter high temple tower.

There are dozens of other temples to visit in this wooded area. Locals come to the temples at sunrise to silently admire it. The jungle has overtaken some temples, as a result of them not having been restored for many years. However, the winding roots look beautiful against the stone structures. The rural environment is cozy and inviting with its markets and farms.  At night you can eat at one of the many wonderful restaurants, or go see a classical Cambodian dance performance. It is also possible to cruise along to the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. Vietnamese refugees stayed here for several years.

Phnom Penh

Day 19 Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
Day 20 Phnom Penh
Day 21 Phnom Penh – Land Program Ends

We leave in the morning for a 5 hour trip to Phnom Penh. We drive through 3 provinces, Kompong Thom, Kompong Cham and Kandal. En route we enjoy the views and the Cambodian locals interacting.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Phnom Penh, where we stay overnight in a comfortable hotel with air conditioning that is a little ways from the center. The city has so much to offer. You can visit the royal palace with the silver pagoda, or walk through the national museum.  many It has valuable archaeological finds from the Khmer Time. In this area you will find many ancient Buddhist monasteries and other buildings with clear Khmer influence. What Phnom is the former northern French part of the city around the temple. The temple on a hill was built to commemorate the founding of the city.

The boulevard along the Tonle Sap River is very charming. In the evening you can follow the pantoufle parade on foot or by bike. At night you can retire to the balcony of one of the former clubs to enjoy a quiet sunset. A walk around the central market will give you a good feel for the chaotic Chinese district. All the hustle and bustle is certainly a sight to see.

 The Tuol Sleng Holocaust Museum and the 'Killing Fields' are incredibly harrowing but definitely worth seeing.