Itinerary
Day 1 : Siem Reap arrival
Arrive Siem Reap from Bangkok. Transfer to hotel and rest for the day.
In the evening our minivan and guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer to the local market followed by a local Apsara Dance Show with dinner at Angkor Village Resort. Then transfer back to hotel. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 2 : Bantey Srai – Kbal Spean – private tour
In the morning drive to visit the enchanting Banteay Srei. The temple was designed to leave no space undecorated, and the fine carvings in pink sandstone are unique. After the temple visit, an hour’s drive over the hills you will go to a place near Kbal Spien and continue our journey on foot, following a white sand path which heads up into the jungle. A pleasant walk of about 40 minutes will take you through the beautiful forest, with several narrow and steep passages on the way. You will be enchanted by the waterfall and riverbed, as also the carved rocks representing the gods of the Brahma religion dating back as far as the 11th century, the "thousand Lingas Rivers". The water runs over the sculptures of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Rama and many Lingas, which were carved in stone in the past to sanctify the water and to thank the gods for their gift. After this visit, go to Banteay Samre which has some elaborate architecture and exceptional carvings, followed by a visit of Baray Oriental sites, built by Rajendravarman: Banteay Kdey, Pré Rup, Preasat Khleang, Mébon Oriental. On the return visit an actual Pagodae-Monastry, where young Monks study. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3 : Angkor Wat – private tour
After breakfast visit Angkor Thom, the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, built from the late 12th century to the early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII. It consists of 54 towers, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Then visit Ta Prohm which is surrounded by jungle. Visit Angkor Wat, the largest temples in world and covers an area of 200 hectares and surrounded by moat and an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters. Return to Siem Reap for overnight.
Day 4 : Angkor Wat photo and complete tour – leave for Hanoi
Early morning leave for a sunrise photo tour over the Angkor Wat and then complete your tour of this magnificent temple complex. Later return back to hotel or to the local market for souvenir shopping.
Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi. Met on arrival in Hanoi and after completing immigration formalities transfer to hotel.
Day 5 : Bai Dinh Pagoda – Trang An – Hoa Lu – private tour
You have an early morning start with a visit to the glimmering Bai Dinh pagoda complexes, which has the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Set on the foot hills of Dinh Mountain, surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley below and dotted with the limestone karsts – it will surely take your breath away.
This pagoda complex boasts an array of the most magnificent architecture of Vietnamese tradition ever built that it take a full day to explore it all. You will be enchanted by the intriguing Buddhist stories narrated by the guide. The visit ends with a walk-up the summit mountain to see the 100 ton bronze statue of Buddha Sakyamuni and enjoy the panoramic view of the picturesque landscape.
Enjoy special Vietnamese cuisine over lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometer rise dramatically out from rice paddy fields. Deep into the linked chains of towering mountain are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle. Embark on a traditional sampan gently rowed down the exquisite river through numerous caves: Hang Toi ( Dack ) cave, 320 meter long, Sang (light) cave, 90 meter long, and Hang Nau Ruou (Cooking wine) cave, 250 meter long… Every passage bring new surprise of mystery hidden inside isolated valleys of tranquility that likely transformed to the other world and time. Then we go to visit Hoa Lu – ancient capital of Vietnam. Then transfer back to Hanoi. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6 : Halong Bay tour – private tour
You will be picked up from the hotel by the tour guide and car to transfer to Halong Bay. On arrival in Halong Bay around noon, embark on a private day boat for a four hour cruise. Stop for visiting Heaven Palace (Thiên Cung) Cave. Explore one of the most famous grotto of Halong Bay, followed by lunch on the boat. Continue cruising through Halong Bay, doing kayak and pass by numerous beautiful islets: Dog islet (Hòn Chó Đá), Incense islet (Hòn Đỉnh Hương), Fighting Cock islet (Hòn Gà Chọi). Arrive at the pier and travel back by private care to your hotel in Hanoi. Rest of the evening at leisure.
Day 7 : Hanoi city tour – Noi Bai airport – private tour (L)
Leave for a full day sightseeing tour of Hanoi city with guide. See the Ho Chi Minh complex
from the outside, and then visit Tran Quoc Pagoda. Break for lunch and later visit the museum of Ethnology. Walk around Hoan Kiem lake and visit Ngoc Son temple. End the tour with a cyclo tour through the old quarter of the city before returning to the hotel. Later transfer to airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Met on arrival at airport, and transfer to hotel for overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 8 : Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi tunnels – private tour
The morning tour with a guide begins by taking in some local French culture. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office, and the Reunification Palace where South Saigon was once situated. This is followed by an exploration of the city’s turbulent past, taking in the War Remnants Museum where house war trophies and photographs documenting the War’s atrocities.
In the afternoon, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War.
OR visit the vast Mekong Delta. Take a boat tour of the vast maze of rivers, swamps and islands, home to floating markets, Khmer pagodas and villages surrounded by rice paddies.
Return to hotel.
Day 9 : Ho Chi Minh depart for Yogyakarta
Early morning transfer to airport and fly to Indonesia. Met on arrival in Yogyakarta and transfer to your hotel.
Day 10 : Yogyakarta Solo City & Famous Batik Museum
There are two old dynasties in Central Java, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta and the Sultanate of Solo Surakarta. Yogyakarta is like the famous older brother of Solo. Tourists visiting Indonesia quickly learn all about Yogyakarta, the attractions and things to do. In the mad rush to explore Indonesia, Solo often gets overlooked. Visit the famous Mangkunegaran Palace, and The Grand Mosque. Drive along the Slamet Riyadi road and you can’t miss the old railway of Sepur Kluthuk Jaladara. Locals usually call it the Jaladara steam train. It’s a traditional steam train from the colonial era and it is painted black. Later visit the very famous Danar Hadi, one of the world's best batik museums, with a terrific collection of antique and royal textiles from Java, China and beyond. Housed in a stunning colonial building, entry includes a guided tour which explains the history of the many pieces (10,000 in the collection). There’s also a workshop where you can watch craftswomen at work creating new masterpieces, an up-market storeroom and a souvenir shop.
The batik originated from Solo are named Batik Puro Mangkunegaran, which are distinguished by their more yellowish and feminine patterns. Long time ago, these types of batik used to be made only for the royal family of Mangkunegaran kingdom (a kingdom in Solo, one of the 5 Javanese kingdoms that still maintains its special administration under the Republic of Indonesia till now). Return to Yogyakarta
Day 11 : City tour of Yogyakarta and Prambanan
Leave for the tour of the city's rich history visiting the Sultan's palace, Taman Sari water castle, and Beringharjo market. First visit the Sultan’s Palace, also known as Kraton or Yogyakarta Palace. This building was constructed between 1756–1790, and is a fine example of traditional Javanese sultanate architecture. Tour the grounds and learn about the royalty that lived here.
Next visit the Taman Sari, sometimes known as the Water Palace. This addition to the royal complex was built over 200 years ago by the first Sultan, with bathing pools for his harem. Then continue to Beringharjo Traditional Market, Yogyakarta’s biggest and noisiest market that dates back to the 18th century.
After this visit the UNESCO Heritage temples at Prambanan which were built in the 9th century and is known locally as Roro Jonggrang, coming from the legend of the ‘slender virgin’. The biggest temple is dedicated to Shiva – the destroyer, and the two smaller ones which sit on its sides are dedicated to Brahma - the creator, and Vishnu - the preserver. The tallest temple of Prambanan is a staggering 47 meters high with its peak visible from far away, rising high above the ruins of the other temples.
Later return to Yogyakarta for dinner and overnight.
Day 12 : Visit to Borobadur, Pawon and Mendut
Leave for a guided tour starting with Borobudur which is a 9th century Mahayana Buddhist Temple in Magelang. The monument consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. The temple is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa. It is the world’s largest Buddhist temple, as well as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.
Pawon temple (known locally as Candi Pawon) is also a Buddhist temple located between two other Buddhist temples, Borobudur (to the northeast) and Mendut (to the southwest), Pawon is connected with the other two temples, all of which were built during the Sailendra dynasty (8th–9th centuries). It was discovered that this temple is slightly older than Borobudur. Later visit the famous 9th Century Buddhist temple of Mendut. Return to hotel for overnight.
Day 13 : Departure from Yogyakarta for Thailand
Departure transfer from hotel to airport in time for flight for Bangkok.
