Indochina Explorer

Arrive in Bangkok and meet the rest of your group. Board a longtail boat and travel the klong canals of the bustling Chao Phraya River, watching the skyscrapers, temples and shops drift by, and observing everyday life down by the waterfront. Call in at the glittering Grand Palace, the official residence of the King, with its gleaming gold spires and exquisite Wat Phra Kaew temple. Inside is the Emerald Buddha, a very ornate statue carved on a single jasper gemstone (not emerald) and clothed in gold.

Fly to Chiang Mai, where you’ll visit the local market in search of fresh ingredients, then head into the kitchen and cook up a storm in your Thai cookery class. The best part is, when you’ve finished, you can eat what you cooked! Wear it all off later as you climb 300 steps to the Doi Suthep Buddhist temple. Here you can listen to the monks chanting at sunset and admire the ornate Buddhist relics. The next day, you’ll have some free time to explore Chiang Mai at your own pace and then join a local family for a traditional Khantoke Dinner. Typical dishes might be sticky rice, crispy chilli pork or pork curry with ginger and tamarind.

Fly to Luang Prabang and take a relaxing boat trip to the Pak Ou Caves and pay a visit to the multi-level Kuang Si Waterfalls, where you can cool off with a swim. Climb the steps to the top of Mount Phou Si, where a golden pagoda awaits, to watch the sun set over Luang Prabang. The following day there’s an early start as you rise at dawn and watch the monks blessing the locals and collecting offerings. In the afternoon you’ll visit the ornate Royal Palace and various temples including Wat Xien Thong, with its pretty pavilions and gardens, and Wat Visoun, the oldest temple in Luang Prabang.

Fly on to elegant Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, full of historical buildings, pagodas and monuments, with a distinct French influence. Take a guided cyclo tour of the atmospheric Old Quarter and visit the mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body is displayed in a glass case. For lunch, support a local restaurant that trains disadvantaged youngsters in culinary skills – drop by for a meal and taste the delicious Vietnamese and French fusion cuisine. Later on, head down to Hoan Kiem Lake for a spot of tranquillity – the locals often practise tai chi here.

Return to Hanoi for one more night. Test out the fabulously aromatic Vietnamese cuisine in one of the restaurants and browse the night markets and backstreets of this elegant city. 

Fly on to Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, and explore this modern city by cyclo. Notice the contrast of the modern high-rise buildings and swanky hotels with the more traditional shops and old fashioned temples. Later, crawl to the depths of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn about their crucial role in the Vietnam War. You’ll have some free time to explore on your own – perhaps test your bargaining skills at Ben Thanh Market, take a relaxed boat ride on the Saigon River or head to a rooftop bar for cocktails overlooking the city skyline. 

Fly to Phnom Penh and take a walk along the bustling waterfront, stopping for sunset cocktails at the popular Foreign Correspondents Club. Visit the city’s best spots on a cyclo tour, which is the best way to appreciate the freneticism of life on Phnom Penh’s streets. Visit the colonial post office building and the gleaming golden spires of the Royal Palace. The next day learn about Cambodia’s history at the chilling Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields, a powerful memorial to the victims of the Khmer Rouge.

Continue to Siem Reap and discover the famous temples of Angkor with your guide. The buildings are wonderfully photogenic, and each one is different, so you’ll have two days to explore them in detail. Watch the sunrise over the most famous temple of Angkor Wat and admire the many faces of Bayon. Bring your camera to Ta Prohm, the filming location for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, slowly being eaten by the surrounding jungle and filled with twisted tree roots.