HIGHLIGHT OF INDOCHINA 14 DAYS

Transcription

1 HIGHLIGHT OF INDOCHINA 14 DAYS Code: LVNCBD14 Routes: Luang Prabang - Hanoi Halong Saigon Mekong Siem Riep Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights Features: An experience of 3 countries in one exhilarating trip of 14 days, visiting the highlights of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, from easy sightseeing and traditional culture to interesting adventures, this is a trip of a lifetime.

2 Day 1: Luang Prabang Chao Ban! Welcome to Luang Prabang, we meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore your own first impressions of Laos (depending on what time you arrive). Stay overnight in Luang Prabang. Inclusion: Airport pick-up, guide pick up, hotel Day 2: Khuang Si waterfall, Pak Ou cave Today we ll enjoy a short-guided tour with visits to the city s oldest temples: Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, offering us breathtaking views of the tranquil countryside. Our destination is the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. A set of two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by devoted pilgrims. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where local rice wine is produced. On the way back, we take a short drive to another small village, Ban Phanom, which has become famous for its hand weaving. This afternoon, we ll visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, Khmu villages. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fees, hotel

3 Day 3: Luang Prabang Hanoi Have breakfast at your hotel. At 8:00 start for a city tour to visit the tranquil and charming town of Luang Prabang. Visit the National Museum (closed Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, the impressive Stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham at Wat Mai. Next, we ascend up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa with a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there we ll explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the local Hmong people. Then transfer to airport for afternoon flight to Hanoi. On arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel for check in and free at your leisure for dinner. Stay overnight in Hanoi. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, flight ticket, hotel. Day 4: Hanoi, visit the hidden heritage & cyclo trip Depart at 8:00 from your hotel by van. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and residential grounds learning about his great life. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam s first University. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurantt for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup). In the afternoon, choose from one of the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women s Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple). In the late afternoon, take a cyclo trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi s fascinating Old Quarter. This is your chance to be in the midst of typical Hanoi life and Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show - a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. We can help you to get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would rather just spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Tour finishes at about 16:30. Dinner on your own.

4 Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, lunch, puppet show ticket, Vietnam cyclo ride, hotel. Day 5: Hanoi Ha Long, welcome on the boat Departure for Ha Long Bay is around 8:00 AM in a shared van (about 4 hours) from your hotel. Arrive at the port around noon. Welcomed on board, you are taken to your cabin before the trip briefin. You then enjoy a fresh and local seafood lunch while cruising to explore the magic Bai Tu Long Bay - Ha Long Bay s more scenic and tranquil sister within the UNESCO World Heritage area. Stop for a swim and visit the mysterious cave. Relax at our secluded island-beach or explore by kayak. Later you return back to the boat just in time to watch the beautiful sunset from the top deck before enjoying the bay s freshest seafood dinner. Inclusion: Shuttle bus, guide on boat, entrance fee, kayak, boat / junk, all meals, permits. Day 6: Bai Tu Long bay - Hanoi Da Nang Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay s landscape with towering limestone. You have breakfast at around 8:00 AM before our short rowboat by the locals of the bay. Have lunch on the boat as we slowly cruise back to boat pier. Hit the road, stopping for a water puppet show at a traditional Vietnamese village before arriving back to Hanoi around 5:00 PM. Then at around 5:30PM our driver picks up and transfers to Hanoi airport for flight to Da Nang. On arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel in Hoi An for check in. Stay overnight in Hoi An. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, boat / junk, breakfast, lunch, domestic flight ticket, hotel.

5 Day 7: Hoian We will have a walking tour around this enchanting port town and visit its numerous places of interest: 400 years old Japanese Bridge, 300 years old Chinese temple, 200 years old Vietnamese former merchants house, the local fish market Around the town we can see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will have a chance to ride a Xich Lo or pedicab through the opposite site of Hoi An River bank where you can take a panorama of Hoi An town. Keep on the Xich Lo through the tiny lanes of Hoi An countryside, passing the fields of corn, sweet potatoes, beautiful local fruit-garden Stop over the local fishing village, get on the boat for 2 hours streaming down to Cua Dai estuary to witness two special daily rituals: the passing parade of the local fishing fleet setting out to sea and the magic of the sun slowly sinking in the western sky. Back on-board boat you can enjoy the setting of the sun and the day s end with refreshments including cold beer and soft drinks together with a Complimentary Vietnamese Snack. Join a coach to transfer back to your hotel. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, local boat & basket, breakfast, lunch, water & snack, hotel. Day 8: Hoi An HCM city Breakfast at the hotel then you will be transferred to the airport in Da Nang for your flight to HCM City. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you get picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Free to explore the commercial city. Stay overnight in HCM City. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, domestic flight ticket, breakfast, hotel

6 Day 9: HCM City Have breakfast at your hotel before our city tour of bustling HCM City starts at 8:00AM. After breakfast, you visit the Binh Tay Market in Cho Lon; stopover at Thien Hau, a 150-year-old Chinese Temple; then visit a Lacquer-wares workshop as well as the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office. We drop you off at your hotel around 12:30 PM. This afternoon, free at your leisure. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel Day 10: HCM City Visit the fertile Mekong delta, Can Tho Depart HCM City at 8:00 AM from your hotel. Head to the south to Cai Be. Upon arrival at around 10:30 AM, board a boat for a journey through the Mekong's floating markets. Seee how river life goes on here; watch the trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Alive and exciting! Cruise through the secluded canals and cross the Mighty Mekong to an island where we stop to enjoy fresh seasonal fruit before boating to Vinh Long. Back on the bus for our trip to Can Tho to overnight. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, hotel. Day 11: Can Tho - HCM City flight to Siem Riep On your last day in Vietnam, you will have a chance to discover the floating market and the locals lives before saying goodbye for your next flight. An early start at 6:30 AM for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, and then we have some distance to cover.

7 At arrival, start with a cruise, then a walk on a quiet country road taking in the magnificent scenery and getting a little bit closer to the locals as they go about their daily routine. In the afternoon, we head back to HCM City. We drop you at the Saigon airport for evening flight to Siem Riep. On arrival, our guide picks up and transfers to your hotel for check in. Stay overnight in Siem Riep. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, local boat, international flight ticket, breakfast, hotel. Day 12: Visit Angkor Wat, sunset & Apsara Dance Breakfast at your hotel, then then journey to the mother of all temples: Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12 th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at the Angkor complex. At 18:30, welcome dinner and Apsara Dance show at a local restaurant. Back your hotel to catch up on some rest in preparation for tomorrow. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, dinner, hotel. Day 13: Siem Riep visit Angkor Thom, Bayon & Taprohm Today at 8:30 we will hop on tuk tuk to explore the Angkor s World Heritage and splendid temples. You will visit the West Gate of Angkor Thom, Angkor Thom, South Gate, Bayon Temple, and Baphuon Temple. Also included today are visits to the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

8 We will then continue on to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of the enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Bear witness to some of the measures being taken to preserve the temple while at the same time allowing nature reclaims the area. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel Day 14: Siem Riep departure Breakfast at your hotel then free time for shopping and transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Farewell and hope to see you again soon! Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast. COSTS Prices are on requests S.S is used for Single Supplement: A surcharge added to the costs per person if one wants to have his/her own room. Costs are in USD/POUND/EURO NET. Subject to a 3% surcharge if paid by credit card or travelers cheque. Costs exclude: Visa (please refer to section legal aspects), insurance, drinks and snacks outside the included mealtimes, personal expenses, other costs not mentioned in the details. Tips are appreciated. Inclusion: See inclusive items listed after each day. LEGAL ASPECTS Booking Terms & Conditions: Tour itinerary and tour prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please click here for more information.

9 Visa: Please click here for more information. Vietnam s visa policies change frequently and without notice. Please Footprint for the most up-to-date information if you need a Vietnam visa. ORGANISATION Transportation schedule: Please be aware that flight times, trains, hotels and other services are subject to availability. When flights/trains are cancelled or delayed, Footprint will endeavor to secure alternative arrangements of similar value. Updates on transportation schedule: Hotel, flight and train details will be updated once the booking is confirmed (your confirmation ). Tour guide: English speaking guides. Extra cost for German speaking guide is EUR 320/group. Closed sites: Some sites might be closed during the time you visit Vietnam (e.g. the HCM mausoleum in Hanoi is closed on Mondays and Fridays). Please consult with your travel agent if you want to have further information concerning this issue. ACCOMMODATION Homestay condition: The homestay condition is very basic; please visit our website for FAQs on for further information on the homestay conditions. The homestay will give you the opportunity to connect with the local culture, as you will stay with a family of an ethnic minority and receive your dinner from them. Hotel: We use standard 3/4 star hotels. Twin shared room(s). Check in: 2:00 PM; check out: 12:00 noon. Early check in is subject to availability. TRANSPORT Flight: Domestic flights are booked (if not requested otherwise) with Vietnam Airlines. Their maximum weight for checked in luggage is 20 kg. Please be advised to keep some free space in your luggage for souvenirs. Car / Van Quality: New air-conditioned cars or vans depending on the group size. FOOD The breakfast will be either a choice of Western style meals or Vietnamese meals in the

10 guesthouse/hotels. The included lunch and dinner (see inclusions in the daily itinerary description), the meals will be either served in street vendor or in local restaurants depending on the destinations. If you have any allergies, special requests or if you are on a special diet please let us know. We will arrange it for you in advance. SUSTAINABILITY Please Travel Responsibly! The small things you do will make a big difference! PREPARATION OF THE CUSTOMER Seasonal Preparation: The best time to travel in Vietnam is between September and April. The temperatures are more comfortable in this period and the rain season in the summer will be avoided. Please click here for further information. What to bring: Passport, change of clothes, sunglasses & hat, toiletries, sun-block, insect repellent, flashlights, proper hiking boots/shoes, personal first aid kit & medicine, small VND notes for buying drinks. If you feel the need, you can bring along a luggage lock for your belongings. Health: Please be aware that due to legal reasons our local tour guides are prohibited from administering any type of drug or medication for the clients, including headache pills and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared. Insurance: In order to travel safe, a good insurance is essential. Thus, please ensure that you have booked an appropriate insurance prior departure. TREKKING/CYCLING INFORMATION Experience: The trekking is at intermediate level. Nevertheless, our guide will be flexible to suggest you the most proper trekking route adapted to your physical fitness. Age: The age restriction for cycling is 10 years. Younger children can join the trip, but will be carried in an attachment of the bike suitable for children. Bike: We use bikes of the brand Trek and the model Route: The route can be changed due to external circumstances such as weather (the rain season between June and October can cause muddy paths in mountainous regions).

11 Nevertheless, this should not discourage you as we will find proper alternatives. Trekking/Cycling Time: The time is approximate and depends on the weather and the speed. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled in good faith and was accurate at the time of writing.