INTRIGUING INDOCHINA

Transcription

1 INTRIGUING INDOCHINA February 17 & October 13, or 20 Days Escorted Journey Hanoi Ha Long Bay Hai Phong Luang Prabang SOUTH CHINA SEA Chang Mai L A OS Da Nang T H A IL A ND Bangkok Siem Reap C A M BODI A ADAMAN SEA Phnom Penh MAP NOT TO SCALE ANGKOR WAT B AY O F THAILAND VI ETN AM Ho Chi Minh City Journey Highlights Photograph timeless scenes of rural life, lush jungles, grand boulevards, and golden temples as you explore Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Visit the unique hill tribes of Chiang Mai. Greet the morning sun in one of the world s most sacred places the temples of Angkor Wat and marvel at the tangled jungle that enfolds the temples of Ta Prohm. Visit the highlights of Phnom Penh, including the Royal Palace and stunning Silver Pagoda. Attend a traditional Laotian Baci ceremony in Luang Prabang, and visit the famous caves of Pak Ou. Relax in luxury during an overnight cruise on magnificent Ha Long Bay. Itinerary... page 2 > Meet Your Leader... page 4 > Rates... page 5 > Flight Information... page 5 >

2 Padong, and Karen tribes, who live peacefully as small farmers, who still honor and follow their traditional ways of life. Observe their traditional clothing and crafts and learn more about their unique lifestyle. Return to Chiang Mai with the afternoon to pursue your own interests engage in some serious shopping, enjoy a traditional Thai massage, or simply relax at the hotel. Day 6 - CHIANG MAI / LUANG PRABANG, LAOS LUANG PRABANG After a morning at leisure, board your flight to Luang Prabang, a UNSECO World Heritage Site and the ancient capital of the first Lao Kingdom. Nestled below verdant mountains at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers, Luang Prabang is a treasure-trove of gilded temples and historic French colonial buildings. Check in to La Residence Phou Vao Hotel with a chance to settle in, then visit a scenic viewpoint to watch the setting sun. Make a stop at a local temple before heading to the lively night market to browse the vast selection of local handicrafts. Itinerary Day 1 - BANGKOK, THAILAND Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to the Shangri-La Hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, with a welcome dinner and overnight at the hotel. Days 2 & 3 - BANGKOK Spend two full days exploring this cosmopolitan city. Highlights include the breathtaking Grand Palace, which houses the legendary Emerald Buddha; the wonderful Prasart Museum, with its vast collection of Thai antiques and artifacts; the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of Bangkok s oldest temples; a cruise along the Thoburi klongs, or canals, for views of the city skyline and the magnificent Royal Barges; and the stunning Temple of Dawn. ANGKOR WAT Day 4 - BANGKOK / CHIANG MAI This morning board your short flight to Chiang Mai. Nestled among forested foothills, this ancient city is blissfully calm and relaxed after the bustle of Bangkok. Check in to the Dhara Dhevi Hotel, and after lunch, visit 15th-century Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Thailand s most sacred temples. Day 5 - CHIANG MAI This morning, take an unforgettable excursion to the hill tribe villages near Chiang Mai. Meet the people of the Palong, TRAVCOA INTRIGUING INDOCHINA FLOATING MARKET < 2 >

3 PHNOM PENH Day 11 - SIEM REAP / PHNOM PENH This morning board your flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia s bustling capital city. Upon arrival, check in to the luxurious Raffles Le Royal. Following lunch visit the Killing Fields, and Tuol Sleng Museum, the infamous S21 Khmer Rouge security prison. Day 12 - PHNOM PENH Day 7 - LUANG PRABANG Embark on an early morning Mekong River cruise, with a stop at Pak Ou to visit the famous Buddhist caves of Tham Ting. On the way back to Luang Prabang, stop at a local village to learn about the production of Lao liquor (rice wine) and witness daily life along the river. In the afternoon visit the National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace. This evening enjoy a traditional Baci ceremony at the hotel. Day 8 - LUANG PRABANG / SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Rise early this morning to watch as long lines of saffron-robed monks walk through the streets, collecting alms. Then visit the Fresh Market where colorful produce and exotic delicacies are sold. After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a museum dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of Loas many ethnic tribes. Continue to some of the city s many pagodas and temples, including Vat Visoun and Vat Aham. After lunch, board your flight to Siem Reap and check in to the luxurious La Residence D Angkor for dinner and overnight. This morning tour the stunning Royal Palace complex, still the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. Continue to the adjacent Silver Pagoda, so named for the 5,000 silver tiles that cover its floor, which houses an extraordinary collection of Khmer artifacts, including dozens of Buddhas. Next, explore the elegant National Museum, also known as the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Recently renovated, the museum houses more than 5,000 works of art and highlights the best of Cambodian art and architectural heritage. Return to the hotel for a festive farewell dinner. Day 13 - PHNOM PENH / DEPARTURE OR PHNOM PENH / HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM For those on the 13-Day Trip, board your independent homeward flight, arriving in the USA the same day. For those on the 20-Day Trip, board your flight to Ho Chi Minh City and check in to the Sofitel Saigon Plaza for dinner and overnight. Days 9 & 10 - SIEM REAP Begin your explorations at the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 200 acres, and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th-century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the best example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Continue to wondrous Angkor Thom, the 12th-century capital built by Jayavarman VI encompassing the Bayon temple, decorated with over 200 smiling faces. In the afternoon, take a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake to see the photogenic floating and stilted villages. The next day, visit Ta Prohm Temple built in 1186 by Jayavarman VII to honor his family. Atmospheric and mystical, many of the temple monuments are enveloped by the sinuous roots of soaring silk cottonwood trees. TA PROHM TEMPLE TRAVCOA INTRIGUING INDOCHINA < 3 >

4 HO CHI MINH CITY Day 14 - HO CHI MINH CITY An orientation tour welcomes you to the pulse of Vietnam s most cosmopolitan city. A visit to the renown Cu Chi Tunnels takes you into the world of Vietnam s resistance. Returning to the city, explore beautiful architectural landmarks. An afternoon visit to the Reunification Palace includes the former president s office and the extensive underground communications bunker. Day 17 - HOI AN / DA NANG / HAI PHONG / HA LONG BAY Today, return to the airport in Da Nang for your short flight to Hai Phong, the gateway to lovely Ha Long Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an otherworldly archipelago of thousands of limestone islets and rocky outcroppings. Board a luxurious ship for an overnight cruise that showcases the bay s natural beauty and unique karst geology. Day 15 HO CHI MINH CITY / DA NANG / HOI AN Board your short flight for Da Nang and check in to the Four Seasons Resort, Nam Hai in nearby Hoi An. In the afternoon, visit the extensive Cham Museum, which houses the world s largest collection of Cham sculpture. Day 16 - HOI AN Enjoy a ride in a three-wheeled bicycle taxi past Hoi An s beautiful French colonial buildings and through narrow cobblestone streets before a cruise on the Thu Bon River. Days 18 & 19 - HA LONG BAY / HANOI Depart overland for Hanoi and check in to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel. A city tour includes the Temple of Literature, the Fine Arts Museum, and a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. As you explore Hanoi, you will see the serene One Pillar Pagoda before visiting Hoa Lo Prison, the notorious Hanoi Hilton. On your final evening enjoy a farewell dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers. Day 20 - HANOI / DEPARTURE Board your independent homeward flight. MEET YOUR LEADERS JAN WHEATLEY February 17 March 8, 2018 journey Jan was born in Logan, Utah, and grew up in Newport Beach, California, where he studied political science and design. His travel career began in 1977, escorting groups for the National Retired Teachers Association of America. Jan s career advanced as he became associated with People to People leading political delegations around the world. Expanding his travel options in 1982, Jan moved and opened up a clothing design studio in Bali, Indonesia. Working with Travcoa has been the highlight of his travel career; Jan very much enjoys the many new interesting personalities he has a chance to meet with on every journey. JANE VERMEULEN October 13 November 1, 2018 journey Jane brings a global outlook to her job. Prior to working in the travel industry, Jane lived in Hong Kong where she worked for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, placing Vietnamese refugees into the United States, Canada, and Europe. A graduate of Fullerton College, Jane is a native Californian and lives on Balboa Island near Newport Beach. She began escorting groups for Travcoa in 1988, and has managed tours in South America, the South Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, India, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, the Orient, and China. In her spare time, Jane enjoys showing her photographic work at art shows. TRAVCOA INTRIGUING INDOCHINA < 4 >

5 RATES 13-Day Trip $7,390 per person, double occupancy $10,080 per person, single occupancy 20-Day Trip $10,990 per person, double occupancy $15,770 per person, single occupancy Limited to 14 expedition members. INCLUDED: All meals, excluding alcohol and caviar, beginning with dinner on the arrival date and ending with breakfast on the departure date Transportation Luxury accommodations All excursions in the company of a Travel Director and expert local guides Luggage transfers A $1,000 per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. Full payment is due 90 days prior to the journey. All rates are per person, quoted in US dollars, and must be paid in US dollars. Rates and itineraries are subject to change. Please review our Terms & Conditions online at travelers-information, or call our office for a printed copy. FLIGHT INFORMATION You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/bangkok and Phnom Penh/home city for the 13-Day Trip and home city/ Bangkok and Hanoi/home city for the 20-Day Trip. You will also need to purchase internal airfare between Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia at $990 per person (13-Day Trip) or internal airfare between Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam at $1,880 per person (20-Day Trip). Please contact our air desk for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related questions. ACCOMMODATIONS Travcoa searches the world to find the most exquisite accommodations so guests can travel in style and, at night, relax in the luxury of some of the world s most extraordinary properties. Plus, Travcoa also arranges for guests to stay in the best-available rooms or suites, with spectacular views whenever possible, as we;; as private services. All gratuities to local guides and port charges Group and individual airport transfers on arrival and departures dates Medical insurance NOT INCLUDED: International and domestic airfares Excess baggage charges Airport arrival and departure taxes Passport and/or visa fees Travel Insurance Expenses of a personal nature (minibar, phone calls, , laundry, etc.) Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities 100 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 1700 El Segundo, CA Business USA, Mexico & Canada Fax To reserve, visit or contact your travel consultant. < 5