A MUDDY SHOE - WILDLAND ADVENTURE SE ASIA: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION November 2015
Itinerary Overview DAY OVERNIGHT HOTEL MEALS HIGHLIGHTS 1 BANGKOK, THAILAND Galleria 10 Transfer to the hotel. 2 BANGKOK Galleria 10 D Grand palaces and temples of Bangkok. Welcome dinner. 3 BANGKOK 4 5 LUANG PRABANG LUANG PRABANG 6 HANOI 7 HANOI 8 HANOI 9 HALONG BAY 10 HANOI 11 SIEM REAP 12 SIEM REAP 13 SIEM REAP Galleria 10 The Sanctuary The Sanctuary Halong Phoenix Cruise La Niche Boutique La Niche Boutique La Niche Boutique D D D B D 14 DEPARTURE B Walking and waterways tour of Bangkok. City walking tour, Baci ceremony Morning alms, Elephant experience Mekong river cruise to Pak Ou caves, village visits, afternoon flight to Hanoi Morning exercise, visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and house, Temple of Literature and Old Quarter of Hanoi. Vietnam Countryside and Traditional Villages, Vietnamese water puppet show Ha Long Bay overnight voyage Ha Long Bay. Return to Hanoi and have dinner at KOTO Free morning. Afternoon flight to Siem Reap Visit Angkor Wat and numerous surrounding temples. Kampong Kleang village visit or Countryside cycle, then visit Banteay Srey. Farewell dinner. Transfer to airport for international departure. Depending on departure, optional visit to Cambodia Dutch Organization.
DAY 1: ARRIVE BANGKOK Welcome to Thailand! Arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by private transportation to your hotel. Rest of day is free at leisure. Overnight at Galleria 10 (Deluxe Room). Note: Considering arriving a day early for acclimatization to the time and climate.) DAY 2: GRAND PALACES AND TEMPLES OF BANGKOK We meet our guide at 10:00 AM to explore Bangkok s most famous sites starting at the Grand Palace, home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government for 150 years. Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. A highlight is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most revered shrine in the Kingdom. Nearby, inside Wat Po, one of Bangkok s oldest and largest temples, stand in awe at the site of the giant gold-plated Reclining Buddha. This temple is the headquarters for the Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Bangkok. We begin our culinary adventures in SE Asian cuisine at a local lunch restaurant to discover typical Thai cuisine. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Now you really know you've arrived in Asia dining at Sala Rattanakosin restaurant where Executive Chef Tony Wrigley serves up entangled textures, colors, tastes and aromas of Thai dishes overlooking the legendary Chao Phraya River and the mystical Temple of Dawn. Overnight at Galleria 10 (Deluxe Room). DAY 3: WALKING AND WATERWAYS OF BANGKOK Begin your day with a visit to the former residence of the American silk entrepreneur, Jim Thompson. As a tireless promoter of traditional Thai arts and culture, Jim Thompson collected teak homes from central Thailand and had them reassembled on a small lot on the backwaters of Bangkok. Visit the Golden temple of Wat Triamit followed by a stroll through the narrow and frenetic streets of Chinatown. Board a long tail boat and spend a couple of hours navigating Bangkok's fascinating maze of waterways and canals, discovering why Bangkok is known as the "Venice of the East." Stop at Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. This is one of the best-known temples in Bangkok and dates back to the ancient Ayutthaya period. The beautiful architecture and fine craftsmanship mark Wat Arun as one of the most remarkable temples in Thailand. Continue venturing into bucolic backwater neighborhoods where life is slower and simpler. View traditional waterfront homes with their Salas and spirit houses as well as a couple neighborhood Thai temples. Return to the hotel in the afternoon before being picked up for dinner at the Supatra River House, an open-air restaurant with a scenic river view. Overnight at Galleria 10 (Deluxe Room). DAY 4: LUANG PRABANG WALKING TOUR AND BACI CEREMONY Transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Fly Bangkok (BKK) to Luang Prabang (LPQ) on flight (TBA) on flight (TBA) Explore this historic and charming World Heritage town beginning our journey at the most popular of temples Wat Xieng Thong. This exquisite 500 year old temple is the best example of the classic Luang Prabang style. From here, explore beyond common tourist tracks following narrow side streets, along back alleys and through small neighborhood temples a city that could have been designed with slow travel in mind; our morning walk allows us to soak up the ambiance and appreciate the hidden charms of daily life in Luang Prabang including informal conversations with locals about their daily lives interpreted through our local guide. We may visit the National Museum, the former Royal Palace, and venture up the 328 steps of Phousi Mountain overlooking the palace. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to be a part of the refined grace of a private baci ceremony at a small village called Ban Khomkhuang. These gentle villagers led by their Nai Ban (village chief) offer visitors tidings of good luck and fortune for their life and travels by gently tying cotton cords symbolizing
luck, friendship and good health around your wrists. The baci ceremony will be held at a private family home. Overnight at The Sanctuary (Deluxe). DAY 5: LUANG PRABANG MORNING ALMS AND ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE The bells of the town's monasteries toll at dawn when lines of golden robed monks emerge to receive their morning rice from the townspeople. If you rise early you will have the opportunity to respectfully witness this sacred ritual typical of old Laos--long lines of barefoot monks weaving through the streets on their alms rounds. On our way back to the hotel for breakfast we pass through the morning market to witness the array of meats, vegetables, and spices used by local in their cooking. In keeping with our respectful stance regarding local cultures, please observe this sacred ritual from a respectful distance. We also encourage that if you must take photographs that it is done discretely, from a distance and does not interfere with this highly revered ritual. Drive about 15 km outside of town to meet your next guide of the day, an elephant! Explore the camp - learning more about the project, speaking with the veterinarian, and helping to feed the elephants. This full day expedition begins with a 3 mile elephant ride across the river through teak forests and over hills to reach the protected Huay Sae Valley. Say goodbye to your elephant and have a traditional Lao lunch by a secluded waterfall where you can take a dip and cool off in the pool below the falls. Trekking along the marvelous Huay Sae mountain stream the trail crosses bamboo bridges and passes waterfalls, impressive limestone formations and turquoise blue pools in the dense jungle. A Hmong guide shares indigenous knowledge about local flora and fauna and introduces you to daily life, agriculture, and farming practices of hill tribes all while trekking through fields, plantations, and teak forests. Float serenely down the Nam Khan River on a bamboo raft back to Luang Prabang observing the traditional village life of farmers and fishermen along the river. Overnight at The Sanctuary (Deluxe). DAY 6: MEKONG RIVER CRUISE, PAK OU CAVES Spend the morning cruising the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, the Mekong River. Visit the Pak Ou Caves, sacred grottos cut into a sheer limestone cliff beside the river. A steep staircase takes you to the upper cave where the serene faces and figures of more than 3,000 Buddha images emerge from the darkness. Travel along this economic lifeline stopping at two riverside villages along the way. In Ban Xang Khong, wander the narrow village streets between women weaving on wooden looms, stacks of colorful fabrics, and stalls selling all types of Lao Lao, a very potent rice whisky. You will be served lunch on the boat as you return to Luang Prabang. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Fly Luang Prabang to Hanoi on Lao Airlines QV 313, departing 17:10, arriving 18:10 Economy Class Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival to Hanoi s Noi Bai Airport our local guide and driver take us for our overnight at (Deluxe). DAY 7: HANOI--HOAN KIEM LAKE, TEMPLE OF LITERATURE, HANOI OLD QUARTER Rise and shine! An early departure at 6:30 AM allows us to join in on the amazing Vietnamese routine of early morning exercise around the Hoan Kiem Lake everything from ballroom dancing to martial arts. Note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday and in October and November. We visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076, Vietnam s first university established within this temple to educate royalty, mandarins, and members of the elite. The university functioned for 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam s past. In the Old Quarter of Hanoi, also known as the 36 streets, we explore the bustling narrow streets among
thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers walking to Hang Gai Street the silk shopper s paradise where you can find the best Vietnamese silk. Overnight at, Deluxe Room. DAY 8: VIETNAM COUNTRYSIDE AND TRADITIONAL VILLAGES Today we head out of Hanoi to experience daily life in surrounding local villages, along the way learning about rural life in the paddy fields and local factories and farms. We stop in a local restaurant to sample and learn how to make Vietnamese New Year's Cake. This is yet another great opportunity to know more about Vietnamese culture and traditions. We visit a communal house, built in the 15th Century, representing the expression of Vietnamese tradition where the principles of life are balanced, talents of the people are discovered and their merits are respected, and where the Founder of the village is worshiped. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and head back to Hanoi. We experience a famous Vietnamese traditional water puppet show and then enjoy free time at leisure. Overnight at, Deluxe Room. DAY 9: HANOI-HA LONG BAY Embark on our modified wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels to cruise Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites and the world s largest marine limestone karst landscape. Enjoy lunch admiring the spectacular scenery drifting slowly among sheer limestone cliffs jutting out of the water, often shrouded in mist, heading towards a small community where we transfer to small row boats to explore the fishing village. Later, we may kayak around the village or swim in the bay, depending on the weather and interests. Enjoy cocktails at sunset on the Lounge Deck, exquisite Vietnamese cuisine for lunch and dinner, including a cooking demonstration in the evening followed by a show of starry skies at night on deck. Overnight at Halong Phoenix Cruise, Deluxe cabin. DAY 10: HA LONG BAY - HANOI Begin your day with an early Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck, or schedule a massage for later in the day. Enjoy coffee or tea watching the views of the bay and surrounding islands headed to a secluded island for swimming or to paddle by kayak through one of the biggest caves in Ha Long Bay. Brunch is served on the leisurely pace back to the harbor for disembarkation. Tonight we have a special dinner at Koto Restaurant to enjoy a variety of Vietnamese and western cuisine. Koto is a hospitality training center in Hanoi giving disadvantaged youth the opportunity to learn and progress in their lives. As a social enterprise, Koto has trained over 400 students at its two training centers in Hanoi and Saigon, with 200 more currently enrolled. We are proud to support this business enterprise that serves as a platform for real life hospitality. Overnight at, Deluxe Room. DAY 11: HANOI SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Today is free at leisure until our afternoon transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Welcome to Cambodia. Upon arrival in Siem Reap obtain your Cambodia visa, clear immigration and customs, and proceed into the arrival area where we meet our local Cambodian guide and driver. Overnight at La Niche Boutique, Deluxe Room. Fly Hanoi (HAN) to Siem Reap (REP) on VN 837 1530-1710 DAY 12: ANGKOR WAT We head out early in morning by Tuk Tuk before most tourists arrive to explore Ta Phrom, a jungle-clad temple exuding a haunting and other-worldly atmosphere. Return to the hotel for a late breakfast after which we visit the Bayon Information Center and explore the surreal temples of the Bayon, where
statues of huge, serene faces gaze in all directions. An expert from the Bayon Center will elucidate the restoration work going on here. (Bayon information is closed on Saturday and Sunday.) From afar, the stunning royal city of Angkor Thom seems a shapeless jumble of stone, but closer scrutiny reveals huge enigmatic faces, content and serene, looking in every direction with eyes nearly shut. We amble among the Terrace of the Elephants, which served as a platform from which to view the victorious returning army, and then explore the Terrace of the Leper King with its labyrinth of elaborately carved narrow stone passageways. The whole afternoon is set-aside to photograph and amble among the main temple, Angkor Wat, one of mankind's greatest achievements. The intricate carvings at the temple of Angkor Wat demonstrate the skill of the Khmer builders. It was constructed in the jungle in the early 12th century, then two centuries later it was mysteriously abandoned by the Khmer civilization. The jungle soon enveloped Angkor Wat, hiding it for several centuries under dense tropical foliage until in 1861 a French naturalist came across the jungle-veiled ruins. Refresh and meet up at the hotel for a cocktail reception and meeting. Overnight at La Niche Boutique, Deluxe Room. DAY 13: KAMPONG KLEANG VILLAGE AND BANTEAY SREI Set out in the early morning light to see the day come alive in Kampong Kleang village on the shores of Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. The lake is a biologically rich resource that has supported human life in Cambodia for centuries. Wooden houses built on 10 meter tall stilts to rise above flood waters in the wet season, stand high above the flood plain in the dry season. The dirt road into the village is flanked by wooden houses, traditional fishing equipment, and children excited by our arrival. We are welcomed into the home of a local family for tea and coffee before walking around the village. This community employs many inventive ways to catch fish, and we learn about the village life visiting a local school, watching smoking of catfish, and speaking to fishermen making repairing their nets. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant and in their afternoon we drive to Banteay Srei, loosely translated as "Citadel of Women", housing some of the finest and best-preserved examples of classical Khmer basrelief. The walls are densely covered with beautiful and intricate carvings of any Angkorian temple. The temple's relatively small size, pink sandstone construction, and ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance. Another site, Preah Khan, is a beautiful labyrinth of decaying stone courtyards slowly being reclaimed by the jungle. Large kapok trees extend limbs and roots throughout the carved stone work; while raucous parrots screech and monkeys keep watch to complete a surreal picture. Celebrate our Journey of Discovery together over dinner at Viroth s restaurant, a chic and contemporary establishment run by the Kol family known for serving the finest traditional Khmer cuisine in Siem Reap. Overnight at La Niche Boutique, Deluxe Room. DAY14: DEPARTURE--OPTIONAL CAMBODIA DUTCH ORGANIZATION Today you will be transferred to airport for your onward flight. Optional CDO Tour Depending on interest and flight schedule we arrange an optional visit to the Cambodia Dutch Organization [CDO], a non-profit that works on community development projects in the remote Cambodian countryside seen by few travelers. We meet our CD guide and experience a special day of interaction with local children in projects sponsored by the CDO. Sitting in a nearby pagoda our local guide shares personal stories about Buddhism and his monkhood. Young student monks may appreciate the opportunity to learn a bit more English. Learn about community health services at the health center, founded in 2001, which delivers medical services to the locals living in the Chhuk village. At the primary school you meet with the teacher and students, and instructor, Mr. Lous, introduces us to the class where you have an opportunity for show and tell about your life back home. The children of this school are eager to learn English and about the
world outside Cambodia. The CDO staff invites us for lunch in their house. Return to town and then transfer to the airport for onward flights. (The English school is closed on Saturday and Sunday) End of services PRICING, PER PERSON IN DOUE-OCCUPANCY: CLICK HERE INCLUDED SERVICES Accommodations on double-occupancy, bed and breakfast basis as listed Services as specified in the itinerary above including facilitated group discussions and guided reflection by Don Mankin, English-speaking local guides Airport-hotel transfers, land and sea transportation Private air-conditioned vehicles with driver Meals as indicated [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner] Wildland Adventures travel consultation and pre-departure services NOT INCLUDED International and Domestic Airfare Visa Fees ($45 for Vietnam in advance and $30 for Cambodia on arrival. We can provide a Visa on Arrival Letter for Vietnam for additional $15 per person) Tips and gratuities Drinks, alcoholic beverages and meals other than listed above Personal expenses for extra services, optional activities or changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control Travel insurance for trip cancellation, medical services or evacuation