ANCIENT KINGDOMSOF SOUTHEAST ASIAVIETNAMCAMBODIALAOSTHAILAND• 20 DAYS • NOVEMBER 4 - 23Southeast Asia is a colourful area of greatcontrasts, from rural villages and FrenchColonial cities to modern skylines. On this busytour we will see spectacular scenery,magnificent temples and ancient monuments ina variety of architectural styles. In all of thecountries we visit, open-air markets andvillages with their unique culture and traditionsthrive along the rivers, surrounded by incrediblylush vegetation.Vietnam stretches from the misty mountains onthe Chinese border to the lush tropical MekongDelta. One of the most beautiful countries inAsia, the land remains relatively unspoiled andthe people are extremely friendly, especially tovisitors. The scenery, cuisine and history allmake this country a fascinating and delightfuldestination.Cambodia is another recently opened countryof wondrous beauty. Not yet as advanced asThailand and Vietnam, Cambodia does offerseveral architectural wonders of its own, themost famous being the many temples in andaround the 12th century Angkor Wat. Once ahuge city and the capital of Khmer Empire, it isnow one of the wonders of the ancient world.Laos is probably one of the most talked aboutdestinations among travelers looking for apurely exotic experience in one of the most laidback cultures on earth. This land locked andmountainous country contains some of themost untouched countryside and pristinecultures you will find anywhere. Archaeologicalevidence shows that Laos has been inhabitedfor over ten thousand years, and visiting hereis undoubtedly an experience of a lifetime.Thailand is renowned for its golden templesand gentle people. The markets in Bangkokare colourful, lively and the bargaining isgreat fun! A highlight for us is a boat trip onthe bustling Chao Phay River and its klongs(canals) where thousands of people live,shop and trade along the river.This tour is suitable only for the fit and activetraveller.HOLIDAY INCLUSIONS• Cathay Pacific flights and all airport taxes• DeLuxe and First Class accommodation• Full breakfast, lunch & dinner daily(except for 3 lunches and 1 dinner)• All visa fees (arrangements through our office• PLUS ALL TOUR INCLUSIONS on Page 1COSTSper person, double occupancy, from Toronto,Calgary or Edmonton ... $7597Single Supplement - $1790From Ottawa, Winnipeg or Montreal add $150From Halifax add $350From Vancouver deduct $15050.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY FOR SOUTHEAST ASIADAY 1DAY 2DAY 3DAY 4DAY 5DAY 6DAY 7DAY 8DAY 9DAY 10DAY 11DEPART. We depart for Ho Chi Minh City via Hong Kong.HO CHI MINH CITY (FORMERLY SAIGON). We arrive inHo Chi Minh City and transfer to our hotel. This eveningis our Welcome Dinner.HO CHI MINH CITY. Our city tour will take in the historiccenter, the main shopping areas and the heart of oldcolonial Saigon. We will visit the Reunification Palace,former palace of the South Vietnamese president whichwas stormed by tanks in 1975 signifying the fall of SouthVietnam. We continue to the War Remnants Museum,which documents the long Vietnam War. Later we go toCholon (Chinatown) and the colourful wholesale market.We finish with a Cyclo ride around the waterfront.CU CHI TUNNELS / HANOI. This morning we visit thefamous Cu Chi Tunnels. We will explore and learn aboutthis incredible underground military base (dug out byhand by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War). Later wefly to Hanoi - capital of Vietnam.HANOI. Vietnam’s capital still retains the mystery andcharm of past centuries. You will especially enjoy strollingin Hanoi’s Old Town. Our tour begins at the Temple ofLiterature - a great example of traditional Vietnamesearchitecture. We continue to the miniature One PillarPagoda and Stilt House. Later we see Hoan Kiem Lake,Ngoc Son Temple and the tiny Tortoise Pagoda. Tonightwe attend a traditional Water Puppet Show and dinner ata local restaurant.HALONG BAY / HANOI. We travel by coach to HalongBay where we embark a traditional wooden junk to spendthe day cruising through beautiful islands, granite towersand rock formations with names such as Stone Dog,Incense Burner and Fighting Cock. We also see twowonderful caves and enjoy lunch on board. After thecruise we return to Hanoi.LUANG PRABANG (LAOS). We fly to Luang Prabang.The remainder of the day is at leisure.LUANG PRABANG. Luang Prabang is an enchantingtown filled with historic temples and colonial stylebuildings. The entire town is a UNESCO World HeritageSite and boasts the oldest living temple dating back to1513 and housing a collection of antique woodenBuddhas. We visit the most important monasteries andtemples in the city as well as the National Museum (theformer royal residence). Later we visit Wat Mai, acollection of small temples atop a hill offering beautifulviews over the city, temples, river and countryside.LUANG PRABANG. We travel up the Mekong River tothe steep limestone cliffs which house the Tham Pak OuCaves. These extraordinary caves are filled with Buddhaimages of every style and material imaginable. On thereturn journey we stop at a local village famous for theproduction of lao lao (rice wine whisky!).VANG VIENG. We travel by coach to Vang Vieng withstops at local villages along the way. We visit ElephantCave which contains Buddha images, a Buddha footprintand the elephant shaped stalactites.VIENTIANE. Our first stop is a farm whose purpose is tointroduce organic farming methods to the localcommunity. We then proceed to Laos’ capital, Vientiane,with beautiful views of mountains and cliffs along the way.Enroute we enjoy a boat trip on Nam Ngum Lake.DAY 12DAY 13DAY 14DAY 15DAY 16DAY 17DAY 18DAY 19DAY 20VIENTIANE. Vientiane has a relaxed charm, tree-linedboulevards, interesting temples and colorful markets.Our city tour includes That Luang, a gleaming goldenstupa and perhaps most important national monument inLaos; the formal royal temple, now a museum withbeautiful Buddhist sculptures; and the "morning market".SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) / ANGKOR WAT. We fly toSiem Reap and proceed to visit Angkor Wat -Cambodia’s national symbol and the highlight of any visitto this fascinating country. We will enjoy a thoroughexploration of this temple which impresses with its sheerscale, graceful proportions and the artistry of its carvings.SIEM RIEP. This morning we proceed to the fortified cityof Angkor Thom which includes many of Angkor's mostpopular sights. We will see the Terrace of the Elephantsand Leper Kings, and the mysterious Bayon Temple withits giant smiling stone faces smiling down at you fromevery angle. At last we visit Ta Prohm - embedded in thejungle it is one of the most popular attractions of Angkor.In the afternoon we enjoy a lake cruise in which ourvessel will take us between the floating homes and smallfish farms to observe daily life on the lake. This eveningwe enjoy a cultural dance show.PHNOM PENH. We drive to Cambodia’s capital, visitingsome important pre-Angkorian temples enroute.PHNOM PENH. Today we explore Phnom Penh, afascinating city of graceful tree-lined boulevards andriverfront promenades. We begin at the Royal Palacewith its Silver Pagoda, and then the elegant NationalMuseum which contains a collection of Khmer art. Thisafternoon we visit the Museum of Genocide, theinterrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge.Kept largely unchanged, this prison showcasesphotographs and exhibits about the thousands of victims.Then we visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, apeaceful rural setting where thousands of people werekilled in the late 1970’s and buried in mass graves.Finally we explore the Phnom Penh's great CentralMarket, housed in a distinctive domed Art Deco building.BANGKOK. We fly to Bangkok and transfer to our hotel.BANGKOK. We begin with a visit to the Royal GrandPalace, with its revered Emerald Buddha, Golden Chedi,Pantheon of the Chakri Kings and the Eight ColouredTowers. Next is Wat Pho Temple with its huge recliningBuddha statue and mural paintings Here you may delightin a Thai massage - a welcome break after sightseeing!This afternoon we take a boat trip along the bustlingChao Phya River and the quiet klongs (canals) where wecan view traditional life on the water. We will stop at the"Temple of Dawn" and the flower and vegetable market.BANGKOK. Today we visit the famous bustling floatingmarket of Damern Saduak, where everything is sold offjunks on the river - a photographer’s paradise!. The tourincludes a visit to Nakorn Pathom - the largest pagoda inSoutheast Asia. After lunch we enjoy a cultural show at aThai village, including an elegant fingernail dance, a Thaiboxing demonstration, Hill Tribe dance performances,sword-fighting, elephants at workand a traditional Thaiwedding ceremony. Tonight we enjoy a dinner cruisealong the enchanting Chao Phraya River. The views aresensational as we cruise past temples and palaces.BANGKOK. We transfer to the airport for our flight home.51.
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