SOUTH EAST ASIA - STA Travel Hub

INDOCHINA EXPLORERBangkok Siem ReapFR$3,69918 DAYSHighlights• Marvel at the Angkor Wat at sunset• Browse and bargain at local markets• Observe the daily life of monks• Cruise along the stunning Halong Bay• Cycle around Ho Chi Minh’s sights• Explore the Pak Ou Caves• Learn about Cambodia’s dark historySOUTH EAST ASIADepartures 2014STARTFINISHJan 04 Jan 21Feb 08 Feb 25Mar 15 Apr 01Apr 19 May 06May 24 Jun 10STARTFINISHJun 28 Jul 15Aug 02 Aug 19Sep 06 Sep 23Oct 11 Oct 28Nov 15 Dec 02STARTFINISHDec 20 Jan 062015Jan 03 Jan 20InclusionsTrip Style: Comfort Service Level: UpgradedPhysical Grading: 2 Age Group: Any ageAccommodation: Comfort hotels (15 nts),sleeper train (1 nt), junk boat (1 nt)Transport: Private bus/van, boat, train, tuktuk,plane, cyclo, traditional junk boat Meals:17 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners Budget:Allow USD $300-400 for meals not includedGroup Leader: Chief Experience Officer (CEO)throughout, local guides Group Size: Max 16,Avg 10 Tour Code: GAATICMy Own Room Available: Fr $899BangkokLuang PrabangLAOSChiang MaiTHAILANDHalong BayHanoiVIETNAMAngkor WatCAMBODIAPhnom PenhSiem ReapHo Chi Minh City(Saigon)Ever dream of travelling through Indochina but couldn’t decide where to go? This trip is yourdream come true! Over 18 days you’ll journey from Bangkok to Siem Reap, and everywherein between, without scrimping on comfort or adventure. Observe monks going about theirdaily life in Chiang Mai, tour amazing museums, watch the sun paint the sky atop a hill inLuang Prabang, float past the stunning limestone islands of Halong Bay, and make like LaraCroft and head to Ta Prohm, the ‘Tomb Raider’ temple. Top your travels off with a healthydose of mouthwatering local cuisine and you’ve got yourself a return ticket to paradise!DAY01-0203-0405-0708-1011-1213-1415-18ITINERARYBangkokArrive into Thailand’s frenetic capital city and settle in. The next day take to the canals to observelocals going about their daily lives. The decadent halls and murals of the Grand Palace, built in 1972,and the sacred emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew temple will be a favourite with culture lovers! (B)Chiang MaiHead to Chiang Mai on Day 3, tackling the 300 steps to reach the top of the Doi Suthep, one of themost sacred Buddhist temples in Thailand. The spectacular views from the top are definitely worththe exercise! Tuck into an authentic khantoke dinner and take a trip to a local village. Opt to see thefriendly creatures at the Elephant Conservation Centre or visit some local handicraft workshops. Thenext day, test out your culinary skills with a Thai cooking class and whip up some popular Thai dishesfor lunch. Later, visit a lively night market to browse and bargain away the evening. (2B, L, D)Luang PrabangAs a World Heritage site, Luang Prabang is overflowing with cultural attractions and is small enoughto explore on foot. Visit the Royal Palace museum and the Wat Xiengthong and Wat Visoun templesbefore catching a boat to the Pak Ou Caves. These natural caves hide a treasure trove of Buddhiststatues left by pilgrims over the centuries - 3,000 to be exact! On Day 6, rise at dawn to observemonks collecting food offerings and giving blessings. Spend the afternoon visiting the stunningKuang Sii Waterfall then watch the sun set atop Phuosi Hill. It’s up to you what you do on Day 7,whether’s it’s relaxing in one of the coffee shops or visiting the town’s 32 temples! (3B)Hanoi / Halong BayFly to Hanoi and take in its French colonial architecture and vast parks. Then, take a cyclo tour of thecity’s Old Quarter, stopping off for lunch at Hoa Sua, a training school for disadvantaged youth. OnDay 9, visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before driving to Bai Chay Harbour and boarding a traditionaljunk boat for the evening. With all the comforts of a hotel, cruise around Halong Bay and explore thebreathtaking limestone islands rising from the Bac Bo gulf. On Day 10, visit one of the caves on abamboo boat before heading back to dry land in Hanoi for shopping and museums. (2B, 2L, D)Ho Chi Minh CityFly to Ho Chi Minh City and take a thrilling cyclo tour of its main attractions. On Day 12 headunderground into the infamous Cu Chi tunnels for a unique view of what life was like during theVietnam War. With the afternoon left free, head to Ben Thanh market or sail the Saigon River. (2B)Phnom PenhTake part in a cyclo tour around Phnom Penh’s main attractions, with an option of refreshing drinksat the famous Foreign Correspondents Club. On Day 12, explore the dark side of Cambodia’s historyunder the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge with visits to Choeung Ek Memorial, the site of theinfamous Killing Fields, and the Tuol Sleng Prison. (2B)Siem Reap / Angkor WatDrive to Siem Reap and tour its entertainment district, with a stop off at an exciting night market,then head to Angkor at sunset to see the magnificent Angkor Wat temple, the world’s largestreligious monument. Visit other fantastic temples, such as Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, the ‘TombRaider’ temple, then travel to Mondul, one of the poorest areas of Cambodia. Witness the good workproject New Hope is doing to help the underprivileged locals and taste the delights of Khmer cuisinethey prepare for you over lunch. On Day 18, depart at any time you wish. (4B, L)34 VISIT WWW.STATRAVEL.COM.AU