Spirit of Cambodia and Laos Tour
Siem Reap - Angkor Wat and Royal City of Angkor Thom, Boat crossing of Tonle Sap Lake seeing the local floating villages, Battambang - Phnom Sampeu Memorial and Journey on the Bamboo Train, Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng genocide Museum and Visit the Royal Palace Complex, Visit the 90 kg golden Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds, Vientiane – Visit the Great Sacred Stupa the most important monument in Laos, Luang Prabang - Tat Kuang Si Falls and rock pools, visit to the Hmong Village, watch the early morning procession of the monks.
Our Director Maggie's Note
On our Spirit of Cambodia and Laos Tour you will find yourself in Siem Reap trekking through the royal city of Angkor Thom from the South Gate through the lovely forest to reach the amazing Bayon temple. A speed boat will transport you to Battambang where you will then begin your journey to Phnom Penh through the provinces of Pursat and Kampong Chhnang, giving you an idea of the local life. On your journey you may share a friendly moment with the Cambodian people who will always so openly accept you into their homes.
Tailor Make Your Own Cambodia And Laos tour
We are more than happy to assist you to personally tailor-make your itinerary to suit your specific interests and needs at no extra cost to you.
Trip Overview
Duration
12 days
Accommodation
Live It Travel has selected 3 star hotels that are in excellent locations. Our hotels have been personally inspected and chosen by our staff so that quality and service is of the highest of standards. Also to enable our travellers to really live and feel the culture of the places we visit, we can include some more traditional Vietnamese Style accommodation such as a home stay with a local Vietnamese family. 4 & 5 Star hotel options are available for our guests if they would prefer an upgrade in accommodation.
Transport
Private Air-conditioned Vehicles, Soft Sleeper Train, Traditional Junk Boat.
what's Included?
Accommodation on twin sharing basis and meals as stated in the itinerary
Entrance fees and sightseeing tours by private air-conditioned vehicles
Private transportation mentioned in the itinerary
An experienced English-speaking local leader
The services of local guides at some sites
Transportation & entrance fees during guiding in Vietnam
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1 SIEM REAP
Arriving in, transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap.
After check-in at the hotel, we will have a welcome lunch before starting the visit of Angkor Complex which starts from the South Gate of the Royal City of Angkor Thom, with its well-restored statues of asuras (demons) and gods lining the bridge, to the quiet area of the Preah Pithu temples. On our way, we will stop at the famous Bayon, a three-tiered pyramid temple with a 45 meter high tower, topped by four gigantic carved heads, and surrounded by 53 smaller towers. Throughout the structure, there are over 200 large faces carved, believed to be the images of Jayavarman VII as a Bodhisattva. We will also visit the Royal Enclosure and The Elephant Terrace and The Terrace of the Leper King. Then, we will visit Angkor Wat until sunset. This famous temple is believed to be the biggest religious monument ever built in the world and certainly one of the most spectacular.
Later this evening we will have dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 2 SIEM REAP
On the second day, a 50 km drive northeast of Siem Reap will take us to Phnom Kbal Spean. After a 30 minutes walk in the forest, we will arrive at Sahasralina, the River of a Thousand Lingas. The remarkable 11th-century riverbed rock carvings display a gallery of gods and celestial beings including Vishnu reclining on the serpent Anata, Shiva, Brahma, Lakshmi, Rama and Hanuman. We will picnic for lunch on this inspiring site. On the way back, we will stop at the temple of Banteay Srei, founded in 967. While many of Angkor's temples are impressive because of their sheer size, Banteay Srei stands out by the quality of its craftsmanship. You will admire the beautiful apsara carvings made of pink sandstone contrasting with the main walls in laterite. We will still visit the landmine museum before spending a relaxing moment at the Butterfly garden, a Restaurant which offers superb dining in an oasis with 1,500 tropical butterflies, while providing benefits to the community.
Free time in the afternoon to enjoy swimming at the hotel
DAY 3 SIEM REAP
This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we will have an elephant trek through the royal city of Angkor Thom, which will take us from the South Gate through the lovely forest to reach the Bayon temple. The we will follow the circle road at the east of Angkor Thom anti clockwise. To ensure we will visit the temple of Pre Rup, (from the 10th Century), Neak Pean and Preah Khan (both of them built during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th-century). Then, last but not least, we will go to Ta Phrom, also known as the lost-in-the-jungle-temple. This monastery was left to the destructive power of the jungle to demonstrate the awesome power of nature and has been largely consumed by the giant trees.
For lunch today we will eat at "Le jardin des Delices", the Paul Dubrule Training restaurant. It gives students an opportunity to gain valuable experience working as a team in providing exceptional food and excellent guest services.
In the afternoon you may choose to have some time to yourself to wander the markets and fit in some shopping.
OR
Join the group on a visit to the Silk farm of Puok, an applied research and vocational training center for all silk-related jobs which is part of Artisans d'Angkor from the Chantiers-Ecoles. This company was created to help young people to find work in their home villages and was quoted as a means to reduce poverty in the world by IMF and UNESCO. Afterwards we will enjoy the open view onto the Western Baray (an ancient reservoir more than 2 km across and 9 km long with an average depth of 7 m) from the Wat Svay Romiet Pagoda.
Dinner at a local restaurant with an Apsara show (khmer classical and traditional dances)
DAY 4 SIEM REAP / BATTAMBANG
This morning we will take a regular speedboat departing from Siem Reap at 7:00 am. During the 4 to 6 hours trip, crossing the Tonle Sap Lake then reaching the Stung Sang Ker river, you will enjoy the wonderful landscape and the floating villages as well as the daily life along the river.
Please note: During the months of March to June our tours will be taking a bus to Battambang as it is not possible to travel by boat as the water levels present it lowest level of the year.
On arrival in Battambang and after check in at the hotel, we will go for lunch at the White Rose. This local restaurant has a huge selection of delicious fruit-shakes. In the afternoon, we will drive 11 km along the Sang Ker River to reach Wat Ek Phnom temple (built by Suryavarman I in the 11th century).
Tonight you are free to dine as you wish or ask your guide for some suggestions.
DAY 5 BATTAMBANG
After breakfast, we will drive 18 km to Phnom Sampeu. This mountain is the site of two caves formerly used by the Khmer Rouge to torture and kill some of their victims. A memorial holding some of the victims' remnants has been created. At the top are two Wat, one which was used as a prison during the Khmer Rouge era, and a small, colourful modern one from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the countryside. Afterwards, we will go to Phnom Bannon hill and climb the 337 steps to reach the top (10 minutes walk up). There, we will visit the 12th century's Prasat Bannon temple and enjoy another outstanding view over the surrounding plains. We will continue to the natural cave located down the hill. After a 15 minutes walk through banana plantations and forest, we will get the cave of the holy water. The "Kouhea Preah Toeuk" still hosts some Buddha statues brought by locals in this immense natural room.
A real life experience on the bamboo train will bring us back to Battambang where we go to the Riverside Bar to enjoy a drink along the Sang Ker River with a nice view of the sunset and the activities of the local people who live along the river. (This is one of the famous bars in Battambang that Angelina Jolie visits whilst in town for her movies) Tonight you are free to discover your own dining experience or you may choose to get together with some fellow travellers and enjoy dinner at the Cold Night Restaurant which offers an extensive menu of Khmer, Thai and Western food.
DAY 6 BATTAMBANG / PHNOM PENH
Early in the morning, we will leave Battambang by private bus or car to the capital city of Phnom Penh. The journey takes us through the provinces of Pursat and Kampong Chhnang will last about 6 hours and will enable you to get an idea of the local life and to share a friendly moment with the people.
Today we stop along the way to give you a chance to purchase lunch this stop is always a lively moment, which will probably give you at first a disconcerting impression of disorder, although in the end, everybody enjoys their meal.
This afternoon after your transfer to your hotel by tuk-tuk feel free to relax and explore the city.
OR
Join the group for a 16 kilometre drive to the Choeng Ek killing fields and the Tuol Sleng genocide Museum. This former high school in the suburbs of the capital was converted to a detention and torture centre - known as Toul Sleng or S21 - by the Khmers Rouges when they came to power in 1975. A genocide museum was established at Toul Sleng after 1979 and today it remains as it looked when abandoned by the Khmers Rouges. Most of the 17'000 people detained at Toul Sleng were eventually transported to Choeung Ek, a mass gravesite known to the locals as the Killing fields after the popular movie of Roland Joffre. If we still have time, we will visit the Russian market, too.
Tonight you are free to discover your own dining experience or you may choose to dine at the restaurant Friends which is a non-profit restaurant run by street youth in training.
DAY 7 PHNOM PENH / VIENTIANE
Today after breakfast, we will visit The Royal Palace Complex. Besides the Royal Residence (closed to the public), the Throne Hall or Vinichhay Temple (the place where kings are enthroned) and the Chan Chaya Pavillon (where traditional dances took place), it includes Wat Preah Keo, better known as the Silver Pagoda. This amazing place, with its floor covered with 5000 silver plates, houses the Preah Keo or emerald Buddha, made of Baccarat crystal. In front stands a 90 kg golden Buddha studded with 9584 diamonds. After this, we will walk about 10 minutes to the National Museum. Built around a central courtyard, the galleries, arranged chronologically, present a collection of Khmer art, mostly sculptures. We will have lunch at the Khmer Surin restaurant, set in a nice three-stored building, decorated with cushioned seats in the traditional Thai style. *** You may choose to end your tour here or join the rest of the group for their afternoon flight to Laos. Please Note if you are departing Cambodia please ask the Live It Team for a revised price. We will return to the hotel for check-out and transfer to the airport for departure flight.
This evening we will pick you up at the airport at Vientiane. We will drive you to your hotel for check-in and for a well-deserved rest.
DAY 8 LAOS / VIENTIANE
This morning you can decide to go to Wat Sok Pa Luang to enjoy an herbal sauna or an hour-long massage. After lunch, we will rent bikes and ride to the Talat Sao to the morning market, which actually runs all day. Then, we will continue along Thanon Lane Xang (Lane Xang Street) to Patuxai, a large monument reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with Lao-style ornamentation. A stairway leads to the top levels of the monument, where you can look out over the city. Afterwards, we will continue by the Thanon That Luang or Great Sacred Stupa. It is the most important national monument in Laos as it is a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. We will visit this place quietly before riding back to our hotel. (bicycle ride, there and back, about 10 km)
* Please note for those who are unable to ride we can arrange for a tuk-tuk to transport you instead.
In the evening, we will visit the riverside, for a local barbecue and a cool drink.
DAY 9 VIENTIANE / LUANG PRABANG
After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Luang Prabang, upon arrival we will check into our hotel and then we will depart for our drive to Tat Kuang Si, a beautiful spot 32km south of town, which has a wide, many-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The lower level of the falls has been turned into a well-maintained public park with shelters and picnic tables. We will stroll around this site and surrounding area, swim in one of the pools and relax with a picnic lunch.
On the way back, we will stop at Ban Na Oune, a Hmong village, and at BanTat Paen, a scenic Khmu village with a cool stream, rustic dam and several miniature waterfalls. This evening we will have dinner at a local restaurant before enjoying a Lao coffee or tea (70 varieties) at "L'Etranger, Books & Tea".
DAY 10 LUANG PRABANG
Today we will enjoy a Full-day city tour of Luang Prabang. Our walk will start at the bustling Talat Dala, the city's main market. The area surrounding this market is Luang Prabang's commercial nerve centre, and you'll find all sorts of intriguing shops here. Then, we will go to Wat Wisunalat, one of the city's oldest temples. At the eastern end of the temple compound is the bulbous That Makmo – the Watermelon stupa. Adjacent to the northern side of the temple is another older temple, Wat Aham which is known for its two large and venerable banyan trees.
We will have lunch at Tamarind restaurant, owned by a NGO. Tamarind was established to promote greater understanding of Laos through the serving of the country's unique cuisine and interpretation of Lao culinary customs. You will be able to order a testing platter and original drinks made from local ingredients. They also sell a wide range of gift-packaged foods as teas, mixed spices and seeds grown and packaged by local people, with serving suggestions or local recipes.
After lunch, we will continue the exploration of the city with the visit of the Royal Palace Museum, and then we will ascent the steps to the summit of Phu Si for the beautiful views of the town. On the way back, we will stop at the Hmong night market along the main street.
Dinner can be your own choice or ask the guide for there suggestion of a local restaurant.
DAY 11 LUANG PRABANG / VIENTIANE
You may like to get up early to see the morning procession of monks along Sisavangvong Road lined with the local people waiting to make their offerings of food.
After Breakfast, you will have the choice to follow a cooking class (at the restaurant-NGO Tum Tum Cheng) or a weaving class (with the NGO OckPop Tok) for half a day. (Optional Extra) OR Early in the morning, we will leave Luang Prabang and drive 15km on the banks of the Nam Khan River to the Elephant Park Project. This project brings the elephants a more comfortable retirement by providing professional medical care, nutritious food, caring staff, and a natural environment. It also provides jobs to local people and support the community, as well as helping support rural development in Luang Prabang. This project provides both communities and local businesses with an example of sustainable tourism and how to successfully link conservation with tourism.
You will be able to take a scenic ride on an elephant or learn about the training of younger elephants in the skills needed for tours, about how to take care for the elephants with some basic "mahout training" or even how traditional technology can transform elephant dung into biogas, fertilizer and hand-made paper.
In the afternoon we take our flight back to Vientiane.
DAY 12 VIENTIANE / DEPARTURE DAY
This morning you will be free to wander as you please or sleep in until check-out of your hotel.After our farewell lunch at a local restaurant in town, we transfer you to the airport for your onwards flight.
You have many choices for your onward journey. We suggest flying to Hanoi or Saigon to join one of our Live It Vietnam Tours or we can arrange for you to fly back to Siem Reap for your return flight home. Another option may be to take the overnight train from Nong Khai to go to Bangkok.
