Classic Cambodia & Vietnam

Sua s'dei! Welcome to Cambodia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe stroll the streets of Phnom Penh, taking in the French architecture. Dinner tonight will be at a riverside local restaurant and may include dishes like beef lok lak (tender meat coated in pepper sauce) or fish amok (curry). Get to know your fellow travellers over some delicious Cambodian specialties and toast to a new adventure as the sun goes down.

Today you’ll head out on a city tour that introduces you to the sights of Phnom Penh – a city that lies near the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are home to King Sihamoni and are closed to the public. You will, however, be able to visit the Silver Pagoda that lies in the palace complex, which is the most sacred temple in the country. Then, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which tell the story of the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. Tuol Sleng is a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre, and it’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are home to a stupa made up of some 8000 human skulls. This was the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng, and standing in this peaceful setting, it's almost unthinkable to imagine that nearly 9000 corpses have been exhumed from the area. After, maybe visit Wat Phnom – the temple that gave rise to the foundation of the city in the 15th century.

Begin the scenic drive to Siem Reap today, stopping at Skun Market along the way. You’ll also stop at Santuk Silkfarm for lunch – a social enterprise run by local women and one of the few places in Cambodia where you can see the entire silk production process. Enjoy a home-cooked meal with your group here, then carry on to Siem Reap – the gateway to Angkor Wat and the most popular destination in all of Cambodia. When you arrive, head out for an orientation walk with your leader and enjoy the atmosphere, maybe also visiting the old market to explore the stalls selling silks, cottons, sarongs, silver and statues. Tonight, maybe find some delicious street food. There's also a long tradition of shadow puppetry in the region, and if you're lucky, you might catch a show at one of the local restaurants in the evening.

Spend a full day visiting the amazing temples of Angkor today – this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important historic complexes in all South East Asia and is an absolute must-do experience in Cambodia! If you’re keen to see Angkor Wat at sunrise – the largest and most complete structure and the only temple with a west-facing entrance – your leader can organize an early visit for you before dawn (optional). Later in the morning, your group will tour the complex together. Of all the temples visited, Bayon is the centrepiece, with over 200 smiling carved faces and more than 50 gothic towers. You’ll also visit an ancient monastery, where you’ll meet a Buddhist monk to take part in a ritual that has survived for thousands of years. Sit on the floor as the monk chants and sprinkles holy water over you before tying a sacred thread around your wrist, ensuring protection and good luck for the rest of your journey. For lunch today, you'll visit the Spoons Restaurant and School where disadvantaged local youth learn skills that enable them to find gainful employment in the hospitality industry. After, head to Ta Prohm – a temple where nature has taken over, as large trees dominate the stone foundations. If you’re keen to see Angkor Wat in all its glory, you can also opt to end the day with a sunset view of the temples – just organize with your leader.

Today, visit the Kampong Phluck lakeside village – the houses here are built on wooden stilts and you can travel by riverboat to explore the village that’s adapted to withstand flooding. See the mangrove forests (season depending) and get an insight into the lifestyle of the local people. Later this afternoon, learn more about the daily life of Cambodians on a village tour in the countryside. See the rice fields and family allotments that surround the traditional stilt houses and be welcomed into a local’s home as you join them for sunset drinks and snacks. This evening, you’ll have a final farewell dinner with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant offering authentic Cambodian cuisine.

Today, catch an unescorted flight to Ho Chi Minh City where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive early, why not get out and explore the French infused city at your own pace and perhaps enjoy a banh mi - a short baguette fill with a variety of tasty ingredients.perhaps head to Pham Ngu Lao Street to see the local open-air market or visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. This evening, there will be a second group meeting to meet your new group and new leader. After that, you’ll make your way out for dinner as a group – expect mouth-watering aromas and the achingly fresh flavours of herbs, lemongrass and rich sauces.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head out of town to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, which make up part of a larger war museum outside Ho Chi Minh. This former Viet Cong stronghold provides an insight into the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Vietnamese people and offers a glimpse of what life was like during the war. Like an underground maze that stretches over 120 km, the tunnels are complete with trapdoors, living areas, kitchens, storage facilities, armoury, hospitals and command centres. Your trip through history doesn’t stop there, you’ll head back to Ho Chi Minh City to discover the War Remnants Museum where you’ll see old military equipment including an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. In the afternoon, you’ll be free to explore the city at your leisure. Perhaps gather some of your newfound travel buddies and explore Notre Dame, the Post Office or Reunification Palace.

This morning you’ll wave goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City for the night and travel south by private bus to Ben Tre. When you arrive, you’ll board a small traditional boat and explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta. The delta is known as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. During the boat trip, you’ll stop to sample some of the fresh tropical fruit and visit a selection of cottage industries in the area. Then, you’ll get your first taste of Vietnamese hospitality and tuck into a home-cooked Vietnamese-style lunch at a local family home. Then, around sunset, make your way to your Mekong lodge sitting right by the river and enjoy another wonderful meal featuring regional specialties.

Enjoy more of the Mekong Delta’s finest fruits over breakfast this morning and then hit the road back to Ho Chi Minh City where you’ll arrive in the late afternoon. Then, you’re free to explore at your own pace. Maybe go in search of the best food with some of your fellow travellers – your group leader will know where to go for meals of any budget. Then, you might like to check out one of the city’s vibrant rooftop bars.

This morning, you’ll take a short flight to Danang, then you’ll make your way to your next stop in Hoi An. When you arrive, shake off your morning of travel and dig into a traditional Vietnamese lunch to welcome you to the city – try the mi quang or cao lau noodles that Central Vietnam is famed for. After lunch, your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. The city was a major trading port with the west during the 16th and 17th-centuries, and has various architectural influences from Europe, China and Japan. Today, the city is being restored and looks much like it did over a century ago. You'll see Chinese temples, Japanese pagodas, French-inspired houses, wooden shops and old canals during your walk. After, you may like to wander Hoi An Market and the street stalls selling paintings, woodwork, ceramics, lanterns and much more.

Enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An and all it has to offer. You could rent a bicycle and take a trip out to the nearby Cua Dai Beach. Or, maybe book into an Urban Adventure, like Hoi An Boat & Bike, which offers a guided tour of the area, including a countryside bike ride and a sunset cruise along the Thu Bon River. Vietnam is, of course, known for its delicious food, and Hoi An is no exception. In the evening, get together again to enjoy a delicious dinner in the garden of an ancient house where you'll also see how Banh Xeo (savoury fried pancake) is made.

Today is another free day in this historic haven. If you can muster an early rise this morning, head to the local produce market to watch the animated shoppers haggling over fresh fish, spices and vegetables. Otherwise, if you’d like, your leader can help you arrange an optional Vietnamese cooking class, or a visit to the ruins of My Son – Vietnam's most important Cham site. Set in a verdant valley, surrounded by hills and overlooked by the massive Cat's Tooth Mountain, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples here reflect the cultural traditions of the Cham civilisation that flourished in this region between the 4th and 12th-century.