Indochina Explorer: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive SAIGON (-/-/D)
Welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon, visit the Former Presidential Palace, War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the head Post Office was built at XIX by Gustave Eiffel, Jade Pagoda where you will know religious life of Vietnamese as well as the interesting information about Saigon’s history and culture. Transfer to visit Ben Thanh market. Dinner and overnight in Saigon.
Day 2: SAIGON – CAI BE – VINH LONG – CAN THO (B/L/D)
Pick up at your hotel by your guide. After transfer to Caibe. Enjoy the boat trip on Tien Giang River, visiting the floating market Cai Be where organizes special market in Mekong Delta. Continue to visit green rice flakes, rice crispy cake, coconut candy mill and enjoy. Visiting Mr. Ba Kiet’s ancient house (Ut Kiet) – one of the ninth ancient houses of Vietnam were restored by Japanese. Then tasting exotic fruits in a bonsai garden. Lunch at ancient house. Walking on the country lane and discover local people’s life. Rowing on small boat to return motorboat. Transfer to Can Tho, the city considered as the heart of the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho
Day 3: CAN THO – CHAU DOC (B/L/D)
Breakfast in the hotel. Enjoy a boat trip on the Mekong river to visit Cai Rang, the famous floating market in the west of Viet Nam, along narrow waterways through the lush vegetation to an orchard garden where we have the opportunity to visit local homes. Disembarking and having lunch in local restaurant. Check-out hotel. Transfer to Chau Doc. Visit the Sam Mountain, the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, the foundator of Chau Doc area. Ba Chua Xu pagoda is a famous place with a legend for popular people. Check-in in the late evening. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Day 4: CHAU DOC – Phnom Penh (B/L/-)
Breakfast in the hotel. Boat cruise to 4 hours to Phnom Penh. It is one of the interesting boat cruise along Mekong River to see the 2 countries. Say goodbye to Vietnamese guide, take water, food, book etc, for your journey. Once arriving at the pier at Cambodia border, you will get Cambodian visa at the border (please bring 1 passport photo). Then continue cruising the upstream river to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, welcome by our guide, cool towel and lunch at the river front restaurant. Afternoon, city tour to visit this bustling capital city including National Museum of Khmer Arts, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 5: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (B/L/-)
Early breakfast at the hotel. Board on speed boat to Siem Reap on Tonle Sap lake. The boat journey takes 6 hours along Tonle Sap river. The boat has life jacket, air-con and toilet. When the boat enters the Great Tonle Sap lake, it is a huge fresh water sea with the level upto 10,000 square Km in the rainy season. The best time to travel by boat is from July to March. From April to June, the water level drops to just about 5,000 square Km. The water is shallow and the boat cannot operate. Before arriving at the dock in Siem Reap, the boat will go through the floating village. It is one of the interesting floating village in Southeast Asia. All the houses are floating including the school, gas station, market, church, mechanic that make up the floating community including Muslims, Cambodian and Vietnamese. Upon arrival, transfer for 20 minutes to your hotel. Late afternoon, departure for sunset at 05h00pm to visit the hilltop Phnom Bakheng overlooking Angkor Wat.
Day 6: Rolous Group & Angkor Temples (B/L/-)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the pre-Angkorian temples in Rolous Group including Preah Ko, Bakong and Lo Lei. Rolous was the first Angkor capital when they settled closer to Tonle Sap lake. It was a good location to get water from the lake for agriculture purpose and easy to succeed over the enimy get up of the boat from Tonle Sap lake. The period of Angkor started the year 800AD and declined in the year 1432AD. Afternoon, visit the jungle temples Ta Phrom embraced by giant trees and creepers. Then visit the former capital of Khmer Empire in the 12th century Angkor Thom including the four faces Bayon temple. The end of the day, we extensively explore Angkor Wat, the 7th Wonder of the World. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 7: Banteay Srei and River of Thousand Lingas (B/L/-)
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to visit the most beautiful temple Banteay Srei known as citadel of women. Banteay Srei was built by pink sand stones. Then transfer another 30 minutes to Kbal Spean known as the River of Thousand lingas to hike about 45 minutes to visit the Lingas. Afternoon, visit pre Angkorian temple Pre Rup, and Preah Khan. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 8: Siem Reap-Kampong Thom-Sambor Prei Kuk (B/L/-)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we begin with a transfer 2 hours to visit 12 century Naga bridge in Kampong Kdei. Visit pre-Angkorian temples in Sambor Prei Kuk (615-650). Sambor Prei Kuk was served as the capital before Angkor period during the Chenla Kingdom. Enjoy packed lunch under the shade of the big trees and relax on the mat. After lunch check in at the hotel. Late afternoon, we visit the hilltop Phnom Santuk temple with some of the famous reclining Buddha carved in 15th century. Overnight in Kampong Thom.
Day 9: Kampong Thom - Kampong Cham (B/L/-)
After breakfast, transfer 40 minutes to Kampong Thmor and visit the rubber plantation in Chamkar Andong before arrving in Kampong Cham. It is the 3rd biggest province in Cambodia. It depends mainly on the farming, big production of the fruit such as banana, jack fruit, tobacco and rubber plantation. Visit Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey and enjoy the picnic lunch from the hill top pagoda. Afternoon, arrive in Kampong Cham, wander around to see the town (optional biking to the nearby Koh Pen island). Situated on the Mekong river, Kampong Cham has a great benefit of the delta to do the farming. Overnight in Kampong Cham.
Day 10: Kampong Cham-Kratie (B/L/-)
After breakfast, visit Phnom Han Chey. There are some graves of the victims from the Khmer Rouge regim on beside the hill of Phnom Han Chey. Enjoy the water stop, local fruit, snack and drink. Then we board on the local ferry to cross Mekong river at Steung Trong. This area used to be the Khmer Rouge headquarter in early 1970s before they took control of Phnom Penh in April 1975. Afternoon, arrive in Kratie and check in at the hotel. If time permits, take the local ferry to visit the opposite Koh Trong island. Or view the sunset at the river front. Overnight in Kratie.
Day 11: Kratie-Stung Treng (B/L/-)
Breakfast in Kratie. Transfer to board on the boat to see the endangered Irrawady dolphin, then visit Wat Sarsar Moy Roy, the buddhist temple has story related to King Ang Chan Racha in 15th century. Afternoon, transfer to Stung Treng. The speciality of local food in Stung Treng is Ngem, made from fresh fish and garlic wrapped in banana leaves. Overnight in Stung Treng.
Day 12: Stung Treng-Laos border-Don Khone 
Breakfast in Stung Treng. We visit Ou Svay community before crossing the border to Laos. Immigration process, Laos visa cannot be obtained at the border. It has to be done in advance. Say goodbye to our Cambodian guide and driver. Welcome by Laos guide, transfer to Khone water fall and enjoy the swimming. Dinner and overnight in Don Khone. (B,L,D)
Day 13: Don Khone - 4 Thousand Islands
Breakfast in Don Khone. Today, we visit 4 Thousand Islands known as Si Phan Don in Laos. The 4 Thousand Islands situated on the Mekong River. Enjoy lunch at the 4 Thousand Island. Make sure we keep the empty bottle of water and can in the rubbish bin to keep the environment clean. Afer lunch, we visit Don Daeng. Dinner and overnight in Don Daeng. (B,L,D)
Day 14: Don Daeng - Se Pian National Biodiversity and Conservation Center (B,L,D)
Breakfast in Don Daeng. We drive to Se Pian Biodiversity Conservation Center located near Cambodia border to Rattanakiri province. Visit the community of the ethnic minority. Enjoy the lunch in the community. Afternoon, cycle back to Don Daeng. Dinner and overnight in Don Daeng.
Day 15: Don Daeng - Wat Phou - Pakse (B,L,D)
After breakfast, drive along the Mekong river. Then we follow the Mekong river and cross the ferry and continue driving leaving the Mekong river on the backdrop. There, appear the Wat Phou temple on the foot of the Champasak hill. It is a 12th century temple built by a great Khmer King Jayavarman VII. Visit the temple 45 minutes to 1 hour. Afternoon, transfer to Pakse and check in the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Pakse.
Day 16: Pakse Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Free until transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)
Price: Please contact us: info@cambodiacycling.com
* Services included:
- Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Accommodation including breakfast
- Meals as indicated: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fee for all visits mentioned in the program
- Boat trips: Cai Be, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Chau Doc-Phnom Penh & Phnom Penh-Siem Reap, Kratie
Services exluded:
- Visa for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
- Drinks, tips, personal expenses and other services not clearly mentioned in the program