Laos & Cambodia Unveiled
16 nights / 17 days
Fully Guided
Laos and Cambodia Unveiled
Classic Tour¦18 Days¦Physical Level 2
Vientiane – Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang – Siem Reap – Battambang –
Phnom Penh
Discover the untouched beauty of Laos and the magnificent history of Cambodia on this 18-day tour
of Southeast Asia’s incredible landscapes. Swim in waterfall pools, and explore historic caves in Laos,
and marvel at the magnificence of the great and glorious temples of Angkor, the spiritual heart of
Cambodia.
● Be charmed by quaint Vientiane
● Admire scenic Vang Vieng
● Witness the Takbat alms ceremony
● Be captivated by Angkor
● See local life on Tonle Sap
● Visit colonial Battambang
● Explore Phnom Penh by rickshaw
Laos and Cambodia Unveiled tour inclusions:
All accommodation
All meals
All sightseeing and entrance fees
All transportation and transfers
English speaking National Escort (if your group is 10 or more passengers) or local tour guides
Cambodia visa fees for UK and EU passport holders (excludes Laos where visas are payable at the airport;
please see visa section below for further information)
Specialist advice from our experienced travel consultants
Comprehensive travel guides
Safe and secure with ABTA, ATOL and IATA
Extras:
Please ask our sales agent to price the International Flights
The only thing you may have to pay for are personal expenditure e.g. drinks, optional excursions or shows, insurance of
any kind, early check in or late checkout and other items not specified on the itinerary.
ITINERARY – Laos and Cambodia Unveiled
Day 1 & 2: Vientiane
You will be met at Vientiane airport in the arrivals hall by your
Local Guide and/or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours.
Together with all other group members who may be arriving at
a similar time travel to your hotel for check in.
Destination Information
Vientiane
● Vientiane, Laos' laid-back capital, mixes French colonial architecture with Buddhist temples such
as the golden, 16th-century Pha That Luang, a national symbol. Along broad boulevards and tree-lined
streets are notable shrines including Wat Si Saket, which features thousands of Buddha images, and Wat Si
Muang, built on a Hindu shrine. Many bakeries, cafés and villas seem straight out of 19th-century Paris.
Day 3: Vientiane
Nestled in a languid bend in the Mekong, Vientiane is a
delightfully quaint city, more a friendlier backwater than the
chaotic capital. Spend your day exploring Wat Si Saket, and Wat
Phrakeo before visiting COPE – an organisation helping
survivors of land mines. Continue your sightseeing at That
Luang Stupa and the Patuxai Victory Monument, resembling
Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Sightseeing today involves around 2 to
3 hours on foot. Tonight, enjoy dinner and a traditional
performance showcasing Lao music and dance.
Destination Information
Wat Si Saket
● Wat Si Saket is a Buddhist wat built in 1818 on the order of King Anouvong (Sethathirath V.)
Wat Si Saket was built in the ‘Siamese style’ of architecture, with a surrounding terrace and an ornate fivetiered roof, rather than in the Lao style. This may have kept it safe, since the armies of Siam that sacked
Vientiane following Anouvong's rebellion in 1827 used the compound as their headquarters and lodging.
Wat Si Saket features a cloister wall with more than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha images.
COPE
● Cooperative Orthotic & Prosthetic Enterprise is a non-profit organisation sourcing walking aids and
prosthetic limbs for survivors of land mines.
That Luang Stupa
● A gold-covered large Buddhist stupa in the centre of Vientiane. Since its initial
establishment, suggested to be in the 3rd century, the stupa has undergone several reconstructions.
Patuxai Victory Monument
● Patuxai means Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph. and, is a war monument in
the centre of Vientiane. It was built between 1957 and 1968. The Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought
in the struggle for independence from France.
Day 4: Vientiane – Vang Vieng
After breakfast, drive approximately 3 and half hours to Vang
Vieng. On the way stop for a couple of hours at Nam Ngum Lake
and enjoy a short cruise. This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel
and soak up the atmosphere on the Song river banks.
Destination Information
Vang Vieng
● A town in Vientiane Province about four hours bus ride north of the capital. The town lies on
the Nam Song River. The most notable feature of the area is the karst hill landscape surrounding the town.
Day 5: Vang Vieng
Today venture across the Nam Song river to visit the Tham
Chang cave, used as a bunker during the Chinese-Ho invasion in
the early nineteenth century. Sightseeing here involves
approximately 1 hour on foot over uneven surfaces, and
climbing steps to get up to the cave. Later, enjoy an easy
walking tour on the banks of the Nam Song River.
Destination Information
Tham Chang Cave
● Tham Jang is a cave just to the southwest of Vang Vieng, Laos. The cave is reached by
crossing a bridge that spans across the Nam Song River. You will need to then climb a long flight of steps to
the entrance. A spring is located about 50m inside the cave.
Day 6: Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang
After breakfast, return to Vientiane for lunch and travel to the airport for your 45-minute flight to Luang Prabang.
On arrival, check in to your hotel before dinner at a local restaurant.
Destination Information
Luang Prabang
● The capital of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos, lies in a valley at the confluence of
the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. It’s known for its many Buddhist temples, including the gilded Wat Xieng
Thong, dating to the 16th century, and Wat Mai, once the residence of the head of Laotian Buddhism.
Day 7: Luang Prabang
This morning, visit Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Visoun. Later,
board a boat to cruise the mighty Mekong up to the sacred
caves of Pak Ou, known for the hundreds of miniature Buddha
sculptures that reside within. Return to Luang Prabang visiting
local villages to witness the daily life of the local people and
their cottage industries.
Destination Information
Wat Xieng Thong
● A Buddhist temple (wat), located on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Prabang,
Laos. Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument
to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. There are over twenty structures on the grounds including
a sim, shrines, pavilions and residences, in addition to its gardens of various flowers, ornamental shrubs and
trees.
Wat Visoun – Rebuilt in 1898 following fire due to Black Flag Haw raiders, restoration commenced to rebuild
the once oldest wooden temple in Luang Prabang from more sturdy bricks and stucco. The highlight here is
a 34.5-metre-tall Lotus Stupa.
Pak Ou Caves – Near Pak Ou (mouth of the Ou river) the Tham Ting (lower cave) and the Tham Theung
(upper cave) are caves overlooking the Mekong River, 25 km to the north of Luang Prabang, Laos. They are
a group of two caves on the west side of the Mekong River, about two hours upstream from the centre of
Luang Prabang. The caves are noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of very small and
mostly damaged wooden Buddhist figures are laid out over the wall shelves. They take many different
positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining (nirvana).
Day 8: Luang Prabang
Visit the National Museum this morning. Drive 1 hour to Kuang Si
Waterfall and the Bear Rescue Centre. En route, stop at Ock Pop
Tok weaving centre for a visit. Sightseeing at the waterfall will
involve around 1 hour of light walking and on the way up to the
waterfall you follow a bush walking track which has a slight
upward gradient. It is possible to take a swim in the river near the
falls; if you wish to do this, please remember to bring along your
swimsuit and a towel. Changing rooms are available on site.
Destination Information
National Museum – Built in 1904 in the French colonial era, the original building was the Royal Palace but
was later converted into a museum.
Kuang Si Waterfalls
● A three-tier waterfall approximately 29 kilometres south of Luang Prabang. The falls
begin in shallow pools atop a steep hillside. These lead to the main fall with a 60 metres cascade. The falls
are accessed via a trail to a left of the falls. Water collects in numerous turquoise blue pools as it flows
downstream. The many cascades that result are typical of travertine waterfalls. There are walkways and
bridges for your enjoyment. Most of the pools are open to swimming.
Day 9: Luang Prabang – Siem Reap
Rise early this morning to view Takbat, a Buddhist ceremony
before visiting the impressive Wat Mai and climbing the Phousi
Hill for panoramic views of the city. Continue to visit the
impressive Wat Mai and local market. Later fly 1 and a half
hours to the fascinating city of Siem Reap and wander the
Angkor Night Market.
Destination Information
Phousi Hill
● A 100m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang. It lies in the heart of the old
town peninsula and is bordered on one side by the Mekong River and on the other side by the Nam Khan
River. The hill is a local religious site, and houses several Buddhist shrines. Halfway up the hill, overlooking
the Nam Khan is Wat Tham Phou Si, a Buddhist temple. At the summit of the hill, overlooking the town and
surrounding countryside, is Wat Chom Si, which is also a Buddhist temple and is a tourist highlight of Luang
Prabang.
Siem Reap
● Siem Reap is a bustling tourist destination due to its proximity to both Tonle Sap Lake and the
ancient Khmer national capital city of Angkor. Angkor Wat, the spiritual and cultural icon of Cambodia, is
one of the main attractions and is the world's largest religious monument.
Day 10: Siem Reap
Spanning from the 9th to 15th century, the Angkor complex
with over 1,000 temples was the seat of the thriving Khmer
Empire. UNESCO manages the complex and to enter, your
group will drive approximately 6km out of town to the main
entrance gate to get your entrance passes, which you must
carry with you. If you choose to climb at any site, you must be
able to climb and descend without assistance. Begin at the city
of Angkor Thom and the enigmatic Bayon, the Elephant Terrace
and the Terrace of the Leper King, before continuing to the
temple of Ta Prohm, enveloped in a labyrinth of jungle. This
afternoon is devoted to the fascinating and awe-inspiring Angkor Wat.
Please note: The Central Tower of the Angkor Wat is closed on Buddhist holidays and on all other days the
complex has a limited number of visitors allowed at any given time, under regulations from UNESCO. If you wish
to visit this tower, you will be required to wait in the queue alongside all other visitors. The ability to do this will
be determined upon the group’s schedule.
Destination Information
Angkor Thom
● This fortified city is flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side, which leads you through
a 23-metre imposing stone entrance gate to the various temples inside.
Bayon
● Beautifully crafted central towers, decorated with four opposing faces representing King
Jayavarman VII. Bayon’s stone galleries display extraordinary bas-reliefs incorporating over 11,000
figures.
Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King
● Giant viewing platforms used for public ceremonies, which
served as a base for the King's grand audience hall.
Ta Prohm
● Swallowed by the jungle where Strangler Figs and Kapok Trees have entwined themselves around
the ruins. Undoubtedly, the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor with several towers, closed courtyards and
narrow corridors to explore.
Angkor Wat
● Surrounded by a 190-metre moat and taking 30 years to build, Angkor Wat represents the
Khmer civilisation at its grandest. With its fascinating decorative flourishes, extensive bas-relief and multiple
tiers, it is the best-preserved temple within the complex.
Day 11: Siem Reap
Today, explore the less visited Beng Mealea, a mysterious
temple completely overrun by the jungle where you will
explore on foot for approximately an hour and half. In the high
water season, you will also visit the unique stilt-village of
Kompong Khleang; in the lower water season, you will visit
Chong Kneas floating village. Return to Siem Reap via a
Cambodian artistry assembly, ‘Les Artisan D’Angkor’. Tonight,
enjoy an Apsara dance performance over dinner.
Destination Information
Beng Mealea
● Dating from the 11th century, this sprawling temple covers over one square kilometre.
Largely overrun by vegetation and constructed in a distinctly Angkor Wat-style, Beng Mealea precedes and
may even have served as a 'prototype' for Angkor Wat.
Tonle Sap
● The Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During the rainy season, it can
swell from 3,000sq km to 7,500sq km. Locals have built floating villages on the Tonle Sap, which include
schools, restaurants, markets, and even a medical clinic.
Artisan D’Angkor
● Established in 1998, this community workshop teaches the unique arts of painting, silk
weaving, wood and stone carving in traditional Cambodian style to local young people.
Day 12: Siem Reap
Today, travel to Preah Khan Temple, Banteay Srei and explore Banteay Samre before boarding a boat to view
the sunset from the moat of Angkor Thom.
Destination Information
Banteay Srei
● A Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and considered by many to be the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of
Angkorian art. The temple is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and contains some of the finest stone carvings
in the world.
Banteay Samre
● Built approximately halfway through the 12th century, Banteay Samre is decorated with
many intricate and well-preserved carvings of Hindu and Buddhist stories and lore.
Pre Rup Temple
● A popular place to view the sunset; the view over the rice fields is spectacular. Pre Rup
was built by Rajendravarman II and may have been an early royal crematorium.
DaY 13: Siem Reap
● Battambang
Travel approximately 3 hours to Battambang, stopping at the
Puok District to visit the National Silk Centre. Learn about silk
creation and the harvesting of mulberries before continuing to
Battambang.
Destination Information
National Silk Centre
● A fascinating way to learn about Cambodian silk. Here you will witness silk creation
and the growing and harvesting of mulberries.
Battambang
● Cambodia’s second largest city. Situated on the banks of the Stung Sangke River, Battambang
possesses some of the grandest and best-preserved colonial architecture and scenic countryside.
Day 14: Battambang
Climb to the top of Phnom Banan to reach the Prasat Banan
Temple to admire the breathtaking view. In the afternoon, visit
‘La Maison de Coco’ and learn how to make rice paper, and visit
the Bat Caves at Phnom Sampov.
Please note rice paper making is seasonal; when this is not
available you will still see the rice paper, as well as visiting an
orphanage school and a tailors’ workshop.
Destination Information
Prasat Banan Temple
● Located on the top of a small hill, the temple was built in the 11th century and
consists of 5 towers.
La Maison de Coco
● A non-governmental organisation which runs projects to give skills and support to the
local people.
Day 15: Battambang – Phnom Penh
Today drive approximately 4 to 5 hours to the capital, Phnom
Penh, stopping en route for a couple of hours to explore Udong
and Kampong Chhnang Province to see traditional handmade
pottery and climb Touch Hill to admire the surroundings. There
are approximately 415 steps to climb to reach the top of Touch
Hill.
Destination Information
Phnom Penh
● The capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia is built around four river arms, formed by a sharp
curve in the Mekong River near the junctions of the Bassac and the Tonle Sap tributaries. This charming city
has a pleasant blend of oriental and colonial architecture, but reminders of a troubled past are also evident.
Day 16: Phnom Penh
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh today, incorporating
around 3 hours of leisurely walking this morning. Explore sites
such as the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the hilltop temple
of Wat Phnom. Visit the Tuol Sleng Museum and reflect on
Cambodia’s tumultuous past before dinner.
Destination Information
The Royal Palace
● Built in 1866 by the French these ornate buildings are the official residence of the reigning
Cambodian royal family and King Sihamoni. View the Throne Hall and Silver Pagoda.
Silver Pagoda
● This concrete and marble structure includes a floor with over 5,000 silver tiles each weighing
1kg. Famous artefacts include a 90kg solid gold Buddha made in 1907 and an Emerald Buddha said to be
made of baccarat crystal.
Wat Phnom
● Home to a hilltop temple that carries the cities namesake. Locals flock here to pray for good
luck and success.
Tuol Sleng Museum
● This former school was used by the Khmer Rouge as a detention and torture centre in
the late 1970s. Today this building houses paintings and photographs of the victims. You can see the crude
cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extract confessions by the regime.
Day 17 & 18: Depart Phnom Penh
Today, if time permits, there will be an optional tour to the Killing Fields (to be paid for locally; approximately
US$15-20pp). This particular killing field is the site of the brutal executions of more than 17,000 men, women
and children. Many who had first suffered interrogation and torture at S21 and buried in mass graves. The nowp-eaceful fields and a stupa remain here as a permanent memorial.
Transfer to the airport to board your flight back home, arriving the next day.
Dates
11/02/23 & 18/03/23 & 11/11/23 & 24/02/24 & 16/03/24 & 09/11/24
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