Indochina loop

Route: Bangkok - Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Sapa - Halong Bay - HCMC - Cu Chi tunnnels - Mekong Delta - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Bangkok

With our Indochina Loop itinerary, you'll travel across four countries in four weeks, discovering a fascinating mix of cultural highlights, historic monuments and natural beauty. From Thailand you’ll travel across the verdant rice paddies and along the mighty Mekong river to Laos. You'll follow the route of the monks to Luang Prabang, a peaceful town of shimmering temples and endless views. After Laos, you’ll get your first taste of Vietnam in Hanoi. Perpare for frenzied honking, mopeds roaring down narrow streets and eager vendors pushing their wares. Via the highlands of Sapa you’ll travel to the magical limestone islands of Halong Bay. Heading further south, you’ll visit Saigon and the infamous Cu Chi tunnels before sailing into the labyrinth of the Mekong Delta and crossing the border into Cambodia. Here you’ll wander amongst overgrown temples at Angkor Wat. Almost a month later your Indochina loop will end back in Bangkok.

Duration	29 days / 28 nights Departs Bangkok on Tuesdays	Accommodation	18 nights in charming, comfortable hotels (comfort 3-4); 5 nights in basic hotels during the tours (comfort 2-3); 1 night on a junk cruise boat; 3 nights on overnight sleeper trains
Price	£1698 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included	Accommodation with breakfast; excursions as mentioned; transport as described, 3 flights Vientiane - Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang - Hanoi, Hanoi - HCMC; overnight train Bangkok - Vientiane, Hanoi - Sapa and Sapa - Hanoi; boat and bus; entrance fees to Halong Bay and the Cu Chi tunnels
Transport	Plane, train, boat and bus	Excluded	International flights to and from Asia, other meals and drinks, optional excursions.

Day 1 Arrival Bangkok

On arrival at the airport you’ll be transferred to a lovely hotel in central Bangkok, around 10 minutes walk (or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk) from the popular Khao San Road. The hotel is close to the Chao Praya river where you can take a river taxi to the major sights. Your spacious room has air-conditioning and there’s a rooftop pool, so Jump straight in. Once you've freshened up after your long flight, head out into the city to explore the area, or if you’re looking for an instant cultural fix, visit the Royal Palace, home of the Thai king. Doors are open until 3:30pm and remember to dress appropriately - knees and shoulders must be covered. If you want to try a Thai massage, we can recommend the massage school at Wat Po (the reclining Buddha). After your muscles are kneaded to a pulp you’re softly pummeled with little herbal balls.

Day 2 Bangkok

Today you can explore Bangkok on your own. There are several interesting sights, the most famous being the Royal Palace, home of the Thai king. It’s best to visit the palace early in the morning before the large crowds arrive. Remember to dress appropriately (knees & shoulders covered). Next to the palace you’ll find the Reclining Buddha at the Wat Po. The Temple of Dawn on the other side of the river is also well worth a visit. In the afternoon see a different side of Bangkok with a trip through the khlongs on a longtail boat. Gliding along the narrow waterways you’ll get a fascinating glimpse of life on the water and the busy atmosphere of the city. In the evening wander down Khao San Road where you’ll find lots of deliciously smelling restaurants and little shops. With all the shop owners enthusiastically pushing their ware, it’s a good place to test your haggling skills.

Day 3 Bangkok departure - overnight train to Vientiane (Laos)

Today is your last day in Bangkok before boarding the overnight train to Vientiane this evening. You can spend the morning and afternoon for a last bit of sightseeing or shopping. If you want to take it easy today, then head to Lumpini Park. Nicknamed the green lungs of Bangkok, it’s a haven of peace in the chaotic, noisy city. This is where the local Thai come for exercise, walking or take a picnic on the banks of the river. You can also rent a boat and paddling around on one of the lakes in the park. In the early evening take a taxi to the station where you can stock up on snacks and drinks before you board the train. The ticket master will direct you to your seat and you can place your order for breakfast for tomorrow morning. After a friendly chat with your Thai neighbour the beds are folded out and you’re on your way. As the gentle rocking of the train slowly lulls you to sleep, you’re already dreaming of the exciting trip ahead…

Day 4 Vientiane arrival

Early in the morning you’ll arrive in Nong Khai in the north-eastern tip of Thailand. You'll arrange your own tuk-tuk from the train station to the Friendship Bridge where you will cross the border to Laos. You can get a visa for Laos at the border; just make sure you bring two passport photos. From here you'll arrange your own taxi to the centre of Vientiane, where you will be staying in a cosy guesthouse close to the Mekong river, the morning market and plenty of restaurants. Breakfast is included.

Vientiane has several interesting sights worth visiting. Climb the Patuxai (a kind of Arc de Triomphe) for a magnificent view across the city and the Mekong river or head a little further outside the city to see the very impressive Wat Phra Keo and Wat Sisaket temples. The most significant temple complex is Pha That Luang which, with its gold-covered stupa, is considered the national symbol of Buddhist Laos. The market is great for woven fabrics and clothes as well as reasonably priced Laotian silver.

Day 5 Vientiane

Today you will have plenty of time to see the sights of Vientiane. Renting a bike is a fun and easy way to explore the city. Cycle along the tree-lined streets and the banks of the Mekong river where lots of fruit is grown. Don’t worry about finding a good place for lunch, on just about every street corner you’ll find a small bakery selling fresh French baguettes. Before you know it you’ll surrender to that unique Laotian atmosphere. If you’re interested in Buddhism then visit one of the many temples where you can find out more about how Buddhism plays a role in the daily lives of the Laotians. 25 km outside the city you’ll find the Buddha park Wat Xieng Khuan with its colossal Hindu and Buddhist stone statues. The park is well worth a visit. In the afternoon find a seat at one of the outdoor cafes along the Mekong, order a cool drink and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Day 6 Vientiane - Luang Prabang

You’ll probably be woken early in the morning by the crowing cockerel; the Laotians usually begin their day around sunrise. After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to Vientiane and continue your trip to Luang Prabang. This is considered by many travellers to be one of the nicest places in Laos thanks to its location on the legendary Mekong river, the Laotian hospitality and the friendly atmosphere in the little streets of the city. Luang Prabang has been declared a World Heritage Site, which won’t come as a surprise when you see all the spectacular temples and museums.

On arrival in Luang Prabang you can take a tuk-tuk to your hotel. Your guesthouse (within walking distance of the town centre), is built in traditional French style and is run by a friendly Laotian ‘Vieng’.

Day 7 Luang Prabang surrounding area: Live like a Mahout

Today we’ve got something special planned: you’re going to be an elephant trainer for the day in the Elephant Camp. Hidden away in the green jungle the sanctuary provides a home for logging elephants and allows them to enjoy a well-earned retirement. After breakfast you’ll be picked up by our driver and taken to the nearby Nam Khan river where you’ll board a small boat to the elephant camp. After you’ve dropped your bags in your bungalow you’ll meet the ‘mahout’ (elephant carer) who will be accompanying you with looking after the elephants today. Climbing onto these huge animals takes a bit of practice, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. You’ll also learn some useful mahout lingo such as ‘hau’ (stop), ‘sai’ (left) and ‘kwa’ (right). Armed with buckets and huge brushes you’ll wade into the river to scrub the thick skins clean. After a day of hard ‘work’ you’ll probably have built up quite an appetite, so back at the lodge you’ll find a wonderful Laotian dinner waiting for you.

Day 8 Luang Prabang surrounding area: trekking

Breakfast is served out on the terrace with views across the river with the mist slowly rising to reveal the lush green countryside. There’s a short trek planned for today so together with your guide you’ll head off into the jungle, passing locals on the way carrying rice or fresh vegetables from the local market. As you enter the Khmu village the local children run out to meet you. They don’t see many tourists in this area so the people may be a bit shy when you greet them. Luckily the guide can help out with the translations as very few people here speak English. Meanwhile you’ll be treated to a freshly prepared traditional Laotian lunch of rice or noodles with vegetables and fresh fruit for dessert. After lunch you’ll continue through the green countryside. The truck will be waiting for you at the end and after saying goodbye to your guide you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 9 Luang Prabang

Today you'll spend the day as you please. You could explore the city a bit more and perhaps visit the Wat Xieng Thong temple. You could also visit the temple of the former king of Laos which now serves as a municipal museum housing the largest and most sacred gold statue in Laos, the Phra Bang. If you’re an early bird and don’t mind getting up at the crack of dawn, you’ll be able to observe one of Laos’ beautiful daily rituals; the procession of the monks at dawn. Devout Laotians kneel with their heads bowed to offer rice and fruit to the passing monks.

The best place to buy your souvenirs is at the evening market which takes place daily in the centre of Luang Prabang. Many different mountain tribes come here to sell their hand-made goods such as brightly coloured scarves, wood carvings, paintings and jewellery. Haggling over prices is very common in Laos; you'll see that it gets easier as you try to do so more frequently. However, do remember that aggressive bargaining is frowned upon in Laos and that many of the people here survive on little more than US$1 a day.

Day 10 Departure Luang Prabang, arrival Hanoi (Vietnam)

After your last Laotian breakfast you’ll be heading to the north of Vietnam to the city of Hanoi. You’ll immediately notice it’s a completely different world here compared to the serenity of Laos. Narrow houses, vendors along the side of road and lots, lots of mopeds. Your hotel is situated in the old centre Hanoi surrounded by food stalls and little restaurants. The maze of narrow streets are lined with stalls displaying all kinds of local. Winding your way in and out of the parked mopeds along the stalls you can find everything you could possibly imagine here. Each street (Hang) has its own trade; you'll find silver on Hang Bac, copper on Hang Dong, and silk on Hang Gai.
The hotel is a wonderful example of the classic Vietnamese narrow architecture and the whole hotel is just one room wide. The charming rooms have a private bathroom with warm water, air-conditioning, TV and mini-bar. Once you’ve settled into your hotel wander through the small streets or visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and try your first Vietnamese spring roll.

Day 11 Hanoi - Sapa

There’s nothing planned for today so you can explore the many temples, pagodas and museums of the city at your own pace. The temple of literature is an oasis of tranquillity in the middle of the hectic city. If you want to take it easy today you could also visit the waterpuppet theatre. The stories are told by traditional puppets wading through the water much like the farmers have done in the rice paddies for centuries.

In the early evening you’ll be picked up by your driver and transferred to the train station where you’ll board the overnight train to Lao Cai. You can buy some snacks and drinks at the station for the train journey. The train has air-conditioning and you’ll be lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the train. You’ll be sleeping in 4-person berths; tall people may have to make do with their feet sticking out at the end of the bed. Then again that probably just adds to the fun experience of this train journey.

Day 12 Arrival Sapa

In the far north of Vietnam, around the village of Sapa, lies a spectacular pristine nature area home to several local tribes that came here centuries ago from across Asia looking for a safe haven in the hidden valleys. Living in relative isolation these people have largely maintained their traditional way of life which is still expressed today in their colourful and unique dress.

Early in the morning you'll arrive in Lao Cai, and be transferred to Sapa; roughly a 2½-hour drive. The route leads through some breathtaking landscape with dense forests and rice paddies climbing up the mountain sides like giant staircases. When you reach Sapa you'll check into your comfortable hotel in the centre of town. The hotel oozes local charm and has wonderful views across the valley. After lunch you'll go on a 5km walk with a local guide to the village of Cat Cat, home of the black H’mong people. The black H'mong wear primarily black clothing and the dye they use tends to run, so as a result their hands are also stained a little black. After visiting the village, you'll continue on to a beautiful mountain waterfall before returning to Sapa for the night.

Day 13 Sapa

Today you’ll be going on a short 4km walk to the small village of the Red Dzao people. On the way you'll cross a couple of bamboo bridges across clear mountain streams. There are fantastic views across the mountains and valleys. You’ll see lots of local village women working in the fields. Their houses are built mostly of wood and reed with a small fire burning in the middle of the room. The colour red of the Red Dzao is expressed in their scarlet headdress. Once you're back in Sapa, you can just relax or wander round the local market. On Saturday evenings from about 7pm, there’s the ‘Love Market’ in Sapa. Young eligible men and ladies of the Dzao tribe gather here dressed to the nines in the hope of snagging a partner. It’s well worth taking a look.

Day 14 Sapa

In the morning it’s time to pack your bags and say goodbye to Sapa before setting off on the long drive to Bac Ha, a small mountain town known primarily for its busy market where local tribes come to sell their wares. You’ll visit the market with a small group. Women here dress in bright red, yellow, pink and green and all the other colours of the rainbow. The market is also a great place to buy some unique souvenirs from this area.

In the afternoon you’ll drive to the border with China where you can catch a glimpse of the muddle of Chinese signs. A large bridge spanning a considerable stretch of water forms the border between the two countries. Towards the end of the day you’ll be dropped off in Lao Cai where you’ll take the night train back to Hanoi later that evening. Before you board the train you'll have enough time to grab some dinner in town.

Day 15 Departure Hanoi, arrival Halong Bay

Today is the start of your two-day cruise through the magical world of Halong Bay, an archipelago of 3000 tiny limestone islands. Sailing on a traditional wooden junk you’ll meander through the mysterious looking rock formations.

In the morning you’ll be picked up and transferred to the small coastal town of Halong where you’ll find your traditional wooden junk waiting for you. You’ll kick off the cruise with a lunch of freshly caught fish. During the cruise through the archipelago you’ll visit the islands of Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog Island and Sail Island. You’ll then visit the Sung Sot cave and take a dip in the sparkling blue sea at Titov beach. Fishing enthusiasts can attempt to catch their evening meal with a traditional rod and tackle. In the evening you can mull over the impressions of the day and watch the sunset, sipping on a glass of Vietnamese wine. Life really doesn't get much better than this.

Day 16 Depature Halong Bay, arrival Hanoi

The next morning you'll be woken with a delicious breakfast and begin your day with a visit to Man’s Head Island, Tortoise Island, Bu Tu Long Bay, Toad Island and Bai Tho mountain. Keep your camera at the ready because these islands are incredibly photogenic. Next you’ll board a small bamboo boat to explore the eerie Luong Cave, the cave is too small to reach by junk. Lunch will be served aboard the junk on your way back to Halong, where you’ll board the bus for a 2-3 hour drive back to Hanoi. You’ll arrive in Hanoi late afternoon where you’ll be you’ll arrive at your charming hotel in the centre of Hanoi At Halong, a transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi.

Day 17 and 18 Departure Hanoi, arrival and stay Ho Chi Minh City

You’ll arrive in Hanoi early in the morning. It’s best to fly on directly to Ho Chi Minh City so you can spend the rest of the day there. Around midday you’ll arrive in HCMC in the tropical south. You'll have your own ‘luxury’ room which in this case means air-conditioning. We’ve chosen this hotel for its comfort and central location. Tham Street, Saigon's popular backpacker's street, is right around the corner. There are many fine restaurants and small shops close by. Spend the rest of the day acclimatising. In the evening you can head to one of the local restaurants to try a typical Saigonese dish like Ba Lo Lop, marinated beef strips on lettuce leaves. The next day you can spend as you like, perhaps just wander through the city and soak up the atmosphere.

Day 19 Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

Today a local guide will take you to the Cu Chi tunnels, 30 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Looking out the window of your minibus you’ll get a good impression of rural life in Vietnam with endless fields of rice, rice and more rice.

The Cu Chi area was the hiding place of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War in the 1960’s. Approximately 250 kilometres of narrow, deep tunnels were used as a hiding place from the Americans, but as an unexpected point of attack. Some of the tunnels has been modified to accommodate ‘Western’-size visitors making them relatively easily accessible. An English-speaking guide will tell you about the history and use of the tunnels and in the Cu Chi museum you’ll be able to see a video featuring historic film footage.

Around 2pm you’ll travel back to Ho Chi Minh City by minibus where you’ll arrive mid-afternoon, leaving you the rest of the day to head into the city or just have a drink at an outdoor café.

Day 20 Mekong Delta, on the way to Cambodia

The next two days will be spent in the mighty Mekong Delta. The Mekong River and its enormous delta has brought prosperity to the South and also enables the growth of one of the most important export products, rice. Around 7.30am you’ll leave by minibus for Cai Be where you’ll board a boat together with a small group of other passengers and head into the Mekong Delta. In Cai Be you’ll sail past the colourful floating markets where vendors offer their wares from their fully laden boats. The boats have a stick on their bow hung with whatever products they’re offering.

You’ll then sail on through the narrow canals home to the people of the Mekong Delta. Daily life on the river drifts by as you sail past small villages, rice paddies and family factories where they process rice or make coconut sweets. You’ll visit Vinh Long Island, one of the many islands within the labyrinth of the Mekong Delta. After lunch you’ll sail on to Can Tho in approx 3 hours where you’ll arrive around sunset. In unforeseen circumstances such as exceptionally low water, you’ll cover this stretch by minibus.

The boat will then take you to your simple but comfortable hotel in Can Tho where you can head to the river for a drink at one of the outdoor cafes.

Day 21 Mekong Delta

Early in the morning you’ll travel by boat in small groups to the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang. Hundreds of boats and vendors gather here to trade all kinds of exotic fruits. On the larger boats you’ll notice a long stick hung with whatever products they’re selling, making it easier to find whatever you’re looking for. To get closer to the action you’ll step into smaller bamboo rowing boats and test your haggling techniques as you buy some tropical fruit.

Later you’ll travel by coach from Can Tho to the border town of Chau Doc where you’ll arrive late afternoon. You’ll be staying the night in a simple but comfortable hotel.

Day 22 Mekong Delta, arrival Phnom Penh

Before you continue on to Cambodia you’ll visit the floating riverside village in Chau Doc by boat in a small group. Many people here make a living from fishery and have a small fish farm under their floating houses. You’ll visit one of the houses where your guide will tell you about the fish farm and life on the water. At the Cambodian border you’ll find a Cham village, home to the descendants of the ancient kingdom Champa of central Vietnam. The villagers here are Muslim and the village has a mosque and an Arabic school. Buy a last Vietnamese souvenir at one of the weaving shops in the village where they sell beautiful hand-woven shawls and clothes. After a short visit you’ll travel by speedboat to Cambodia, stopping off at the border to buy your visa. You’ll arrive in the harbour of Phnom Penh around 1.30pm where you can take a tuk-tuk to your comfortable, cosy hotel.

Day 23 Phnom Penh

Today you'll visit Phnom Penh's major attractions with your guide. You'll visit the Silver Pagoda and the National Palace as well as the haunting remnants of the Pol Pot regime at the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields. In 1975 the Khmer Rouge invaded the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and Pol Pot became prime minister. Currency, education, religion and private property were abolished. From this point on marriages were arranged and children were separated from their parents. Anyone who did not cooperate was executed. Intellectuals and college-graduates were also executed; even wearing glasses or speaking a second language was enough to make someone a suspect. The Tuol Sleng Museum is an incredibly moving museum. It confronts visitors quite directly with Cambodia's brutal past and was originally an old primary school which became a prison for torturing political enemies during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. For many this was their last stop before they were taken to the mass graves of the Killing Fields, located just outside Phnom Penh.

The Silver Pagoda, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is famous for its solid silver floor, made up of 5000 silver tiles weighing over 1kg each. You'll be staying another night in your small, comfortable hotel.

Day 24 Siem Reap

This morning you'll travel by hydrofoil across the Tonle Sap Lake to Siem Reap. You’ll be taken by car to the jetty. The boat trip should take about 5 hours. Villages on stilts, floating islands, boats, rafts, children playing on the river banks and pigs in floating cages will pass you by.

In unforeseen circumstances such as exceptionally low water this part will be covered by coach. On arrival in Siem Reap you'll be greeted by a crowd of rickshaw drivers, so just pick one and travel to your hotel in Khemer style! Your centrally located hotel has air-conditioned rooms and friendly staff.

Day 25 Siem Reap, Angkor Wat

Today you will visit part of the Angkor temple complex with your guide. You'd need a couple of days to cover the whole Angkor complex which consists of dozens of temples scattered across an area over 25 square km. You could wander through the temples, statues and ruins forever but make sure to stay on the paths, there are lots of mines in this area. The temples date from different periods as each ruler built his own temple which gives each temple a unique character. The most famous temple Angkor Wat is strongly Hindu influenced, whereas Angkor Thom is more Buddhist. After a day of temples and culture you’ll be spending another night at your hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 26 Siem Reap

Today you can spend another day exploring Angkor on your own. Angkor is the name of the ancient capital of the Khmer empire which was founded in the 8th century AD. The empire stretched all the way to southern Vietnam and China. The temples were once surrounded by a thriving city filled with wooden houses. Sadly they’re long gone but the temples themselves are magnificent enough. For centuries the city was overgrown by jungle until the ruins were discovered by French explorers in 1900. Several temples have been restored but others are still overgrown. At the Ta Prohm temple for example you can see how the jungle still has a hold on the buildings. Giant trees tower over them and the roots have wrapped themselves around the temple walls. You’ll be spending another night in Siem Reap.

Day 27 and 28 Departure Siem Reap, arrival Bangkok

After a final Cambodian breakfast it’s time to bid farewell to this amazing country and get ready for a long drive. You’ll travel from Siem Reap to the Thai border town Aranya Prathet. The road from Siem Reap to the border is very bumpy which is why this stretch will take the longest, but you’ll stop off to buy some snacks and lunch at some little shops along the way. You’ll notice a stark contrast between rich and poor here. After the border formalities you’ll go to your hotel on foot where you can get a good night’s rest before boarding the train the next morning for the 5-hour train journey to Bangkok. On arrival in Bangkok you’ll check into the same charming hotel with pool where you started your Indochina trip almost a month ago.

If you prefer you can travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok by plane for an additional cost. You can also extend your trip with a tropical stay on the island of Ko Chang. Instead of travelling from Siem Reap to Bangkok you’ll travel to Battambang where you’ll spend the night before heading on to Ko Chang. It’s an idyllic place to end your Indochina loop and spend a few days relaxing in the soft white sands under the shade of the palm trees before stepping on the plane back home. If you’d like us to arrange a stay on Ko Chang, just let us know on your quote request form.

Day 29 Departure

Today is the last day of your Indochina loop. Here's hoping the weather back home is just as nice...

If you don't want to leave just yet we can extend your stay with a couple of days. You could stay in Bangkok an extra night, or if you have any other ideas feel free to discuss them with us.

Accommodation images Thailand

Accommodation images Laos

Accommodation images Vietnam

Accommodation images Cambodia

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