Grand Indochina Circle

Arrive in Bangkok, where you are transferred to the comfortable and centrally-located Royal Benja Hotel. A pre-trip briefing is held in the evening for group members to meet and discuss the trip itinerary. Please check for a welcome notice on the Peregrine notice board located near the hotel elevators, which will provide your tour leader’s name and the exact time and location of your welcome meeting. Before your meeting, we encourage you to get out and discover the delights that Bangkok has to offer, including Thailand’s famous cuisine. After the group meeting in the evening, we may adjourn to a nearby restaurant and enjoy a meal together (this is optional and at your own expense). The rest of the evening is free - perhaps a quiet drink or a visit to the bustling night markets of Bangkok.

Today is a full day of enjoying the sights of Bangkok. This city tour is all done on the different forms of public transport available to the citizens of Bangkok (Skytrain, canal boat, ferry and bus), to give you a true taste of life in this busy and varied city. First up it’s a stop at Jim Thompson’s House, a collection of unique antique Thai houses situated by a klong (canal). Here we get to appreciate its amazing Asian art collection. Jim Thompson was an American who arrived in Thailand during World War II and worked with the predecessor to the CIA, the OSS. When the war ended he changed professions and remained in Thailand. He is credited with reviving the Thai silk industry before mysteriously disappearing in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia in 1967. We then visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), a must-see for first-time travellers to Bangkok. We also visit Wat Po, home of the famous Reclining Buddha. (Note: when visiting temples and palaces in Thailand, please dress conservatively in order to respect the local culture). At the end of a busy day, we also have a chance to discover the city’s shopping opportunities. For dinner we head down to the Chao Praya River to enjoy an optional Thai feast at a riverside restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we transfer to the airport for a 1 hour flight to Chiang Mai. On arrival we transfer to our centrally located hotel. Chiang Mai is surrounded by a moat with the impressive backdrop of Doi Suthep, a 1,676-meter peak that offers impressive views of the surrounding countryside. Near the summit is a famous temple – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. We will visit the temple and also drop into the Hilltribe museum for a preview of the cultures and customs of the hilltribe peoples of northern Thailand. The evening presents you with a fantastic opportunity to explore the famous Night Bazaar, a shopper’s paradise! The combination of the local Lanna handicrafts and the traditional wares that the hill tribe people offer ensure that you won’t go away empty handed!

Meals: Breakfast

We catch a private mini-bus and drive for an hour and a half into the northern hill region around Chiang Dao. An elephant ride through the forest delivers us to the hill tribe villages where we will trek and visit the Palong, Karen, Lisu and Akha people. Meeting these colorful people gives you an insight into their unique lifestyle and customs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we transfer to Chiang Mai international airport for our flight to Luang Prabang, the religious capital of Laos. Visas are available on arrival: note that two passport photos are required, and the cost of the visa varies depending on your nationality, so please check carefully. Your Thai tour leader will say good-bye to you in Chiang Mai and your Lao Tour Leader will meet you at the airport in Luang Prabang and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is a chance to relax and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of Laos.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, we have the option to rise early to view the procession of monks as they collect alms on their daily outing, a practice that dates back centuries. The people of the town wait at the front of their homes with food for the monks to collect and take back to the temple. It is done early, as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you ‘het bon,’ or make merit, which should augur well for your next life! Following breakfast, we visit the major temples, including the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which is nestled at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers, and Wat Wisunalat, which is the oldest temple in the city. We then board a boat for a two-hour journey upstream to Pak Ou (meaning ‘mouth of the Ou River’), where the famous Tam Ting Cave houses thousands of Buddha images of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devoted villagers. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Sang Hai, where they make the potent local rice-wine. We return to town and enjoy the chance to walk around the local shops, which are well known for their hand-weaving and other interesting artifacts. Here is a chance for shoppers to try their hand at bargaining.

Meals: Breakfast

We visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, an interesting structure that dates from the early years of the 20th century and combines traditional Lao architecture with French colonial influences. The collection of treasures and artifacts reflects the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign, who was deposed in 1975. The afternoon is free to make your own discoveries. A great optional activity is to sample a traditional Lao massage and herbal sauna. Another highlight of our stay is a journey 29 kilometers south of town to visit the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls.

Meals: Breakfast

We transfer to Luang Prabang airport for our 50 minute flight to the capital of Laos, Vientiane. This afternoon, you will have free time to explore the laid-back capital of Laos. A drink in a riverside bar, watching the glorious sunset over the Mekong River, is a great way to end the day.

Meals: Breakfast

A city tour acquaints us with the major sights of the capital. We visit the imposing Patuxai monument (also known as the Anousavari, which translates as ‘Victory’ in Lao - hence the name Victory monument), which is Vientiane's version of the Arc de Triomphe and dominates the city's main thoroughfare. It has also been nicknamed the ‘Vertical Runway,' which refers to the fact that it was built in the 1960s from funds the US Government had given to the Lao Government for the expressed purpose of extending the runway at the airport! Wat Si Saket is the oldest temple in the city, while the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha image before it was taken by the Siamese in the late 18th century. We visit both temples and the famous structure in Laos, the That Luang stupa. In the afternoon, we transfer to Wattay International airport in Vientiane for our flight to Hanoi. (Please note that there is an international departure tax of $10 USD, which can change without notice). The time of our flight depends on flight schedules that change on a regular basis; on the chance that your flight is scheduled for the morning, the city tour will be conducted on day 8 following the flight from Luang Prabang. Your Lao Leader will say good-bye to you at the airport and your Vietnamese leader will be waiting for you on arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport. Here you will discover one of Asia's most enchanting cities. This northern capital is relatively quiet in comparison to its southern counterpart, Saigon, although you will notice a change in pace compared to Laos. Find refuge from the traffic in the many delightful parks and lakes throughout the city.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we take a guided half-day tour of Hanoi, visiting the major sights, including the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, which pays homage to Vietnam's most famous revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh. We also include lunch at the KOTO café – an amazing project aimed at providing vocational training and experience in the hospitality industry for underprivileged young people. The afternoon is free for your own explorations: we recommend that you catch a taxi to visit the excellent Museum of Ethnology, situated on the outskirts of town (closed on Mondays). Tonight you have the option of attending a performance of the Hanoi water puppets.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You can leave luggage behind at the Hanoi hotel and pack an overnight bag. It is a three-hour drive to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. Views of sailing junks navigating past 3,000 limestone islands and rocky outcrops jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. We travel to Bai Chay (Halong City West) where we board a boat for an exploration of the bay, enjoying a seafood lunch and dinner (other meal options also available), as well as spending a night on board. We visit one cave in the area and, in the warmer months, there is a chance to enjoy a swim. Conditions may be somewhat more communal compared to staying in a hotel, yet it is a wonderful experience to be spending a night on the bay: weather permitting, the views at sunset are incredible. Bedding and towels are provided. Some boats have private facilities while others provide common showers – sometimes the water is hot and sometimes it’s not! There may also be the chance to do some kayaking (optional and extra cost involved) on Halong Bay.
Accommodation on the Halong Bay cruise is on a twin share basis, due to the small number of rooms available on the boats. If you have paid a single supplement, please note that this does not cover the cruise, however, there is the possibility that you may still get your own cabin.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, we sail back to the port, where we disembark and drive back to Hanoi. Arriving back in the capital, we have free time to wander around and enjoy some of the city’s other attractions -- perhaps afternoon tea at the Metropole Hotel or a stroll around the Hoan Kiem lake to mix with the locals socializing and exercising in the early evening.

Meals: Breakfast

A morning transfer to Noi Bai Airport for our flight from Hanoi to Danang. On arrival, we drive a short distance to China Beach, enjoyed as an 'R & R' spot during the Vietnam War and a popular beach destination still today. It lies against a backdrop of the sensational Marble Mountains. The five peaks, which are actually limestone with marble outcrops, are also seen to epitomise the five elements: fire, water, earth, wood and metal. The history of the mountains is a rich one. They were once used by the Chams for religious purposes, but in more recent times became a haven for the Viet Cong, with its clear view of the Danang air base -- at one time the busiest airport in the world. Good footwear is essential, as the path between the rocks is sometime slippery. Late afternoon, we will transfer to Hoi An, where you will have some free time to soak up the laid-back ambience of this historical town. You may like to relax by the hotel swimming pool or browse through some of the many tailor shops that have become a more recent feature of the town. Hoi An has over 100 silk shops offering express service for tailor-made clothes at unbelievably low prices.

Meals: Breakfast

Hoi An was originally a Cham port town, but has been influenced throughout the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There is a distinctly Chinese appearance with pagodas and assembly halls scattered along the small streets. Hoi An was once a bustling port in centuries gone by, before the river silted up. Today it is a delightful backwater town with an air of liveliness about it. The tranquillity and charm of Hoi An, coupled with its low, tiled houses, makes it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam. It is a constant favorite of our travellers and staff. A walking tour takes us to see a historic house (formerly home to a prominent trader), the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and a museum. In the evening you can join an informal cooking class, where you can learn how to make some of Hoi An’s famous specialty dishes and even participate in rolling your own spring rolls.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today there are no organized activities, as there’s such a broad choice of things to see and do and all are discovered without difficulty. You may wish to rent a bicycle and set off to explore the surrounding countryside, take a boat trip on the river, relax on the nearby beach or enjoy the wonderful cuisine offered at some of the town’s numerous inexpensive cafes. If you’d like to venture further afield, it’s only a short trip up the road to Vietnam’s world famous ‘China Beach’ and the adjacent Marble Mountains. If you’d like to learn more about the Kingdom of Champa, the ancient ruins at My Son can be visited within half a day. Here you can see more than 70 historic monuments spread over a large area.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, we are transfered to Danang Airport for our flight to Saigon. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport on the outskirts of Saigon, we head directly to Cu Chi, the name of the district that covers an extensive underground network (approximately 200 kilometers) of tunnels dug initially by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation and schools, and were used extensively for refuge and storage and also utilized as a military base for the Viet Cong close to Saigon. The 1968 Tet Offensive was launched from Cu Chi with surprising effect. A section of the tunnels has been widened to allow tourists to get a feel for what the life underground must have been like. This afternoon, we make our way to Saigon. Your hotel is located in District 1, in the center of the city. Saigon is renowned for its nightlife, ranging from international class restaurants to surprising bars and nightclubs.

Meals: Breakfast

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is the largest city in Vietnam and the nation's economic capital. This morning, a short city tour takes us to the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral, and allows us to admire the many beautiful French colonial buildings such as the main post office and the former Hotel de Ville (city hall). The remainder of the day is free for some last-minute shopping at the many various shops you will find throughout the city.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the short flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival in the Cambodian capital, you can’t help but notice the change of pace. Sisowath Quay is a good place to start your explorations of the city, as it runs next to the confluence of the 3 major rivers in Cambodia: the Bassac, Tonle Sap and Mekong. Along the riverfront, you will find many interesting cafes, restaurants and shops, as well as catching a glimpse of some of the fine Cambodian architecture, including the National Museum. You may like to visit the museum in your own time if you want to learn more about the history of the country and see some of the artifacts collected from Cambodia’s rich past. A relaxing drink at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club is a wonderful way to start your evening, and a great place to observe the locals.

Meals: Breakfast

A full city tour introduces you to the sights of Phnom Penh. The private quarters of the Royal Palace is home to King Sihamoni and is therefore closed to the public; however, we are able to visit the Silver Pagoda within the palace complex, which is the most sacred temple in the country and was previously spared from destruction by the Khmer Rouge. Wat Phnom is the temple which gave rise to the foundation of the city in the 15th century. The bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge is a painful but unavoidable part of Cambodia's recent history and visits to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek tell the story of this tragic legacy. (Note: These sites are a major part of sightseeing in Phnom Penh; however, if you do not wish to visit either of them, please inform your tour leader.) An ideal way to spend your last evening in Cambodia is to relax in a cafe by the riverfront.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, transfer to the airport in Phnom Penh where you will bid farewell to your Phnom Penh tour leader before taking the short flight to Siem Reap. (Please note that there is currently a US$6 departure tax which you will have to pay at the airport.) Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you are met by your new tour leader and transferred to our centrally located hotel. Here you may choose to enjoy a swim at the hotel pool, or to take a stroll through the quiet streets of Siem Reap town.

Meals: Breakfast

Siem Reap is our base for visiting the world-famous temples of the ancient city of Angkor, home to the powerful Khmer Empire that held sway from 802 AD to 1350 AD. We spend a full day visiting the amazing temples of Angkor on a guided tour. Angkor Thom, the 'Great Royal City,' is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. The impressive Bayon temple is the centrepiece of all this. Angkor Wat is the largest and most complete structure, and is the only one of Angkor's temples with its entrance facing to the west, as it was constructed as a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II and a westerly countenance was seen to represent a sunset. Ta Prohm temple is an incredible sight, with large trees embedding themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We can end the day with a sunset view of Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng.

Meals: Breakfast

Our ticket for the Angkor ruins enables us to spend more time exploring this memorable archaeological area. It is an early morning start as we travel out to Banteay Srei, famous for its detailed and intricate stone carvings. It is not a big temple, but has been sometimes referred to as ‘the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art.' Back at the main temple complex, Preah Khan contains a maze of vaulted corridors and is another complex that has been largely reclaimed by the jungle.

Meals: Breakfast

You have a free morning before leaving Siem Reap. If you wish to stay in town, you can relax outside one of the cafes or visit the market in town, which sells some interesting artifacts and handicrafts. Another option would be to relax by the hotel pool or enjoy a massage by one of the famous blind masseuses of Siem Reap. This afternoon, we transfer to the Siem Reap airport where you farewell your Cambodian tour leader, and board your flight to Bangkok. (Please note that there is currently a US$25 departure tax which you will have to pay at the airport.) Your Thai tour leader will meet you in the arrival hall at Bangkok International Airport and transfer you to our centrally-located hotel. The afternoon is free for any last minute shopping or sightseeing before heading out for a final dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you of the options available.

Meals: Breakfast