Summit to Sea - Yunnan, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia (30 Days)

Summit to Sea - Yunnan, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia (30 Days)

We love road journeys. They are by far our favourite way of traveling. We think the world of western China and the countries that border on this region – think Vietnam, Lao, Thailand, Myanmar, for example.

On the Road Experiences is all about sharing with like-minded travelers just how beautiful a road journey in these varied lands can be. Now turn the page to find out what we’ve come to love so much…

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Itinerary Map …where you will travel…

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Yes, it is possible…

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Journey of Discovery…

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Itinerary Map

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Day1: Arrival in Kunming – Preparing for your journey

Day16: Muang La to Dien Bien Phu Through tropical forest to Vietnam Dien Bien Phu

Day2: In and around Shangri-La

Day17: Dien Bien Phu to Mai Chau Wonderful roads & vistas

Day3: Shangri-La to Deqin – Gorgeous scenery and glaciers

Day18: Mai Chau – In and around Mai Chau

Day4: Deqin to Cizhong – To the heart of the Mekong Valley

Day19: Mai Chau to Yen Kat – On the way south...on the Ho Chi Minh Highway

Day5: Cizhong to Tacheng – Along the dramatic Langcang (Mekong) valley Day6: In Tacheng – Walking with the monkeys and a day off the road Day7: Tacheng to Xizhou – To the shores of Lake Erhai Day8: Xizhou to Kunming – To Kunming and beyond Day9: Dianchi Lake to Jian Shui – Old towns and long history Day10: Jian Shui to Yuan Yang On to the “Mirrors of God” Day11: In and around Yuan Yang Exploring the hillside villages of Yuanyang Day12: Yuan Yang to Jiang Sheng – On the way into the subtropics Day13: Jiang Sheng to Menglun Arriving in XSBN, Yunnan’s deep south

Day20: Yen Cat to Dong Hoi – In beautiful countryside toward Central Vietnam Day21: Dong Hoi to Hue To the capital of old Vietnam Day22: Hue to Hoi An – Arriving in Hoi An, a quaint old town by the Ocean Day23: Hoi An – Exploring the old town Day24: Hoi An to Kon Tum The adventure continues, back to the more basic countryside Day25: Kon Tum to Banlung Crossing into Cambodia Day26: Banlung to Chhlong Onto colonial Chhlong Day27: Kampong Thom – Along rubber tree plantages Day28: Kampong Thom to Siem Reap – To Asia’s most famous ancient city

Day14: Menglun to Muang La Crossing the border into northern Laos

Day29: Siem Reap In and around Siem Reap

Day15: Muang La – A day around Muang La

Day30: Depart Farewell...life continues...

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Yes, it is possible...

A driving holiday in this part of the world is indeed possible. We take care of everything. All you need to do is come, drive and enjoy a rare adventure!

On this beautiful journey you will travel along winding mountain roads, some of Asia’s best highways and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh national road.

From 6,000m high mountains in China, where the air is thin and fresh via Laos to the beaches of subtropical Vietnam all the way to Cambodia.

Starting in the North of Yunnan close to Tibet you drive South to visit the fantastic rice fields in Yuan Yang, “the mirrors of God”, before going to the subtropical zone into Laos. After a short stay in Northern Laos you continue to Vietnam. Entering the mountainous North you continue on winding roads to a small village, where you will get to know the White Thai minorities of this region. Following the Ho Chin Minh trail you will come to the Sea at Dong Hoi, visit the city of Hue and arrive in famous Hoi An via the Hai Van pass. From here you set off to a more remote area again and enter the rugged North East of Cambodia. Your journey ends in Siem Reap at Angkor Wat.

On the Road Experiences has paved the way for you to cross borders in your own properly insured SUV, so that you can enjoy the romance of a classic overland journey – crossing the Mekong on a local car ferry, winding your way along lush country roads – without any of the logistical headaches that typically accompany such journeys...

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A colourful WELCOME as you APPROACH TIBET...”

Tibetan prayer flags

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Shangri-La’s Ganden Sumtseling Monastery

Along the way, one of the LARGEST MONASTERIES in SOUTH-WEST China…”

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RED-ROBED MONKS in Shangri-La�

At the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery

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A chance to PURIFY YOUR MIND?�

Prayer Session at Ganden Sumtseling Monastery

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Kawagebo peak in the Meili Snow Mountain range

What a SUNRISE at the EDGE of TIBET …”

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Cizhong, Mekong Valley

A TIBETAN CATHOLIC VILLAGE in Northwestern Yunnan…”

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Lunch in THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE…”

In the Tacheng lodge

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In the Tacheng lodge

SLEEPING WELL while FAR AWAY from anywhere...”

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Visiting the CUTEST MONKEYS in the world…”

Yunnan Snub-Nosed monkeys

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The Yangtze’s upper reaches

Your JOURNEY in the THREE PARALLEL RIVERS region...”

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Lake Erhai, Xizhou, near Dali

Take a lake shore DRIVE and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL sunset reflections…”

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Xizhou

VIEW from your hotel TERRACE...”

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The Yuanyang Rice Terraces

MIRRORS of GOD… rightfully so!”

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A village near Xinjie…

Not only RICE TERRACES, but also CHARMING VILLAGES…”

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Wonderful SMILES are NATURAL and FREQUENT in YUNNAN’s countryside...”

An Yi minority women in Yuanyang…

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A typical provincial road in South-West Yunnan‌

Where the DRIVING is pure JOY…”

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From the ROADSIDE, VIEWS like these…”

Near Jiangcheng…

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Rubber trees in Xishuangbanna

XISHUANGBANNA is a FERTILE land…”

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Tea trees in Xishuangbanna

XISHUANGBANNA, where TEA thrives…”

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Over TEN THOUSAND plant species are found here in this GARDEN...�

Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden

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YUNNAN’s markets are LIVELY and COLOURFUL...”

In one of Xishuangbanna’s markets

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Explore MINORITY villages along the road sides…”

Laos, on the way to Muang La

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Off the beaten path in Lao... where VISTORS are... as RARE as UFOs…”

A small village in northern Lao

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VIEW from the road side...�

Travelling through northern Lao

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Muang La Resort

A GEM of a hotel in the MIDDLE of NOWHERE...”

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Northern Vietnam, on the way South

Your COMPANION on the road...”

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One of many MINORITIES in Northern Vietnam…”

Northern Vietnam, on the way South...

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One of many minorities in Northern Vietnam

MARKET DAYS are always a great OPPORTUNITY to see local life...”

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In and around Mai Chau

Mai Chau LIES in a beautiful VALLEY...”

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In and around Mai Chau

Sol Bungalows, a HIDDEN GEM in the middle of PADDY FIELDS...”

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In and around Mai Chau

PADDY FIELDS and the canonical Vietnamese STRAW HATS everywhere...�

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In and around Mai Chau

LOVELY ENCOUNTERS in the paddy fields...”

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A White Thai Village dinner

ENJOY an evening with the LOCALS and RICE WINE...”

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Images of Ho Chi Minh Highway

Roads, mountains, Roads, Berge, transport, Transport, people...” people...”

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Images of Ho Chi Minh Highway

Roads, mountains, transport, people...�

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Images of Ho Chi Minh Highway

Roads, mountains, transport, people...�

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The Sun Spa Resort in Dong Hoi

Right by the OCEAN...”

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Fish Market in Dong Hoi

Ocean, BOATS and our CARS...”

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Fish Market in Dong Hoi

As LIVELY a place as you can IMAGINE...”

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In Hue’s Citadel

Where the KING used to give AUDIENCES...”

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The Hai Van pass

A boundary of KINGDOMS and CLIMATE, often fought over, sometimes tragic but never losing it’s ABILITY to INSPIRE AWE...”

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As last in Hoi An

Another UNESCO World Heritage site...�

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Hoi An

Resting by the SEA...�

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Kontum

Back to the rural countryside...�

Near Banglung

A HARD job, GEM stone mining...�

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A Cambodian main road

On the way to Banlung...�

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On the way to Banlung

MINORITY villages along the way...�

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Terres Rouge Lodge

Overnight in a Cambodian mansion...�

Terres Rouge Lodge

Your room for the night in a former GOVERNOR’s RESIDENCE...”

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Near Kratie

ONE of the many SIDESTREAMS of the MEKONG...”

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Along the Mekong through small villages

MUSLIM and KHMER communities share villages along the MEKONG...�

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Le Relais de Chhlong

A hidden gem in the middle of nowhere...�

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Phnom Santuk, Kampong Thom

Phnom Santuk..�

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Kampong Thom

STUNNING TROPICAL SUNSET… near your hotel...”

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Farewell in Siem Reap

Be AMAZED

by KHMER heritage...”

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Farewell in Siem Reap

End your journey at one of the largest RELIGIOUS monuments in the WORLD ...�

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