LAOS & CAMBODIA UNVEILED 18 DAYS FROM PER PERSON
$6,980 FULLY INCLUSIVE WITH FLIGHTS FROM NEW ZEALAND
ALL MEALS
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Be charmed by quaint Vientiane Admire scenic Vang Vieng Visit enchanting Kuang Si Falls Be captivated by Angkor See local life on Tonle Sap Visit colonial Battambang Explore Phnom Penh by rickshaw
Bathe in the Kuang Si Waterfalls
ITINER ARY
PRICE INCLUDES • 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 15 dinners • International flights and current taxes • Domestic transportation • 4 star accommodation • Touring with guides and entrance fees • Visa fees for NZ passport holders
DAYS 1-2: FLY OVERNIGHT TO VIENTIANE Fly overnight to Vientiane via Bangkok. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture. DAY 3: EXPLORE VIENTIANE Nestled in a sleepy bend of the Mekong, Vientiane is a delightfully quaint city, more friendly backwater than chaotic capital. Visit the morning market, Wat Si Saket and Wat Phra Keo, the former royal temple, before viewing That Luang Stupa and the Patuxai Victory Monument. Also, drop in at the COPE visitor centre. Dinner this evening will be accompanied by a traditional Lao music and dance performance.
Witness the Buddhist ceremony of Takbat
EXPERIENCES YOU’LL LOVE itness the dawn ceremony of Takbat, a daily W ritual which sees the saffron-robed monks of Luang Prabang’s monasteries collect alms, in the form of food, from the local people who line the streets. V isit COPE, an organisation dedicated to helping to rehabilitate local people with mobility-related disabilities, including UXO survivors, and learn all about the fantastic work that they do. rop in on a lovely organisation, the NGO ‘La Maison D de Coco’, to learn about their projects that provide schooling and vocational skills to local people, for free!
24
V IS IT
DAY 4: TR AVEL TO VANG VIENG Depart Vientiane for Vang Vieng, a town beautifully set in a spectacular karst landscape that has become Laos’ adventure capital. En route, stop at Nam Ngum Lake, a reservoir created by damming the Nam Ngum River, where deep green waters are backed by mountains and forest. DAY 5: EXPLORE VANG VIENG Venture into the Tham Chang cave before wandering through the dramatic limestone karst countryside beside the Nam Song River. DAY 6: TR AVEL TO LUANG PR ABANG Return to Vientiane and fly to the beautiful city of Luang Prabang. The quintessential image of Laos and a place of vivid colours, here you’ll find a rich heritage and enduring French legacy. DAY 7: PAK OU CAVES Visit the exquisite Wat Visoun and Wat Xieng Thong. Cruise up the languid Mekong River to the sacred caves of Pak Ou, known for the hundreds of Buddhist
WENDYWUTOURS.CO.NZ
sculptures that reside within. On the return trip stop off at the villages of Thin Hong and Ban Xang Khong. DAY 8: KUANG SI WATERFALLS Begin the day at the National Museum, housed in the former royal palace. Drive out of the city, stopping for a visit to Ock Pop Tok Weaving Centre, before heading to the natural splendour of Kuang Si Waterfalls. Enjoy the vivid blue terraced pools that tumble down through their forest setting, taking a dip or relaxing by the water’s edge. DAY 9: TAKBAT Rise early this morning to witness the monks of Luang Prabang’s monastic communities collecting alms from the locals – the ceremony of Takbat. These lines of silent saffron robeclad monks will be an enduring image of your trip. Later this morning, climb Phousi Hill for panoramic views over the city. Fly to Siem Reap where you can while away the evening at the lively night market. DAY 10: EXPLORE ANGKOR The seat of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries, the Angkor complex includes over 1,000 temples. Rising early, the tour begins in the heart of Angkor Thom, the old walled city - passing through its South Gate you’ll reach the enigmatic Bayon and visit the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to Ta Prohm, an atmospheric temple left in the grips of the jungle. This afternoon is dedicated to the indescribable Angkor Wat. The best preserved of Angkor’s temples, examine the vast number of intricate details and relish the sheer magnificence of its architecture. DAY 11: TONLE SAP L AKE High Water Season (Aug to Feb) Visit Beng Mealea, a mysterious temple overrun by the jungle before enjoying a cruise on Tonle
F O R A D E TA I LE D TO U R D O SSI E R
