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Passage
to Indochina - Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam
18-Day Private Tour, from $4,169,
including air.
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Until
recently, Indochina had been virtually closed to Western visitors. Now you
can explore this fascinating region, rich in ancient art and culture, and
get a glimpse of Asia long forgotten elsewhere. Start off in bustling Ho
Chi Minh City (Saigon), where noodle shops, motor scooters and people in
conical farmers’ hats vie for space. Fly to Hue and Danang – the
cultural heart of Vietnam. Take a boat cruise on Halong Bay, recently
declared a World Heritage area, and see the French colonial architecture
in Hanoi. Your next stop is Laos, where you visit the quaint city of Luang
Prabang, take a cruise on the Mekong River and visit the capital,
Vientiane. Cambodia, an ancient Kingdom, is where the fabulous Angkor Wat
is located. Spend a few days here to better appreciate the wonders of this
awesome 12th century temple complex, undoubtedly the
highlight of your trip.
This is
a Private Journey, which means that you will be travelling in a private,
chauffeur-driven vehicle at all times - be it from the airport to the hotel
or on longer drives. This allows you to stop where you like (e.g. for photo
opportunities) or even sometimes vary your departure time. At each
attraction you will have your own, exclusive guide so that you have a better
appreciation of the place. While all your local arrangements are taken care
of, you will not be bound to any rigid group schedule. |
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Detailed Itinerary, Trip Costs
& Inclusions
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2011/12 Departures |
Silver |
Gold |
| 3/15 - 5/14 |
$4,469 |
$5,639 |
| 5/15 - 6/10 |
$4,759 |
$5,829 |
| 6/11 - 8/31/11 |
$5,099 |
$6,189 |
| 9/1 - 11/30/11 |
$4,869 |
$5,899 |
| 12/1 - 12/31/11 |
$5,139 |
$6,249 |
| 1/01 - 3/31/12 |
$4,899 |
$5,939 |
| 4/01 - 5/31/12 |
$4,729 |
$5,759 |
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Departs
Daily
$75
surcharge for each Weekend (Fr - Su) transpacific flight |
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Two accommodation
categories are offered. Gold hotels are
better located, offer more amenities and have superior standards of
service. A higher category of accommodations, Deluxe,
is also available in Hanoi and Saigon at an additional surcharge |
At the Temple of Bayon,
Angkor Wat
Your
Treasures of Indochina trip includes:
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Airfare
from Los Angeles, Portland OR, Seattle or San Francisco |
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Flights
within Indochina, per the itinerary |
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2
Nights' accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) |
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1
Night's accommodation in Hoi
An |
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2
Nights' accommodation in Hue |
| 1
Night's accom. in Haiphong (Halong
Bay) |
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2
Nights' accom. in Hanoi |
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1
Night's accom. in Vientiane |
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3
Nights' accommodation in Luang Prabang |
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1
Night's accom. in Phnom Penh |
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3
Nights' accommodation in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) |
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1
Night's accomm. in Bangkok |
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Daily
breakfast |
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All
touring in Indochina with a private guide / chauffeur |
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Airport-hotel
transfers throughout |
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Day 1
Fly from Los Angeles, Seattle or San
Francisco across the Pacific Ocean to Vietnam
Day 2
Arrive late this afternoon in Ho
Chi Minh City, the former Saigon. Your accommodations will be at the
Omni
Hotel (Gold Category) or at the Prince Hotel (Silver Category).
Day 3
Visit Tien Hau Pagoda, the former
Presidential Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral before flying to Hue, the
previous royal capital with its Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden City,
reserved for the Emperor.
Day 4
A morning boat trip on the
Perfume River takes you to the lovely Thien Mu Pagoda and on to the
imposing Minh Mang Tomb. Visit the Tu Duc Tomb and pass by local villages
on the way back.
Day 5
Enjoy a scenic 4-hour drive along
the coastal road to Danang, passing spectacular mountain scenery, idyllic
beaches and quaint villages on the way. Visit the temples on Marble
Mountain and the historic trading town of Hoi An.
Day 6
Fly from Danang to Hanoi and
continue by road to Haiphong, North Vietnam's largest seaport and gateway
to Halong Bay.
Day 7
Take an extended cruise on the
spectacular Halong Bay, which has more than 1,000 limestone pinnacles
rising from the sea, many with an intricate system of caves and grottos.
The area is so pretty that it was declared to be a World Heritage site by
UNESCO. Drive back to Hanoi later today. Your accommodations at Hanoi will
be at the Nikko
Hotel (Gold Category) or at the Fortuna
Hotel (Silver Category).
Day 8
Discover some of the sights of
Hanoi this morning, including the One-Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of
Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. This evening you will be
treated to a water puppet show.
Day 9
Fly from Hanoi to Vientiane, Laos
arriving around noon. After a brief rest visit the temples of Wat Sisaket,
Wat Hopha Keo and That Luang.
Day 11
Early this morning fly to Luang
Prabang, the former residence of the royal family. Sightseeing will
include the beautiful temples of Wat Visun, Wat Prabat and Wat Xieng
Thong.
Day 11
Travel by boat upstream on the
Mekong River for about 2 hours until you reach the famous Pak Ou caves
containing thousands of Buddha images. Enjoy lunch in the jungle before
returning to Luang Prabang.
Day 12
An excursion to the picturesque Kuang Si waterfalls and the K'hmu village
is your program for today.
Day 13
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight from Luang Prabang
to Siem Reap in Cambodia. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Day 14
Siem Reap is the gateway to the fabulous Khmer temples now standing in ruin
in the jungles of Angkor. Spend the day exploring the impressive 12th
century monuments of Angkor Wat and the former royal city of Angkor Thom.
Day 15
Explore more of the Angkor conservation area today, with visits to the
temples of Ta Phrom, Ta Keo and more.
Day 16
Flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, visit the Silver pagoda and impressive
Royal Palace.
Day 17
After breakfast join an excursion to the famous ‘Killing Fields’. Later this
afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Spend the
night at an airport hotel.
Day 18
Early today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to
the US, where you arriving the same day. [NB No Breakfast is provided in
Bangkok this morning in view of the early departure]
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Lamps for sale in handicrafts store
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Optional Extensions (for instance, in
Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand or a nearby destination) may be arranged of
course; please contact us for suggestions and quotes. |
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