Gateway To IndochinaDay 1 Arrive BangkokGuests are met at their centrally located hotel for an evening welcome dinner and a trip briefing. Meals: Welcome dinner Accommodation: Viengtai Hotel Transport: None Day 2 Bangkok We spend the day on a city tour of Bangkok, including the major temples and the glittering royal Grand Palace. Meals: B Accommodation: Viengtai Hotel Transport: Private airconditioned vehicle Day 3 Bangkok - Hanoi With a morning flight to Hanoi, the rest of the day is free for individual exploration of this historic city. Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel Transport: Private airconditioned vehicle Day 4 Hanoi - Halong Bay - Cat Ba Islands After breakfast we drive north for around four hours to Halong Bay. Here we board our boat and cruise around the bay, stopping to swim and to visit several caves in the unique rock formations. The sunset can be enjoyed from the boat deck, a relaxing and scenic setting. Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Cruise boat Transport: Minibus, boat Day 5 Cat Ba Islands A one hour cruise takes us to Cat Ba Island, where we embark on a three hour trek around the National Park and to a Viet Hai village. In the afternoon we cruise to Cat Dua beach for swimming and relaxation, returning to our hotel by road in the late afternoon. Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Giang Son Hotel Transport: Boat, foot, minibus Day 6 Halong Bay - Hanoi - Lao Cai We return to Halong City and drive back to Hanoi. In the evening we board the night train and head up into the tradi-tional highlands of northern Vietnam. Meals: B, L Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train Transport: Private airconditioned vehicle, train Day 7 Lao Cai - Sapa After an early breakfast we take a two hour bus journey up stunning mountain roads to the former French hill station, Sapa. After lunch we trek to a Hmong minority village, returning to our hotel in Sapa in the late afternoon. Meals: None Accommodation: Bamboo Sapa Hotel Transport: Public bus, foot Day 8 Sapa The day is spent trekking around this spectacular area, visiting traditional villages of Dzay, Hmong and Dzao minority peoples. Meals: L Accommodation: Bamboo Sapa Hotel Transport: Foot Day 9 Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi An early start takes us to the Binh Lu market where Lao, Lu, Black Dzao and Blue Hmong peoples gather to sell their wares. We browse the colourful Red Hmong market of Tam Duong Dat, then drive to Lao Cai for our night train back to Hanoi. Meals: L Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train and Galaxy Hotel Transport: Private air-conditioned vehicle, train Day 10 Hanoi The day is free, to relax after our exploration of the highlands. Meals: B Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel Transport: None Day 11 Hanoi Our day tour of Hanoi takes in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. The afternoon is spent exploring the fascinating Old Quarters and soaking up the cityís atmosphere. Meals: B, L Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel Transport: Private air-conditioned vehicle Day 12 Hanoi - Mai Chau - Muong village We drive to the beautifully located traditional village of Mai Chau, via Hoa Binh. After lunch in a stilt house, we take to the river for a short rafting trip along the Ma River. The night is spent in the home of one of the Muong villagers. Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Village homestay Transport: Private transport Day 13 Muong village - Ninh Binh After saying goodbye to our hosts, we trek along the valley through paddy fields visiting Muong and Thai minority groups. By late afternoon we are at our hotel in Ninh Binh. Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Hotel Transport: Private transport, foot Day 14 Ninh Binh - Hanoi In the morning we enjoy a paddle boat ride along the River Ma before visiting the ancient capital of Hoalu. We drive back to Hanoi through the timeless Vietnamese countryside. Meals: B, L Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel Transport: Boat, minibus Day 15 Hanoi - Vientiane A morning flight takes us to the laidback Lao capital, Vientiane. The rest of the day is free for independent exploration of the city, which is set on the bank of the Mekong river. Meals: B Accommodation: Lao Plaza Hotel Transport: Plane Day 16 Vientiane - Vang Vieng We drive north and into the central highlands of Laos. From here we head off the beaten track by kayak through lush forests and make our way to the sleepy riverside town of Vang Vieng. Meals: B, L Accommodation: Riverside Bungalows Transport: Private airconditioned vehicle, kayak Day 17 Vang Vieng The day is spent exploring the highlights of this scenic area by boat and on foot. We kayak past karst limestone mountains containing a labyrinth of caves to explore. Trekking through a cave under a mountain, we emerge to views over the far valley. After a riverside barbeque lunch we kayak to a working organic farm. The day draws to an end as we paddle at a leisurely pace back to our riverside bungalows in time to catch the sunset over the mountains and a cold Lao beer. Meals: B, L Accommodation: Riverside Bungalows Transport: Foot, kayak, Tuk Tuk Day 18 Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang Leaving the misty mountains of Vang Vieng behind, we continue north to the former royal capital of Laos, Luang Prabang. The drive past stunning mountain ranges is a treat, and by late afternoon we are relaxing at our luxury hotel. Meals: none Accommodation: Phou Si Hotel Transport: Private airconditioned vehicle Day 19 Luang Prabang Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and the warm smiles of the northern Lao people. We spend the morning visiting the Royal Palace and gilded temples. Our afternoon trip out into Luang Prabang province to the springfed Kuang Si waterfalls gives a chance to take a refreshing dip in its many natural pools. Meals: B Accommodation: Phou Si Hotel Transport: Private transport, foot Day 20 Luang Prabang A free day, offering time for independent exploration of this wonderful historic city and the scenic province. Meals: B Accommodation: Phou Si Hotel Transport: none Day 21 Luang Prabang - Luang Namtha We drive north to Luang Namtha, an eight hour journey past dramatic ranges of mountain peaks, with several village stops en route. Our charming accommodation at the Boat Landing Eco Lodge is set on the banks of the beautiful Nam Tha River. The perfect place to be introduced to the local cuisine, we do so in style with a delicious Lao banquet. In the evening we prepare for one of the tour highlights, a three day exploration by river of the pristine environments of the Nam Ha National Biodiversity Conservation Area. Locally UNESCO trained guides will offer you an insight into the environment and the traditional lives of the minority peoples who live here. Meals: B, D Accommodation: The Boat Landing Eco Lodge Transport: Private air-conditioned vehicle Day 22 Luang Namtha - Ban Nalan A one and a half hour drive takes us from The Boat Landing Eco Lodge to the Nam Ha NBCA. We begin our adventure deep inside the protected area on the banks of the Nam Ha River, then descend by raft or kayak over small but exciting rapids into magnificent sections of old growth forest. A riverside picnic lunch and relaxing swim are always received well by mid-day, before we continue downstream. The forests are still home to many species of birds, and to endangered large mammals such as tiger, leopard and sun bear. Their tracks may be seen as we descend further into the protected area. The night is spent in the Khammu village of Ban Nalan where we can learn about these fascinating people and their unique way of life. Meals: L, D Accommodation: Village homestay Transport: Raft/kayak, foot, private transport Day 23 Ban Nalan - Ban Nam Khoy After a breakfast prepared by our hosts, we trek out into the protected area with our guides and a local hunter. Wildside employs local hunters to guide people through the forest and introduce them to the ecosystems rather than hunt the endangered animals inside the NBCA. The hunters possess a comprehensive knowledge of the surrounding forest and its inhabitants and this knowledge is conveyed to our guests via our guides as the day passes by. We enjoy a forest lunch as we sit and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. The night is spent in the village of Ban Nam Khoy, home of Lanten people who strongly maintain their traditional culture. The attractive indigo coloured clothing worn by the villagers is made entirely from locally produced products. Time-honoured techniques are part of daily life in this peaceful village, and artefacts produced by local people often reflect a lifestyle spent surrounded by wilderness. Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Village homestay Transport: Foot Day 24 Ban Nam Khoy - Luang Namtha We return to the Nam Ha river making our way through increasingly swift rapids and dense old growth forest until we reach the confluence of the Nam Ha and Nam Tha Rivers. We paddle on down the Nam Tha and return to Luang Namtha in the late afternoon. Meals: B, L Accommodation: The Boat Landing Eco Lodge Transport: Raft/kayak, foot, private transport Day 25 Luang Namtha - Houey Xai An early morning departure takes us west through the lush rural scenery that typifies Northern Laos. We lunch at a scenic spot of limestone and caves, then continue the drive to Houey Xai. Our final night in Laos is spent in this riverside town. Meals: L Accommodation: Guesthouse Transport: Private air-conditioned vehicle Day 26 Houey Xai - Chiang Rai - Bangkok After breakfast we cross into Thailand and on to Chiang Rai airport, from where we fly south to Bangkok. From here guests are free to continue on their travels. Meals: none Accommodation: none Transport: Plane, Private air-conditioned vehicle End of Tour. Trip Price: USD3999 Deposit: $400.00Code: MCT-TVLC-GtI |
