| Sunday, October 28 |
|
Depart US for Bangkok
|
| Monday, October 29 |
|
In transit |
|
Tuesday, October 30 Arrive Bangkok
|
We will clear immigration formalities and collect our luggage. Then, we will be met by our Pacific World English speaking guide, Suda, and will be escorted to our air-conditioned coach for the transfer to the hotel in Bangkok. In the afternoon we will visit the canals of Bangkok. Nineteenth-century Bangkok was laced with canals, earning the capital the sobriquet “Venice of the East”. Surviving canals, and the Chao Phraya River provide memorable vignettes of traditional waterborne way-of-life that has remained essentially unchanged over the centuries. The main attraction along Klong Bangkok Noi is the Royal Barge National Museum. Traditional houses made from wood in the same style, decorated by colorful flowers, many on stilts line the banks. Several temples constructed in the Ayudhaya style line the banks. This evening, dinner at leisure.
Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel |
Flower Market in Bangkok |
|
Wednesday, October 31 Full day “Best of Bangkok” Excursion B/L
|
|
 Grand Palace | Morning departure for Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha Temple, River Cruise, Jim Thompon’s House and Pat Klong Talaat.
First, we will visit The Grand Palace , which is the most important shrine in Thailand since it was established in 1782. The complex houses not only the Royal residence and throne halls, but also government offices and the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The architecture is stunning. Then we will proceed to Wat Po, which is the home of the enormous reclining Buddha and the Chedis of Thailand’s previous Kings. Wat Po is also the spiritual home of authentic therapeutic Thai massage.
Lunch, after which we will visit The Jim Thompson House. Jim Thompson’s House is a museum filled with Asian antiques and historical memorabilia. The extensive collection is housed in six old teak houses, all built along ancient Thai architectural styles and by Jim Thompson himself. Jim Thompson came to Thailand at the end of World War II and revitalized the Thai Silk industry. His disappearance into the Malaysian jungle remains a mystery until today. There will be time to view and shop for Thai silk products at the Jim Thompson’s silk store. The variety of silk products there has been favored and admired by visitors to Thailand.
For the remainder of the afternoon, we shall continue on to Pak Khlong Talaat, Bangkok’s fragrant flower market. From dawn to dark, the floral perfume of a thousand blossoms fills the city streets surrounding the market. The vendors prepare fresh bouquets of lilies, orchids, roses, marigolds and many other flowers. We will return to our hotel and have dinner at leisure.
Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel |
|
|
| Thursday, November 1 Flight to Cambodia B
|
Morning departure transfer, by air-conditioned, coach with our guide, from the hotel to Bangkok International Airport for our flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Met by guide and transfer to our hotel. Check in and have lunch.
Depart for afternoon visit for the main Angkor Wat Temple. Dinner at leisure.
Prince d’Angkor Hotel
| 
Angkor Wat |
|
| Friday & Saturday, November 2 & 3 Siem Reap and Angkor Wat - B
|
|
During the next 2 days stay in Siem Reap we will have a guide and vans at our disposal to explore more of the Angkor Wat ruins, which cover an area of 60 miles. Each day we will have 2 visits scheduled, a morning and an afternoon visit. For those who wish to spend the afternoon by the pool, we will return to the hotel for lunch and they can remain in town for the afternoon, while those who wish to visit more temples can continue on after lunch. We will also arrange a boat tour of near by Lake Tonle Sap, with its floating villages and spend time in the community of Tro Peng Tnal, where we will visit the local primary school and get a closer look at life in a rural Cambodian village.
Prince d'Angkor Hotel.
|
|
Angkor Thom Temple |
Visiting our Guide, Fila's Village |
Lake Tonle Sap Floating Village |
|
| Sunday, November 4 Siem Reap - Luang Prabang, Laos B
|
The Night Market
|
Depart for airport for our flight to Luang Prabang. Transfer to hotel. Check in and have a short visit of Wat Mai, and the National Museum this afternoon.
Le Bel Air Resort
|
 |
|
| Monday, November 5 Kuang Si Waterfall BL
|
Drive with our guide by van to the Kuang Si Waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top. Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to swim in the falls. Return to Luang Prabang to have lunch at a local restaurant, and then visit The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, a private museum recently opened to explain about the livelihoods of Laos’ ethnic minorities. We will learn many interesting facts about the tribal peoples of Northern Laos.
Le Bel Air Resort |
Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center |
 Kuang Si Waterfall
|  Laotian Greeting
|
|
| Tuesday, November 6 Luang Prabang Elephant Village BL
|
|
Travel to the Nam Khan river area (about 15km from Luang Prabang) where we will be involved in activities that focus on a program designed to protect Asian Elephants. A tour guide will bring us to the Elephant Village and explain about the animals, their lives and work here in their new home. We will feed them, bring them to the river and learn how to clean and wash these massive animals. Return to Luang Prabang for lunch and an afternoon visit of Wat Visoun and Wat Xieng Thong. Rest of the day and evening at leisure.
Le Bel Air Resort
| 
The Elephant Reserve |
|
| Wednesday, November 7 Luang Prabang
|
Market in Luang Prabang
|
Day at leisure to explore local activity options in Luang Prabang.
|
|
| Thursday, November 8 Luang Prabang - Hanoi B
|
Lao Rite- Offering Alms to the Monks |
Get an early start (6:00am) and participate in the traditional Lao rite of Almsgiving to the monks. In the city, some 300+ monks file through silently collecting alms. We will visit the local market then return to our hotel for breakfast and free time until our early afternoon departure for the Luang Prabang Airport. Fly to Hanoi. Meet our English speaking guide, Coung, and transfer to our hotel. Dinner and evening at leisure.
Maison D’Hannova Hanoi hotel
|
|
| Friday, November 9 Hanoi City Tour BL
|
 Ho Chi Minh Complex |
Early morning departure for full day city tour Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh Complex, Museum of Ethnology, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake and lunch, followed by a walk around the old quarter before enjoying the unique, traditional water puppet show in the evening.
Maison D’Hannova Hanoi hotel
|
 Flower Vendor, Hanoi | |
| Saturday, November 10 Hanoi, night train to Lao Cai B
|
After breakfast, a one-hour cyclo ride from the hotel through the streets of the Old Quarter and the surrounding area. The rest of the day is free time until we leave for the station for our night train to Lao Cai.
Sapaly train – private - 2 person cabins |
 Street Food |
|
| Sunday, November 11
Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Sapa BL
|
Overview of the Bac Ha Sunday Market |
Early morning arrival at Lao Cai Short break for breakfast and then we drive to Bac Ha, home to the Flower Hmong minority people, for the Sunday market. The colorful Flower Hmong converge here to trade and exchange goods. We are free to visit the town and market place before we drive on to Sapa. Arrive in Sapa and check into the hotel. Mid afternoon, free time at leisure.
Victoria Sapa Hotel
|
Bartering at the Bac Ha Market |
|
|
Monday, November 12 Sapa BL
|
Vietnamese School Children in Sapa |
O5:00hrs arrive Lao Cai.
Drive to Cau May to visit Ta Van village. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley, we will have a chance to meet and interact with some of the local ethnic minority people. These minority people include Red Zao, Hmong and Tay people.
Victoria Sapa Hotel
|
 Trekking with the Locals
|
|
| Tuesday, November 13 Sapa –Hanoi BD
|
 |
Morning free time. We start the afternoon by getting some exercise with a trek to the hill tribe village of Cat Cat and also walk to Ham Rong Peak for a view of Sapa. We will have dinner tonight at Victoria Sapa Hotel before heading to Lao Cai station for train back to Hanoi.
Sapaly train – private 2 person cabins
|
|
|
|
Wednesday,November 14 Hanoi BD
|
Early morning arrival in Hanoi, drive to hotel Hong Ngoc 1 for a rest and to freshen up before breakfast. Morning check out from Hong Ngoc 1 Hotel. Free time at leisure until the evening when we board the ‘Jewel of the Delta’ for our private dinner cruise on the Red River.
Hong Ngoc 1 Hotel
Maison D’Hannova Hanoi hotel
|
|
| Thursday, November 15 Hanoi-Halong Bay BLD
|
Morning departure for Halong Bay. When we arrive about midday, we will be met by the Customer Services Manager of our boat, and be transferred to our boat. We will be served lunch as we head south on the South China Sea. Our captain will find a secluded spot where we can swim from the boat, soak up the sun on the top deck or try our hand at some kayaking.
Jewel Boat II – private 2 person cabins
| 
Ha Long Bay |
|
| Friday, November 16 Halong Bay BLD
|
Today, we continue to move around the Halong Bay area to find additional secluded spots to swim, kayak and explore.
Jewel Boat II – private 2 person cabins
|
Floating Village |
Kayaking in Halong Bay |
 Luxury Cruising Junk |
|
| Saturday, November 17 Halong Bay-Hanoi BL
|
|
This morning there will be several possibilities to explore some beaches and caves. For those wishing to stay on board, the junk will be close by. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting coach, for our 3-hour journey back to Hanoi. Late afternoon and evening at leisure
Maison D’Hannova Hanoi hotel
| 
Our Guide and Crew onboard The 'Jewel of the Bay' |
|
| Sunday, November 18 Departure Hanoi BL
|
|
|
Monday, November 19 Arrive back in the US
|
WELCOME HOME AND EARLY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
|
|
| Tour Includes: |
- ETS arranged air: New York-Asia-New York
- ETS arranged intra-Asia flights
- 22 day tour (19 nights)
- 15 nights in superior or deluxe accommodation with daily breakfast, double occupancy. Check-in time is 2.00PM and check-out time is 12.00PM. Early or late service is subject to availability with surcharge.
- 2 night on overnight Sapaly train (1st class, soft sleeper cabin for 2 people) Hanoi-Lao Cai–Hanoi
- 2 day-2 night cruise Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, on private junk ‘Jewel of the Bay II’, 2 person cabins
- 1 early morning check in, Hanoi Hong Ngoc 1 Hotel
- Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
- English speaking guide on land tours in Bangkok, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam
- Tours and transfers as mentioned by air-conditioned vehicles
- All activities mentioned in itinerary
- Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
- Rural community visits in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
|
| Tour Excludes: |
- Passport fees
- Visa fees for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
- Inoculations
- Early/late check in/out service at hotels
- International airport departure taxes
- Tips and gratuities
- Service, meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Laundry, telephone calls and expenditures of a personal nature
- Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
The 2010 trip cost was $6750., based on 15 travelers. We are currently working to update the 2012 price. We will keep you informed.
|
