Ancient Temples + Cultural Encounters
Embark on a 9-day journey through Cambodia and Laos, featuring historic ruins, glistening temples, meaningful cultural encounters and peaceful countryside beauty. Tour these two fascinating Southeast Asian countries by foot, boat, cyclo, electric car, yacht and more to see each destination from a truly unique angle!
At Travel Beyond, we believe your trip should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our travel consultants create a custom itinerary for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a trip to Laos and Cambodia might look like. Let us know when we can design a trip just for you!
Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative for your transfer to the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, where you will stay for two nights.
In the evening, you will be transferred to Tepui Restaurant at Chinese House for dinner.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal Dinner
This morning, after breakfast, you will begin your tour of this charming capital with a visit to the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom. Visit the Silver Pagoda, so named owing to the 5,000 silver tiles lining its floor. Next, visit the Champey Academy of Arts, a local non-profit school focused on training in the traditional Cambodian arts. Continue to the nearby National Museum. Built in 1917, it is an exceptional example of traditional architecture and is exclusively devoted to preserving and exhibiting Khmer art and sculptures. After the tour, enjoy lunch al fresco in a local Khmer restaurant.
After lunch explore the powerful and moving Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, located at the main interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime. Take a personal tour led by one of only seven survivors, an extraordinary man who will share his harrowing personal experiences with you. This is a heart-breaking but necessary place to visit in order to better understand and appreciate the resilience of the local people despite such a tragic past.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal Breakfast / Lunch
This morning after breakfast, explore Phnom Penh’s streets by cyclo (a Cambodian bicycle-powered rickshaw) for a brief historical and cultural introduction to the city. Explore the early 20th-century colonial buildings of central Phnom Penh, as well as the areas around the old Post Office and the Central Market.
After your morning tour, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will meet your guide and be transferred to The Park Hyatt, where you will spend three nights. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local Cambodian restaurant with a focus on fresh seasonal produce.
The Park Hyatt Breakfast / Dinner
This morning, following breakfast, you’ll tour Cambodia’s most remarkable Khmer architecture. Start your day with the crowning jewel of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, the largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples. Additional highlights include the fortified city of Angkor Thom, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, the ruined Baphuon, the mysterious Bayon Temple and jungle-hidden Ta Prohm.
Enjoy lunch at a riverside local restaurant before spending the afternoon and evening at your leisure.
The Park Hyatt Breakfast / Lunch
Today after breakfast, enjoy a tour of Siem Reap’s additional highlights. Visit the Hindu temple of Banteay Srei, built in the late 10th century, and decorated with male and female divinities. Explore the Puok Silk Farm, located in the countryside to learn about silk production: from mulberry tree planting to silk weaving to finished products.
This evening, board a private yacht for a sunset champagne cruise across Tonle Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. As the spectacular Cambodian sunset melts into the horizon, you’ll take in the sites of daily life in floating villages and sail past ancient communities of fishermen that have lived here for generations.
Tonight, enjoy Phare, the Cambodian Circus, which blends contortion, juggling, acrobatics, balancing and aerial arts with theatre, music and modern dance forms to tell uniquely Cambodian stories. You will also have the unique opportunity to meet with one of the young stars of the show, whose disadvantaged life has been transformed by the education and training of this social enterprise.
The Park Hyatt Breakfast / Dinner
Enjoy this morning at your leisure before transferring to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos.
Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, where you will stay three nights.
Belmond La Residence Phou Vao Breakfast
This morning, awaken early and begin your day joining in a local tradition of giving alms to the monks. As the sun slowly rises, you will give food and offerings to the saffron-clad monks that make their way slowly and silently through the streets.
Today, along with your private guide, you will discover the main sights of Luang Prabang and get an insider’s view of the religion and culture of Laos. Stroll through winding streets to That Makmo, also known as the Watermelon Stupa! Explore Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang’s best-known and most visited monastery. Meet Hans Georg Berger, a photographer and writer whose exhibit of ‘The Floating Buddha’ is on display at Wat Khill. Hans will take you on a private tour of the temple and museum to get a glimpse into the life of the royal family. Round out the morning with visits to the National Museum and a local textile mill.
After lunch, board a boat and meet your private guide for a ride on the Mekong River, observing life on the sleepy riverbanks. See children playing at the water’s edge, women washing their clothes, and men fishing for the larger catch that live deep on the riverbed. Stop along the way at the ‘lao whisky village’ to observe how sticky rice is distilled to become the famous ‘lao lao’ liquor.
Visit the Pak Ou Caves, cut into the limestone cliff and full of Buddha statues of all styles, sizes and ages. Now a popular pilgrimage site, the caves were discovered in the 16th century and are believed to have been a centre for spirit worship. Return to Luang Prabang by boat enjoying a selection of typical Lao snacks along the way.
Belmond La Residence Phou Vao Breakfast / Lunch
Following breakfast, you will be driven outside the city to the Bear Rescue Centre and Kuang Si Waterfall for a personal tour. See one of Lao’s most endangered species and learn what is being done to help protect Laos’ precious wildlife.
Next, visit the Kuang Si Waterfall where cool, clear water cascades over limestone formations. The water tumbles 100 metres and gathers into stunning turquoise pools.
Relax over a private picnic lunch while enjoying the spectacular scenery.
Following your tour and lunch, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.
Belmond La Residence Phou Vao Breakfast
Today you will transfer from your hotel to the airport for your departure flight.
Overnight Flight Breakfast
