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Day 1: LUANG
PRABANG ARRIVAL and VISIT
Meet upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport, transfer and check-in
at the hotel.
The crown jewel of Laos and former Lanexang, Luang Prabang, is
perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia.
Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation
as a stronghold of Lao culture with its splendid natural scenery
and sense of timelessness. In 1995 UNESCO voted Luang Prabang
as a World Heritage City. Visit with private guide and car, Vat
Visoun, the site of an impressive stupa,Vat Makmo, more Srilankalese
style than Lao. Then walk to the nearby Vat Aham, which is one
of the city's major tutelary shrines, dedicated to Deveta Luang
(spirit) Pu Gneu Ya Gneu (ancestors). Climb Vat Phousi hill for
an outstanding view over the city. Continue to visit Vat Mai,
built in 1796, famous for the five - tiered roof of its wooden
sim built in the standard of Luang Prabang style. Sunset at Vat
Siphouthabath located along the Mekong River. Overnight accommodation
at the MUANGLUANG hotel.
Day 2:
LUANGPRABANG- PAK OU -LUANGPRABANG
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Vat Xieng Thong, considered as
the most beautiful temple. The sim of the Vat represents the
classic Luang Prabang temple architecture with roofs that sweep
low to the ground. In the compound stand several small chapels
housing bronze Buddha images, which were displayed in Paris in
1911. Near the East gate stands the Royal Funeral Chapel. Inside
are an impressive 12-meter high funeral chariot and various funeral
urns of each Royal Family's member. The gilt panel on the exterior
of the chapel depicts a semi-erotic episode from Ramayana. Then
board a traditional riverboat for a trip upstream the Mekong
River to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou housing thousands of
statues representing Lord Buddha. Return to Luang Prabang and
car to visit teh village of Ban Xangkhong, the well-known village
for its wood paper making and also Lao silk weavings with natural
dyes.
Day 3: LUANGPRABANG-
VIENTIANE
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the National Museum (former King's
Palace) displaying a collection of personal artifacts of the
Royal Family: photos, musical equipment and gifts received from
foreign countries. Visit local market/ Transfer to the airport
for flight to Vientiane. Meet upon arrival at Vientiane Wattay
airport, transfer and check-in at the hotel. Vientiane's major
attractions are the serene Buddhist monasteries that dominate
the center of town. The city has kept its timeless charm with
tree-lined avenues, brightly painted temples and quaint French
architecture.
Visit Vat Sisaket, the oldest original temple in Vientiane. Built
in 1818, Vat Sisaket is the sole survivor of an invasion in 1828.
Vat Sisaket features remarkable frescoes and 6,840 Buddha images.
Nearby is Ho Phra Keo, once the royal temple of Lao monarchy.
Built in 1565, Ho Phra Keo has been used as a museum since 1970
and contains some of the finest Buddhist sculptures and artifacts
in the country. The main structure originally housed the famous
Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok's Wat Phra Keo. One
of the most photographed images of Vientiane is Patousay, the
victory gate also known as Anousavari. Constructed in 1958, its
architecture is inspired by the Arc of Triumph in Paris. Another
famous Vientiane landmark is the that Luang Stupa. King Setthathirath
built this great sacred stupa in 1566. Its central structure
is 45 meters tall and echoes the curving lines of an elongated
lotus. The original stupa was said to contain relics of Lord
Buddha. Acommodation at the NOVOTEL hotel 3 star superior.
Day 4
/ VIENTIANE - HANOÏ
Ventiane, free time at leisure and transfer to airport for your
flight to Hanoi in Vietnam. at arrival transfer to hotel. overnight
in hotel.
Day 6:
HANOI VISIT
visit of the town, capital of Vietnam. and discover its colonial
and traditional places including: Sword Lake, Temple of Literature,
One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple by
the West Lake.
and visit ethnology museum, then have stroll in the trishaw in
the colonial districts around the "36 corporation"
quarters of the city, and visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. In the
evening, water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7
/ HANOI - HALONG - Cruise in HALONG BAY -HANOÏ
Departure morning with private car and guide to Halong and departure
with private boat for a cruise of 5 hours on the clear and emerald
water through the extraordinary landscapes of Halong Bay with
nearly 3000 small islands and various types of limestone and
natural caves with various shape of stalagmites such as Thien
Cung, Dau Go. Lunch on board served with fish and seafood. Return
to Hanoi. Night Hanoi
Day 8/
HANOÏ - HUE
Short visit of Hanoi and departure by plane to Hue. At arrival,
transfer to hotel and visit with private guide and car, of the
Imperial city Imperial City of the Nguyen Dynasty, and visit
Dongba market
Day 9:
HUE
After breakfast we embark on a private Sampan boat for cruise
upstream on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of
the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to The beautiful
pagoda of Thien Mu. Upon leaving this symbol of Hue we continue
navigating to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil
setting of gardens and lakes. The next stop of our trip is the
elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous pagoda
of Tu Hieu. On return to the city, we then take a walk to the
bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots
where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies
Night in Hue. (B)
Day 10 : HUE
- HO CHI MINH Ville (Saigon)
time at leisure, then we take a short fligh to the south. Ho
Chi Minh City ,contradiction of its northern counterpart, is
crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping
area and sidewalk cafés. An afternoon city tour of dynamic
Ho Chi Minh City, (still called Saigon) Ben Thanh , China town,
Ba pagoda, Ngoc Hoang temple. Night in Saigon
Day 11
: HO CHI MINH Ville /SIEM REAP
Morning short visit in Saigon and transfert to airport to leave
to Siem Reap (Angkor). At arrival in Siem Reap Transfer to your
hotel. Begining of visit with your private guide and car, of
the earliest temples of Angkor area the Roluos group. The three
Roluos temples have been in years 877 to 889. They are the Bakong
Temple Mountain with beautiful carvings on the false doors and
lintels, the funerary temple of Preah Ko, and Lolei Temple. At
end of afternoon visit Bakheng Temple on the top of a hill with
spectacular views over Angkor Wat and watch sunset on all Angkor
site. overnight in hotel
Day 12:
ANGKOR VISIT
Siem Reap is the nearest town to the temple complex of Angkor.
From the 9th to 13th Century, Angkor was the heart of a rich
and sophisticated civilization. You will see massive stone monuments,
wide majestic causeways, imposing gateways and towers - all in
a wonderful jungle setting.
Morning you will visit with your prived professional guide, the
"Great City" of Angkor Thom, visits include the famous
Bayon Temple, Phimeanakas Temple within the Royal Palace enclosure,
Baphuon Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace
of the Leper King.
Afternoon dedicated to visit the most famous & magnificent
Angkor Wat temple.
This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century
and covers an area of about 210 hectares.With many galleries
with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full
of water, carved bas-reliefs about Ramayana Story and day-to-day
life at the time of Angkor's construction.
Day 13: ANGKOR
VISIT BANTEAY SREI / TA PHROM /
Morning we will visit with private car and guide, the enchanting
Banteay Srei. It appears that the temple was designed to leave
no space undecorated, and the fine carvings in pink sandstone
are quite unique. On the way to Banteay Srei we will discover
Prasat Kravan Temple with unique brick sculptures Then visit
will be to Banteay Samre, with elaborate architecture and exceptional
carvings
Afternoon we will continue our visits by Ta keo , one of Angkor's
great temple mountains, Ta Prohm with a part of the jungle, Banteay
Kdei, Srah Srang a Royal bathing place. We will visit Les Chantiers
Ecole, a handicraft center located in the center of Siem Reap.
Les Chantiers Ecole was founded in 1992 and its goal is to revive
that ancient Khmer art. This organization gives young people
the opportunity to learn the art of stone, wood carving, and
silk weaving .
Day 14:
BOAT RIDE on TONLE SAP LAKE / SILK CENTER / DEPARTURE
This morning we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake.
This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East
Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom
Penh. We will see a fisherman "floating village" with
floatting schools, floatting police station, etc. It is same
as a big village floatting on the lake, and the "village"
move from place to place following water levels and curant.
Time permitting, we will visit Siem Reap central market and the
Silk Farm in Puok, established by a French NGO to revive Cambodia's
beautiful silk production. We can see every step of silk production
. Transfer to Siem Reap Airport. 2 hours before your departure
with international flight. |
