Highlights of Cambodia & Laos

Arrive in Phnom Penh, in Phnom Penh, where your private guide and driver meet you in the arrivals hall and escort you to your hotel for an early afternoon check-in. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Once considered among the most beautiful cities in the Orient, Cambodia's bustling capital keeps its colonial charm and a picturesque setting at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

This morning, after breakfast, roll through the heart of Phnom Penh by traditional cyclo, then spend the afternoon confronting the country's recent past at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek. Pedal first to the holy site of Wat Phnom, where a 14th-century stupa and a small pagoda stand as the tallest religious structure in the city. Continue along the riverside promenade, stopping at the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, one of the best places in all of Cambodia to see objects from the height of the Khmer civilization. Then visit the National Museum and its vast collection of Khmer sculpture and artifacts recovered from Angkor.

In the afternoon, visit Tuol Sleng Prison, housed in a former high school, for a sobering glimpse of the horrors that prevailed during Cambodia's ultra-radical Marxist movement. The visit can be distressing for some, but it is an important piece of the country's recent history. Continue to Choeung Ek, known as the Killing Fields, just outside the city, before returning to your hotel in Phnom Penh for a free evening.

*When visiting the Royal Palace, visitors are advised to follow a dress code consisting of "long trousers or skirts that cover the knees and covered shoulders". Skirts, small shorts, tank tops, and other revealing clothing are not permitted.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap, the country's base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire, then spend the afternoon among the ruins of the Small Circuit. After your guide meets you at the airport and you check in to your hotel for a short break, head out to Ta Prohm, built from the mid-12th to early 13th centuries and largely left as it was found, with jungle trees and vines slowly pulling the stonework to the ground. The picturesque ruins live up to their starring role in Tomb Raider. Continue to Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th century, and Srah Srang, known as the pool of ablutions, then settle into your hotel in Siem Reap for the night.

 

Walk the walled city of Angkor Thom in the morning, receive a private blessing from Buddhist monks, and save Angkor Wat for the quieter late-afternoon hours. Start at Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under Jayavarman VII. A perfect square ringed by an 8 m (26 ft) wall, the city greets you at the stone South Gate with a row of 54 gods and demons gripping the sacred naga snake. Inside, explore Bayon Temple, whose 54 towers and carved faces represented the 54 provinces of the empire, then study the bas-reliefs of the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Buddhist monks then hold a private blessing ceremony for you, wishing you health and a safe journey, before you return to your hotel to escape the midday heat.

In the late afternoon, ride out to Angkor Wat as the day's crowds begin to thin. Built under King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to model Mount Meru, the home of the gods, the temple served as the divine residence of Vishnu, where the king himself was said to reside after death. Inside, the walls carry stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman fought during his reign, along with more than 2,000 apsara dancers. Construction is thought to have taken around 30 years of intensive labor, and the temple's silhouette is still said to symbolize the soul of the Khmer people. Explore the ruins before returning to your hotel in Siem Reap, your base for Angkor, to unwind for the evening.

When visiting temples and other sacred sites in Cambodia, you’re asked to dress respectfully. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, such as long trousers or a modest skirt. Skirts, short shorts, tank tops, and revealing outfits are considered inappropriate and may prevent entry.

This morning, drive to Kampong Kleang, a community of towering stilt houses rising ten meters above the floodplains of Tonle Sap Lake. As you travel along dusty village roads, you pass traditional wooden homes, handmade fishing tools, and children waving cheerfully from the roadside.

At a local family’s home, share tea and coffee before setting out on foot to explore daily life in the village. See how locals smoke catfish, mend fishing nets, and prepare for the day’s catch. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the airport.

Fly to Luang Prabang, Laos, where your VIP fast-track service ensures a seamless arrival. Receive a warm welcome from your guide and enjoy a special local welcome gift before transferring to your hotel. The evening is free at leisure to unwind.

Seasonal note: From mid-February to mid-July, Kampong Kleang may appear muddy and less picturesque, but it offers deeper insight into the rhythms of local life.

Rise before dawn to offer alms to Luang Prabang's monks, then cruise the Mekong to the Buddha-filled Pak Ou Caves. The town's monastery bells toll at first light as golden lines of barefoot monks emerge to collect their morning rice. After hot tea and cookies, head to a village outside town where few travelers go and respectfully witness this revered ritual in its traditional form, with alms supplied for you to give. If you take photographs, please do so without interfering with the ceremony. Browse the Morning Market's array of meats, vegetables, and spices before returning to your hotel for breakfast.

Afterward, drive through the scenic countryside to Ban Pak Ou, 43 km (27 miles) from Luang Prabang, where a boat ferries you across the river to the Pak Ou Caves, a pilgrimage site perched high above the Mekong. As your eyes adjust to the dark corners, the serene faces of more than 3,000 Buddha images emerge, some inlaid with semi-precious stones, left undisturbed for generations by the devotion of the Lao people. Cruise back toward town with a drink and Lao snacks in hand, stopping at two riverside villages along the way. In Ban Xang Khong, prized Lao textiles are still woven on wooden looms and villagers produce mulberry paper by hand. In Ban Xang Hai, families distill Lao Lao, a potent rice whisky. Try a swig if you dare, then return to your hotel in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, which showcases the traditions and artistry of Laos’ ethnic groups. Then venture into the countryside, stopping at local villages such as Ban Sa-aat for the Lowland Lao, Ban Pano for the Khmu, and Ban Long Lao for the Hmong. Walk through each community with local guides to learn about their languages, crafts, and ways of life, offering a rare glimpse into Laos’ cultural mosaic.

Continue to the Kuang Si Waterfall, where turquoise cascades spill into natural pools surrounded by jungle. Take a refreshing swim or simply enjoy the peaceful setting. Nearby, visit the Sun Bear Refuge, which protects these gentle creatures from poaching.

End the day at the Buffalo Dairy Farm, a model of sustainable agriculture. Join a guided tour, feed and bathe buffalo, try your hand at milking, and meet the resident chickens, pigs, and rabbits. Relax in the café with the farm’s signature cake and homemade ice cream before returning to town for a free evening.

This morning, explore Luang Prabang, the “Pearl of the Mekong.” Begin at Wat Xieng Thong, a 500-year-old masterpiece of classic Luang Prabang architecture. Wander along quiet streets and temple-lined lanes, meeting locals and soaking in the city’s unhurried rhythm. Visit the National Museum, once the Royal Palace, where relics of Laos’ royal past are preserved.

Climb the 328 steps up Phousi Mountain for sweeping views over the town and river. It is said that those who have not climbed Phousi have not truly visited Luang Prabang.

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, meet your guide for the transfer to your accommodation. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

After breakfast, meet your guide and set out to discover the highlights of Vientiane, a city where tranquil temples blend beautifully with French colonial architecture. Begin at Wat Sisaket, the only temple to survive the Siamese invasion of 1828, and continue across the street to Ho Pha Keo, once home to the revered Emerald Buddha and now a museum of fine Lao artistry. Stroll along Lane Xang Avenue to see Patouxai, the city’s Victory Monument, and visit the shimmering golden stupa of Wat That Luang, the most sacred monument in Laos. Stop by Wat Si Muang, a lively temple where locals come to receive blessings for health, prosperity, and good fortune.

Enjoy lunch at Kua Lao Restaurant before continuing out of town to the surreal Buddha Park, known locally as Xieng Khouan. Here, a visionary monk created more than two hundred striking sculptures inspired by Buddhist and Hindu mythology. It is a fascinating place filled with spiritual energy and artistic imagination.

Return to the city in the late afternoon and transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your accommodation. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before your guide transfers you to the airport for your onward flight or on to your next destination.