After breakfast, you will start to explore the Angkor Complex with: 

Banteay Srei: Nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of its decorative carving Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.

We continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Ta Prohm was built in the 12th century and is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of King Jayavarman VII. 

Pre Rup Temple was built in the 10th century during the reign of King Rajendravarman II. Prasat Kravan – the temple famous for its unique sculptures on the bricks Srah Srang Reservoir– the royal bathtubs "were once used for ritual bath” Banteay Kdei Temple (surrounded by four concentric walls)

Overnight in Siem Reap

After breakfast, we will start a special and busy day as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. You will visit the West Gate of Angkor Thom – undiscovered by mass tourism.

The ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), see the South Gate, Bayon Temple is unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara, Baphuon Temple: lying just to the north of Bayon, a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

In the afternoon, you will visit the famous Angkor Wat Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. 

In the evening, visit an off-the-beaten track local market on your own, take time to discover more about the life of Cambodians.

Overnight in Siem Reap. 
 

OPTIONAL: Quad Bike Experience (2h00)  

17.00, Get into the assigned tuk tuk then transfer to the Quad bike office. After a safety briefing and conduction training, you will begin your adventure by going through several villages and rice fields in the suburbs of Siem Reap where you will see how the locals live. The guide will recommend the best stops for stunning sunset photos. The tour ends at the Quad Bike office. After washing off the mud and having a refreshing drink, you will be taken back to your hotel.

After breakfast, you are on your own until being transferred to the airport for the flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, your driver will pick you up and drive you to your hotel to check-in, relax or to take time to explore the city as you wish.  

Our suggestion: You can stroll along the Mekong River, observe Cambodians getting together with friends, or try a local game that is similar to badminton, but played with feet (the da cau) and outdoor aerobics...

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at your hotel. 

In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel. Firstly, you will visit the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh. Continue your visit to the private quarters of the Royal Palace which are now home to the Royal Family and are therefore closed to the public. At the northern area of the palace grounds is the Silver Pagoda, the most sacred temple in the country. 

In the afternoon, you will visit the National Museum, which is dedicated exclusively to Khmer art and sculpture. Most of the exhibits are from the Angkor period from the 9th to the 15th centuries, but some date from as early as the 4th century.

We continue to one of the liveliest open markets of the city, Psar Toul Tom Pong, also called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sale before heading back to the hotel to relax. 

Overnight in Phnom Penh. 

After breakfast, you will be picked up by our driver then transferred to Kep town that will provide you with amazing sightseeing on the way with rice paddies and salt fields. 

On the way, you will stop to visit a local pepper plantation that is dedicated to organic and sustainable production. Located in the protected rural environment of Kampot, the plantation offers a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Thailand. Tour the plantation to gain insight into the history of Kampot Pepper and learn about the traditional and organic growing methods. As a gourmet treat, taste a wide range of peppers and spices, organically grown, processed and packaged at the farm. Option to have a cool drink or lunch (own account) at the Khmer House inside the plantation before driving to your hotel in Kep. After a four-hour drive, you will reach your hotel, check-in and relax on your own.

Overnight in Kep. 

After breakfast, you are free to relax or wander around to explore the town.

Our recommendation: Visit the bustling local crab market in the early morning by yourselves. 

Kep is a small fishing village on the Gulf of Thailand, where the locals earn their living mainly by fishing. While most Asian markets are filled with colorful fruits and elaborate displays of local produce, the Crab Market specializes only in fresh seafood and everything that can be made from seafood. Stroll around to learn about the traditional way of trading and socializing, while taking in the sights and sounds, smells, and flavors of a real Cambodian market. You will have an opportunity to purchase locally fresh crabs, shrimp, fish and have a local vendor cook and serve it traditionally.

Overnight in Kep.

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up at 7h30, you will be driven to the Chad Prek border (22km – 40 minutes) to enter Vietnam.

Notice: All UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain passport holders are not required to have a Vietnam visa for a period of traveling within 15 days. 

Other nationalities must apply for a Vietnam visa in your country of origin before travel as you cannot have a visa upon arrival at the Vietnam Ha Tien border. 

There will be a person to help you to go through the immigration offices in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Upon arrival at the Prek Chad border, go through the Cambodia Immigration Office and then take the car for about five minutes to the Vietnam Ha Tien border. You will walk about 50m to go through the immigration and then continue another 50m to reach your car to start your journey in Vietnam.

Around 08.30, take a three-hour drive to Tra Su (approximately 110km). If traveling between May to July, the palm fruit season, you will have a chance to stop on the way and taste the best fresh palm fruit drink. Upon arrival, you will visit the Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. Take a rowboat between the narrow green canals to see a variety of birds. If time permits, you can climb up the fire observation stand. From the top, you can have a panoramic view of the forest.

Return to the pier and then transfer by car for lunch at a local restaurant named Hong Phuc (about 8 km from Tra Su) before heading to Can Tho.

Arrive in Can Tho in the late afternoon (around 18.00 – 18.30), check into the hotel and then you are free to explore this city. 

Overnight in Can Tho.

Have breakfast at your hotel then take an early morning cruise along the small and picturesque tributaries by motorboat where you will see the Cai Rang Floating Market – the busiest but nicest one with heaps of rowboats. See the beautiful scenery and daily activities of the locals.

Cross a few villages to visit a rice shelling mill or Ba Cong Garden before landing at Ninh Kieu wharf. Then visit a local market and Ong Pagoda.

After that, continue your car ride to Ben Tre. 

Have lunch on the way and reach Ben Tre in the afternoon. 

Continue your journey to the ornate temple of the Cao Dai region in Ben Tre (nice temple and less touristy area). Tour the temple, observe the strictly orchestrated, colorful mid-day service to gain an overview of a unique religion, indigenous to Vietnam, which is a mixture of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. 

Overnight in Ben Tre. 

After breakfast, depart from your hotel the boat quay where you will hop on a motorized boat for a 30 minutes cruise on the Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the Mekong River while sight-seeing lively activities along the river such as fishing, water transferring. Our first stop is at the brickworks factory to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Continue to visit one of several coconut processing workshops along the canal. Return to the boat and go through natural scissors creeks to a village and see some local houses making sleeping mats and enjoying some fruits.

Take a motorized cart (tuk tuk) or bicycle on shady paths, go through green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from peasants. 

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we take a rowboat along a beautifully palmed water creek before meeting up with the motorized boat and transfering you back to the pier. Transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City – also known as Saigon – to check in and relax. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city 

After breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up and you will be transferred to the Cho Lon area. Situated not too far away from downtown Ho Chi Minh, Cho Lon is a historic and cultural Chinatown. The highlights cover a walking tour through the vibrantly colored Soi Kinh Lam Textile Market, a visit to a Catholic Church where President Ngo Dinh Diem prayed before surrendering to the coup forces. Following a one- hour ride by cyclo around town, you will have a chance to explore tranquil alleys to learn more about the real daily life of the Chinese community of Ho Chi Minh City. The last stop is a famous Chinese Temple where you can opt to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local customs. 

In the afternoon, take an orientation tour of the city in the old colonial district and the Town Hall. Visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior), the Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.

Overnight in Saigon.

OPTIONAL: A O SHOW 

The A O Show depicts the charming beauty and cultural richness of Southern Vietnamese life in the countryside, in contrast with the nation’s racing urbanization. Performed on the stage of the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, a perfect example of French colonial style circa 1900, this 60-minute-show is a unique mix of the circus, acrobatics, contemporary dance and live music, plus a creative use of bamboo and rattan props from ordinary life. All these elements harmonize to capture the essence of Vietnam’s fascinating culture.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 2 hours (17.30-19.30), including transfer time and show

• Venue: Opera House

• Public show, join-in ticket