THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll set off on a city and temples tour of Bangkok. The architecture here has an almost surreal blend of ultra-modern skyscrapers alongside ancient temples and traditional side streets. Explore old and new districts on a comprehensive tour as our Local Insider guides you around the city’s three most famous temples – Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha), Wat Pho and the Marble Temple. You’ll have some free time to explore in the afternoon before we reconvene to delve into Bangkok’s cultural cornerstone – food and nightlife. As night falls and the city lights up you’ll be whizzed around on a Tuk Tuk food tour. Take in the sights, smells and sounds of Bangkok as you discover markets, street food vendors and local restaurants, sampling local favourites like spicy papaya salad, crispy catfish and much more. We’ll round off the tour at a lively bar – the perfect way to end your night in Bangkok.

We recommend swiping a few snacks from the breakfast table this morning as we have a big journey ahead through eastern Thailand, across the border and into Cambodia. We should cross around midday, continuing on to Siem Reap with our Local Insider. After a late-afternoon check-in you’ll have some time to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat before we get together for an incredible Phare circus show. Phare Ponleu Selpak (the brightness of art) originated at a refugee camp on the Thai border in 1986. It was developed as a way to use artistic expression to help young refugees overcome the trauma of war. The association that puts on the show focuses on the revival of Khmer culture, which was significantly damaged during the Khmer Rouge regime. They aim to provide social, educational and community support to street kids, orphans and children in high-risk situations. You’ll get to enjoy an hour of pure Cambodian theatrical and acrobatic performance while also supporting an excellent cause!

It’s an early start today, but our morning activity makes the sound of an untimely alarm seem like a beautiful symphony, because you’ll have the privilege to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. This Unesco World Heritage site is the largest religious monument in the world, a stunning feat of 900 year-old temple architecture, four times larger than Vatican City. It’s an otherworldly marvel to look at, and a fascinating insight into the Khmer Empire, but seeing it at dawn is another experience altogether. Even the unreligious will get a little spiritual butterfly fluttering in their stomach as the reddish tints of sunrise peak through the temple’s intricate carvings and shimmer across the surrounding moat’s reflections. You’ll get to see it for yourself before tucking into breakfast and having some free time to explore the area. Rejoin our Local Insider for an e-bike tour of the rest of Angkor Archaeological Park, including Ta Prohm – a stone temple that has been atmospherically reclaimed by nature – and Angkor Thom, the last city of the Khmer Empire.

The next leg of our journey begins this morning with a transfer to Phnom Penh. It’s a fairly long journey but an incredibly scenic one through the luscious Cambodian countryside. We’ll stop at Kampong K'dei, a remarkably well-preserved stone-arch bridge dating back to the 12th century, at around midday for lunch. Then it’s onward to Phnom Penh and our hotel for the evening. After freshening up we’ll set sail on a dreamy sunset cruise on the Mekong, taking in the city’s most iconic landmarks as day slowly turns into night..

You’ve gotten to know Phnom Penh through its food, but now it’s time to get to know the city a little better from a historical and cultural perspective. After filling up on breakfast you’ll be whisked around the city on a comprehensive tour, most notably taking in the ornate designs and luscious surrounding gardens of the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Armed with fresh knowledge of the city’s finest eateries, you’ll have some free time for lunch before reconvening for one of the most culturally important activities on the trip – a visit to the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. You simply cannot understand modern Cambodia without understanding the horrors of the Pol Pot regime. While profoundly sad, this experience is a must, not only to honour those who lost their lives, but also to understand the story of this country and its people.

It’s time for our final border crossing of the trip, but this one won’t be on land. Instead you’ll get to hop on a speedboat down the Mekong river, into Vietnam and onward to Chau Doc, where we’ll spend the evening at a beautiful riverside hotel. Enjoy views of the passing boats from the comfort of the pool, or the balcony of your room, before a delicious group dinner at the Bassac Restaurant on site.

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll be heading back to the Mekong, this time swapping the speedboat for the Mekong Eyes, a gorgeous old river boat that we’ll call home on an overnight river cruise. The boat is made from the finest quality wood, once used for rice barges, and is a charming nod to the area’s history. Inside is a more modern affair, with 14 lavishly decorated rooms, a large dining room and bar, and an upper-deck panorama lounge. We’ll depart around midday, having lunch onboard and stopping for an excursion through rural orchards and villages – a fascinating insight into local life. Back on the boat you’ll settle in for sunset on the top deck and have dinner before retiring to your air-conditioned cabin.

Enjoy a serene breakfast onboard this morning before we check-out from the boat. Our journey downstream continues on a sampan rowing boat, as our Local Insider guides you through the river’s many islets. Explore intertwining canals and hop off on Tan Phong Islet, where you’ll get to experience some local music and try your hand at traditional handicrafts. You’ll even get the chance to go on a cycle alongside the canals before we settle down for a well-earned lunch. In the afternoon we journey to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving mid-afternoon. Spend your first night in Vietnam’s most populous city as you wish.

We begin our final full day with an exciting treasure hunt at Ben Thanh Market, where you'll navigate through bustling stalls, interact with local vendors, and discover unique souvenirs, as well as a fair few culinary delights. Then we’ll continue on an immersive walking tour of the city, discovering the unique perspectives of Ho Chi Minh’s past and present, from the 17th-century French arrival to the Vietnam War and beyond. Explore the city’s variety of architectural landmarks, gardens and monuments, sip classic Vietnamese coffee in a trendy local cafe and learn about the lesser-known tales and quirky characters that tell the city’s story. The tour ends with a Vietnamese family-style Farewell dinner at a local restaurant as we reflect and an incredible journey through Indochina.

Sadly, our Southeast Asian extravaganza has come to an end. You’ll have one last breakfast before being transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) in time for your flight home. You could alternatively continue the Culture Trip adventures going by joining our Vibrant Vietnam trip, a further 10-day deep-dive into this magical nation!