Itinerary

Day 1: Bangkok

Travel around the bustling Thai capital in a tuk-tuk or relish the intoxicating aromas of Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1.

You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

Bangkok has so much to offer those with time to explore - why not take a riverboat to Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in some Thai massage?

Pay a visit to Wat Pho, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha and keeper of the magic behind Thai massage.

Explore the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Optional Activities

    Wat Pho, Bangkok - THB50.00
    Grand Palace, Bangkok - THB400.00

Meals Included
1 Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)

Bangkok

The chaotic headlong pace of Bangkok doesn't match up with many people's idealised vision of the exotic capital of Siam. Scattered with high-rise buildings of concrete and glass, the city is a sprawling plain that's home to a population of at least nine million, and it often feels even bigger. But under the shadow of the skyscrapers you'll find a heady mix of frenetic markets, noisy traffic, hushed golden temples and early-morning alms-giving ceremonies. One way or another, the place will probably get under your skin - and if you don't enjoy the challenge of slogging through jams of buses and tuk-tuks, which fill the air with a chainsaw drone and clouds of pollution, you can spend time exploring the impressive temples and museums or shopping 'til you drop.
Day 2 to 4: Angkor Wat

Journey from Thailand into Cambodia and discover the history of the Khmer Empire at Angkor Wat. Be astounded by the Bayon and jungle-covered ruins of Ta Prohm.

It's a long drive from Bangkok to Siem Reap (approx. 8-9 hours including border crossing and lunch). The small but expanding town of Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor. It's markets are a great place to shop or to try some cheap, delicious street food.

Temple-hop with our local guide to make the most of our visit to the world-famous Angkor complex. These temples were built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer empire was the pre-eminent influence in South-East Asia. The temples were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing and there are spectacular photographic opportunities at any time of day - watching a sunrise or sunset is a must. The ruins are scattered over an area of some 160 sq km, but the main cluster of temples is close to Siem Reap so we'll have plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm.

Depending on the season there may be a chance to visit Tonle Sap Lake for a look at local life.
Included Activities

    3-Day Angkor Pass
    2 days with a local guide

Optional Activities

    Landmine Museum, Siem Reap - USD2.00
    Half-day village tour, Siem Reap - USD12.00
    Tonle Sap Lake boat trip, Siem Reap - USD15.00
    Remork to Tonle Sap Lake, Siem Reap - USD10.00

Meals Included
3 Breakfasts
Accommodation
Hotel (3 nts)

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat really is a spectacular as all the guidebooks and newspaper articles have led you to believe, and nothing can quite prepare you for your awe-inspiring first glimpse of the temple's five majestic towers. Angkor literally means "city" or "capital" and that's exactly what the huge temple complex once was - the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Angkor Wat itself is usually recognised as the most impressive temple within the complex, both in terms of it's grandeur and it's sheer magnitude. As you approach, the intricacy of the layout becomes apparent, and close up, every nook and cranny reveals itself to be filled with fine detail; around every corner a new feature surpasses the last. Throughout the day the colours of the stone seem to change, the spires golden in the dying light at dusk.
Day 5 to 6: Phnom Penh

Cambodia's capital is the perfect place to uncover the country's past, present and future. Confront grim exhibits at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and be humbled by the sobering Killing Fields.

Our journey to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh takes approx 6 hrs and is a great opportunity to look at the real Cambodia. We'll make several stops at points of interest along the way and it may be possible to see the cottage industry at Santuk Silk Farm and sample the local cuisine of deep-fried spiders at Skun.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, is set on a major junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some fine examples of French-inspired architecture. Confront Cambodia's tragic past on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It's estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. Head out to the Choeung Ek Memorial, where a stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls marks the site of the infamous Killing Fields. This was the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng and standing in this peaceful setting it's almost unthinkable to imagine that to date nearly 9000 corpses have been exhumed from the area.

Learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with a visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

Explore Wat Phnom, a peaceful temple situated on a hill for which the city is named. According to legend, a 14th-century woman named Penh found sacred Buddhist objects in the nearby river and placed them here on the small hill.

Check out the National Museum. Housed in a beautiful traditional building, it contains many outstanding examples of Khmer craftsmanship.


   Guided tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
    Guided tour of Choeung Ek

Optional Activities

    Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh - USD6.25
    Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh - USD2.00
    National Museum, Phnom Penh - USD3.00
    Cyclo tour, Phnom Penh - USD3.00

Meals Included
2 Breakfasts
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nts)

Phnom Penh

Cambodia's hot and dusty capital has a reputation for being chaotic and noisy but it has actually become far more pleasant and relaxed in recent years. Wandering through the broad tree-lined boulevards dotted with old colonial villas you'll find that the city has managed to retain much of it's original charm, especially as it hasn't (yet) been overwhelmed by too many towering high-rise developments. Life in Phnom Penh centres around the lively riverfront area where in the evening the locals come to take in the air, snack on the street hawkers food and enjoy the impromtu waterside entertainment along the long grassy promenade. The capital is also a fantastic place for souvenir shopping and with it's great range of restaurants it's the perfect place to sample cambodian cuisine.
Day 7: Chau Doc

Witness the diversity of Mekong life while crossing into Vietnam by boat.

We travel down the Mekong to Chau Doc, crossing into Vietnam along the way. Near Chau Doc, we get a great look at river life in the Mekong Delta, and if you're lucky, you might also get to see a fabulous sunset (approx 4-5 hrs).
Famous for floating houses and ethnic diversity, Chau Doc features Chinese, Cham and Khmer communities with their mosques, temples and churches.
Optional Activities

    Sam Mountain trip, Chau Doc - USD4.00

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)

Day 8 to 10: Ho Chi Minh City

Clamber into the Cu Chi Tunnels to learn what life was like for Viet Minh soldiers. Hit Ho Chi Minh City's rowdy streets on a cyclo tour.

Our journey to Ho Chi Minh City takes approx 8 hrs. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is characterised by a vast array of sights and sounds; a fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. The huge number of people rushing about their daily lives in Vietnam's largest city gives it a dynamic atmosphere and the French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes and coffee on offer. Much of the city's life takes place on the busy streets lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath, selling everything from soup to sophisticated electronics.
Spend a few hours exploring the frenetic heart of the city or bargaining at the historic Ben Thanh Market.

Visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This former Viet Cong stronghold provides an insight into the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Vietnamese people, as well as a unique sense of what underground life was like during the American War.

Experience the hustle and bustle of old Saigon in cyclos (bicycle rickshaws) and explore some of the city's more interesting sights, including the War Remnants Museum.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers.

Board an overnight sleeper train to Hoi An. Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are a true Intrepid experience and the best way to travel long distances with the locals. Sleeper trains typically have four berth compartments (occasionally six berth depending on seasonal variations), which have bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. On occasion, passengers of different genders will be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but some travellers take the opportunity to stock up on fresh bread, cheese and fruit prior to departure.
Included Activities

    Cu Chi Tunnels
    Cyclo tour
    War Remnants Museum

Optional Activities

    Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City - VND30000.00

Meals Included
1 Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nts), Overnight sleeper train (1 nt)

Day 11 to 12: Hoi An

Be seduced by the old-world charm of Hoi An, with shops selling everything from suits to handmade lanterns.

Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An is being beautifully restored and preserved. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South-East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of Hoi An look exactly as they did more than a century ago and it retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it.
It's also a shopping mecca - with much to browse and buy. Choose from original paintings, handcraft woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and more. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring - with a great variety of fabrics and tailors to choose from. Bring your favourite piece of clothing or even just a picture, and you'll be able to have it copied.

Your leader will take you on a walk around the Ancient Town.

You have time here to explore the beautifully restored and preserved Chinese shop houses, enjoy the vibrant and busy market, visit Cua Dai Beach, cycle to the rice fields and browse the array of art galleries.
Included Activities

    Ancient Town

Optional Activities

    My Son Cham Ruins including car transport & guide, Hoi An - VND800000.00
    Thu Bon River boat trip, Hoi An - VND100000.00
    Bike hire (1 day), Hoi An - VND20000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nts)

Day 13 to 14: Hue

Ascend the aptly named Sea Cloud Pass en route to Hue, the Vietnamese centre of learning, religion and Nguyen imperialism. Visit the impressive Imperial Citadel and royal tomb and take a relaxing cruise on the Perfume River.

On our way to Hue we, we can stop at China Beach before crossing the dramatic Hai Van Pass to the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. After a quick stop, continue on to Hue (approx 5 hrs including stops).
The pace of life is slow and tranquillity prevails in Hue - the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Founded as a royal city in 1687, it's the gateway to the treasures of Vietnam's royal past. Hop on to your cyclo for a tour of the city - a truly fun and Intrepid way to explore the town.

Visit the Imperial Citadel, including the Forbidden Purple City. The latter was almost totally destroyed during the American War's Tet Offensive, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric and the gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country during the war.

Enjoy a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River. The trip includes a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, considered by many to be the unofficial symbol of Hue. It's an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. One of the most poignant displays is a car belonging to a former monk who, in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. We also visit one of the royal tombs, that of Emperor Tu Duc, with its central lake set amid a grove of frangipani and pine trees, and we may visit what many believe to be the most majestic of all the royal tombs, Minh Mang.

The bustling Dong Ba Market offers a plethora of goods and foods to see and sample, and it's a good place to try some of the specialities that graced the Nguyen emperors' banquet tables, such as the banh khoai, a royal rice cake.
Included Activities

    Cyclo tour
    Imperial Citadel
    Perfume River cruise and Thien Mu Pagoda
    Royal tomb

Optional Activities

    Bike hike (1 day), Hue - VND60000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nts)

Day 15: Hanoi

Feast on a scrumptious breakfast at the inspirational KOTO restaurant, dedicated to training disadvantaged youth, before exploring Hanoi's leafy streets.

We fly from Hue to Hanoi.
The capital of Vietnam is a charming city with a population of around four million. Hanoi is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant public parks and its thriving old town centre, which is an architectural museum piece with blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a 1930s provincial French town. As Vietnam develops to compete with other South-East Asian countries, the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake reflects the contrasts of modern office buildings, old Buddhist temples and the tangle of ancient streets in its still surface.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, which includes the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
The rest of the day is free to explore the city. Venture into the atmospheric Old Quarter to see the Vietnam of old, stroll the tree-lined boulevards to admire the French architecture or visit one of the many museums for some insight into the country's turbulent history.
Optional Activities

    Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Museum, Hanoi - VND50000.00
    Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi - VND20000.00
    Women's Museum, Hanoi - VND30000.00
    Army Museum, Hanoi - VND20000.00
    Temple of Literature, Hanoi - VND10000.00
    Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison, Hanoi - VND15000.00
    Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi - VND25000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)

Day 16: Halong Bay

Glide past stunning scenery on an unforgettable boat tour of Halong Bay.

Our day starts with a buffet breakfast at KOTO restaurant, which aims to teach street children hospitality skills that will enable them to find employment. We then travel by private minibus to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay (approx 4 hrs).
Halong Bay is a breathtaking secluded harbour with 2,000 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters of Bac Bo Gulf. One of Vietnam's most scenic regions, this area of about 1,500 sq km is dotted with innumerable beaches and grottos, created over thousands of years by waves and wind.

Board our private boat and cruise among the dramatic limestone peaks. There's an opportunity to swim in the famed South China Sea, as well as to explore caves filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a night sky alive with stars. Our sailing junk has twin-share cabins that have air-conditioning and private facilities. There's also a dining room and bar where we enjoy a sumptuous lunch and dinner.

BOAT SHORTAGE:
Due to recent unforeseen late changes by local authorities in Halong Bay a large proportion of boats are now no longer permitted to stay overnight, thus resulting in a shortage of boats. To ensure we can accommodate all travellers overnight on a boat we are occasionally using a larger boat (approx. 12 cabins) and splitting our groups across different boats. A group leader will be present on each boat, and the route taken and inclusions on board will remain the same.
Included Activities

    Breakfast at KOTO restaurant
    Overnight boat cruise

Accommodation
Overnight boat (1 nt)

Day 17 to 18: Hanoi

Try to spot a lucky tortoise in Hoan Kiem Lake, the serene heart of Hanoi. Shopping in the Old Quarter is a great way to spend those last holiday dollars.

The journey back to Hanoi takes approx 3.5 hrs.
The afternoon is free for you to explore this delightful city. Why not stop for a bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) at one of the microbars in the Old Quarter or relax at a cafe.

More information from The Imaginative Traveller:

• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips