Immerse yourself in the natural and cultural heritage of Indochina, from tranquil Buddhist temples to shimmering palaces, legendary jungle cities to colourful, chaotic markets. Cruise the serene waters of otherworldly Ha Long Bay and wander amid the vine-covered courtyards of Angkor. Learn the secrets of Thai cuisine with a local chef, witness a Laotian almsgiving tradition, and soak up Southeast Asia’s heady blend of old and new at every step of the journey.
Travel Style
National Geographic Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
2 - Light
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet with Monks, Chiang Mai
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Thai Home Dinner, Chiang Mai
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cambodian Circus Performance and Talk, Siem Reap
Your G for Good Moment: Meal with Local Baan Ou Community, Luang Prabang
Your G for Good Moment: Kym Viet Local Enterprise Visit, Hanoi
Your G for Good Moment: New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, Siem Reap
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class, Chiang Mai
Your Discover Moment: Luang Prabang
Your Discover Moment: Kym Viet Craft & Lunch, Hanoi. Arrival transfer. Tour of Bangkok including boat ride on the klong (canals). Visit the temple at Doi Suthep. Orientation walk of Chiang Mai night market. Tour of Luang Prabang. Boat tour to Pak Ou cave temples. Kuang Sii waterfall excursion. Hanoi old town cyclo tour. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum visit. Halong Bay overnight cruise. Ho Chi Minh City cyclo tour. Cu Chi tunnels tour. War Remnants Museum visit. Phnom Penh cyclo tour. Tuol Sleng Prison Museum tour and Choeung Ek memorial (the "killing fields") tour. Siem Reap orientation walk and night market. Two-day guided tour of Angkor Wat. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Enjoy a traditional khantoke dinner in a rural village, enjoy a visit and talk with a monk at an historic Chiang Mai Temple, have lunch at a training restaurant for disadvantaged youth, witness an outstanding performance at Phare (the Cambodian circus), take thrilling cyclo rides for a different perspective in bustling cities
How large will the group be?
Max 16, Avg 10.
What meals are included in this trip?
17 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private vehicle, boat, Songthaew (local truck), plane, cyclo, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels – 16 nts, junk boat – 1 nt.
Itinerary
Bangkok
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting. You are free to relax, explore the city, and adjust to the frantic pace of Bangkok.
Bangkok/Chiang Mai
Set out to explore the Thai capital. Board a traditional klong boat for a ride along the city’s winding canals, gliding past quaint temples, modern skyscrapers, and houses perched above the water. Then explore the gardens, and courtyards of the dazzling Grand Palace, once the official residence of the Thai royal family, and gaze upon the sacred statue of the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew. Later, catch a flight to Chiang Mai. Settle into exquisite surroundings in Chiang Mai and take a relaxing break from the fast pace of Bangkok.
Chiang Mai
Delve into the bustle of Chiang Mai’s morning markets with a local chef, and learn about colourful fruits and fragrant herbs as you select ingredients for a Thai cooking class. Enjoy your creation for lunch, then set out to visit a historic temple. Gain profound insights into daily life and core Buddhist principles through a conversation with a Theravada monk, an alumnus of the International Buddhist University, Sri Lanka, and a respected teacher of Buddhism and meditation at a renowned international center in Chiang Mai. Later, clear your mind to the chanting of monks at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the most spectacular gilded temples in Thailand. Monk Chats are a great cultural exchange, but is also important in helping the young Monks improve their English.
Chiang Mai
Spend a full day exploring Chiang Mai’s temples and forested hills on your own, or choose between a variety of optional activities. Opt to take a cycling tour through verdant rice paddies and the elegant historic district. This evening, visit a village outside of the city for a khantok-style dinner, served on low pedestal trays, and chat with your hosts about life in rural Thailand. Later, choose to visit Chiang Mai’s vibrant night market. The Khantok dinner is a must-do when you reach northern Thailand. Khantok in the Northern dialect means a wooden tray used for carrying dishes, round in shape, made of teak wood. The host will invite guests to sit on the floor around the khantok. The main dishes on the khantok usually include sticky rice, hang-le curry (Burmese-styled curry), and some chili-pasted crispy pork. After, enjoy tea time with the opportunity to talk with local people to learn their way of living.
Chiang Mai/Luang Prabang
Fly to Luang Prabang, a leafy Laotian city nestled at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. Take an orientation walk of the beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage-listed town, strolling past traditional wooden Buddhist temples and elegant French colonial buildings.
Luang Prabang
Rise at dawn to observe the daily almsgiving ritual, when Buddhist monks walk through the streets collecting offerings of food from the local residents in exchange for blessings. Then visit the National Museum—formerly the Royal Palace—to see the golden Phra Bang Buddha statue for which the city is named; and explore the resplendent Wat Xieng Thong, one of Luang Pragang’s largest and most historic temples. Later, hop on a boat and float down the Mekong to the caves of Pak Ou, a religious site that harbours thousands of Buddha sculptures within its limestone chambers.
Luang Prabang
Spend the early morning at leisure before venturing into the lush countryside to visit a G for Good sponsored project in the Baan Ou community. Enjoy this special time to connect with women who are empowered to actively participate and lead in tourism activities, including; demonstrating the making of Laos rice noodles, weaving, and providing authentic meal experiences. After lunch, continue to Kuang Si Waterfall–relax by the tiered limestone pools and take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters. This evening, choose to visit Luang Prabang’s bustling night market with the National Geographic Expedition Leader.
Luang Prabang/Hanoi
Enjoy some free time in Luang Prabang before catching a late afternoon flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.
HANOI/HA LONG BAY
Begin the day with a visit to the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, one of Vietnam’s most influential political leaders. Afterward, transfer to Ha Long Bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from serene, turquoise waters. Settle into your cabin on a traditional-style wooden boat or junk, where we’ll spend the night, and embark on a cruise of Bai Tu Long Bay, a more secluded section of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue to glide around the bay’s stunning karst formations, and explore the fascinating Me Cung cave with our local guide. This traditional wooden sailing boat offers a unique way of navigating the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay with all the comforts of a motorized, floating hotel. The boat crew will prepare an included seafood lunch and dinner. All cabins are twin share and have an en-suite bathroom. The boat features an enclosed dining and sitting area and of course plenty of outside deck space to enjoy your beautiful surroundings.
HA LONG BAY/HANOI
Return to land and head back to Hanoi. Enjoy lunch at KymViet, a G Adventures–supported program that teaches stitching and sewing skills to local people with disabilities. Learn about KymViet meeting with the staff and make a small handicraft. Then set out to discover Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter on a cyclo, a three-wheel bicycle taxi, whizzing past vendors hawking all manner of trinkets and roadside chefs cooking up sizzling street eats. Classic French colonial architecture, beautiful decor and a scenic location makes Hanoi a fantastic place to visit. If local cuisine piques your interest, opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, and absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of this bustling metropolis on a cyclo tour. Later, opt to delve into the colourful aisles of Ben Thanh Market, known for an abundance of food stalls as well as shops selling handicrafts, textiles, jewelry, and electronics; and try your hand at bargaining.
Ho Chi Minh City
Venture to the legendary Cu Chi tunnels, a network of underground passageways that provided a base for Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. Visit underground hospitals and ammunition stores, and learn about the vital role that the tunnels played in the eventual victory of the North. Later, visit the War Remnants Museum, a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War. Choose to take a tour of the Reunification Palace, the site which marked the end of the war.
Ho Chi Minh City/Phnom Penh
Fly to Phnom Penh and explore the eclectic Cambodian capital on a cyclo tour. Pedal along the tree-lined riverfront past some of the city’s main sights, including the French colonial post office and the gleaming Royal Palace, where the king of Cambodia still resides. Then opt to visit the famous Foreign Correspondents' Club for sunset drinks.
Phnom Penh
Today, we spend time learning about Cambodia’s tragic 20th-century past, visiting sites that commemorate the “killing fields” of the Khmer Rouge—a brutal regime that ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. Pay your respects to victims of the Cambodian genocide at the haunting Choeung Ek Memorial; and visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high-security prison where nearly 17,000 people were tortured and incarcerated during the Khmer Rouge’s years in power.
Phnom Penh/Siem Reap
Drive to Siem Reap—the gateway to mystical Angkor. Take an orientation walk through the entertainment district and visit one of the city’s exciting night markets, an open-air maze of neon-lit stalls selling a kaleidoscopic array of products.
Siem Reap
Spend the day exploring the ruins of Angkor, the magnificent 12th-century capital of the Khmer Empire. Wake early to watch the sunrise over the spires of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument ever built, and wander through the city’s mystical courtyards and jungle-covered temples with an expert local guide. Stop for a typical Khmer lunch at the New Hope Cambodia vocational training restaurant, a G Adventures–supported initiative that provides hospitality training to unemployed youth. This evening, we’ll enjoy a performance at a Cambodian circus, another social enterprise aimed at uplifting underprivileged young adults.
Siem Reap
Continue to discover the archaeological wonders of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor with our local guide. Opt to visit the Angkor National Museum, browsing its interactive galleries and stunning collections of relics; or choose to tour the floating villages of Tonle Sap lake, encountering lively communities complete with markets, clinics, and schools.
Siem Reap
Depart at any time.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your Expedition Leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
