Today you fly to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

You first land in Hanoi and fly on from there to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. On arrival, you are taken to your hotel, where you can rest and freshen up a little. Depending on your arrival time, an early check-in is a good idea so that you can move straight into your room (optional, bookable in advance). You then set off on your sightseeing tour of Vientiane. The Lao capital still bears the marks of French colonial rule but has retained a strong Asian identity. Among other things, you see the city’s oldest surviving temple, Wat Sisaket, whose cloister houses more than 2,000 Buddha images made of ceramic and silver. You can also look forward to the national shrine, the Pha That Luang stupa, and the royal temple of Wat Phra Keo. In the evening, you set out together once more to experience Vientiane’s evening atmosphere. In the centre, Patuxai awaits you, often called the “Arc de Triomphe of Laos” because of its strong resemblance to its French counterpart. It is a wonderful place at sunset and after dark, when the monument and the adjacent fountain are illuminated. 1 night in Vientiane. (Distance: approx. 10 km; driving time: approx. 30 min)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Welcome to the Sabaidee@Lao Hotel! Centrally located in the heart of Vientiane, it offers easy access to fascinating sights and the picturesque Mekong. Numerous restaurants and shopping areas are close by. The hotel combines modern comfort with traditional Lao hospitality. The hotel restaurant serves local specialities as well as Thai, Chinese and Western dishes. Cool off in the outdoor pool, enjoy a cold drink at the bar or relax in the beautifully landscaped garden. The functionally furnished rooms have wooden furniture, air conditioning, cable TV and a private bathroom. An ideal base for exploring the Lao capital.

As in neighbouring Vietnam, some regions of Laos offer ideal conditions for growing coffee – so coffee plays a big role here too. In one of your guide’s favourite cafés, you can taste the quality of Lao coffee beans for yourself. You then continue your tour of Laos towards the idyllic small town of Vang Vieng. On the way, you pass various villages and have the chance to get in touch with local people. In Vang Vieng you check into your hotel. Afterwards, you take a short hike along rice fields, visit several natural caves and enjoy the enchanting beauty of the karst landscape. 1 night in Vang Vieng. (B)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The 4-star Amari hotel is located in Vang Vieng overlooking the tranquil Nam Song River. The 160 rooms have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a safe. The hotel restaurant serves local specialities and international dishes. For relaxation, there is a pool bar, a wellness area and a gym.

Today you take the high-speed train to the old royal city of Luang Prabang. Sit back and enjoy the picturesque landscape rushing past. In the late afternoon, you reach charming Luang Prabang, rightly declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. In the evening, you take a walk and enjoy a refreshing drink with a lovely view of the river. To round off the day, you visit the Hmong night market, held daily from 5 pm to 10 pm. Together with your guide, you discover its many steaming food stalls and take in the still unfamiliar sights and smells. For dinner, simply choose whatever you fancy – your guide will be happy to recommend dishes you really should try, depending on your preferences! 3 nights in Luang Prabang. (B)

3 nights · Double room · With breakfast Hotel Parasol Blanc is located in a quiet residential area of Luang Prabang and offers a pleasant retreat away from the busier streets; the historic centre and the night market are nevertheless easy to reach. The boutique hotel is surrounded by a well-kept tropical garden, with a large lotus pond at its centre creating a relaxed atmosphere. The rooms are tastefully furnished and combine traditional Lao design elements with contemporary comfort, including air conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV and a private bathroom. Breakfast is served in the restaurant overlooking the lotus pond and includes local and international dishes (the selection may vary seasonally). There is also a small outdoor pool for relaxing hours.

Today it’s an early start so as not to miss the monks’ daily morning alms round. The alms giving is a unique tradition that reflects the Buddhist faith in Laos: every morning the monks, in their saffron robes, walk barefoot through the streets of the town with their alms bowls to receive their daily food from the faithful. If you wish, you too can give the monks alms in the form of food. Your guide will talk to you about it the evening before and will be happy to prepare the alms for you. After breakfast, you explore Luang Prabang, also known as the “museum without walls”, on a city tour by tuk-tuk. Immerse yourself in the religious and cultural centre of Laos and visit, among others, the town’s most important and beautiful temples, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun and Wat Aham. In one of these temples you can look forward to a blessing by a monk, who will shower you with good wishes. The tour ends at the National Museum in the former Royal Palace. From midday you have free time in enchanting Luang Prabang. Have lunch in a nice restaurant, stroll through the streets or find a lovely spot with a river view to watch local life. If you feel fit enough, we definitely recommend climbing the 328 steps up the temple hill of Phou Si: especially in the late afternoon and at sunset, it offers a breathtaking view of the town and the Mekong. And don’t miss the night market at the foot of Phou Si! Besides food and souvenirs, Hmong women sell handmade weaving, embroidery and needlework of the finest quality. (B)

Today is devoted to the countryside around Luang Prabang. You start your nature programme with an absolute must – the Kuang Si Waterfalls. The day begins with a hike of about 1.5 hours through the surrounding landscape. The route passes sugar cane plantations and rice fields and gives you authentic insights into rural life in Laos. You should have a good basic level of fitness for the hike, as some sections on the way to the waterfalls follow fairly steep paths and switchbacks. Your reward is wonderful views and the chance to experience the falls away from the biggest crowds. If you would rather not join the hike, you can drive straight to the visitor area of the falls, where there are places to eat and drink, and meet the group later for a joint visit to the waterfalls. There you have the chance to cool off with a swim in the natural rock pools. Afterwards, you find a quiet spot and enjoy a picnic with fresh Asian sandwiches and local snacks in this magnificent setting. You then visit a Lao village and learn how the traditional rice spirit “Lao-Lao” is made. Back in Luang Prabang, the afternoon is at your disposal. Depending on your interests, you can optionally delve deeper into a topic that accompanies you throughout the journey – rice! At Living Land Farm, a small traditional rice farm, many “aha” moments await you: rice production and everything that goes with it is explained vividly and authentically – from ploughing with an ox and planting and transplanting the seedlings to threshing the plants to obtain the grains. You are welcome to lend a hand (optional, bookable locally; the price depends on the number of participants, approx. USD 63 per person for 4 people). (B/P) (Distance: approx. 70 km; driving time: approx. 2.5 hrs)

Today it’s time to say goodbye to Luang Prabang. A domestic flight takes you to Pakse, the capital of Champasak province. Near Pakse, you explore the fascinating temple complex of Wat Phou (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage), one of the best-preserved relics of the Khmer era. Wat Phou is often regarded as an architectural model for Angkor Wat in Cambodia and many other temples in the region. As it receives far fewer visitors than Angkor, however, you can soak up the magical atmosphere of this architecturally and religiously significant site at your leisure as you walk through the impressive grounds. You then continue south. Today’s destination is the inland delta, where the Mekong fans out into around four thousand islands. At your accommodation on the island you can first relax a little before looking forward to dinner. 2 nights on the Mekong island of Don Khone. (B/D) (Distance: approx. 195 km; driving time: approx. 5–6 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Sengahloune Resort is only about two minutes’ walk from the old French railway bridge and has an outdoor pool for relaxing. The rooms are simply furnished and all have air conditioning and a balcony.

Today you set off to explore Don Khone Island and first see one of the main branches of the remarkable Mekong falls, the Li Phi Falls. They are known for their aquamarine water and are a popular photo spot. Various paths let you admire the falls from several angles. You then visit some colonial relics of French rule in Laos: scattered colonial buildings and an old railway bridge. An old locomotive, kept as a memento at a small station, takes you back in time. Around midday, you return to the hotel for a break before more imposing waterfalls follow in the afternoon. They form a natural barrier in the Mekong and prevent the river from being navigable all the way from the sea to China. Particularly impressive is the Khone Phapheng waterfall, the largest in Southeast Asia by volume and one of the widest, with incredible rapids. Depending on the water level, huge masses of water from one of the Mekong’s branches plunge over cascades into the depths. The falls are located at the very southern tip of Laos in an area called Si Phan Don, which literally means “Four Thousand Islands”. Back at your accommodation, local delicacies are once again served on the hotel terrace – and of course there is fresh fish. Enjoy the sunset on the terrace and let yourself be spoiled with good food. (B/D) (Distance: approx. 40 km; driving time: approx. 1 hr)

Today you transfer to the airport in Pakse. It’s time to say goodbye to Laos as you fly on to Cambodia. In Siem Reap, the gateway to one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia – the temple complexes of Angkor (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) – your new guide welcomes you at the airport. The rest of the day is at your disposal. 3 nights in Siem Reap. (B) (Distance to Pakse: approx. 160 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

3 nights · Double room · With breakfast Located on the quiet outskirts of Siem Reap, Sakmut Boutique Hotel is an ideal base for exploring the world-famous temple complex of Angkor and the surrounding sights. The hotel impresses with modern architecture with traditional influences and a relaxed atmosphere amid tropical gardens. Between excursions, you will find plenty of ways to relax, including in the greenery. The rooms are designed for comfort and rest – just right after a day full of impressions.

After breakfast at the hotel, you set off by tuk-tuk to discover the fascinating temples of Angkor, among the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The vast temple complex covers more than 200 km² and includes many different temples, such as the famous Angkor Wat from the first half of the 12th century. Among other things, you visit the South Gate of the royal city of Angkor Thom and the smiling faces of the Bayon temple. More than 200 faces carved from stone, some several metres high, look out in all directions and show just one aspect of Angkor Thom’s impressive architecture. Next, the Ta Prohm temple lies seemingly untouched and overgrown with roots and trees amid the lush jungle – so breathtakingly beautiful that it has served as a backdrop for Hollywood film productions! In the afternoon, you visit the most famous Khmer temple, Angkor Wat, and marvel at this important archaeological site. Before returning to Siem Reap, you visit another temple, where you take part in a Baci ceremony and are blessed with good wishes and prayers – a spiritual and inspiring experience. After a short break at the hotel, you take a walk around Siem Reap’s night market, where you can sample the varied street food. You end the eventful day with a drink on lively Pub Street. Afterwards, your tour guide accompanies you back to the hotel – or you can spend a little more time in the city’s pubs as you please. (B) (Distance: approx. 70 km; driving time: approx. 1.5–2 hrs)

You begin your second day in Angkor with a visit to the Roluos group of temples. These are among the earliest temples of Angkor and probably date from the late 9th century. In the afternoon, you drive further out of town along a newly paved road through the village of Preah Dak to visit the well-preserved Banteay Srei temple, whose delicate reliefs round off your impressions of this imposing site. Finally, you visit the temples of Banteay Samre and Pre Rup before ending your last evening in Angkor at a relaxed pace. (B) (Distance: approx. 75 km; driving time: approx. 1.5–2 hrs)

Today you say goodbye to Siem Reap and impressive Angkor Wat and first make a stop at Tonle Sap. It is the largest lake in Southeast Asia (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) and one of the richest inland fishing waters in the world. For many people, the lake is the source of their livelihood – they live with it and from it. Many residents live on houseboats or in stilt houses on the shore and so adapt to the changing water level. Every year, a natural phenomenon unique in the world can be observed at Tonle Sap: from June, monsoon rains and meltwater from the Himalayas cause the lake to swell to four to five times its size. Once in the floating fishing village of Kompong Phluk, you take a short boat tour during which you experience the impressive lake from a different perspective and see the floating settlements. You learn about the life and daily routine of the local people in this fascinating UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. After a small lunch snack on the boat, you continue your journey towards the Cambodian capital. 2 nights in Phnom Penh. (B/P) (Distance: approx. 350 km; driving time: approx. 6 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Baitong Hotel is centrally located in Phnom Penh’s popular BKK1 district – ideal for easily reaching cultural highlights, boutiques and restaurants. The modern design hotel combines Asian elegance with urban comfort and is a green oasis in the middle of the city. In the hotel restaurant you can enjoy high-quality Cambodian and international cuisine, while the rooftop pool and spa invite you to unwind. The stylishly furnished rooms offer a high level of comfort and thoughtful design.

In the morning, you set off on a stroll through Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s modern, up-and-coming capital is home to a wealth of sights. Once called the “Pearl of Southeast Asia”, it was considered one of the most beautiful cities in Indochina. You pass some of the sights of this lively city and then visit the Royal Palace with its magnificent Silver Pagoda. In the late afternoon, you get together once more with the whole group and your guide to round off the journey. First, you take a short boat trip on the river to see the capital from a different side. The crowning finale of the day is a visit to a trendy rooftop bar: over a farewell drink with a wonderful view of the river, you toast the experiences you have shared. (B)

At the appropriate time, you transfer to the airport in Phnom Penh – it’s time to say goodbye to Southeast Asia as you start your journey home. (B) (Distance: approx. 15 km; driving time: approx. 45 min) Day 15: You arrive back in your home country with lots of wonderful impressions in your luggage.