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 Salana Boutique Hotel welcomes you in the heart of Vientiane with contemporary design in which plenty of wood creates a warm, stylish atmosphere. After an eventful day in the Lao capital, the hotel’s Sarila Spa invites you to relax with soothing treatments and massages. The Kitchen Vibe Bistro serves a combination of classic Lao and French cuisine, and the Pepper Wood Bar is the ideal place to end the evening in stylish surroundings. The rooms, designed in modern Lao style, have a bathroom, air conditioning, TV, Wi-Fi and tea and coffee making facilities.

In the morning, you take the high-speed train (1st class) to the old royal city of Luang Prabang. Sit back and enjoy the picturesque landscape rushing past. You then reach charming Luang Prabang, rightly declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. After freshening up a little at the hotel, 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. 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! 2 nights in Luang Prabang. (B)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast

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. As in neighbouring Vietnam, some regions of Laos offer ideal conditions for growing coffee – so coffee plays a big role here too. After the alms giving, you are treated to a local coffee speciality in one of your guide’s favourite cafés and can taste the quality of Lao beans for yourself. If you like, drink your coffee the local way with sweetened condensed milk. After that, the day 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 60 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 before local delicacies are served on the hotel terrace in the evening – and of course there is fresh fish. 2 nights on the Mekong island of Don Khone. (B/D) (Distance: approx. 180 km; driving time: approx. 3.5–4 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Located right on the banks of the Mekong, this accommodation with local flair is the perfect base for exploring the island. Enjoy dinner in a special atmosphere at the riverside restaurant, which serves fresh regional specialities and international cuisine, and relax by the pool with Mekong views or on the terrace right by the water. The rooms are practically furnished and have a bathroom with shower, fridge and air conditioning.

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. 4 nights in Siem Reap. (B) (Distance: approx. 185 km; driving time: approx. 3.5 hrs)

4 nights · Double room · With breakfast Koulen Central Hotel is located in the heart of Siem Reap – ideal for exploring the lively centre with ease. Relax in the spacious rooftop pool area with swim-up bar, use the fully equipped fitness centre or enjoy Western and Asian dishes in the hotel restaurant. The stylishly furnished rooms have air conditioning, TV and coffee and tea making facilities.

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 today in Angkor with a visit to the Roluos Group of temples. They are among the earliest temples of Angkor and date from the late 9th century. With a view of the temples, you refuel with a picnic lunch including a local sandwich and small local delicacies before continuing your programme by exploring lesser-known temples in the vast area. Slowly but surely, you leave the bustle of the better-known monuments behind and discover impressive temple ruins amid untouched nature. Particularly fascinating is the mysterious temple of Beng Mealea, whose root-covered ruins recall the spectacular Ta Prohm temple you visited the day before. Without the crowds, however, Beng Mealea exudes a very special, mystical atmosphere. In this remote corner of the vast site, you really have the chance to experience the temples in peace and without large crowds – an incredible experience! In the afternoon, you return to Siem Reap and can end the day at your leisure. (B/P) (Distance: approx. 120 km; driving time: approx. 3 hrs)

This morning is at your disposal in Siem Reap. Stroll through the town as you please and browse for souvenirs, for example. Afterwards, more impressive temples are waiting to be discovered. On a newly paved road, you drive further out of town through the village of Preah Dak to visit the well-preserved temple of Banteay Srei, whose delicate reliefs round off your impressions of the imposing complex. You then visit the temples of Banteay Samre and Pre Rup. (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 picnic lunch on the boat with a tasty local rice dish, you continue your journey towards the Cambodian capital. The route takes you through rural Cambodia, where small settlements alternate with farmland such as rice fields and untouched natural areas. Bring a good book, download a few exciting podcasts to your smartphone beforehand or simply let your thoughts wander and your gaze drift out of the window during the drive until you reach Phnom Penh. 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. After a short break, you change perspective once more in the afternoon and watch the bustle of the Cambodian capital from the water: on the deck of a boat, you round off the day at a leisurely pace. The crowning finale is a visit to a trendy rooftop bar, where you toast your shared experiences over a farewell drink with a wonderful view of the river. (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 14: You arrive back in your home country with lots of wonderful impressions in your luggage.