Laos - Cambodia - Chiang Rai

From Athens - Thessaloniki - Larnaca

Isolated and exotic, Laos, the "land of a thousand elephants" remains to this day the "back side" of Southeast Asia. Although the "typical" attractions cannot be compared to those of neighboring countries in the region, Laos, with its gentle rhythms of other times and its truly unspoiled nature, will delight travelers looking for traditional ways of life, calm rhythms, away from the frenzy of bars and karaoke, which characterize other neighboring countries with "tourist" infrastructure.

1st Day | Athens / Thessaloniki / Larnaca - Bangkok
Meet at the airport and fly via Dubai to the Thai capital, Bangkok.

2nd Day | Bangkok - Chiang Rai
Arrival at noon in Bangkok, from where we will take the flight to Chiang Rai, Thailand's northernmost province and gateway to the Golden Triangle. Check-in at our hotel and overnight stay.

3rd Day | Chiang Rai - Tour
Breakfast at the hotel and we begin our acquaintance with the city. Chiang Rai was founded by King Meng Rai in 1262 and was the first capital of his dynasty before falling into the hands of the Burmese, where it remained for many hundreds of years. It has its own relaxed rhythms, quiet country life and good climate - with less humidity and more fresh air, coming from the surrounding mountains. Today we will admire, among other things, the many Buddhist monasteries and temples with "exotic" architecture that raise their gilded obelisks to the sky. No visit to Chiang Rai is complete without including one of the North's most popular temples, the modern, controversially aesthetic, white Wat Rong Khun Temple, designed by the famous artist Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997. We continue with a visit to the Golden Triangle region, on the border of three countries, Thailand, Burma and Laos. There we will see up close the local Opium Museum and then we will reach Mae Salong where we will visit a local tea plantation: tea replaced opium cultivation in the area in the late 1970s, something we will learn a lot about during our visit..Back to Chiang Rai. At night, a small shopping street in the city turns into an open-air market and comes alive with hundreds of hawkers. Overnight.

4th Day | Chiang Rai - Laos
Today we will cross the border of Thailand by road, passing through the unspoiled territory of Laos. From Chiang Kong we will cross by boat to Bangkok Chiang Rai, in Huayksai. We will transfer to the pier and board the riverboat with which we will travel on the Mekong River. This interesting route will give us the opportunity to witness unique moments of the life of the minority tribes living on the banks of the river. Before sunset, we will arrive at Pakbeng, a traditional village built on a steep slope with a rich view. Check-in at our hotel. Overnight.

5th Day | Pakbeng - Mekong boating - Luang Prabang
Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the pier and boarding a traditional wooden riverboat to sail again on the waters of the Mekong, the "Mother of Waters" as the river is called by the locals. The unspoiled nature that surrounds the river on both banks is characteristic, with ancient forests and lush vegetation. During our boating, we will visit one of the most sacred and famous caves, Pak U, which houses countless Buddhist statues of all kinds, styles and sizes, dedicated by the faithful, as well as the village of Ban Sang Hai, where the popular lao-lao rice drink is produced. In the late afternoon, we will arrive in Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos. It is a quiet city in the north of the country, in a very beautiful spot between the confluence of the Khan and Mekong rivers, surrounded by towering mountains. The "jewel in the crown", as it is called, combines temples with golden ceilings and Buddhist monasteries, but also buildings of French colonial architecture. Arrival, transfer and check-in at our hotel. Today we will have the opportunity to experience up close the traditional Baci ceremony with dinner at a local restaurant and traditional dances. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

6th Day | Luang Prabang - Tour
Today we will get to know the probably best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The city maintains its reputation as the custodian of Lao culture, with its wonderful natural beauty but above all with the feeling it gives you that it "stands outside of time".. Not by chance, in 1995 UNESCO included the city in the list of World Heritage Sites. Breakfast at the hotel and we start our tour with a visit to the Royal Palaces of the city. We continue with the excellent Wat Hiengthong, one of the oldest temples in the city. Its roof is characteristic, which "hugs" the temple, reaching almost to the ground level, perfectly representative of the Lao tradition. Then we will go outside the city to see the villages of Ban Xengkhong and Ban Xienglek which are famous for their weaving. We return to Luang Prabang and visit the Center for Traditional Art and Ethnology, to learn more about Lao culture. In the evening we can visit the local night market where we will see among other things handmade textiles. Overnight in Luang Pramang.

7th Day | Luang Prabang - Villages of local tribes - Quang Xi Waterfall - Vietnam
Very early in the morning today we will have the opportunity, if we wish, to participate in the traditional almsgiving ritual of the monks, which is preserved only in Laos among the Buddhist nations. Later, after our breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Phosi Market, where we will find a wide variety of local delicacies and souvenirs. Afterwards we will have the opportunity to visit villages of various ethnic minorities in the area. Our route brings us to the Quang Si Waterfall, where we can also enjoy a refreshing swim in its waters or walk along paths in the forest. We return to Luang Prabang and transfer to the train station, from where we will travel to the capital and largest city of Laos, Vientiane. Upon arrival we will visit the impressive Arc de Triomphe – Patuxay – to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.Transfer and check-in at our hotel. Overnight.

8th Day | Vietnam - flight to Cambodia
Breakfast at the hotel and before saying goodbye to Laos, we will have the opportunity to get to know Vientiane, the city located on the banks of the Mekong River, right on the border with Thailand. It is the largest city in the country, with a special atmosphere, as it combines French colonial architecture with Buddhist temples. We will visit That Luang stupa, the majestic temple - also known as the great Golden Stupa - which is considered a national symbol of Laos. If time permits we will visit Wat Sisaket which is considered to be perhaps the oldest sacred temple in the country. We continue to Vientiane airport, from where we will take the flight to Phnom Penh. Arrival, transfer and check-in at our hotel. Overnight.

9th Day | Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
This morning we will depart by road for Siem Reap, Cambodia's second largest city and main gateway to the imposing monuments of Angkor Wat. Siem Reap is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, with its rich history, French colonial architecture and nightlife. Arrive at our hotel and check in. Overnight in Siem Reap

10th Day | Siem Reap (Angor Wat)
This morning we will begin our visit to the most famous temple, the magnificent Angkor Wat, the area of ​​which is the same as that of the palace in Beijing. It is considered a perfect example of Khmer architecture, demonstrating the height of the once mighty empire, which is why three of its central towers are depicted on the Cambodian flag. We continue our tour to other temples, each of which presents a special architecture and charm. Neak Pean was an ancient hospital and has a large square lake surrounded by four smaller ones. Prasat Kravan, a small temple built entirely of bricks, has wonderful reliefs inside. Finally, the Pre Rup temple is one of the oldest in the complex and is dedicated to God Shiva. From its top we will have the opportunity to gaze at the area and enjoy a magnificent sunset. Return to our hotel and stay overnight.

11th Day | Siem Reap (Angor Wat – Tonle Sap Lake – Chong Neas Village)
Today we will continue our tour to the majestic Angkor Wat. Later, we will depart for Tonle Sap Lake, where we will take a beautiful boat trip with a visit to the floating village of Chong Neas. The Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world. It is even connected to the Mekong River through the Tonle Sap River, 100 kilometers long. The images will certainly remain unforgettable. Return to our hotel and stay overnight.

12th Day | Siem Reap - flight to Phnom Penh - Return
We leave Siem Reap behind and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Free time in Phnom Penh for even more city walks, so we can enjoy it until the last minute, before our departure. In the afternoon, we will transfer to the airport where we will board our return flight, via Dubai.

13th Day | Arrival
Arrival in Athens / Thessaloniki / Larnaca