After Breakfast, check out and drive to Chiang Khong, a district in the northeastern part of Chiang Rai. Then cross Khong River by boat to Houayxay check point. After passing through immigration, you will cross the Mekong River to Houayxay in Laos where your Lao guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board a ready traditional boat for the trip down the Mekong River (Join Cruise). Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia's most unvisited, unchanged countries. This once-powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences; Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As your journey downriver you will stop at some tribal minority villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, we visit local market; experience daily lifestyle of colorful hill tribe traders exchanges their goods.

Overnight in Pakbeng.

Breakfast, as you sail downriver as a second leg, you will pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice wine making village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao Rice wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves, where thousands of Buddha statues are stored. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

After breakfast, visit Kwang Si waterfall, located 30km south of Luang Prabang, these nice falls are getting downs as cascades on calcareous bedrock where they have scooped out small basins of turquoise color. Short trek around the fall is suggested. Just 300meters before entrance to the fall is the Butterfly Park, numerous Laotian butterflies set in a beautiful wet landscaped garden. Spend a few minutes at Bear Rescue Sanctuary to find out about “Free the Bears” program where you can also donate or buy souvenirs here to support the running of the project. On your way back to town, stop by at Laos Buffalo Dairy to try delicious cheesecake, Buffalo milk or Ice cream. Finally, a short walk around Hmong village at Ban Ouay to perhaps having a chit chat with Hmong children and photo their beautiful handicrafts.

Afternoon, walking tour visiting the National Museum at the former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. We enjoy a short tour seeing the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong, a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in this city. Just cross the street is Mt Phusi where you challenge yourself for a climb of over 300 steps to the top overlooking the city of Luang Prabang. Time at leisure to stroll down the night market and enjoy local fresh fruit shakes.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Breakfast in the hotel; met by your guide & driver in the hotel lobby and then transfer to the airport for flight to Pakse; met by our guide & driver upon arrival and transfer to Wat Phu Champasak – to visit the fascinating Pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phu. Wat phu is one of Southeast Asia's most dramatically situated temples. We have time to explore these intriguing Khmer ruins, which are perched at the base of Mount Phu Kao. Wat Phu is one of the Lao World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO in 2001, this wonderful archeological site of Khmer civilization dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We continue our journey KHONG Island the largest island in the South Mekong river region known as the 4000 islands, one of the most scenic areas in Laos.

Overnight in DonKhone.

After an early breakfast, we explore Mekong with a slow motor boat down to Ban Khone (Khone Island), where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French colonial buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway with it’s locomotive. We continue discover the 4000 islands area by boat at our leisure to visit the Liphi waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls marking the end of Lao border to Cambodia, also known as the Samphamith. If we are lucky, we may even see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Mekong dolphin at Ban Hang Khone.

Overnight in DonKhone.

After breakfast, we drive to famous waterfalls of Khone Phapeng, the largest waterfall in South East Asia, known as Niagara of the east. Transfer to Cambodia-Laos border. Upon arrival at Dong Krolor border, transfer directly to the Immigration office for custom procedures. Then we transfer to Stung Treng. We embark on the leisure boat to Stung Treng to explore the remote flooded forests of the Mekong, Ramsa wetlands. It stretches south along the Mekong River from the border with Laos to Stung Treng. Only accessible by boat, it is a haven for critically endangered mammals, birds and fish and a unique riverline flooded forest system that is a photographer's dream.

Overnight in Stung Treng.

After breakfast, we continue our trip to Preah Vihear. The Preah Vihear Temple, registered as a World Heritage List in 2008, is on a peak overlooking Cambodia and is the subject of the latest battles with Thailand. We climb the top of the temple of Preah Vihea along the winding road, which is very steep in some places, and finally emerges at the other enclosure of this temple in the king of the mountains. We explore the temple on foot and continue to the last level, clinging to a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains and high hundreds of feet above the lowland of Cambodia. The view from this mountainous temple mountain is breathtaking.

Overnight in Preah Vihear.

We continue our trip to Siem Reap. Our first stop at Koh Ker group is a group of many temples in the forest, about 150km from Siem Reap. These were built when Cambodia was ruled by two kings (uncle and nephew), and Koh Ker was briefly one of the two capital cities, during the 1st half of the 10th century. We arrive Svay Leu Village and start walking or take motobike into the bamboo forest from the village to Peuong Komnu, is a series of Angkorian reliefs carved into the southern cliff of Phnom Kulen, the quality of the work and their preservation is remarkable and the danger of inevitable of the site makes them all the more precious. We also visit Beng Mealea is an overgrown ruin 90mn away from Siem Reap. It is huge, but little known and largely untouched. Besides this temple, we see a small quarry where sandstone was cut to build the temple.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Beat the crowd early morning by 7 am; visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever.

Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the country side with their struggling for daily life.

Continue to the Rolous Group including Lolei, Preah Ko & Bakong temple first. This island temple consists of four brick towers on a double plate rite platform. The 3 temples Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko – located 11 Kilometers (6.8 miles) southeast of the Siem Reap Market – comprise the Rolous group of monuments, and are dating back to the late ninth century and is the earliest site of the 600 years Angkor Period that is open to visitors.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we continue to Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. We begin to visit Bayon Temple. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. From there, we walk to Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. We continue to visit Terrace of the Leper King. Along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports.

We journey out to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Depart for the Tonlé Sap. You will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. You will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and current.

Today we travel by road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. On route you will have a chance to stop on the way to take photo and witness the everyday lives of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no ‘freeway dash’ as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalo wander across the road, pass horse drawn carriages, and school kids walking and cycling to/from school. On route you may wish to stop off in Kompong Kdei, to look at Spean Pratos – an ancient Angkorian bridge. We may choose to stop at Skoun, also known as ‘Spider vile’ due to the deep fried tarantula that is the local delicacy, are you adventurous enough to try one? Upon arrival in Phnom Penh you will check-in to your hotel after which you are free at leisure for the rest of the evening.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, we meet our guide and hop on Cyclo, an original means of transport from Phnom Penh and a fun way to explore this vibrant city. First visit Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in center of Phnom Penh City. It was built in 1373, and stands 27 meters above the ground. Next, we visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony. We will learn about the dark side of Cambodia – Its more recent turbulent and harrowing history. Initially you visit the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (also known as S21), ironically a former school, located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb, this was the infamous Khmer Rouge prison / torture center. We will stop at Central Market is located in the heart of the Phnom Penh. The Khmer name of the market is Phsar Thmei, which translates to “new market”. The Central Market was built in 1937 during the French colonial period, in Art Deco style, and is painted bright ochre.

We will enjoy a cruise for view sunset on the Mekong and Tonle Sap River (1 hour). Situated at the “Four Arms” where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap River before splitting into two branches, Phnom Penh offers the ideal location to discover the mighty Mekong.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.