Southeast Asian tour

Welcome to Vietnam, to Ho Chi Minh City! Our adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:00 PM on the first day. If you have some free time before the meeting, go out and discover the city's blend of old and new, East and West. The Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum are great sites to learn more about the history of Vietnam. If you arrive a day or two early, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta are excellent day trips to further explore the city!

We travel by public bus across the border, through the rural Vietnam and Cambodia and on to Phnom Penh (about 10 hours including two border crossings and lunch). The capital of Cambodia is located at a major crossroads of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some excellent examples of French-inspired architecture. If you're looking for a tasty drink upon arrival, head to the Foreign Correspondents' Club for a rooftop mojito or if you're in the mood for shopping, stop by the art-deco Psar Thmei (Central Market) or go to Psar Tuol Tom Pong (the Russian Market) for the best range of local souvenirs.

Today we face the tragic past of Cambodia on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), a former school that served as a torture center for the Khmer Rouge. It is estimated that over 20,000 people were detained and tortured here. We also head towards the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, where a stupa made up of about 8,000 human skulls marks the execution site for the victims of Tuol Sleng's torture. Later, you might want to learn about a brighter period of Cambodian history with an optional visit to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. Wat Phnom, shrouded in myth, is equally worth visiting, as is the National Museum with its excellent Khmer collection. Bicycle tours around the city are a great alternative to walking and generally include the central market, the US embassy, Wat Phnom, and the Mekong riverfront.

Our tour continues with a private minibus journey to Battambang (about 6 hours). We visit a pottery village. Then we proceed to Cambodia's second-largest city, Battambang, a charming town along the river with French elegance, friendly Khmer people, and beautifully preserved colonial architecture. Why not take part in an optional cooking class to learn the secrets of local dishes such as amok, Khmer curry, and spicy fried chicken?

We spend some time cycling around the countryside, traveling towards the rural villages around Battambang. This is a great opportunity to get a closer look at what rural life means in Cambodia. We visit local families who produce agricultural products in the traditional way passed down through generations, such as rice paper, dried bananas, and sticky rice in bamboo. We stop at a Khmer house to relax and enjoy some coconut water while chatting about their life. In the afternoon, we continue in a private minibus to Siem Reap (about 3 hours).

Our tour continues to Angkor Wat in the early hours to watch the sunrise over it as in ancient times (weather permitting). Then temple-hop with the local guide. The temples, dating back to the 9th century, were believed to represent the cosmic world and were arranged in perfect balance, symmetry, and composition. The finely carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are astonishing, and there are spectacular photographic opportunities at any time of the day. Watching a sunrise or sunset is a must. The ruins are spread over an area of about 160 square kilometers, but the main group of temples is close to Siem Reap, so there will be plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, Bayon, and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm.

We continue our exploration of the Angkor complex this morning. In the afternoon, we embark on a private local boat to discover the floating villages and daily life at Chhong Kneas, a trading port for agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia.

The journey continues in a private minibus from Siem Reap to Bangkok (about 10 hours including border crossings and lunch). Arrive in the vibrant capital of Thailand and dive into this exciting world of tuk tuks, khlong boats, and street vendors serving delicious Thai dishes. Perhaps go out to taste some local specialties as a final farewell with your travel companions.

Our journey concludes this morning, with no further activities scheduled. However, if you have more time, Bangkok is full of things to do, including the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the fascinating Jim Thompson House Museum. Otherwise, our journey thus comes to an end. Until the next tour!