Travel with Conscience

The Best of Indochina – Thailand – Vietnam-Cambodia 15night/16 day

Day 1

Arrival in Bangkok and Transfer to Hotel

Day 2

• Visit the highlights of the city: The Grand Palace Complex, Wat Phra Kaeo and the home of the Emerald Buddha
• Wat Po and the Reclining Buddha - Wat Po is also home to the leading school for Thai massage in the country. For a few dollars you can join the locals and have a massage of a lifetime.
• Tour Wat Arun – the 19th century temple of the Dawn with its exterior adorned with porcelain mosaics.
• Stroll Patpong Night Market – red light district known for its bars and racy sex parlors. Now a common tourist night market selling faux brands and pirated DVDs, it makes for a fun evening.

Day 3

• Experience life on the Klongs (canals) vibrant with daily Bangkok life
• Browse the some 10,000 vendor stalls at the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market
• Stoll the active streets of bustling Chinatown
• Tour Jim Thompson’s House and learn about how this New York architect settled in Bangkok during WWII and almost single-handedly revived Thailand's silk industry.
• Shopping at your leisure (Siam Paragon or the Emporium Centers) Bangkok is known to offer some of the best shopping in Asia.
• In the evening, attend a Thai Boxing match at one the cities biggest boxing venues

Day 4

ransfer to the airport for flight to Chiang Mai

Arrival in Chiang Mai and Transfer to Hotel

• Visit Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, perched high on the flank of Suthep Mountain, 1,022 m (3,000ft) above sea level, is Chiang Mai's most famous temple. The pagoda in its centre contains some of the relics of the Lord Buddha. The temple is visited throughout the year by thousands of tourists and Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world. Climb the 300-step flight of stairs or take a lift to see the restored 14th century chedi which hides sacred relics, and stroll around the marble courtyard.
• Visit to the Abbot of Wat Don Chan - a Buddhist temple that doubles as an orphanage and school for some 400 + ethnic minority orphans.
• Browse the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road is the largest centre for the selling of all sorts of crafts in Chiang Mai.

Day 5

• Visit the Elephant Nature Park and learn how “Lek” has dedicated her life to rescuing and caring for Thailand’s abused and suffering elephants. Her work is internationally recognized and culminated in her being awarded Time Magazine’s Hero of Asia last year. This park is a true beacon of conservation with respect to these precious animals, as well playing an active role in protecting the environment and heritage of the region.

Day 6

Transfer to Airport for flight to Hanoi

Day 7

• Visit the city highlights – Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Opera House
• Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter

Day 8

• Cooking Class at the Sofitel - complete with trip to the market
• Visit to the Thanh Xuan Peace Village -- located outside the Hanoi city-center the center provides shelter, food, health check-ups, education, supervision, and love for over 100 second and third generation children who are the victims of dioxin (or agent orange) used during the American-Vietnam War.

Day 9

Transfer flight to Hoi An

• Hoi An is best explored on foot or by cylco. For many centuries Hoi An was one of South-East Asia's most important ports. Fortunately Hoi An was spared much of the destruction of the Vietnam War. No other town in Vietnam has such well-preserved ancient buildings. Today Hoi An is unsurpassed for its charm and has blossomed into an artists' colony.
• Overnight Hoi An

Day 10

• City Tour or Day at leisure exploring this beautiful town.
• Overnight Hoi An

Day 11

Transfer Flight to Saigon

• City Tour- Sightseeing includes some of the following highlights: Notre Dame Cathedral, Palace of the Jade Emperor and Ben Thanh Market.

or

• Cu Chi Tunnels-Visit the Cu Chi tunnel system used by the Vietcong, located just outside Saigon (optional)
• Overnight Saigon

Day 12

• Mekong Delta –explore the winding canals of the delta and get a glimpse of rural canal life. Option Sampan Donation - details (link to projects)

or

• Visit to the Saigon Children’s Charity
• Overnight Saigon

Day 13

Transfer to Siem Reap, Cambodia

• You will be greeted at the airport in Siem Reap and transferred to your hotel.
• Spend the afternoon getting to know this lively town filled with an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, cafes and boutiques. Wander through the old market in the middle of the town selling a large range of local handicrafts, silks etc
• In the evening enjoy a relaxing dinner at the famous restaurant at Raffles Grand Hotel– complete with a traditional Apsara dance show.

Day 14

• After breakfast spend the morning visiting several of the most famous temples in the Angkor complex. You will be visiting the jewel of Khmer architecture at Angkor Wat and Bayon, Choose your method of transport…by bike, tuk-tuk or car. Your private guide will explain the history of these mysterious temples dating back to the 9th century AD.
• Lunch at your leisure
• In the afternoon explore the lively floating villages on the Tonle Sap lake.

Day 15

• Visit the temples at Ta Prohm, where the jungle mingles with ancient. Continue on to Banteay Srei and Preah Khan.
• Stop by Journey’s Within our Communities and see how couple Andrea and Brandon Ross are changing the lives of hundreds of local residents by installing fresh water wells, offering small business loans and providing continuing education to young Cambodians.

Day 16

• Transfer to Airport