Rivers, Beaches and Lakes of Indochina
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

A fantastic way to experience the highlights and soak up the atmosphere of Indochina with a focus on its lakes, rivers and beaches. Spend three weeks discovering some of the most picturesque corners of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. This is a good way to take in the best of the region at a relaxed pace.

You’ll experience the contrasts of Indochina as you watch the scenery change along the Mekong River, from the dramatic gorges of northern Laos down to the delta in Vietnam. Take in southern Laos' peculiar 4000 islands en route and veer west into Cambodia to explore Angkor, the Tonle Sap lake and to take in some beach time.

Enjoy fantastic hotels, river cruises, our unique signature experiences and Southeast Asia at its finest.

 Highlights include

• Enjoying a picnic breakfast at Kuang Sii Waterfalls near Luang Prabang, a tranquil morning setting before the crowds arrive
• Exploring rural Don Khone Island in southern Laos by bike, with its gorgeous scenery and freshwater dolphins.
• Marvelling at Angkor Wat as well as some of the less explored Angkor temples
• Relaxing at Cambodia’s Otres Beach, on white sands and in turquoise waters (weather permitting!)
• Discovering the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in a unique way, on our specially crafted city tour
• Spend two days and a night exploring lesser-visited tributaries of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta aboard the comfortable Bassac Cruise

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers 
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK 

For more on our pricing policy read here.

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Luang Prabang, Laos.

Day 2 -5 Luang Prabang, Laos    

Your guide will meet you on arrival in Luang Prabang for the short transfer to your hotel. The first evening is free for you to relax and take in the peaceful setting. The effect of Luang Prabang's ornate Buddhist temples and Indochinese architecture set against a jungle backdrop, is spellbinding. During your stay in Luang Prabang you’ll spend time with your guide getting a feel for the magical town itself as well as the surrounding countryside, Mekong riverside villages and caves. A highlight will be the early morning visit to Kuang Sii Waterfalls where a special permit will allow you to enjoy a gourmet breakfast there before the crowds arrive.

There will be free time too, to absorb the scenery, explore the sleepy backstreets of the UNESCO town, take in the picturesque night markets and perhaps play a game of petanque with the locals (a popular sport here; a legacy of the French!)

Day 6-10 southern laos and the 4000 islands, Laos

After a short flight south to Pakse you’ll join your guide for a short drive and boat cruise to Don Daeng Island where you will stay for two nights. There will be plenty of free time in this relaxing riverine archipelago and a full day tour to explore the unique island; discovering abandoned railways, colonial mansions and beautiful waterfalls, and searching for rare freshwater dolphins in in the surrounding waters. This tour can be enjoyed with or without a bike but we highly recommend the bike option.

Following your time on Don Daeng you’ll transfer to River Resort near Champasak (exploring the impressive Khmer ruins of Wat Phou Temple en route). With a sandy river beach and infinity pool this is a great spot to kick back in comfortable surroundings.

Day 11-13 Siem Reap, Cambodia       

Southern Laos and Siem Reap are geographically very close so it's just a one-hour flight from Pakse to the Angkor Temple gateway, surely Indochina’s most remarkable archaeological site. You’ll spend 3 days here taking in Angkor Wat itself (we recommend beginning your tour in the moonlight for an almost fairytale experience). Other highlights include the ancient royal city of Angkor Thom and Ta Phrom amongst other quieter, less well-known temples. Our tours here are carefully timed and constructed to ensure you get the most out of your visit and enjoy some relaxation time too.

Beyond the temples, Siem Reap has some lovely restaurants to enjoy and you’ll also have a chance to visit the villages on the lake of Tonle Sap.

day 14-16 otres beach, cambodia     

Next, it's down to Sihanoukville on Cambodia’s sleepy south coast, specifically Otres Beach where you’ll spend 3 days enjoying the white sand shores and clear waters.

Day 17 & 18 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   

The last stop on the  holiday is Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh City (commonly known as Saigon) where you’ll spend 2 days exploring the city (and 2 days aboard a boat on the Mekong River).

During your time in the city you’ll go exploring with your guide, including on a tour of both the commercial and traditional districts. This is a great way to get a sense of Vietnam’s past and present and feel how both its traditions and the pace of development compare to those of its sleepier Indochinese neighbours.

Day 19 & 20 The Mekong Delta, Vietnam    

You will leave Ho Chi Minh City today and drive into the Mekong Delta region, where you will board the Bassac Cruise for a fantastic 2 day journey through some of the smaller canals of the Mekong between Cai Be and and Can Tho. Pass small villages, rice fields and local boats and stop at a farmer's house for fresh fruit. Accommodation is on board the converted rice barge in a deluxe cabin and all meals (delicious!) are included. On Day 20 you’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a final night and meal in Indochina.

Day 21 Fly Home

Depart Vietnam on your flight back to the UK.