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Itinerary

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Days 1-2: Depart U.S. for Hanoi, Vietnam

Day 3: Arrive Hanoi We arrive this afternoon, with time to relax before tonight’s welcome dinner. D

Day 4: Hanoi Today we explore this French-accented city with broad tree-lined boulevards and colonial architecture, beginning with the revered mausoleum and home of Ho Chi Minh. Next: One Pillar Pagoda then the Temple of Literature (ca. 1070), Vietnam’s first university. After a cyclo ride around Hanoi’s Ancient Quarter, we see iconic Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake. Dinner at a local restaurant tonight follows a traditional water puppet performance. B,L,D

Day 5: Hanoi We spend this morning discovering the organized chaos of the Ancient Quarter, experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of each street dedicated to a single trade or craft, such as produce, flowers, ceramics, lacquerware, and silver. Dating back some 2,000 years, Hanoi’s “36 Streets” district, as it is also known, has withstood time, progress, and war to remain a thriving and colorful part of the city. Then we visit the moving memorial at the French-built Hao Lo Prison, later called the “Hanoi Hilton” by American prisoners of war. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. B

Day 6: Hanoi/Luang Prabang, Laos Most of the day is free for independent exploration before this evening’s flight to Luang Prabang, a small-scale city designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. B,D

Day 7: Luang Prabang Nestled between the mountains and the Mekong, this ancient royal city offers glimpses of old Indochina, as we see on today’s tour. We visit several important temples, including Vat Xieng Thong, dating to the 16th century, and Vat Visoun, housing a golden Buddha. After lunch at a local restaurant we tour the Royal Palace Museum; admire crafts at a local Hmong market; and watch the sunset from Phousi Hill. B,L

Day 8: Luang Prabang We travel by boat on the Mekong today to the sacred caves of Pak Ou housing countless Buddha statues, stopping en route at the village of Thin Hong to see rural life up close. There’s time at leisure this afternoon to explore Luang Prabang’s old city or visit the Night Market of locally made handcrafts. B,L

Day 9: Luang Prabang/Vientiane This morning we fly to Vientiane, the laid-back Laotian capital. After checking in at our hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Tonight we enjoy dinner accompanied by traditional music and dance. B,D

Day 10: Vientiane We encounter Vientiane’s highlights today, including Vat Sisaket, filled with a diverse array of Buddha images; Ho Prakeo (ca. 1535), the only remaining part of the old royal palace; Pha That Luang stupa, Vientiane’s most revered shrine; and Patouxay (Victory Gate), a vestige of French rule reminiscent of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. At the Lao Textile Museum, we tour three traditional houses and admire a unique private collection of Lao artifacts and weavings. B,L

Day 11: Vientiane/Siem Reap, Cambodia Very early this morning we transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap. This afternoon we embark on our first visit to the temples at Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage site built between the 9th and 13th centuries. We stay to watch the tropical sunset over the ancient relics. B,D

Day 12: Siem Reap Today’s exploration starts at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the last Khmer capital. Sites here include the Elephants Terrace, Terrace of Leper King, and stunning Bayon Temple, an imposing stone edifice of 54 towers each carved with four enigmatic faces and decorated with bas-reliefs. This afternoon we visit the 12th-century temple of Ta Prohm, a mystical, decaying Buddhist shrine dedicated to the encroaching jungle. We also explore Preah Khan, another 12th-century temple currently undergoing restoration by the World Monuments Fund. B,L

Day 13: Siem Reap This morning we visit Angkor’s lesser-known 10th-century Banteay Srei (“citadel of women”), dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and known for its delicately carved pink sandstone. After lunch we drive to Tonle Sap Lake, lifeblood of the Cambodian fishing industry and where we board a small river vessel for an eye-opening trip around the hard-scrabble floating villages here. B,L,D

Day 14: Siem Reap/Phnom Penh We spend this morning at a Khmer cooking class then enjoy the fruits of our labors for lunch. Later we visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, a local development project that teaches disabled young adults traditional crafts such as stone and wood carving, and lacquer application. Late afternoon we fly to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. B,L

Day 15: Phnom Penh Our full-day city tour begins at the Royal Palace complex, residence of the Cambodian king and ceremonial heart of the government, followed by the National Museum, whose treasures include relics from Angkor Wat. Then we pay a somber visit to Toul Sleng Museum, the former high school that became Security Prison 21 during the Khmer genocide of 1975-1979 and is now a museum memorializing that tragic era. From here we visit the Russian Market selling goods of all kinds. B,L

Day 16: Phnom Penh We travel outside the city today to see several Angkorian temples, a 6th-century Indian-style ashram, and the site of the ancient Chenla capital. From Phnom Chisor Hill we enjoy oustanding views of the surrounding countryside before returning to Phnom Penh in time for tonight’s farewell dinner. B,L,D

Day 17: Depart for U.S. We transfer to the airport for the flight to Hong Kong, where we connect with our return flight to the U.S. B

 

Included

Tour Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary
• 14 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels
• 30 meals: 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 7 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours)

Dates and Prices

2009 Tour Dates & Prices

	Oct 12	Oct 26	Nov 2 Nov 16
Los Angeles, San Fran	$4,695	$4,795	$4,895
Phoenix, Port (OR), Seattle	$4,895	$4,995	$5,095
Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minn, New York	$5,095	$5,195	$5,295
Atlanta, Balt, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleve, Detroit, Miami, Phil, Wash, DC	$5,195	$5,295	$5,395
Cinc, Orlando, Tampa	$5,295	$5,395	$5,495

 

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single travelers please add $1,395. Your $375 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All 2009 tour prices above are guaranteed.

An overnight stay at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport (upon departure or return) is available for $79 (single supplement: $59). Depending on flight schedules, certain U.S. departure cities may require an overnight stay at your expense.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Pacific flight: $6,995 per person

Airline taxes and departure fees of $338 are subject to change and will be listed separately on your invoice.

Hotels

Hotels & Ratings

Day Itinerary Hotel Rating 1-2 Depart U.S. for Hanoi 3-5 Hanoi InterContinental Westlake Deluxe 6-8 Luang Prabang La Residence Phou Vao Deluxe 9-10 Vientiane Lao Plaza Sup. First Class 11-13 Angkor Wat Le Meridien Angkor Deluxe 14-16 Phnom Penh InterContinental Phnom Penh Deluxe 17 Depart Phnom Penh for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Official Hotel Guide, the travel industry standard reference.