Fall under the spell of Laos and Cambodia

PAKBENG
After crossing the Houessay border post in the early morning, you will cross the Mekong to reach the Laotian side, where your French-speaking guide will be waiting. Once the administrative formalities are completed, you begin the descent of one of the world’s most famous rivers: the Mekong. Throughout this descent you will have the chance to make numerous stops to meet the different peoples living along the banks of the “Mother of Waters”.
Lunch on board your private boat.

Arrival in Pakbeng in the late afternoon. This northern Laos village is in fact a trading crossroads. Goods arrive and depart from here bound for or coming from the capital, Thailand, Myanmar, or even China. You may have the chance to see a vessel flying the Chinese flag.

You can visit the village or simply enjoy the quiet of the Mekong.

MUANG LA DISTRICT
Departure for Muang La district.
After a 4.5-hour drive you reach Oudomxay province, in the heart of northern Laos. The region is rich in mountain landscapes and home to numerous ethnic minorities. Here, Chinese and Vietnamese traders cross paths with villagers of very diverse ethnicities coming to stock up on supplies.
You will set off on a superb walk to discover the nature surrounding your resort.
From the intense green of the rice paddies to the rich surrounding forest, this walk will be a true “nature break” — allow 2 to 3 hours of walking.
Then by 4×4 you will spend the day visiting Ikho and Hmong villages, two communities typical of Laos.
The track you will take is superb, offering an incredible climb up to 1,000 m, where you will enjoy a memorable, unique 360° view over the region.
One evening you will attend a ceremony at a local home. In Laos, where animist beliefs endure, people are believed to have thirty-two souls — one in each of the 32 parts of the body. These souls (or khouans) tend to wander off, risking being swallowed by spirits, which causes illness and misfortune. It is therefore important to call them back during this “soul-calling” ceremony: the Baci ceremony. This ceremony will be followed by a meal at a local home in a typical Laotian house. This traditional meal shared with your hosts will be accompanied by the local cider: Lao Hai.

LUANG PRABANG
Departure for Muang Khua, the starting point of your cruise on the magnificent Nam Ou river.
On the way, you will visit a Tai Dam village where you will discover the traditional methods of making local rice alcohol (lao lao). About 2 hours after leaving Muang La, you will arrive at Muang Khua, where your superb cruise begins. This river descent, from Muang Khua to Nong Khiau, is without doubt the most beautiful in the region! Aboard a boat privatised for the occasion, you will discover numerous villages and magnificent landscapes, including karst formations that seem to rise majestically from the water, bringing this pleasant cruise to a beautiful close.
Picnic lunch on a sandy beach along the Nam Ou.
Expected arrival in the late afternoon at Nong Khiau. On arrival, a vehicle will be waiting to take you straight on to Luang Prabang, which you will reach in the evening.
During your stay in the city, you will visit the museum dedicated to the different ethnic groups of Laos, then cross the Mekong to visit the small village of Ban Xieng Maen, visiting Wat Long Khoun, the monastery of the blessed chant, and then Wat Chom Phet, the monastery of the diamond point, set on a hill overlooking the Mekong. You will enjoy a very beautiful view over Luang Prabang.

KUANG SI
You will leave the peninsula to head to the Kuang Si waterfalls. As well as being refreshing, they offer a truly beautiful spectacle. This is one of the favourite spots of Luang Prabang residents. Couples and families also come here to picnic and relax during the hottest times of the year. Lunch in the form of a picnic prepared by one of Luang Prabang’s best restaurants, followed by free time to enjoy the setting.
Return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon, where you will climb to the summit of the very popular Mount Phousi to watch the sunset.

PAKSE – CHAMPASAK
Flight to Pakse.
On arrival, you will drive to visit the small village of Champasak, where numerous colonial-era houses (often left in ruins) still give off a strong Indochine atmosphere. You will continue on to reach the famous site of Wat Phou. The second site in Laos listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is believed to date from the 5th or 6th century, at the beginning of the Chenla kingdom. It therefore predates the cities of Angkor, though it is considerably smaller. It nonetheless has a magical atmosphere. Contrary to what it represented for nearly a thousand years, it was later transformed into a place of worship dedicated to Theravada Buddhism.
Visit of the museum before climbing the steps of the site.

CHAMPASAK AND THE 4,000 ISLANDS
Departure for a journey among the 4,000 Islands. You will travel by vehicle to the jetty opposite the island of “Don Khong”, where your boat will be waiting. Continue the journey towards the islands of “Don Det” and “Don Khone” for a pleasant cruise of almost an hour and a half. Visit the island and the old railway line. Continue on to the “Ly Phi” falls.
Lunch at your own expense, for example at a restaurant on the Mekong at “Don Khone”.
You will then board a pirogue to go in search of the Mekong dolphins (the only place in the world besides Myanmar to observe these freshwater dolphins). On the way back, you will make a detour via the “Khone Phapheng” falls, where the Mekong’s monotony is broken over more than 14 metres in height.

SIEM REAP
Transfer to Pakse airport for your flight.
Arrival at Siem Reap International Airport. Welcome on arrival by your local French-speaking guide, then transfer to the hotel for check-in.
You will set off to discover the extraordinary city of Angkor Thom, the centrepiece of the most powerful of the Khmer sovereigns. The scale of the construction is astonishing, and the monarch’s boldness strikes every visitor who enters the city walls.

You will then have an appointment with the most famous and most incredible of all the temples of Angkor: Angkor Wat. Considered the largest religious building ever constructed by man, this gigantic temple is a model of symbolism and symmetry, and today, more than ever, it is the pride of an entire people. It is unanimously recognised by specialists as the eighth wonder of the world, and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. After a thorough visit of the temple, you can visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, Les Chantiers Écoles, a training centre that revives traditional stone and wood carving techniques. This centre is one of the best places in the country to buy Cambodian craftsmanship.

You will also discover the great temple of Preah Khan, or Temple of the Sacred Sword, one of the rare buildings dedicated to both Buddhism and Hinduism. You will then continue your expedition to the elegant curves of Neak Pean temple and the mountain temple and royal crematorium of Pre Rup, with superb views over the surrounding Cambodian countryside, particularly at sunset.

The following morning, you will head to Banteay Srei temple, the jewel of Khmer art. You will then visit Banteay Samre temple.

After this, you will head north towards Kbal Spean. The original ‘River of a Thousand Lingas’ is a finely carved riverbed, lost in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle. The river flows down to the great Tonlé Sap lake, and in ancient times its sacred waters brought life, irrigating the rice fields of the Khmer Empire through the most ingenious hydraulic system the world had ever known. An excursion to Kbal Spean is the best way to enjoy a short hike through the Angkorian jungle, as the trail is even underfoot and highly scenic. The path offers breathtaking views over the thick surrounding forest at times, and leads to a refreshing waterfall, an ideal spot for a swim in the clear waters of the river.

KOH KER
In the morning, you will set off to discover the mysterious lost temple of Beng Mealea, literally buried in the jungle, dormant for centuries in the forests of Cambodia. It is the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples, and is considered a life-size model of Angkor Wat, although today it is completely consumed by voracious nature.

You will then continue through the bush towards the remote former Angkorian capital of Koh Ker, a fine legacy of some thirty major temples and several gigantic sculptures now kept at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh. You will climb to the top of Prasat Thom, a seven-tiered pyramid offering an absolutely superb panorama over the surrounding forests. Not far from Prasat Thom lies Prasat Krahom, or Red Temple, named for the colour given by the red “Banteay Srei” style stones used in its construction.

CHONG KHNEAS
In the morning, you will leave the temples of Angkor behind for a while to discover Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and head for the floating village of Chong Khneas. Lying in the shadow of Phnom Krom, this floating community shifts location as the water level of the lake changes. Everything in this small community, which lives almost exclusively off fishing, is floating: schools, small shops, petrol stations, and even karaoke bars. You will travel by boat among the village’s houses and shops, and can stop, if you wish, at the Gecko Environment Center to learn more about a lake that is the beating heart of Cambodia, providing food and water to millions of Khmer people.

In the afternoon, you will leave Siem Reap heading southeast for Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, nestled on the banks of the Tonlé Sap. On the way, you will pass through the town of Skuon, or “Spiderville”, where you can try the local speciality: fried tarantula.

PHNOM PENH
In the morning you will discover the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, home to the royal family and a symbol of the kingdom, then in the afternoon you will discover the Russian Market of Phnom Penh, one of the best spots for shopping in the capital. It is a giant bazaar where bargaining is the norm, and where you will find almost everything: local crafts, sculptures, silk and textiles, clothing and shoes, and plenty of pirated software, CDs and DVDs. After a while spent losing yourself in the narrow alleys of this bustling hive, you will head to the impressive Central Market, one of the city’s must-see landmarks. Built and inaugurated by the French in 1937, this striking Art Deco structure is known to the people of Phnom Penh as Psar Thmei (or “New Market”). Be sure to negotiate prices carefully, however, as this market has a reputation for overcharging tourists. Finally, you will reach Wat Phnom, the symbol of the city. Set on one of the capital’s few hills, the first pagoda was originally built in 1373 to house Buddha statues discovered on the Mekong by a woman named Penh. It is the origin of the city’s modern name: Phnom Penh, or “Lady Penh’s Hill”. A genuine place of pilgrimage, Cambodians regularly come here to pray and pay their respects.

In summary:
– 1 night in Chiang Rai in a 4-star hotel
– 1 night in Pakbeng in a 3-star hotel
– 2 nights in Muang La district in a 4-star boutique resort
– 2 nights in Luang Prabang in 4-star boutique hotels
– 2 nights in Champasak in 3-star boutique hotels
– 4 nights in Siem Reap in a 4-star hotel
– 2 nights in Phnom Penh in 4-star hotels