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An action-packed journey across Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand
Arrive in the heat, hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. Still commonly known as Saigon, it is an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand defiantly alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free market city where anything goes. Our hotel is in the heart of this incredible city. A welcome group meeting will be held later this afternoon with you leader followed by an optional group dinner after the meeting. *Huong Sen Hotel or similar*
Depart early to beat the traffic as we head out to visit the Cu Chi tunnels, located 2 hours outside of the city. Used by the Viet Cong during the war the network covers 3 levels and approximately 240km of tunnels. Exploring Cu Chi gives us an indication of the tenacity of the Vietnamese people and the conditions that both Vietnamese and American troops had to endure. Originally the tunnels were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow visitors to explore the system. We are able to crawl through the tunnels and are introduced to life below ground as we visit make-shift kitchens, bedrooms and even an underground hospital. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine! The afternoon is free for exploration and there are a number of interesting things to do and see - the Saigon River, Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral are all within easy walking distance. There is also time to visit the War Remnants Museum with an interesting (if a little gruesome) photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. *Huong Sen Hotel or similar*
This morning we leave the busy city for the rice bowl of Vietnam – the Mekong Delta. We’ll be struck by the fertility of the land and how every piece of land is used for producing food - fruit, vegetables, rice, fish farms, duck farms - there is cottage industry everywhere all fuelled by the amazing network of waterways. We visit the interesting Cai Be floating market and see some of the local industry taking place. Recently, Cai Be floating market is becoming less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks due to the bridge being built. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and the trade being conducted traditionally on a smaller scale. A short boat ride takes us from Vinh Long to our island homestay. The evening is tranquil as we have dinner at the homestay and enjoy some 'Delta' hospitality. We spend the night sleeping at a simple guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided. We will have the chance to try some local dishes cooked by our hosts for the night. *Mekong Guest House Homestay or similar*
After breakfast at the homestay we transfer by boat back to Vinh Long then to Cai Rang floating market, one of the biggest in the delta; the colour and fragrance of the market is sure to be remembered! We then continue on to Chau Doc; close to Cambodia, it is an important trading town due to its border position. The town is in the foothills of the picturesque Sam Mountain. An optional trip to the mountain provides wonderful views of the Mekong Delta and Cambodia. *Chau Pho Hotel or similar*
After breakfast we leave Chau Doc for the Xa Xia / Ha Tien border where we see a change of pace as we cross into rural Cambodia. We travel along coastal roads lined with coconut palms until we arrive in the quiet seaside town of Kep in the early afternoon. (Approx. transfer time excluding immigration process is around 3- 3.5 hours.) Kep was a resort town for Cambodia’s elite until the 1960s. The town still bears the scars of civil war with the ghost-like remains of old villas. A steep climb up Kep Mountain into the National Park provides a great location for watching the sunset. After some time to relax you might like to enjoy fresh seafood at the local crab market. Sit down on a mat at one of the sea-front shacks and take your pick of the day’s catch. *Kep Bay Hotel & Resort or similar*
Today we jump on a local boat for the short trip to Koh Tonsai (Rabbit Island). Palm tree fringed with a small beach this is the perfect place to enjoy swimming in the warm water or relax on the sand. If the weather is not suitable for the boat trip we will venture out into the countryside surrounding Kep to see local rice fields, pepper plantations and the famous Phnom Chhnork caves. Alternatively, you may wish to spend the day relaxing on Kep beach. *Kep Bay Hotel & Resort or similar*
This morning, if we didn’t do it yesterday, we will journey to the countryside surrounding Kep to see rural Cambodia. In the afternoon we travel from our seaside home to the Capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. To get our bearings in this interesting city on the confluence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac Rivers we take a sunset cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) trip. We finish with dinner at a restaurant run by the Friends organisation that provides hospitality training and other programs to support former street children and youths (closed on school and public holidays). *Ohana Hotel or similar*
This morning we visit the Royal Palace grounds and Silver Pagoda; named after the 5000 silver tiles weighing more than 1 kg each it is one of the most holy temples in Cambodia and is home to an impressive collection of gold, diamonds and other precious stones along with many traditional musical instruments. Afterwards the rest of the day is free for your family to explore. Some family friendly options are to visit the local markets or public gardens which your leader can provide details about. Close by is also the National Museum, which is set in a traditional Khmer building and displays a range of ancient artefacts as well as more modern pieces and where kids can feed the fish! Adults in the group may also want to confront Cambodia’s recent tragic past with a visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre but may not be suitable for the younger family members to visit. Your group leader will be available to make recommendations and assist you with your bookings and how best to spend your free time in the city. *Ohana Hotel or similar*
Travel by private air-conditioned bus (approx. 7 hours) to Siem Reap. A great opportunity to look at the real Cambodia, we'll make several stops at points of interest along the way. We also see the cottage industry at Santuk Silk Farm, a fair trade organisation, which is a valuable source of employment in a poor rural community (Santuk is closed on some important Khmer holidays). We'll also stop off at Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia's most impressive group of pre-Angkorian monuments with some of the oldest structures in the country. Afterwards, we will have a traditional Khmer lunch at a community restaurant before continuing our journey to Siem Reap. The small town of Siem Reap is the gateway to the World Heritage temples of Angkor. Get a sneak preview with sunset at the temples. *Angkor Holiday Hotel or similar*
This morning we leave early and take a fun bike ride around the Angkorian ruins. It is an easy ride on flat trails and roads but for non-cyclists there is the option to jump on to a local remork - motor-rickshaw. The ride today is approximately 30 km in total. On the bicycle, we can avoid some of the crowds and get a unique perspective on this amazing site which is well known more recently from being featured in the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film. We take the back roads along the river through local villages and into the Angkor park before cycling along the wall of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. With the moat on one side and thick jungle on the other we will rarely see another visitor. We might also like to stop to see the monkeys that gather on the temple ruins along the way. We finish our day with a visit to Angkor Wat one of the most architecturally and photographically impressive sites in the temple complex. Tonight we will visit the 'Phare' the Cambodian Circus. Coming from vulnerable households, the performers have gained international recognition through their art practice. Like a Cambodian Cirque Du Soleil, modern Khmer tales mix theatre, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling, aerial acts, and contortion appeal to all ages! *Angkor Holiday Hotel or similar*
Today is a free day for exploration and your group leader will be able to make suggestions and can organise transport for activities. If you didn’t manage to fit it in yesterday then you might like to visit the jungle temple of Ta Prohm where some of the filming for Tomb Raider took place (Angkor pass required). Another option would be to take a journey into the countryside. Around 1 hour out of town is the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), which is housed at the base of Kbal Spien Mountain near the River of a Thousand Lingas. ACCB has a collection of animals that have been saved from trafficking. Creatures include gibbons, monkeys, anteaters, snakes, greater and lesser adjutant (Cambodia’s version of big bird), eagles, prehistoric water monitors and turtles. Pass through rural villages on the way where you can enjoy sampling sugar palm candy as it is made. On the way back to town you might like to stop to visit the exquisite Banteay Srey (“Citadel of the women”) (Angkor pass required). The small temple displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art carved into the pinkish coloured sandstone. For those who would like a more active day there is the option of trying ziplining in the nearby canopy of Angkor Park. Flying through the jungle after climbing up from one of the canopy platforms is a real adrenaline rush! There is also the choice of visiting the floating village on nearby Tonle Sap Lake. *Angkor Holiday Hotel or similar*
It's a long drive from Siem Reap to Bangkok (approx. 10 hours including stops for border crossing and lunch) but we break the journey many times along the way to stop at local points of interest. On the way we stop at the stone carving village where many of the inhabitants carve religious and decorative statues of all sizes from sandstone and marble. Ganesh the elephant-headed God of beginnings and wisdom as well as Buddhist and Angkorian-style statues line the road in this town. After the border crossing we take a break and have our first taste of Thai food at a local restaurant before continuing onto the capital of Bangkok. Famous for its tuk tuks, khlong boats and incredible street food, Bangkok is an assault on the senses and provides a real contrast to sleepy Cambodia. *Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel or similar*
This morning a short walk from our hotel takes us to the Chao Phraya River where we meet a longtail boat to journey along the khlongs (canals) of old Bangkok. Please be advised there may be a possibility of larger groups being accommodated in a bigger boat. Afterwards we pay a visit to Wat Pho, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha and keeper of the magic behind Thai massage. In the afternoon we have free time to explore. Why not pay a visit to the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down to the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, take in some retail therapy, enjoy delicious street food or explore Bangkok’s colourful Chinatown. *Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel or similar*
* 12 nights hotels, all en suite, and 1 night homestay
* Travel by private minibus, bike and boat
13 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners are included.
The food on this trip is a real highlight for many. Southeast Asian cuisine
is known for its abundance of freshly prepared dishes with strong aromatic
flavours. There is a focus on herbs and citrus to ensure each dish packs a
punch; chilli does feature highly too but is easily avoided if desired.
Food is cheap in all three countries and Western food is readily available
almost everywhere, with the exception of the night in the Mekong Delta.
Breakfasts are usually buffet style and there is plenty to choose from;
fruit, bread, cereal/yoghurt (sometimes) and cooked breakfasts.
You should allow at least GBP 10 - 20/USD 12-25 per day per person for lunch
and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply, but if you go to the more expensive
restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount.
Vegetarian food is widely available, however the offering will be fairly
similar in most places within each country. Please advise at time of booking
if you have any dietary requirements. Please note that the availability of
certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example wheat or dairy-free,
please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home.
* 12 nights hotels, all en suite, and 1 night homestay
* Travel by private minibus, bike and boat
Designed for 9-12 year olds, also suitable for 13-16 year olds.
Our family activity levels are aimed at children in the primary or
‘Designed for’ age group. We are confident it is also suitable for those
in the ‘Also for’ age range, however please note if your child is in this
secondary category they may find it a little easier. Please see the family
activity levels on our website for further information. When grading our
trips we consider multiple factors, such as the pace, the level of activity
involved, the amount of time a family will spend travelling and the weather
is an important factor too.
This holiday is designed so that you can see the best parts of Vietnam,
Cambodia and Thailand using a mixture of private buses and boats. There is a
lot to see in the time you are there, but it is paced so that it doesn't feel
too rushed.
Travel time is kept to a minimum and most transfers are no longer than 3-4
hours. There are a few longer drives (7-8 hours) but there is plenty of time
for sightseeing and the trip has numerous stops where we spend two or more
nights.
Whilst choosing this trip please note that some of the accommodation will be
basic but is clean and tidy. The swimming pools may not be up to western
standards.
Locals and other Asian tourists may want to take photos of themselves with
your children particularly if they are young, blonde and have blue eyes, you
should be prepared for them to do this without asking permission first. You
should also be prepared for lots of traffic in the bigger cities like Saigon
and Bangkok, where you will have to relearn crossing the street, as things
like zebra crossings are not used as they are in the west.
Hotels and Homestay
During the tour you will spend 12 nights in comfortable hotels all with en
suite bathrooms and 1 night is also spent at a homestay on an island on the
Mekong Delta (shared bathrooms).
Surrounded by small cottage industries and tropical fruit orchards our
accommodation for the night in the Mekong Delta is a simple guesthouse built
in the style of a traditional local house. We will feast upon sumptuous
regional dishes while listening to the tranquil movements of the Delta.
Almost all hotels have swimming pools and there will be the opportunity to
swim also at the beach in Kep. We have endeavoured to select hotels for their
location as well as character, and in the rural areas use the best available
accommodation. These will have en suite facilities, reliable electricity and
water supply, good service and some added amenities.
There may be instances when you specifically want a single room. Perhaps a
grandparent needs one, or parents of a family of three or five want to ensure
they get a bit of space! Single supplements are available upon request (see
price details below). Please advise as time of booking. A single room is
available on hotel nights only.
Generally, we use different staff and vehicles for each country. For this
trip, there will be a Vietnamese leader to start with followed by a
Cambodian leader who will accompany the group throughout Cambodia and to
Bangkok.
13 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners are included.
The food on this trip is a real highlight for many. Southeast Asian cuisine
is known for its abundance of freshly prepared dishes with strong aromatic
flavours. There is a focus on herbs and citrus to ensure each dish packs a
punch; chilli does feature highly too but is easily avoided if desired.
Food is cheap in all three countries and Western food is readily available
almost everywhere, with the exception of the night in the Mekong Delta.
Breakfasts are usually buffet style and there is plenty to choose from;
fruit, bread, cereal/yoghurt (sometimes) and cooked breakfasts.
You should allow at least GBP 10 - 20/USD 12-25 per day per person for lunch
and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply, but if you go to the more expensive
restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount.
Vegetarian food is widely available, however the offering will be fairly
similar in most places within each country. Please advise at time of booking
if you have any dietary requirements. Please note that the availability of
certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example wheat or dairy-free,
please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home.
We use private coach/mini-buses, which will be quite comfortable, usually
with air-conditioning. There are a couple of long driving days on this trip
(up to 8 hours). Road conditions are often not good, and progress can be
slow. Boats are used at various points in the itinerary; these are nearly
always private, and vary from converted trawlers to small riverboats.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 15 days*
The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before
Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of Qatar Airways or Thai Airways
(depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change
regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your
agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a
later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure.
*Travelling land only: 14 days starting Saigon and ending in Bangkok*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Saigon in the afternoon of
Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided
in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
Free transfers are only applicable if booked in advance directly through
Exodus before a trip commences.
The weather in Vietnam will be hot and humid throughout with temperatures
during the day between about 28ºC and 34ºC but at times is may reach 40ºC.
It is only a little cooler at nights. The region is mostly dry between
December to April and then a rainy season from May to November when it tends
to come in short heavy bursts with bright sunshine in between.
In Cambodia the weather will be hot and humid all year round. The dry season
is late October to May and the monsoon is normally between June and
September; though there is an obvious transitional time between those settled
periods. The dry season is as it sounds, with hot days and generally clear
skies, though you can expect the odd shower. The monsoon is characterised by
short, sharp bursts of rain and is generally overcast all day, though this
does not detract from the enjoyment of the place; you just need to take an
umbrella!
In Thailand the weather patterns are very similar to Cambodia and you should
expect year round temperatures from 23-35ºC. The rainy season will normally
run from June to September when you should expect short sharp showers but the
sun will normally break through.
* Casual clothes. As it is generally hot and humid, light cotton clothing is
recommended for most of the trip. Please remember that you will be
expected to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) during visits to some
temples and palaces. Sandals are useful as they are cooler and are easier
to take off when visiting temples.
* Torch/flashlight
* Day pack for carrying camera, water etc. when out and about will be useful
* Sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses & swimming costume will be well used
* Bike helmet: these will be available locally however we can't guarantee
the quality and fit so please pack your own if you'd rather be confident
in the standard and comfort of the helmets.
* A first aid kit is carried on each trip, but you should bring your own
first aid kit with diarrhoea treatment, painkillers, rehydration sachets,
plasters and a blister treatment kit.
* Insect repellent is also highly recommended. Repellent containing DEET is
thought to be highly effective.
* Warm clothes/layers for the occasional cooler night temperatures.
* Refillable water bottle (1-2 litre capacity)
There are laundry facilities at the bigger hotels we stay at or cheaper
laundry facilities close to some hotels.
* A lightweight waterproof jacket or an umbrella could come in use
You should need about GBP 225-275/USD 290-355 per person for meals not
included, which will allow you to eat well. Apart from the food, you should
allow money to cover soft drinks (more if the adults like a beer/alcohol) and
souvenirs.
*Optional Excursions*
There are a number of optional activities, which if you wish, your leader can
help arrange for you.
* Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) trip, Siem Reap:
minimum donation of USD 3 but transport extra.
* Flight of the Gibbon ziplining, Siem Reap: GBP 78/USD 120pp (discounts for
under 16's)
* Khmer cooking class GBP 15/ USD 24pp
* Boat trip on the Tonle Sap Lake 6- 8pax GBP 9/USD 15pp
This is entirely at your own discretion however; we suggest that you allow
some money for tips for the local guides and staff. In the countries visited,
with the increase in tourism, tipping has become customary. The local staff
will probably expect some gratuity and we suggest you allow for this. The
leader will suggest to the group that they donate a sum of GBP 30/USD38 per
person towards a kitty on arrival. This money is then used for tipping of
local guides, hotel porters, drivers etc. It is basically to ensure that the
hassle is taken out of various activities for you. If you do not wish to
contribute to a central pool for tips you are of course free to do so.
If you feel that your leaders have performed well over the course of your
trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. The sum you
choose to give is entirely personal, but as a guide, 2-4GBP/3-6USD per
person per day would be a reasonable starting point. The 'tipping kitty'
explained above is entirely separate from any contribution to the tour
leader. Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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