Laos and Cambodia in 20 days: a thousand-color itinerary

Departure to discover the ancient capital of the kingdom of Lane Xang and its historical monuments.

• Visit the Royal Palace Museum and its collection of artifacts.
• Cruise the Mekong River overlooking the peaceful countryside before exploring the Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of lacquered gold Buddha statues deposited by pilgrims.
• Stop at the village of Ban Xanghai to discover the distillation of local rice wine.
• Return to the city and visit the Wat Sene temple, followed by the splendid Wat Xieng Thong, a symbol of Laotian architecture.
• Discovery of the Center for Traditional Art and Ethnology, then visit Wat Visoun (1513), the oldest temple in Luang Prabang.
• At the end of the day, climb the 329 steps of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong.
• Stroll through the night market, renowned for its handcrafted textiles made by local people and hill tribes.

Overnight at the hotel.

Wake up early and take a walk or bike ride to observe Laotians making offerings to monks on the roadside.
Climb Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong.
(Time permitting) Visit the UXO Visitor Center (closed on weekends) to learn about the secret war in Laos.
Drive to Kouang Sy Falls, surrounded by lush vegetation. Opportunity to hike to the village of Ban Thapene and explore hidden, less-frequented waterfalls.
Visit the Bear Rescue Centre, which takes in bears rescued from poaching and trafficking.
Discover the nearby butterfly park, with a tea and biscuit break in a peaceful setting.
Return to Luang Prabang and stop at the Ock Pop Tock Handicraft Center, where weavers and artisans produce quality textiles.
Overnight in Luang Prabang.

08:30: Pick up by our guide in the lobby of your hotel in Luang Prabang.
Arrival at the elephant camp: welcome and briefing on these animals.
Elephant feeding: a unique opportunity to get up close.
Elephant Village Exploration: Visit the hospital, museum, gallery, and dung paper-making workshop.
Introduction to the role of Mahout: discovery of communication techniques with elephants.
Boat trip to Tad Sae Waterfall: swimming and relaxation in a natural setting (depending on water level).
Buffet lunch at the camp restaurant, with coffee/tea and water (vegetarian options available).
Transfer to the train station to take the train to Vang Vieng (7:00-7:52 p.m.).
Arrival in Vang Vieng, transfer to the hotel.
Night in Vang Vieng.

The limestone cliffs and valleys of Vang Vieng are home to many fascinating caves.
Visit Tham Jang, once a refuge against Chinese invaders.
Exploration of Tham Nangfa (Angel Cave), famous for its spectacular stalactites and unique limestone formations.
Relaxing break at the Blue Lagoon, ideal for refreshing yourself before returning to Vang Vieng.
Cruise by local boat (30 min) on the Nam Song River, offering superb panoramas.
Return to the hotel with the possibility of stops in local villages and a market along the way.
End of the day free to admire the sunset over the Nam Song River.
Overnight in Vang Vieng.

After breakfast, drive to Vientiane, the peaceful capital of Laos. Upon arrival, discover the main cultural sites and historical monuments:

• Phat That Luang, symbol of Buddhism and national sovereignty.
• Ho Phrakeo, former royal temple of the Lane Xang kingdom, now a museum of sacred art.
• Vat Sisaket, the oldest temple in the city, housing more than ten thousand Buddha statues.
• Patouxai, the Asian Arc de Triomphe.

In the late afternoon, sunset on Fagnum Avenue along the Mekong, with the possibility of tasting a local beer by the river (at your expense).
Night in Vientiane.

Flight to Pakse, capital of southern Laos, welcome by the local guide and departure to the Bolovens plateau, renowned for its tea and coffee plantations and waterfalls.
Visit a tea plantation before discovering Tad Fan, an impressive double waterfall.
Discover the villages of Ban Lak Sipchet, specialized in the artisanal manufacture of iron knives, and Ban Lak Samsip, known for its bamboo crafts.
Stop at Tad Yeung with the possibility of swimming in a natural pool with crystal clear waters.
End of the day with a visit to a coffee plantation, emblem of the plateau.
Night on the Bolovens plateau.

Transfer by road to Wat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This pre-Angkorian temple, nestled between rice paddies and rivers, was a major political and economic center of the Khmer Empire. Built on three levels, it houses a water reservoir, carved pavilions, and a shrine revered by the Lao people.
In the afternoon, departure to Don Khong.
End of the day free to enjoy the surrounding peace and quiet.
Overnight at the hotel.

Departure for the Siphandon region, in the far south of Laos, where the Mekong divides into a multitude of islands and islets.
Boat trip through lush landscapes to discover daily life in the delta.
Visit the village of Ban Khone, marked by its colonial heritage: old French buildings and remains of the first railway in Laos.
Afternoon, exploration of the Liphi waterfall, nicknamed the "Devil's Corridor", on the border with Cambodia.
Overnight at the hotel.

Board a longtail boat from Ban Nakasang to Khone Phapheng, the largest waterfall by volume in Southeast Asia, near the Lao-Cambodian border. This region is home to a rich wildlife and offers spectacular scenery.
Road transfer to the Dom Kralor border crossing. Welcome by the local guide in Cambodia, then drive to Preah Vihear.
Visit the Preah Vihear Temple, a masterpiece of Khmer architecture listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. This well-preserved site comprises a series of sanctuaries connected by causeways and staircases over 800 meters.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Siem Reap, gateway to the temples of Angkor, through the Cambodian countryside with landscapes of banana trees, coconut palms, and red earth.
Stop at Koh Ker, ancient capital of the 10th century, to visit the temple-pyramid of Prasat Thom and its 84 temples scattered in the forest.
Continue to Beng Mealea, a majestic temple buried in the jungle, which served as a model for the construction of Angkor Wat.
Arrival in Siem Reap at the end of the day.

A day dedicated to discovering the emblematic temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, remains of the ancient Khmer capital (9th-15th century), at the heart of the largest empire in Southeast Asia.

• Angkor Wat, a masterpiece of Khmer art dedicated to Vishnu, is one of the largest religious buildings in the world.
• Angkor Thom, a fortified city covering 10 km², was once home to a million inhabitants. Visit the South Gate adorned with immense statues, the Elephant and Leper King Terraces, as well as the Bayon Temple, famous for its 54 towers carved with 216 faces of Avalokitesvara.

Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day dedicated to exploring the emblematic temples of the Small and Large Circuit:

• Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women), one of the most beautiful pink sandstone temples, renowned for its exquisite carvings of Apsaras and deities.
• Takeo, Banteay Kdei, and Ta Prohm, a Buddhist monastery invaded by the jungle, where gigantic tree roots intertwine with the stone.

Stop en route at small palm sugar factories, a local specialty and symbol of Cambodia.
Return to Siem Reap.
Overnight at the hotel.

Departure for the sacred mountain of Kulen (50 km from Siem Reap), cradle of the Khmer kingdom founded in 802 by Jayavarman II. Discovery of the site:

• Pagoda at the summit housing a reclining Buddha, an important pilgrimage site.
• Ruins of 9th-century Khmer temples along the sacred river.
• Sculptures of lingas and Hindu deities in the riverbed, sanctifying the water flowing over them.

Arrival at Preah Ang Choup and departure for a trek of approximately 2 hours through lush nature (fruit trees, flowers, local fauna).
Motorcycle taxi pursuit to:

• The lost temple of Sras Domrei and Sampov Thleay.
• A pre-Angkorian craft site, a remnant of traditional pottery and cooking utensil production.

Picnic lunch in the jungle.
Relax at the large Kulen waterfalls, a popular site with locals.
Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.
Dinner at your leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.

Departure for an excursion to Tonlé Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia.

Stop at Kompong Khleang, an authentic and not very touristy lakeside village:

• Houses on stilts and floating rafts.
• Local market, pagoda, and primary school.
• Meet the fishermen and discover their daily lives.

Return to Siem Reap in the afternoon with a stop at the Roluos site, the first architectural complex of the Angkorian era:

• Preah Ko, one of the oldest temples of Angkor, model of future mountain temples.
• Bakong, the most important temple on the site, always animated by the presence of monks in saffron robes.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Sihanoukville, then cross by public boat to Koh Rong Sanloem.

Check-in at the hotel and enjoy 3 free days on the island:

• Relax on the white sand beaches bordering the Gulf of Thailand.
• Optional water activities: snorkeling, diving, etc.
• Boat excursions to surrounding islands (at your own expense).

3 nights at the hotel on Koh Rong Sanloem.

Transfer to the port and cross by local boat to Sihanoukville. Welcome by the local driver, then drive to Phnom Penh (approximately 4 hours).

Free evening to discover Phnom Penh at your own pace:

• Stroll through the bustling streets and night market.
• Taste local specialties in street restaurants.

Overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh.

Visit Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, located at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. Formerly the "pearl of Southeast Asia" during the colonial era, it remains today the most dynamic city in the Mekong basin.

• Wat Phnom, a 14th-century Buddhist temple, the historic cradle of the city.
• Royal Palace, residence of the Norodom kings since 1870, and the Silver Pagoda, famous for its floor paved with silver slabs, a gift from Napoleon III.
• Apsara Association, an art school dedicated to training disadvantaged children.

In the evening: Transfer to the airport (approximately 1 hour) for your departure flight.