3 Weeks of Wonder: Treasures of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

After breakfast, embark on a long-tail boat and begin your journey along the Chao Phraya River (meaning River of Kings) to visit three of Thailand’s oldest temples. Travel through many of Thonburi’s bustling inner canals to enjoy a fantastic view of local life by the water.

• Stop at the Royal Barges Museum and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).
• Next, visit Wat Traimit, known for its Golden Buddha. Continue with a visit to the Grand Palace, founded in 1782 by King Rama I.
• Discover Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), the Royal Chapel of the Grand Palace, along with the most famous and revered statue in Thailand.
• Continue to Wat Pho and its impressive Reclining Buddha, the largest in Thailand. Around the temple, there are Chinese statues representing royal guards in different poses.

Return to the hotel to rest. Overnight in Bangkok.

Morning departure to the west of Bangkok to visit the Mae Klong Railway Market, set up along the train tracks near the railway terminal.
Arrive at the small market in Samut Songkhram, the start of a beautiful journey aboard a long-tail boat through the Grand Canal and smaller canals, experiencing an authentic deep Asia near Bangkok. The trip lasts about an hour and ends at the heart of the picturesque Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Visit this traditional market filled with vendors offering all kinds of products: food, flowers, plants, and animals.
Return to Bangkok. Free time to rest. Overnight in Bangkok.

Morning flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted by our driver and comfortably settled into your hotel.
A day dedicated to exploring the rich heritage of Chiang Mai, a city founded in the 13th century, reflecting a mix of Lanna, Siamese, and Burmese cultures.
Start with a walking tour of the old city, with stops at the ancient wall, moat, and a gate of the old city. Admire some of Chiang Mai’s most exquisite temples, such as Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chedi Luang.
Then, stroll through picturesque streets lined with traditional houses and enjoy a rickshaw ride. Your exploration will lead you to the bustling Warorot Central Market.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Spend the day exploring an elephant training camp nestled in the jungle. Transfer to the outskirts of Chiang Mai to visit the Baan Chang Elephant Camp. Far from being a tourist factory, Baan Chang offers “responsible” activities and courses that respect these great pachyderms. Learn about the elephants and how to care for them. Feed them bananas and sugar cane, their favorite food. Continue with a ride on an elephant through the lush jungle without a basket.
Lunch of local specialties.
In the afternoon, participate in the elephants’ bath, a magical moment that will surprise you. Return to Chiang Mai, rest of the day free to relax. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Start the morning exploring Chiang Mai, visiting the renowned Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra Singha, two of Thailand’s oldest temples still inhabited by Buddhist monks.
Continue with a visit to the impressive White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, an architectural marvel in the city. This temple stands out for its radiant white color and the use of glass pieces embedded in the plaster, which shine in the sunlight.
Then, journey to Chiang Rai, crossing picturesque hills, valleys, and charming villages. Along the way, stop briefly at Mae Khachan hot springs for a coffee, a bathroom break, and an opportunity to soak your feet in the hot springs.
Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, travel to the Golden Triangle, a historical opium cultivation area. At the crossroads of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, the Golden Triangle is a beautiful mountainous area.
On the way, visit the old town of Chiang Saen and its ancient temples: Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Pasak.
Next, enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River, at the crossroads of three countries.
Free lunch.
In the afternoon, continue with the House of Opium, a small but interesting museum to learn all about the culture of the opium poppy and the history of opium in the region.
Return to Chiang Rai. Hotel check-in and free time to rest. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Chiang Rai airport for the flight to Siem Reap.
Arrival at Siem Reap airport, meet your English-speaking guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in according to availability. Rest.
In the afternoon, excursion to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest in Southeast Asia.
• Stop at the lake village of Kompong Khleang - authentic and little-touristy, visit the village with stilt houses or floating rafts, the market, the pagoda, and a primary school with smiling children.
• Discover the daily life of local fishermen.
Return to Siem Reap. Overnight at the hotel.

A day dedicated to discovering the mystical temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire (9th-15th centuries):
The Angkor Wat temples, dedicated to Vishnu, the supreme god of Hinduism, are considered the masterpiece of Khmer art and architecture.
The Angkor Thom temples form a walled city of 10 km² that once housed a million people. During the visit, you can admire the huge statues of the South Gate, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the famous Bayon Temple, composed of 54 gigantic towers with 216 faces of Avalokitesvara, the most important goddess of Buddhism.
Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.
In the evening, enjoy dinner and a traditional Apsara music and dance show at a charming local restaurant.
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast. Full-day excursion to the majestic temples on the Small and Grand Circuits:
Visit Banteay Srei Temple (Citadel of Women): one of the most beautiful temples, built with pink sandstone and adorned with intricately carved Apsaras and deities.
Explore the sacred temples of Neak Poan, Preah Neak, Preah Khan, and Banteay Samre, known as the miniature Angkor Wat.
Visit the impressive Ta Prohm Temple, an abandoned Buddhist monastery overgrown by the jungle.
In the late afternoon, enjoy the sunset from the mountain temple of Pre Rup.
Return to Siem Reap.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning in Siem Reap.
At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrival in Ho Chi Minh, reception by your English-speaking guide at the airport, and transfer to the hotel for check-in according to availability.
Free time to explore the city on your own.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Departure to the Mekong Delta, a territory half land, half water in the southernmost part of the country.
Arrival in Ben Tre, the large city located in the heart of the northern arms of the river. Boat ride through the rivers to reach Mo Cay, a small rural region still little-touristy, known for its coconut trade and the production of coconut-derived products: coconut, coconut fiber, activated coconut charcoal.
Bicycle or Xe Loi (motorized rickshaw) ride on the green island abundantly covered with coconut trees. The route, away from mass tourism, takes you along small paths under the shade of coconut trees, offering a particularly poetic landscape. Stop at farms to observe the production of coconut sweets and brooms.
Continue with a small rowing boat ride through the streams surrounded by water palms, to immerse yourself in the daily life of the delta. Visit the traditional house of Mr. Van, taste local specialties prepared by his wife: coconut jam, honey tea, and pollen… and have beautiful encounters with the local population.
Return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning in Ho Chi Minh City.
In the afternoon, flight to Da Nang, a central city in central Vietnam. Upon arrival, welcome by the driver and transfer to Hoi An, a small ancient town located about 30 kilometers south of Da Nang.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Free day in Hoi An to relax. Here are some suggested activities for your time in Hoi An:
Opt to discover the old town of Hoi An (on your own) with: the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall dedicated to the goddess protector of fishermen and sailors; Phuc Thanh Pagoda, the oldest in Hoi An (1454); the Japanese Bridge built in 1593; the old alleys, museums, and ancient wooden houses dating back hundreds of years.
Relax on the beautiful beaches of the East Sea (Cua Dai, An Bang…) or stroll through the surrounding countryside where there are several traditional villages (vegetables, ceramics, carpentry…).
Overnight in Hoi An.

Transfer by road to Hue, the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam, through the Hai Van Pass (Ocean of Clouds) and the beautiful Lang Co beach where we will stop for photos. Also, stop at the picturesque roadside cemeteries: called "Ghost Towns," these cemeteries contain sets of tomb-castles carved in different Asian architectural styles. They look like real luxury cities from afar.
Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in according to availability. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel, from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, its Royal Museum, and the exotic Dong Ba market.
Return to the hotel and overnight in Hue.

Today, take a boat via the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the most beautiful and visited pagoda in Hue, or the very peaceful Tu Hieu Pagoda, where the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty eunuchs are located. Depending on the time, there is the possibility of witnessing the monks' prayer session. Continue with the Royal Tomb of King Tu Duc. Closer to King Tu Duc's tomb, stop at Thuy Xuan village, a traditional incense-making village, where you will have the opportunity to take colorful photos. Finally, visit the Royal Tomb of King Khai Dinh and admire its architecture inspired by French architecture.
At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for the flight from Hue to Hanoi. Arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, reception by your English-speaking guide, and transfer to the hotel for check-in according to availability. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, start discovering Hanoi's most notable cultural sites and historical monuments, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the stilt house, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Temple, and the Temple of Literature - the country's first university founded in 1070. Lunch of “Cha Ca” (grilled fish noodles), a very typical Vietnamese dish.
In the afternoon, stroll through Hanoi's Old Quarter, known as its “36 streets 36 alleys,” where streets are named after the products sold there, such as Paper Street, Sugar Street, Silver Street, etc. Enjoy a cup of egg coffee or a glass of beer.
Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Departure to Ninh Binh – land of limestone rocks, sugarloaf mountains, and rice fields flooded by rivers and lakes throughout the year. After a 2-hour drive, arrive in Ninh Binh province. Embark on a boat on the Ngo Dong River for a trip in Tam Coc, also known as the “Halong Bay on land.” This long river meanders between rice fields, sugarloaf mountains, and passes under three caves at the foot of limestone peaks.
Continue with a visit to Mua Cave (Hang Mua in Vietnamese), climbing 486 stone steps to the top, this bell-shaped hill will give you a panoramic view of the Tam Coc region.
Lastly, visit Hoa Lu – chosen as the ancient capital of Dai Co Viet (the old name of Vietnam), with the remains of temples of the kings in the Dinh and Le dynasties.
Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Departure to Halong Bay, the most beautiful bay in Vietnam, one of Asia's most magical landscapes. Board a traditional junk. Welcome by the crew and start a magnificent cruise on the bay. Visit Bai Tu Long (northern part of Halong Bay):
Admire the picturesque islands and islets with various shapes (veil, dog, rooster, incense…).
Visit the splendid caves of Halong Bay, including Thien Canh Son, home to stalagmites and stalactites dating back thousands of years.
Continue the cruise to Cap La, kayaking, and swimming in the sublime waters of the bay (if weather permits).
In the evening, relax on the upper deck of the junk.
Participate in a cooking demonstration on board, preparing nems or spring rolls.
Lunch and dinner on board.
Free time to rest and relax: card games, night fishing…
Overnight on board.

Rise at dawn to enjoy a unique moment of splendor: the first rays of the sun rising from the thousands of sugarloaf peaks of the bay and participate in a Tai Chi session on the terrace.
Boat or kayak ride to discover the fishing village of Vung Vieng, with a possible encounter with local inhabitants.
Lunch on the junk, disembark, and return to Hanoi.
Overnight at the hotel.

Spend a completely free day to rest and do any last-minute shopping. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.

This concludes your incredible 3-week journey through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam with Kampá Tour. We hope you enjoyed every moment. See you next time and safe travels!