BRIEF ITINERARY: 6 People minimum & maximum (Departure late Oct )
Photography lessons daily - Even though we will be shooting most of the time, we will still need some structure and direction as to what we will achieve. 1 hour in the early morning and 1 hour in the late afternoon will be dedicated to lesson time.
Day 1: Arrive in Siem Reap and welcome by our local guide then transfer to the hotel for check in. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at Restaurant nearby.
Day 2: Angkor full day tour – Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King. Afternoon, continue to visit Preah Khan, Neak Poan, East Mebon. End the day by taking the cable balloon at Angkor Wat. Sunset at Angkor for a great photographic experience.
Day 3: Full day Boeng Mealea, Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre with picnic lunch at Boeng Mealea.
Day 4: Half day boat trip on Tonle Sap Floating Village. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh. Arrive in Phnom Penh and welcome by our local guide and transfer to your hotel.
Day 5: Full day city tour – National Museum, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom, Tuol Sleng and Cheung Ek.
Day 6: Transfer out to the airport for a flight to Vientiane in Laos. Arrive in Vientiane and transfer to your
Hotel.
Day 7: After breakfast begin your exploration of some of the main monuments of Vientiane. Located on the Mekong River and with a population of 600,000, Vientiane is Laos’s capital and largest city. In spite of new developments, Vientiane retains an ‘old world’ feel unlike other Asian cities. Your touring will take in the city’s intriguing main sights and will commence at 2.00 pm. We visit to Talat Sao (morning markets) then head to Buddha park or Chieng Khuan. Then, back for lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch, continue visit exquisite Wat Sisaket Vientiane’s oldest original temple and the only one to survive the Thai invasion of 1828, Haw Pha Kaew, the former royal temple of the Lao Monarchy, now a museum, Pha That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos and symbolic of both the monarchy and the Buddhist religion. Finally, we visit the grand Patuxai Monument, reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Late afternoon, is ideal for taking in a Mekong River sunset and a cool drink.
Day 8: Today you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang – Laos’s most beautiful and engaging city. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Surrounded by mountainous forests and situated at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong Rivers, Luang Prabang has a tranquil, old world charm. This fascinating town was the capital of the Lane Xang (million elephants) kingdom until the mid-sixteenth century, and in colonial times it served as a provincial headquarters of the north. The legacy of the European presence here – well-preserved French architecture and careful street planning – has blended delightfully with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town rich in atmosphere and history. Start to visit the sample of Luang Prabang’s exquisite temples, including serene Wat Xieng Thong, andd chat with monks at Wat Mai. This latter temple was spared sacking by the Chinese Black Haws in the late nineteenth century, supposedly because of its beauty and stunning design. In the afternoon, we set out for Ban Xieng Kong, a nearby village whose inhabitants make ‘sa’ (mulberry) paper, and practice traditional textile weaving. A visit here will give you a sample of peaceful Lao village life. Late afternoon we take part in a Lao-style cooking class. Have fun while learning about typical Lao ingredients, and prepare your own.
Day 9: This morning we visit the Royal Palace Museum - full of fine examples of Lao art and furniture and the former residence of the now deposed royal family. Late morning we take a short boat trip along the Mekong to the mysterious ‘cave of a thousand Buddhas’ at Pak Ou. Here, in a tradition that has lasted for centuries, local people add annually to a repository of Buddha statues. The trip to the cave will take 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on current strength. You will also visit a riverside village and be given the chance to sample the local rice wine (Lao-Lao). Late afternoon, use your free time to explore Luang Prabang’s small streets and its mix of temples and colonial era buildings.
Day 10: Rise early this morning and see robed Buddhist monks collecting morning alms, following a centuries old ritual. After breakfast, we begin with a visit to a local market in the way to Kuang Si waterfalls, one of the many beautiful waterfalls near Luang Prabang. On the way to the falls we will stop at a Hmong hill tribe village and gain an insight into the lifestyle of one of the most significant ethnic minorities in Indochina. Like most minority groups in Laos, the Hmong originally migrated from China. Many Hmong in Indochina were recruited to South Vietnamese and Royal Lao forces in the 1970s, in the hope of being rewarded with a homeland. On arrival at the Kuang Si waterfalls, you will have a chance to swim and relax. By early afternoon you will travel back to Luang Prabang and have free time to soak up the ambience of one of Asia’s special towns. Before sunset, we climb the short distance to the top of Mount Phou Si for superb views over the town and river.
Day 11: Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
SELECTED ACCOMMODATION
Siem Reap Day Inn Angkor
Phnom Penh Cambodiana Hotel
Vientiane Novotel
Luang Prabang Villa Santi
Price
Price per person in $AUD
Number of pax TWIN SHARE SINGLE ROOM
AUD$3,300.00
INCLUDES:
All Photography Lessons
All airport group transfers. Passengers arriving separately will be charged separately.
Hotel accommodation as specified in the itinerary
Daily breakfast and a welcome dinner in Siem Reap
Transportation and touring as per the itinerary
Picnic lunch at Boeng Mealea
Balloon ride at Angkor Wat
Domestic flight Siem Reap – Phnom Penh – Vientiane – Luang Prabang (economy class &
Subject to change)
Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap and to Pak Ou Caves in Luang Prabang
Cooking class in Luang Prabang
English-speaking local guides throughout
.EXCLUDES:
International airfares (see air section below)
Visas (required)
Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tips...)
Additional services not listed in your itinerary.
Travel insurance is a compulsory condition of travelling.
AIRFARES
AIRLINE: Utilising the services of THAI INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
PRICE: $1, 015.00 per adult (not including tax)
Based on current levels and subject to change
TAX: Taxes are estimated at $340.00pp and subject to increase
until seats are confirmed and ticketed.
AIRPORT TAXES: Allow for $60.00USD for Cambodian and Laos airport departure taxes
ROUTING: Sydney – BKK – Siem Reap // Luang Prabang – BKK - Sydney
Deposit:
a) A deposit of AUD $250.00 per person upon confirmation. Up to 60 days before departure, this deposit is refundable.
Cancellation:
Cancellations must be received in writing and will be subject to the following cancellation fees applied per person per arrangement
Outside 60 days prior to departure all rooms that are not required for your group must be released.
60-45 days - $100.00 per person.
45-30 days – 25% of tour cost per person.
Within 30 days – 100% of tour cost per person
Cancellation of air arrangements will be subject to fees charged in accordance with the type of airfare used and airline tariff regulations.
Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after your tour arrangements have commenced.
Minimum Numbers:
Costs are based on the minimum & maximum of 6 passengers travelling together. If this number is not reached, the tour prices may be subject to re-costing.
Additional cost and revisions:
Increases can be incurred by hotels, airlines or other suppliers beyond our control. As most services in Asia are transacted in USD, tours are affected by movements in the AUD. Due to the volatile fluctuations in the AUD against USD Alfonso Calero reserves the right to apply currency surcharged without notice. Alfonso Calero will always seek to give a grace period to existing bookings to finalise payments.
