Southeast Asia: Pu Luong, Halong Bay & the Cardamom Mountains

Day 1  Hanoi, Vietnam        
Welcome to Hanoi, and to Vietnam, dive in, push your limits, and refill your cup. Try foods you have never even heard of before while being greeted with smiling hosts who feel like familiar friends.  

Day 2  Hanoi        
It wouldn't be a trip to Vietnam without hopping on the back of a motorbike. Your drivers will guide you through the city stopping the motorbike to allow for exploration of all the must see stops. Walk around the perimeter of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After working up an appetite, return to the Old Quarter for a huge bowl of Pho at a local restaurant.  

Day 3  Hanoi to Ha Long Bay      
The junk boat was first created in 3000 B.C. and throughout time the ship has been used by explorers. Now is your chance to spend a night aboard, embracing your inner explorer. Glide through the steely waters in Ha Long Bay past limestone karst mountains and lush green islands and paddle a kayak through thousand year old caves.

Day 4  Hạ Long Bay to Chieng Lau Village  
Tropical rainforest covers the low mountains that surround Pu Luong-with rice terraces as far as the eye can see. Trekking along the terraces, throughout villages, brings you face to face with day to day life in this picturesque corner of northern Vietnam.

Day 5  Chieng Lau Village  
Start the day with a rich coffee and fuel up for a morning trekking among the rice paddies. Pass by local villages and wave hello to local people as they move about their daily routines. Walk to Ban Cong and dig into a barbecue picnic lunch prepared for you by local chefs just along the riverbank.        

Day 6  Chieng Lau Village to Hoi An        
Admittedly, it's hard to get more peaceful than the rice terraces of Pu Luong, but Hoi An offers a contrast to its northern neighbour. Where Pu Luong boasts serenity and calm, Hoi An is charming and vibrancy. Explore this meeting place with a cooking class led by a local chef preparing a three course meal.  

Day 7  Hoi An          
Discover the highlights of Hoi An with an informative walking tour. Visit the Ong Pagoda, Chua Cau (Japanese Covered Bridge), and the local market. Hoi An is known fo the best banh mi in Vietnam and your guide can show you the best place in town for it.  

Day 8  Hoi An          
From ancient ruins and fascinating architecture to delicious food and active adventures, Hoi An has it all. You get to choose today between two curated choices. Embark on a kayaking adventure that takes you from the Cua Dai bridge down to a fishing market and beyond. If you would rather explore the ruins of My Son, join a local guide for comprehensive exploration of various complexes of the site.  

Day 9  Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City    
Arrive in the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City and hop onto a cyclo to get a bit above the motorbike fray and tour the city with your knowledgeable guide. A sunset boat ride is peaceful way to end the day in the big city.

Day 10  Ho Chi Minh City  
The Cu Chi Tunnels remain a testament to the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese people and their ingenuity in the face of unthinkable wartime tragedies. The tunnels may be your destination today, but the journey to gets you off the beaten track to discover more of Vietnam. Hop on a bicycle and pedal your way through the countryside en route to the the Cu Chi Tunnels.  

Day 11  Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap is home to the famous site of Angkor Wat but there is plenty to see and do here before exploring the ancient site. Grab a coffee, try some Cambodian cuisine, or hop in a tuk tuk and explore. After a morning flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, arrive to Siem Reap around lunchtime.

Day 12  Siem Reap  
Spend the morning in the local market with a chef, smelling and tasting the local ingredients. Continue on to Chreav village just outside of Siem Reap and join the chef in cooking some delicious local dishes. With a full belly, the afternoon is yours to choose between a sunset bike ride from village to village or a scenic boat tour to Kampong Khleang Floating Village.  

Day 13  Siem Reap  
The ruins of Angkor Wat stand as a testament to the dynamic history of the Cambodian people. Witness sunrise at Angkor Wat with your fellow travellers and expert guide.

Day 14  Siem Reap to Botum Sakur National Park  
The dense jungle of the Cardamoms is one of Asia's seven remaining elephant corridors and is home to gibbons, pangolins and hornbills. Your exclusive stay at Cardamom Tented Camp helps fund the Wildlife Alliance and its partners in protecting this vital piece of our planet.  

Day 15  Botum Sakur National Park  
Waking up in the jungle, in a safari style glamping tent, with the sound of the birds and the monkeys rustling overhead is probably not an experience you associate with Cambodia, but from now on it will be. After a refreshing sleep, it's time to explore the Cardamoms. Kayak downriver first en route to the old ranger station. Trek through the lush forest on old logging trails, crossing streams from time to time.  

Day 16  Botum Sakur National Park to Koh Chang, Thailand
Today you cross the border from Cambodia into Thailand. Take a short ferry to Koh Chang and explore the island with your guide in the afternoon. A beachside barbecue is the perfect way to celebrate your first evening in Thailand.  

Day 17  Koh Chang  
Thailand shines in this full day exploration of Koh Chang by kayak. Paddle from island to island, stopping to jump into the refreshing water. Paddle to Koh Yuak where you stop for lunch and to snorkel the turquoise waters.  

Day 18  Koh Change to Bangkok  
Explore Bangkok's iconic food scene in an exclusive gastronomic adventure. Boat a private longtail boat to head to your first stop to try the one and only Pad Thai. Afterwards, head by tuk-tuk convoy to Rattanakosin Historical Island to sample a few more small bites. A sweet bite, like Mango and sticky rice, is the finishing touch on delicious evening.  

Day 19  Bangkok  
Today your adventure comes to an end. Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.