Laos & Cambodia Family Adventure

Sabaidee. Welcome to Luang Prabang, the cultural capital of Laos. You and your family will be met upon arrival by your expert English speaking guide and driver and transferred to your boutique hotel located in the old quarter. Depending on your arrival time, you will have free time to explore Luang Prabang, perhaps the best preserved traditional city in South East Asia. The afternoon is at leisure until the group meets in the hotel lobby this evening to journey out and enjoy a welcome dinner together. Accommodation: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals: Nil

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After breakfast, we hop in a vintage tuk-tuk to venture around the old Luang Prabang town. First stop will be the Morning Market, where you can learn more about the local products. We also visit Wat Xieng Thong - the largest and most splendid temple of the royal city of Luang Prabang. Built on the Mekong River bank in 1560 under the reign of King Setthathirat (1548 – 1571), the temple is best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story. We end our morning walking around the old town, and stopping at the Ock Pop Tok social crafts centre to delve into the beauty of Laos craftsmanship and enjoy lunch at their adjacent café. In the afternoon, we embark on a traditional longboat and cruise upstream along the mighty Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, with their thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues left by pilgrims. The trip offers a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as we make our way to visit the Pak Ou Caves. Locally called Tam Ting, the caves are filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues. The caves are noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of wooden Buddhist figures take many different positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining (nirvana). You will return to our hotel in Luang Prabang by vehicle and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. The Night Market here is a great place for wandering on your own, offering a lovely variety of handmade textiles crafted by local and hill-tribe people, along with street food, knick-knacks and friendly banter. Note: The cruise is 2hrs and the return drive to Luang Prabang is 1hr. Accommodation: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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A highly recommended optional early start which gives you the opportunity to witness and even participate in the captivating centuries old tradition of the alms giving ceremony, Tak Bat. Before first light, hundreds of saffron-clad monks file out from the old town’s 35 temples to collect their daily alms from local residents. For those who are up early, we will return to our hotel for breakfast before heading out to Ban Long Lao, a Hmong minority village. Here we can wander around to learn more about life in this rural lowland Lao and Hmong community. The beginning of the trek leads for about half an hour through paddy fields before entering dense mixed growth jungle with a remarkable diversity of tree species. After 3 hours hiking through the forest we’ll reach our destination. First, we stop by the Free the Bears Sanctuary, a rehabilitation center for Asiatic Black bears-also known as Moon bears- confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, before continuing on through the forest to see the stunning Khuang Si Waterfall. A 60m cascade feeds into multi-tiered turquoise pools set in a beautiful lush forest setting. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the pools or choose to walk up the trails to the upper section. Please note: The alms giving ceremony this morning is a daily religious event not a show for tourists. Therefore, please be respectful - dress conservatively, turn camera flashes off and carefully follow the instructions of your guide. Hike: 8.5km - 3.5hrs Drive: 2hrs Accommodation: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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The Elephant Conservation Center was opened to the public in 2010 and are now proudly protecting 530 hectares of elephant habitat and 29 elephants while employing 65 members of staff, 95% of them Laotian. The aim of the ECC is not to keep the animals in captivity, but instead, after forming close-knit social groups, the ultimate goal is to reintroduce them to a safe and protected natural forest where they can contribute to the increase of the wild population. The ECC, unlike most elephant camps in Laos was set up purely for the protection of this magnificent species, not as a tourism venture. Therefore, here you cannot ride the elephants and they certainly will not be performing any tricks. Instead, you will learn about the species and conservation efforts, and have the opportunity to just watch them in their natural habitat. After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and travel to the natural habitat of the Asian Elephant, in Sayaboury province, south west of Luang Prabang. Approximately 2 and half hours later, you will arrive at the Nam Tien Lake lake, dotted with islands and surrounded by lush tropical forest. Here, you will board a boat for the short 15min journey across the lake to reach the secluded Elephant Conservation Center. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed to your simple bungalow accommodation before tucking into lunch a local lunch at the center's simple restaurant. You are going to visit the only hospital dedicated to elephants in Laos. A vet will talk to you about their work here and will show around. You will have a further opportunity to see, observe and learn about the mysterious pachyderm at the museum and at the mahout school. Elephant Bath: Elephants are surprisingly good swimmers and love water. You will witness the unique bond between the mahout and his elephant. You will be welcomed to join the mahouts for a walk in the forest to take the elephants back to their nightly resting place. Our afternoon concludes with a boat trip on the lake to watch the sunset over the islands while enjoying a fresh drink and snacks. Before dinner, you will have some time to visit the elephant museum, swim or simply relax on the lake shore. Drive: 2.5hrs and 15min boat journey Accommodation: Elephant Conservation Center

Meals: B,L,D

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Start the morning with breakfast served in the restaurant. After breakfast, you will go for a walk with the guide and mahouts through the forest to visit the elephant nursery. It is located deep inside the forest where the baby elephants are learning how to sustain themselves, closely watched by mum. You will receive information about the reproduction program set up by the NGO ElefantAsia while watching them play. Then you will be able to spend some intimate time at the yard with Mae Khamon, Mae Bounnam, Mae Dok and Phu Thongkhoon, the four resident elephants. Elephants have a delicate diet, and under professional guidance, you will play and feed them. We head back to the Center for lunch before leaving the ECC and returning to Luang Prabang with unique memories of this majestic elephant experience. We will arrive in Luang Prabang by late afternoon and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Drive: 2.5hrs Accommodation: Sala Prabang Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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Today we will be leaving Luang Prabang and flying to Pakse where we travel to Don Khong, part of the 4000 islands region in the Mekong River. Don Khong is the largest of these Islands and the site of Muang Khong, a small former French settlement. We’ll spend a few days here enjoying the beauty of this region and exploring our quaint island home and its villages by bicycle or foot. PLEASE NOTE: This internal flight schedule is subject to change and may require a transfer in Vientiane, Laos. Any schedule changes may result in an additional surcharge. If you are on a direct flight and time permits, there may be an opportunity to visit the Wat Phou temple en route to Don Khong. Drive: 3hrs (Pakse airport - Wat Phou & Don Khong Island) Accommodation: Pon Arena Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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After breakfast, we will board a long trail boat sailing to the widest reach of the Mekong River where during the dry season the waters recede and leave behind thousands of islets, giving this area the name” Si Phan Done”. We arrive at Khone Island area where you will see an array of relics from the French colonial era and retrace the old colonial past, including old French architecture buildings and the remnants of the first Lao railway and its locomotive. From here we cycling to visit Liphi Waterfall, "the Devil’s Corridor" and onwards to Ban Hang Khone. On this beautiful island crisscrossed with dirt paths, ride where you please, for a uniquely relaxing and peaceful experience of southern Laos. Back to Don Khong by late afternoon. Cruise & Cycling: 4hrs round trip + 1hr30mins cycling on flat terrain Accommodation: Pon Arena Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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After a busy week, enjoy a whole day soaking in the slow pace of life down Don Khong Island in Laos' 4000 Islands riverine archipelago. Relax and take advantage of the hotel pool overlooking the mighty Mekong River and partake in the various activities on offer. Accommodation: Pon Arena Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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After breakfast at your hotel you transfer to Pakse Airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Sua s’dei. Welcome to Cambodia. You will be greeted by your Cambodian guide and driver (please look for the World Expeditions welcome sign as you exit the arrivals hall). You will be driven to your hotel in Siem Reap. Siem Reap is the gateway to the world famous Temples of Angkor and a lively and fun town has grown here. We will head out this evening to enjoy dinner at a wonderful restaurant which provides disadvantaged local youths with the opportunity to train in the hospitality industry. Great food, combined with great service and the feel good factor. PLEASE NOTE: This internal flight is subject to local flight schedule changes and may require an additional flight transfers. We will confirm these details with your final documents. Drive: 2.5hrs (Don Khong Island - Pakse Airport), 70mins (Siem Reap Airport - hotel) Accommodation: Baitong Heritage Hotel or similar

Meals: B,D

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Today will be day to explore the world famous Angkorian temples near Siem Reap. We highly recommend an early start to beat the crowds and take advantage of the cool morning air. You and your family will visit the very best and most interesting temples such as Ta Prohm, the walled city of Angkor Thom with the enigmatic Bayon at its centre and of course Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument. The day's touring will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with time to have lunch and relax back at the hotel pool during the midday heat. Note: To enter the Angkorian temples, visitors are required to wear appropriate clothes. Shorts must cover the knees and sleeveless tops are strictly not permitted. Drive: 30mins each way Angkor Archaeological Park Accommodation: Baitong Heritage Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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The Kulen Mountain range rises from the plains 50km north of Siem Reap. It is considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia and is therefore a popular place of pilgrimage during weekends and festivals. Recent lidar surveys have revealed that there was once an entire ancient city atop the mountain but this has long been lost to the jungle. However, a few remnants remain such as the River of 1000 Lingas, carved into the riverbed to bestow fertility to the waters flowing into the rice fields in the plains below. A hike through the jungle past remote villages reveals life sized stone elephants standing serenely at Srah Damrei. We'll also visit the small wat which houses Cambodia's largest reclining Buddha before heading to the 20m high Kulen Waterfall where we can enjoy a refreshing dip before returning to town Note: The trekking route passes through the jungle, so please wear long clothing that covers your legs and arms. Bring an extra pair of clothes if you plan to swim at the waterfall, as well as sunscreen lotion and mosquito repellent. Hike: 11km Drive: 1.5hrs each way Accommodation: Baitong Heritage Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

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This morning after breakfast we transfer out from Siem Reap towards the vast wetlands on the edge of Asia's largest freshwater lake, the Tonle Sap. The lake's size and depth increases with the annual monsoon rains by as much as six times and local people have found ingenious ways to live with the ever changing water world. Whilst most visitors head directly south to the crowded stilted villages, we will take you south-west to the quiet floating village of Mechrey. Once we reach the end of the road, we board a traditional local boat on which we cruise down toward the village. Close to the village, our specialist guide will provide a safety briefing before we slip into the water aboard our kayaks. Glide through the waterways which make up the streets of the floating village and witness the lives of the locals who rely on this diverse ecosystem for their living. Explore the surrounding flooded forests and mangroves before venturing out to the edges of the great lake, which in fact resembles a sea. We'll head back to Siem Reap around lunchtime and the afternoon is free time at leisure. In the evening, you will be collected at 19:30 to go for the best night out in Siem Reap, to the famous Phare, The Cambodian Circus. More than just a circus, Phare performers use theatre, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent. Kayaking: 2hrs Drive: 1hr return Accommodation: Baitong Heritage Hotel or similar Note: please note that during the dry season (late March through April/ June) kayaking may not be possible. A boat trip may be provided instead.

Meals: B,D

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The day is free at your leisure until your transfer to the Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight, where the trip concludes.

Meals: B

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