Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Laos – Cambodia – Luang Prabang – Champasak – Si Phan Don – Siem Reap – Koh Rong – Phnom Penh
100% customisable for you
Rise and shine, the best of Laos and Cambodia await. Passport? Check. Bags? Check. Let the adventure begin.
Head to the airport, whizz through security and relax in the lounge before boarding your overnight flight to Luang Prabang, which will take around 17 and a half hours, including a short stopover.
When you arrive the following day, you’ll be privately transferred to your picturesque accommodation, perched on the banks of the Nam Khan River. Check in for three nights and settle into your new surroundings.
Later this afternoon, you’ll take part in a Baci ceremony with a Laotian family, where mantras are chanted to welcome spirits to your body, encouraging good luck and good health. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll learn more about the Lao culture and ancestral beliefs.
Then, return to your new home away from home for a delicious dinner and some much-needed shut-eye after a busy travel day.
Today is all about reconnecting with nature and discovering Luang Prabang’s lush landscapes.
Accompanied by a private guide, explore sprawling rice fields and visit the iconic Kuang Si Falls. At the farm, learn about each stage of growing Oryza sativa (Asian cultivated rice), from planting the seedlings to harvesting the rice, before watching it being soaked and steamed, ready for you to sample. Along the way, roll up your trousers and head into the mud to plough the fields behind a water buffalo – just try not to get stuck.
A visit to the famous Kuang Si Falls is also on the agenda today. South of Luang Prabang, watch as sunlit water tumbles down the rocks, collecting in a series of natural pools where you can enjoy refreshing dips year-round.
When it comes to dinner time, why not ask our clued-up Concierge to recommend their favourite local restaurant this evening?
Are you an early bird? At dawn, head out to witness the tak bat, Luang Prabang’s traditional morning alms giving ceremony. Take your place before the monks make their way silently through the streets, collecting offerings as part of this sacred ritual. Then set off to discover the city for yourself.
The whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, blending traditional Lao architecture with 19th and 20th-century colonial influences. Wander the historic streets, passing ornate Buddhist temples and restored monuments to gain an insight into Luang Prabang’s past. Take in the peaceful atmosphere as you explore, with the surrounding mountains and verdant greenery providing a picturesque backdrop to your city sightseeing.
Wave goodbye to Luang Prabang this morning as you’re privately transferred to the airport for your one-hour-and-45-minute flight to Pakse. When you land, you’ll be driven about an hour to Champasak and to your hotel for the next two nights, which is set on the banks of the Mekong River.
Settle into your new jungle-fringed surroundings, admire the picture-perfect view, and enjoy a cooling plunge in the pool. The rest of the day is yours to relax and spend as you please.
This evening, a tasty dinner awaits, featuring fresh ingredients sourced from the hotel’s garden and local markets. Raise your glass and toast to your new home as the sun dips below the horizon.
Today is all about delving deeper into the quiet Laotian province of Champasak. Accompanied by a private guide, hop on a bike and pedal your way through the peaceful countryside towards Wat Phou, a historic Khmer temple complex.
Follow the scenic trail, winding past vast rice fields and towering mountain peaks. You’ll also pass the charming villages of Ban Tai, Ban Houay Sa Houa and Ban Houay Khor en route, where local residents tend to their crops and water buffalo roam.
When you arrive at Wat Phou, visit the on-site museum to see artefacts unearthed during archaeological excavations.
After you’ve finished exploring, head to the nearby mountain to enjoy panoramic views across the surrounding landscape, before returning to the hotel for some well-deserved R&R.
Wake up bright and early today for the private transfer to Don Khone, part of the Si Phan Don archipelago (also known as the ‘4,000 Islands’). Admire the unfolding landscape en route as palm trees sway overhead and temples peek through the greenery.
When you arrive, check in for two nights at your riverside hotel, then unpack and relax. Here, life moves to the rhythm of the Mekong, with local communities relying on the river for fishing.
Later this afternoon, don your explorer’s hat and set off to discover Li Phi Falls (Somphamit Falls), where the water foams blue-green between bronze rocks. Be sure to have your camera on hand to capture the picture-perfect views.
Feeling peckish? The hotel restaurant serves a tempting range of dishes to fuel up on after your waterfall adventure.
Another day, another cycle. Set off at your own pace and explore Don Khone on two wheels, passing lush greenery, laid-back villages, coconut palms and forests filled with fresh areca, banana, mango and papaya trees en route.
As you cycle, keep an eye out for remnants of the historic French railway, a reminder of the area’s colonial past. It once helped transport boats and goods around this challenging stretch of the Mekong.
Later, swap your bicycle for a set of petanque boules. This is one of Laos’ most popular sports, so you’ll be in for a challenge against the locals. Enjoy a spirited game as the sun sets, with a refreshing aperitif in hand.
Leave laid-back Laos behind this morning as you cross the border into Cambodia, accompanied by your private guide. Continue towards the Preah Vihear region, where you’ll spend the night in Sra Aem, just a short drive from Preah Vihear Temple.
In between refreshing dips in the pool this afternoon, make time to visit Preah Vihear Temple, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for its 11th-century Khmer architecture and ornate detailing, Preah Vihear is perched atop a 1,722ft hill. Built along a north-south axis, it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, before becoming a Buddhist site. As you explore, look out for intricate carvings and stone reliefs, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology, bringing the temple’s history to life.
Craving some Cambodian cuisine? Return to your hotel this evening and tuck into a delicious dinner packed with local flavours.
Today is all about temple-hopping through Siem Reap. Journey about three and a half hours to Cambodia’s second-largest city and check in for three nights in a quiet, leafy neighbourhood, away from the hustle and bustle.
Settle in, unpack and admire your picturesque surroundings before making use of your Angkor Pass. It gives you access to Angkor Archaeological Park, where you can lose yourself among a maze of ancient monuments, from Banteay Samre and the carvings of Banteay Srei to the historic Roluos Group temples.
Return to your home away from home this evening for some fresh Cambodian cuisine, then enjoy a rooftop cocktail as the day winds down.
Answer the call of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom this morning. Jump aboard a tuk-tuk with your private guide and zip towards the ancient Khmer capital, heading for two of its most iconic sites.
Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is the jewel in the UNESCO-listed parks’ crown and is first up on the agenda. The world’s largest religious structure, it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and is now an important place of Buddhist worship.
The royal city of Angkor Thom is next up, once the heart of the Khmer Empire. At its heart stands the 12th-century Bayon temple, built by King Jayavarman VII, which features 54 towers adorned with sculpted faces believed to represent Avalokiteshvara.
Worked up an appetite after a day of ancient wonders? Head back to the hotel for a selection of traditional Cambodian dishes and raise a glass to your temple tour discoveries.
Home to a treasure trove of temples, Angkor’s surroundings also have plenty to uncover.
Keen to reconnect with nature? The 12th-century Beng Mealea temple has your name written all over it; entwined with twisting vines and weaving tree roots, its ruins appear to have been reclaimed by the jungle. Or head to the Roluos Group to explore Preah Ko, one of the first temples built in the area, and visit the large Bakong temple mountain.
After more adventure? Head north of the main Angkor complex towards the Kulen Hills and hike through the jungle to Kbal Spean. This little-known marvel is an ancient sandstone riverbed featuring detailed carvings.
For a slower pace, visit the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, home to Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, or if you want to explore further, opt for a private tour of the Kompong Khleang fishing village, built entirely on stilts.
Bid farewell to Siem Reap today as you’re privately transferred to the airport for your hour-long flight to Sihanoukville. When you land, you’ll be whisked to the port for the 45-minute ferry crossing to Koh Rong.
Once on the island, check in for three nights in a beachside bungalow, just steps from silky white sands, shaded by swaying palms. Settle in with a cooling plunge in the sea, or simply unwind and soak up your new surroundings.
This evening, enjoy dinner with a view at the waterfront restaurant, where you can savour delicious dishes as the sun sets over the island.
A stay on Cambodia’s second-largest island can only mean one thing: it’s time for some R&R.
Slow down the pace, find your perfect sunbathing spot and enjoy refreshing dips in the glittering sea. Koh Rong is home to four village communities, where fishing remains an important part of daily life. Inland, you’ll find cascading waterfalls, hidden within a thick canopy of green.
Keen to explore on your own? Hire a scooter and embark on a beach-hopping adventure or take to the water for paddleboarding, sea kayaking and windsurfing. Diving and snorkelling are obvious choices, too, with a vibrant underwater world to discover. If you take the plunge after dark, you might even spot the island’s bioluminescent plankton lighting up the water.
Swap island life for city buzz today as you catch the ferry to Sihanoukville, before being privately transferred to Phnom Penh, where you’ll check in for two nights at a charming hotel.
The rest of today is yours to spend as you please. Head to the rooftop for sweeping views of the capital, plunge into the pool or opt for a scenic stroll to discover your new surroundings.
Tuck into international cuisine with Cambodian influences at the hotel restaurant this evening, or, if you’re after a local spot, ask our in-the-know Concierge for their top restaurant recommendations.
Ready for some city sightseeing? We have you covered. Set off on a walking tour of Phnom Penh today, led by a knowledgeable local.
Explore trendy neighbourhoods, hidden streets, bustling markets and must-try street food spots for a taste of the city. Pick up local tips to enrich your stay and share your interests so the tour can be tailored to your preferences.
For a deeper insight into Cambodia’s history, today’s optional activity is a private tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. A former school, the site was occupied by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 before becoming one of the most notorious interrogation centres. Today, the museum honours the many people who suffered there.
Sadly, your adventure to Laos and Cambodia has come to an end.
Stuff your souvenirs into your suitcase and soak up one last look at Phnom Penh before being privately transferred to the airport for your indirect flight home, arriving in the UK the following day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
