Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in the bustling capital of Laos and settle into the rhythm of the “sebai sebai” (easy-going) lifestyle of the Lao people with a walk through the temple-lined streets watching orange robed monks mix with the locals bringing home fresh produce in tuk tuks ending with a beautiful view of the sun setting over the mighty Mekong River.
Day 2: Today will be full of exploring Vientiane, from the National Museum which will give you a historical view of Laos to the morning market where you will wind through the myriad of stalls selling everything from hand woven textiles to fresh fruit to DVD players and onward to a tour of the most enthralling temples the city has to offer. Along the way tantalize you taste buds with the wonders of Lao cuisine!
Day 3: Drive into the mountainous north of Laos, stopping for the night in Vang Vieng. Here we will visit the enchanting Hmong village of Na Som where some of our local staff are from. Nestled into an enchanting valley amongst towering limestone mountains there is plenty to see and do here, including swimming in crystal clear watering holes and spelunking through sparkling caves.
Day 4: Spend the morning on the river in Vang Vieng and then embark on a beautiful and exciting drive through the tiny hill tribe villages and emerald green mountains of the North! The final destination will be the UNESCO world Heritage town of Luang Prabang, which you are certain to fall in love with immediately. After getting settled in head into the main part of town for a delicious meal and some shopping at the famous night street market.
Day 5: This morning you will explore streets lined with crumbling French colonial buildings, poke around antique shops, and visit the central market to see the exotic foods and artifacts on display. After walking around the peninsula that is created by the town’s two rivers, the Mekong and the Mae Kham you will cross the Mekong to visit abandoned temples and upon returning to town, you will climb up to the mountaintop temple of Phou Si to watch as the setting sun bathes the town and rivers in fading light.
Day 6: Today you will board a private boat that will take you through the verdant mountains and limestone cliffs that surround Luang Prabang. Life in Laos takes place along the river, and this ride will offer a great chance to see it first hand. You will stop at small villages, wave at adorable children as they swim in the river, explore caves filled with ancient Buddha statues, and wonder at elephants grazing on the riverbanks.
The boat trip will end at the amazing Kuang Si Waterfall, where blue water begs swimmers to jump in and splash around. Once everyone has cooled off at the waterfall, you will return to Luang Prabang. Another delicious meal will cap off this most memorable day.
Day 7: In the morning you will wake up early to watch the monks gather alms. This is one of the most honored traditions in Southeast Asia and will give you an idea of the respected position monks occupy in Buddhist society. After your last cup of Lao coffee and a fond farewell to this wonderful country it is time to pack up the bags and head to the airport for a flight to Vietnam! You will arrive in the bustling town of Hanoi and immediately feel a whole new way of life as buzzing motorcycles dart through the winding streets full of street peddlars and food stalls. Get to know the town with a walk around the central lake where locals go at the end of the day for exercise, romance and political discussions.
Day 8: Today will be spent on magnificent Ha Long Bay! We’ll hop aboard our own private junk boat with beautiful staterooms and sail out into the limestone peaked islands rising up out of the waters of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will feast on delicious local seafood and kayak amongst the karsts. Visit a cave filled with Buddhas and enjoy both the sunset and moonrise in this spectacular natural setting. Fall asleep to the reflection of stars twinkling in the water that is lapping up against the boat’s sides.
Day 9: In the morning return to Hanoi for a full day of touring! Take a rickshaw tour further afield and become immersed in the seemingly nonsensical traffic. Visit the Literature temple and Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum where the old leader of the communist party still lays in state. Explore the halls and rooms and learn about the history of the Vietnam War while touring the “Hanoi Hilton” which was the Vietnamese POW prison that held Americans including Senator John McCain. Along the way enjoy ice-cold fruit shakes and delicious bowls of Pho and other wonderful northern Vietnamese delicacies. Enjoy the rambling streets, busy markets and old world charm of this bustling city.
Day 10: Today it is time to say goodbye to Vietnam and hello to Cambodia! You will fly from Hanoi into the thriving streets of Phnom Penh. The afternoon will be spent checking out the easygoing riverfront and awe inspiring street life of this grand capital.
Day 11: We will start the day with a full tour of Cambodia's capital. Our first stop is Tuol Sleng, a former prison that has been converted into a museum to educate visitors about the genocide that occurred here. We then head across the street for an amazing lunch at the Boddhi Tree restaurant. Here, while enjoying the amazing collection of delicious (and healthy!) foods from around the world, we collect our thoughts before heading out to our next destination, the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek where you walk through the quite and peaceful fields that were once the site of mass killings and burials during the genocide. While difficult at times, these sites are important landmarks in Cambodian history and allow you to put the contemporary Cambodia in perspective. It is important to keep in mind that many Cambodians do not dwell on past atrocities but instead look to the future. We will also have a chance to do some shopping at a number of the massive markets in the city. A full day of Phnom Penh will be enough to wear you out and will return to the hotel around 5pm to relax for a while before dinner.
Day 12: In the morning hop aboard a boat and travel across the great inland lake known as the Tonle Sap. Along the way watch laughing children swim alongside fisherman throwing their nets in perfect arcs over the water. You will also have a chance to stop and explore the incredible floating villages where people literally live, go to school and work on the water. Your final destination is the cosmopolitan town of Siem Reap, home to the fabulous Angkor Wat!
Day 13: Rising early, we will catch a sunrise over Angkor Wat before spending the day touring the temples located around the Angkor Wat site. At midday we will escape the sun and head into town for an early lunch at the Blue Pumpkin restaurant (a favorite of Rustic Pathways chairman David Venning). After a rest at the hotel we will head back out to visit the "Tomb Raider" temple or Angkor Thom, made famous by Angelina Jolie in the movie of the same name and also the giant stone faces of Bayon. As the sun sets we will climb onto a small hill that will provide for a great eagle eye view of Ankgor and give a good close to this day of temple hopping. We will the return to the hotel, get cleaned up and hit the town!
Day 14: Say goodbye to Cambodia and depart for your next adventure or flight back home.
This trip has recently been completely revamped, and Pat is proud to announce that his tour will now be a grand tour of what he considers to be the highlights of Southeast Asia. When we asked Pat what makes this trip special, he happily announced that there would be no wake-up calls before 9 a.m. This is your chance to sit back, relax, and take in the best of Southeast Asia. If Pat can’t put a smile on your face, chances are nothing can. And despite all of the amazing things he will show you on this trip, you may just find that he is the highlight of the whole experience! Along the way, he’ll make time to stop for massages, play with adorable local children, cruise along winding rivers, and most of all - show you how to truly enjoy your time here in Southeast Asia.
With Thailand out of the itinerary, Pat’s students will now be beginning the adventure in Laos – a country now regarded as one of the hidden treasures the region. You’ll begin in the bustling capital of Vientiane, before heading onward to the bedazzling limestone mountains and valleys of Na Som village. Despite the rural quaint setting of this area, accommodations will be ideal, and you’ll really enjoy this serene setting. From here, the journey will head north to the stunning former royal capital and French colonial town of Luang Prabang. From Luang Prabang students will travel onward to Vietnam to visit the amazing streets and attractions of Hanoi, followed by an excursion to the coast and an overnight cruise on world-famous Ha Long Bay. In Cambodia there will be visits to the world famous temples of Angkor Wat, the floating villages of the Tonle Sap and the café culture, markets and historical sites of Phnom Penh. All in all, it will be the trip of a lifetime which is made especially fun and exciting with Pat smiling, joking and sharing his insights of his favorite areas with you all along the way!
Sorry, You CAN’T Take Pat Home with You