Phnom Penh & Vientiane Upstream Mekong (Laos & Cambodia) – 9 days

Transfer from Phnom Penh International Airport to the hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset.  Overnight in Phnom Penh

By vehicle from Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham. Journey north through the Mekong River basin. If time permits, visit the spider merchants at Skoun. Sightseeing in Kampong Cham , a lively port on the banks of the Mekong River with some good examples of colonial-era architecture. Highlights: PHNOM PROS and PHNOM SREI: these two hills, each with a temple, translate as ''Man hilland ''Woman hill'' respectively. The hills offer beautiful views of this central part of Cambodia. WAT NOKOR: a Buddhist Mahayana temple, made from sandstone and laterite, that was built in the 11th century. RUBBER PLANTATION: visit a rubber plantation at Chhup. LOCAL MARKET: an interesting place to see the local produce and to meet the local people. WAT NOKOR BAYON: located 2 kilometers from the river, this is an 11th century Mahayana Buddhist shrine made of sandstone and laterite with a large reclining Buddha and numerous alcoves containing Buddha images. Overnight in Kampong Cham.

Transfer by speedboat from Kampong Cham to Kratie. Journey north along the Mekong River, the 12th longest river in the world, past the river's many islands and riverside villages. Transfer to the hotel and sightseeing in Kratie. Highlights: Capital of Kratie Province, Kratie is a pleasant, small riverside town on the Mekong River. WAT PHNOM SAMBOK: situated 9 km north of Kratie, there are two peaks here named Phnom Srey and Phnom Proh. Phnom Srey has a small pagoda (built in 1938) and a beautiful view of the Mekong. Local people visit to request better health for their relatives. Phnom Proh also has a small pagoda with monks and nuns living around the pagoda. DOLPHIN OBSERVATION PARK: 14 km north of Kratie town is the Irawaddy dolphin observation park, home to about 50 dolphins. Overnight in Kratie.

Transfer by speedboat from Kratie to Stung Treng. Journey north along the Mekong River, the 12th longest river in the world with good views of the many islands, riverside villages and farms. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Stung Treng.

By longtail boat from Stung Treng to Veun Kham, Laos. Travel along the Mekong River through some of Cambodia's most beautiful scenery towards the Lao border. This trip will cross the border between Laos and Cambodia and on each side one must report at the Immigration's Office. A visa is necessary; not possible to get this upon arrival. VEUN KHAM: the village of Veun Kham is on the banks of the Mekong River and is in Lao territory.By vehicle to the Khon Phapheng Falls and on by boat to Khong Island. KHON PHAPHENG FALLS: south of Don Khon Island the Mekong River has a 13km stretch of powerful rapids with several sets of cascades. The largest, Khon Phapheng, flows near the eastern shore of the Mekong River near the village of Ban Thakho. Excursion to see the Irrawaddy River dolphins by boat. The boat trip on the Mekong River passes through areas with virtually no population to one of the last places where you are able to see the Irrawaddy dolphins. IRRAWADDY DOLPHINS (Orcaella brevirostris): reach around 2.5m in length and swim in small pods of two to three individuals. Their bulging foreheads make them resemble the much larger Beluga Whale. The dolphins are an endangered species that are found in this southern Mekong region. About a hundred dolphins are thought to survive and the best times of day to see them are early morning and late afternoon. Overnight in Khon Island.

Excursion to Khon Phapheng Waterfalls. South of Don Khong Island the Mekong River features a 13km stretch of powerful rapids with several sets of cascades. The largest, Khon Phapheng, flows close to the eastern shore of the Mekong River near the village of Ban Thakho. Overnight in Khong Island.

By vehicle from Khong Island to Champasak. Journey north in Champasak Province, through the Mekong River basin and through the villages of Kheo, Ban Hangdon and Ban Nongsim. CHAMPASAK DISTRICT: small district of 38,000 people on the western bank of the Mekong River. The Angkor-period ruins of Wat Phou Champasak lie 8km south of the town.. Sightseeing Wat Phou Champasak, a small district of 38,000 people on the western bank of the Mekong River). By vehicle from Champasak to Pakse. Journey north through Champasak Province along the Mekong River basin. Overnight in Pakse.

Transfer to the airport. Flight from Pakse to Vientiane. Transfer to the hotel. Sightseeing in Vientiane the capital city and seat of government sitting in a bend of the Mekong River amidst fertile alluvial plains. Vientiane (pronounced 'Wieng Chan' by the locals) is a laid-back city with interesting wats and lively markets. Highlights: PHA THAT LUANG (Great Sacred Reliquary or Great Stupa): built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD, it is the most important national monument in Laos, a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. PATUXAI: a large monument in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the huge arch at the end of Thanon Lan Xang has a stairway that leads to the top levels of the monument, providing a good view of the city. HO PHA KEO: the former royal temple of the Lao monarchy built in 1565 by King Setthathirat and now converted into a museum containing some of the best examples of Buddhist sculptures found in Laos. WAT SI SAKET: constructed in 1818 by King Anouvong in the early Bangkok style, small niches are carved into its interior walls, containing more than 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. WAT SI MUANG: this temple is one of the most popularly used temple grounds in the city, as it contains the city pillar and acts as the home of Vientiane's guardian spirits. TALAAT SAO: the Morning Market – actually open all day '' selling a wide range of fabrics, jewellery and electronic goods. Overnight in Vientiane.

Morning after breakfast at the hotel, transfer to airport for flight departure. End of our service