Highlights of Southeast Asia 14-day impressive tour

Begin your tour with an early pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Then, start your adventure by climbing the main entrance of Angkor Wat and admiring the stunning sunrise over the site and all the surrounding temples.

Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom comprises the renowned Bayon and Baphoun temples, originally made up of 54 towers and 216 faces of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. During the visit, learn the historical facts of the Angkor Temples and the Khmer Empire, as well as all the main Angkor architectural elements, from your guide.

After lunch, pass by both the Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, known as the royal viewing platform and the stage of the king’s great audience hall. Next, head to Ta Prohm Temple, known as the “jungle temple” or “tree temple,” referring to the lush trees surrounding the temple’s stones. Marvel at the gigantic roots of the trees embracing the ruins that have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples. End your tour with a visit to Banteay Kdei, a temple built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. After your visit, get dropped off at your Siem Reap hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Siem Reap Ta Prohm

Be picked up from your hotel, sit back, and relax on the way to Kulen Mountain, one of Cambodia’s most sacred mountains, with deeply revered ancient sites and ruins on its high plateau. Take in the scenic countryside as you pass by rice paddies, local markets, schools, villages, and Buddhist temples. Stop at the palm sugar village, where they make palm sugar out of palm juice. Continue to the National Park, where you can get out to stretch your legs and snap pictures of the view.

Explore the vast plateau of Phnom Kulen by walking through jungle trails, through vine-covered trees until you reach Kbal Spean. Admire an array of unique carvings in the riverbed. Visit a large stone Buddha carved into the top of a rock set in a bustling temple complex in Preah Ang Thom. Have a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Take a refreshing swim at Kulen Waterfall before returning to your accommodation in Siem Reap.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Siem Reap Kullen the river of a thousand lingas

Located in the beautiful Angkor Park, Flight of the Gibbon is the only zipline staged in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A thrilling and unforgettable adventure, it takes you on a flight through a real jungle and lets you experience nature and wildlife in a truly fun way! You have never been ziplining before. Not a problem! Flight of the Gibbon’s Sky Rangers will not only guide you through every step but also join in on the activity, sharing their rich knowledge about the jungle along the way. As you are zipping above the evergreen forest and taking stunning photos from the air, keep an eye out for the gibbons and a chance to see them in their natural environment.

This afternoon, you are transferring to the airport for the flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. When you arrive in the charming capital city of Hanoi, which is known for its tree-lined streets and French colonial villas, you will be met by a local English-speaking guide and taken to your hotel to check in.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast.

Siem Reap Zipline in Angkor Park

Our tour starts at your hotel in and around Hanoi Old Quarter. You will be greeted by our guide and driver at your hotel lobby or our meeting point for a safety briefing, and we will then begin our adventure!

In the first part of our Hanoi motorcycle tour, we expose you to the REAL HANOI with a day in the life experience, featuring the parts-unknown of the city with slices of life in the maze of backstreets, tiny alleyways, local homes, schools, random markets, and the black market, experiencing where and how locals live, work, and play. On Hanoi Backstreet Tours’ journeys, we not only show you the good, but we also expose the bad and the weird of your destinations as it is. For us, the run-of-the-mill tourist sites are only the tip of the iceberg, the majority of your destinations remain hidden in parts unknown.

In the second part of our Hanoi Motorcycle Tour, we pass by & stop at the  MUST-SEE places of our beautiful city, such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – the Mecca of Vietnamese – the 1000-year-old Buddhist and Taoist temples of Tran Quoc, the Temple of Literature, the historical training track, the enchanting French Quarter, the hustling & bustling Old Quarter, the romantic lakes of Hoan Kiem, West Lake, the Hanoi Opera House & famous Long Bien Bridge, etc.

In the third part of our Hanoi motorcycle tour, we also take you to the poetic & peaceful villages and floating communities along the Red River to enrich your experience of the contrast in the harmony of life between the city and the countryside of Hanoi.

In the last part of our Hanoi motorcycle tour en route, you’re going to stop at different authentic local restaurants, eateries, and food stalls. So you can try the best dishes Hanoi has to offer, such as family heirloom and secret recipe dishes, local delicacies, and specialties from other parts of Vietnam.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hanoi Ta Hien street

The scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea in bizarre shapes, is truly an iconic image for Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see.

9:00: Our driver will see you in the hotel lobby and send you to Ha Long City. Arrive in Hon Gai International Harbor at noon. Be ready for an amazing 2D1N cruise trip exploring Bai Tu Long Bay.

12:30–13:00: Embark on the boat. Enjoy a welcome drink as the Cruise Manager gives you a brief overview of the itinerary and important safety guidelines. Check-in at your cabin.

13:30–14:30: Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; start sailing among the famous islets (Indochina Studio, Am Islet…) of Bai Tu Long Bay, the wildest beauty with the panoramic natural views.

15:00–16:30: Visit and explore the well-hidden Co Cave (known as Thien Canh Son Cave), where you can hike to the middle of the mountain to see the wild and mysteriously beautiful cave, and contemplate numerous sparkling stalactites that appear like “hanging lamps” inside the cave. (No swimming).

Return to the boat and enjoy happy hour. You will have a 30% discount on the special menu drinks, including cocktails, mocktails, and mixed drinks (from 4:30 p.m to 7:00 pm.).

16:30–17:30: Enjoy kayaking and relaxing on the cruise in Cong Do Area.

17:30: Take part in carving flowers on the sundeck.

18:00–19:00 :Attend our chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking (springrollsl).

19:00-21:00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. You can enjoy the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.

21:00-22:00: Enjoy evening activities (squid fishing, movie night, board games, massages, & spa services) or relax at your leisure then overnight at a private cabin in the Cong Do area.

Note: Each cruise operates a different itinerary, and onboard facilities may vary. Our travel consultant will be very happy to discuss each option with you.

Overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Long Bay landscape view in sunset

06:30-07:00: Welcome a new day with an amazing dawn on Bai Tu Long Bay. Refresh your body and soul with a Tai-chi session on the sundeck.

07:00-07:30: Catch the morning view of the seascape while enjoying breakfast with cookies and tea at a café in the restaurant.

07:30-08:30: Visit Vung Vieng fishing village, the famous fishing farm, by bamboo boat and discover the lives of local people living on the surface of Halong Bay. (No swimming).

08:30-9:30: Pack up the luggage and check out of the cabin.

09:30-10:40: Enjoy the brunch in the restaurant while cruising back to the tourist harbor.

11:00: Disembark the boat. Your private driver is waiting for you at the dock to send you back to Noi Bai Airport for the Bangkok-bound flight. Arrive in Bangkok and check in to the hotel.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch.

Ha Long Bay landscapes

Today, you will visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, 110 kilometers from Bangkok. After 1.5 hours of driving, you will pass leisurely by rice paddies and salt fields, visit a farmhouse, and watch locals produce sugar from coconut. You continue to ride a 30-minute speedboat along fruit plantations, seeing Thai houses and the river life of locals. Upon arrival, you are fascinated by the various shapes and sizes of boats that local merchants use to ferry their goods. You hire a small boat to navigate your way along the market to shop for local products. After touring the market, you visit a wood carving factory and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you drive back to Bangkok to discover the city of angles. Your first stop is at Wat Traimit to visit the largest Golden Buddha statue in the world (it is 3 meters high, weighs 5.5 tons, and is carved in solid gold). Your next visit is to Wat Pho to admire the massive reclining Buddha statue, which represents the entry of Buddha into Nirvana and the end of all reincarnations.

Just 800 m from Wat Pho, you will visit Grand Palace. The dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace is undoubtedly the most famous landmark in Bangkok and a must-see. Continue with a long-tail boat ride along the canal to see Thai houses and typical rural life as well as admire the Temple of Dawn before ending your day.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Bangkok Wat Traimit

You meet your private tour guide in the hotel lobby, then drive 128 kilometers west of Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Province for a full day of sightseeing.

• Visit the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre, an interactive museum, information center, and research facility dedicated to presenting the history of the Thailand – Burma Railway. The fully air-conditioned center offers the visitor an educational and moving experience.
• Visit Allied War Cemetery, a memorial to some 6,000 allied prisoners of war (POWs) who perished along the death railway line and were moved post-war to this eternal resting place.
• Visit the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai, a part of the Death Railway constructed by Allied POWs. You take a historic Death Railway train, passing over the original wooden viaduct constructed by Allied POWs.

After the train ride, you visit a beautiful seven-tiered waterfall located in Erawan National Park. The best time to visit the waterfall is during the rainy season, from May until September. Walk up to the tier of the picturesque falls to cool off in the falls’ natural pools. Note: Be sure to bring good walking shoes and a swimming suit. You come back to the hotel in the late afternoon; just relax and enjoy Bangkok at night.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Kanchanaburi Erawan National Park

Breakfast at the hotel, check out, and transfer back to Bangkok airport for a short flight bound for Phuket. Arrive in Phuket, located in Thailand’s southwest region and set amidst the sparkling Andaman Sea. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Phuket is the nation’s largest island and a hugely popular holiday destination, ringed by limestone karst islands and countless white-sand beaches. This “Pearl of the South” presents the perfect playground of natural beauty, lively resort towns, and fishing villages, providing an endless supply of sporting and leisure activities as well as a rich cultural heritage.

Overnight in Phuket.

Meals: Breakfast.

Phuket beach

During this interactive program, you will spend many up-close moments with our rescued elephants, gain in-depth knowledge about their sophisticated means of communication, and learn about their natural habitat and the important role they play as keystone species in our ecosystem. The program includes joint roundtrip transfers as well as a light breakfast, vegetarian lunch & dinner buffets, and cold drinks and refreshments throughout the day.

Your morning starts with light refreshments and a video presentation on the history and plight of Asian elephants. You will then have the opportunity to feed one of our rescued elephants for breakfast. Next, our tour guide will teach you about the intricate behavioral and communication patterns of elephants before you explore our 30-acre sanctuary to observe our elephants roam, play, and bathe freely. The morning ends with a delicious vegetarian Thai lunch.

In the afternoon, you will explore the natural habitat of Asian elephants and learn more about their important role as a keystone species in our ecosystem while observing the elephants roam through our jungle. You will then learn about the important role water plays in treating old and injured elephants as you meet some of the gentle giants at the new hydrotherapy pool and observe them enjoying their time in the water. Finally, you will help to prepare supplementary elephant food and feed the elephants for dinner before enjoying a vegetarian meal yourself to end the day.

Overnight in Phuket.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Phuket elephants exploring day

Enjoy a wonderfully relaxing day together in Phuket. Laze on the beautiful beaches, or spend time snorkeling or diving in the azure waters teeming with colorful coral reefs and tropical marine creatures. Charter a boat or catamaran for a memorable day cruising around the islands in the Andaman Sea. Or maybe explore the historic capital, Phuket Town, and its cultural treasures. The choices and distractions are endless! Overnight in Phuket.

Optional tour: Phi Phi Sunrise tour

Get started on a new day with an early pickup around 5:00–5:15. You move to the Royal Phuket Marina, do a check-in, and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. From the Marina, depart for Maya Bay in the movie THE BEACH with a premium speedboat. The early departure helps you avoid the crowds at the beach, which often happen after 9 a.m. Maya Beach is a paradise on earth, where you can enjoy soft white sand, crystal clear water, rustic green mountains, and a calm and serene ambiance. Do not forget to take beautiful photos at Loh Samah Bay – the viewpoint behind Maya Bay.

Continue with Pileh Lagoon, the emerald lagoon surrounded by limestone mountains, and do sightseeing at Viking Cave and Monkey Cliff. In the late morning, enjoy snorkeling, and admire a beautiful coral reef with fish around you. Lunch is at the Private Beach Restaurant, with choices of Thai and Western foods. After lunch, you move on to Bamboo Island, another beautiful place to relax and snorkel. The tour ends at the Royal Phuket Marina at 15:00. You are driven back to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day strolling around Phuket in the way you love.

Overnight in Phuket.

Meals: Breakfast.

Phuket beach

Another relaxing day in Phuket.

Optional tour: Kayaking to Phang Nga Bay.

11:45: Hotel Pick-up

~13:00: Arrive Ao Po, Board our modern Twin-engine escort boat, Thai style light lunch, the trip, and nature Game briefing

14:30: Arrive on the first island and explore 1-2 caves and hongs

15:30: Return to the escort boat and move to the second island

16:00: Explore two more caves and hongs

18:00: Thai seafood buffet dinner during Phang Nga Bay Sunset

19:00: Return to your kayak after dark to float your Loi Kratong

20:00: Depart for Ao Po.

21:00: Arrive Ao Po and transfer to your mini-van.

21:30: Drop off at your hotel. Free at your own leisure for the rest of day.

Overnight in Phuket.

Meals: Breakfast.

Phuket beach

Free at leisure until the transfer to Phuket International Airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast.

Phuket Mai Khao beach