Indochina Adventure Tour

The Indochina Adventure Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival into Hanoi

Touch down into the ancient city of Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. Your guide will meet you on arrival and you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Once settled, the rest of your day is at your leisure to explore as much or as little as you would like to.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: None

Day 2 Hanoi Village Tour by Bike

After breakfast, your guide will collect you from your hotel for a relaxed tour just outside of Hanoi. Stroll through quaint villages, cycle amongst rolling green rice fields, visit the markets, explore ancient houses and discover some of Indochina’s majestic temples. Enjoy a food demonstration and share lunch with a local family, then you’ll take a short drive to Lien Mac. Cycle once more through colorful vegetable fields, stopping to chat to the farmers to learn the techniques of caring for crops, and discover where tofu comes from! Sample the fresh produce, then transfer back to your hotel in Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 Day Trip to Trang An & Hoa Lu

Enjoy a tasty breakfast then head out into the spectacular Vietnamese countryside. Your drive is approximately 100km, with beautiful changing scenery and a plethora of interesting characters to observe along the way. On arrival at Ninh Binh you’ll board a local rowboat and meander your way through some of Trang An’s beautiful caves on a gentle boat trip. After a delicious local lunch, the journey continues to Hoa Lu, where you’ll discover Vietnam’s ancient history in the 9th Century former capital before returning to Hanoi in time for dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 Hiking in Pu Luong’s Rice Terraces

After a tasty breakfast your guide will collect you from your hotel for the stunning 4-hour drive to Mai Chau, where layered rice paddies and tiny villages roll through the endless hills. On arrival at the Poom Coom Village you’ll take a relaxed walk to meet the local ethnic Thai people, then enjoy a tasty lunch in the village. This afternoon’s hike is a hilly trek through 9km of magnificent rice terraces. Catch a glimpse of the watery afternoon light that characterises the spectacular Vietnamese landscape before arriving at your traditional Thai stilt homestay for the night. Dinner this evening is shared with your hosts.
Overnight Location: Stilt Homestay in Pu Luong
Distance: 9 km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Trekking to Hieu Village, Pu Luong

You’ll have some free time in the morning to enjoy breakfast with your host, then you’ll begin the 12km trek through Pu Luong Nature Reserve. This region is one of Vietnam’s best kept secret treasures, with peaceful village dotted amongst tranquil rivers and lush green fields. Stop for a picnic in a friendly village, then continue your 12km trek to Hieu. The curious people love to meet with visitors, and you’ll have some free time to interact with the locals or continue your walk to the nearby waterfall if you would like to. Your accommodation tonight is at a homestay in Hieu, though there is an option to stay at the Eco Lodge if you prefer.
Overnight Location: Eco lodge in Hieu Village, Pu Luong
Distance: 12 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Hieu Village to Hanoi

This morning is at your leisure to explore the area on your own, or with your guide. The village offers some beautiful stories, and it’s worth getting to know the locals before beginning an easy 8km walk to the nearest town to meet your vehicle. Enjoy a delicious lunch, then it’s time to head back to Hanoi arriving in the late afternoon.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: 8 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 Cruising to Bai Tu Long Bay

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Hanoi for a shared road transfer to Halong Bay, where you’ll board your junk boat for the day. Your cruise today takes you to the lesser visited Bai Tu Long Bay, where towering limestone cliffs plunge into tranquil jade-green waters far away from the crowds. Visit Thien Canh Son Cave to view the magnificent stalagmites, then relax on a secluded island where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some kayaking or unwind on the beach. Share stories with new friends as you sail at sunset to Bai Tu Long Bay, where a scrumptious seafood dinner is served with the day’s local catch.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bai Tu Long Bay
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Halong Bay to Hanoi

Vietnam’s sunrises are something of a spectacle, so it’s worth rising before breakfast to make the most of the photogenic scenery. Take a gentle ride on a rowboat with a local fisherman, then set sail for Ha Long Bay with plenty of time to enjoy a tasty local lunch on board. The drive back to Hanoi is approximately 2 hours through Vietnam’s vibrant streets.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 Overnight Train to Hue

Spend the day at leisure exploring Hanoi’s charming streets and hidden treasures at your leisure. You may like to start with an early morning exercise routine at Hoan Kiem Lake, then wind your way through the 36 Streets in The Old Quarter, visit the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology or sample local delicacies from the many markets. Hanoi is a street food haven, so you’ll be soiled for choice. At 6pm you’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the train station for your overnight train to Hue.
Overnight Location: Sleeper cabin to Hue
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 Cycling Hue’s Majestic Countryside

Your train arrives into Hue at around 9am, where you’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel for breakfast, and a quick shower. This morning head out into the Imperial City to explore the royal kingdoms of the past, then make your way to the Thien Mu Pagoda – a Buddhist temple. Lunch is served in a local restaurant, then take a boat ride to the Tien Non for a laid-back afternoon exploring the nearby villages. Cycle approximately 14km through fields of flowers, then discover the ancient Vietnamese arts of flower making and folk painting with the local craftsmen before heading back to Hue by bike in the late afternoon.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hue
Distance: 14 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11 Hue to Hoi An via the Royal Tombs

Your guide will collect you from your hotel for a city tour of Hue. Visit the Dong Ba market for a bit of shopping, then make your way to the Royal Tombs. Using your guide’s local knowledge, you’ll be able to cherry pick the very best tombs to visit, stopping at Ming Mang or Khai Ding Royal Tombs as the day dictates. In the afternoon begin the 4-hour road transfer to Hoi An via the Marble Mountains. Depending on how the group feels on the day, you may stop at Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass or the Cham Museum along the way. Hoi An is the tailoring capital of Vietnam, so on arrival you may like to get measured up for a custom-made item of clothing.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 Cycling and Cooking Demonstration in Hoi An

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at around 8am for a short transfer to the boat docks. Experience the life of the local fishermen with a demonstration on preparing fishing tools, then take a gentle boat ride through the lush water coconut trees to the village. From here, make your way to a vegetable village by bike. You’ll cycle through green rice paddies and beautiful corn fields, passing friendly faces along the way. On arrival at the village you’ll be met with a warm welcome and a fresh local tea, followed by a cooking class. Lunch today is your own creation of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, shared with your hosts. After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of Hoi An’s cultural sights then head back to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 Hoi An to Nha Trang

After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the nearby city Danang for your noon flight to Nha Trang. Once settled into your hotel you’ll have the afternoon at leisure to relax on the beautiful soft sand beaches. You may also like to take a wonder through the local shops or take the cable car to Vinpearl Island.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nha Trang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14 Island Hopping in Nha Trang

Head out by private boat for a day of island hopping. Start at the Tri Nguyen Aquarium, where you can experience the majestic undersea world in a 180-degree glass tunnel. You’ll then make your way to Mot Island, home to abundant fish and colorful corals. Hold your breath as long as you can in an exhilarating free dive, then move along to Coral Island to relax on the beach and feast on a delicious seafood lunch. After lunch there’s time to visit Tranh island for a refreshing swim before sailing back to Nha Trang in the early evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nha Trang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Start the day with an early morning flight from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City. Once settled into your hotel your guide will join you for a busy day of sightseeing. Ho Chi Minh City has a unique feel in comparison to Hanoi, and the contrast between the north and the south makes for an interesting experience. Visit the Binh Tay Food Market for a unique culinary adventure, explore a 150-year old Chinese temple, take a trip to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and discover the old phone rooms in the War Remnants Museum. In the afternoon, visit the Old Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, and learn more of the traditional lacquer-ware at a local workshop. This evening is at your leisure, with plenty of quaint restaurants and intimate live music venues for you to explore.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 16 Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi Tunnels

Your guide will meet you at your hotel for a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate network of tiny tunnels used by the Vietcong during the Vietnamese war. Crawl through 50 meters of tunnel space, where you’ll experience firsthand what guerilla warfare is like. Afterwards, make your way through eye-popping scenery to the Tay Ninh, visiting a a rice paper making workshop en route. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Cao Dai Great Temple to discover the unique homegrown religion that combines various aspects of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Christianity for a spiritual journey to inner harmony.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 17 Boating in the Mekong Delta

After an early breakfast your guide will collect you from your hotel for a road transfer to Cai Be, known for its bustling water-based trading markets. Float through the colorful stalls and secluded canals to see how merchant ships trade with the local farmers on the intricate waterways. Visit some local factories to see how rice pops are made, sample the delicious fruits and stop in to a local home for lunch. You’ll continue your journey by boat to Vinh Long, then transfer to Can Tho for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Can Tho
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 18 Village Hopping to Chau Doc

Set off at sunrise for a peaceful boat trip to the Cai Rang floating market, followed by a longer cruise to Phong Dien where you’ll continue your travels on foot. Walking through quiet country roads provides a slower paced look at everyday Vietnamese life, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit the incense stick making village on your guided tour. You’ll then continue by road to the Tra Su Cajeput Nature Reserve, home to around 140 species of plants and 70 species of birds. Relax and soak up the spectacular surroundings, then settle into your hotel in Chau Doc for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chau Doc
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 19 Speed Boat to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After breakfast you’ll board your speedboat at Chau Doc and make your way to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. As you sail along the Bassac River, you’ll see how the Vietnamese way of life slowly gives way to the softer, more gentle Cambodian landscape. This is a wonderful way to travel, with a quick stop at the international border to complete the relevant paperwork for your visa. On arrival in Phnom Penh your local guide will join you for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Watt Phnom, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Independence Monument and National Museum. You’ll be transferred to your hotel in time for dinner at your leisure.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 20 Angkor Wat

You’ll be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Siem Reap, home to the famous Angkor Wat temples. Built by King Suryavarman II, these ancient temples are believed to be some of the oldest in the world, providing a unique and interesting journey into both the religious and architectural heritage of the Khmer people. The Angkor Wat temple is a perfect fusion of symmetry and symbolism, and the must-see destination in Indochina. On arrival at your hotel you’ll have some free time to enjoy at your leisure, followed by a relaxing welcome drink and an exhilarating Apsara dance.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Siem Reap
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 21 Cycling to Angkor Thom, Bayon & Ta Prohm

This morning you’ll set off by bike to explore the magnificent temples surrounding Siem Reap. As you move beyond the city, roads will give way to sandy paths and quiet alleys, and you’ll have the opportunity to experience the softness Cambodia is so well known for. Visit Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple and Baphuon Temple, then head to the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Later, discover the fabulous Ta Prohm, famous for its enormous tree routes that have reclaimed the ruins back into nature, then relax with an indulgent foot massage to round off a busy day.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Siem Reap
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 22 Siem Reap to Luang Prabang, Laos

After breakfast, there’s time to visit Banteay Srei, one of the smallest temples in the Angkor complex known for having particularly well-preserved details carved into the sandstone walls. Stop at a silk farm to discover more about the vocational training programs designed to teach young Cambodian traditional artistry to lift social development in the region, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. Once settled into your hotel in Luang Prabang you’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure to explore this charming city on your own.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 23 Luang Prabang City Tour & Night Market

Enjoy a well-deserved morning at leisure. Your guide will meet you at your hotel just after lunch for a guided city tour of Luang Prabang. Visit the former Royal Palace and National Museum ((closed Tuesday), the impressive Stupa of Watt Visoun and the shrine of Watt Aham at Watt Mai. From here, head up Mount Phousi to watch the sun set across the Mekong, with magnificent views. On the way back to your hotel you’ll stop at the night market, where you’ll find an amazing selection of hand-made textiles made by the local Hmong people.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 24 Boat Trip to Pak Ou Cave

Your guide will meet you after breakfast for a short, guided tour of some of Luang Prabang’s oldest temples, Watt Sene and Watt Xiengthong. From here, you’ll board your boat for a tranquil cruise up the Mekong, passing through spectacular countryside in ‘laid-back Laos’ as you head towards the Pak Ou Cave, an important site for Buddhist pilgrims. Discover two interlinked caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues, forming a unique temple in a beautiful setting. Visit the villages of Ban Xanghai, where local rice wine is produced, and Ban Phanom, famous for its hand weaving, before heading back to Luang Prabang arriving in time for dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 25 Heading Home from Luang Prabang

Depending on your departure time you may like to visit to the Arts & Ethnology Centre and take a stroll through the Morning Market before transferring to the airport o meet your international flight home.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast