It is time for you to fly from your chosen airport to the charming city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. There will be stopover(s) en route.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will pass through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, dressed in a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making them easy to spot. From here, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, which is about a one-and-a-half hour drive away.

After arrival and check-in at your hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Siem Reap is a laid-back and charming city, where you can go for relaxing walks in the French Quarter or under the shady trees along the Siem Reap River. Here, there are small shops, cafés and several markets. You can also explore the Siem Reap Night Market, where the odours from the many Khmer delicacies will make your mouth water. Choose a delicious piece of grilled meat or a noodle dish and sit down on one of the many stools next to the locals who are enjoying a snack. If you are a little daring, you can also try grilled crickets on skewers.

A big day awaits you with one of the world’s great wonders: the magnificent temple complex of Angkor Wat in the ruins of Angkor, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will be picked up from the hotel in the morning and driven outside the city (a 15 minutes’ ride), where the major attraction is located. The temple area is quite large, so you will be driven by car over the longer stretches and will be dropped off with the guide so that you can visit all the sights on foot.

The ruins and temples are beautifully situated in an area surrounded by jungle and a moat. Here, it is peaceful, and it is like you have stepped into a completely different world.

The first visit is at one of the main temples, Bayon, where you will encounter an impressive sight with a myriad of smiling Buddha faces. You will then visit the well-known and unique temple, Ta Prohm, which is one of a kind, as large, beautiful trees have taken root in the middle of the temple buildings, so that they appear to have merged.

You will end up at the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, which is the most well-preserved temple in Cambodia. Few people remain unimpressed by this spectacular temple, which rises in three levels and is crowned by five towers shaped like the buds of the lotus flower. In the temple’s inner courtyards and vaulted passageways, you can admire the endless friezes and stunning carvings. From the upper level of the temple, you have a fantastic view of the area.

After this memorable visit, you will be driven to a local restaurant in Siem Reap, where you will have lunch.

The tour continues to Tonle Sap Lake, where you will be sailed to one of the many fishing villages along the lake, either Kompong Khleang (between August and early February) or Chong Khneas (between mid-February and July). Here you will learn more about how life is lived for the many families who primarily make a living from fishing. The families live in the characteristic colourful houses that stand on long stilts so that they can cope with the high water levels during the rainy season, when the narrow streets of the village are transformed into small canals. During the dry season, when the water level is low, there is a clear view of the long stilts.

You will then be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

The day is at your leisure for relaxing by the pool, exploring the city or buying one of our exciting extra excursions as an add-on.

If you choose to explore the city, you can, for example, visit the small park Royal Gardens. Or how about a stroll in the charming side streets of the city, where you can come across small temples with gold roofs and the finest gardens? You can also take a seat at one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants along the river and watch life in the city.

In the evening, you can visit vibrant Pub Street, which, with its wealth of restaurants and bars, is a natural gathering point.

You will be picked up at the hotel and driven to the airport to continue your tour to Luang Prabang in Laos. Luang Prabang is one of Indochina’s most beautiful gems.

The city is a unique blend of traditional Laotian architecture with the addition of French colonial charm, which is one of the reasons why the city has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The rhythm of the city is a chapter by itself. Life is lived quietly and with a rarely seen dignity.

The city centre is located on a peninsula at the confluence of the two rivers, Mekong and Nam Khan, and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery with forested mountains, waterfalls and caves. The lush and green elements are repeated everywhere in the city between fine temples and small charming and quiet streets.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you’ll pass through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, so they’ll be easy to spot. From here, you’ll be driven to your hotel, located around 15 minutes away.

After checking in, you’re free to spend the rest of the day as you wish. Be sure not to miss Luang Prabang’s colourful and bustling night market – one of the best in Southeast Asia. The market is open every evening from 5pm to 10pm.

Today you are participating in doing a good deed in accordance with Buddhism: giving alms. Giving alms is seen as an important religious practice in the Buddhist faith and culture of Laos. For example, you can give gifts to monks, participate in religious ceremonies and help people in need. It is an act of charity and compassion. These deeds are considered to bring good luck and to result in a healthy and happy life of prosperity and spiritual merit both in the present life and in future rebirths.

Today, you will learn how to make traditional Laotian dishes, which are to be given to the local monks. You will be picked up from the hotel and driven to the Phosy market, where, along with your guide, you will meet a local family. Together, you will buy groceries for the day’s cooking, including fish, vegetables and fruit. After the shopping for groceries, you will go with the local family to their home, where you will learn how to make the traditional dishes. Among other dishes, you will help make sticky rice (khao niew), bamboo shoot soup (Keang Nor Mai), steamed fish in banana leaves (Mok Pa), Luang Prabang stew (Ork Lamb) and eggplant sauce (Jeo Mak Kheua). When the dishes are ready, you will go to the nearby temple. Here, your guide and the family will guide you through the entire ceremony, in which you give alms and receive a blessing from the monks. After the ceremony, you say goodbye to the monks and head back to the local family’s house for lunch. This is also an obvious opportunity to learn more about Laotian culture and about what the family’s everyday life typically looks like.

You say goodbye to the family after an exciting experience and are driven back to the hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Every morning in the early hours, a very special séance takes place in Luang Prabang. Here, more than 300 monks walk quietly through the streets of the city to collect alms. All families send a representative out on the street with food or beverages, which are distributed in the monks’ collection bins. It is hard not to be moved by the respectful silence and great dignity with which this daily ritual takes place.

Today, you will experience Luang Prabang and its periphery. You will be picked up at the hotel, and the first visit is to the former royal palace, which was built in 1904 during the colonial period for the then King Sisavang Vong. Today, the palace has been converted into a national museum, where you can experience the well-preserved royal chambers, which contain rare religious and cultural objects of art. Here you get a sense of how life was lived among royalty.

The tour continues to Phousi Mountain, which is just 1 km away. Here, 328 steps await you up to the highest point on Phousi Mountain. On the way up, you pass small temples and Buddha statues, where you can stop if you need to catch your breath. Your efforts are fully rewarded when you stand at the top. Here you can enjoy picturesque panoramic views of beautiful Luang Prabang with its rivers, temples and lush landscapes with mountains in the background.

After a lovely lunch, a drive of 30 km south of Luang Prabang to Kuang-Si Waterfall awaits you. Here, perhaps, a refreshing bath is tempting? Surrounded by lush, tropical jungle, Kuang Si Waterfall flows in cascades over three levels down a steep hillside. The longest drop is 60 metres, and, at the lowest level, you can cool off in the turquoise waters of the tranquil pools.

The day ends with a visit to the nearby Sun Bear Reserve. The reserve, run by the organisation Free The Bears, is a sanctuary for the endangered black Malay bears, which are at risk of extinction as their bile is in high demand for the production of medicine. Here you will acquire an exciting insight into the centre’s work with the beautiful bears.

You will be driven back to the hotel in Luang Prabang, where you can enjoy your last evening in Laos before travelling on to Thailand.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel, and you will be driven to the airport, from where you fly to Northern Thailand.

You land in Thailand’s second-largest city, Chiang Mai, which is a city rich in culture, history and beautiful landscapes. The city is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, including Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand. Chiang Mai is also the former capital of the old Lanna kingdom, which existed from 1292 to 1775, and you will therefore find that there are many influences from this time around the city.

After landing, you’ll make your way through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting in the arrivals hall, wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign to make them easy to spot. From here, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in central Chiang Mai.

After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Put on your swimwear and take a dip in the hotel pool or head out to explore the city. You can stroll through the charming streets and explore the small local shops and cosy cafés. You can also experience the vibrant city life at one of the city’s markets, where you can taste local delicacies and buy local handicrafts.

In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset along the Ping River, where you will find several good restaurants offering delicious local specialties.

Today, an exciting bicycle ride awaits you in historic Chiang Mai – this is a great way to experience the city. Much of the route takes place in the shade, so you will even feel the wind in your hair.

You will be driven to our partner’s office, where you will be supplied with a bicycle and bicycle helmet. After a quick briefing, it’s time to pedal off and experience the charm of the city. The route is easy and flat, so it is suitable for most. You cycle through Chiang Mai’s small and quiet streets to the fine temple Wat Inthakhin Sadue Mueang, known for its 700-year-old, white Buddha statue. The bike ride continues past the Three Kings monument to the city gate, Tha Phae Gate, which was where vendors brought goods into the city in the old days. Here, the guide will tell you more about Chiang Mai as a former trading centre. You continue to the nearby market Somphet, where you will have time to walk around and take in the atmosphere. You will also have the opportunity to taste the colourful fruits and sweets. After this, Wat Chiang Man awaits you, which is Chiang Mai’s oldest temple. This is where the 1,800-year-old crystal Buddha and the 2,500-year-old marble Buddha are kept. Finally, you will visit the city’s largest and iconic monument, Wat Chedi Luang, which was once home to the Emerald Buddha, but which is now well preserved in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

After a 3-4-hour bicycle ride, a well-deserved lunch awaits you. Lunch consists of the dish khao soi, a spicy noodle soup and a speciality of northern Thailand. Lunch is served at the restaurant Naree De Klang Vieng, which is run by inmates from the women’s prison Klang Vieng. Thanks to the prison’s excellent rehabilitation project, the women, who have typically been convicted of selling or producing drugs, have the opportunity to train in various service professions that will prepare them for a new life outside the prison walls. The food and service are second to none!

Learn more about the rehabilitation project here. 

You will then cycle the short way back to where the tour started, and from here you will be driven back to your hotel, where you have the rest of the day at your leisure.

There are no excursions planned today, and you can enjoy Chiang Mai on your own and at your own pace. There is lots to see and do, and the city is also the perfect starting point for excursions. You can read more about our exciting optional tours below.

In the evening, stroll around the old town and take in the sight of the illuminated temples and monuments. Or how about a visit to one of the city’s popular night markets, where you can shop for souvenirs and try some of the many delicious street food dishes?

Today marks the end of your tour. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport, where you will fly back to Europe with connecting flights along the way.

You will land at your chosen airport after a fantastic tour, bringing back home with you lots of new experiences.