Vietnam and Cambodia Overland Tour

Day 1 - Saigon - arrival and explore the area

Morning check in to a downtown Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) hotel. Introductory walking tour to get a feel for this sometimes hectic but always fascinating city: explore the area, browse the markets or just relax in a cafe and watch the non-stop spectacle of the city’s traffic before our local-style welcome dinner.

Overnight: Saigon (HCM) Transport: Walk,  Meals: D, 

Day 2 - Saigon - (Ho Chi Minh) city tour

Day tour of some of the City’s sites including the bustling Ben Thanh Market, the sobering, albeit fascinating, War Remnants Museum, picturesque Jade Emperor Pagoda and Saigon’s very own Notre Dame Cathedral.

Overnight: Saigon Transport: Minibus, Walk,  Meals: B, L, 

Day 3 - Ben Tre and the Mekong Delta

Early departure south for Ben Tre in the picturesque Mekong Delta for a tour of the region courtesy of a local, community-based tourism project. Discover the narrow, nipa palm-lined, tunnel-like channels by rowing boat, some of the area’s traditional cottage industries by motorboat, as well as a village market and quiet lanes by bicycle. In the afternoon, continue to the charming town of Can Tho in time to check out the riverside promenade and cafes.

Overnight: Can Tho Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk,  Meals: B, L, 

Day 4 - Can Tho and Xe Quit

Morning boat trip to the famous Cai Rang floating market. Although today much reduced in size, the site still provides a colourful opportunity to discover the traditional heritage of the Mekong Delta. From here, we travel west to Xeo Quit for a fascinating tour on foot and by boat of a former secret Vietcong base carved out of a jungle-covered swamp. After lunch, we’ll continue to the small riverside town of Chau Doc near the Cambodian border, with time perhaps for riverside sundowners on the waterfront

Overnight: Chau Doc Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk,  Meals: B, L, 

Day 5 - Chau Doc - floating market and sacred mountain

Departure to the nearby Tra Su Bird Sanctuary for another tour by rowing boat and motor boat of the picturesque waterways, before a return to Chau Doc and an afternoon visit – including a cable car to the summit – of sacred Sam Mountain with its myriad shrines and temples, and its spectacular sunset views.

Overnight: Chau Doc Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk,  Meals: B, L, D, 

Day 6 - Phnom Penh - by river up the Mekong

Back on the Mekong for a boat trip to Phnom Penh. Lunchtime arrival and check-in to a small, boutique-style, downtown hotel. Time to stretch your legs with an introductory tuk-tuk and walking tour, taking in the historic French Quarter and waterfront area as well as giving you a feel for the bustling street life, finishing perhaps, with sundowners by the river?

Overnight: Phnom Penh Transport: Boat, Walk, Tuk Tuk,  Meals: B, D, 

Day 7 - Phnom Penh - city tour

Day tour of some of the sites of Cambodia’s fascinating capital city: the infamous Killing Fields site and the highly moving Khmer Rouge Genocide Museum at Tuol Sleng help to explain the country’s recent tragic history. The picturesque Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda will provide plenty of photo opportunities whilst the Russian Market offers some retail therapy and a chance for a local-style lunch.

Overnight: Phnom Penh Transport: Minibus, Walk,  Meals: B, L, 

Day 8 - Siem Reap - up country to Angkor

Travel through Cambodia’s scenic countryside to the small provincial town of Siem Reap in Western Cambodia – our base for the next few days while we visit the nearby Angkor temples. Stops on the way include the famous spider village of Skuon, (tasting not compulsory), a rarely visited but well-preserved 11th-century temple and lunch by a scenic lake. A sunset visit to the ruins of Banteay Kdei Temple completes our day.

Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk,  Meals: B, L, D, 

Day 9 - Siem Reap - dawn at Angkor Wat

Our Angkor programme begins with dawn at Angkor Wat, followed by a comprehensive morning tour of the temple itself. Late morning return to Siem Reap for lunch, siesta or relaxation and an afternoon walking tour of Angkor Tom: Leper King Terrace, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, Baphuon and last but not least, (we’ll wait until the crowds have gone), dramatic Bayon Temple with its famous faces.

Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk,  Meals: B, 

Day 10 - Angkor - jungle temples

Forest walk to the spectacular Phnom Bakheng Temple before moving on to the huge creeper-clad ruin of Preah Khan. Dense jungle, enormous roots and screeching parakeets make this atmospheric temple one of everyone’s favourites.  After a break in Siem Reap, the afternoon continues with a short hike to Ta Keo via the remote and rarely-visited Ta Nei Temple. A visit to Ta Prom – the famous ‘Tomb Raider’ Temple – continues our jungle theme.

Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk,  Meals: B, 

Day 11 - Siem Reap - Beng Melea and afternoon at leisure

Morning trip to one of the more remote and less-visited temple sites. The truly spectacular Beng Melea. Beng Melea. A huge, partially-ruined, temple complex, overgrown by jungle, lying to the west of Siem Reap, is one of the most impressive Angkor monuments. Return to Siem Reap with an afternoon at leisure to relax by the pool; visit the National Museum, explore the markets or perhaps check out Apopo’s famous mine-detecting rats.

Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk,  Meals: B, D, 

Day 12 - Battambang - journey up the Sangkar River

Spectacular boat journey across the Tonle Sap Lake, past the flooded forest and Prek Toal bird sanctuary and on down the Sangkar River and its floating stilt-house fishing villages to the town of Battambang. Stop off on the way to visit the Prek Toal community water hyacinth weaving project.

Overnight: Battambang Transport: Boat,  Meals: B, L, 

Day 13 - Battambang - village and cottage industry tour

Morning tour by tuk-tuk through the surrounding villages to discover some of their traditional cottage industries and handicrafts, An afternoon at leisure allows time to further explore the friendly provincial town, chill out by the pool or head back into the countryside to visit the area’s famous bat caves of Phnom Sampeu.

Overnight: Battambang Transport: Walk, Tuk Tuk,  Meals: B, D, 

Day 14 - The Bamboo Railway and return to Phnom Penh

After an early morning trip along the famous Battambang bamboo railway, it’s time to complete our loop – with a stop at the rarely visited, lakeside, 8th-century temple Prasat Kampong Preah – to Phnom Penh where a local-style farewell dinner awaits us.

Overnight: Phnom Penh Transport: Minibus, Train, Walk,  Meals: B, L, D, 

Day 15 - Phnom Penh - morning at leisure and end of tour

Morning at leisure; relax by the pool or grab some last-minute shopping and end of tour and departure at your convenience.

Extra nights in Ho Chi Minh before, or in Phnom Penh after, your tour is available on request.

Airport transfers are included if you purchase the 'with flights' package. If you purchased your own flights, airport transfers can be arranged on request.

Overnight: Departure Transport: Walk,  Meals: B,