Flying the Nest Signature Laos and Cambodia

Day 1: Arrival Day in Laos
Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival your guide will welcome you and transfer you to your accommodation for check-in. Rest in the evening at leisure.
Overnight at Sanctuary Luang Prabang Hotel.

Day 2: Luang Prabang
After breakfast, at 08:30 am, meet your guide and begin your journey to the 500-year old temple called Wat Xieng Thong. From there, explore some local and interesting small side streets, along the back alleys and through temples. Visit the National Museum, which is the former Royal Palace, it overlooks the Phousi Mountain. In the afternoon we travel south of town to the Kuang Si Waterfall. Enjoy with your lunch at Carpe Diem Restaurant near at the fall. Feel free to bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim! On the way back to the town, you will stop to visit the Buffalo Dairy Farm for guided tour of the farm. Relax in the café and enjoy the cake of the day served with ice cream and tea or coffee before heading back to your hotel.
Overnight at Sanctuary Luang Prabang Hotel.

Day 3: Manda Lao Therapeutic Trek.,
After picking you up from your hotel around 8:00 AM, we’ll depart Luang Prabang and head to the nearby village of Xieng Lom. Upon arrival, enjoy a coffee or tea as your guide provides an in-depth introduction to elephant behavior and how you should interact with them. A short boat ride across the Nam Khan River will bring you to the waiting elephants. Meet your new companions and feed them some special treats. Afterwards, you’ll set off on a memorable 2 hour trek through the lush Laos jungle, past traditional farms, and alongside the cool Huay Nok stream, where you may witness the elephants playing joyfully in the water. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch before taking a short ride back to Luang Prabang. Rest in the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at Sanctuary Luang Prabang Hotel.

Day 4: Luang Prabang - Oudomxay
After breakfast, at 08:00 AM, you will transfer with your guide to the Luang Prabang train station. Take the high-speed train for about an hour to Oudomxay where you'll also meet your local guide and driver, for a 40 minutes journey to your lodge that is beautifully situated in the protected forestry area along the Nam Kat River. Enroute, stop at the village of Ban Longya. Explore the village and meet the locals before walking the short distance to Paradise Mountain, a place considered sacred to the local communities. Continuing towards your resort, arrive at Ban Kat to experience the Tai Dam lifestyle, with the opportunity to try Lao alcohol. In this village, the locals produce rice alcohol every morning. Continue to Ban Poung Hieng, a Khummu village before proceeding to the resort.
Overnight at Namkat Yorla Pa Resort.

Day 5: Piudomxay
At 08:00 AM, you will transfer to Muang La to visit the sacred Phasingkham Buddha Temple, the salt mine and hot spring. Continuing to Aa No Village, you will pass some Akha villages along the road where you'll see see people working on their farms. Take a short break, have lunch and then start a village tour by walking around. The local guide will give you explanations on the culture and traditions of the Akha minority. See some handicraft production like Akha textile weaving style and walk up to the French former airfield to see the whole scenery of the village. Experience a small Hmong village and learn a little bit more about their culture, tradition and lifestyle. You are allowed and welcomed to enter the house and see what they deal with their life and what the inside of the house looks like. End the day by heading back to the resort.
Overnight at Namkat Yorla Pa Resort.

Day 6: Oudomxay - Vang Vieng
Rest in the morning at leisure in the resort. At 12:15 PM, you will transfer with your guide to Muang Xay Train Station where you'll take the high speed train around 2 hours to Vang Vieng. On arrival at the Vang Vieng Train Station, meet your local guide and transfer to your accommodation for check in, rest evening at leisure.
Overnight at Sunrise Mountain View Resort

Day 7: The Different Facets of Vang Vieng
At 09.00 AM, you will be picked up by a guide and head to the North of Vang Vieng to start with a leisurely kayaking trip on the Nam Song River. After about one and half hour, you will reach a local village, Kamu. Visit one of the neighbors who is a knife smith, an old man who applies techniques that have been used for generations on how to create a new knife for his daily income. Continue to one of the Khmu families for a typical Kamu lunch in the family's garden. Learn how the local rice wine, "Lao Hai" is produced. In the afternoon, your guide will lead you through rice paddies to a cave on the other side of the river, passing by farmers working on the fields. Rest in one of the local rice huts and try some of the rice wine while learning more about the importance of agriculture in Laos. Once the set slowly sets, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight at Sunrise Mountain View Resort

Day 8: Vang Vieng - Vientiane
At 10:00 AM, you will transfer with your guide for about an hour and a half on the highway to Vientiane. On arrival, enjoy your lunch at Lao Derm Restaurant then explore the highlights of Vientiane. Begin with a visit to Wat Sisaket, the only structure to survive the Siamese invasion of 1828. Next visit Wat That Luang and head to Wat Si Muang, a sacred temple that is frequented by the Lao people for making wishes. You’ll also visit the COPE Visitor Centre for a moving insight into the Secret War, that left Laos as the most heavily bombed country in history. For each visit to the COPE Visitor Centre in Vientiane, a $5 donation is made on your behalf to support their vital work (no entrance fee is charged when visiting the center). This donation can be removed upon request.
Overnight at Mintra Hotel Vientian.

Day 9: Vientiane - Siem Reap
Early in the morning at 05:30 AM, your guide will take you to the airport for your connecting flight to Siem Reap (via Pakse). Upon arrival in Siem Reap, clear immigration and customs before proceeding to the arrivals area, where you’ll be greeted by your private guide and driver, who will escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Overnight at ANJALI by Syphon.

Day 10: Siem Reap
Depart in the morning with your private guide and driver for a full day of temple touring. The Angkor Archeological Park is visually and architecturally breathtaking. It contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. Visit the temples of Bayon, Baphoun and Terrace of Elephants. Take a break with lunch at a local restaurant, then continue with a visit to the fabulous jungle temple of Ta Phrom. The late afternoon is set aside for a visit to the main temple, Angkor Wat, constructed in the early12th century. Angkor Wat is the main reason tourists visit Cambodia. Finish the tour with an unforgettable sunset at Pre Rup temple or Srah Srang "Royal Bath", and return to town.
Overnight at ANJALI by Syphon.

Day 11: Authentic Cambodia Village Life
Embark on a journey at 8.00 AM, into the heart of Cambodia’s picturesque countryside, Kna Por village. Wander through and gain a true insight into the villagers' lives. Visit different families who open their doors to show you their specific trades. A Remork will take you to the outskirts of the village, where you can take in the scenery, pass by locals working in the fields, and see children playing in their backyards. Learn more about water buffaloes and their crucial role in local agriculture.. Finally, explore the ancient ruins of Banteay Ampil Temple and conclude your journey with lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to your hotel. At 7.30 PM , transfer by a Remok (tuk tuk) to the Phare circus tent, located just outside of town. This evening enjoy a show at the Cambodian Circus. It starts at 8:00 PM and lasts about an hour. This is a circus like none other and it’s very different to a western style circus.
Overnight at ANJALI by Syphon.

Day 12: Siem Reap - Departure

Enjoy your last morning in Siem Reap before checking out of your hotel. Your private guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport.