EXPLORE: Saigon to Bangkok Explorer Family Holiday

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

After breakfast this morning we head out to visit the infamous Cu Chi tunnels. First constructed by the Vietnamese during their colonial war with the French, the tunnels were later greatly expanded and went on to achieve notoriety during the Vietnam War, when they served as an underground com-mand base for 10,000 Viet Cong troops. Exploring Cu Chi gives some idea as to the conditions that the Vietnamese and their American adversaries had to endure but, be warned, the tunnels are narrow and can be quite claustrophobic. Please note that we will share the transport to and from Cu Chi with other tourists. This afternoon we take a cyclo tour of Saigon, visiting Chinatown and the bustling Binh Tay market.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning we head for Cai Be and its famous floating market. On arrival we cruise out into the middle of a colourful flotilla of boats laden with goods of every kind, to enjoy the lively hustle and bustle of the market. We then continue by boat along the river, to a local village where we visit a family business producing popcorn and rice pa-per. After lunch at a local village house, and a relaxing sampan ride, we finally disembark at Vinh Long. From here we complete the journey to Can Tho by road.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

One of the most colourful attractions of the Mekong is its floating markets and this morning we visit the biggest in the Delta, at Cai Rang. After spending some time paddling through the market, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the friendly attentions of the locals, we then visit the Binh Thuy Ancient House. A beautiful old property, which dates back to the end of the 19th century, the house is filled with a wonderful collection of an-tiques and memorabilia. After our visit we drive to Chau Doc.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Driving to the jetty in Chau Doc this morning, we board an early morning speed boat to Phnom Penh, a four and a half hour river journey that takes us up the Hau Giang River into neighbouring Cambodia.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Cambodia’s historic capital, Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of the Sap, Mekong and Bassac Rivers. A rich testament to the country’s ancient and colonial past, the city is filled with reminders of its diverse cultural heritage. A free day offers a chance to explore something of this for yourselves, perhaps taking in the grandeur of the Royal Palace and the National Museum, or visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek, gruesome reminders of life under the brutal Khmer Rouge.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Travelling by public bus, we head next for the jungle temples of Siem Reap, one of the most expansive and famous archaeological sites anywhere in South East Asia. After the 5 hour journey we check in to our hotel and take an orientation tour of the town on foot later this afternoon.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

The Angkor temples at Siem Reap span a period of some 600 years, from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Travelling by local tuk tuk (auto rickshaw), we visit two of the most famous temple sites today, those of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. The fortified city of Angkor Thom was originally built at the end of the 12th Century and was a formidable sight in its day; surrounded by eight metres walls, towering gates and a crocodile filled moat. Our second visit is to the beautiful setting of Angkor Wat, without doubt the most renowned and impressive of Siem Reap’s jungle temples.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

Today has been left free for you to enjoy Siem Reap at your own pace. A great way to explore is by bicycle or rickshaw, travelling around the sites with the freedom to come and go as you please.  You can visit the atmospheric ruins at Ta Phrom, made famous in the ‘Tomb Raider’ film, or take a boat trip along the Roulous River to the floating villages and forests on Tonle Sap (the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia). Another possibility is a visit to the fascinating Landmine Museum, just to the south of Banteay Srei Temple.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

We take another bus this morning, to Poipet on the Thai border. Meeting our Thai guide the other side of border control, we then continue in private minivans towards the Gulf of Thailand and our ferry across to Koh Chang. The journey from the border to the ferry will take us around three and a half hours, with a further hour required to cross from the mainland to the island by public ferry. We aim to arrive at our hotel on Koh Chang early this evening.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

Koh Chang is Thailand’s second largest island, set in the midst of a beautiful protected marine reserve lying off the country’s southeastern coast. The ideal spot then for some exhilarating land and water based fun. You can take a tour of the island by vehicle, or hike up to the summit of one of the island’s forested mountains. The seas around Koh Chang are rich in colourful reefs and marine life, making a full day’s snorkelling trip another exciting option. Of course, you may just prefer to relax and make the most of the golden beaches and warm waters.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Returning to the Thai mainland by ferry this morning, we then continue by road to Bangkok, some 330 kilometres to the east. Taking a public bus from the Trat bus terminus, the five hour journey to the capital should get us into Bangkok sometime late this afternoon.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

You may like to use your free time today to pay a visit to two of Bangkok’s most impres-sive monuments; the 18th century Grand Palace and the rambling complex of Wat Po, which is older than the city itself and home to the fabulous 46 metre reclining Buddha. Another option is to take a cruise along the city’s Klongs (canals) in a traditional long-tail boat. This is the ideal way to explore something of Bangkok’s network of meandering wa-terways, taking in the Royal Barge Museum and the iconic Wat Arun (the Temple of the Dawn) along the way.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Included meals: Breakfast