25 Day Grand Southeast Asia

Tour Route

Hanoi(2N) – Halong Bay(1N) – Hoi An(4N) – Saigon(2N) – Mandalay(2N) – Bagan(2N) – Yangon(2N) – Luang Prabang(3N) – Siem Reap(2N) – Phnom Penh(2N)

If you are searching for the adventure of a lifetime, look no further as AVG has got your covered on this 25-Day Grand Southeast Asia tour. You will discover Vietnam, Myanmar,
Laos, and Cambodia and everywhere in-between. You will be captivated by the smells and tastes, truly getting a sense of the authentic culture in each and every country.

Specifically, you will explore 16th century cave monasteries, many temples and pagodas in Bagan, Myanmar, and the incredible ruins of Angkor Temples, Cambodia. Prepare to spend 25-days of pure bliss and cultural immersion with AVG.

• Explore the stunning Halong Bay, a UNESCO Heritage Site on a traditional wooden junk boat.
• Discover the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, a 16^th-century cave monastery filled with thousands of Buddha images.
• Take a half-day sightseeing to Bagan’s highlights including Naung U Market, Shwezigon Pagoda, Htilominlo Temple, Ananda Temple & Dhamayangyi Temple, and more.
• Explore Phnom Penh’s highlights including Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum and Wat Ounalom.
• Stand astounded of incredible ruins of Angkor Temples, the World Heritage Site.

No details found.

Itineraries

Day 1

Hanoi Arrival

Depart for Hanoi. On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Meal: In-flight Meals Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2

Hanoi – Halong Bay

Today, you will take a 3.5-hour transfer by bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay, “a spectacular seascape sculpted by nature” by UNESCO due to its breathtaking caves and limestone pillars sitting on the water. Upon arrival, you will board a ship to explore the stunning scenery with a myriad of mysterious caves of all shapes and sizes. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Overnight Cruise in Halong.

Day 3

Halong Bay - Hanoi

Awake early and join a Tai Chi session on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea before exploring nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk and admire the amazing rock formations of Halong Bay from the sundeck. Your driver will meet you at the Halong jetty then we drive back to Hanoi. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An. Optional Halong Seaplane Witness the vastness, the beauty and all limestone formations of World Nature Wonder – Halong Bay from the air in 25 minutes. Optional Hanoi Street Food Tour Enjoy a walk around the Old Quarter in the afternoon and have a taste of Northern Vietnamese delicacies such as stuffed pancake, Banh My, stuffed sticky rice balls, the unique egg coffee and many more.

Day 4

Hanoi Free Day – Flight to Da Nang - Hoi An

This morning, explore the city at your own pace. Later on, we go to the airport and get ready for a flight to Da Nang. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Hoi An ancient town to check in your hotel. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi. Optional Hanoi City Tour Half-day

Day 5

Hoi An Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An.

Day 6

Hoi An Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An. Optional Hoi An Cooking Class Tour A chance for you to experience all the typical features of traditional Vietnamese cuisine and master your cooking skills with unique recipes. Optional Half-day Hoi An Walking Tour Optional Tra Que Vegetable Village Tour Observe and try the local farming activities. Learn the process of planting vegetable such as raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many others. A light meal will be served during the tour. Optional My Son Sanctuary and Thanh Ha Village Tour My Son sanctuary, a great sample of ancient Champa civilization situated in the southern region of Vietnam. Stand astounded by a great number of exquisite stone sculptures, temples and towers nestled in a tropical jungle.

Day 7

Hoi An Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An. Optional Hoi An Cooking Class Tour A chance for you to experience all the typical features of traditional Vietnamese cuisine and master your cooking skills with unique recipes. Optional Tra Que Vegetable Village Tour Observe and try the local farming activities. Learn the process of planting vegetable such as raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many others. A light meal will be served during the tour. Optional My Son Sanctuary and Thanh Ha Village Tour My Son sanctuary, a great sample of ancient Champa civilization situated in the southern region of Vietnam. Stand astounded by a great number of exquisite stone sculptures, temples and towers nestled in a tropical jungle.

Day 8

Hoi An – Da Nang - Flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

After breakfast, get transferred to the airport in Da Nang and take a flight to Saigon. On arrival, take a Saigon City Tour to Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office (photo spot only) and War Remnants Museum and have fun shopping at Ben Thanh Market, one of Saigon’s oldest market selling full of things. In the late afternoon, check in your hotel in Saigon. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon. Optional A O Show A O Show is a sophisticated cultural show featuring talented. This show will bring you on a journey from the rural to the urban life of Vietnam via a series of sketches and acts involving Vietnamese traditional props. Optional Vespa Adventure – SaiGon After Dark Tour Discover Saigon’s nightlife on the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Enjoy your amazing night by whisking away the city and stop by some shops to taste Saigon’s best authentic local food. Optional Dinner on Saigon River Cruise Tour Dinner on Saigon river cruise offers an opportunity to witness another side of Saigon. Enjoy the river breeze gently caressing your skin, together with renowned Vietnamese delicacies which guarantee to make your evening unforgettable.

Day 9

Saigon – Mekong Delta

Today, we will leave Saigon for a Mekong Delta tour. Start off your trip to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang province in Southern Vietnam. Then we board the sampan and cruise down the river passing by four beautiful islands including Dragon Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise Islands. We will stop at Unicorn Island, take a walk around the island, visit the orchards, taste a lot of delicious tropical fruits and enjoy the folk song music performed by the local people. Later on, we will ride a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and visit the family business and local workshops. Then we have a chance to enjoy honey tea and coconut candy before cycling around the Tan Thach Village in the afternoon. If cycling is not your style, just simply lie in a hammock to relax and enjoy the cool breeze caressing your skin. Afterwards, we return to Saigon and spend the evening at your leisure. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 10

Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels - Flight to Mandalay

Today, we will take an approximately one-and-a-half hour transfer by bus to Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi tunnels is a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers and booby traps used by both the Viet Minh and the Viet Cong during Vietnam-US war. The tunnel system had become legendary during the 1960s as a strategic military base and underground community life. You will listen to an introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the wartime. After that, with the help of a tour guide, you will explore the tunnel systems including the specially constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms and other martial facilities such as storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centres. Some special tea and Cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served during your exploration. Break time is to relax or for those who want to try the authentic shooting gun. Later on, you will be transferred to the airport for your overnight flight to Mandalay, Myanmar. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: In-flight.

Day 11

Mandalay Arrival

Today you will arrive in Mandalay. After getting transferred and checking in your hotel, spend a morning at your leisure. In the afternoon, you will take a half-day Mandalay city tour to Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery and Atumashi Monastery. Later on, enjoy the sunset from U Bein Bridge which stretches 1.2 kilometres over Taungthaman Lake and is made of teak wood from the discarded palace of Amarapura. It is considered as the world’s longest bridge of its unique kind. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay.

Day 12

Mandalay Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Optional Tour Mandalay – Amarapura – Ava – Sagaing Enjoy a full-day trip to Ava, Sagaing & Amarapura (three ancient cities). The trip allows you to discover the best sites of these cities including U Bein Bridge, Bagaya Monastery and U Min Thonze, etc. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay.

Day 13

Mandalay – Flight to Bagan

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Bagan. On arrival, our friendly tour guide will greet and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Today, we will take a half-day sightseeing tour to Naung U Market, Shwezigon Pagoda, Htilominlo Temple then approach to Tharabar Gateway into Old Bagan. Continue to Ananda Temple, Thatbyinnyu Temple and Dhammayangyi Temple. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.

Day 14

Bagan Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan. Optional Balloons over Bagan Classic Enjoy the great panoramic view over the pagodas of Bagan from the air. The balloon tour operates from 01 Oct 2016 till 31 Mar 2017 only. Optional Bagan Cooking Class Tour This tour will let you experience all the typical features of traditional Myanmar cuisine and practice your cooking skills. You will be accompanied by Myanmar food lovers for every single step to cook them into delicious dishes.

Day 15

Bagan - Flight to Yangon - Yangon City Tour

After breakfast, we take a flight to Yangon. On arrival at Yangon Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in then spend a half-day Yangon city tour to Bogyoke Aung San Market where you can buy various souvenirs such as paintings, puppets, lacquerware and jewellery. It’s well worth a wander, even if you’re not buying anything, just find a place for lunch. After that, we head to Shwedagon Pagoda and witness the sparkling golden dome during the sunset. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon.

Day 16

Yangon Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Optional Tour Yangon Discovery Tour Take a chance to explore the old colonial-style Yangon city’s highlights including the City Hall, Independence Monument in Mahabandoola Park, Strand Road and Yangon Jetty, etc. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon.

Day 17

Yangon – Flight to Luang Prabang

This morning, you will take a flight to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city and once served as the royal capital of Laos. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in your hotel. Afterwards, spend a remaining day at your leisure. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 18

Luang Prabang – Pak Ou Cave – Kuang Si Waterfall

This morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on Mekong River. Enjoy a tranquillity of the countryside before arriving at the arcane Pak Ou Caves where thousands of gold lacquered Buddha Statues of all sizes and shapes left in the cave’s niches by pilgrims. We will stop en route at Ban Muang Keo, a famous Whisky Village before cruising back to Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, we continue a trip to Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, a traditionally styled workshop where weavers, spinners and batik makers produce top-quality fabrics. Afterwards, we head to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can relax in a natural turquoise water pool and have fun trekking a lush forest trail through the local villages. Also, the small fishes in the water will nibble your feet, don’t be scared and enjoy this free fish spa. On our way back to the hotel, we stop at Bear Rescue Center, which houses a couple of dozen animals rescued from the hands of poachers and traffickers. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 19

Luang Prabang Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Optional Tour Full-day City Tour & Elephant Riding Visit the city’s highlights including Royal Palace Museum, Wat Sene, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Visoun & Wat Aham. Also, the tour will lead you out of Luang Prabang to Thai Lue Village, Ban Xienglek Village and Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre to explore Laos’s many ethnic cultures. Afterwards, we climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for a panoramic sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. The tour ends after you experience the authentic elephant ride. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.

Day 20

Luang Prabang – Flight to Siem Reap

After breakfast, you are free to explore the nearby village, or just relax at the pool before getting transferred to the airport and taking a flight to Siem Reap, the spiritual and cultural heart of Cambodia. On arrival in Siem Reap, our local tour guide will welcome and take you to your hotel for check-in. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 21

Siem Reap – Angkor Temples Complex

Spend a full day discovering the mystical Angkor temples. The world heritage site with soaring towers and extraordinary bas-reliefs. It is one of the most amazing man-made monuments in the world. Visit Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm Monastery, Angkor Thom, Bayon and the Elephant Terrace. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 22

Siem Reap – Phnom Penh

Today, leave Siem Reap in the morning to Phnom Penh capital (6-hour trip by bus). On arrival, check in your hotel and spend your free time at leisure. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 23

Phnom Penh Free Day

Spend a day at your leisure. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh. Optional Phnom Penh City Tour

Day 24

Phnom Penh - Depart

Get ready for a flight back home. Meal: Breakfast. Accommodation: N/A.

Day 25

Home Arrival

You will arrive home today. Meal: N/A. Accommodation: N/A.

• International and domestic flights.
• Accommodation and meals in the itinerary.
• All local boat rentals and cycling as mentioned in the program.
• All entrance fees and sightseeing as mentioned in the program.
• Water bottles during tours.
• Transportation by air-conditioning vehicles.
• Local English-speaking tour guides.

Deposit & Payments

• Secure your package with a deposit of $500 per person.
• Pay a 2^nd installment of $1,999 per person within 30 days after deposit.
• You will then be invoiced for final payment 90 days prior to departure.

Booking Process                       

Step 1: Customer selects one of our ready-made tour packages along with your preferred travel date based on the availability calendar.

Noted: In case you request a free quote for your planned vacation, simply fill in this Customize Request Form: https://www.asiavacationgroup.com.au/customize/

Step 2: Complete the Booking Form

Step 3: One of our Reservation team will contact you within 12 hours to confirm your booking request.

Please note that customers must book at least 90 days prior to departure to ensure your desired travel date and time.

How to extend your stay
If you wish to do so, please follow these steps:

1. Follow the “Book Now” prompts, until you reach the “Anything else we need to know?” field
2. Here, please specify your preferred flight arrangements and if you require additional accommodation, with the number of nights needed.
3. After finalizing your purchase and submitting your booking form, a member of our Reservation team will be in contact with you via email to verify your request.

Please note, a supplement of AU$200 per person (plus any applicable fare and tax differences) applies to deviate from the standard itinerary. We will contact you via email with a quote and proposed flight itinerary, and then proceed with collecting the additional payment required to confirm your request.

The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice, due 90 days prior to departure, and is strictly subject to availability.

Important Information

Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.

For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for AUD$10-20 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest AUD$5 per person, per day.

As this particular tour does not collect a ‘kitty’, it is entirely up to the individual whether or not you would like to tip locals for the services of things like taxis or when dining at restaurants. In these cases, we suggest you allow 10-20% of the value of the service as a tip. Again, it is not compulsory and entirely up to the individual.

Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences however any changes are beyond our control.

Single Supplement
Single supplement will be updated.

Paired Solo Traveller
Not available.

Group size: 6-30 pax

Triple Share
Upon your request except for cruises

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.

We have partnered with SureSave to offer you competitive rates for your travel insurance. You can book comprehensive or budget cover simply to arrange your policy.

Visa & Passport information
It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return and must have more than 8 blank pages.

Australian passport holder is required to have a visa for travel to Vietnam. The visa is easiest to complete with Asia Vacation group and just need to pay AUD160 for Vietnam visa single entry.

Once approved, please ensure that you travel with the following documentation as they are required to present to customs upon arrival into the country.

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

For Cambodia, you will obtain your visa when crossing the border from Vietnam to Cambodia. The cost of the Cambodian Visa is around USD$37 per person .

Tour Documentation
Final documentation, including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.

Children
Children must be 2 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are the same price as adults.

Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.

Tour Exclusions:

• Meals and drinks are not mentioned in the program
• Visa fees
• Tipping for driver and tour guide & personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Trip delay or interruption by airline schedule change
• Extra cost or missing tour caused by flight delay or cancel
• Any service not clearly mentioned in the program

• Surcharge of AUD300 for departures from Adelaide & Brisbane and AUD350 for departures from Perth, Auckland (New Zealand)
• Surcharge of AUD200 for departures in September, AUD400 for departures in April and July and AUD800 for departures in January , February, December.