Active 3-Week Adventure of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand's Cultural Highlights

Cambodia’s quaint cultural jewel Siem Reap is a treasure trove of Angkorian history that active travelers flock to for an insightful education on the former Southeast Asia empire as well as moments of tranquility away from the crowds. You will arrive at the international airport and transfer to an accommodation built harmoniously with its natural surroundings, a retreat that sings with Southeast Asian character. You may spend your afternoon exploring the manicured Royal Gardens or visit bustling night markets where Cambodian garments and authentic cuisine is sold aplenty.

Your first morning in Siem Reap will be spent exploring the city’s rich heritage, beginning with images of the giant stone smiling faces at the Bayon Temple. Your tour will continue to a collection of coveted cultural highlights in and around the former ancient capital of Angkor Thom and you will catch a glimpse of the colossal Angkor Wat. The impressive architecture and astonishing structures of Ta Prohm Temple, Banteay Kdei, the Elephant Terrace, and the Royal Palace will educate you on the empire’s reign and your Angkorian adventure will culminate within the enormous, meticulously designed complex of Angkor Wat.

There is no better sunrise in Siem Reap, or Cambodia for that matter, than that enjoyed from an observation deck overlooking the towering spires of Angkor Wat. You will watch as the skyline turns fiery hues and the sunshine glimmers off their imposing points. The city will flood with golden light, calling locals and foreigners alike from their beds to start their days in Siem Reap. Today, you will transfer to a few cultural highlights you have yet to explore and partake in an ox-cart ride through the rice fields of Palm Candy Village.

Southeast Asia’s beloved destination Vietnam is yours to explore for the next leg of your adventurous active vacation, and you will be thrilled to spend a few nights in the cultural city of Hội An first. After touching down in Da Nang, you will transfer to the largest lake in Southeast Asia, Tonlé Sap, and relish a boat ride to the mangrove forests of Kampong Phluk. Images of sandy beaches, rural towns, and stretching farmlands will introduce you to the magnificence of central Vietnam’s wilderness en route to your accommodation in Hội An.

Hội An is a historic picture book of former Vietnamese civilization and the dramatic history will unfold from within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of My Son Holy Land during your tour of the ruins today. The mountainous landscape is riddled with old-world structures that lay in varying states of preservation and decay for visitors to trace back the former glory of Vietnam’s Cham civilizations. Afterward, you will stroll the 16th-century Hội An port town to visit the significant Chua Ong Pagoda, admire the French architectural overtures of the Old Tam Kỳ House, and cross the historic Japanese Covered Bridge.

Hue is a coastal Vietnamese city that was once the seat of the powerful Nguyen Dynasty. The empire's reign is retained within the confines of the Dai Noi Citadel and there is an array of other imperial structures peppering the cityscape and neighboring countryside that will tickle your history bone. The Purple Forbidden City reflects a time of royalty, the Imperial Hue Citadel houses national treasures, and the Dong Ba Market spotlights local life as it appears frozen in time. You will head for dinner having touched on the fascinating history of Hue and collected a series of intriguing photography.

The romantic streets of Hue are best enjoyed by bicycle, giving active travelers quick and easy access down the narrow streets where hidden cultural gems can be found and popular squares emanate fragrant aromas of authentic central Vietnamese dishes. You will cross the roads to Khai Dinh's Tomb and spend time browsing the complex dragon statues, decorative stylings, and royal jewel-encrusted altars. Your tour will continue to a few additional tombs including the Tu Duc Tomb and Minh Mang Tomb, monumental architectural structures that possess a wealth of fascinating history.

You will touch down at Hanoi’s international airport, meet your transfer, and head for an accommodation nestled in the heart of the city, around the corner from the historic Old Quarter. After arriving, you will join a guide for a tour of Hanoi’s highlights including the famous 9th-century One Pillar Pagoda and the sacred resting place of the country’s revered former leader, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After a dramatic day of spiritual and historic adventure, you will spend your afternoon pleasantly wandering the lush lawns of Hoàn Kiếm Lake and marvel at the Tortoise Tower before heading for dinner.

In the morning, you will transfer to Haiphong Pier and board a cruise boat that will cross the emerald isles of Lan Ha Bay. You will greet your captain and share a glass of wine before unpacking your bags and wallowing in the blissful atmosphere of your enchanting Vietnamese ship. The anchors will lift and the ship will set sail across the turquoise waters circling the bay’s breathtaking garden of islands. Stops include humble fishing villages for an authentic lunch, castaway shorelines of ancient karst islands, and protected coral reefs where snorkeling will introduce you to Vietnam’s underwater world.

Before you return to shore, you may take part in a Tai Chi session led by a master instructor. You will feel the warmth of the sun as it kisses the deck and your worries will melt away as you perform invigorating traditional poses before breakfast. Later on, you will return to Hanoi and spend your afternoon indulging in the delectable delicacies prepared at local eateries during an insider’s street food tour. The Old Quarter’s cafés present an endearing, busy atmosphere and the cuisine is perfectly rendered for those eager and willing to try Vietnam’s signature culinary staples.

Laos' northern highlands are mostly inaccessible for the modern tourist, however, the charming town of Luang Prabang is an overlooked but worthwhile destination sitting atop the soaring summits that continue to rise further north towards China. Luang Prabang is a small, laidback community living comfortably alongside the enormous chocolate-colored waters of the Mekong River, and active travelers who make their way to the peaceful village are rewarded with some of the best natural sceneries in Southeast Asia and a true taste of traditional Southeast Asian culture.

You may wake up before dawn, slip into something warm, comfortable, and respectful, and wander from your accommodation to Luang Prabang’s main street to watch the riveting alms giving ceremony local monks have practiced for centuries. The saffron robe-dressed monks will make their way along the street and locals will offer them rice and incense as they pass by. It is an inspiring community activity that occurs every morning, and you should not miss it. Afterward, you will visit highlight temples and heritage sites that showcase the dramatic history of the Laotian highlands.

Today, you will transfer through Laos’ lofty highlands to the revered Kuang Si Waterfall for a day of swimming and cultural exploration at the neighboring rural villages. The waterfall itself is accessed via a short, shaded walk beneath the viridian canopy that climbs the hill alongside a network of natural turquoise water pools that cascade into one another from the base of the falls. You may swim in the clear pools and feel fish nibble on your feet before you arrive at the towering silver stream of Kuang Si and unpack its legendary folklore.

The Mekong River is a vast and important waterway that is a source of tourism, life, and commerce for the local Laotian and Southeast Asian people. After breakfast, you will board a traditional boat and cruise the river to the mysterious Pak Ou caves before you reach Pakbeng. The sacred pilgrimage site houses a collection of over 1,000 Buddha images of various shapes and sizes, and constructed from an array of different materials, within its shadowy caverns. You will capture surreal imagery of the statues and surrounding scenes before you plod down the river to Pekbang for the evening.

The second leg of your Southeast Asian riverboat journey will lead you across the Laotian border at the bewitching Golden Triangle, the meeting point of the Ruak and Mekong rivers between Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. The tranquil riverside scenery will be magnificent and your adventures soundtracked by singing birds and backdropped by views of creatures rustling through vegetation rising from the banks of the rivers. You will soon dock at a pier in Chiang Rai and transfer to a forest lodge hidden beneath the emerald canopy, a far-flung accommodation in the dreamy wilderness of northern Thailand.

Chiang Rai is a gateway to the wilderness sanctuaries blanketing the Shan Highlands, and you will absorb the sensational scenery during a tour that begins in the peaks of the Mae Salong mountain at a historic tea plantation tucked away in the jungle. You will learn about local agricultural practices as friendly hosts serve an assortment of steamy teas and then transfer to the Akha, Yao and Lisu hill-tribe villages for more cultural immersion. Your adventures will culminate in the Golden Triangle, where you will swoon over spectacular sceneries and explore the region’s dramatic history in the Hall of Opium.

Roads weave in and around Thailand’s northern hills, giving road trippers access to the untouched wilderness of the country’s furthest forests. Your road trip from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai will be set against a backdrop of the jungled mountains and golden rice paddies that cascade prolific valleys. Northern Thai art and history clash beautifully in and around the landscaped lawns of the famous Wat Rong Khun, dubbed the White Temple for its iconic white-washed facade. Its meticulously carved sculptures and distinct architectural design will showcase its prominent Hindu and Buddhist origins before you reach your accommodation in Chiang Mai.

Northern Thailand boasts the country’s largest slice of unspoiled wilderness paradise, and wildlife thrives within the proliferating forests that veil the countryside neighboring Chiang Mai. After breakfast, you will escape to the hills and find a peaceful pasture on which the region’s leading ethical elephant sanctuary is stationed. Here, the elephants come out to play and visitors enjoy the pleasures of playing with, bathing, and feeding the gentle giants while conservationists share insight into the sacred creatures. Your active adventure to see the elephants of Chiang Mai in the verdant jungle will be educational, uplifting, and beautiful.

The Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple commands attention atop the summit of the mountain hanging over Chiang Mai’s bustling cityscape. It is an impressive ode to Thai spirituality, accessed via a 300-step staircase ascending beneath the forest flowers and towering treeline. Reaching the top of the mountain, magnificent panoramic views will greet you and the glimmering golden surfaces of historic Buddha images will glisten under the sun. Your cultural activities will continue at a Meo hill tribe village where you will unpack the traditions and customs of the traditional Hmong people.

After breakfast, your culinary exploration of northern Thai cuisine will continue at a celebrated chef’s cooking school. Your culinary legend will take you to a nearby market to browse for fresh produce prepared in the local agricultural lands, a selection of which are the signature ingredients for Thailand’s famous dishes. You will return to the school to experiment with Thai flavors and tuck into the fruits of your labor. Your final evening in Southeast Asia will be a magical exploration of Lanna song and dance performed at a courtyard theatre and accompanied by a khantoke, northern Thai buffet dinner.

Morning markets will be packed with locals and foreigners eager for a quick bite to eat, boutique stores will open their doors and show off colorful Thai garments, and the city streets will chime with the sounds of hooting vehicles racing to work. There is a satisfyingly buoyant energy about Chiang Mai that you will cherish during your final morning wandering the neighborhood after breakfast. After topping off your vacation with a pleasant stroll, you will return to your accommodation to meet your transfer and make your way to Chiang Mai International Airport.