Romantic Getaway to Cambodia & Laos: Angkor Wat, Mekong Delta & More

Siem Reap is a city of tradition and wonder that sits at the edges of a lush jungle. Arrive at the airport and be met by your private transfer. The city streets are energetic. Music pours through the city center. The aromas of chili and mint emanate from the restaurants that have a mixture of Khmer and Western style menus. The city is a combination of modern luxuries and village tradition. Cows pull produce carts. Lavish hotels rise on the banks of the Siem Reap River.

In the evening restaurants host Apsara dances, where you can witness the traditional story telling of cultural myths with every graceful movement. Settle into your boutique hotel that harkens back to the French Colonial days of Cambodia. The elegant and luxurious grounds offer you the private wonders of the city. The pool is clear and crisp, surrounded by the semi-tropical greenery. Your room is plush and offers a tremendous view of the surrounding trees. Your romantic adventure through the majesty of the city has only just begun.

After breakfast, you will venture to the celebrated grounds of Angkor Wat and enter through the western gate. The temple stands at the end of an open field. A lily pond holds blossoming flowers and reflects the temple’s image in the pristine water. Five towers stand atop the temple and represent Mount Meru, the Hindu home of the gods. Monks look almost ethereal as they step from the trees. The sky begins to imitate the monks’ saffron colored robes. The central tower rises over 131 feet from the temple’s ceiling to the spire’s tip.

The sunrise casts a layer of pink and purple over Angkor Wat, until fading to blue. When you enter the temple you find undiscovered niches of history that feel like your own private exploration. The eastern gallery shows the Churning of the Sea of Milk, a traditional Hindu legend. The walls are decorated with 92 asuras and 88 devas in the process of spinning the eternal sea. The scent of sandalwood rises from burning incense. Distant footsteps are few and far between giving you the unique chance to discover the temple.

Morning in the French Quarter is jovial and vibrant. The aroma of fresh pressed coffee is accompanied by the sweet flavors of fruit laden crepes. Fresh banana and mango fill the thin and semi-sweet dough. After breakfast your private guide meets you at the hotel. Ta Prohm is a temple known for its inclusion in the Angelina Jolie movie, Tomb Raider, but also for its incredible display of architectural and earthen resilience. The jungle is dense and stunning. The trees provide nature’s bountiful fragrance, from freshly fallen rain to lively leaves. There is a passionate ambiance in the air as you make your way through the trees. The 12th century temple was largely left to nature and creates a dynamic collection of art colliding with the landscape. The outer wall encompasses over 750,000 square yards.

The entrance gates stand at the central point of the wall. Some of the gates are decorated with Bayon faces, each displaying a stone smirk that looks out over the pathway. When you enter the temple you find the ravishing strength and colors of the jungle running over the complex. When you reach the gallery of the second enclosure you feel transported to a private display of splendor. The thick roots of a sprung tree climb down the roof of the gallery and dig into the dirt. The tree is tall and strong, its roots and trunk are thick and powerful. The shade lingers over the courtyard. The temple feels secluded and there is something intrinsically romantic in the ruins.

The morning once again comes alive along the streets of the old French Quarter. After breakfast you make your way to Battambang and visit the ancient temple of Wat Ek Phnom. The sanctuary was constructed in the 11th century. The laterite walls stand partly ruinous. The eastern doorway displays a horizontal block with etchings of the Churning of the Sea of Milk adorning the portal.  The leaves dangle and rustle. The stone catches the lingering sunlight. Once in Battambang you will find the beauty of the city wrapped up in the elegantly preserved French architecture around the historic city center. The streets sit along the banks of the Sangker River.

In the evening you can partake in one of the most famous draws of the city, the Battambang Circus of Phare Ponleu Selpak. The show was originally started to give underprivileged youth a way to express themselves and their connection to the Khmer culture. It has grown to a popular degree and continues to gain traction with the students’ uncanny ability to tightrope walk, aqua-balance, and perform exceptional aerial acrobatics. Your evening in Battambang will give you the unique culture and privacy of the countryside with the luxuries of a modern metropolis.

Wake up in the morning to the soft current of the river brushing against the banks. Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia but feels like a small town. The scent of buttery and sweet pastries is in the air. Your private guide meets you and escorts you out into the rural expanse. The trees are interspersed with open paddy fields. The lush grassland has a sweet aroma. You come to the Bamboo Train and find the cultural experience unique and exciting. The norry is an improvised train platform that consists of a seven-foot long wood frame that is covered with bamboo slats. The simplicity of the system is graceful.

The tracks were constructed by the French in the early 1900s and lead from Battambang to Phnom Penh. The bamboo trains transit locals among the villages between the two main cities. Board your private platform and witness the countryside in the open air. The leaves brush past. The train car moves at an average of 15 miles per hour. The breeze feels refreshing. You can see mountains in the distance. The trees are dense and verdant. You find the new ride to be a new treasured memory to have experienced with your loved one. In the afternoon you will venture southbound and arrive in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh is a city surrounded by water, from the Tonle Sap River to the Mekong River. Each water source maintains its own vivaciousness. In the early light you can see fishermen on small trolleys rocking in the current. They cast their nets over the water and scour the river for their daily catch. On the junction of the rivers you can find the Sisowath Quay, where the stone pathway lines the riverbank and is shaded by towering palms. Some locals begin their morning with group exercises near the water. Soon your guide will meet you at the hotel and tour you through the enormous history of the city. The Royal Palace is located near the water.

The golden spires capture the light and glisten against the backdrop of vast blue sky. The complex was constructed in the 19th century but some buildings were constructed as late as the 1960s. The Silver Pagoda holds some of the beloved treasures of the country. The temple floor is paved with 5,000 sliver blocks. Within the grand gallery sits the Emerald Buddha, a 17th century statue made of Baccarat-crystal. Another Buddha statue is almost life-sized, molded almost entirely of gold, and decorated with over 9,500 diamonds. The grandeur and exuberance of the statues are truly breathtaking.

The morning begins to brim with life and spill into the capital’s streets. After breakfast you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The city is friendly and quiet. You find remnants of French mansions standing along wide avenues that are studded with blossoming bougainvillea. Noodle stalls emanate the delicate aromas of ginger and chili. Cafes sit behind cobblestone sidewalks and offer shaded seating and fresh coffee. The ambiance of the capital city is hard to imagine but is truly an exceptional soft serenity. The Patuxai Victory Monument adorns the end of a long avenue. The arch was completed in 1968 in a traditional Laotian style with French influences. In the evening you can watch the fountains spout into the air beneath colorful lights and captivating music.

Vientiane is serene in the morning. The air is cool and the streetlights gently bounce off of the buildings and create a halo atop the French architecture. Cafes set the tables and chairs on the sidewalks. The precious aroma of coffee and croissants lingers on the streets. After breakfast you will begin your tour of the city. The gilded stupas and artistic monuments create a sensual ambiance. The city is romantic in its serenity. Wat Si Saket is a 19th century temple that once held the Emerald Buddha.

The traditional Laotian architecture has a deep sloping roof and is supported by pillars. A naga, mythological serpent, guards the entrance. Its sharp teeth protrude as a warning. As you explore the temple you will find a cloister of more than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha images. They line the wall in two terraces and stare out over the courtyard. The sleepy city surrounds the temple complex. The quiet streets are elegant and shimmer in the sunlight.

The flaky and buttery crust of a croissant is decadent and lovely. Indulge in the marvelous flavors of breakfast and the magnificent company before you make your way to Buddha Park. The sculpture park was created in the 1950s and contains over 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. Each statue is a representation of belief and personal imagination of Bunleua Sulilat, a priest and shaman. The statues were molded and shaped out of concrete to create homages to mythology and religion.

When you walk through the park you can see a traditional demon head that stands almost 10 feet tall. Its mouth is the entrance to the park. A reclining Buddha reaches 390 feet. While you stroll through the park you realize that it is an open-air art museum. The images are divine in nature and remarkable in representation. It is more than just a visit; it has become a charming rendezvous, filled with beauty and artistic grandeur. In the afternoon you will have a transfer to the airport where you will settle in the ancient city of Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang is a city surrounded by mountains and filled with towering trees. The avenues are lush and shady. The morning is tranquil. After breakfast you are taken to the Mekong River where you step aboard a boat and let the current guide you. The mountains are covered with incredible trees. Limestone peeks through the greenery. The riverbanks are fertile and almost glow with vibrancy. You come to the Pak Ou Caves and see the cave mouth pressed into the cliff side over 50 feet above the water.

A staircase traverses the rocky outcrop and leads from the riverbank to the hidden sanctuary. When you step into the seclusion of the cavern you find shelves positioned along the walls. The area is decorated with over 4,000 wooden sculptures of Buddha. You can hear the water trickling below. The air is cool. A small altar stands at the far reaches of the cave. Lights guide you and you can find stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

The morning mist settles between the mountains and winds through the streets. You wake up early and feel the cool air graze your cheeks. The ambiance is ethereal and you are happy to walk along the sidewalk hand and hand with your partner to see the morning alms procession. People stand and kneel alongside the street. Monks walk in a straight line and are given alms by devout followers. The monks take rice, cookies, and other forms of alms. The procession reminds you of a slow sunrise. The mist dissipates and the day lingers over the city.

In the afternoon you will venture into the woods to visit the Kuang Si Waterfalls. Water cascades over 200 feet through the steep hillside. You can hear the thunderous sound echo through the trees. Water trickles down the lower terraces like beaded curtains. The encompassing forest is exceptionally lush. The water is sapphire and pristine. You could sit with your toes in the water for hours, letting the cold mountain spring cool your body. The sun begins to set and you make your way back to the city to enjoy the luxuries of the night.

You can hear the quiet chants of the monks’ daily procession. The gentle rhythm is soothing in the morning light. Mount Phousi stands at the center of the city and the summit is topped by a gold-plated stupa. The morning in Luang Prabang is yours to enjoy. Halfway up the mountain you can find a reclining Buddha statue nestled into a grotto. The golden color reflects off the rippling water. Soon you will board your flight home but for now, you can relax in the tranquil romance of the city, indulging in the endless beauty of your passionate getaway.