South East Asian Circuit

Starting and finishing in Bangkok, this thirty five day epic adventure takes in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and gives an insight into the differing cultures, history and scenery. From the canals of Thailand's capital Bangkok and The Bridge over The River Kwai we then head north to Chiang Mai for a trek among the hillside villages. We spend time amongst the tribal villages, witnessing their culture and customs, and staying in traditional Thai minority family homes. We travel by foot, raft and on elephant back. Then on to Laos, ?land of a million elephants?, where one of the highlights is a boat trip along the Mekong. We also explore Pak Ou Caves, the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang and then Vientiane, the sleepy capital of Laos, with its wide boulevards. We fly to Hanoi in northern Vietnam, and from there on to the beautiful limestone islets that have made Halong Bay a World Heritage site, spending the night on a traditional junk. Hue, with its rich cultural heritage, is followed by quaint Hoi An and then a night in Nha Trang, famous for its miles of white sandy beaches. Next we journey inland to Dalat in the Central Highlands to enjoy the cooler mountain air. Moving on to Ho Chi Minh City - formerly Saigon - we enjoy the electric atmosphere of this dynamic city. Next stop, Cambodia, which offers one of the richest cultural legacies in South East Asia. The highlights include Phnom Penh, the capital - containing many memories of the countries violent past, and by contrast the spectacular fabled city of Angkor, home to many exotic religious monuments and the eighth wonder of the world. From Siem Reap we travel back via Battambang to Bangkok, where our journey ends.