WONDERS OF THE ORIENT 15 DAYS FROM $9,695 US Details below or
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Many of the world's
greatest wonders and grandest accommodations are in the Orient. Visit
some of the region's most beautiful destinations on this elegant
journey through Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.
Day 1:
USA or Canada/Hong Kong, China Board your overnight flight to
Hong Kong.
Day 2: Hong Kong Arrive in sophisticated Hong
Kong and transfer to your hotel.
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Day 3: Hong Kong Begin your day at the busy
Sheung Wan Market, which provides you with an authentic glimpse into
the daily lives of the average Hong Kong resident. It offers some
excellent shopping choices as well, with everything from local foods to
tasteful trinkets to elegant furnishings. Afterward, take a tram ride
to Victoria Peak for spectacular views of the city. Continue to the
floating fishing community in Aberdeen on a motorized sampan cruise,
where you once again have the opportunity to see local Chinese life up
close. After a traditional dim sum lunch, your afternoon is at leisure.
Tonight, join your fellow travellers over cocktails and a welcome
dinner.
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong B
L D
Day 4: Hong Kong/Hanoi, Vietnam Fly to Hanoi, the capital and
political heart of modern Vietnam. Afternoon sightseeing includes a
cyclo ride through the winding lanes of the colorful Old Quarter.
Tonight, enjoy a performance of traditional water puppetry, for which
Hanoi is famous.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
B L D
Day 5: Hanoi Today's sightseeing reflects
the cultural link between Europe and Vietnam. Hanoi still retains
pockets of French colonial architecture, while café culture
flourishes, lending the city a sophisticated European flare. Spend the
day visiting its essential sights, including Ho Chi Minh's house and
One-Pillared Pagoda, which was built in 1049 in the shape of the
symbolic lotus flower. After lunch, visit the Fine Arts Museum, housed
in a building that once served as the French Ministry of Information.
It holds both ancient and modern works of art. Finally, stroll the
halls and gardens of the Confucian Temple of Literature.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
B L D
Day 6: Hanoi Choose your Design Your Day
option from the activities presented below.
Design Your Day - Hanoi: Journey to
scenic Ha Long, the "Bay of the Descending Dragon," for a private
cruise among its scenic grottoes and islands or relax at your hotel's
world renowned spa.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
B L D
Day 7: Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City Fly this morning to the
largest and most vibrant city in Vietnam. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho
Chi Minh City is a bustling hub of activity in sharp contrast to the
traditional ambience of life in Hanoi and the far north. Visit the
19th-century Thien Hau Pagoda, the most important pagoda in Ho Chi Minh
City, that serves as a site for prayers to the Buddha as well as to the
Chinese deity Thien Hau Thanh Mau. Explore the surrounding neighborhood
of Cholon, the city's colorful Chinatown, the largest Chinese district
in all of Vietnam.
Park Hyatt Saigon B L D
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City Travel to Cu Chi, where an
immense network of connecting underground tunnels provided Vietcong
soldiers with a key tactical advantage during the Vietnam War. After
lunch, return to the city to tour the Presidential Palace with a stop
at Notre Dame Cathedral, a huge architectural monument with beautiful
twin spires. Built between 1877 and 1883, it lies at the heart of the
city.
Park Hyatt Saigon B L D
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City/Siem Reap, Cambodia Fly to Siem Reap, a province
located in the northwest of Cambodia. Capture your first glimpse of the
fabled Angkor complex, one of the most important archaeological sites
in all of Asia, known for its remarkable remnants of the different
periods of the Khmer Empire. Your in-depth discovery starts at the
well-known temple of Angkor Wat, which you explore until sunset. It is
one of the largest religious structures in the world and still a
thriving spiritual center.
La Residence d'Angkor B L D
Day 10: Siem Reap A full day of sightseeing at
the Angkor complex begins at the South Gate of Angkor Thom and
continues to Bayon Temple, considered to be the single most outstanding
monument to Khmer culture. Then visit the unforgettable spectacle of Ta
Prohm, a temple complex in the process of being swallowed by the
surrounding jungle, its stonework grown over with creeping strangler
figs. After lunch, travel to the isolated monument of Banteay Srei,
renowned for its pink sandstone carvings.
La Residence d'Angkor B L D
Day 11: Siem Reap/Luang Prabang, Laos Today, fly to Luang Prabang.
Laos is a charming, slow-moving country that offers visitors an
unparalleled glimpse of old Southeast Asia. Watch from the plane as the
dense, lush rainforest below suddenly opens into a cluster of several
colorful, gently sloping temple roofs — your first peek at one of the
most beautiful cities in all of Indochina. Spend the day exploring this
UNESCO World Heritage city that has recently been enjoying a face-lift
on its colonial buildings, ancient temples and cobblestone streets. A
deeply spiritual city, the beautiful temples are a must-see. Among
them, the magnificent Phoussy Temple located on Phoussy Hill presents a
panoramic vista of the city. Tonight, you are honored with a Lao baci
(welcome) ceremony.
La Residence Phou Vao B L D
Day 12: Luang Prabang Wake at dawn and watch the
procession of saffron-robed Buddhist monks quietly walk down the
streets of the city, accepting offerings from local people, who then
receive blessings of good karma by the holy men. If you are so
inclined, feel free to take part in this ritual. Afterward, enjoy
breakfast, followed by a visit to the Pak Ou Caves (only accessible by
boat), known for their Lao-style sculptures of Buddha that were
bestowed over the centuries by pilgrims and local residents. Visit
Thamting and Thamphoum caves, followed by the beautiful Wat Longkhoune
and the village of Ban Xanghai, known for its production of Lao liquor
(rice wine).
La Residence Phou Vao B L D
Day 13: Luang Prabang/Bangkok, Thailand After a morning at leisure,
fly to Bangkok, one of the most modern and vibrant cities in Southeast
Asia. Bangkok was once called the "Venice of the East" for its famous
canals, or klongs. The city's temples are redolent with serene images
of Buddha and Bodhisattvas; the streets and canals are alive with
flower, fruit and vegetable stalls, bustling with activity.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok B L
Day 14: Bangkok Select your Design Your Day
option from the options below. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent
Grand Palace, a complex of brightly colored buildings, golden spires
and glittering mosaics, and one of the most beautiful examples of an
ancient Siamese court. Nearby is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha,
Thailand's most important and sacred temple. It houses the small but
revered Emerald Buddha, made not of emerald but rather of green jade or
jasper. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a private cocktail
cruise on the Chao Phraya River, followed by a farewell dinner.
Design Your Day - Bangkok: Choose
from an indulgent spa treatment at the world famous Oriental Spa or
enjoy a round of golf at the fabulous Thai Country Club.
Mandarin Oriental,
Bangkok B D
Day 15: Bangkok/USA or Canada Transfer to the airport to
board your homebound flight. B INCLUSIONS Experience traditional Chinese
life firsthand with a cruise by sampan to the floating community of
Aberdeen
Discover magnificent Angkor Wat with your expert guide
Explore the colossal Cu Chi network of connecting underground tunnels
near Ho Chi Minh City
Watch the sunset over the Chao Phraya River during your private
cocktail reception
Transfers,
accommodation, sightseeing, English-speaking guides, and
some meals. Internal air is priced out separately
DEPARTURE
DATES January - March
October - December
PRICES From approx $9,695 US
per
person double occupancy
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