Laos and Cambodia - A Cultural Journey

• UNESCO listed Luang Prabang
• Phnom Penh’s treasures and secrets
• The extraordinary temple complex of Angkor

This cultural journey begins in tranquil Laos, exploring the charming former royal capital Luang Prabang with its blend of traditional Buddhist temples and French colonial architecture. Then fly to Cambodia’s bustling capital, Phnom Penh, a chaotic hub so often overlooked by tourists, before culminating with Angkor for an extended exploration of the spiritual home of the Cambodian people.

Day  1  London/ Luang Prabang – Overnight flight.

Day 2  Luang Prabang – Arrive in UNESCO protected Luang Prabang, ancient capital of the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’ and renowned for its beautifully preserved architecture. 

Day 3  Luang Prabang – Full day of city sightseeing visiting many of the city’s most impressive temples including Wat Mai, Wat Visoun and Wat Xieng Thong, as well as the National Museum. Enjoy a baci welcome ceremony this evening.

Day 4  Mekong River – Cruise the Mekong River, the ‘heart and soul’ of South East Asia. Visit the atmospheric Pak Ou Caves and return via a silk weaving village.

Day 5  Luang Prabang/ Phnom Penh – Morning flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital with afternoon to explore at leisure.

Day 6  Phnom Penh – Morning visit to the National Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of Khmer art, and the Silver pagoda within the Royal Palace. Optional afternoon visit to Tuol Sleng and the Killing fields to understand Cambodia’s recent past.

Day 7  Phnom Penh, Siem Reap – Flight to Siem Reap. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 8  Angkor – Explore the fascinating Rolous group of temples, some of the earliest permanent Khmer structures dating from the late 9th century. In the afternoon your first visit to Angkor Wat, part of the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Hindu temple complex in the world.

Day 9  Angkor – Enjoy a full day of temple visits including Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre. In the afternoon explore Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring city of the Khmer Empire, and the Bayon, its state temple.

Day 10  Angkor– Experience the beauty of sunrise at Angkor Wat and a morning tour of the exquisite carvings. Later visit the ruins of Ta Prohm, ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhot in 1860.

Day 11  Angkor – Further day of sightseeing at Angkor. Discover the largely unrestored temple of Preah Khan and the striking redbrick temple of Prasat Kravan. Enjoy an evening performance of Khmer classical dance.

Day 12  Siem Reap, Bangkok, London – A last chance to view further spectacular temples from this memorable site, an afternoon at leisure and overnight flight via Bangkok to London.

Day 13  London – Arrive back in London.

Denise Heywood

Denise Heywood is a lecturer, author, journalist and photographer, and worked in Cambodia for three years. Now London-based, she is a lecturer for NADFAS, SOAS on their post-graduate Asian Art Course and for Madingley Hall (University of Cambridge). She has lectured all over the world for various organisations including the British Museum, The Royal Society for Asian Affairs and the Royal Geographical Society and has written books on the Buddhist temples of Laos, Ancient Luang Prabang, and Cambodian dance, ‘Cambodian Dance Celebration of the Gods’.