Day 1: Bangkok to Luang Prabang
We depart Bangkok for Luang Prabang, ancient capital of the Lao kingdom of Lane Xang, Land of a Million Elephants, where we stay two nights. After lunch we visit some of the fascinating wats that have made Luang Prabang a World Heritage Site, including Wat Winsulat and Wat Saen. We also explore the Royal Palace Museum for an understanding of Luang Prabang's role in Lao history.

Day 2: The Mekong River
After exploring the elegant riverside temple of Wat Xieng Thon, we take a boat up the Mekong River to the holy caves of Pak Ou, overflowing with ancient Buddha images. We then visit traditional Lao villages where mulberry paper is made, potent Lao liquor brewed and beautiful silk weaved.

Day 3: Vientiane
Today, we fly to Vientiane, the charming riverside capital of Laos. We explore the city, including Wat That Luang, a golden stupa and symbol of the city and an ascent of Patuxai, the Arch de Triomphe of the Lao capital. We spend the night in Vientiane.

Day 4: The Islands of the Mekong
We fly from Vientiane to Pakse, gateway to southern Laos and the Khmer mountain temple of Wat Phu. We enjoy a cruise down the Mekong to the stunning temple of Wat Phu on the slopes of Lingaparvata Mountain and continue to the Don Khong Island, heartland of Si Phan Don or 4000 Islands, where the river reaches its widest extent. We enjoy two nights in Don Khong.

Day 5: Si Phan Don
After breakfast, we journey by boat through the 4000 Islands, travelling to the islands of Don Det and Don Khone, visiting the powerful Li Phi Falls. We continue south to the mighty Phapheng Falls near the Cambodian border and we later board boats to spot rare freshwater river dolphins in the Mekong River.

Day 6: The Mountain Temple of Preah Vihear
We head north back to Pakse to cross the Chong Mek border into Thailand. We journey to the majestic mountain-top temple of Preah Vihear, the most striking of the Khmer Empire’s many monuments. Located across the border in Cambodia, the temple is perched atop the Dangrek Mountains and affords breathtaking views across Cambodia below. We then continue to Surin, our base for the night.

Day 7: Phnom Rung and Muang Nam
We leave Surin to visit the well-preserved Khmer temple of Phnom Rung, superbly situated on the summit of an extinct volcano, ascending the stairs for the expansive views. Also see the nearby temple of Muang Nam, a reminder that the once-great empire at Angkor controlled much of modern-day Thailand. We then continue to Khorat for our overnight stay.

Day 8: Phimai and Ayuthaya
Visit the beautifully-restored 12th-century temple of Phimai, once a regional capital of the Khmer Empire and connected to Angkor by an ancient stone highway. A nearby museum contains a collection of the finest lintels from the region. We continue to Ayuthaya, Siamese capital from the mid-14th century until its sacking in 1767, where we see the massive monuments and the jewel-encrusted royal treasures of the museum. We spend the night in Ayuthaya.

Day 9: To Bangkok
After a last look at Ayuthaya, we continue south to the bustling Thai capital of Bangkok and the opportunity for some shopping and sightseeing during the free afternoon.

Day 10: Phnom Penh
This morning, we fly to the charming riverside Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh for an overnight stay. We visit the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture in the National Museum, the dazzling Silver Pagoda at the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom, a landmark of the city, with some time for browsing the city’s liveliest markets.

Day 11: Phnom Penh to Kompong Thom
In the morning we learn of the gruesome legacy of the Khmer Rouge and visit the S-21 torture centre in Phnom Penh and the Killing Fields of Choeng Ek. While disturbing, a visit here is essential for understanding contemporary Cambodia and what its people have been through. After lunch in the city, we drive to Kompong Thom for an overnight stay.

Day 12: Isanapura, Siem Reap
This morning, we journey to the 7th century pre-Angkorian capital of Isanapura, one of the first temple cities constructed in South-East Asia. Known today as Sambor Prei Kuk, this impressive and atmospheric collection of brick structures offers the ideal insight into the chronological development of temple architecture during the Khmer Empire. We then carry on northwest to Siem Reap for a 5-night stay and exploration of Angkor.

Day 13: Roluos and Preah Khan
We begin at the temples at Roluos, the earliest of Angkor's capitals known as Hariharalaya. In the afternoon, we encounter the vast cruciform of Preah Khan, delicate Neak Poan, decaying Ta Som, the elephants of East Mebon and the royal crematorium of Pre Rup for sunset.

Day 14: Ta Prohm
We begin with a visit to jungle-clad Ta Prohm, long abandoned to the elements, before continuing to Ta Nei from where we take a gentle jungle walk to Takeo temple. In the afternoon see the earliest Buddhist temple of Bat Chum, the fine stone carvings of Kravanh, the royal bathing pond of Sra Srang, Banteay Kdei and the mountain temple of Phnom Bakheng for sunset.

Day 15: Angkor Wat
Early morning visit to the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, to watch sunrise. We enjoy a picnic breakfast at this magnificent temple before continuing to view its architecture and bas reliefs, as there are fewer visitors in the morning. Later we continue to Banteay Samre, built in the same period by Suryavarman II. We leave the afternoon free for relaxing, shopping or exploring.

Day 16: Beng Mealea, Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei
We head east to visit the remote and massive Beng Mealea temple, built by Suryavarman II on the scale of Angkor Wat but left to the elements for hundreds of years. We then continue our journey to the atmospheric riverbed carvings at Kbal Spean, the 'River of a Thousand Lingas'. Trekking up through the jungle, this is a magical site only rediscovered by the world in 1969.

Day 17: Angkor Thom
In the morning, we head out to the great lake to cruise among the floating villages on the Tonle Sap. After lunch in town, we visit the sites of Angkor Thom, including Victory Gate, the enigmatic faces of the Bayon, Baphuon, Phimean Akas, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. We then transfer to onward flight to Bangkok where the tour ends.