Grand Tour of Southeast Asia

Overnight flight to Thailand

Meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London Heathrow for an overnight flight to Bangkok, via Singapore.

A relaxed day in Bangkok

Land in Bangkok and transfer to a five-star riverside hotel for a day to acclimatise. The hotel is perched on the banks of the Chao Phraya River with a waterfront garden and outdoor pool. Optional exploration including Wat Ratcha Singkhon temple or a ferry along the river. Group dinner at the hotel this evening.

Meals: Dinner

Embracing Thai culture and history

Guided tour of Bangkok's most revered sites: Wat Traimit (home to a 5.5-ton golden buddha), Wat Pho (largest temple complex in Bangkok with a 150-foot reclining golden buddha), and the Grand Palace with the Emerald Buddha temple. After lunch, board traditional long-tailed wooden boats to glide along narrow klongs. Evening free.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

To Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai

Coach journey into Thailand's tropical interior to Kanchanaburi. Visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre and Allied War Cemetery. Arrive at resort hotel on the River Kwai for lunch. Sail up the River Kwai by long-tail boat to visit an ethnic Mon Tribal Village and enjoy a cultural show. Dinner at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Riding the Burma Railway and on to Laos

Visit the Hellfire Pass museum after breakfast, walk through the cutting, then embark on a journey along the Burma Railway over the actual bridge on the River Kwai. After lunch, return to Bangkok for a short flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Check in to a five-star hotel near the Mekong River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

From Vientiane to Luang Prabang by rail

Morning sightseeing tour of Vientiane including Patuxai (Victory Gate) and Pha That Luang golden stupa. Lunch at a local restaurant. Board the Laos-China Railway to Luang Prabang, travelling at around 100mph in approximately two hours. Transfer to hotel for an evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The untouched beauty of Luang Prabang

Early rise to experience the Tak Bat ritual with Buddhist monks. Visit a fresh fruit market and admire the city from Phousi Hill. Return to hotel for breakfast. Cruise along the Mekong to Pak Ou and its sacred caves housing hundreds of Buddha statues. Visit the Ock Pop Tok centre for traditional crafts. Sundowner drinks at the riverside. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Authentic experiences of Laotian cuisine

Early breakfast then tuk tuk ride to a farm-to-table restaurant to meet a top regional chef. Visit a traditional market to buy ingredients, then take part in a cookery class followed by lunch. Later, fly from Luang Prabang to Hanoi, Vietnam. Check in to a five-star hotel in the city centre. Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Uncovering the sights of Hanoi

Visit Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum after breakfast. Lunch at a local restaurant. Three-hour city tour including the Confucian Temple of Literature. Refreshments at a local coffee shop. Evening free to explore Train Street and dine independently.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Experiencing a night cruise on UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay

Coach transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. Board a luxury junk boat for an overnight cruise. Lunch on board. Arrive at Cat Ba Island with choice of a stroll around the bay or a gentle bike ride to Viet Hai village. Dinner on board as the sun sets over the bay. Overnight in cabin.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunrise on Ha Long Bay and boarding the overnight sleeper train

Early risers enjoy sunrise and a tai chi session. Breakfast served while cruising to the centre of the bay. Visit Trinh Nu cave (over 25,000 sq ft) with an included kayak trip. Disembark and coach back to Hanoi for a traditional water puppet show. Board the Reunification Express overnight to Hue in private-use cabins.

Meals: Breakfast

Arrival in the imperial city of Hue

Enjoy a picnic breakfast on board as the Reunification Express arrives in Hue. Early check-in at a five-star hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of the Imperial Citadel (Nguyen dynasty capital 1802–1945) and the Thien Mu pagoda (seven-storey octagonal Buddhist temple built in 1601). Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Along the coast to Da Nang and Hoi An

Morning visit to Dong Ba market, the oldest in Hue. Board the Reunification Express in Soft Seat class to Da Nang. Visit the Cham Museum. Transfer to Hoi An and check in to a five-star Art Nouveau hotel on the riverbank with a pool and rooftop bar. First evening free to explore.

Meals: Breakfast

Exploring the 'Lantern City' of Hoi An

Guided walking tour of Hoi An including Tan Ky Old House (built 1741) and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge. Traditional lunch at a restaurant. Hands-on lantern-making workshop. Evening free to wander the Old Quarter lit by rainbow-hued lanterns.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Free day to discover Hoi An

Free day to explore independently. Options include the Cantonese Assembly Hall, Trang coconut village basket boat trip, Central Market street food, or the Night Market for seafood. Breakfast included.

Meals: Breakfast

To the Cambodian jungle city of Siem Reap

Leisurely final breakfast in Hoi An. Transfer to Da Nang for a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Check in to a luxurious five-star hotel. Free evening to explore markets, try Cambodian cuisine, or enjoy the hotel facilities.

Meals: Breakfast

Exploring Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm Temple

Tuk tuk ride to Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Visit the Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Phimeanakas Temple, and Ta Prohm Temple (where trees have reclaimed the 12th-century Buddhist temple). Lunch at a local restaurant. Free afternoon and evening. Optional Apsara dance show with dinner (payable locally).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The spectacular lost temples of Angkor Wat

Visit Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure covering more than 400 acres. Explore ornate halls with intricate carvings and enjoy views from the Bakan Tower (steep steps). Receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk at a pagoda. Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for an overnight flight to London Heathrow via Singapore.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Homeward bound

Land at London Heathrow this morning, bringing the adventure to an end.

Meals: Breakfast