Today marks the start of your travel adventure, where you will experience some of the highlights of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. You fly from your chosen airport to Hanoi in Vietnam with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You land at Hanoi Airport, after which you go through immigration and then pick up your luggage. In the arrivals hall, your guide will be waiting with a TourCompass sign, and you will be driven to your hotel, which is centrally located in the Vietnamese capital.

After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. You can take a stroll through the small, bustling streets of the city’s old quarter and along the way dwell on the sights and the city’s many strange sounds. Or how about a walk around Lake Hoan Kiem? It takes about half an hour, and you will be left feeling refreshed after walking in the shade of all the large trees.

Today, you will go on a tour through the Vietnamese capital, where tradition and the present meet.

You will be picked up at your hotel by your guide, and the first visit is the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on preserving and exhibiting cultural and ethnological artifacts from Vietnam’s many ethnic groups. Here, you will get a good insight into Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage.

The city tour continues to Van Mieu, also known as the Temple of Literature, which was built in the 1100s by Chinese Confucius students. Almost 1,000 years old, the temple is one of the few remaining examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Here, you can enjoy the sight of the serene gardens and beautiful architecture, while your guide tells you about Vietnam’s intellectual history.

You then continue past the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, located in Ba Dinh Square. This is the perfect opportunity to admire this significant landmark from the outside.

After a traditional lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre, where you will learn about the city’s cultural evolution over the years.

You will also stop off at the small temple Bach Ma, located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The temple is said to be Hanoi’s oldest, erected by Emperor Ly Thai To in honour of his white horse, who played a central role in the founding of Hanoi. The temple is known for its traditional Vietnamese architecture, with impressive wood carvings and intricate details.
You then venture into the 36 vibrant streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. In the beginning of time, the streets were named after the goods that were traded there. Today, the bamboo street and tin street still live up to their names. Wander through the colourful alleys, and immerse yourself in the many sounds, smells and the authentic atmosphere. Meet the skilled local tradesmen and artists who bring the streets to life with their detailed bamboo carvings, traditional paintings or fine ceramics. Perhaps you need a souvenir to take home?

End the day with an enchanting water puppet show, which is a traditional art form that brings Vietnam’s history to life on a water-filled stage.

Today you are free to explore Hanoi at your leisure.

There is lots to do and see in this vibrant capital. You can easily spend hours at Hoan Kiem Lake, where you will find old colonial buildings, a large selection of shops, good restaurants, charming cafés and exciting art galleries. Or how about visiting the popular Hanoi Train Street?

When you start feeling peckish, it’s almost imperative that you explore the many street food stalls, where you can taste traditional dishes such as pho (noodle soup), bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles) and banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich).

There is even the opportunity to go on one of our exciting optional tours, which you can read more about below.

From Hanoi, the tour goes through the lush delta of the Red River to Ha Long Bay, where you join a mini cruise.

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most outstanding natural areas. In the bay, hundreds of green-clad limestone cliffs jut vertically out of the sea, which over the course of the year fluctuates in colour from deep blue to jade green. On the large island, Cat Ba, there are several villages, with smaller fishing villages on some of the smaller islands. For travellers, Ha Long Bay is first and foremost a wonderful world-class natural area, while for the Vietnamese it is also associated with legends of dragons and drama. Ha Long Bay is about 1,500 km² in size and was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

You arrive in the town of Ha Long at noon and board your cruise ship, where you receive a short safety briefing followed by check-in. The boat heads out towards the secluded islands in the bay, and you can now relax and just enjoy the view of the islands and the floating fishing villages. Along the way, you visit a pearl farm, and make a stop at Ti Top Island, where you can swim and hike up to a viewpoint that offers stunning views of the bay. In the evening, you can fish for octopus from the stern of the boat and enjoy watching the magnificent sunset.

NOTE!! In the event of bad weather with storms, the Vietnamese authorities reserve the right to close Ha Long Bay to navigation for safety reasons. This happens a few times a year. In such cases, the mini cruise will be replaced with hotel accommodation and an excursion in Hanoi.

Wake up to the sight of the beautiful sunrise behind the impressive limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay. You can also take part in the morning exercises, usually tai chi, on the boat’s sundeck before breakfast is served.

The boat now sails back towards port, passing several islands that conceal large caves on its way. You will visit the cave Sung Sot, which is one of the largest in Ha Long Bay with both stalactites and stalagmites.

Back on the mainland, your guide and driver are ready to take you back to Hanoi and Hanoi International Airport, from where you fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia.

On arriving at the airport in Siem Reap, pick up your luggage and go through immigration. In the arrivals hall, you will meet your guide, who is holding a TourCompass sign. You will be driven to your hotel in the central part of Siem Reap; the drive takes about 1½ hours. After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

For example, you can spend the evening visiting the local night market or visiting Pub Street, where there are a multitude of restaurants and bars.

You wake early, because today you are going to experience one of the world’s greatest sights: the ruined city of Angkor, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Angkor was originally the capital of the Khmer Empire, and the ruined city lies just 5 km north of Siem Reap, where you will be driven to with your guide.

You will arrive in time to enjoy the sun as it quietly rises behind the many temple ruins. What a sight! It is the perfect time to visit the ruined city, as it is not too hot and there are not as many visitors as later in the day.

There is no need to put off the excitement, so Angkor Wat is naturally the first temple you will visit on today’s excursion. Angkor Wat is the best-preserved and most famous temple in Cambodia, and it is also the world’s largest religious monument. The spectacular temple rises in three levels and is crowned by the five towers, which are shaped like the buds of the lotus flower. In the inner courtyards and vaulted corridors with the endless friezes and fantastic carvings, most people are blown away in amazement.

Afterwards, enjoy a delicious breakfast in the peaceful surroundings before embarking on an unforgettable bicycle adventure through the ruined city. The bicycle ride is about 20-25 km long. You cycle along paths and through lush jungle, and along the way you see the Bayon temple, where an impressive sight awaits you with a myriad of smiling Buddha faces. You also experience Ta Prohm, which is very special because large beautiful trees have taken root in the temple buildings, so that they appear fused.

After the bicycle ride, enjoy today’s lunch at the tranquil Srah Srang reservoir.

You will then be driven to Tonlé Sap Lake, which is located 15 km south of Siem Reap and is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. The size of the lake varies greatly, covering 3,000 km² in the dry season to 10,000 km² in the rainy season. The lake is an important part of Cambodia’s economy, and is also home to an abundant wildlife with more than 300 species of fish and 100 birds.

You arrive on the shores of Tonlé Sap and board a boat that will take you to one of the lake’s floating villages. Here, you are able to see close-hand how life unfolds for many of the families who primarily make a living from fishing. The families live along the lakeshore in colourful houses that stand on long stilts so that they can cope with the high water levels during the rainy season (August to early February), when the village’s narrow streets are transformed into small canals. In the dry season (mid-February to July) with lower water levels, it is easy to see the tall stilts.

You sailed on through a mangrove forest, which is home to many animals, including various species of birds and the crab-eating macaques.

You will then be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Siem Reap is a charming and laid-back city where you can go for a relaxing walks in the French Quarter or under the shady trees along the Siem Reap River. There are lots of small shops, cafés, several markets and some really good restaurants. A walk past the Royal Gardens, a nice little park, is also recommended. Or perhaps one of our exciting optional tours might appeal? Read more below.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the airport, from where you fly to Northern Thailand.

You land in Thailand’s second-largest city, Chiang Mai, which is a city rich in culture, history and picturesque landscapes. The city is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, including Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand. Chiang Mai is also the former capital of the old Lanna kingdom, which existed from 1292 to 1775, and you will therefore find that there are many influences from this time around the city.

After landing, go through immigration and pick up your luggage. In the arrivals hall, your guide will be waiting with a TourCompass sign, and you will be driven to your hotel in central Chiang Mai.

After check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Put on your swimwear and take a dip in the hotel pool or head out into the city. You can stroll through the charming streets and explore the small local shops and cosy cafés. You can also experience the vibrant city life at one of the city’s markets, where you can taste local delicacies and buy local handicrafts.

In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset along the Ping River, where you will find several good restaurants offering delicious local specialties.

Today, an exciting bicycle ride awaits in historic Chiang Mai – this is a great way to experience the city. Much of the route takes place in the shade, so you will feel the wind in your hair.

You will be driven to our partner’s office, where you will be supplied with a bicycle and bicycle helmet. After a quick briefing, it’s time to pedal off and experience the charm of the city. The route is easy and flat, so it is suitable for most. You cycle through Chiang Mai’s small and quiet streets to the fine temple Wat Inthakhin Sadue Mueang, known for its 700-year-old, white Buddha statue. The bike ride continues past the Three Kings monument to the city gate, Tha Phae Gate, which was where vendors brought goods into the city in the old days. Here, the guide will tell you more about Chiang Mai as a former trading centre. You continue to the nearby market Somphet, where you will have time to walk around and take in the atmosphere. You will also have the opportunity to taste the colourful fruits and sweets. After this, Wat Chiang Man awaits, which is Chiang Mai’s oldest temple. It is here that the 1,800-year-old crystal Buddha and the 2,500-year-old marble Buddha are kept. Finally, you will visit the city’s largest and iconic monument, Wat Chedi Luang, which was once home to the Emerald Buddha, and which today is well preserved in the temple Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

After a 3-4-hour bicycle ride, a well-deserved lunch awaits you. Lunch consists of the dish khao soi, a spicy noodle soup and a speciality of northern Thailand. Lunch is served at the restaurant Naree De Klang Vieng, which is run by inmates from the women’s prison Klang Vieng. Thanks to the prison’s excellent rehabilitation project, the women, who have typically been convicted of selling or producing drugs, have the opportunity to train in various service professions that will prepare them for a new life outside the prison walls. The food and service are second to none!

You will then cycle the short way back to where the tour started, and from here you will be driven back to your hotel, where you have the rest of the day at your leisure.

There are no excursions planned today, and you can enjoy Chiang Mai on your own and at your own pace. There is lots to see and do, and the city is also the perfect starting point for excursions in the surrounding area. You can read more about our exciting optional tours below.

In the evening, stroll around the old town and take in the sight of the illuminated temples and monuments. Or how about a visit to one of the city’s popular night markets, where you can shop for souvenirs and try some of the many delicious street food dishes?

Today, the adventure ends for now.

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport, from where you fly to Europe with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You land at your chosen airport after a memorable tour to some of Asia’s most amazing countries.