Laos and Cambodia: An Authentic Adventure in Luang Prabang and Angkor

Transfer and four-night stay at Satri House in central Luang Prabang. The house was built for Souphanouvong, the Red Prince (1909-1995), the first president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This didn't stop him from adding a wide range of colonial motifs. Everywhere is very attractive and tastefully adorned with fine crafts and antiques. The rooms are well-sized, and the large beds have mosquito nets and a lot of tropical charm; the bathrooms are impeccable. In the garden, there are little spots where you can get away from it all and swimming pools where you can enjoy a relaxing swim. The spa is well-appointed; the traditional foot massage is particularly great. The restaurant is perfect for steamed fish in banana leaves (mok pa) or tamarind sauce (pa mac kham).

Included in the itinerary - A bicycle ride following a local guide, you'll visit Luang Prabang by bicycle. The great monuments are the Royal Palace (early 20th century - a national museum), the old Wat Visoun (a temple from the 15th century), the Wat Aham (19th century) and Wat Xieng Thong (a wonder from the 16th century). In the late afternoon, 'climb' Mt. Phou Si, which stands high above the old town. From the vantage point of Wat Chom Si, the view over the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers is wonderful.

Included in the itinerary - Visit to the Pak Ou Caves, which worshippers have filled with hundreds of statues of the Buddha. You can go by boat via the Mekong, which allows you to combine the pleasure of river navigation with the splendid limestone relief and wild forest landscapes. At the point where the Ou tributary flows into the river, the first cave resembles a cavity at the base of a high cliff, accessed by stairs... Then a free afternoon, to further explore the places seem the day before. Or go shopping. In the evening, you'll attend a baci ceremony. It consists of calling on protective souls in a Laotian family. The traditional religion involves the belief in the existence of thirty-two personal souls, which are then usually scattered; it is wise, on certain occasions, to gather them together in order to fulfil your wishes. The good wishes are represented by threads of cotton which are tied to the wrists of the receiver of the good wishes. Visit and ceremony with a local guide.

Included in the itinerary - A Zen morning travelling through the countryside. Alongside a private local escort, you'll visit several temples, soak up the peacefulness of the surrounding locations and countryside during a pleasant hike along the river. At dawn, you'll attend the Tak Bat ceremony, the monks' daily alms ritual during which the inhabitants give offerings of food to the monks who travel the city in a long silent procession; then you'll return to the hotel and have breakfast before heading to the pier of Wat Xieng Thong where you'll board a traditional slow boat for a journey along the Mekong to a temple overlooking the river itself. It is the starting point for an easy two-hour hike through banana plantations, with stops in secluded temples, to the village of Ban Xieng Mene; then a visit to Wat Long Khoune and Wat Chompet as well as the village of Xieng Mene on the right bank of the Mekong River. After this beautiful Zen morning, a lunch awaits you followed by a private tour of the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, a place to have a pleasant nature break among the palm trees, bamboo, and other ginger plants.

Included in the itinerary - Always accompanied by a guide, you'll travel by tuk-tuk to go to Ock Pop Tok. This social enterprise has made traditional weaving the focus of its business. The aim is to preserve local know-how and provide a commercial outlet for weavers, in a spirit of openness to contributions from abroad. On-site, visitors are introduced to the main weaving techniques. In the early afternoon, a trip to the airport and a flight to Siem Reap. You will stay at the Polanka House for four nights, in a very nice estate composed of two traditional Cambodian houses on stilts and a few attached buildings - a restaurant, a reading room... All in a tropical garden, with swimming pool offering a beautiful view of the Polanka Pagoda. The furniture and decoration are the owners' collections: Cambodian and European art and craftsmanship. The cuisine is a delicious balance between Cambodian and French cuisine, and is served at beautifully laid tables. Here you'll experience a serene Cambodia open to the influences of the world.

Included in the itinerary - Choice of tuk-tuk or private car, and in both cases with a local guide, you'll visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, two great monuments of the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. Angkor Wat, the temple city built by Emperor Suryavarman II in the 12th century, is the largest and best-preserved monument in the area. The statue is admirable. Buddhist worship continues in the shrine (which was first dedicated to Vishnu). Jayavarman VII built the Royal City of Angkor Thom in the early 13th century. The immense carved faces of the southern gate are unforgettable; the natural Bayon bas-reliefs and the central temple are astonishing.

Included in the itinerary - You have an appointment at the site of ancient Isvarapura, 12 miles northeast of Angkor; there is the Banteay Srei temple, a Shrine of Shiva. This is a beautiful, well-preserved pink sandstone temple from the 10th century, adorned with a lot of art. Then you'll travel east of Angkor Thom to see the Ta Prohm temple, a 12th-century Buddhist school. Its beauty lies in the invasion of the sprawling roots of false hemp trees (Tetrameles nudiflora), and it is in the same the state that it was in when the sacred area was discovered by the first archaeologists. Visits with a local guide.

Included in the itinerary - With our helmets put on, we'll ride pillion behind our local guide and head out. Mopeds aren't just for the youth! Scooters are not just for young urbanites. They are also ideal for travelling along the dirt paths of the Cambodian countryside. You'll walk along the rice fields, cross villages, pass the East Mebon - the 10th-century temple - and stop at the house of a craftsman. It's not a wild ride, but a very nice excursion into a world with a traditional way of life. From large shrines to small roadside shops, there's plenty to think about while watching the world go by. You'll have lunch on a local farm.