Laos to Cambodia Overland - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Laos, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel.

Rise before dawn to witness tak bat (the giving of alms to the monks who leave their pagodas to receive offerings of food from local residents) in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner. Get an overview of the country’s history at the Royal Palace National Museum, take in the city’s iconic temples, and get a deeper insight into Laos culture at the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre. See colourful woven textiles being made in the surrounding villages, then either opt to embark upon an energetic climb up Mount Phousi, visit Wat Prabath Tai for a more accessible sunset experience or head to Wat Aham’s colourful prayer hall in time for the daily chanting.

After breakfast drive out of Luang Prabang to the Living Lands Organic Farm, a community enterprise, where you will meet the local farming guide for an informative, but fun morning. Rice is an important part of life in Laos: it’s eaten at every meal and there are over 500 types of rice grown in the country.

During your time at the farm, you’ll learn about each step of the rice harvest and cultivation process, and try your hand at the traditional techniques (and basic tools) that have been used for centuries. The morning concludes with a rice tasting session, by which time you will have a much greater appreciation of the work and effort that goes into a simple bowl of rice!

Return to Luang Prabang where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Take a morning flight to Pakse. On arrival, having met your guide, continue on to Champasak and explore on foot. As you walk, your guide will tell you about the history of this World Heritage Listed town, where traditional Laotian architecture nestles beside intriguing colonial-style buildings. At the temple of Vat Kuang Kang transfer to your hotel where the remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Make an early morning visit to the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou that are located on the opposite side of the river and are one of South-East Asia's most dramatically situated temple sites offering superb views across the Mekong River. This impressive temple offers a stunning sunrise view, and at this time in the morning it will be deserted.

After a leisurely breakfast, depart Champasak, heading south and deeper into the 4000 Islands region. Your destination is Done Khong, the largest of the 4000 Islands. Having checked in the remainder of your day is at leisure to soak up the Si Phan Don pace of life!

Embark on a day criss-crossing the 4000 Islands by bike and boat. Cycle across the compact Done Khong island to catch a ferry to the quiet island of Don Phi Man. Explore this quintessentially Lao fishing village by bike, soaking up the feeling of time appearing to have stood still. Hop over the Mekong to Don Sang Pai, to visit an ancient Buddhist temple and learn about the beliefs specific to the local culture. Visit the neighbouring island of Don Loppadi, where the residents specialise in weaving bamboo baskets and the region’s essential fishing nets, and have lunch with a local family, before cruising upstream to pass Dom Som and several uninhabited islands, arriving back at Done Khong in the late afternoon.

Morning departure for the Cambodia border. Having said goodbye to your Laos guide (and met your new Cambodian guide) continue by road towards the town of Kratie.

Shortly before arriving into Kratie, stop at the village of Kampi where you board a boat and head out onto the Mekong River in search of the freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin. These endangered mammals are rare and shy, so viewings are not guaranteed, but your boat driver will know the best local spots. Back on dry land, visit the 100 Pillars Pagoda, which is a popular place of pilgrimage for Kratie residents, and the 18th century temple of Phnom Sambok with its unusual tapestries depicting the less appealing side of the afterlife in an unusually graphic manner. Continue onto Kratie arriving in the late afternoon.

Spend the morning on the small island of Koh Trong - which is essentially an oversized sandbar that sits in the middle of the Mekong opposite Kratie. With no cars on the island – most residents get about by horse & cart - the easiest way to explore is by bicycle. Koh Trong is the epitome of rural Cambodian life. You’ll pedal through a picture-postcard landscape of rice paddies and farmland, dotted with a handful of traditional villages, passing by grazing cows and smiling children. On the south-west of the island there’s a floating Vietnamese village, a temple at the southern tip, and Mekong mud turtles inhabit the western shore. Enjoy lunch in a local homestay before taking the ferry back to the (comparatively) bright lights of Kratie.

After visiting Kratie's morning market, depart for Siem Reap. En route there will be time to stretch your legs with a climb up the holy mountain of Phnom Suntok. To get to the top you have to climb the 809 stairs that wind their way up through a forest, emerging at a colourful pagoda with many small shrines. The views of the surrounding countryside are superb. Continue your journey to Siem Reap, arriving in the late afternoon.

Begin your exploration of Angkor Wat, and the complex of ruined temples and palaces around it. You’ll be driven between them, so you can fit quite a few in (if you want to), and our guides know when to see the ruins at uncrowded times. If you wish, start the day with the magical (but popular!) sunrise over Angkor Wat, and let your guide know what kind of pace you prefer, whether you want to fill your day with archaeology, or would appreciate some time at your hotel pool.

Explore rural villages, and learn about the daily lives of the local people. You'll be a world away from Siem Reap - it's a perfect opportunity to get ‘off the beaten track’ and gain a better understanding of Cambodian rural life, along with insight into traditional Khmer culture; something few visitors are lucky enough to experience. You'll explore a local market and purchase supplies for your lunch, and travel by an (almost!) pollution-free ox and cart. Still widely used throughout Cambodia, the cart allows you to travel gently along the narrow sandy village roads. Spend time at the home of a local family, where there will be plenty of time to relax and chat (with your guide acting as interpreter) as they prepare lunch using your market produce. You can help if you wish; this is a fantastic opportunity to further your understanding of typical Khmer cuisine. You meal is likely to be very different from those offered in Siem Reap's more westerner-oriented restaurants! Explore the village before returning to Siem Reap via the workshops of Angkor Artwork - all products sold are produced using traditional methods, and the quality of craftsmanship is outstanding.

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for your onward flight.

Cambodia and Laos make a lovely couple! If you need a little beach time thrown in then simply add a few days in Kep as your final stop.