6-Nights Short Escape: Cambodia & Laos - Luxury Tailor Made Travel from $5,795

Itinerary Details

Abercrombie & Kent: Short Escape: Cambodia & Laos

Day 1 SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

Arrive in Siem Reap, where you are met and enjoy VIP Fast Track Service before being transferred to your hotel.

Begin the day at Angkor Thom, former capital of the Khmer empire. Upon entering through the South Gate, note its four giant stone faces, a stunning example of Khmer craftsmanship. See Bayon Temple — a Buddhist marvel incorporating elements of Hindu cosmology — and the Terrace of the Elephants, an impressive wall used by kings as a ceremonial stage. See, too, the well-detailed bas-reliefs at the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to the nearby Baphuon Temple, a temple-mountain featuring a unique animal carving at the walkway entrance and a large reclining Buddha to the west. Afterward, have lunch at a local restaurant.

Rise early this morning and journey to famed Angkor Wat. Witness the dramatic sunrise over the breathtaking temple and see its bas-reliefs and stone carvings. Return to your hotel for a late breakfast. Then, continue to Ta Prohm, tucked amid entwined strangler figs and kapok trees. Sit down to lunch at a local restaurant before setting out to pink sandstone Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women) — noteworthy for its classical Khmer art. Then, stop at the Cambodia Clean Water Project, an A&K Philanthropy-sponsored initiative that builds pumping wells in rural communities throughout the country.

Transfer to the airport and board your flight to Laos. Arrive in Luang Prabang, where you are met, and enjoy VIP Fast Track Service before being transferred to your hotel.

Rise before dawn to participate in the daily ceremonial offering of food to the local monks. As a procession of robed monks passes, place a small amount of rice into their alms bowls. This deeply spiritual ritual is a serene part of everyday life. Stop at a local fresh market before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Then, immerse yourself in the rich history of the region with a tour of Luang Prabang, known for its many beautiful Buddhist temples. After lunch at a local restaurant, view artifacts from the ethnic minorities of the region at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center. Head upriver to visit two artisan villages, as well as a few small traditional Lao villages. Each specializes in a particular handicraft such as woodcarving, papermaking or silk weaving. Finally, tour Wat Visoun, the city's oldest operating temple, and enjoy the sunset at the summit of Mount Phousi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Venture out of town to a working organic rice farm, where you learn all about the journey of rice, from seed to restaurant. This community enterprise, organized by local Lao farmers, grows vegetables, salad greens, herbs and rice without modern machinery. Observe or take part in each stage, from plowing the field with the help of the resident buffalo to planting seedlings and harvesting the rice.

This morning, set off for the cascading waters of Kuang Si Falls Park. Explore a path that runs alongside a wide multi-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations. Cool off with a refreshing swim, or walk along the forest trails. Cap off your visit at a wildlife rescue dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating the rare and magnificent Asiatic black bear. Transfer to the airport and board your departure flight.