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Two great tours, three delicious options and four fascinating countries. |
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Celebrate New Year's on the Mekong!
Join us in the mountainous retreat of Laos, plus Cambodia's ancient temples of Angkor. Then meet us in Vietnam, visiting the former southern capital of Ho Chi Minh/Saigon and the idyllic island of Phu Quoc. |
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We have personally selected restaurants and hotels that specifically focus on training and educating at-risk and disadvantaged local youth. You will be excited to taste the fruits of their efforts, and impressed with the quality of work! There is no stinting on our part -- but you are doubly rewarded knowing your tourism dollars are supporting important projects rewarding local communities. |
| Our December and January tours to Southeast Asia are especially designed for the food lover. Great hotels, delicious foods -- that is the Globetrotting Gourmet winning recipe. |
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Early Bird Specials -- until 4 July only!!!
US$2995 Laos & Cambodia
$1995 Vietnam
$4995 -- for BOTH tours (including Phnom Penh-Saigon airfare)
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The following flights are not included, as many of our clients air tickets from their home destinations already include the following:
*Cambodia to Vietnam
*Cambodia to Bangkok
*Vietnam to Bangkok.
Please advise if you require these for a surcharge. |
| Prices include deluxe hotels throughout, guide and private coach, most meals; 2 cooking classes in Laos & Cambodia, 1 class in Vietnam; internal Asian airfares; airport transfers; and personally hosted by cookbook author Robert Carmack and textile authority Morrison Polkinghorne. |
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| DAY BY DAY ITINERARY |
Laos & Cambodia Epicure Dec 29 '08 -Jan 8 '09 |
www.asianfoodtours.com |
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Monday 29 December |
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O/N Bangkok |
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| You are personally met at Souvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and transferred to the deluxe Sofitel Centara Grand hotel. This hotel is specifically chosen because of its convenience: there is an adjoining shopping mall with connections to the BTS Sky Train and MRT Subway; plus the hotel boasts seven restaurants and is quick driving proximity to Bangkok's two airports. |
| Better yet, if you arrive days prior to the tour, you are close to Bangkok's famous Chatuchak weekend market. Also don't miss nearby Aw Taw Kaw market (open daily). Time magazine lists this fresh food market as one of the 10 great undiscovered sites of Thailand, and we couldn't agree more! |
| Please advise if you require earlier arrival, as we offer a great rate for additional nights in upgraded deluxe rooms, including airport transfers. North American travellers note: as you will be crossing the International Date Line you add an extra day in transit. Typically, departures ex North America on Saturday 27 December arrive on Monday 29 Dec, but exact arrival times depend on your carrier's schedule and connections. |
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Tuesday 30 December |
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O/N Pakse/Paxse, Done Deang Island - Laos |
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| We fly this morning to the southern Laos city of Pakse. Consequently, we've arranged room service breakfasts today, then meet in the lobby for group airport transfer. The city of Pakse is a commercial hub, and its nearby Bolaven Plateau grows Asia's tastiest coffee. Our first stop, the city's best Pho noodle soup -- of Vietnamese extraction, but equally embraced by the Lao -- followed by a thick and strong black coffee reminiscent of French colonial days. Afterwards, visit the Coffee Resarch Centre, to learn about Laos' most lucrative export, then visit a silk weaving plantation famed for its natural dyes, plus Pakse's Central market. Before heading for our hotel, eat an early dinner in Pakse's best river front restaurant. Just getting to our hotel tonight is half the fun, and definitely a memorable experience! |
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Wednesday 31 December |
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O/N Pakse/Paxse, Done Deang Island - Laos |
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| This morning awaken to the sounds of nature on our bucolic island of Done Deang. We then boat to the former southern Lao royal capital Champasak, and head to Wat Phou. Dating from between the 7th to 12 centuries, this is one of the oldest Khmer temples remaining, and certainly one of the world's most magnificent. Photos do not accurately convey the grandeur of this setting, so take our word for it -- seeing is believing. Today's temple visit requires rigorous climbing -- some 400 steps in all -- but is do-able for all ages. Afterwards, visit the temple museum, and tour the former royal capital, Champasak. |
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| Lunch of typical southern Lao dishes, but save room for tonight: it's champagne and French fare to toast in the New Year! |
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Thursday 1 January |
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O/N Pakse/Paxse, Done Deang Island - Laos |
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| Mercifully, we've left the morning free, but regather late morning for an easy-going bicycle tour of the island. |
| Terrain is flat, but for those preferring an easier ride, we have an option. We first visit the nearby village to taste the local moonshine, known as lao lao, plus visits to the nearby temple and school. We then boat to the mainland for a delicious lunch -- the fish cannot get any fresher, as its still alive in nets! -- then back to our Mekong island to complete our bicycle tour. In the late afternoon we gather for a cooking demonstration of typical southern Lao specialties, plus a Bacci ceremony to bless our journey. Then it's an early dinner especially prepared for our group, and free time to say goodbye to our lovely resort. |
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Friday 2 January |
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O/N Siem Reap - Cambodia |
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| This morning we say goodbye to Laos and hello Cambodia, capital of the mighty Khmer Empire, and home to the largest assembly of ancient temples in Southeast Asia. Siem Reap airport is notorious for its delays, so we have paid for expedited immigration for our group. However, your visa must be approved prior -- so either arrange your Cambodian visa now, or send us details so we can prepare on your behalf. |
| Our designated hotel is a charming 3-4 star, centrally located, reflecting the colonial courtyards of old France. We'll go straight from the airport to lunch, at the l'Ecole Hoteliere Paul Dubrule hotel and restaurant training school on the outskirts of town. You will be impressed by the campus. After check in and freshen up, we head for a Cambodian Buddhist water blessing, followed by the floating villages on Tonle Sap. Here, catch a view of Cambodia's most famous lake by dusk. We will be seeing the lake at mid level, just a few months after the rainy season. Contrary to all laws of nature, the mighty Mekong annually flows backward into the great lake, increasing its size by some four times, and enriching the locals with a bounty of fish and irrigation water. |
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Saturday 3 January |
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O/N Siem Reap - Cambodia |
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| Angkor is more than just Angkor Wat. This is an area the size of Manhattan, containing literally hundreds of massive temples. Historically, tourism here is divided into two parts: le petit circuit, and the grand circuit: The former comprising the ancient walled capital city of Angkor Thom (which includes Bayon), and the outside larger perimeter stretching many miles afield (but not including Bantaey Samre and Banteay Sprei, nor the Rulous group). Certainly the most impressive of all is Angkor Wat, so large it's been described as "a city which is a temple." What more can we say about the vast spectacle of Angkor Wat, except that it is truly an awe-inspiring, breathtaking experience. This is the largest temple in the world, as tall as Notre Dame cathedral, and its stone volume equals Cheops' Great Pyramid in Egypt. Uniquely, it faces West (where our group will exit, against the tides of tourists), and was constructed in the 12th century. (Its symmetrical towers are stylised on the modern Cambodian flag.) Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build, and is debatably a funeral temple for the king. Intricate bas reliefs surround its four sides, each telling a story. The most celebrated of these is the "Churning of the Ocean of Milk" on its east wing. Note that the highest third tower is now closed to public, due to waring of the stones from constant tourism. |
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| After lunch and a short rest, drive to Roluos for sunset. These three Roluos temples precede Angkor as capital, and are both architecturally and historically significant. (Pre-Khmer history not-withstanding, the naturally-fortified Kulen plateau was the first Khmer capital, followed by Roluos in the 9th century, then for a relatively short 20 year term in Koh Ker, about 3 hours drive. It's believed Koh Ker was abandoned not only because of drought, but also because its founding king was an usurper to the throne. Conversely, too much water -- the annual flooding of Tonle Sap -- caused Roluos later abandonment. By the mid 10th century, the capital returned to Angkor.) We then return to Siem Reap for a dinner extravaganza, and the remaining evening free. |
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Sunday 4 January |
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O/N Siem Reap - Cambodia |
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| We depart early this morning to experience the jungle at its awakening. We begin at Ta Phrom from the West, also known as "Trees" as the overgrowth on this temple has been retained to show visitors how the temples appeared before French exploration in the late 19th century. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive silk-cotton and fig trees, which envelop the stones like tentacles. This is one of the largest temples at Angkor, dedicated in 1186. |
| We then walk through the West Gate of Banteay Kdei to regroup at the royal baray or reservoir, Srah Srang. This has retained its water for 900 years, and often referred to as the "royal bath." Then coach to the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, literally "Great City." Built in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII, the first sight of Angkor Thom complex is its magnificent South Gate. All five gates are similar, but the south gate has been extensively restored, and the most impressive. To give you a contrast, we also visit Angkor Thom's West gate, seldom visited and largely overgrown. It still retains its original paving stones, but most heads are missing. Central to Angkor Thom is Bayon, a state temple built between the late 12-13th centuries. This is certainly one of the most impressive edifices in all of Angkor, and one which you will recognize from its giant heads. Our guide will help translate the reliefs depicting everyday life and food gathering. |
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| After lunch return to the hotel, then in the afternoon we've scheduled a break from the temples. We'll meet in the nearby Old Market, where our chef will purchase victuals for tonight's dinner, followed by a cooking class of Khmer dishes. The school is hosted in a training hotel for at-risk youth, and you will have a chance to ask about other charity activities. Early dinner, then we walk back to our hotel via Siem Reap's night market. The remaining evening is free for you to explore this small town. |
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Monday 5 January |
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O/N Siem Reap - Cambodia |
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| Today we travel outside of the Angkor complex to explore outstanding temples and Khmer sacred sites less frequented, and well outside of the Grand Circuit. It is a full day of travel, and we do not return until sunset. Our first stop, Banteay Samre, a fine example of small scale Angkor-style architecture. Its size permits you to closely appreciate the intricacies that are often dwarfed by the immense size of larger temples. Seldom visited, you can peacefully wander through at your own pace. We then drive to the source of Angkor's spiritualism, the stream of Kbal Spien. Water was sacred to the ancient Khmers, as witnessed by their vast reservoirs or baray, as well as the ubiquitous moats around their temples. The riverbeds of Kbal Spien are carved with hundreds of phallic linguas to bless the waters before they flow down to the lowlands. This is a fascinating site, and the 45-minute jungle trail up to the mountain stream is equally captivating. The walk is brisk and strenuous, but for those preferring to wait below, there is an interesting organic farming station to visit. (Alternatively, if you wish to visit more sites within the Angkor Circuits , we can help you arrange a private tuktuk to ferry you around; your ticket allows you unrestricted access today.) |
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Lunch is in a nearby restaurant -- refreshingly clean and delicious in the middle of the Cambodian countryside -- then we tour some of the finest carved lintels, and uniquely in pink stone. Banteay Sprei/Srei is often called the "Citadel of Women (or "beauty)" and unlike other buildings, it was not constructed as a royal temple. On the way back to Angkor, we'll stop at local villages to watch the manufacture of palm sugar, and also to purchase local weaving crafts. Before sunset, visit East Mebon -- formerly an island temple in the now-depleted vast Eastern Baray reservoir. Constructed in 953, it is renowned for its magnificent elephant statues, the best preserved still standing on the SE corner of the second level. Time permitting, we'll also stop at Pre Rup briefly for sunset.
As it's been a long day, and as your last night in Siem Reap, we've kept tonight free, and dinner is not included. Our hotel's location is central in town, and there are numerous restaurants to try on your own (see our Guide to Siem Reap). |
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Tuesday 6 January |
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O/N Phnom Penh- Cambodia |
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| Although looted during the dark days of Khmer Rouge mis-rule, Cambodia's National Museum is a treasure trove of unexpected delights. Most surprising is the number of ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman figurines and artefacts in the collection -- attesting to this region's early trade routes. |
| Lunch at Les Enfants Souris ("children's smile"), a restaurant training program for Khmer kids. This project is especially important, as it rescues children from a life sorting through the city's garbage dump. We then head to the National Palace, followed by local crafts and shopping street highlights in Phnom Penh, including its central market Deco highlight. |
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| Tonight's hotel is a very special treat -- the city's newest, and certainly its most stylist in modern minimalism. After hotel check in and time to freshen up, we head to Romdeng, another restaurant-training school for local Khmer. Earlier this year Romdeng re-located to a charming French colonial pavilion, which we know you will enjoy. You may also enjoy the restaurant's new cookbook "from Spiders to Water Lilies."(The menu tonight is adventurous, but spider kebabs are not on the menu.) |
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Wednesday 7 January |
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O/N Phnom Penh- Cambodia |
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| After breakfast we have a walking tour of historic Phnom Penh, and its wealth of colonial and Art Deco buildings. We've then scheduled an early lunch -- today featuring traditional Khmer "breakfast" dishes, such as Vietnamese-influenced Pho noodle soup and rice noodle soups. It's all delicious, and filling. |
We've left the afternoon free for personal exploration, and shopping. Optionally, we can help you arrange a private tuktuk to take you to the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields. This is a sobering experience, and one we presume you should revere in solitude, and not with a group. Both are highly recommended viewing, giving eyewitness testimony to the horrors of Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia.
Re-group in the evening for our send off gala dinner. |
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Thursday 8 January |
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O/N Phnom Penh- Cambodia |
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| For those continuing with us to Vietnam, your tour package includes this morning's airfare from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon. |
| For those finishing the journey today, your tour package does NOT include return passage to Bangkok. (If you are flying home directly from Cambodia, please let us know your return flight details. Airport transfers are provided today.) Please advise if you require a return flight to Thailand, as we are holding group reserved seats on Bangkok Air, departing in the morning at 09:40 from Phnom Penh to Bangkok, which we can supply for a surcharge. |
| If you plan to stay longer in Bangkok, ask us to arrange additional hotel nights there and transfers at the Sofitel Centara Grand in Chatuchak, plus private day guide services in Bangkok. |
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| DAY BY DAY ITINERARY |
Vietnam Delta Epicure Jan 8-13 '09 |
www.asianfoodtours.com |
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Thursday 8 January |
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O/N Saigon - Vietnam |
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Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, and still the country's largest city. You will be personally met at the airport, then transported to your hotel, centrally located and convenient for independent sight-seeing. The tour officially begins in the afternoon, with the arrival of those continuing from our Laos & Cambodia tour.
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| Ho Chi Minh City, or the former Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city, and home to nearly 7 million persons. After check in, we've organized a late afternoon coach tour of HCM's highlights, then a seafood and suckling pig dinner in celebration of delicious southern Vietnamese food -- all washed down with bia hoi fresh beer. You will revel in the delicious informality, with nary a foreign tourist in sight! Before returning to the hotel we stop at a local che restaurant, specializing in cooling sweet drinks flavored with glutinous rice balls and candy sweet colors. |
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Friday 9 January |
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O/N Saigon - Vietnam |
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| Breakfast at the hotel, then it is off to Pham Van Hai market shopping for provisions for today's cooking class. By popular demand, we're heading back to where Vietnam's next generation learn the art of cooking and hospitality, the School of Hotel and Tourism. Madame Van and her staff have arranged a hands on class of typical southern Vietnamese dishes, followed by lunch. Time permitting, we can stop at one of HCM's best lacquer ware factories enroute back to the hotel. |
| The rest of the afternoon is free (use our Guide to HCM for great shopping tips, and for visiting other local sites), then re-group early evening for one of Vietnam's most celebrated street fare dishes: Banh xeo, or sizzling rice crepes. |
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Saturday 10 January |
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O/N Saigon - Vietnam |
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| Following breakfast we day trek to the extensive Mekong Delta region. At arrival in My Tho tour the Upper Mekong via floating markets, visiting island fruit orchards, and tasting the local specialty coconut candy. In Xe Loi take a horse cart to a bee farm for honey tea, then ride on a sampan boat along the local canals. For lunch sample delicious elephant-ear fish and Mekong river shrimp. The evening is free for shopping, independent sight-seeing, or just to relax indulging yourself. There is so much to choose from in HCM, from boisterous seafood eateries to ultra chic fine dining restaurants. This is truly the country's best city for fine dining options, and we provide a dining and shopping guide of the city's best. |
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Sunday 11 January |
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O/N Phu Quoc- Vietnam |
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| Today we fly to the far southern island of Phu Quoc. Once part of Cambodia, the island was bestowed on the Vietnamese emperor as a bridal dowry. In the French colonial period it served as a penal colony, but now for its famed vine-ripened peppercorns and the country's best fish sauce. This is truly an idyllic paradise, and our accommodation is the island's newest and best! |
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Monday 12 January |
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O/N Phu Quoc- Vietnam |
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Early mornings are best to discover Vietnam's local markets, so we depart early today for a tour of picturesque Duong Dong market. We'll also stop for a quick breakfast of pho noodle soup -- quintessentially the country's national dish. En route back a typical lunch of local seafood, plus stops at a fish sauce factory and pepper grove. Although we strongly suggest you stock up on Phu Quoc's delicious pepper, fish sauce cannot be transported on flights off the island. This applies to both checked and carry on baggage. Fortunately, select fish sauce brands are available in the airport after check in and security search.
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Tuesday 13 January |
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| We've left the morning free to relax at the resort, prior to our mid afternoon return flight to Ho Chi Minh City. If you are flying home directly from Vietnam today, please ensure sufficient time for your connection. You will need an evening departure, to do so. Consequently, if you require an additional night in HCM/Saigon, plus airport transfers, please specify this on the order form. |
| If you would like to continue your travels in Vietnam, ask us about tour extensions to other locations, with private guide. |
| For those returning home via Bangkok, we've reserved guaranteed seating to Thailand in the late afternoon today, leaving you time to connect with night departures home; surcharges apply. If you require additional nights in Bangkok, let us arrange accommodation and transfers at the Sofitel Centara Grand in LadPrao/Chatuchak, plus private day guide services in Bangkok. |
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 To those with a passion for great food and good company, this is your opportunity to join Mekong Epicure, our next food tour to Southeast Asia. Globetrotting Gourmet® has scheduled two itineraries back-to-back, to offer you a delicious entry to Asia. Fly with us to the Laos capital Vientiane to usher in the New Year, travel to Pakse in southern Laos, then the grandeur of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. |
In Vietnam tour the mighty Mekong delta, then fly to idyllic Phu Quoc island, the country's most southernly extremity. It is famed for its peppercorns and also production of the country's finest grade fish sauce. Daily breakfast, most meals, private coach throughout, all hosted personally by cookbook author Robert Carmack and textile designer Morrison Polkinghorne. Delicious food, great company, sumptuous hotels. That's our Globetrotting Gourmet(r) winning recipe. |
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Tour price includes airport transfers, 5-star hotel accommodation, internal transportation, daily breakfast and most meals, cooking demonstrations and market tours. Exclusive of airfares to and from Asia. |
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| www.asianfoodtours.com |
