Day 1 Bangkok - Kong Jiam
Arrive in Bangkok and transfer for the domestic flight to Ubon Ratchatani, transfer to Kong Jiam where you will stay on the banks of the Mekong River overlooking Laos.
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Day 2 Kong Jiam (B)
Visit Pha Taem National Park taking a nice walk and discovering the region's earliest cave paintings
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Day 3 Kong Jiam - Pakse (B)
Cross the Border into Laos and to the provincial capital of Pakse, in the afternoon stroll through the town and explore it's local market and the temple
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Day 4 Pakse - Tad Lo (B)
Drive east by road to a local tea and coffee plantation where we can watch how the tea leaves and coffee beans are processed and taste test the finished product. Tad Fan waterfall boasts two stunning cascades framed against the Bolaven Plateau dropping nearly 120m, making this one of the most spectacular sights in Laos. After leaving Tad Fan we drive to another waterfall, Tad Yuang, which has a beautiful swimming spot, where you can have a picnic lunch and relax by the waterfall. Continue around the Plateau visiting and ethnic village before arriving at Tad Lo where you will spend the night.
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Day 5 Tad Lo - Pakse - Champasak (B)
Spend the morning visiting the local ethnic village before continuing to Champasak and the Pre-Angkor temple of Wat Phu.
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Day 6 Champasak - Ban Kiat Ngong - Don Khong (B)
The Xe Pian National Protected Area is teaming with birds and wildlife spend the morning at Ban Kiat Ngong Village look out for wildlife at the viewpoint or go for elephant ride before heading to Don Khong.
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Day 7 4000 Islands (B)
Don Khong is the main island in these natural wetlands where the Mekong is at it widest, take a boat trip through the 4000 Islands to Don Khone and see the old railway bridge and Liphi Waterfall, continue by boat to see the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins before returning to Don Khong.
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Day 8 Don Khong - Stung Treng - Ban Lung (B)
Cross the border into Cambodia and take a boat ride through the flooded forests. Visit the Mekong Blue part of an NGO developed to increase life skills which assist in breaking the cycle of poverty for vulnerable women in the Stung Treng region. It is now regarded as producing one of the finest silk products in Cambodia. They are 100% hand-woven and have even won two UNESCO awards. Most importantly they keep alive a 100 year old tradition of silk-weaving, continuing to Ban Lung spend the afternoon at Yeak Lom Lake, a volcanic lake in the middle of an extinct volcano surrounded by lush forest growth.
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Day 9 Ban Lung (B)
Drive north, in the direction of Laos towards the village of Taveng, crossing the volcanic rocks of Veyrum Pling: a lava field in the forest with a small waterfall nearby (the waterfall is only present in the wet season though). As we go north to Taveng, pass first and secondary forests, stop at a few nice Kroeung villages located quite far away in the forest. Learn about their village life and culture. Enjoy lunch at a small waterfall in the forest before returning to Ban Lung.
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Day 10 Ban Lung - Kratie (B)
After breakfast transfer to Kratie province and cross the river to the lovely Mekong Island of Koh Trong where you will have lunch with the villagers after lunch cycle around the Island and take part in a tree planting with the locals interacting with the community, spend the night in a community homestay. This area has been setup as part of the Mekong Discovery Trail
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Day 11 Kratie - Phnom Penh (B)
Early morning after breakfast we transfer back to Kratie town for have breakfast and forward to Phnom Penh capital, we will pass Kampong Cham stopping at Wat Nokor before arriving in Phnom Penh.
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Day 12 Phnom Penh (B)
The Kingdom of wonder, Cambodia is leaving behind the horrors of its past which can be seen at the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Cho & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum a former high school used as a prison and torture centre during the Khmer Rouge reign now known as S-21.
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Day 13 Phnom Penh - Bangkok - UK (B)
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. You can extend this trip by visiting Siem Reap or spending a few days at the lovely beach resorts on the southern coast
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