MYSTERIES OF SE ASIA and MEKONG RIVER with CHIANG MAI (IAUB2010)

Ship
Tonle PandawMekong Pandaw

 

Hotels


Bangkok: Majestic Grande Hotel
Location: In the heart of Bangkok and within walking distance to public transit, shopping, and entertainment.Amenities & Services: The hotel features two restaurants, coffee shop, outdoor pool, fitness center, currency exchange, and 24-hour room service. Rooms feature air-conditioning, in-room safe, cable TV, Wi-Fi Internet access, coffee/tea maker, minibar, and hairdryer in room.

Chiang Mai: Empress Hotel
Location: In the heart of Chiang Mai’s commercial area and only a 10-minute walk to the Night Bazaar.Amenities & Services: The hotel features two restaurants, bar, outdoor pool, spa, currency exchange, fitness center, safety deposit boxes, laundry service, and 24-hour room service. Rooms feature air-conditioning, satellite TV, and minibar.

Siem Reap: Steung Siem Reap Hotel
Location: Ideally located in the heart of the old French Quarter and just steps away from the old market and many restaurants.Amenities & Services: The hotel features a restaurant and bar, indoor pool, spa, fitness center, laundry service, and room service. Rooms feature air-conditioning, in-room safe, minibar, satellite TV, iron/ironing board, coffee/tea maker, Internet access, and hairdryer in bathroom.

Mekong River Cruise: Pandaw Cruises
Sailing on a Pandaw vessel is essentially an outdoor experience as staterooms open to the outside and the promenade deck and observation deck offer great panoramic views. The spacious staterooms, finished in brass and teak, are 168 square feet and feature a private bathroom with shower. There is no TV, Internet, or phone, as you will spend most of your time outside. There is a 24-hour bar on the Sun Deck. Dining on board features a choice of local cuisine and exotic foods (Western alternatives available). Breakfast and lunch are buffets and dinner is served at tables.

Ho Chi Minh City: Palace Hotel
Location: Centrally located on popular Hguyen Hue Boulevard within a short walk to the Saigon River and the Dong Khoi shopping area.Amenities & Services: The hotel features two restaurants, bar, rooftop pool, spa, fitness center, currency exchange, and 24-hour room service. Rooms feature air-conditioning, in-room safe, coffee/tea maker, high-speed Internet access, satellite TV, minibar, and hairdryer in bathroom.

Day 1:
Board your overnight transpacific flight.

Day 2:
Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. Welcome to Thailand! Your hotel room is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 3:
Bangkok–Chiang Mai. Today, fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 4:
Chiang Mai. Today your morning sightseeing begins with a visit to Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image and Wat Doi Suthep, a temple tucked away in the mountains. For the final ascent to the temple you can take a tram car or walk up the Naga (dragon-headed serpent) staircase with over 300 steps. On a clear day you will enjoy spectacular views of Chiang Mai. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 5:
Chiang Mai. A full day for independent activities. (B)

Day 6:
Chiang Mai–Bangkok. Today, fly to Bangkok. (B)

Day 7:
Bangkok. Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the stunning Grand Palace featuring Wat Phra Keo, which houses the 31-inch Emerald Buddha. You will also visit Wat Pho, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok featuring the massive Reclining Buddha. The balance of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the sights and sounds of this fascinating city. (B)

Day 8:
Bangkok–Siem Reap, Cambodia. Today, fly to Siem Reap, your base for exploring the temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples are arguably unmatched among ancient ruins anywhere in the world. Upon arrival, enjoy time at leisure. (B)

Day 9:
Siem Reap. Your sightseeing starts at the best preserved of all the temples, Angkor Wat, honoring the Hindu god Vishna. Next stop is Angkor Thom to see Bayon Temple. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 10:
Siem Reap–Kampong Cham (Embarkation). Late in the morning, transfer by motorcoach to Kampong Cham on the Mekong River. Upon arrival, board your Pandaw vessel and start your cruise. (B,L,D)

Day 11:
Cruising: Kampong Cham. Today, enjoy a visit to Wat Hanchey, a temple dating back to the 8th century and the Chenla Empire. After lunch on board the ship, travel by motorcoach to see Wat Nokor, the eco village of Cheungkok, and Kampong Cham orphanage. (B,L,D)

Day 12:
Cruising: Kampong Chhnang. Today, the scenic cruise to Kampong Chnnang is a highlight of the trip. Upon arrival moor mid-stream and take a small boat into the wetlands to view a stunning variety of birdlife. In the late-afternoon depart for Phnom Penh. (B,L,D)
NOTE: During high water season (approximately Jul.-Nov.) You will stop at Preak Dom Bridge and proceed to Kampong Chhnang by motorcoach.

Day 13:
Cruising: Phnom Penh. The capital city of Phnom Penh retains its French charm to this day. The city has many sights worth visiting including the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer Rouge handicrafts. To see the sights you will have a private cyclo with a driver. You decide where you want to go and what you want to do! In the afternoon, learn more about the Khmer Rouge with a visit to the Killing Fields or the moving S21 detention center located in the city. This evening you may want to enjoy some of the lively nightlife Phnom Penh has to offer. (B,L,D)

Day 14:
Cruising. Today you cruise the main Mekong Channel. Stop at the jungle village of Prek Touch to visit a fruit orchard. (B,L,D)

Day 15:
Cruising: Chau Doc, Vietnam-Cu Lao Gien Island. Take a local ferry boat down the backwaters of the Mekong to Chau Doc. Here, visit a Cham tribal village, a catfish farm, and take a rickshaw ride past French-colonial buildings and a through a bustling market. Return to the ship for lunch and head for Sadec. Along the way you stop at Cu Lao Gien Island and visit “La Providence,” a Catholic monastery built in 1875 by the French. It was home to a mission, orphanage, school, and hospice before the Japanese invasion. Today it is home to retired nuns taken care of by novice monks. (B,L,D)

Day 16:
Cruising: Sa Dec-Cai Be. Today board traditional sampan boats along small canals and backwaters. In Sa Dec visit a local market then visit the ancient house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the “lover” of Marguerite Duras, famous French novelist and inspiration for the film L’Amant-The Lover directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Back on board your sampan drift down the Tien River to Cai Be. Along the way visit a brick and tile factory and witness daily life along the delta including palm tree weaving, wooden boat factories, and fruit orchards. Once in Cai Be cruise through the floating market. After lunch continue by sampan deep into the backwaters where you will see large rice fields and visit a locals home. (B,L,D)

Day 17:
Cruising: My Tho (Disembarkation)–Ho Chi Minh City. Disembark and travel by motorcoach to Ho Chi Minh City. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the city. (B)

Day 18:
Ho Chi Minh City. Today’s full day sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of tunnels was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and visit the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 19:
Ho Chi Minh City. Depart Ho Chi Minh City. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

Don't miss our current specials: Pay Less For Your Second Vacation We charge you list price for your first vacation in the year, but for every additional Monograms vacation you take in the same year, you pay $35 under list. This discount does not apply if one of the vacations is a Monograms single city stay. Consecutive vacations can be booked with or without flights. Any flights between vacations cannot be reserved as part of the Monograms package. Discount for Young Travelers Share the pleasure of a Monograms vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of the below discounts on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must meet age requirements on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. Please ask your travel consultant for details. The following land-only discounts apply for Young Travelers: Free of charge:     * North America Driving Vacations & Hawaii Island Getaways—Accommodations for children ages 2–11 when sharing accommodations with two adults     * All destinations—Infants under 2 years of age sharing adult’s accommodations 50% discount:     * Europe vacations—Children ages 2–11 when sharing accommodations with two adults     * North America Single-City and Multi-City Getaways—Children ages 2–11 when sharing accommodations with two adults 10% discount:     * Vacations to China, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America—Children ages 2-17     * North America Rail Getaways—Children ages 2-11     * Europe vacations—Children ages 12-17     * North America Single-City and Multi-City Getaways—Children ages 12-17 Note: We require that children under 12 years of age share accommodations with an adult. Some restrictions apply, as noted in Terms & Conditions. For Young Traveler discounts please review our Terms & Conditions.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/12/2010 - 8/30/2010	$2,959
8/26/2010 - 9/13/2010	$2,959
9/9/2010 - 9/27/2010	$2,959
9/23/2010 - 10/11/2010	$2,959
10/7/2010 - 10/25/2010	$4,099
10/21/2010 - 11/8/2010	$4,099
11/4/2010 - 11/22/2010	$4,099
11/18/2010 - 12/6/2010	$4,099
12/2/2010 - 12/20/2010	$4,099
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Price Details US
Extra nights per person:in Bangkok: in single room $149; in twin room $86in Ho Chi Minh City: in single room $211; in twin room $117

Related Tours
IAUA|Vacation with Upgraded Hotel PackageIACA|Add Laos to Your VacationIAMA|Mysteries of Southeast Asia & Mekong River Cruise

Pay Less For Your Second Vacation

Discount for Young Travelers

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