Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam

It feels like I just got back from my last trip (and in fact, I did), but I am less than three weeks away from my next adventure. OAT calls it “Ancient Kingdoms,” but that doesn’t explain a lot. So I just tell people I’m going to Southeast Asia. To be specific, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The actual OAT tour starts on December 6. I’ll be going to Thailand a few days early to enjoy a bit of relaxation and some activities at a resort on Ao Nang Beach.

Here is my itinerary. I’ve included flight details for the flights I booked myself. The internal flights are booked by OAT, and I don’t have any information about them.

Saturday, November 30

Alaska Airlines flight 1320, depart GDL 09:30, arrive LAX 11:03
Thai Airways International flight 6742, depart LAX 23:00

What am I going to do with that 12-hour layover???

Sunday, December 1

Cross the International Date Line

Monday, December 2

Arrive ICN 05:20
Thai Airways International flight 659, depart ICN 09:35, arrive BKK 13:30
Thai Airways International flight 249, depart BKK 18:25, arrive KBV 19:50

BlueSotel Smart, Ao Nang (4 nights)

Tuesday, December 3

Free day

Wednesday, December 4

Premium 4‑Island Day Trip by Longtail Boat with Lunch

Thursday, December 5

Krabi Elephant Shelter

Friday, December 6

Thai Airways International flight 242, depart KBV 09:25, arrive BKK 10:50
Free afternoon

Evergreen Laurel Hotel (1 night)

Saturday, December 7

Fly to Chang Mai
Orientation Walk

Amora Tapae Hotel (3 nights)

Sunday, December 8

Ban Pa Bong village
Mae Kampong coffee and tea plantation

Monday, December 9

Karen Long Neck Village

Elephant care center

Tuesday, December 10

Drive to Chiang Rai
Stop at Wat Rong Khun (“White Temple”)

Wiang Inn Hotel (2 nights)

Wednesday, December 11

Golden Triangle

Opium Museum

Thursday, December 12

Fly to Bangkok
Drive to the River Kwai

Hintok River Camp (2 nights)

Friday, December 13

Hellfire Pass Museum
Longtail speedboat ride on River Kwai

Saturday, December 14

Transfer to Bangkok

Evergreen Laurel Hotel (3 nights)

Sunday, December 15

Ruan Khun Yai house

Monday, December 16

Grand Palace of Thailand
Conversation with a local activist about freedom of expression in Thailand
Dinner cruise on the Chaophraya River

Tuesday, December 17

Ayutthaya

Wednesday, December 18

Fly to Luang Prabang, Laos

Muang Thong Hotel (3 nights)

Thursday, December 19

Traditional wooden boat ride on Mekong River
Muangkham Village
Pak Ou Cave

Friday, December 20

Alms-giving to local monks
Visit to local village and school
Visit with Hmong hill tribe community
Village weaving center

Saturday, December 21

High-speed train to Vientiane
Home-hosted dinner with a local family

Le Charme (2 nights)

Sunday, December 22

Wat Sisaket monastery
COPE Center (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise)
Local puppet theater
Patuxai war monument

Monday, December 23

Fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Champey Academy of Arts

Phnom Penh Katari Hotel (2 nights)

Tuesday, December 24

Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

Wednesday, December 25

Drive to Siem Reap

Regency Angkor Hotel (3 nights)

Thursday, December 26

Floating village visit
Bayon temple at Angkor
Terrace of the Elephants

Friday, December 27

Angkor Wat

Ta Prohm

Saturday, December 28

Banteay Srei
Angkor National Museum
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.

Central Palace Hotel (4 nights)

Sunday, December 29

Mekong River cruise on wooden rice barge
Vam Xep

Monday, December 30

Saigon city tour

Tuesday, December 31

Cu Chi Tunnels

Wednesday, January 1

Fly to Hanoi
Walking tour of Old Quarter.

Golden Lotus Hotel (3 nights)

Thursday, January 2

Duong Lam village

Friday, January 3

Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Hanoi Street
French Quarter

Saturday, January 4

Drive to Sapa
Stop at Lao Cai

Sapa Charm Hotel (2 nights)

Sunday, January 5

Mountain hike
Lao Chai Village

Monday, January 6

Sin Chai
Return to Hanoi

Golden Lotus Hotel (2 nights)

Tuesday, January 7