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
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
Free day
Wednesday, January 8
EVA Air flight 398, depart HAN 12:35, arrive TPE 16:10
EVA Air flight 16, depart TPE 23:55, arrive LAX 19:35
Fairfield Inn LAX (1 night)
Thursday, January 9
Alaska Airlines flight 1418, depart LAX 10:30, arrive GDL 15:47
Timothy Welch
Oh my…FUN! I love that part of the world. Well…like you, I just love anywhere in the world!
Have a fabulous time.
Tim