World heritage highlights in Cambodia & Vietnam

The day has arrived for you to fly from your selected airport to the charming town of Siem Reap in Cambodia. There will be connecting flight(s) along the way.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you’ll go through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, so you’ll be able to find them easily. From here, you’ll be driven to your hotel, which is approximately an hour and a half away by car.

Once you’ve arrived and checked in at the hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Siem Reap is a laid-back and charming town, perfect for leisurely strolls through the French Quarter or along the shady paths beside the Siem Reap River. You’ll find small shops, cafés, and several markets here. You can also explore Siem Reap Night Market, where the aroma of the many Khmer delicacies is sure to make your mouth water. Choose a delicious piece of grilled meat or a noodle dish, then sit down on one of the many stools alongside the locals as they enjoy a meal or snack. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try grilled crickets on skewers.

Today brings one of the absolute highlights of your tour, as you visit the magnificent Angkor Wat temple complex in the ancient city of Angkor, which is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list.

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven around 15 minutes outside Siem Reap, where the impressive temple complex is located. The area is enormous, so you will be driven between the various temples and explore them on foot with your guide.

The ancient city lies amid lush surroundings, encircled by jungle and ancient moats. A sense of tranquillity descends here, and it almost feels as though you have stepped into another world.

You’ll begin with a visit to Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. In the cool morning hours, you can explore the impressive temple at your leisure and admire the intricate stone reliefs, endless friezes, and spectacular carvings, while the morning sun highlights its unique architecture. You will also have the opportunity to climb the central towers, from where you can enjoy wonderful views over the surrounding jungle.

You’ll then continue north to the ancient fortified city of Angkor Thom, where you visit the fascinating Bayon Temple. Located in the heart of the city, it is famous for its 54 towers adorned with more than 200 enormous, smiling faces carved directly into the stone. Explore the labyrinthine terraces and experience one of Angkor’s most iconic temples.

For lunch, you can enjoy a delicious meal overlooking the peaceful Srah Srang reservoir before the day’s adventures continue.

After lunch, you’ll visit Ta Prohm, one of Angkor’s most atmospheric temples. Here, nature has been allowed to take over, and enormous silk-cotton trees and strangler figs have taken root around the temple over the centuries, creating a truly unique blend of nature and ruins. Sunlight filtering through the treetops creates a very special atmosphere, making this an unforgettable experience.

The final stop of the day is Kampong Phluk, located around a 45-minute drive south-east of Siem Reap in the floodplain of Tonlé Sap Lake. Here, you’ll board a motorised longtail boat and sail through narrow river channels, gaining a fascinating insight into everyday life in the local fishing village. The houses stand on wooden stilts up to 6 metres high to withstand the significant changes in water levels between the rainy and dry seasons. Along the way, there will be an opportunity to take a canoe trip through the peaceful, flooded mangrove forest, before the boat continues out onto Tonlé Sap Lake. You can enjoy the views across the lake in the late afternoon before being driven back to your hotel.

Please note: During the low-water period (mid-February to July), when the water level is too low for boats to operate at Kampong Phluk, you will instead visit the floating village of Chong Kneas. Here, too, you will gain a fascinating insight into life on Tonlé Sap Lake and the daily lives of local fishermen. However, the experience differs from Kampong Phluk, as the village consists of floating houses rather than the characteristic stilt houses and flooded mangrove forest.

After breakfast, a special excursion awaits to one of our social sustainability projects, established by our local partner. You’ll head into the countryside around Siem Reap, where you’ll get up close to authentic Cambodia and gain a unique insight into life in small village communities.

Trei Nhoar is a traditional Khmer village where everyday life still follows the rhythm of nature. Many families make their living from farming, while community, craftsmanship, and age-old traditions continue to play an important role. At the heart of the village lies Wat Thipadei, a pagoda built on the remains of a 10th-century temple. It bears witness to the area’s long history and remains an important gathering place for the villagers.

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by local residents, and a representative will show you around the village. You’ll visit small farms and fields, where you’ll see how families cultivate the land and make a living from what it provides. Along the way, you’ll gain an insight into daily life and meet people who are immensely proud to share their culture and traditions.

You’ll also experience some of the crafts and culinary traditions that have been part of the village’s culture for generations. Local people demonstrate how traditional baskets are woven from natural materials and how classic Khmer desserts are prepared using age-old recipes.

One of the highlights of the day is lunch, served in the home of a local family. Here, you’ll enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, while experiencing the warm hospitality Cambodia is known for.

By joining this excursion, you’ll also be helping to make a difference to the villagers. A percentage of the tour price goes directly to the project, which supports the local community and helps create better opportunities for families in the area. At the same time, the project helps preserve local traditions and crafts for future generations. Read more about the project here.

After a day filled with authentic cultural encounters and fascinating experiences, you’ll return to Siem Reap.

Today is free for you to relax by the pool, explore the city, or join one of our exciting optional tours.

If you choose to explore the city, you could visit the small Royal Gardens park, for example. Or how about taking a leisurely stroll through the city’s charming side streets, where small temples with golden roofs and lush gardens are tucked away between the houses? You could also settle down at one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants along the river and watch city life unfold.

In the evening, Pub Street really comes alive. With its wealth of restaurants and bars, it is the city’s natural meeting place, where locals and visitors come together over good food and cold drinks.

Today, you’ll say goodbye to Cambodia. You will be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport, where you will board your flight to Hanoi in Vietnam. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

You will land at Hanoi’s international airport, Noi Bai, where you’ll go through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, beyond the exit doors, wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign to make them easier to spot.

You will then be driven to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy your first impressions of the Vietnamese capital at your own pace.

We recommend exploring the charming and lively streets of the Old Quarter, where every alleyway is filled with the sounds, scents, and scenes of everyday Vietnamese life. You could also take a stroll around the famous Hoan Kiem Lake, whose shady trees and local activity make it a popular oasis in the heart of the bustling city.

In the evening, you can savour delicious Vietnamese cuisine, whether you prefer restaurants or atmospheric street-food stalls.

Today, an exciting city tour awaits, taking you to some of Hanoi’s most iconic attractions.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel, and the day will begin with a Vietnamese coffee at a local café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, the city’s green heart and a natural meeting place for Hanoians of all ages.

From here, you’ll cross the iconic Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, located on a small island in the middle of beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake. The bridge’s name means ‘the place touched by the rays of the morning sun’. Here, you’ll hear the legend of the emperor, the magical sword, and the giant turtle, and discover how the lake got its name and its special significance to the city.

Next, you’ll be driven to the Temple of Literature, which was built in 1070 in honour of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. More than 900 years old, the temple is one of Vietnam’s best-preserved historical monuments. Its beautiful courtyards, colonnades, and tranquil ponds continue to provide a peaceful setting for students who come to pray for good luck in their exams.

For lunch, you’ll visit the KOTO restaurant, which is much more than just a place to eat. KOTO stands for ‘Know One, Teach One’ and provides training for young Vietnamese people from disadvantaged backgrounds, preparing them for a future in the hospitality industry. They gain both professional and personal skills, giving them the opportunity to build a better future. At the same time, you can enjoy a delicious meal in pleasant surroundings. You can read more about the restaurant here.

After lunch, you’ll experience Hanoi from a traditional cyclo as you’re driven through the maze of narrow streets in the Old Quarter. The quarter is known for its 36 guild streets, originally named after the goods traded there, including bamboo, silk, paper, and tin. Many of the street names are still in use today, and the area retains its local charm, with small shops, street-food stalls, and a lively trading scene.

The tour then continues to the historic Long Bien Bridge, which was built during the French colonial period at the beginning of the 20th century. The distinctive steel bridge stretches across the Red River and was badly damaged during the Vietnam War, but today it stands as a symbol of Hanoi’s resilience. From here, you’ll gain a fascinating insight into everyday life in the city, as scooters, cyclists, and pedestrians share the bridge side by side. Look down and you’ll see the bustling Long Bien Market, while the view across the river provides a peaceful contrast to the pulse of the city.

The day’s sightseeing ends with a performance at a water puppet theatre, a Vietnamese tradition dating back several hundred years. Colourful wooden puppets perform on the surface of the water to live music, telling stories from Vietnam’s history, folklore, and everyday life.

After an eventful day, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the evening will be at your leisure.

No excursions are planned for today. You may fancy joining one of our optional tours, or perhaps you would prefer to explore the city at your own pace.

You could start the day with a visit to the famous Train Street in the early morning, when there are fewer people and the atmosphere is more peaceful. Here, the train passes incredibly close to the street’s cafés, offering a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in the city before Hanoi truly wakes up.

Afterwards, make your way towards the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, where the surrounding streets are home to French colonial buildings, little shops, art galleries, and welcoming cafés. Settle down with a Vietnamese coffee and watch everyday life unfold as locals and visitors cross paths. Not far from here stands the iconic St Joseph’s Cathedral, whose Gothic façade and lively square make it a popular meeting place.

For lunch, explore Hanoi’s famous street food scene. Try a steaming bowl of pho, enjoy the aroma of grilled bun cha, or grab a crispy banh mi to eat on the go.

You could also continue towards Long Bien Market, where the trade in fruit, vegetables, and flowers fills the busy streets, offering a vivid glimpse into everyday life in the city. The pace is fast and the atmosphere authentic, from the early morning until well into the day.

If you are curious about Hanoi’s history, you can also visit the old Imperial Citadel, which bears witness to the city’s fascinating past. In the same area, you will find the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, one of Hanoi’s best-known landmarks and an important monument in Vietnam’s more recent history.

When darkness falls, Hanoi truly comes alive. The streets glow in the light of street-food stalls, while the aromas of grilled meat, fresh herbs, and spicy broth drift through the narrow alleyways. Wander through the Old Quarter and soak up the atmosphere, or settle down at a rooftop bar and enjoy the view across the city’s pulsating streets.

Today, you’ll leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head towards one of Vietnam’s most iconic natural areas: the legendary Ha Long Bay. The drive takes approximately three hours, with a stop along the way where you can stretch your legs and buy some refreshments.

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural areas. Hundreds of green-clad limestone islands rise dramatically from the emerald-green sea, creating a landscape shaped by wind and weather over thousands of years. For the Vietnamese people, the bay is also a place steeped in myths and legends about dragons which, according to the story, created the distinctive rock formations. Ha Long Bay covers an area of approximately 1,500 km² and was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1994.

You’ll arrive at Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll check in before boarding your mini-cruise ship.

On board, you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink while the crew gives you a brief introduction to the cruise. A delicious lunch will then be served as the ship glides quietly out onto the emerald-green waters. Along the way, you’ll pass some of Ha Long Bay’s most iconic rock formations, including Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, and Three Coconuts Island. Afterwards, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit Sung Sot Cave, Ha Long Bay’s largest and most impressive limestone cave. To reach the cave, you’ll need to climb approximately 800 steps, but your efforts will be rewarded with a fascinating landscape of stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. We recommend wearing sturdy, closed-toe shoes, especially if the weather is wet.

You will then have the opportunity to explore Luon Cave either by kayak or bamboo boat.

Back on board, you can relax with a drink at the bar before the crew invites you to a cooking demonstration, where you will learn how traditional Vietnamese spring rolls are prepared.

In the evening, a delightful dinner featuring a selection of local dishes prepared by the ship’s chefs will be served.

Please note that all activities are optional. You can therefore also choose simply to enjoy the views from the sun deck and watch the bay’s unique landscape drift by.

Please note! In the event of severe weather and storms, the Vietnamese authorities reserve the right to suspend sailing in Ha Long Bay for safety reasons. This happens a few times a year. In such cases, the mini-cruise will be replaced with a hotel stay and an excursion.

Start the day by experiencing Ha Long Bay bathed in the soft light of the morning mist.

After breakfast, you’ll head to Ti Top Island, a small limestone island with one of Ha Long Bay’s finest sandy beaches. Here, you can take a dip in the emerald-green waters or climb to the top of the island, where you’ll be rewarded with an exceptional view of the bay’s distinctive limestone islands.

Back on board, there’s time to pack and get ready for check-out before an early lunch is served. As you eat, the ship quietly sails back towards the harbour, allowing you to enjoy the last glimpses of the bay’s spectacular scenery from the deck.

When you arrive at Tuan Chau Marina, your guide and driver will be ready to take you to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. From here, you’ll fly to Hué in central Vietnam, a journey of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Upon arrival in Hué, your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, just beyond the exit doors. They’ll be wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, so you’ll be able to find them easily. You’ll then be driven to your hotel in the central part of the city.

Hué offers plenty of charming experiences. For example, take a stroll along the Perfume River or explore the small streets, where you’ll gain a wonderful insight into the city’s peaceful everyday life. You can also visit Dong Ba Market, where locals shop for fresh produce, spices, and small specialities, or treat yourself to a relaxing treatment at one of the city’s many spas.

Hué is known as Vietnam’s gastronomic capital, so take the opportunity to sample some of the city’s local specialities. Try the small rice pancakes known as banh beo, the steamed rice dumplings banh nam, or the crispy banh khoai, served with a rich peanut sauce.

In the afternoon, settle down at a café and enjoy a salted coffee, Hué’s very own coffee speciality, before finding a cosy restaurant or rooftop terrace where you can round off the day with a view over the city.

After breakfast, an exciting encounter with Hué’s most impressive sights awaits. Today’s excursion takes you back to the grandeur of the imperial era, offering a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s royal history, art, and spiritual life.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel, and your first stop will be the ancient Imperial City, an impressive fortress built in the early 19th century, when the Nguyen dynasty made Hué the capital of Vietnam. Behind its massive walls and wide moats lie former palaces, temples, and the private quarters of the imperial family. The complex was inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing, and although much of it was destroyed during the Indochina War and the Vietnam War, many of its buildings still stand as reminders of its former grandeur. Today, UNESCO is carrying out extensive restoration projects to bring new life to this historic site.

You will then visit a small local exhibition of traditional Vietnamese paintings. Here, you can not only admire the colourful works on display, but also try your hand at painting and experience the sense of calm and focus that characterises this art form.

Your day then continues with a peaceful boat trip along the Perfume River. You will gently cruise through the countryside towards Thien Mu Pagoda, which has been an important centre of Buddhism in central Vietnam for more than 400 years. Its distinctive seven-storey pagoda tower rises elegantly above the riverbank, creating a tranquil setting for the temple and the monastic community that continues to live and practise here.

Next, you will continue to the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, which differs markedly from the area’s other imperial tombs. The tomb complex was built in the early 20th century and combines traditional Vietnamese elements with European Baroque and Gothic styles. The result is a magnificent and richly detailed architectural experience that reflects the emperor’s fascination with Western art and culture. The tomb complex lies at the foot of Chau Chu Mountain, approximately 9 km south of Hué.

After the excursion, you will be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

Today, you’ll bid farewell to Hué. You’ll be picked up from your hotel before setting off along one of Vietnam’s most scenic routes towards the atmospheric town of Hoi An.

The route follows the coast at times and winds through the Truong Son Mountains, crossing the spectacular Hai Van Pass, also known as the ‘Pass of the Clouds’. From here, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of lush, green mountains on one side and the blue horizon of the South China Sea on the other.

After approximately 3–4 hours, you’ll arrive at your hotel in Hoi An. Once you’ve checked in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Hoi An is an experience in itself and a town that most people fall in love with at first sight. The old town, which is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list, is especially known for its well-preserved architecture, proud trading history, and many talented tailors. Here, time seems to pass a little more slowly, and history can be felt in every street, façade, and little shop.

The Thu Bon River runs through the heart of the town and was a hub of thriving international trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, the riverbanks provide a peaceful setting for everyday life, with small boats still gliding across the water. Not far away, you’ll find the local market, where you’re greeted by enticing aromas, vibrant colours, and lively trade.

Away from the river, a maze of atmospheric streets unfolds. Japanese wooden houses, Chinese assembly halls, French colonial buildings, and distinctive merchants’ houses come together in a fascinating blend. Cars are not allowed in the old town, giving you the chance to explore at a leisurely pace on foot. Colourful lanterns hang above the streets, creating a truly special atmosphere, especially after dark. Dotted around the town are small shops, cafés, and restaurants, inviting you to take a pleasant break along the way.

Hoi An is also known for its distinctive coffee culture. Throughout the town, you’ll find cosy cafés where you can sit back and enjoy Vietnamese coffee, perhaps the classic version with condensed milk.

Your days are free to spend as you wish, and Hoi An has an endless amount to offer, whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure, or cultural experiences.

Perhaps a relaxing day by the sea is just what you need? Hire a bicycle and cycle out to one of the nearby beaches, Cua Dai or An Bang, where soft sand and swaying palm trees provide the perfect setting for a leisurely day by the sea. You can also cycle through the lush rice fields outside the city, where small villages and glimpses of local life offer a fascinating insight into life in the countryside.

In Hoi An, you can also immerse yourself in the local cuisine on a cookery class, take a boat trip along the Thu Bon River, or see the city from a new perspective as the lanterns are lit towards the end of the day. You might even be tempted to visit a local tailor to have an outfit measured and made – a special memento to take home with you.

If you’re curious to explore the area around Hoi An, you can choose one of our exciting optional tours, which you can read more about below.

Today marks the end of your tour. You will be picked up at your hotel and driven to Da Nang Airport, a journey of just under an hour. From here, you will fly to your selected airport, with connecting flights along the way.

You will land at your selected airport with a suitcase full of memories after a tour through Cambodia’s and Vietnam’s unique UNESCO world heritage sites.