Discover the heart and soul of Indochina on this journey through Cambodia & Vietnam with SEVA Canada and Gap Adventures.  

Trip style
Classic: The one that started it all, our original Gap Adventures trip is also our most popular – and for good reason. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in local culture, come face to face with exotic wildlife or truly experience the excitement of active exploration, our Classic trips are designed to ensure an authentic and unforgettable travel experience.

Service level
Comfort: Feed your curiosity for culture and authentic experience while still maintaining the comforts you are used to at home. Relax, your arrival transfer is always included. Expect air-conditioned rooms, complete with en suite bathrooms, television, phone services, cafe/bar and internet. 24 hr electricity and hot water are the norm and continental breakfast is always included. For the most part, you will be travelling around in air-conditioned fixed route tourist buses, private touring vehicles or planes.

Thursday January 13th: Vancouver
For those planning on travelling on the group flights from Vancouver we will meet at the airport to board our overnight flights to Hong Kong.  Some travellers may be joining us in Hong Kong on January 14th at the Peninsula Hotel (deluxe room) or similar

Friday January 14th: Hong Kong
Welcome to Hong Kong! Upon arrival at the airport in Hong Kong we will be met by a Gap Adventure representative and transfer to our hotel.

Accommodation: Peninsula Hotel (deluxe room) or similar

Saturday January 15th: Phnom Penh (B, D)
Transfer from our hotel to the Hong Kong airport for our flight to Phnom Penh (not included). Upon arrival at the airport in Phnom Penh we will be met by a Gap Adventures representative and transfer to our hotel. Meet Gap Adventures CEO in the lobby at 6pm and head off for our first dinner in Cambodia.

Accommodation: Juliana Hotel or similar

Sunday January 16th Phnom Penh (B, L, D)
With a local guide, we will witness the dark side of Cambodian history with visits to Choeng Ek, the site of the infamous Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng prison, the notorious Khmer Rouge prison where thousands of Cambodians perished. After visiting the museum we return to our hotel. The afternoon is free to explore Phnom Penh at leisure.

Accommodation: Juliana Hotel or similar

Monday January 17th: Siem Reap. (B, D)
Transfer to the airport to catch a morning flight to Siem Reap (included). Upon arrival at the airport in Siem Reap we will be met by a Gap Adventures representative and transfer to our hotel. The afternoon is free to explore Siem Reap at leisure.  

Meet back at our hotel in the late afternoon to head off to dinner at the New Hope Cambodia. New Hope Cambodia is a grassroots, hands on and non-government organization which offers authentic Cambodian meals to travellers as a means of raising funds for their projects.

Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

Tuesday January 18th: Siem Reap (B,D)
Our SEVA project visits commence today as we take a daytime tour to the outreach eye screening camp in Siem Reap Province.

Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

Wednesday January 19th: Battambang Ophthalmic Care Centre (B, L, D).
We will visit the Seva-funded Battambang Ophthalmic Care Centre (BOCC) in Battambang town, about 2 km from the Battambang Eye Unit, a government eye care facility.  

Accommodation: Steung Sangke Hotel or similar

Thursday January 20th: Battambang Ophthalmic Care Centre (B, D)
Full day spent at Battambang Ophthalmic Care Centre.  

Accommodation: Steung Sangke Hotel or similar

Friday January 21st: Siem Reap (B, L, D)
In the morning we will take a scenic Bamboo Train ride in Battambang before heading back to Siem Reap around lunchtime. Afternoon Cooking class in Siem Reap.

Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

Saturday January 22nd: Angkor Wat (B,L,D)
Early in the morning we set out for a first visit of South-east Asia’s most famous archeological sight, the temples of Angkor. The 100 or so temples are the sacred remains of what was once a much larger administrative and religious centre built between the 9th and 13th centuries to glorify a succession of Khmer kings. Most of Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century and the temples were gradually cloaked by forest until they were rediscovered by French archeologists.

Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

Sunday January 23rd: Angkor Wat (B,L,D)
Start the day with an early departure for a full day temple tour including Angkor Wat Sunrise, Angkor Thom, the Bayon, the Gate of Angkor Thom, Baphuon, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of the Elephants amongst others. We also visit Ta Phrom, known as the ‘Tomb Raider’ temple.  More temple exploration along with a visit to Artisans D’Angkor, where young rural Cambodians are trained in ancient Khmer art forms.

Accommodation: Tara Angkor Hotel or similar

Monday January 24th: (B, L, D)
Transfer from our hotel to the Siem Reap airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City (included). Ho Chi Minh City is the sprawling metropolis that once was the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center. In the afternoon take a tour by cyclo (rickshaw) to see the Notre Dame Cathedral, Gustav Eiffel’s Post Office, the Opera House, Rex Hotel, and town hall.

Accommodation: Continental Hotel or similar

Tuesday January 25th: Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)
Today we will be visiting the Cu Chi tunnels west of Ho Chi Minh City. With our guide, explore the underground network of man-made tunnels dug by the local Vietnamese to hide and fight during the war.

Accommodation: Continental Hotel or similar

Wednesday January 26th: Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)
Travel by bus down to the start of the Mekong Delta, where the mighty Mekong River approaches and empties in to the sea. Board a boat and navigate through the small canals, witnessing local lifestyle and the cottage industries of this fertile area. After a day of touring, return to Ho Chi Minh City in time for dinner.

Accommodation: Continental Hotel or similar

Thursday January 27th: Hoi An (B,D)
Transfer from our hotel to the Ho Chi Minh City airport for our flight to Hoi An (included) and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. The picturesque port town of Hoi An, once known as Faifo, was an important trading town with strong south Chinese influence and connections. Take a walk of this living museum which includes the Museum of History and Culture, the Tan Ky house, the Japanese bridge, the Fujian Assembly Hall and try some lunch at a riverside restaurant to sample some of the local delicacies. Hoi An is also a shopping mecca for tourists in the region – tailors can produce virtually anything overnight – clothing, silk lanterns, lacquer ware and other crafts abound.

Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel or similar

Friday January 28th: Hoi An (B,L,D)
Learn how to make the local cuisine with a Vietnamese cooking class.

Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel or similar

Saturday January 29th: Hue (B,L,D)
Transfer by land from Hoi An to Hue.  Take a tour of the Citadel which contains the Forbidden Purple City, modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. Badly destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968, significant restoration work has since occurred.

Accommodation: Park View Hotel or similar

Sunday January 30th: Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Transfer from our hotel to the airport in Hue for our flight to Hanoi (included) and then transfer to Bai Chay Harbour, the entrance of Halong Bay (approximately 4 hours).

Thousands of islands rise dramatically from the waters of Halong Bay, where the limestone karst formations are hollowed and carved into intricate caves. Aboard your sailing junk, enjoy some superb food, visit some of the islands and bays, there is the option of a swim at Tip Top Beach and after dinner spend a peaceful night stargazing.

Accommodation: Junk Boat

Monday January 31st: Hanoi (B, L, D)
This morning continue the cruise past Man’s Head Island and visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat. After an early lunch on board the boat, head back to Hanoi with time in the afternoon for shopping or further sightseeing. Enjoy a farewell dinner and optional puppet show in the evening.

Accommodation: Flower Garden Hotel or similar

Tuesday February 1st: Hong Kong (B)
Our Gap Adventures CEO (tour leader) will say goodbye in the morning before we fly to Hong Kong (not included). On arrival into Hong Kong we will be met by a Gap Adventures representative and transfer to the hotel to enjoy the day at leisure.   

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most fascinating, vibrant and impressively situated cities. It boasts an unbeatable array of cultural sights, shopping, fabulous restaurants and atmosphere galore.

Accommodation: Peninsula Hotel (deluxe room) or similar

Wednesday February 2nd: Hong Kong (B)
Free day in Hong Kong. For a true Hong Kong experience, ride the Star Ferry into Victoria Harbour, wander Stanley Market and catch the views of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak.

Accommodation: Peninsula Hotel (deluxe room) or similar

Thursday February 3rd: Depart Hong Kong (B)
Today marks Chinese New Year, the biggest and most eagerly anticipated festival in China and Hong Kong. The Chinese New Year also celebrates the imminent arrival of spring and this is the time for new starts. Hong Kong celebrates the occasion with a characteristically flamboyant array of events, ceremonies and celebrations. One of the biggest events takes place on Hong Kong Island and includes traditional lion and dragon dances, fireworks and firecrackers, cultural and artistic performances and row upon row of food and drink stalls.

About the Battambang Ophthamalic Care Centre:

Battambang is the second-largest city in Cambodia.  It is situated by the tranquil Sangker River and filled with French Colonial architecture.

The Battambang Ophthalmic Care Centre provides community outreach and education programs, surgery and follow-up for needlessly blind patients, and support and training to build the capacity of the local doctors and support staff.

In its first 6 months of operation, the BOCC team performed more surgeries than many of Cambodia’s government eye clinics perform in an entire year, and alone has increased the cataract surgical rate in Battambang province from 750 to 1,900 per million per year.

BOCC has been established based on the successful Aravind and Lumbini models, and is working to become financially self-sustaining over time, while continuing to provide essential eye care services to the poor, underserved communities in Battambang.

BOCC provides 2,000 eye surgeries and saw 8,000 outpatients in 2008/2009 and aims at a 20% increase annually in subsequent years. Ultimately, the hope is that by the end of 10 years, the centre will be 100% locally run and financially sustainable. In the meantime, however, there are significant funding needs for community outreach, training and advocacy.

Gap Adventures CEO for Cambodia & Vietnam
Meals Included:  20 B, 12 L & 17 D (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
All tips and departure taxes related to itinerary (covered by SEVA)
Activities as per itinerary
Domestic flights in Cambodia & Vietnam
International flight from Cambodia to Vietnam
Transportation as per itinerary

International air (priced separately)
Insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Meals not mentioned in itinerary
Optional activities
Visas (required for Vietnam and China)