Cambodia and Laos: Stories Along the Mekong

Day 1: Welcome to Cambodia!

Meet one of our smiling team in the arrivals hall of Phnom Penh airport and you’ll be whisked straight to your hotel and then it’s choose-your-own adventure for your first afternoon in town. Being just steps away from the river promenade, will you go for a short stroll? Bring back your discoveries to dinner, where you and your fellow MagExplorers gather over rich fish curries or bright beef salad before getting ready for a big day tomorrow. 

Accommodation: Frangipani Royal Palace (or similar), Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Included: Dinner

Day 2: Smiling Gecko Farmhouse 

Day two and you’re already waving goodbye to the big smoke, like the true backroads explorers that you are. Arriving at the Farmhouse two hours later is like discovering a luxe oasis hidden in the heart of the country.

Don’t fill up at lunch time because in the afternoon it’s your moment to shine in the kitchen. Grab your apron for a hands-on cooking class with the amazing chef Mariya. It’s farm-to-table magic as you pick fresh herbs and veggies straight from the garden, then whip up some seriously mouth-watering Khmer cuisine at your own cooking station before a serious chow-down with your MagExplorers for a late afternoon ‘linner’.

Give way to a full belly and an evening just for you. What’s your first pick – meet back up at the pool lounge and bar for some post-feast cheer, sweat it out in the sauna, float in the swimming pool, or book in for a massage? Whatever you choose – know you’re giving back by being here, including helping to fund local kids’ education.  

Accommodation: Smiling Gecko Farmhouse (or similar), Sameakki Mean Chey, Cambodia

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Battambang

This morning you’ll leave Smiling Gecko behind as you swap the rural life for Battambang’s country-town life.  Settle in – it’s about a five-hour drive if it’s non-stop, but like the true back road journey you’d expect, there’s some lovely surprise visits up our sleeve – including a village that’s renowned for its skilled pottery artisans.  In between, you’ll be glued to the window, watching the countryside views roll on by. 

After checking into your hotel, it’s off to dinner at Jaan Bai. Alongside fabulous Khmer flavours, this community-based initiative creates opportunities for young people making the experience truly special. 

Accommodation: Classy Hotel (or similar), Battambang, Cambodia
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Monk Blessings and Wine

Head to the outskirts of town after breakfast this morning to Wat Kor. Hear the mesmerising chants of monks drift through the temple grounds as you take part in a traditional blessing ceremony for happiness and good health. Feeling somewhat lifted by the experience, stroll with your guide beside the Sangker River – passing traditional Khmer stilt houses and glimpsing daily life unfolding at an unhurried pace.

As your day continues into the countryside, you’ll meet local people keeping generations-old traditions alive, from crafting rice paper and noodles to preparing bamboo sticky rice. Along the way, gain an appreciation for the skills and community spirit that define life in rural Cambodia. Before the day’s end, it’s time for a glass (or two) at Battambang’s local winery. Yes, Cambodian wine is a thing! Sip, learn and explore the vineyard.

Accommodation: Classy Hotel (or similar), Battambang, Cambodia

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Siem Reap in your Sights

The three-and-a-half-hour drive to Siem Reap will fly by today,  amidst your anticipation and excitement.  Gaze out at the countryside and rural villages darting by, comparing snapshots with your MagExplorer crew, or getting some inside insights from your guide. 

Once you arrive, take your time and relax because before too long, adventure will be calling you once more – this time to the shores of Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Explore a village community before boarding a local boat to glide past floating homes and into the flooded forest. Your guide will share stories of the biodiverse ecosystem that supports thousands of families and an extraordinary array of wildlife. 

As the day draws to a close, settle in with a cold drink and watch the sun sink over the water. 

Accommodation: La Niche d’Angkor Boutique Hotel (or similar), Siem Reap, Cambodia

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Angkor Wat

This is a big one! Today’s destination is certainly on the tourist map, but thanks to a side entrance you’ll sneak into Angkor Wat far from the crowds. Stare at its details in awe, but don’t miss the is-this-real photo-op of its grandeur. You could spend weeks exploring the ruins here, but for one day, we book-marked some of the most famous and some of our favourite temples, punctuated with a local lunch inside the Angkor park grounds. .  

Your day of amazement continues with a visit to Ta Prohm, a temple where giant tree roots push up around huge stone blocks in a haunting embrace. Here, too, you arrive when the crowds are sparse, soaking in the afternoon light dripping through the trees, before catching one last temple at sunset. It’s a non-stop cavalcade of wow-worthy spots today – it’s hard to believe this place wasn’t created with magic! 

Accommodation: La Niche d’Angkor Boutique Hotel (or similar), Siem Reap, Cambodia

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Chenla Kingdom & Village Life

Today you leave those big-bus-tourists in your dust as your group heads east out of town. You’re in for about a three-hour drive, but as the rice fields and pockets of thatch-rooved villages slip by your window view, you’ll arrive at the Isanborei Community in no time. Your local guide is there to meet you and they’ll bring with them a new perspective on daily rural-life as you wander the village together.  There’s time for a simple lunch here too. 

The temples of Sambor Prei Kuk date back to the pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom which laid the foundations for what later became the Khmer Empire. Scattered through the forest, these brick sanctuaries reflect an early stage of Khmer architecture and spirituality, dedicated to Hindu deities. This afternoon as you  wander through the forest with your guide brings its stories to life as you go. It feels less like arriving and more like discovering your own UNESCO-listed ruins. You’ll relish the chance to experience Cambodia’s ancient past without the crowds of Angkor. 

Accommodation: Glorious Hotel and Spa (or similar), Kampong Thom, Cambodia

Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 – Kratie & Island Life on the Mekong

By now, you’ve explored ancient temples, wandered villages and discovered Cambodia’s distinctive culture. Today, however, is day-eight and the adventure steps up when you’ll finally board a boat on the mighty Mekong River.

First, you’ll travel to the riverside town of Kratie this morning, where the Mekong becomes the star of the show. After settling in, cross the river by local wooden boat to the island of Koh Trong. Here, climb aboard a remok for a leisurely – if somewhat bumpy – ride, gaining a glimpse into the communities that call this stretch of the Mekong home.

As the afternoon light softens, return across the water with a newfound appreciation for the river that shapes so much of life here in Cambodia. This may be your first journey on the Mekong, but it certainly won’t be your last. Enjoy the simple comforts of your riverside base tonight. Kratie remains delightfully off the beaten path, and while the accommodation is modest, you’re right where the magic of the Mekong begins. 

Accommodation: Mekong Dolphin Hotel (or similar), Kratie, Cambodia

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 – Hello, Laos!

You’ll be bouncing out of bed this morning for two reasons – first, today is not only your day for a remote land-border-crossing and a new country – it’s also your moment for a true, local breakfast! Will you go full-on local? A bowl of Kuy Teav – that steamy pork broth packed with rice noodles and veg is a great go-to. Or will you tap into Cambodia’s French colonial vibe with Num Pang and crunch down on a fresh baguette stuffed with egg, pickles and maybe a dash of pâté?   

Bellies full, it’s about four hours of driving to the border, so make the most of that time reminiscing over your shared adventures with your Cambodian guide. There’ll be last minute hugs at the border and a smooth handover to your Laos guide. 

Next, you’ll meet Laos’s unique style head-on as you travel by boat along the Mekong River to the laid-back, river-island of Khone. Settle into your remote new home where the riverviews and the kindness of your hosts make this stay special. Dinner is as you please – this may be just the night for ordering an extra drink or two and staying up chatting with some of your MagExplorer mates. 

Accommodation: Sengahloune Resort (or similar), Khone Island, Laos

Included: Breakfast

Day 10 – Mekong Island Life

Today you’ll discover 4,000-Islands-life as you explore Don Khone and the waterways that surround it. Travelling by tuk-tuk and boat, there are surprising stories to be uncovered, including how French colonists attempted to navigate this untamed stretch of the Mekong, leaving behind remnants of a railway built to bypass the powerful waterfalls.

But history is only part of today’s story. Keep an eye on the water as you search for the endangered, freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin. And head out with fishermen  to their fishing grounds before dusk – you can even try your hand at catching tonight’s dinner! As the sun sets over the Mekong, gather around a crackling fire to hear local folklore before enjoying a barbecue feast on the riverbank the local way.

As the evening wraps up, you’ll leave for the resort with a full belly, new stories and the kind of memories that you’ll talk about long after your journey ends. 

Accommodation: Sengahloune Resort (or similar), Khone Island, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11 – The Slow Road to the Bolaven Plateau

Pack your bags, this morning you’ve got new horizons in your sights. A short boat ride brings you back to the mainland, where your driver is ready – destination: Bolaven Plateau. 

As you pull up to Khone Phapheng waterfalls, known as the Niagara of the East, it’s not so much the drop of the falls, but the breadth and power of the water that will have you gasping. The UNESCO Buddhist-Hindu temple ruin, Wat Phou is another stop that will have you stretching your legs and reaching for your camera. As always, your guide is on hand to help  you marry history and tradition with location – this time at a site that marks the easternmost border of the Khmer Empire and predates Angkor Wat. 

Check into your laid back resort and enjoy some well-earned free time.  No doubt you’ll be sharing laughs with some of your Explorer mates in that spectacular pool with a view.

Accommodation: Sabaidee Valley Resort (or similar), Bolaven Plateau, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 12 – Laos Coffee Region

Have you gotten your fill of breath-catching nature yet? We didn’t think so! So head out to where each turn is more scenic than the next. Watch one waterfall plunge into the jungle – or bring your swimmers for a dip at the bottom of another. Is it a perfect spot for a picnic lunch? Of course it is, we’ve got you sorted! 

Then it’s time for a pick-me-up with the help of Ms Souk at a family-owned coffee farm. You’re in the heart of Laos’ coffee region and you’ll see it all, learning each step of the coffee production process from cherry to cup, before getting the chance (of course!) to savour a freshly brewed cup of your own. 

Accommodation: Sabaidee Valley Resort (or similar), Bolaven Plateau, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 13 – Meeting Vientiane

The Mekong runs like a thread through your whole adventure, and today you’ll encounter it further north. A short lunchtime flight brings you to Vientiane, Laos’s relaxed capital where French-colonial buildings, golden Buddhist stupas and leafy boulevards give the city its distinctive laid-back feel.  

This evening, gather with your fellow Explorers for dinner and your first real taste of big-city Lao cuisine. Expect familiar flavours from your travels so far, reimagined with the variety and creativity that comes from the nation’s capital.

Accommodation: Mintra Hotel (or similar), Vientiane, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14 – Island Life and Buddhism

This morning you’re back on the river, stepping off on Don Xin Xu island, where time stands still. You’ll get to see what life on this island is like with the help of its classic vehicle, the tuk-tuk! It’s a belly laugh of a ride, bumping down, down the road to Mr York’s farm. His beaming face welcomes you, and you’ll no doubt hang on every one of his stories about life on the island. Eventually you’ll have to pull yourself away, so you can be back on your longboat in time to enjoy lunch as you float your way back to the city side of the river.

From island life to spiritual life as you explore some of Vientiane’s most significant cultural landmarks. At Wat Sisaket, discover the only temple to survive the Siamese invasion of 1828, while nearby Wat Ho Pha Kheo tells another chapter of the story, having once housed the revered Emerald Buddha. 

Accommodation: Mintra Hotel (or similar), Vientiane, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 – A Day in Vang Vieng

Pack your bags this morning because you’re headed north on a two-hour drive to Vang Vieng. After a quick stop at the hotel the adventure takes a local turn as you trade your bus for a longtail boat and a tuk-tuk.

Today is all about people. In a village where Khmu and Lao families live side by side, you’ll be welcomed into homes, hear personal stories and gain insights into their differing and similar traditions that remain an important part of daily life. From meeting a village blacksmith to sharing lunch with a local family and sampling traditional rice wine, the afternoon connects you to rural life in central Laos. 

There is time this afternoon to do as you please. Maybe you’d like to take a walk into town by crossing the Nam Song River. Don’t get too attached though, you’ll be back with your old friend, the Mekong, as soon as tomorrow.

Accommodation: Saksiri River Side Boutique Hotel (or similar), Vang Vieng, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16 – Luang Prabang by Fast Train

It’s time to take the train to Laos’ spiritual heart – Luang Prabang. While the train journey itself will take less than an hour, with transfers and airport-style check-in procedures means the trip will fill most of the morning.

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage City, and today you’ll understand why. Step across the threshold to ancient temples, where you could easily lose yourself in the 500 years of stunning gold accents, and turn down quaint side streets where traditional architecture meets French colonial fusion. Even better, your guide will help you chat with locals and soon you’ll understand why Laos’ culture is affectionately called PDR – Please Don’t Rush. 

Your PDR afternoon eventually leads you to the foot of Phousi Mountain. It’s said that if you haven’t climbed the 328 steps to the top to see the whole town, the winding river and billowing mountains beyond, you haven’t truly experienced the city.

Accommodation: Villa Maly Hotel (or similar), Luang Prabang, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 17 – Pak Ou Caves and a Lao Cookup

Who would have thought you’d begin one of your mornings at dawn, sitting on a small street in a village few tourists ever reach, watching a silent procession of saffron-robed monks  and even taking part in the giving of alms. 

Cambodian food mastered, now it’s time to try your hand at Laotian food. Mrs Noy will meet you at the local market, happy to take you under her wing. Collect fistfuls of green onions, lemongrass, lime leaf and cilantro before sailing across the Mekong to Mrs Noy’s village. Her family will be waiting to greet you! Learn to cook local delicacies in their humble kitchen. Spoiler: you’re going to want seconds. .  

Come afternoon, you’ll continue by boat upstream to Pak Ou Caves. As you step off the riverbank and into the dim light of the limestone caves at the top of the stairs, your eyes adjust to find hundreds, no, thousands, of Buddha statues and cave paintings, a testament to the devotion of the locals. Later, return to your base by boat, with a drink in hand and eating Lao snacks: a relaxed farewell on the Mekong as you glide downstream, reminiscing about journeys shared with your MagExplorers crew. 

Accommodation: Villa Maly Hotel (or similar), Luang Prabang, Laos

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Sundowners

Day 18 – Goodbye for Now

What a journey it’s been! Over the past 18 days, you’ve travelled backroads, navigated the Mekong, explored ancient ruins and island communities and experienced landscapes that can only be described as remarkable. 

As you pack away the last of your souvenirs, swap a few final photos and say your goodbyes, take a moment to reflect on the journey you’ve shared. The adventures may be behind you for now, but the memories – and the friendships – will stay with you long after you’ve returned home. La kon, and safe travels.

Included: Breakfast