Ultimate Southeast Asia

• Meet an EF representative at the airport and head to your accommodations.
• Get the latest schedule and info from your Tour Director.
• Get to know the other travelers as they arrive—tomorrow we have a DAY.

• Join your local guide to walk by sites like Hoan Kiem Lake and the 36 winding streets of the Old Quarter.
• Introduce your taste buds to pho, an authentic (and delicious) noodle soup.
• Stop for a traditional egg coffee, a frothy delight made with an egg yolk and sweetened condensed milk.
• Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your group at an authentic local spot.

Ask Your Tour Director

• How to get around: No matter which destination you’re in, they’ll be able to advise you on the safest and most efficient ways to navigate the area.
• What night markets to visit: These staples of Southeast Asia are constantly evolving, and your Tour Director can point you to the best ones for shopping, dining, or nightlife.
• How to haggle: They can tell you what can and can’t be negotiated for, where to start respectful counteroffers, and when to walk away.
• Where to do laundry: Many hotels offer laundry services, but if you’re willing to sacrifice a little convenience for a better price, your Tour Director can help you find different spots throughout the trip.

• Set your sights on the 2,000 tiny islands and dozens of caves that speckle the bay.
• Stop at Ti Top Island and hit the beach or hike to the top for a panoramic view.
• Swim your way through the breathtaking turquoise water.
• Grab your phone for the best photo ops of the trip (and maybe your life).

• Make a stop to explore Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave in Ha Long Bay. Legend has it that a few of the massive stalactites are the sword and horse of the famous hero Thanh Giong, and he left them there to protect the area from demons.
• Admire a sweeping view of the view from a lookout point before returning to the boat and continuing back to the mainland.
• Fly to Da Nang and continue by bus to Hoi An.

• Follow your Tour Director through the charming town.
• Admire the beautiful buildings influenced by the French, Chinese, and Japanese.
• Take a spin in a coracle boat—a basket boat that’s been used by local fishermen for generations.

Bahn mi: This signature Vietnamese sandwich reflects the county’s French colonial history and is made with baguette, meat, pickled veggies, herbs, spicy chilis, and sometimes paté. YUM.

Tailored clothes: Have a new outfit custom-made by one of Hoi An’s world-renowned tailors.

• Bike through the peaceful countryside to the village of Tra Que, a key producer of vegetables and spices for over 400 years.
• Meet a local farmer, sip on a locally-grown herbal tea, and enjoy a small meal.

An Bang Beach: Keep the tranquil vibes going and relax in the sun on a stretch of white sand, take a dip in the South China Sea, and grab a sunset drink at one of the nearby bars.

Golden Bridge: Ride a cable car to this world-famous spot where two giant hands hold up a golden pedestrian bridge, located in the Ba Na Hills amusement park.

Coffee: Vietnam is the world's second largest coffee exporter after Brazil. Sip on the sweetened Vietnamese version at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s 700+ coffee shops.

War Remnants Museum: Learn about the histories of the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War through exhibits featuring photographs and historical artifacts.

• Visit Independence Palace, the former presidential palace of South Vietnam.
• Stop at the Notre Dame cathedral and one of the prettiest post offices you’ll ever see, complete with a street of open-air coffee shops and indie bookstores right next to it.

Bitexco Tower: Get 360° views of Ho Chi Minh City from the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor of the second tallest building in Vietnam.

Bui Vien Street: Head to one of the city’s most iconic spots for a night of neon lights, oontz oontz music, and mouth-watering street food.

• Crawl the same tunnels used by guerrilla fighters in the Vietnam War.
• Learn about how different traps and weapons were created by Viet Cong soldiers.
• Discover the remnants of Cu Chi that stand as evidence of the fierce battle that took place.
• Hop on a bus and head back to Ho Chi Minh City.

• Take a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
• Spend the afternoon at Southeast Asia’s largest lake, Tonle Sap, known for floating villages, endangered species, and freshwater fishing industry.
• Admire the villages of Kampong Phluk, where 3,000 people live in homes on stilts.
• Embark on an evening cruise for sunset lake views.

• Catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, and four times as big as the Vatican.
• Head to Ta Prohm, the ethereal temple where Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was filmed.
• Continue to the temple of Bayon and goggle at its ornate bas-relief carvings and 54 Gothic towers.
• Return to Siem Reap for a wide-open afternoon.

Wat Bo: A good time to visit this 18th century temple, one of the oldest in Siem Reap, and its beautiful gardens, is between 4 and 6pm to hear the monks chanting.

Pub Street: When the sun goes down on the temples, Siem Reap comes alive with pubs, clubs, cocktail bars, and restaurants. Where else can you try fried tarantula?

Ask Your Tour Director

• About the other Angkor temples: You may have only scratched the surface of the Angkor complex, but there’s endless fascinating history amongst the rest.
• About the local cuisine: Cambodian food is seriously underrated, and they’ll be able to point you towards some tasty dishes you’ve probably never heard of.
• What modern-day life is like: A lot of learning in Cambodia tends to revolve around ancient history or the Khmer Rouge. But your Tour Director can help you get a better understanding of what daily life is like now.

Silver Pagoda: Named for the five tons of silver that covers the floor, this glittering pagoda features two Buddhas: one diamond-encrusted and solid gold, one covered in green crystals.

Royal Palace: Next to the Silver Pagoda is the official royal residence of the king, a striking riverfront complex with classic peaked Khmer roofs and ornate accents.

• Learn about the brutality of the Khmer Rouge on a guided tour of the Tuol Seng Genocide Museum. 
• See Choeung Ek, the best known of the genocide’s Killing Fields where thousands were executed and buried. 
• Recalibrate during a free evening in Phnom Penh—tomorrow you’re off to Laos.

• Fly into Vientiane, the country’s capital and largest city. 
• Take the afternoon to explore and grab some lunch—Laotians eat more sticky rice than anyone in the world, so that’s probably a good place to start.

Pha That Luang: Take a moment to gawk at this golden temple that’s the most important national monument of Laos and the country’s national symbol.

Patuxai: Known as the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane, Patuxai is a huge monument honoring Laotian soldiers who died during World War II and the war of independence from France.

• Watch the Laotian landscape pass by on a morning bus ride to Vang Vieng. 
• Spend the afternoon hiking through the area’s stunning limestone mountains.

Nam Xay viewpoint: Hike 30 minutes for breathtaking views of Vang Vieng’s surrounding cliffs, forests, rice fields, and a mysterious motorbike locals placed at the summit.

Tham Chang cave: Easily walkable from town, the chambers of this cave feature stalactites, stalagmites, a Buddha shrine, and a nearby spring with a small lagoon.

Rice fields: A 20-minute walk from town are the wildly picturesque rice fields in Vieng Tara. Many bridges require payment to cross, but there are a couple free ones.

Kaeng Nyui waterfall: There are actually three waterfalls with swimming holes to discover here—Kaeng Nyui, the beautiful Kenlon Falls, and an unnamed lil guy.

• Rest up on a train journey north to Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos.
• See the preserved temples, traditional wooden houses, and colonial architecture that make the town a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Admire the Royal Palace, now a museum, which houses the country’s most famous image of Buddha.

Sunset views: Pull up a chair at one of the many riverside restaurants and watch the sun go down over the Mekong River.

Night market: Hunt for souvenirs, inhale some local eats, or just poke around the stalls at one of the biggest night markets in Laos.

Ask Your Tour Director

• How to see the alms giving ceremony: They can tell you how early you need to get up and how to be respectful for viewing the sacred ritual of monks setting out from the monasteries to receive offerings of food from locals.

Mount Phousi: Climb the 300 stairs to the top of Luang Prabang’s sacred hill for panoramic views of the town and surrounding valley.

Riverview Park: Take a break from the touristy buzz of the town and contemplate life at this serene park where the Mekong River meets the Nam Khan.

• Board your boat bound for Pak Beng, where you’ll spend the night, and enjoy a French breakfast. 
• Gawk at over 6,000 Buddha statues at Pak Ou Caves, one of the country’s most important pilgrimage sites. 
• Dig into a traditional Lao lunch on board as you cruise down the Mekong. 
• Stop at Ban Baw Village, famous for its harmonic mix of three ethnicities—and its lao-lao rice whisky.

Card games: You’re going to have a lot of down time on the boat, and this can be a great bonding experience to disconnect and play some games with your fellow travelers. So consider packing a deck of cards or other easily-portable games.

Reading: Bring a book on this trip, buy one during your first couple weeks of traveling, or have a device loaded with some e-books.

• Reboard your boat and continue upstream to Huay Xai.
• Watch a chef demonstrate how to make Lao desserts and local drinks to enjoy in the afternoon.
• Visit Ban Houay Phalam, a traditional Kamu village, to learn about their rural lifestyle.
• Time for Thailand! Disembark at Huay Xai and bus to your overnight accommodations in Chiang Rai.

• Hop on your bus bound for Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand.
• Visit the ornate white temple, Wat Rong Khun, and grab lunch. The outside of the temple is straight out of a fantasy, but also make sure to look closely at the…unique art on the walls inside.
• Enjoy a traditional kantoke dinner and show with your group.

• Visit Wat Suan Dok Temple, which has been a center of Buddhist education for centuries.
• Ask a monk anything at an open forum and gain better insight into Buddhist life.
• Climb the 306 steps to get to the famous Buddhist temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
• Take in the vistas of Chiang Mai and the emerald green forests below.

• Spend the morning learning about and observing Asian elephants. 
• Enjoy a free afternoon and evening in Chiang Mai or join an optional Muay Thai boxing class.

Wororot Market: If you love shopping and eating, you’ll be in heaven here. There are tons of food vendors, plus souvenirs, clothing, ceramics, handicrafts, and more.

Lumphini Park: As the first public park in Thailand, this tree-filled urban oasis features walking paths and a lake where you can rent boats.

Khao San Road: A pedestrian-only street famous in Bangkok for its nightlife, where you’ll find countless restaurants, bars, discos, shops, and street-food vendors.

• Get to know Bangkok on a guided sightseeing tour of the city.
• Visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located on the grounds of the Grand Palace, and say hey to a very famous green figurine that many believe protects the Kingdom of Thailand.
• Soak in some ancient history at the Temple of Dawn, a colorful sanctuary on the banks of the Chao Phraya that’s been around since the 17th century.
• Coast through canals on a boat tour and see why gelato has nothing to do with Bangkok being referred to as the “Venice of the East.”

• Head to the world-famous Damnoen Saduak floating markets, located in a bustling village outside of the city.
• Explore the maze of narrow canals by boat and test your haggling skills with the vendors.
• Shop around and pick up some souvenirs for your friends and fam back home.

National Museum: Soak up even more Thai history, art, and culture at one of the biggest museums in Southeast Asia.

Chinatown: Spend some time exploring the area’s colorful alleyways, visiting historic temples, and of course, eating all the street food.

Big Buddha: And when we say big, we mean BIG—this Buddha comes in at 148 feet tall. Hike up from Karon Beach and catch your breath while enjoying sweeping ocean views.

Bangla Road: When the sun goes down, and the roads close to vehicle traffic, Bangla Road is the place to be. Loud music. Cheap beer. Neon lights. Basically an outdoor club.

• Float through the turquoise water and see if you can count all 42 islands. 
• Kayak in tidal caves and marvel at the surrounding limestone cliffs. 
• Release decorative flower floats called Kratongs into the naturally luminescent water after dark for a truly unique experience. 
• Enjoy an included buffet lunch and dinner on your dreamy excursion.

Thai food: Seafood in Phuket is ICONIC, so you’d be missing out if you didn’t try some Tom Yam Goong or spicy shrimp soup, lobster, crab, or fresh oysters.

Beaches: Post up on the sand, grab a fruity drink, and slather on the SPF at some of the world’s best beaches, which are located on the island’s southern and west coasts.

Hiking: Get yourself on a guided hike to see cascading waterfalls, animals, caverns, and maybe even the world’s biggest flower, a Rafflesia.

Khao Sok Village: This little town is the main base for visiting the park, full of resorts, restaurants, and spots to sit and enjoy the scenery of the Sok River.

• Take in the majesty of the cliffs from a traditional long-tail boat.
• See the Ratchaprapha Dam and the Three Brothers, the most famous rock formation on the lake.
• Eat an included lunch on a floating raft restaurant. Yep, you read that right.
• Catch a glimpse of macaques, gibbons, and hundreds of bird species as you swim and canoe around the lake.

Wat Tham Phanthurat: Nicknamed the “Monkey Temple” because it’s overrun by, you guessed it, monkeys, this Buddhist site is a short walk from Khao Sok Village.

The great outdoors: There’s truly no end to the alfresco adventure here, so get back out into the park for more hiking, kayaking, swimming, and wildlife-gawking.

• Board a quick flight back to Bangkok.  
• Check off any final to-dos from your bucket list or get some rest for your journey. 
• Share a few laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at a Farewell Dinner with your group.