This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.
This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
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Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand!
On arrival, you will be greeted by your transfer driver at Suvarnabhumi Airport and taken to your hotel for check in.
Please note: Some flights may depart your home city the night before
Enjoy a relaxing day at your leisure to explore Thailand’s capital or join in an optional tour as outlined below.
Bangkok dazzles with tuk tuks, a lively river precinct, skyscrapers, great shopping and ancient traditions. Maybe surprise your taste buds with amazing local flavours served up by a street food vendor before wandering down Khao San Road or indulging in a Thai massage. Cap off the day by enjoying the sunset in any number of the riverside or rooftop bars.
Explore the dazzling Grand Palace, a great architectural masterpiece comprising several buildings from the outside and a magical inside, which was used as a royal residence from the 18th to mid-20th century. It is without any doubt a national reference and possibly the most visited royal monument of Thailand, which shouldn’t be missed. The building houses the Wat Po, Bangkok's oldest temple, in which is located the famous gold leaf-covered reclining Buddha.
Today, visit the former capital Ayutthaya, a historic city awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for the splendour of its archaeological ruins and temples. Behold this once vast inland city including Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Wat Phanan Choeng and Wat Mahathat. Board a traditional long tail boat to observe the city from a different perspective. After lunch, check-in to your hotel in Phitsanulok. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon after a big day of sightseeing.
After breakfast, make a quick stop at Wat Mahathat in Phitsanulok to visit the splendid Phra Buddha Chinnarat. Continue on to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, housing what many consider to be the most beautiful wooden Lanna Temple in Northern Thailand. Ascend the staircase to admire the temple’s bronze Buddha statue. Enjoy lunch locally before travelling to Chiang Mai.
This morning, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples located on a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. To reach the temple, you’ll have to climb the 309-step staircase (or simply use the cable car). Later, browse the shops on San Kamphaeng Road, a 10 km-long precinct selling local goods such as pottery, silverware, jewellery, silk products and lots more. Watch artisans at work producing good quality items. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before returning to the hotel to relax or spend the afternoon exploring more of Chiang Mai.
This morning you will leave Chiang Mai for the short drive to Lamphun. Upon arrival, visit the magnificent, thousand-year-old Wat Phra That Hariphunchai Temple to see the Buddha statues and impressive stupas, including the 46-metre Lanna-style golden Chedi and the 21-metre-tall Hariphunchai-style Chedi.
Continue south to visit Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which contains the ruins of the ancient capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom founded in the 13th century.
Depart for Lopburi after breakfast for a visit to Phra Pang Sam Yot, the ruins of the ancient Khmer temple, and the adjacent Brahman shrine San Phra Kan, known as the ‘Monkey Temple’. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing on to Bangkok for check-in at your hotel.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and some last minute shopping in Bangkok, before being transferred to the airport for the flight to Hanoi – the Capital of Vietnam. Upon arrival at the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the bustling streets of this northern Vietnamese city.
After breakfast, its time for a lively tour of the exciting streets of Hanoi.
Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda) and the 1500 year old pagoda of Tran Quoc Pagoda, originally constructed in the 6th Century.
Enjoy lunch before a free afternoon where you’re free to continue exploring this fabulous city.
At one of Hanoi's authentic local restaurants, taste Australian beef prepared by the talented hands of local chefs. Enjoy local dishes prepared using Australian beef in a unique Vietnamese style.
Today, travel by coach through the rich, verdant farmlands of the Red River Delta to arrive at Halong Bay. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Halong Bay’s spectacular scatter of islands, dotted with wind and wave-eroded grottoes, is a stunning escape from the city.
Board your ship for the night, and set sail. The thousands of limestone islands filled with caves are the iconic image of this region. The sails of junks and sampans on the clear waters of the bay form a magnificent scene. Enjoy the opportunity to visit some of the hidden grottoes beneath the towering cliffs to get an up close view of this natural wonderland.
Wake early this morning, and if you’re feeling nimble, participate in Tai Chi on deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands.
Enjoy a rousing local vietnamese coffee (or tea), before setting out to explore some nearby islands by rowboat. Return in time for breakfast and take advantage of the sundeck to admire the peace and views that make Halong Bay famous. Enjoy a light lunch before sailing back to shore. Your driver will then meet you at the jetty for your drive back to Hanoi.
Today, transfer to the airport for the two hour flight south to Ho Chi Minh City.
This flight is unescorted. On arrival you will be met by your guide. Start this section of your holiday with a guided tour around central Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) Spot Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office before a visit the War Remnant Museum and soak up the atmosphere of Ben Thanh market, one of Ho Chi Minh’s liveliest. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore further.
Dinner on Saigon River Cruise offers an opportunity to witness another side of Saigon.. Hop on your wooden barge and sail down the river. Feel the gentle breeze caressing your skin and enjoy a lovely dinner accompanied by the traditional music and dance performances.
Enjoy a free day to explore the city in more detail or enjoy one of the optional tours as below.
Embark on a cruise on the Ben Tre River visiting local brickworks, a local coconut processing workshop and village to witness traditional handicrafts. Continue taking a motor cart (xe lôi) or cycling through the green rice fields and vegetable plains. Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant. In the afternoon, sail back to Hung Vuong Pier for your return to the city.
During the Vietnam War, guerrilla fighters built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. Today, the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction, giving visitors a unique understanding of what life was like during the Vietnam War.
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Welcome home. We hope you have had an amazing adventure.
We offer two payment options – the choice is yours. Our advertised price is based on our 'Pay in Full' option, which includes a discount by making full payment at the time of booking. Alternatively, choose our 'Installment Payment Plan' option for the flexibility of incremental payments, beginning with a low deposit.
Please click 'Book Now' and proceed to the payment page to select your preferred option under the heading ‘Choose how to pay’. The total due will be reflected accordingly.
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Booking Process
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $950.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Land Only
This package is unable to be sold without the airfares included.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
2-30 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
Please note that flights for this package are arranged on our behalf by our local travel partner. The best available flights will be booked for you and will be sent along with your tour documentation approximately 2 weeks before departure.
Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?
No, due to the nature of this package and that airfares are arranged by our travel partner, flights will be booked as per the package and an extension of stay is not permitted.
Can I request a specific airline?
Requests to fly with a specific airline or on a specific flight schedule cannot be taken into consideration, with the best available option being booked.
Conditions of flights for this package:
Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points
Inspiring Vacations and our partners do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.
