Southeast Asia in Style

(19 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Hong Kong, Hanoi, Hoi An, Saigon, Siem Reap (Angkor), Chiang Mai

This luxury tour is designed for travelers wanting the most comprehensive and luxurious tour of Southeast Asia.

Begin in Hong Kong, one of Asia's most attractive and exciting cities, with a spectacular skyline, beautiful harbors and beaches, superb restaurants, bustling markets and much more. Stay in a select room at The Peninsula and enjoy unbeatable views across Victoria Harbor. With your expert private guide and driver, learn about the historic buildings and modern skyscrapers in Central. Tour interesting residential neighborhoods in the hills. Take a scenic drive along the beautiful coastline. Dine on dim sum at teahouses, and enjoy reservations at one of Hong Kong's most exclusive restaurants—a showcase of fine Cantonese food, art and design. Learn about traditional Chinese medicine at local spice and herb markets. Perhaps watch a horse race at Happy Valley Racetrack, enjoy private appointments at leading antique shops or with noted designers, or get fitted for custom clothing at our favorite tailors.

Continue to Hanoi, Vietnam's fascinating capital and intellectual center. During private touring, visit the city's most important historical attractions, such as the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, the House on Stilts and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Take an in-depth tour of Hanoi's incredible Old Quarter, where each street was historically dedicated to a specific trade or material, such as bamboo, silk and lacquer. While touring the narrow streets, learn about the history of the Old Quarter and its traditional architecture, and see how it has transformed into a fashionable district with cafes, art galleries and boutiques featuring the finest Vietnamese design and style. Explore Hoan Kiem Lake and leafy backstreets lined with beautiful French colonial-era buildings, many of which are now upscale restaurants. If desired, also visit Hanoi's top museums, such as the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. One day, meet a culinary expert to tour one of Hanoi's excellent markets and sample local street food specialties like bun cha (barbecued pork with noodles) and pho cuon (fresh herb and beef rolls). Also attend a performance of Hanoi's renowned water puppet show, or attend a performance at the landmark Hanoi Opera House.

Next, fly to Hoi An, an atmospheric port town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stay at a luxury beachfront resort, and experience the best of this centuries-old town during private touring. Visit the vibrant morning market, where stalls are piled high with fresh fish and produce. Explore the colorful backstreets, and tour well-preserved historic homes, temples, the Japanese Covered Bridge and other interesting attractions. Perhaps visit a local tailor for custom-made silk clothing, a Hoi An specialty, and enjoy a boat ride on the river. Also visit the nearby Museum of Cham Sculpture, as well as the Marble Mountains, which contain Buddhist cave temples. Upon request, we can arrange additional activities in and near Hoi An, such as visits to local villages, cooking lessons and farm visits, an excursion to the Cham ruins in My Son, biking through the countryside, or a silk lantern-making lesson at a Confucian temple. There will also be time to relax and enjoy your resort's beautiful architecture, spa and beach.

Spend the next two nights in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam's most dynamic city. With an expert private guide and driver, learn about the city's history while touring French colonial-era landmarks, as well as the mid-century Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Visit interesting neighborhoods like Cholon (Saigon's Chinatown) and explore busy markets and temples. Perhaps stop for a refreshing Vietnamese iced coffee, or snack on a typical Vietnamese banh mi (baguette sandwich). If desired, browse the boutiques of Vietnamese designers and renowned art galleries and museums. One day, take an excursion into the countryside to tour the Mekong Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels and observe a colorful religious ceremony at the Cao Dai Temple. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange additional activities such as river boat rides, meeting with historians, visits to private homes, private musical performances, philanthropic activities, art and design touring, private cooking classes and tasting tours, and more.

Next, fly to Siem Reap to explore incredible Angkor, the wondrous ruins of the ancient Khmer empire. With your private guide, tour the most interesting parts of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Angkor Wat, an enormous temple city built as a model of the Hindu universe in stone; Angkor Thom, an ancient capital filled with iconic sites such as the Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King; Ta Prohm, a temple being devoured by the jungle; and serene Preah Khan, a former monastery and school. Also visit Banteay Srei, a petite temple with elaborate carvings in pink sandstone, and other lesser-known temples. One day, visit more remote temples or enjoy an excursion to Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake and an ecological wonder. Enjoy a boat cruise among the lake's floating villages, markets and gardens. Also cruise through the flooded forest to learn about the Tonle Sap ecosystem and spot birds and other wildlife.

This spectacular tour concludes in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Stay at an exclusive luxury resort surrounded by mountains and lush fields of terraced rice paddies. During private touring, visit a revered mountaintop temple and see monks collecting their morning alms. One day, take an excursion to an elephant sanctuary and learn about these fascinating animals. Also explore Chiang Mai's historic temples and wonderful markets. Other optional activities can be arranged, upon request, such as golfing, hiking, biking, shopping excursions, family activities, in-depth Buddhist experiences, cooking classes, rice planting and more.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Hong Kong VIP airport assistance. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 2 Hong Kong Full-day private city tour Day 3 Hong Kong Half-day private city tour or excursion to nearby island Day 4 Hong Kong – Hanoi, Vietnam Private transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi (flight not included in cost). Fast-track assistance through immigration. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 5 Hanoi Full-day private city tour. Evening water puppet or opera house performance Day 6 Hanoi Half-day flexible private touring and shopping Day 7 Hanoi – Hoi An Private transfer to airport for flight to Da Nang. Private arrival transfer to Hoi An resort for 3 nights Day 8 Hoi An Private tour of Hoi An, including river boat cruise Day 9 Hoi An Morning private tour of local villages Day 10 Hoi An – Saigon Private transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Saigon. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights. Afternoon private city tour Day 11 Saigon Full-day private city tour or full-day private excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple or to Mekong Delta Day 12 Saigon – Siem Reap, Cambodia Private transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap. Fast-track assistance through immigration. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Sunset private tour of ruins Day 13 Siem Reap Private touring of temples and ruins Day 14 Siem Reap Private touring and private cruise on Tonle Sap Lake Day 15 Siem Reap – Chiang Mai, Thailand Private transfer to airport for flight to Bangkok. VIP airport assistance through immigration and connecting flight to Chiang Mai. Private arrival transfer to resort for 4 nights Day 16 Chiang Mai Half-day private tour, including option for sunrise alms-giving Day 17 Chiang Mai Private excursion to elephant sanctuary or cultural touring. Private evening visit to night market Day 18 Chiang Mai Morning market visit and Thai cooking lesson or private cultural touring Day 19 Depart Chiang Mai Private airport transfer. VIP departure assistance

Hotels

Hong Kong: The Peninsula Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong or The Upper House Hanoi: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel or Capella Hanoi Hoi An: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai Saigon: Park Hyatt Saigon or The Reverie Saigon Siem Reap: Amansara or Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor Chiang Mai: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Cost

$27,910 Per person (double occupancy)