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Segment Two of Southeast Asia Immersion

Southeast Asia Intro | Bali Details | Bali Itinerary | Mekong Details | Mekong Itinerary

Sept. 30 – Oct.11, 2023

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Day 1 (MEKONG) / Day 12 (SOUTHEAST ASIA IMMERSION): WELCOME!

Chào mừng bạn đến viet nam — Welcome to Vietnam!

• Friends who have continued to Mekong from Bali, enjoy a relaxed day of independent exploration in Ho Chi Minh City.
• New friends arriving to join us in Ho Chi Minh City, we welcome you!
• Welcome Reception with wine and snacks in the evening.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Day 2 / 13 :  HO CHI MINH CITY (Breakfast, Lunch)

Ho Chi Minh City, still affectionately referred to by locals as Saigon, is Vietnam’s former capital. Once known as the “Paris of the Orient,” it is now an industrial, cultural and educational hub. Always bustling, Ho Chi Minh City is a city of contrasts blending old and new, and east and west. 

• In the morning, explore some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the former Presidential Palace, the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants Museum 
• In the afternoon, visit Chu Chi, an immense underground network built during the Vietnam War

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3 / 14 : HO CHI MINH CITY – MY THO – EMBARKATION (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• In the morning, visit Ben Thanh Market—one of the oldest and most iconic structures in Ho Chi Minh City
• Transfer via motorcoach from Ho Chi Minh City to AmaDara at My Tho Port for your river cruise
• Meet your fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner as the ship cruises to Cai Be

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 4 / 15 : CAI BE – SA DEC (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Take a local boat to Cai Be
• Opportunity to visit candy and rice paper making workshops, as well as the historic Kiet Old House
• Later in the day, journey to Sa Dec, a sprawling town on the Mekong Delta, where French writer Marguerite Duras spent part of her youth
• Visit the colorful market, Cao Dai Temple and the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras’ Chinese paramour, on which her prize-winning novel, “The Lover,” is said to be based

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 5 / 16 : TAN CHAU – BORDER CROSSING (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 

• Enjoy a visit to Tan Chau, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism
• Be treated to an authentic experience on a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops, followed by a boat ride through the narrow channels of the Mekong River to “Evergreen Island”
• Alternatively, take a boat ride to Evergreen Island and return to Tan Chau, where you will visit a rattan mat workshop
• Later in the day, cruise from Vietnam to the Cambodian border en route to Phnom Penh

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 6 / 17 : PHNOM PENH – CAMBODIA (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 

• This morning’s optional tour takes you to Cambodia’s infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum)
• Alternatively, you may opt to shop for unique treasures at the bustling yellow-colored Central Market
• After lunch on board, you will explore the highlights of the city, followed by a visit to the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts
• After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 7 / 18 : OUDONG – KAMPONG TRALACH – PHNOM PENH (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Visit Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians.
• While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery
• Stroll around Oudong’s monastery, or take an active walking tour to see panoramic views of the Oudong plain
• In Kampong Tralach, you will have a truly authentic excursion – an oxcart ride through a local village
• Later in the day, experience Phnom Penh via a tuk ride and be enchanted by the city’s French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 8 / 19 : OKNHATEY – ANGKOR BAN (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• In the morning, set sail for Oknhatey Village. Oknhatey is the “Silk Island,” located on the lush banks of the Mekong River and known for its rich tradition of silk weaving
• While here, you will visit a local elementary school and observe the traditional silk weaving, an art that has been preserved for centuries
• Your cruise continues to sail to Angkor Ban

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 9 / 20 : ANGKOR BAN – KAMPONG CHAM (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 

• Go on a walking tour of Angkor Ban

Angkor Ban is one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here people still live in their traditional wooden abodes and keep their old cultural traditions alive. Hundreds of wooden houses stand intact on stilts, shaded with banana trees, among the hustle and bustle of the daily agricultural on-going of the local villagers.

• After visiting Angkor Ban, the ship sets sail for Kampong Cham, where you will go on an afternoon excursion via motorcoach to the Twin Mountains

The Twin Mountains are known as Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (male and female mountains). In the annals of Khmer legend, the twin mountains were formed as the result of a competition between the men and women of an ancient Cambodian kingdom to resolve which gender would be responsible for wedding proposals. 

• Cap the day off with a festive Farewell Dinner on board
• *Based on seasonality, the port of Angkor Ban may be inaccessible from August – September. During this time, Wat Hanchey will replace Angkor Ban as the port of call.

Overnight on board AmaDara.

Day 10 / 21 : DISEMBARKATION – KAMPONG CHAM – SIEM REAP (Breakfast, Dinner)

• Disembark in Kampong Cham and transfer by motorcoach to Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former capital of the Khmer empire
• You’ll visit nearby Ta Prohm, known as the “Kingdom of the Trees” for the way that the temple stones have become intertwined with thick forest vegetation

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11 / 22 : SIEM REAP – ANGKOR (Breakfast, Dinner)

• Begin your morning exploration of the temple complex at Angkor Wat, the most iconic of all Angkorian temples, built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to honor the Hindu god, Vishnu
• An afternoon excursion takes you to see the fascinating jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei, which means “Citadel of Women,” as it has been said that the carving is too fine to have been done by the hand of man
• During the evening, be treated to a special “Apsara Dancing Show” at your hotel, featuring local Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12 / 23 : DEPART SIEM REAP (Breakfast)

• After breakfast, you will have a guided sightseeing tour of Angkor Thom, meaning “the great city,” and the last capital of the Khmer Empire. This is home to Bayon Temple, best known for its gigantic smiling stone faces, as well as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.
• Later in the day, bid farewell to Siem Reap as you prepare for your return flight home.

If you wish to join the sightseeing tour to visit Angkor Thom in the morning, we recommend that you schedule your return flight to depart Siem Reap after 3:00 pm to avoid potential missed connections.

រហូតដល់​ពេល​យើង​ជួបគ្នា​ម្តង​ទៀត — until we meet again!

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All participants in the full 23-day Immersion enjoy a $500 credit toward flight, ground transport, and hotel on 9/29/23, the transition day between trips.

Southeast Asia Intro | Bali Details | Bali Itinerary | Mekong Details | Mekong Itinerary

Segment One of Southeast Asia Immersion

Southeast Asia Intro | Bali Details | Bali Itinerary | Mekong Details | Mekong Itinerary

September 19-29, 2023

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Day 1 : WELCOME! (Dinner)

Rahajeng rauh ring Bali — Welcome to Bali!

Ubud is a thriving village in central Bali that is considered the cultural capital of this tiny island. It is a hub of art and traditional crafts, and much of the village and nearby areas consist of artists’ workshops and galleries. Here you find remarkable architecture as well as historical museums, artists, and an array of interesting cafes, local foods, and ceremonies. The word Ubud comes from the Balinese word for medicine, so it is here that people flock for healing energies, good spirits, meditation, yoga, artistry, and indigenous knowledge.

• Arrive in Denpasar City in the early afternoon
• Transfer to Ubud village
• Settle into the hotel, freshen up, and relax 
• Enjoy your first taste of Balinese cuisine at our welcome dinner, then off to a good night’s sleep

Overnight in Ubud.

Day 2 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 

• Morning yoga and meditation session
• Orientation to Bali, focusing on practical, helpful tips for your time on the island as well as an introduction to Balinese culture and philosophy
• Lunch together at a local Balinese restaurant
• Private tour and coffee with Agung Rai, the founder and visionary behind the world-renowned ARMA Museum, home to an outstanding collection of traditional Balinese art
• Dinner in town together

Overnight in Ubud.

Day 3 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Stroll through winding paths in the lush jungle and through terraced rice paddies on an herbal walk to learn about Bali’s native plants and how they’re used for traditional medicine, food, and body care products
• Yoga and meditation session
• Lunch together at a local restaurant in town
• Join a fun introductory cultural workshop in a village banjar, or community center

The banjar is where villagers prepare offerings and foods for ceremonies, meet and discuss village affairs, practice music and dance, and just hang out and chat with each other. We invite teachers of traditional Balinese gamelan music, Legong dance, woodcarving, and offering-making to give participants an introduction to each of these disciplines. You’ll quickly learn that the intricate finger and eye movements of Legong dance only look easy and that keeping a steady hand while woodcarving is no easy feat! All of the activities you’ll try are central to Balinese culture, and there is no better place to experience them than right in the banjar.

• Put on your special Balinese outfit to attend an exclusive Royal Palace tour & dinner at the Peliatan Palace
• Prince Cokorda Agung Krisna Dalem, one of the young Royal Family Balinese Princes located in Peliatan Palace, will meet personally with your group and spend an evening in fascinating discussions about issues facing Bali and its culture in the 21st century
• Evening performance of traditional Balinese Legong dance

Overnight in Ubud.

Day 4 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Morning yoga and meditation session
• Tour and presentation at Bumi Sehat, a natural birth clinic and non-profit foundation that has a mission of reducing maternal and child mortality in Indonesia. The clinic’s founder, Robyn Lim, was recognized in 2011 as CNN’s Hero of the Year.
• Lunch together at a delicious local restaurant
• Afternoon at a local Women’s Center, where you’ll hear the founder’s story and learn about her dream to create a space where Balinese women can support each other and learn new skills
• Dinner catered by the women’s center, featuring their amazing range of traditional vegetarian Balinese dishes and fusion cuisine

Overnight in Ubud.

Day 5 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch)

• Morning yoga and meditation session
• Head to Cantika, a serene spa in the jungle that overlooks a rushing river valley. Here you’ll experience a workshop on how to make skincare products from natural ingredients. At the end of the workshop enjoy a facial or massage using products created on-site using ingredients from their garden.
• Visit to Tirta Empul holy spring temple, considered a sacred site by the Balinese people to purify the soul and mind
• Dinner on your own, to try out any of the many amazing restaurants in Ubud that catches your eye!
• Enjoy your final evening in Ubud to explore, shop, or relax

Overnight in Ubud.

Day 6 : UBUD – PEMUTERAN (Breakfast, Lunch)

Pemuteran is a small fishing village on the northwest coast of Bali. It lies between a gorgeous mountainous region to the south and Menjangan Island in the north, an area considered one of the top dive sites in the world. Pemuteran has the largest area of shallow coral reefs in Bali and is easily accessible, free of strong currents and waves, making it perfect for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Pemuteran is home to the largest artificial coral reef project in the world, and the village’s model of community-based tourism and conservation has been recognized by the United Nations.

• Morning yoga and meditation session
• Head to Pemuteran, sightseeing along the way
• Visit the historical Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, renowned for its appearance of floating atop Lake Beratan
• Lunch together in Bedugul, a cool, mountainous region
• Feel the cool misty air or take a dip at a rushing waterfall en route to Pemuteran
• Settle into your accommodations and enjoy dinner on your own

Overnight in Pemuteran.

Day 7 : PEMUTERAN (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Morning yoga and meditation session
• Experience a presentation on the Biorock Coral Restoration Project, an amazing initiative using technology to speed the growth of coral reefs
• Snorkel over the coral restoration project
• Lunch together at a local restaurant
• Visit a local turtle hatchery where they are working toward increasing the number of sea turtles in Bali’s oceans
• Enjoy a special dinner with a local Balinese family at their home
• Go on a special night trip to Melanting Temple, Bali’s temple for prosperity

Overnight in Pemuteran.

Day 8 : PEMUTERAN (Breakfast, Lunch)

• Head out on a boat trip to Menjangan Island, a small island that is home to one of the world’s most biodiverse arrays of coral reefs and marine life in the world
• Spend the morning snorkeling over the reefs
• Lunch on the island
• Head to a different side of the island for another opportunity to snorkel over another diverse coral site
• Visit a traditional healer who specializes in channeling spirits
• Dinner on your own

Overnight in Pemuteran.

Day 9 : PEMUTERAN – SANUR (Breakfast, Lunch)

Sanur is a seaside town in southeast Bali made up of a long stretch of beach with calm, shallow waters. Colorful jukung fishing boats rest on the sand and a paved path snakes along the beach for several kilometers. Sanur is home to great restaurants (many with live music), a wide variety of shops, and a relaxed atmosphere despite being closer to the major cities of south Bali. It’s a perfect spot to pick up last-minute gifts, lounge by the beach or the pool, explore sights along the beach walkway, and enjoy a final sunset dinner in Bali.

• Morning yoga and meditation session in Pemuteran
• Head to Sanur, stopping along the way
• Take a break along the drive at a coffee plantation, and try many unique varieties of coffees and teas grown there
• Stop for lunch at a restaurant tucked among the rice paddies
• Arrive in Sanur and settle into your beachfront hotel
• Dinner on your own

Overnight in Sanur.

Day 10 : SANUR (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Go to the morning market to gather ingredients and try your hand at making some delicious traditional Balinese and Indonesian dishes in a cooking class
• Enjoy your culinary creations from the cooking class for lunch
• The afternoon is free to relax, swim, or do some last-minute souvenir shopping in the markets
• Final Balinese sunset dinner together on the beach

Overnight in Sanur.

Day 11: FAREWELL, BALI (Breakfast)

• Prepare for journeys home, or onward to the charms of the Mekong! Exchange contact info with new friends, and reflect on the memories you created in vibrant Bali.

Tyang nglungsur mepamit, Bali — Farewell, Bali!

Continue to Southeast Asia Immersion Segment Two:

CHARMS OF THE MEKONG

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All participants in the full 23-day Immersion enjoy a $500 credit toward flight, ground transport, and hotel on 9/29/23, the transition day between trips.

Southeast Asia Intro | Bali Details | Bali Itinerary | Mekong Details | Mekong Itinerary