Thailand, Cambodia & Laos
The Best of Southeast Asia
with Humanitarian Photojournalist Karl Grobl
Jan 18 - Feb 2, 2014
Cost: $5975 (+ $475 for 3
flights: Bangkok - Chiang Rai, Luang Prabang - Siem Reap & Phnom Penh -
Bangkok), includes airport transfers, all ground transport, boat
trips, all 15 nights hotel accommodations, breakfasts and dinners, 2
lunches, entrance-fees at tourist sites, dinner shows, and local guides.
The price is based on double occupancy.
A single supplement of $725 applies.
Trip Leader: Karl Grobl -The trip will be limited to 9 participants.
Southeast Asia has long been a favored destination for adventurous travelers. On this trip we visit some of the most interesting and photogrenic locations in the region. we begin in the Kingdom of Thailand with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty and inspiring temples. Throughour our adventure, Thailand's warm hospitality, its world renowned cuisine, and its friendly people will delight and inspire us. Next it's on to Laos for an unparraleled glimpse of traditional Southeast Asian life. From the fertile lowlands of the Mekong River valley to the fascinating French colonial town of Luang Prabang, sleepy little Laos is certainly one of the highlights of Southeast Asia.
Next we're off to Cambodia, which has finally emerged from decades of war and isolation and is now truly on the Southeast Asian travel map. Our first stop is Siem Reap, the gateway to the ancient temples of Angkor, the most important archeological site in Southeast Asia. Finally it's off to Phnom Penh for our final exploration and an unforgettable stop at the famous and photographer friendly Foreign Correspondent's Club.
We will start our tour in Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capitol city where we will explore the Grand Palace, cruise Bangkok's canals, and photograph vendors in the floating markets. Then it's off to northern Thailand where we visit and photograph hill tribes including the famous Karen Long Neck tribe. From northern Thailand we embark on a two day boat journey down the mysterious Mekong river to Luang Prabang, Laos. During our boat journey we will be traversing and photographing largely unexplored areas of the rural Laotian countryside, still rich in traditions and authentic Southeast Asian culture. After a breathtaking two days on the river we emerge in Luang Prabang, one of the most beautifully preserved French colonial towns in Asia with its green hills and gold temples; where every day, hundreds of Buddhist monks take their morning alms walk through town.
New! - Karl's slide show of the 2009 tour click here
Karl's slide show of the 2008 tour group 1 click here
Karl's slide show of the 2008 tour group 2 click here
To view Karl's slide show of the 2007 tour click here
To view some of Karl's images of Southeast Asia click here
To view some of Karl's images of the 2007 tour click here
Day one: Jan 18 - Tour participants arrive at Bangkok's brand new international airport and will be met by our
local tour representative. Each guest will be sent via private taxi to the beautiful Siam Heritage hotel. Once settled in,
participants will gather for our pre-trip orientation meeting, followed by dinner and a walking tour of Bangkok's most
vibrant night market. Those who are feeling jet lagged can opt for relaxation or perhaps even a rejuvenating Thai
massage.
We will spend the night in Bangkok.
Day
Two:
tour: in the
morning
daily spectacle from our private
Palace and the colossal reclining Buddha. Following our group dinner your evening
We'll spend the night in
Bangkok.
Day
Three:
Thailand
until 1767, when it was sacked by the Burmese, and the capital was eventually moved to Bangkok.
There we'll
photograph the numerous ancient temples. In the evening
who want to stay up late may even have the opportunity to shoot Muay Thai boxing up close!
where
tour
shoot
along the
photograph several local
hill tribe villages including the famous long neck tribe. In the afternoon
we are
the Myanmar (Burma) border
where we cross over and photograph the fascinating market (the visit to
Day
meet our Laotian tour operator
who will escort us across the river to Haui Xia, Laos. On the Laotian side
our
local dance performance
and overnight at Pak Beng
Prabang. Along the way we visitt
the amazing Pok Au caves and several traditional riverside villages before
arriving in
sidewalk
café followed by a photographic exploration of Luang Prabang's vibrant night
market.
Luang Prabang.
Day
their
8:30
beautiful temples. Today we
also visit a local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Namay, Hmong
Village,
Ou, Laoloum Village and
Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall
Picnic lunch
the
Day
and
a
sunset photo
shoot. Upon our arrival in Siem Reap we are met by a local tour operator and transported to our hotel,
the
beautiful
Pavillon Indochine.
After checking in and grabbing a quick snack, we are transported to the entrance gate of
the famous Angkor Wat
where we purchase
our 3 day entry passes and continue into the Angkor complex for an
introductory, sunset shoot at the main temple.
major Angkor
temples and several "secret ones" too. We even schedule an optional model shoot at Bayon, using one of
the traditionally dressed
Apsara dancers and visit a famous Buddhist monk who might be perfoming ritual cleansing baths
for Cambodians who come from all
over the country to seek his treatments.
settlements on the
Tonle sp lake. Over 20,000 people live in high stilt houses which tower up to 10 meters over the water.
It is a spectacular place which
only gets a small number of visitors. There is a small island at the centre of the village
which
has a bustling market. We take a boat tour
to see the floating market, then return for a lunch of fresh fish prepared
in
Melea
for
some amazing, "Indiana Jones" type temple exploration. Beng Melea
surpasses even the famous Ta Prohm
for
atmosphere.
The whole site of Beng Melea is bathed with dappled light from the jungle canopy
making it a fabulous
temple
for adventurous
photographers
amazing
Ta Phrom, where jungle tree roots still cover the ruined temples. After our morning photo shoot we return to the
Pavillon Indochine for
breakfast, then you are free to spend the remainder of the day re-visiting and re-photographing
your
favorite ancient temples and
traditional villages around Angkor, or grab a guide and seek out your own new temples!
In the
evening we are treated to a gourmet
dinner at the famous Café Indochine.
Phnom Penh.
tarantula is
the local delicacy.
the
world famous Foreign
Correspondent's
Club.
option to visit the famous Killing Fields. We spend another night at the FCC.
Day
transported in the afternoon to the airport
for
flights
back to
Bangkok where guests
can
meet their onward
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