Asia School Tour

Our Asia school tour travel to 3 different countries in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. All have there own unique sites to visit and cultural differences. You will learn about Australia's war history at Hellfire Pass and Long Tan, you will see the amazing temples of Angkor and make many friends with the wonderful and humble people of asia.

• Bangkok
• Kanchanaburi
• Damnoen Saduak
• River Kwai
• Hellfire Pass
• Siem Reap
• Phnom Penh
• Saigon
• Nui Dat
• Long Tan
• Cu Chi

Day 2
Bangkok (B L D)
Today you enjoy a tour of Bangkok’s sightseeing attractions including Wat Traimit with its 5.5-tonnes Golden Buddha, followed by a trip through Bangkok's bustling China Town with its trademark red gold shops. You then visit the Royal Grand Palace and view the dazzling Wat Phra Kaew with its revered Emerald Buddha, the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings and the Eight Coloured Towers. You will also see Wat Po with its Reclining Buddha image.

Day 3
Bangkok (B L D)
This morning you will visit a local school and meet the students and teachers you have been communicating with while in Australia. This afternoon you will enjoy a local cooking class with experienced Thai chefs.

Day 4
Bangkok - Kanchanaburi / River Kwai (B L D)
This morning you depart for Kanchanaburi. On the way you will visit the picturesque famous Floating Markets at Damnoen Saduak. When you arrive in Kanchanaburi you visit the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, where approx. 1,400 Australian’s are buried You then take a historic ride on the Death Railway Train, passing lush forests. This afternoon you will enjoy a boat trip on the beautiful River Kwai.

Day 5
Kanchanaburi - Hell Fire (B L D)
After breakfast you travel to Hellfire Pass and walk along the former railway track to Konyu Cutting, Hellfire Pass. As you walk along the cutting you can reflect on the suffering of the POW’s as they built the railway track. Those that feel they would like to walk along the track to the site of “Pack of Cards Bridge” then on to the “Compressor Cutting” can do so. You will be driven to Hintok station and walk back to Hellfire Pass a distance of 4km.

Day 6
Kanchanaburi – Bangkok – Siem Reap (B L D)
Today you make your way back to Bangkok airport and take a flight to Siem Reap. On arrival you are transferred to your hotel. After booking into your hotel and freshening up you take an orientation tour of the township and then travel to Ba Kheng Hill to view the sunset and scenery of Angkor Wat.

Day 7
Siem Reap (B L D)
Today you explore the unique temples of Angkor. You visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12th century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. After lunch in a local restaurant you visit the most famous of all the temples Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. After returning to your hotel the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to visit the markets.

Day 8
Siem Reap – Phnom Penh (B L D)
This morning you transfer to the airport and board your flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival you book into your hotel and freshen up, you are then taken on a sightseeing tour of Cambodia’s capital and visit the Toul Sleng Museum, which provides a reminder of the Pol Pot regime, the Independence Monument and Wat Phnom.

Day 9
Phnom Penh – Saigon (Vietnam) (B L D)
This morning you transfer to the airport to board your flight to Saigon Vietnam. On arrival you transfer to your central hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this vibrant city. An optional orientation walking tour is available

Day 10
Saigon (B L D)
Commencing your tour of this historical city you visit many landmarks, including the Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built by the French in 1877, former Presidential Palace, War Remnants Museum, Cholon District, Father Tam's Catholic Church where President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother hid themselves in 1963, and the Ben Thanh markets.

Day 11
Saigon – Nui Dat – Long Tan – Saigon (B L D)
After an early breakfast you board your coach for the journey south east to visit the former Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat. A small school, consisting of two class rooms has been built at the end of the former runway and you will be invited to interact with the children of the area, and present them with small gifts such as coloured pencils and books. After a picnic lunch you travel to the Long Tan battlefield. A memorial cross was erected on the battle site in 1969 in memory of the 18 Australian soldiers who lost their lives during this heroic battle. You should arrive back in Saigon mid to late afternoon.

Day 12
Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels (B L D)
After breakfast you travel northwest to this former underground VC village. On arrival you watch a video filmed by the Vietnamese during the American war, and then explore the widened tunnel systems. For those slim, fit and daring enough you can crawl along some of the original tunnels. Lunch is alongside the picturesque river and you return to your hotel mid afternoon. This is a fun day but expect to get some red dirt on your clothes, and may we suggest to the ladies that they wear shorts or slacks.

Day 13
Saigon (B)
This morning your tour ends and you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Highlights
• Bangkok - Wat Traimit, Golden Buddha, China Town, Royal Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Emerald Buddha, the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings, Eight Coloured Towers, Wat Po reclining Budda, Thai cooking class.
• Damnoen Saduak - floating markets
• Kanchanaburi - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Death Railway Train, Hellfire Pass, River Kwai
• Siem Reap - sunset of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, Elephants Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, temples Angkor Wat.
• Phnom Penh - city tour, Toul Sleng Museum
• Saigon - Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, former Presidential Palace, War Remnants Museum, Cholon District, Father Tam's Catholic Church and Ben Thanh markets
• Vung Tau area - Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat, Long Tan
• Cu Chi - tunnel system

Tour Includes
• Accommodation
• Domestic flights Bangkok / Siem Reap / Phnom Penh / Saigon
• Transfer with private A/C vehicles
• Sightseeing with local experienced english speaking guide
• Australian historical guide and Vietnam veteran at Long Tan
• Meals as per itinerary
• Entrance fees as per itinerary.
• Fee for permit to battlefield sites
• Information kit inclucing travel information, maps, certificate and travel wallet.

Tour Exclusions
• International airfares - we will arrange this.
• Vietnam Visa – we will arrange this
• Travel insurance – we will arrange this
• Meals not mentioned in itinerary
• Optional visits.
• Personal expenses