Indochina Escorted Tours

Escorted Tours to Indochina

A trio of neighbouring countries, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos combine to create a fabulous tapestry of customs and culture, fabled temples and beautiful cities, ethereal scenery, rural villages, river islands, and an innate ethos of hospitality.

Why choose a tour in Indochina?

With much in common and many contrasts, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were three of the six nations once administered as a single entity, and collectively termed ‘Indochina’. A tour of Indochina is a journey through the centuries of their varied origins, chequered histories, and contemporary lifestyles.

Travelling by air, road, river boat, rickshaw and tuk-tuk, to take you to the heart of verdant landscapes and vibrant cities, Jules Verne visits the countries’ UNESCO sites, famous treasures, and less-familiar gems on a 13-night holiday; and delves deep into the diversity of the trio on a three-week Grand Tour.

Both routes include Vietnam’s Old Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, combining thriving commerce and thrilling culture with time-warp temples and river’s edge stilt-houses; the capital, Hanoi, circling two dozen lakes, dating back a thousand years, and as beautiful as it is historic; the mystical islands and karst sea-stacks of ‘the descending dragon’, Ha Long Bay; and the flora, fauna, and sampan markets of the Mekong Delta.

Each tour takes you to Laos for the lovely, long-hidden town of Luang Prabang, with gleaming temples at its heart, and the three-tiered Kuang Si Waterfall in its stunningly scenic surrounds; and to Cambodia, to visit Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in southeast Asia, and contemporary Siem Reap, gateway to the archaeological acres of Angkor Wat, its Hindu / Buddhist temples hidden for centuries.

Additional destinations on the longer tour include the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, encompassing the contrasts of the Khmer Rouge ‘Killing Fields’, the king’s Royal Palace, and the serene Silver Pagoda; and known, in its modern persona, as one of Asia’s friendliest cities. And lengthier routes in Vietnam let you explore the ‘old capital’, Hue, its citadel a centre of culture, religion and cuisine, its restored tombs, temples, and palaces bearing testament to its glorious past; and tranquil Hoi An, displaying its history with Chinese temples, colonial buildings, narrow streets, shallow canals, and the mythical monster legends of the Japanese Bridge.

When to go on Indochina holidays

While regional climates vary, in general the weather in all three countries can be hot, wet, and humid from May to August, so Jules Verne avoids those summer months and offers Indochina tours in January to March and September to November. Warm, dry weather can be expected from November to April, and sites are usually less busy in September and October.

Who are Indochina tours suited to?

With museums of art, ancient, ethnic, and cultural heritage; atmospheric enclaves of Hindu temples, Buddhist pagodas, and Catholic cathedrals; somnolent rivers, scenic lakes, and island-speckled bays; and haunting historic landmarks from medieval times to the mid-20th century; Indochina’s natural assets, political pasts, and contemporary characteristics are seamlessly interwoven, covering a broad range of interests and experiences to inspire gregarious travellers.

Why book Indochina tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne visits iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our journeys in Indochina are much more than sightseeing journeys, as we build-in leisure time, enjoy slow-tempo cruises, and introduce local customs, from a ‘Baci’ ceremony of music and dance to the ‘Tagbat’ ritual daily walk by 2,000 monks, an Apsara dance theatre show, and a market of traditional Khmer crafts.

All our guided tours to Indochina are ABTA and ATOL protected, so you can book with complete confidence.