THE TRIP

Day-1 - DEPARTURE AMSTERDAM - Kuala Lumpur
Today we depart from Schiphol to Malaysia. The cars are transported by ship and will arrive at the port of Kuala Lumpur. The flight will arrive in Kuala Lumpur the next day.

Day-2 - ARRIVAL KUALA LUMPUR
Welcome to Malaysia! Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport, a local guide will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel. Asia comes together in Kuala Lumpur, it's a real melting pot. Kuala Lumpur has a lot to offer: impressive temples, modern architecture, Chinatown and little India and bustling streets with many restaurants and eateries. Dinner is included included in the hotel stay today.

Day-3 - KUALA LUMPUR
Today you will be taken to the port of Kuala Lumpur to pick up the cars and to complete all the necessary import formalities. You will have the rest of the day to yourself. The Petronas Twin towers have become an iconic landmark of the city over time. There is a glass walkway on the 41st floor. There is plenty to see in Chinatown. The district is full of temples. To find out know more about the history of Malaysia, visit the National history museum. You can find some peace and quiet at the enormous KLCC park.

Day-4 - KUALA LUMPUR - KUALA DUNGUN (627km)
After breakfast, the first real day of travel can commence! We set off in the direction of the Cameron Highlands. Through small villages, we will continue our drive towards the highlands with its tea plantations. In this area, you get to enjoy amazing views, and it is a great place to stop for lunch. During the second part of the day, we will drive towards the west coast. We continue to drive at altitude for a long time before descending closer to the coast to Kuala Dungur. Dinner is included this evening.

Day-5 - KUALA DUNGUN - ALOR SETAR (+/-590km)
Today, you will be driving through the green interior of Malaysia from the west coast to the east coast, to get closer to the border of Malaysia and Thailand. On the way we pass Temenggor Lake, a huge reservoir and a beautiful area near a rainforest. Dinner is included.

Day-6 - ALOR SETAR - KRABI (400km)
We cross the border at Pedang Besar to Thailand and after, completing the border formalities, we will drive towards the southernmost tip of Thailand. Thai Baht are required for border procedures. We continue the journey in Thailand to Krabi, an important tourist attraction due to its natural beauty. On the way to Krabi, you can stop at the town of Trang. It has a charming old town with colonial Portuguese influences and it is the only place in Thailand with so many green tuk-tuks, the local tricycles you will frequently encounter in the coming weeks. The bustling centre of Krabi.

Day-7 - KRABI
Today, you will have the opportunity to further explore the Krabi area.
The karst mountains and the limestone rocks are known from the James Bond film 'The man with the golden gun'. The area is best explored on a long-tail boat excursion along tropical bays, beautiful rocks and steep rock formations rising up from the sea. For the afternoon, we recommend a visit to the Krabi night market.

Day-8 - HUA HIN (596km)
We drive further north with Hua Hin as our final goal today.
On the way, we will drive through beautiful green tropical natural areas and come close to the Khao Sok National park and the Sam Roi Yod National park. Hua Hin is the royal seaside resort where the Thai royal family has a palace by the gulf of Thailand. The city is about 300 km from the Thai capital Bangkok and many rich Thai have a second home here. It is an important seaside resort. Our intended hotel is also on the coast.

Day-9 - HUA HIN - KANCHANABURI (198km)
After breakfast our day of travel commences! We set off in the direction of Kanchanaburi. The most famous landmark in Kanchanaburi is the bridge over the River Kwai. This is a railway right through the jungle and mountains of Thailand built by the Japanese in World War II. The bridge became known particularly thanks to the book ‘The Bridge Over the River Kwai’ and the movie by the same name. Here you can visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre Museum. In the museum about the bridge, you will find a lot of information about its sad history.

DAY-10 - KANCHANABURI - AYUTTHAYA (155km)
If you didn't manage to see everything in the Kanchanaburi area yesterday, you can simply depart a little later today. We don't have a very long drive today, but there is much to see along the way. You could plan a visit to the Erawan waterfalls, part of the Erawan national park. Closer to Ayuthaya is the Bang Pa In Royal palace, the summer palace.

Day-11 - AYUTTHAYA
We are staying in Ayuthata for a second day, which gives you time to explore the ancient temples of this ancient royal city at your leisure. A nice excursion is to explore this area by bike. Ayutthaya is a fairly small island in the Chao Praya river with a range of temples. Wat Phra Si Sanphet is one of these ancient temples guaranteed to be on your visit list. If there is enough interest, we can (optionally) enjoy a luxurious dinner in the evening with a view of the temples.

Day-12 - AYUTTHAYA - MAESOT (786km)
Through the green interior of Thailand, we drive to Maesot on the border of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Along the way, a visit to the huge reclining Buddha of Wat Pra Non Chaksi Worawiharn is highly recommended. In the border town of Maesot you will find many Burmese, it is a lively little town that is also known as little Myanmar. It is the diversity that makes Maesot such a great place.

Day-13 - MAESOT - MAE HONG SON (397km)
It is certainly a good idea to start the day off with a visit to the Pa Charoen Morning market before setting off. Mae Hong Son is a lot further north and near the border with Myanmar. Mae Hong Song is part of the Mae Hong song loop, a beautiful route through mountainous and green areas in Northern Thailand. In addition to the hairpin bends appealing to your driving skills, you will have to restrain yourself not to stop at every view. Today you will drive part of the route. The town of Bang Rak Thai is often referred to as the most beautiful place in all of Thailand.
Optional: Visit Luang Prabang during a city tour and go to the Pak Ou caves. The local guide will take you on a walking tour to the highlights of Luang Prabang such as the Royal Palace and Wat Visoun Temple. In the afternoon we visit the Pak Ou caves. You will sail here by boat. More than 3,000 Buddha statues can be admired in the Pak Ou caves. Apart from the impressive Buddha statues, the caves themselves are also worth seeing. On the way back, you will sail past the village of Ban Muang Keo.

Day-14 - MAE HONG SONG - PAI - CHANG RAI (410km)
We continue the Mae Hong song loop and drive to Changr Rai via Pai. Baan Jambo Village is a great place to stop because of the beautiful view. If you have the time and would like to relax, a stop at the Sai Ngam Hotsprings, surrounded by nature, is recommended. And do enjoy the spectacular views along the way! The area around Chang Rai is also known as the Golden Triangle. This is where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Today, you could visit the temple Wat Suan Dok. A visit to Wat Phrathat is also recommended. You can take a cable car from here for fantastic views of the city. In the evening, a visit to one of the many night markets is great fun.

Day-15 - CHIANG RAI - LUANG PRABANG (300km)
On to the Huai Kon border crossing to leave for Laos. From the border crossing you go east towards Luang Prabang. Please note! The road to Luang Prabang is very mountainous. It is a new road and still in good condition but quite steep in places and with many bends. Along the way, you will travel through through the Hongsa Valley. In this small valley, surrounded by mountains, there is a lot to see, such as green forests, rice fields and local villages.

Day-16 - LUANG PRABANG
You can choose to go on a sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang today and add a visit to the Pak Ou caves. If you don't want to book an excursion, you can explore Luang Prabang and its surroundings on your own. Optional: Today you will explore Luang Prabang during a city tour and visit the Pak Ou caves. A local guide will take you on a walking tour to see the highlights of Luang Prabang like the Royal Palace and the Wat Visoun Temple. In the afternoon we will visit the Pak Ou caves. You sail here by boat. There are more than 3000 Buddha statues to admire in the Pak Ou caves. Apart from having a chance to admire the Buddha statues, the caves themselves are also impressive. On the way back you will pass the village of Ban Muang Keo.

Day-17 - LUANG PRABANG - DIEN BIEN PHU (370KM)
After breakfast it is time to drive on to Vietnam. First we drive to the border crossing at Sop Hun and then continue driving to Dien Bien Phu. From Luang Prabang you will go north. You will first follow the Mekong River and then the Nam Ou River. On the drive, you will come across beautiful landscapes and rice fields. You can stop on the way to take pictures. On the way, you will visit the village of Oudomxay where 14 different ethnic groups live together. You will also pass the village of Muang La. This place is best known among Buddhist pilgrims. After the border crossing it is still about a 1.5-hour drive to Dien Bien Phu. The city is mainly known for the battle against the French settlers during the first Indochina war. There are still many places of interest pertaining to this war.

Day-18 - SA PA - HOANG SU PHI
Via the beautiful mountain pass Heaven Gate you will continue on to Sapa. On the way to Sapa you will be stopping at the silver waterfall; this is the most beautiful waterfall in Sapa! During the ride you will look out on the mountain landscape. Sapa is known for its beautiful rice fields and dazzling valleys. You will also find many different hill tribes here.

Day-19 - SA PA - HOANG SU PHI (230KM)
On to Hoang Su Phi. On the way, you will be driving through beautiful landscapes consisting of rice fields and mountains. The route overlooks one of the most beautiful landscapes of Vietnam. You will drive through the countryside and will encounter several ethnic groups along the way. You will be able to see how these people transport goods from one village to another. Today you will spend the night in a beautiful lodge in Pan Hou.

Day-20 - HOANG SU PHI
After breakfast, you have the opportunity to take a walk to Nam Hong Village. The walk takes on average between 5 to 6 hours. You will walk along rice fields, bamboo forests and traditional houses of the hill tribes. Here, you will be able to learn more about local life. You will return to the lodge in Pan Hou by car.

Day-21 - HOANG SU PHI - DONG VAN (250KM)
We continue our journey to Dong Van. Being located in the mountains, Dong Van has a cold climate. You can stop at the La Sung valley in Quan Ba along the way. Here, you can see rocky mountains and green forests in the same place, a unique sight!

Day-22 - DONG VAN - HANOI (380KM)
Today we will first drive back to Ha Giang and stop at the Ma Pi Leng pass on the way to Meo Vac to enjoy the panoramic view. The mountains are about 2,000 metres above sea level. We continue the road through the mountains and will arrive in Hanoi in the afternoon. Hanoi's Old Town has many shops and restaurants. Its little streets used to each be home to their own craft. In Hanoi you can also visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, a unique experience. The museum and uncle's Ho's old house is also nearby. Visiting the Cathedral, the Temple of the Literature and the Museum of Ethnology will complete your itinerary in Hanoi.
Optional: A fun way to explore Hanoi is on a Vespa scooter! During a half day excursion you will visit the highlights of Hanoi.

Day-23 - HANOI - CAT BA ISLAND (100km)
Early in the morning we will drive to the Got Ferry. This is about 137 km from Hanoi. From here you take the Ferry to the port of Gia Luan. After that it is still a 25-km drive to the city on the island. Here you have can spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Cat Ba is the largest island of Halong Bay with two beautiful beaches. When the weather is good, you can spend the day at the beach and go for a swim.

Day-24 - CAT BA ISLAND
A day to yourself on Cat Ba Island. There is plenty to do in this region. You could visit the Hospital Cave today, for example. As the name suggests, this is a hospital in a cave. You can also visit the Cat Ba national park or visit the Cannon Fort. Are you looking to do something more active? You might like to rent a kayak and explore the area that way.

Day-25 - CAT BA ISLAND - HA TINH (420km)
We return to the harbour where we will take the ferry back to the mainland. From here, we continue on to Ha Tinh. It’s a long trip of about 9 hours. The region of Ha Tinh is also known as the Forgotten Province.

Day-26 - HA TINH - HOI AN (470km)
We drive through the spectacular Hai Van Pass to bustling Hoi An. The way here has many sharp bends and winding roads, but the views are magnificent. You will overlook deserted sandy beaches, green forests and the lights of distant cities.

Day-27 - HOI AN
You will have a day to yourself in Hoi An. Hoi An was once the port of the ancient Champa empire. The old town of Hoi An has turned into a kind of open air museum that not only attracts foreign tourists but a lot of Vietnamese as well. In the evening, lucky lanterns are released on to the river. The many beautiful buildings are home to nice shops and restaurants. 5 km from this town are the beautiful beaches of Cau Dai.

Day-28 - HOI AN - KONTUM (280km)
Kontum, in the central highlands of Vietnam, is about a 7-hour drive from Hoi An. The town is located on the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, a logistics system that connected North and South Vietnam during the American war.

Day-29 - KONTUM - DALAT (420km)
Today, you will be travelling to Dalat. Dalat is unlike most major cities of Vietnam. Here you will mainly find villas and beautiful summer residences of the French. It is a little cooler in Dalat due to its location at about 1500 metres altitude. In addition to the colonial buildings you can see a lot of fruit cultivation here, and stunning nature with lakes and waterfalls.

Day-30 - DALAT - HO CHI MINH (310km)
We continue our trip towards Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon. The first impression of Ho Chi Minh city is often overwhelming. On the way to the centre of this metropolis, you will first notice the scooters. The city has an estimated four million scooters!
The city centre is near the Mekong River. Here you will find the Cathedral and the post office built by Gustav Eiffel. The war museum is also within walking distance. In the evening is it nice to visit the backpacker street Bui Vien. It's a big world out there, it would be a shame not to experience it!

Day-31 - HO CHI MINH
A day off in Ho Chi Minh. You could book a full day excursion to see the highlights of Ho Chi Minh with a guide.

Day-32 - HO CHI MINH - PHNOM PENH
We leave Vietnam via the border crossing at Moc Bai and drive to Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Along the way, you can visit the Killing Fields. The Killing Fields are part of the dark period under the Khmer Rouge regime. Two million people died here in four years. Today the execution sites (also called the Killing Fields) are monuments.

Day-33 - PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP
We leave Phnom Penh behind and we drive to the temple city of Siem Reap in about 6 hours. The city is best known for the Angkor Wat temple complex. In addition to the many temples, Siem Reap is a city with a lot of ambience. The city does not have specific sights, but with its many markets, shops and stalls we are sure you will have a good time here. Optionally, you can see a traditional dance or circus performance or attend a cooking class. Around Siem Reap, you can visit the floating village of Chong Kneas.

Day-34 - SIEM REAP
Optionally, you can take a Temple tour excursion today. If you don't want to book an excursion, you can explore Siem Reap on your own. Optional: The guide will pick you up in the morning from the hotel and you will visit the Angkor temple complex today. A visit to Angkor is considered by many to be the highlight of the tour. It is impossible to visit all the temples of this area in one day. Today you will visit the most important and most beautiful temple of the complex. Angkor Wat is perhaps the most important archaeological site in Southeast Asia and the guide will tell you a lot about this special complex during your visit. You will also visit the Angkor Thom temple complex and the Ta Prohm jungle temple.

Day-35 - SIEM REAP - BANGKOK (310km)
From Siem Reap we set off in the direction of Bangkok. You will cross the border at Poipet/Aranyaprathet, which is about a 3-hour drive from Siem Reap. You will be back in Bangkok by the afternoon. Youcan spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day-35 - BANGKOK
Almost the last day of the Indochina Trail 2022. Today, you will be taking the cars back to the port of Bangkok. From here the cars are shipped back to the Netherlands. You can spend the rest of the day in Bangkok.

Day-36 - BANGKOK - AMSTERDAM
Today, you will be flying back to the Netherlands. Unfortunately,
this is the end of the trip, but we know you will look back on an unforgettable journey!