Southeast Asia & Japan Grand Tour
Cambodia · Laos · Vietnam · Japan
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Angkor Wat Sunrise
World’s largest religious monument at dawn
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Kuang Si Falls
Turquoise cascades in the Laos jungle
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Hanoi Street Food
Pho, banh mi & Vietnamese coffee
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Fushimi Inari
Thousands of torii gates on Mt. Inari
The journey begins with a long-haul flight from Los Angeles to Singapore, then onward to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Depending on your connection, you may arrive late on Day 1 or into Day 2. Use the transit time to rest up — the adventure ahead demands energy.
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Cambodia
Day 2 — Arrival
Phnom Penh: First Impressions
- Check into your hotel and freshen up after the long journey
- Take a slow riverside walk along the Tonlé Sap River at sunset
- Enjoy a relaxed dinner — try amok (Khmer fish curry) at a local restaurant
Day 3 — Full Day
Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda & the Killing Fields
- Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (open 8AM–5PM, $10 entry) — stunning Khmer architecture and a floor of 5,000 silver tiles
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) — former Khmer Rouge prison. Allow 2–3 hours; audio guide strongly recommended
- Choeung Ek Killing Fields (if you have energy) — a solemn but essential visit. Quiet evening to reflect afterward
💡 Tip: The Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek combo is emotionally heavy. Give yourself time and space in the evening — a quiet riverside dinner works well here.
Day 4 — Travel Day
Arrive Siem Reap — Pub Street & Old Market
- Travel by short domestic flight (~45 min) or scenic bus (~6 hrs)
- Check in and wander Pub Street for your first evening
- Explore the Old Market (Psar Chas) for street food, souvenirs, and local crafts
Day 5 — Temple Day
Angkor Wat Sunrise + Angkor Thom + Bayon
- Wake before dawn and arrive at Angkor Wat by 5:30AM — the sunrise reflection in the moat is unforgettable
- Spend the morning exploring Angkor Wat’s galleries and bas-reliefs
- Afternoon: Angkor Thom and the enigmatic Bayon Temple with its 200+ stone faces
- Buy a 3-day pass ($72) to spread the temples over Days 5 and 6
Day 6 — Temple Day 2
Ta Prohm, Markets & Massage
- Morning at Ta Prohm — the famous “Tomb Raider” temple where giant tree roots embrace ancient stone walls
- Visit one or two additional temples (Banteay Srei is worth the 30-min drive north)
- Afternoon: browse the night market, get a traditional Khmer massage, enjoy a final Cambodian dinner
💡 Tip: Go to Ta Prohm as early as possible — by 9AM it fills up. The mystical atmosphere is best experienced with fewer crowds around you.
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Laos
Day 7 — Arrival
Luang Prabang: Old Town & Night Market
- Fly in via Bangkok or Vientiane depending on your routing
- Evening stroll through the UNESCO-listed old town peninsula
- Browse the famous night market along the main road — handwoven textiles, silver jewellery, and Lao snacks
Day 8 — Full Day
Wat Xieng Thong, Riverside Cafés & Mount Phousi Sunset
- Wat Xieng Thong (opens 6AM, 30,000 kip entry) — the crown jewel of Luang Prabang’s 30+ temples, with gold glass mosaics that seem to glow
- Explore the riverside cafés over a slow Lao coffee and a baguette (French colonial legacy lives on)
- Climb Mount Phousi (328 steps) for a sweeping panorama of the Mekong at sunset — arrive 30 min before dusk
Day 9 — Waterfalls
Kuang Si Falls — Swimming in Paradise
- Take a shared minivan (45 min, ~$5) to Kuang Si Falls — brilliant turquoise tiered pools perfect for swimming
- Don’t miss the Asiatic black bear sanctuary at the entrance
- Hike to the top viewpoint for an extra perspective — about 1 hour round trip
- Evening: night market and a proper Lao dinner (try larb and sticky rice)
💡 Tip: Arrive at Kuang Si by 8–9AM to beat the midday crowds. The water is cool and refreshing — bring a swimsuit and quick-dry towel.
Day 10 — Travel + Arrive
Vang Vieng: Karst Scenery & River Town
- Take the Laos–China high-speed railway from Luang Prabang (~2 hrs) — the journey through karst mountains is scenic
- Afternoon: explore the small town on foot and take in the dramatic limestone cliffs along the Nam Song River
Day 11 — Adventure Day
Kayaking, Tubing, or Caves
- Pick one main activity: gentle kayaking on the Nam Song, relaxed river tubing, or a cave visit (Tham Chang or Blue Lagoon)
- Relaxed evening by the river — Vang Vieng is a good place to decompress mid-trip
Day 12 — Travel + Arrive
Vientiane: Mekong Sunset
- Arrive in the Laos capital — the most relaxed capital city in Southeast Asia
- Walk the Mekong riverside promenade at sunset; join locals for a riverside beer
- Dinner at one of the riverside restaurants — try Mekong fish with herbs
Day 13 — Morning Sights + Fly to Hanoi
That Luang, Patuxai & Wat Sisaket
- That Luang — Laos’ most sacred symbol, a golden stupa that glows in morning light
- Patuxai — Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe, with Lao decorative motifs
- Wat Sisaket — the only temple to survive a 19th-century invasion, lined with 6,840 Buddha images
- Late afternoon flight to Hanoi; settle in near the Old Quarter
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Vietnam
Day 14 — Old Quarter
Hanoi: Hoan Kiem Lake, Street Food & Water Puppets
- Morning wander through the 36 Streets of the Old Quarter — each street named for its historic trade (silk, paper, bamboo)
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and walk across the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple on its island
- Afternoon: Vietnamese iced coffee at a tiny pavement café; egg coffee is a Hanoi must-try
- Evening: Water Puppet Show at the Thang Long Theatre (book ahead)
Day 15 — Culture Day
Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison & Market Crawl
- Temple of Literature — Vietnam’s first university (1070 AD), a serene complex of courtyards and pavilions
- Hoa Lo Prison (“Hanoi Hilton”) — sobering French colonial prison; fascinating and chilling in equal measure
- Choose one: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (excellent, highly recommended) or Vietnam Women’s Museum
- Late afternoon food crawl: bun cha, banh cuon, pho, cha ca — pace yourself, there’s a lot to try
💡 Tip: Hanoi’s Old Quarter is best explored on foot in the early morning (7–9AM) before the traffic and heat build up. The streets have a completely different energy at dawn.
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Japan
Day 16 — Arrive Japan
Osaka: Welcome to Dotonbori
- Fly into Kansai International Airport; take the Haruka Express or Nankai Line into the city
- Drop bags and head straight to Dotonbori — neon lights, the iconic Glico running man sign, and the best street food in Japan
- Try: takoyaki (octopus balls), kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), and fresh ramen
Day 17 — Osaka
Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building & Namba
- Morning at Osaka Castle — the park is lovely; museum inside covers Japan’s feudal era
- Afternoon: head north to Umeda and ride up the Umeda Sky Building for views across the city (open until 10:30PM)
- Evening back in Namba/Dotonbori for dinner and nightlife
Day 18 — Free Day / Buffer
Osaka at Your Own Pace
- Option A: Shinsaibashi & Amerika-mura — shopping, streetwear, vintage finds
- Option B: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan — one of the world’s great aquariums, whale sharks included
- Use this as a rest and laundry day if the pace has caught up with you — you’ve earned it
Day 19 — Kyoto Day Trip
Kyoto East Side: Kiyomizudera, Gion & Higashiyama
- Take the JR train from Osaka to Kyoto (15 min on Shinkansen, or 30 min on local)
- Kiyomizudera Temple — opens 6AM; the wooden stage cantilevered over the hillside is iconic. Go early to avoid crowds
- Walk down Higashiyama Lane (Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka) — preserved stone-paved streets lined with tea shops and craft stores
- Yasaka Shrine and the Gion district at dusk — you may spot a geiko or maiko (geisha apprentice)
- Return to Osaka for the night
Day 20 — Kyoto Day Trip 2
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove + Fushimi Inari
- Early start to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest — arrive by 7–8AM before the crowds. The rustling sound of bamboo in the wind is like nothing else
- Explore nearby Tenryuji Garden (UNESCO listed) and the picturesque Togetsukyo Bridge
- Afternoon: Fushimi Inari Taisha — the seemingly endless tunnel of thousands of vermillion torii gates climbing Mt. Inari. Free entry, open 24 hours
- Back to Osaka for your final night
💡 Tip: Fushimi Inari is most magical early morning or after dark. The full hike to the summit and back takes about 2–3 hours, but even 45 minutes in gives you the iconic photo spots.
Day 21 — Nara Day Trip + Departure
Nara: The Great Buddha & Park Deer
- A quick 45-minute train from Osaka to Nara — perfect for a morning half-day
- Todai-ji Temple — home to a 15-metre bronze Great Buddha, housed in one of the world’s largest wooden buildings ($6 entry)
- Nara Park — over 1,000 free-roaming deer that bow for deer crackers (shika senbei, sold for ~¥200)
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine — ancient shrine draped in stone lanterns, set in primeval forest
- Return to Osaka to collect luggage and head to Kansai Airport for your flight home
21 Days. Four Countries. One Unforgettable Journey.
From the haunting history of Phnom Penh to the temple-strewn jungles of Angkor, the golden stupas of Laos, the street food chaos of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, and the sublime precision of Japan — this route covers the full spectrum of Southeast and East Asia. Pack light, stay curious, and say yes to the detours.