Laos and Cambodia tour with Voyages Jules Verne: review

Neil Murray, Travel writer 27 April 2016 • 5:41pm

Angkor Wat with reflextion — Temples feature prominently on this tour but there’s a tremendous variety of other attractions and activities on offer Credit: Fotolia

Telegraph expert rating 8/10

A captivating, if at times exhausting, look into the lives, customs and history of this part of Indochina, either for first-timers to south-east Asia or those who have already visited Vietnam or Thailand. Temples feature prominently, of course, but there’s a tremendous variety of other activities and attractions throughout to keep the most demanding of visitors happy.

Itinerary 9/10

You certainly do discover Laos and Cambodia, with four stops in Laos, three in Cambodia and various excursions. True, there are temples galore – and they’re more or less all pretty impressive (especially Angkor Wat, despite the crowds) – but visits to dramatic waterfalls, glimpses of life on the water at a floating village, cruising on the Mekong River, the opportunity to sample several colourful night markets, and a harrowing but memorable trip to the Killing Fields make it a hugely varied and interesting programme. Not taking the boat trip to Battambang (because of low river-water levels) was a disappointment.

Wat Phu stone sanctuary — Vat Phou, a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in Laos Credit: Fotolia

Accommodation 7/10

The Ansara in Vientiane is a small, French colonial-style hotel with rooms facing a palm-tree courtyard, and the Sanctuary in Luang Prabang is a similar size and centred round a lily pond. The Champasak Grand in Pakse is a dated business hotel, while the Pon Arena Hotel in Khong Island, sitting on the Mekong as it does, is a great location for open-air meals. In Siem Reap, the Tara Angkor is large and modern, but a not-very-welcoming lecture on arrival regarding paying for laundry bags, robes, etc, didn’t go down well. Battambang’s Classy Hotel has an overpowering lobby full of heavy, teak furniture and panelling, and great views from its rooftop bar. In Phnom Penh, the Sunway is a large, modern business hotel.

594512 — The Ansara in Vientiane is a small, French colonial-style hotel Credit: Jean-Dominique Martin

Dining 8/10

Buffet breakfasts are included throughout, with, generally, a good choice of both Western and Oriental fare, although Khong Island’s Pon Arena Hotel spoiled its great location with a limited offering. Some lunches are included, in a variety of locations – from inside a hangar-like building to mixing with the locals in a market setting. Not every dinner is included, which gives a welcome opportunity to hunt out local restaurants and sample local cuisine. Two nights featured dinner and a show of traditional dancing, the second of which included the food arriving on a tray, like a TV dinner.

image alt — Hunt out local restaurants and sample local cuisine and produce Credit: Fotolia

Tour manager and guides 7/10

There is no overall tour manager, with guests being greeted at each new location by a representative from Asian Trails. None of the guides could be faulted for their enthusiasm, friendliness and knowledge, although their pronunciation did, occasionally, cause some baffled expressions. Information on both the history of the locations and countries’ background was excellent, but keeping tabs on guests – and sorting out minor hiccups with hotels – could have been better.

Transport 8/10

Travel was faultless, from smooth flights on Vietnam Airlines’ Dreamliners and Airbuses to relaxing snake-boat trips on the Mekong; an exhilarating, if bone-rattling, ride on Cambodia’s Bamboo Train; and a hilarious cyclo jaunt around Phnom Penh. Some of Cambodia’s roads don’t lend themselves to smooth coach journeys – the first 60km from the Laos border, in particular – which can hardly help the coaches’ suspension.