Introducing travelers to the history and rich culture of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, our 12-day Colorful Capitals multi-country tour gives a taste of the region from an insider’s point of view.

The program starts in Bangkok where guests will visit revered sights such as the Grand Palace, Wat Po and Jim Thompson Museum with rides on tuk-tuks and taxi boats. Flying to Luang Prabang on the third day, the program tours the ancient city’s iconic temples, Mekong River and evening market with opportunities to learn about Lao culture through alms giving, a textile workshop and cooking course. The program continues to Vientiane where guests will visit famed temples as well as participate in a traditional baci ceremony. Crossing borders into Cambodia, they will spend another two days sightseeing in Phnom Penh before heading to Siem Reap to discover its Angkor monuments. The program ends with a flight back to Bangkok.

To view program details of Colorful Capitals, click here.

Indochina Heritage Road, one of our most popular multi-country programs, underwent an improvement recently. Visiting the main attractions in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, the revamped 14-day program features an extra day of touring and flies direct from Vientiane to Hanoi to replace the overland transfer to Hue. Clients can expect more Exo touches, such as a specialist guided tour by a war veteran at Cu Chi Tunnels. Click here to view the itinerary.

Amantaka, the latest luxury property from the Aman group, has just opened in Luang Prabang. Set in a restored French colonial building, the resort consists of 24 suites, an art gallery and spa. It is located just south of Mount Phousi and within walking distance to Luang Prabang’s main attractions. Click here to view the details of Amantaka.

Vientiane by Night is our latest Laos excursion that offers an evening out in the capital, allowing travelers to discover a different side of the Lao capital. Accompanied by a guide, guests visit a bustling evening food market and a nearby restaurant to enjoy a Lao-style dinner with cultural performances. After dinner, they can head to a lounge bar for a drink or to a local nightclub to dance before returning to the hotel. Find out more by clicking here.

VIETNAM

In Vietnam, we are glad to announce that the ground situation in Hoi An and Danang has improved significantly since yesterday and we even experienced some sunny weather in Hoi An!

Hoi An

- Hoi An: Bach Dang and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets are still flooded. However all other sightseeing sites are open, including Japanese bridge, Fujien Pagoda, Phung Hung and Quan Thang old houses, Ceramic and Sa Huynh Museums.

- Restaurants Cargo Club, Mango Room, Morning Glory and Brother’s Café will not open until tomorrow (Friday).

- Hotels Pacific, Ancient House and Lotus are now accessible again.

- The pool at Riverside Resort will take a week to be cleaned.

- Boat trips are still not possible on Thu Bon.

- My Son is NOT accessible yet.

Hue

- Hue City: water has receded and all sightseeing sites are open.

- Boat trips on the Perfume River are NOT possible yet.

Roads

- Road to Hoi An from Cua Beach: OK

- National Road No. 1 between Hue and Danang is open again

Train

- From Danang/Hue to the north: OK by today (Thursday); To the south by Friday, 2 Oct 09.

Hotels Partly Opened

- Victoria Hotel: the SUP and DLX rooms remain operational although the garden, pool and the beach need a complete clean-up. All cancellation fees will be waived until 5 October and normal operations will resume on 6 October 09.

Hotels Still Closed
- Golden Sand Resort: closed until 7 Oct 09 inclusive

- Life Resort Hoi An: closed until 14 Oct 09 inclusive.

LAOS

The Lao Government has urged the population to remain vigilant against Ketsana’s potential threat in Bolikamxay, Khamouane and Vientiane, the 3 provinces bordering Vietnam. The Mekong River is not threatening to flood yet and no heavy rains have fallen in Laos. There are no disruption to flights or tours in major tourist destinations such as Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Pakse and Champassak.

CAMBODIA

Currently the situation in Siem Reap and northern Cambodia is stable, but there has been severe flooding in a number of areas including the Siem Reap city center. The Siem Reap river has overflowed its banks and the water level is still rising. The airport remains open, but we had to cancel all boat trips to the lake as all access roads are closed. Transportation around various parts of the town has been affected by the flooding. All our clients are completely safe and no hotels have been affected. We are staying in constant contact with all our clients and will keep everyone updated as the situation progresses. The road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is partly flooded around Kampong Thom but remains accessible. The situation in Phnom Penh is good despite seeing heavy rains every day.

THAILAND

The situation in Thailand is fine with only the northeastern part of the country on high alert. Heavy rains and some flooding have been experienced in provinces such as Ubon Ratchathani but Ketsana is expected to weaken as it moves further inland. There is no flight disruption and all roads and airports remain open and accessible.

Recently opened, the Muang Thong Hotel is ideal for group bookings. Situated a short stroll from the town center, the hotel has a swimming pool and the spacious rooms are appointed in traditional Lao style. Another addition is the AA Villa, a small family-owned property offering 12 well-equipped guestrooms and a swimming pool. It is located within the city center and a 10-minute drive from the airport.

The Arawan Riverside Hotel recently opened by the banks of the Mekong River in Pakse. The hotel features rooms and suites with facilities such as a swimming pool, meeting rooms and gymnasium. It is an affordable accommodation choice for travelers visiting the attractions of Pakse or Southern Laos.

Flights to/from Pakse Airport will be suspended from 1 July – 30 August 2009 as the airport will be temporarily closed for renovation. During this period, the Lao Airlines will use Savannakhet Airport instead for flights originally scheduled to fly between Pakse and Siem Reap, Luang Prabang or Vientiane. The airlines will also provide shuttle services for passengers between Savannakhet and Pakse airports on the day of the flight. For any clients already booked or wishing to travel to Pakse during this period, Exotissimo will be sure to suggest and arrange alternative transportation as needed.

The Villa Savanh has opened in Luang Prabang adding another option to the boutique property scene. Located on the main street in downtown, Villa Savanh gives off a true ‘home away from home’ vibe by offering only three duplexes for guests in a converted French villa. Each of the large duplexes features a large sitting room, private bathroom and garden views.

Dyen Sabai Restaurant has recently opened in Luang Prabang. Located on the other side of the Nam Khan River from the historic old town, the restaurant provides nice sunset views. The Dyen Sabai serves delicious Lao food, including a unique Sindha (their special fondue dish).