Tripologist: Is five days enough to see both Siem Reap and Luang Prabang?

I am travelling on a Pandaw cruise in October from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. I have five days after landing in Siem Reap and wondering if there is enough to do or should I fly to Luang Prabang for a few days? D. Ginges, Annandale NSW

Three days is plenty of time to take in Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples of Siem Reap.Credit: iStock

The huge temple complex at Angkor is the sole reason most travellers visit Siem Reap and you need two days at least to do it justice, bearing in mind that most travellers will only want to spend three to four hours per day exploring the temples in the sticky heat. That requires a three-night stay. Vietnam Airlines is the only carrier with non-stop flights from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang. There are three flights per week, departing at 5:05 pm for the 90-minute flight. That would give you two full days in the former royal capital, which is just enough to wander about and explore the temples, the markets where the hill tribe women come to sell their wares and time to absorb the languid atmosphere from the riverside bars.

The only essential excursion from Luang Prabang is the boat trip upstream to Pak Ou Caves. Deep cavities in the limestone hills that line the river, the caves are crammed with thousands of Buddha statues that date back to the time before Luang Prabang was founded. Even for a devout Buddhist, an hour or so will exhaust all possibilities at Pak Ou. The real attraction is the journey along the river – past fishermen casting nets, hunched figures panning for gold, water buffalo and palm trees and little villages where children dance along the banks.

I have four days between work commitments in Gaborone and am hoping to go on safari to see big animals - recommendations appreciated. K. Curtis, Wollongong NSW

African elephants in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.Credit: iStock

Botswana is one of the best places in Africa to see wildlife, and Gaborone puts you right in the sweet spot. The place to go is the Okavango Delta and the flight from Gaborone to Maun, gateway to the delta, takes about 90 minutes.

According to Julie McIntosh of Sydney’s Classic Safari Company “Once in Maun, there are a host of options available which usually include a short charter flight into the Okavango Delta. If you only have four days, we’d recommend choosing one camp in order to maximise your experience and then ideally a camp that offers both dry and wet game viewing activities to capture the true essence of the Okavango ecosystem. Which camp all comes down to your budget and within this there are affordable camps and those that are pure luxe in the bush. All dish up a great experience.”

I’m looking for a guided alpine walk in Europe that combines pristine countryside, local culture and history without seeing too many other walkers along the way. Any suggestions? P. Harrison, Parkville VIC

The Crow’s Flight is a small, Melbourne-based hiking company operated by Neil Churches that organises guided walks in Slovenia. It’s a region of rolling countryside and steep mountain terrain with medieval villages, baroque churches, rivers and forests. There are several walks available of varying lengths and intensity. Accommodation is in village guesthouses, farms, spa resorts and in local hotels, with traditional Slovenian food, wines and home-made sadjevec, the local version of schnapps.

One walk follows the route taken by more than 100 Allied servicemen including several Aussies, Churches’ father among them, who escaped from a German prison camp in Maribor, in northern Slovenia, and crossed mountains and rivers in a journey to Semic where they were picked up by Allied aircraft. This was the largest and most successful POW escape of World War II. It’s a tough walk in places but think of those POWs, who did it with inadequate clothing, footwear and little food, while being hunted by Nazi troops.

I’m researching hotels with two-bedroom suites, or two interconnecting rooms for a Fiji trip. However, our searches return prices for one-bedroom accommodation only, and we need to hunt through to find prices and availability that may suit our requirements. We can ring the hotels, but that’s time-consuming and limits price comparisons. A. Begg, Kaleen ACT

One solution, search your destination plus “hotels with interconnecting rooms”. You’ll usually find some recommendations on Tripadvisor, or even online travel agencies such as Expedia. You might also try searching “family-friendly hotels in X” which will also help point you in the right direction.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances.