Wayne Walder has led mindful journeys for over a decade, bringing an added dimension of insight and experience to tours in the world's most intriguing places.

On this trip we immerse ourselves in the scenery, history, and traditions of northern Vietnam and Cambodia. We visit monasteries to meditate at an eclectic collection of temples, earn about Zen and Theravada practices from monks and novices, hike in the outstanding natural environment of the Sapa highlands, and marvel at the ethereal beauty of Halong Bay. We'll also spend time at the abode of ancient fods at Angkor Wat. If you have a little more time available, consider extending your stay in Luang Prabang replete with timeless architecture, gilded temples, and saffron-clad monks.

A mindful journey is different from a vacation even though it looks like one. On a mindful journey, instead of looking outside, we are also noticing what is happening inside ourselves. How does the beauty we see affect us? How do different customs and morals make us question our values? How can we allow the difference in juman culture to teach us? Even history can remind us that life is precious and temporary, no matter how grand or beautiful it may appear. A mindful journey includes two journeys: the one we visit, and the one inside our hearts and minds.

Tour Leader

Rev. Wayne Walder is the minister of Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Toronto. For more than 30 years, Wayne has practiced meditation from a number of spiritual traditions. He has chanted Dzikr with Sufi Pirs (saints), sung spiritual songs with Hindu priests, and sat in meditation with Buddhist monks. Wayne brings mindful insights and meditations to enhance our experience.

Tour at a Glance

Day 1: Meet in Hanoi

Day 2: Pagodas and temples, meditation with Zen masters

Day 3: Markets, a lakeside walk, and Temple of Literature

Day 4: The scenic beauty of Ba Vi National Park

Day 5: Overnight train to the green highlands of Sapa

Day 6: Walks through rice terraces, meet Hmong communities

Day 7: Visit practitioners of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism

Day 8: Light treks and village visits

Day 9: Overnight cruise on spectacular Halong Bay

Day 10: Fly to Siem Reap, visit Cambodian communities

Day 11: Sunrise over Angkor Thom, visit epic Angkor Wat

Day 12: Remote jungle temples

Day 13: Depart Siem Reap

Optional extension: Tranquil Luang Prabang, Laos