Original
Explorer
South East Asia Loop
30 Days | Travel into the heart and soul of South East Asia
4.5
Excellent
12 reviews
30 days
Start
Bangkok, Thailand
Finish
Bangkok, Thailand
Trip Code
TTSVC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - null
Physical Rating
Meals
24 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Longtail boat, High Speed Train, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private minibus, Public Bus, Songtheaw, Motorbike, Taxi
Accommodation
Guesthouse (2 nights), Hotel (24 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
From £3,485(30 days)
Trip Informations
Travel into the heart and soul of South East Asia. Starting off in Bangkok, get lost in the chaos of Thailand's capital city before succumbing to the slightly more relaxed pace of Chiang Mai. Cruise along the Mekong River to reach peaceful Luang Prabang, a colourful town dotted with monks, pop-up stalls and French-inspired eateries. In Vietnam, cruise through dramatic karst scenery on a boat tour of Ha Long Bay, travel back to the time of Vietnam’s emperors in Hue, soak up the old-world charm of Hoi An and be wowed by the endless energy of Ho Chi Minh City. Then discover Cambodia's fascinating history and culture in Phnom Penh's bustling streets and in the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor, before wrapping up the adventure back in Thailand.
Why you’ll love this trip
Discover the incredible Angkor Wat. As well as a guided tour, you'll also have a pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap. So you can explore this World Heritage temple complex as much and as often as you like.
The two-day boat journey down the iconic Mekong River passes incredible rural scenery and is one of the must-dos to truly experience South East Asia.
Discover the mysterious beauty of the Lao jungle as you walk side by side with recently rescued elephants on stroll through their natural habitat.
Sample local food wherever you go, from a seafood dinner on Halong Bay, street snacks at markets, a meal at a buddhist nunnery, coconut candy and tropical fruits in the Mekong Delta, and dinner at KOTO restaurant.
Discover Kampong Luong and the countryside around Battambang with a visit to a floating village and a bike ride around farms and cottage industries.
Is this trip right for you?
You'll cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: 
It can be surprisingly cool, especially at night from November to February. Make sure you have some warm gear packed for this period so you can be comfortable. Smoke haze can be common for Northern Thailand into Laos between March and April due to burning off season of crops. You may wish to take a quality mask with you if you are particularly sensitive to smoke.
Depending on where you come from, the weather in Vietnam might be hotter and more humid than what you are used to. We recommend checking online for what the typical temperatures will be at the time of year you are looking to travel to see what to expect - this page might be useful:
Laos is less developed than many other South East Asian countries. The roads can be bumpy, delays are common, and accommodation can be basic but always clean and comfortable. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this beautiful country!
Due to dam construction upstream, water levels aren't as reliable as in previous years. When the Mekong River is at its lowest from February to April, part of the journey may occasionally need to be made by land
There are some long travel days by both private and public transport (up to 10 hours on the road), including the days that we cross from Vietnam to Cambodia and Cambodia to Thailand. Your leader and local guides will assist with the border crossings, but plenty of patience is advised
At times your accommodation may not have continuous hot water. Most travellers don’t find this a problem however, and are often keen to cool down from the heat with a refreshing cold shower!
Itinerary
Inclusions
Meals
24 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Longtail boat, High Speed Train, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private minibus, Public Bus, Songtheaw, Motorbike, Taxi
Accommodation
Guesthouse (2 nights), Hotel (24 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
Activities
Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
Bangkok - Wat Pho
Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep Temple Complex (Entrance)
Chiang Rai - Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
Mekong River - 2 day boat trip
Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves
Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfalls
Luang Prabang - Alms giving ceremony
Luang Prabang - Laos Buffalo Dairy social enterprise visit
Luang Prabang - MandaLao Elephant Conservation (The Tuuur Foundation partner) lunch & trek
Luang Prabang - Lunch at Manda Lao Elephant Conservation
Vientiane - COPE visit
Vientiane - Wat Si Saket
Hanoi - KOTO dinner
Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Halong Bay - Cave entry
Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit
Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
Hue - Motorbike Tour Lunch
Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour
Mekong Delta - Lunch
Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
Kampong Chhnang - Pottery village visit
Battambang - Soksabike social enterprise countryside cycling & local snack tour
Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass
Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour
Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Chong Kneas - Tonle Sap floating village visit
Optional activities
Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500
Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB200
Chiang Mai - Thai cooking course - THB1000
Chiang Mai - Bicycle tour - THB990
Luang Prabang - Mt Phu Si - USD2
Luang Prabang - Night Market - Free
Luang Prabang - Royal Theatre - USD20
Luang Prabang - Wat Xieng Thong - USD3
Luang Prabang - National Museum - USD4
Vang Vieng - Bicycle hire - USD2
Vang Vieng - Wat Si Vieng Song - Free
Vang Vieng - Kayaking - USD35
Vang Vieng - Tham Phu Kham Cave - LAK10000
Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
Hanoi - Hanoi Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD40
Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000
Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD36
Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10
Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2
Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10
Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4
Phnom Penh - Khmer massage - USD8
Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12
Battambang - Phnom Sampov bat caves - USD15
Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54
Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD5
Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18
Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
Bangkok - Chinatown Sights and Bites Urban Adventure - THB1960
Bangkok - Temple & River of Kings Urban Adventure - THB2900
Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB2500
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2,15 (Sleeper Train), Day 5,6 (Guesthouse) and Day 14 (Overnight Boat) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.Rooms booked only for day use are also excluded.Please note that some room configurations have two single beds, although a double bed will always be requested.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train and flight tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
3. This trip includes a domestic flight. Checked luggage allowance is a maximum of 20 kilograms, plus up to 7 kilograms carry on luggage. Any excess luggage charges will need to be paid directly to the airline at check
4. As this is a combination trip, your tour leader and group composition may change on Day 13 and Day 22
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