Tour overview

This 22-day adventure for travellers aged 18 to 35 combines northern Thailand’s hills with the islands of the south and the highlights of Malaysia, ending in Singapore. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen. You stay twenty-one nights in hotels, guesthouses, hilltribe village houses, a resort, a homestay and on three sleeper trains.

From Bangkok a sleeper train takes you to Chiang Mai for a two-day trek through the hills, sleeping in hilltribe villages, and a kayak trip on the Mae Taeng River. Back in Bangkok, another night train heads south to Ko Samui for two nights by the beach.

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A homestay in Phrom Lok and two nights at Ao Nang among Krabi’s cliffs lead you into Malaysia, where you explore Georgetown on Penang, the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands and Kuala Lumpur before a bus takes you to Singapore.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits active, social travellers aged 18 to 35 with three weeks to explore.

Trip highlights

  • A hilltribe trek (Days 4–5)
  • Kayaking on the Mae Taeng (Day 6)
  • Ko Samui (Days 10–11)
  • A Phrom Lok homestay (Day 12)
  • Georgetown, Penang (Day 16)
  • Kuala Lumpur (Days 19–20)

Your route

13 stops from Bangkok to Singapore

22-day route: Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Bangkok – Ko Samui – Phrom Lok – Ao Nang – Penang – Cameron Highlands – Kuala Lumpur – Singapore
  1. Bangkok Days 1–2
  2. Chiang Mai Day 3
  3. Hilltribe Village Days 4–5
  4. Chiang Mai Day 6
  5. Bangkok Days 7–9
  6. Surat Thani Day 10
  7. Ko Samui Days 10–11
  8. Phrom Lok Homestay Day 12
  9. Ao Nang Days 13–14
  10. George Town Days 15–16
  11. Cameron Highlands Days 17–18
  12. Kuala Lumpur Days 19–20
  13. Singapore Days 21–22

Why choose this tour

Three countries and a hilltribe trek in three weeks. A group your own age.

Best suited to

  • Travellers aged 18 to 35
  • Active travellers
  • Travellers on a budget
  • Solo travellers
A village among forested hills and terraced fields

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from Bangkok, Thailand to Singapore

  1. Day 1 · Bangkok Bangkok

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Bangkok Bangkok

    The night train north.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
  3. Day 3 · Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

    An orientation walk.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  4. Day 4 · Mae Malai, Mok Fah Waterfall Hilltribe trek

    Into the hills.

    Hotel
    Hilltribe village house
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Hilltribe villages Hilltribe trek

    Farmland and jungle.

    Hotel
    Hilltribe village house
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Mae Taeng River, Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

    Kayaking downstream.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

    A free day and the night train.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Bangkok Bangkok

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  9. Day 9 · Bangkok Bangkok

    The night train south.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
  10. Day 10 · Surat Thani, Ko Samui Ko Samui

    To the island.

    Hotel
    Resort
  11. Day 11 · Ko Samui Ko Samui

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Resort
  12. Day 12 · Phrom Lok Phrom Lok

    A village homestay.

    Hotel
    Homestay
    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Phrom Lok, Ao Nang Ao Nang

    Cycling and the coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  14. Day 14 · Ao Nang Ao Nang

    A free beach day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  15. Day 15 · Penang Penang

    Into Malaysia.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  16. Day 16 · Georgetown Penang

    A heritage walk.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  17. Day 17 · Cameron Highlands Cameron Highlands

    To the tea country.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
  18. Day 18 · Cameron Highlands Cameron Highlands

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  19. Day 19 · Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur

    The capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  20. Day 20 · Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Singapore Singapore

    By bus to Singapore.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  22. Day 22 · Singapore Singapore

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A Thai train at a station platform

Where you stay

  • Bangkok (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Chiang Mai (1 night) Hotel
  • Hilltribe villages (2 nights) Village houses (multi-share)
  • Chiang Mai (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Bangkok (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Ko Samui (2 nights) Resort
  • Phrom Lok (1 night) Homestay
  • Ao Nang (2 nights) Hotel
  • Penang (2 nights) Hotel
  • Cameron Highlands (2 nights) Guesthouse
  • Kuala Lumpur (2 nights) Hotel
  • Singapore (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 21 nights, including three sleeper trains
  • Meals 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Sleeper trains, ferries and buses
  • Two-day hilltribe trek and river kayaking
  • Phrom Lok homestay and Penang hawker dinner
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 11 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 17 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Colonial shophouses on a street in George Town, Penang

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You are over 35
  • You want comfortable hotels throughout
  • You don’t want to sleep on trains
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 4–7, 13 and 18–22 · Lunch: Days 4–6 and 12–13 · Dinner: Days 4–5, 12 and 15
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Malaysia · UK FCDO travel advice for Singapore · UK FCDO travel advice for Thailand
A rocky lagoon on Ko Samui

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,118 per person, twin share, tour only. 43 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What ages is this trip for?

Travellers aged 18 to 35.

How hard is the trek?

Two days of moderate walking, sleeping in simple village houses.

Do I need a visa for Malaysia?

UK citizens don’t need a visa for Malaysia for tourist stays, but must complete the digital arrival card.

What are the sleeper trains like?

Air-conditioned berths with a sheet and pillow and toilets on board.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available, except on trains, in the villages and at the homestay.

How many people travel together?

No more than sixteen travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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