Tour overview

This 30-day small-group journey makes a full loop through four countries of South-East Asia, starting and ending in Bangkok. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with local leaders in each country. You travel by sleeper train, slow boat, high-speed train, minibus, public bus and three included flights, and stay in simple, well-located hotels, with guesthouses on the Mekong, a night on a boat in Ha Long Bay and a night in Battambang. Breakfast is included most days, with 4 lunches and 2 dinners. The trip is otherwise land-only.

From Bangkok's canals and Wat Pho, an overnight train takes you north to Chiang Mai and the temple of Doi Suthep, with a visit to an ethical elephant experience. You pass the White Temple at Chiang Rai on the way to the Laos border, then spend two days drifting down the Mekong on a slow boat, stopping at Pakbeng and the Pak Ou Caves, to Luang Prabang. Three nights here allow time for its temples, the dawn alms-giving and the waterfalls nearby, before a high-speed train to Vang Vieng's karst landscapes and the capital, Vientiane.

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A flight takes you to Hanoi, followed by a night aboard a boat in Ha Long Bay and an overnight train to Hue, where you tour the old imperial capital by motorbike with a local guide. Crossing the Hai Van Pass, you spend two nights in Hoi An's lantern-lit old town before flying to Ho Chi Minh City for a city tour and a day in the Mekong Delta, with a boat trip, coconut gardens and sampans.

A public bus crosses into Cambodia for two nights in Phnom Penh, including a sobering visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. On the way to Siem Reap you visit the pottery village of Kampong Chhnang and spend a night in riverside Battambang, with a bike ride through nearby villages. Three nights in Siem Reap include sunrise at Angkor Wat, a guided tour of the temples and a boat trip to the floating village of Chhong Kneas, before a flight back to Bangkok.

The physical rating is medium, with long travel days and simple hotels. This trip suits travellers with a month to spare who want to see the whole region in one journey, at a very good price.

Trip highlights

  • Doi Suthep and an ethical elephant experience near Chiang Mai (Days 3–4)
  • Two days on a Mekong slow boat to Luang Prabang (Days 6–7)
  • A night aboard a boat in Ha Long Bay (Day 14)
  • Hue by motorbike and Hoi An's old town (Days 17–19)
  • The Mekong Delta and Phnom Penh (Days 21–24)
  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat (Day 27)

Your route

18 stops from Bangkok to Siem Reap

30-day route: Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Luang Prabang – Hanoi – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap – Bangkok
  1. Bangkok Days 1–2 & 29
  2. Chiang Mai Days 3–4
  3. Chiang Rai Day 5
  4. Chiang Khong Day 5
  5. Pakbeng Day 6
  6. Luang Prabang Days 7–9
  7. Vang Vieng Days 10–11
  8. Vientiane Day 12
  9. Hanoi Days 13 & 15
  10. Halong Bay Day 14
  11. Hue Days 16–17
  12. Hoi An Days 18–19
  13. Ho Chi Minh City Days 20–22
  14. Ben Tre Day 21
  15. Phnom Penh Days 23–24
  16. Kampong Chhnang Day 25
  17. Battambang Day 25
  18. Siem Reap Days 26–28

Why choose this tour

Four countries in one loop, with three flights, sleeper trains and the Mekong slow boat included. Excellent value for a month-long journey, with local leaders in each country.

Best suited to

  • Travellers with a month to explore South-East Asia
  • Budget-conscious travellers who want a guided trip
  • Anyone keen on temples, food and river journeys
  • Sociable travellers comfortable with simple hotels
Boats on a river beneath misty mountains in northern Laos

Day-by-day itinerary

30 days from Bangkok, Thailand to Bangkok, Thailand

  1. Day 1 · Bangkok Arrive in Bangkok

    Welcome to Bangkok, a city of tuk-tuks, canal boats and street food. Meet your leader and group at the welcome meeting at 6pm.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Chao Phraya River, Wat Pho Bangkok canals and the night train

    Cruise the Chao Phraya River into the city's canals and visit Wat Pho, home of the giant reclining Buddha. In the evening, board the sleeper train north.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep Chiang Mai and Doi Suthep

    Arrive in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand's liveliest city, and drive up the winding road to the golden temple of Doi Suthep, with views over the city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  4. Day 4 · Chiang Mai Elephant experience

    Visit an ethical elephant experience about 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai to learn how it protects and cares for elephants, with lunch included.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Khong White Temple to Chiang Khong

    Travel through the countryside to the border town of Chiang Khong, stopping at Wat Rong Khun, the dazzling contemporary White Temple near Chiang Rai.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
  6. Day 6 · Mekong River, Pakbeng Mekong slow boat to Pakbeng

    Cross into Laos and board a slow boat for the two-day journey down the Mekong, watching village life and forested hills pass by, to Pakbeng for the night.

    Hotel
    Guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Pak Ou Caves, Luang Prabang Pak Ou Caves to Luang Prabang

    Continue down the river to the Pak Ou Caves, two sacred limestone caverns filled with Buddha images, and on to Luang Prabang.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Luang Prabang Luang Prabang

    Explore Luang Prabang, the former royal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its red-roofed temples and French colonial architecture.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Luang Prabang Alms giving

    Rise at dawn to watch saffron-robed monks collect alms, a centuries-old ritual. The rest of the day is free, perhaps for the Kuang Si waterfalls or a climb up Mount Phousi.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Vang Vieng High-speed train to Vang Vieng

    Take the high-speed train to Vang Vieng, surrounded by limestone karsts on the Nam Song River.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Vang Vieng Vang Vieng

    A free day in this adventure town, known for its caves, lagoons, kayaking and tubing, or simply relax with the view.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Vientiane Vientiane

    Travel by minibus to Vientiane, a laid-back capital of faded mansions, tree-lined boulevards and golden temples.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Hanoi Fly to Hanoi

    Fly from Laos to Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. Explore the Old Quarter before dinner together in Vietnam’s capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Ha Long Bay Ha Long Bay

    Travel to Ha Long Bay and cruise among its limestone islands, coves and grottoes, with a seafood dinner and a night on board.

    Hotel
    Overnight boat
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  15. Day 15 · Ha Long Bay, Hanoi Back to Hanoi and the night train

    Watch the sunrise over the bay, visit The Green Life centre, which turns the bay's waste into crafts, and return to Hanoi to board the sleeper train south.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Hue Hue

    Arrive in Hue, Vietnam's former imperial capital, with free time to rest or explore its markets and Citadel.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  17. Day 17 · Hue, Thanh Toan Bridge Hue by motorbike

    See Hue like a local from the back of a motorbike with a local guide, stopping at the 18th-century Thanh Toan covered bridge and enjoying a vegetarian lunch at a pagoda.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  18. Day 18 · Hai Van Pass, Hoi An Hai Van Pass to Hoi An

    Travel past rice paddies and over the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An, a UNESCO-listed trading port of lantern-lit lanes.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  19. Day 19 · Hoi An Free day in Hoi An

    Browse the art galleries and tailors, cycle through rice paddies to Cua Dai Beach, or shop for lanterns and ceramics.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  20. Day 20 · Ho Chi Minh City Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

    Take an early flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's commercial capital, for a sightseeing tour on arrival.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Ben Tre, Mekong Delta Mekong Delta

    Spend the day in the Mekong Delta: a boat to Ben Tre's coconut gardens, tropical fruit with a local family, a paddle in a sampan and a regional lunch.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  22. Day 22 · Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels Free day in Ho Chi Minh City

    A free day to explore the city, or join an optional trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  23. Day 23 · Phnom Penh Into Cambodia: Phnom Penh

    Travel by public bus across the border to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, set where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap River.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  24. Day 24 · Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh Phnom Penh

    Confront Cambodia's tragic recent past on a guided visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school used by the Khmer Rouge, with time to explore the riverside afterwards.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  25. Day 25 · Kampong Chhnang, Battambang Kampong Chhnang to Battambang

    Drive about six hours to Battambang, stopping at the pottery village of Kampong Chhnang. Arrive in Cambodia's second city, a riverside town of French colonial buildings.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  26. Day 26 · Battambang, Siem Reap Battambang villages to Siem Reap

    Cycle through the countryside to villages making rice paper, dried bananas and bamboo sticky rice, with a social enterprise that trains local young people. Continue to Siem Reap.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  27. Day 27 · Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom Sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, then explore the vast temple complex with a local guide, including the faces of the Bayon and the jungle-clad Ta Prohm.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  28. Day 28 · Angkor, Chhong Kneas Angkor and the floating village

    Continue exploring the temples of Angkor, then take a local boat to the floating village of Chhong Kneas on the Tonle Sap lake.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  29. Day 29 · Bangkok Fly to Bangkok

    Fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok, where your Thai leader meets you for a final evening in the capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  30. Day 30 · Bangkok Trip ends in Bangkok

    The trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights in Bangkok can be arranged when you book.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Where you stay

  • Bangkok (1 night) Hotel
  • Bangkok to Chiang Mai (1 night) Overnight sleeper train
  • Chiang Mai (2 nights) Hotel
  • Chiang Khong (1 night) Guesthouse
  • Pakbeng (1 night) Guesthouse
  • Luang Prabang (3 nights) Hotel
  • Vang Vieng (2 nights) Hotel
  • Vientiane (1 night) Hotel
  • Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
  • Ha Long Bay (1 night) Overnight boat
  • Hanoi to Hue (1 night) Overnight sleeper train
  • Hue (2 nights) Hotel
  • Hoi An (2 nights) Hotel
  • Ho Chi Minh City (3 nights) Hotel
  • Phnom Penh (2 nights) Hotel
  • Battambang (1 night) Hotel
  • Siem Reap (3 nights) Hotel
  • Bangkok (1 night) Hotel

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 29 nights in hotels and guesthouses, a Ha Long Bay boat and two sleeper trains
  • Meals 24 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Flights Laos to Hanoi, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap to Bangkok
  • Transport sleeper trains, a two-day Mekong slow boat, a high-speed train, minibuses and public buses
  • Guided visits Wat Pho, Doi Suthep, an elephant experience, the White Temple, Pak Ou Caves, Ha Long Bay, Hue by motorbike, the Mekong Delta, Tuol Sleng, Battambang villages and Angkor
  • Local leaders in each country

Not included

  • International flights to and from Bangkok
  • Airport transfers
  • Visas for Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia
  • Meals not listed and optional activities
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Limestone islands and boats in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want international flights included — they are not
  • You want comfortable hotels — most are simple two- and three-star
  • You need a private room every night — trains and the boat are shared
  • You want most meals included — mainly breakfasts

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Cambodia · UK FCDO travel advice for Laos · UK FCDO travel advice for Thailand · UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam
The Royal Palace by the river in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,615 per person, twin share, tour only. 65 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.

Which flights are included?

Three: Laos to Hanoi, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap to Bangkok, each with 20 kg of checked luggage and 7 kg of hand luggage.

What are the sleeper trains like?

In Thailand, air-conditioned shared berths with toilets but no showers. In Vietnam, four- to six-berth compartments with bedding, which may be shared with other travellers.

What is the Mekong slow boat like?

A relaxed two-day river journey from the Thai border to Luang Prabang, with a night in a guesthouse in Pakbeng and a stop at the Pak Ou Caves.

Do I need visas?

Yes, for Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, depending on your nationality. Check the latest rules before you travel.

What meals are included?

24 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners, including a seafood dinner in Ha Long Bay, lunch in the Mekong Delta and a vegetarian lunch in Hue.

How active is the trip?

The physical rating is medium. Expect plenty of walking, a bike ride in Battambang, a motorbike tour as a passenger in Hue and long travel days.

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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