16 Mar 2027
Twin share
£3,860pp
Escorted tour
Vietnam, China & Laos Adventure: Sapa to Bangkok – 20 Days
Sapa, Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang and Laos by train and road, in a small group of up to 12.
20 days
From £3,400
Tour overview
This 20-day small-group adventure takes an unusual route through four countries, linking northern Vietnam with the mountains of China's Yunnan province and the river towns of Laos by road, high-speed train and the new railway across the border. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout. You stay eighteen nights in standard hotels and a simple guesthouse in Tiger Leaping Gorge, with one night on an overnight train to Bangkok. Nine breakfasts, four lunches and a dinner are included, among them a street-food barbecue in Sapa, a home-cooked lunch with a Hani family and lunch on a Mekong River cruise.
From Hanoi a private transfer takes you to Sapa, a misty mountain town where you walk through terraced rice fields to the village of Tan Van. Crossing into China at Hekou, you continue to Kunming and take a bullet train to Shangri-La, an alpine city in the heart of Tibetan Yunnan, to visit the great Ganden Sumtseling Monastery.
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A highlight is a two-day hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world, carved by the Jinsha River beneath snowy peaks, with a night in a gorge-side guesthouse. In Lijiang you explore the UNESCO-listed old town and the village of Baisha, then travel by high-speed train south to Jinghong, visiting a Hani village on Nannuo Mountain, one of the oldest tea-growing areas in the world.
A bullet train carries you across the border to Luang Prabang, where you cruise the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves and watch the morning alms-giving ceremony. In Vang Vieng you kayak on the Nam Song River among limestone karsts, then visit Vientiane's oldest temple, Wat Si Saket, before an overnight train to Bangkok.
The physical rating is medium, with hiking at altitude and long travel days. This trip suits adventurous travellers looking for a route few others take, with mountains, monasteries and river life along the way. Visas are needed for Vietnam, China and Laos, so plan ahead before you travel. Departures are limited, with only a handful each year, so early booking is recommended.
Trip highlights
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Trekking among the rice terraces of Sapa (Day 3)
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Ganden Sumtseling Monastery in Shangri-La (Day 6)
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A two-day hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge (Days 7–8)
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Lijiang's old town and Baisha (Day 9)
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A Hani village and tea mountain (Day 12)
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A Mekong cruise and kayaking in Laos (Days 14–16)
Your route
15 stops from Hanoi to Bangkok
- Hanoi Day 1
- Sapa Days 2–3
- Lao Cai Day 4
- Kunming Days 4 & 10
- Shangri-La (Zhongdian) Days 5–6
- Tiger Leaping Gorge Day 7
- Lijiang Days 8–9
- Baisha Old Town Day 9
- Jinghong Days 11–12
- Luang Prabang Days 13–14
- Pak Ou Caves Day 14
- Vang Vieng Days 15–16
- Vientiane Days 17–18
- Nong Khai Day 18
- Bangkok Days 19–20
Why choose this tour
A rare overland route linking Vietnam, Yunnan and Laos. Mountain hikes, monasteries and river life with a small group.
Best suited to
- Adventurous travellers
- Return visitors to Asia
- Active travellers who enjoy hiking
- Solo travellers looking for a small group
Day-by-day itinerary
20 days from Hanoi, Vietnam to Bangkok, Thailand
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Day 1 · Hanoi Arrive in Hanoi
A welcome meeting at 6pm.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Sapa Sapa
Transfer to the mountains for a street-food barbecue.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 3 · Tan Van Sapa trek
Walk through rice terraces to Tan Van village.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 4 · Hekou, Kunming Into China
Cross the border and travel to Kunming.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 5 · Shangri-La Shangri-La
A bullet train to the alpine city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 6 · Ganden Sumtseling Monastery Ganden Sumtseling
Visit the great Tibetan monastery.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Lunch
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Day 7 · Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge
Begin hiking the gorge.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
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Day 8 · Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang Lijiang
Hike downhill, then travel to Lijiang.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Baisha, Lijiang Baisha
Explore Baisha and Lijiang's old town.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 10 · Kunming Kunming
A train back to Kunming.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 11 · Jinghong Jinghong
A high-speed train south.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 12 · Nannuo Mountain Nannuo Mountain
Visit a Hani tea village for lunch.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Lunch
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Day 13 · Luang Prabang Luang Prabang
A bullet train across the border to Laos.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 14 · Pak Ou Caves Mekong cruise
Cruise the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 15 · Vang Vieng Vang Vieng
Watch the alms round, then travel to Vang Vieng.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 16 · Nam Song River Kayaking
Kayak among limestone karsts.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 17 · Vientiane Vientiane
A train to the Lao capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 18 · Wat Si Saket Vientiane
Visit the oldest temple, then a night train.
- Hotel
- Overnight train
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 19 · Bangkok Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 20 · Bangkok Trip ends
The trip ends this morning.
Where you stay
- Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
- Sapa (2 nights) Hotel
- Kunming (1 night) Hotel
- Shangri-La (2 nights) Hotel
- Tiger Leaping Gorge (1 night) Guesthouse
- Lijiang (2 nights) Hotel
- Kunming (1 night) Hotel
- Jinghong (2 nights) Hotel
- Luang Prabang (2 nights) Hotel
- Vang Vieng (2 nights) Hotel
- Vientiane (1 night) Hotel
- Vientiane to Bangkok (1 night) Overnight train
- 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 17 nights in hotels, 1 in a guesthouse and 1 on an overnight train
- Meals 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 1 dinner
- Private transfers, high-speed trains and an overnight train
- Sapa village trek and street-food barbecue
- Ganden Sumtseling Monastery and Tiger Leaping Gorge hike
- Baisha, a Hani village visit and home-cooked lunch
- Mekong cruise to Pak Ou Caves and Nam Song kayaking
- Leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Visas for Vietnam, China and Laos
- Meals not included 10 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 18 dinners
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a relaxed holiday — the pace is busy
- You want luxury — hotels are standard and one night is in a simple guesthouse
- You dislike altitude — Shangri-La is over 3,000m
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–4, 8 and 14–18 · Lunch: Days 3, 6, 12 and 14 · Dinner: Day 2
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,400 per person, twin share, tour only. 14 upcoming departures.
13 Apr 2027
Twin share
£3,660pp
22 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,400pp
06 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,400pp
24 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,400pp
07 Sept 2027
Twin share
£3,695pp
05 Oct 2027
Twin share
£3,670pp
19 Oct 2027
Twin share
£3,500pp
14 Mar 2028
Twin share
£3,785pp
04 Apr 2028
Twin share
£3,855pp
20 Jun 2028
Twin share
£3,570pp
22 Aug 2028
Twin share
£3,570pp
05 Sept 2028
Twin share
£3,855pp
17 Oct 2028
Twin share
£3,785pp
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.
How hard is the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike?
A moderate two-day hike at altitude on mountain trails, mostly downhill on the second day.
Do I need visas?
UK visitors need visas for Vietnam, China and Laos, arranged before travel where required.
Which countries do we visit?
Vietnam, China, Laos and Thailand.
Is altitude a concern?
Shangri-La sits above 3,000m, so take it easy on arrival. Seek medical advice if you have concerns.
How do we cross into Laos?
By the new high-speed railway from China to Luang Prabang.
How many people travel together?
Up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a 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