Backpacking tour of Thailand and Laos
Description of Backpacking tour of Thailand and Laos
Want to backpack Southeast Asia without the stress of planning? Get an instant posse for your epic journey and explore Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia with like-minded legends. With expert local guides leading the way, your itinerary is packed with bucket-list adventures!
Choose your ultimate escape: the first half (13 days, Thailand to Vietnam), the second half (20 days, Vietnam to Thailand), or the full loop (31 days, Thailand to Thailand).
For 13 and 31-day thrill-seekers, kick off in Bangkok with a rooftop briefing at Lub d Chinatown before a sleeper train north. In Chiang Mai, wash gentle giants at an ethical elephant sanctuary, stay at a homestay, and trek to a hill tribe village. Choose optional quad biking, zip-lining, rafting, or a mountain cycle to Wat Doi Suthep before partying at 'Zoe in Yellow'.
Next, fly to Luang Prabang, Laos. Witness the Takbat Lao monk almsgiving, volunteer teaching English, and try traditional rice farming. Swim at Kuang Si waterfalls, grab a beer at 'Utopia', cruise the Mekong River to Pak Ou Caves, and catch sunset from Mt Phousi. In Vang Vieng, dive into the Blue Lagoon, go tubing, or hike to Pha Ngern viewpoint.
Then, fly to Hanoi, Vietnam to explore narrow streets and fresh pho. Join a free Old Quarter bar crawl, visit Hoa Lo Prison, and see Hoan Kiem Lake.
The 13-Day Tour ends here at 11:00 AM! Meanwhile, the 20-Day Tour explodes into action here, meeting the 31-day crew at 10:00 AM.
Together, cruise Ha Long Bay's emerald waters, brave cliff jumps, kayak through sea caves, and party by beach bonfires. Take a night bus to Phong Nha to cycle to the 'Pub With Cold Beer' for volleyball and karaoke, then explore the world's largest cave system along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
An early bus brings you to Hoi An to tour the Old Town and grab tailor-made clothes. Spend a free day at Ba Na Hills (Vietnam's Disneyland), ride a crab boat, or cycle to the beach. Next, fly to bustling Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for street food at Ben Thanh Market, a river water bus past Landmark 81, the Cu Chi Tunnels, and the War Remnants Museum.
Journey through the Mekong Delta with a cooking class and Tra Su Forest boat ride, then cross into Cambodia! Sail to Koh Rong Island for white beaches, scuba diving, and an island-hopping snorkel cruise before camping on a deserted beach under glowing bioluminescent plankton.
Head to Phnom Penh to uncover history at S21 Prison and the Killing Fields, tour the Royal Palace, and sip cocktails at the swanky Foreign Correspondent’s Club. Finally, arrive in Siem Reap to chill by the pool and dive into the wild nightlife. Try a floating village tour or a boozy countryside bike ride. On your final morning, catch sunrise over Angkor Wat—the world's largest religious site—before an unforgettable party on Pub Street.
The 20 and 31-Day tours wrap up here! Book your flight back to Thailand, or keep the adventure alive!
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2027: 1 Jan, 4 Jan, 8 Jan, 11 Jan, 15 Jan, 18 Jan, 22 Jan, 25 Jan, 29 Jan, 1 Feb, 5 Feb, 8 Feb, 12 Feb, 15 Feb ...
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Holiday information
Accessibility
Responsible Travel
Planet
We are committed to ensuring that the tours do not negatively impact on the destinations and the communities benefit from the tourism.Before departure, all travelers are provided with information about responsible travel. We encourage all travelers to take a reusable water bottle so that unnecessary plastic is not wasted. We also inform traveler of water shortages and how to minimize water wastage, by taking shorter showers and by using hand sanitizer in areas where water is scarce. We ask that travelers are responsible with litter. When trekking, routes are pre-planned and limit unnecessary erosion.
On the tour, only public transport, such as buses, overnight trains and boat, used which ensures that the groups carbon footprint is kept as low as possible.
The group use local hostels that have been thoroughly checked before the tour arrive. The group board sleeper trains and boats, which means that by combining accommodation and transport, the group can keep their environmental impact to a minimum.
We actively discourage the participation of groups in activities that exploit both wild and domestic animals and look to promote charities that look after animals ethically.
Tour guides promote greater integration between travellers to our destinations and local people. We also ensure that tour guides work with local communities to ensure that tours do not impact negatively on the area. All travellers are encouraged to get rid of their litter and to avoid buying or using single use plastic such as straws, coffee cups, plastic bottles, shopping bags.
People
Our tours are designed to offer travelers the opportunity to see incredible sites and to experience unique experiences. We aim to give travelers the opportunity to try new skills and to learn more about the destination's culture so that they gain personally. We are also committed to ensuring that the tours do not negatively impact on the destinations and the communities benefit from the tourism.This tour is affordable and is perfect for backpackers. Group sizes are typically 20 and travel by public transport. All overnight stays are either at local hostels or on overnight trains. This feeds into the local economy and reduces pollution caused by tour buses. The tour stops at major tourist hot spots but also visits lesser-known destinations, which means smaller communities are able to benefit as travelers spend money in local shops and restaurants.
Local restaurants, cafes and bars are promoted to help the local communities and to give travelers a more authentic experience. Local guides are used which creates jobs within the community. They are paid fairly and use their expertise to help create the itinerary. They have access to leadership opportunities.
Travelers stop at a sustainable elephant sanctuary in Thailand which does not offer elephant riding and is committed to the welfare of the elephants. They look after injured elephants and provide jobs in the local community. This visit supports the efforts of the charity to help animals at risk.
Before departure and during the briefing at the start of the tour, cultural sensitivity is promoted . We emphasize the importance of showing respect for local people and their customs. A kit list is also provided so that travelers are aware of what clothing is culturally appropriate in Thailand and Laos. Participants will work alongside permanent staff, forming close bonds and getting an insight into real life in Thailand and Laos.
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