- ✓ An epic journey through Thailand & Indochina
- ✓ Explore bustling Bangkok and sip cocktails at a rooftop bar
- ✓ Encounter rescued elephants at Chiang Mai’s ethical Elephant Nature Park
- ✓ Drift between limestone peaks on an overnight cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay
- ✓ Uncover the jungle temples of Angkor, one of the world’s great wonders
For a trip to really remember, follow the Indochina loop across four countries in four weeks. Drift into the sunset amidst the islands of Bai Tu Long Bay, be dazzled by Bangkok’s bright lights and clamber between the overgrown temples of Angkor. This trip is a heady mix of jungles, junk boats, monks and motorbikes. It’s got everything you could want from an Indochina adventure. And a little bit more.
Days 1 & 2 – Bright lights of Bangkok
When you arrive at Bangkok airport, our local agent will be waiting in the arrivals hall to help you get settled after your flight. You’ll then head into the city and your boutique hotel near the Chao Phraya River, just a 10-minute walk from Khao San Road. It’s a great base for exploring Bangkok. On your first full day, you’ll get beyond the usual tourist trail with a local guide, wandering quiet alleyways and local markets while learning about guardian spirits, amulets and Buddhist traditions. You’ll also visit the Giant Swing and get a glimpse of everyday life in the city.
Later, you’ll explore Bangkok from the water as you cruise through the city’s maze of canals, or klongs. Stop at a canal-side artists’ community, browse galleries and studios, and visit two of Bangkok’s best-known temples, Wat Arun and Wat Pho. You’ll round off the day at a rooftop bar overlooking the Chao Phraya River, with Wat Arun glowing across the water. It’s a great way to get your first proper taste of Bangkok.
Days 3-5 – Elephant encounters in Chiang Mai
Today you’ll head to the railway station and board the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. The journey takes around 13 hours, with a comfortable bed in a shared, air-conditioned couchette. Settle in for the night as the train rattles north, waking up to changing scenery as you approach the mountains of Chiang Mai. It’s a fun and practical way to travel between the two cities.
Prefer a little more privacy? A private cabin can also be arranged, so just let your Travel Specialist know.
When you arrive in Chiang Mai, you’ll make your own way to your hotel in the centre of the city. With a laid-back, spiritual atmosphere, Chiang Mai is a walkable city scattered with sacred temples and shrines. If you have time, it’s worth stopping at the night market, packed with souvenirs and aromatic street food stalls.
Next you will learn all about the gentle giants of the Elephant Nature Park. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Chiang Mai and transferred to the park an hour away. You will learn all about the issues faced by elephants in Asia and the personal stories of those rescued by the park. You will have the chance to observe these majestic animals and aid in their rehabilitation before returning to Chiang Mai in the early evening for another night in the city.
Days 6-8 – Experience Luang Prabang
Next you’ll be transferred to the airport for your 90 minute flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. When you arrive you’ll be met by a local driver and taken to your hotel, just a short walk from the centre. With its colonial buildings, leafy streets, colourful temples and laid-back atmosphere, the town is easy to explore on foot. You’ll have plenty of time to explore independently. Climb Phousi Hill for views over the city, browse the night market and sample some Lao specialities along the way.
During your stay we’ll arrange a sunset cruise on the Mekong. In the late afternoon, you’ll head by tuk-tuk to the river and sail towards the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, an important place for local communities. You’ll stop to visit Wat Long Khoune and Wat Chomphet before boarding the boat again and settling in with a drink as the sun dips over the Mekong.
Days 9 & 10 – Vive Vientiane
You’ll make your own way to the airport today for the quick 45 minute flight to Vientiane, Laos’ laid-back capital. You’ll stay in a modern hotel in the centre of town with views over the Mekong. From here, you’re within easy reach of the morning market, local restaurants and the riverside. Despite being a capital, Vientiane has a relaxed feel, with leafy streets, French-style bakeries and plenty of places to stop for a Beerlao and watch life along the river.
You’ll also get to know the city through its food on a guided street food tour. Start with traditional Lao coffee before exploring the local market and learning about the herbs, spices and fresh ingredients used in Lao cooking. You’ll visit a restaurant to see how local dishes are prepared and sample favourites such as kao piak soup and papaya salad, followed by homemade ice cream in some wonderfully unusual Lao flavours. Finish with a cold Beerlao and views over the Mekong.
Days 11 & 12 – Flavours of Hanoi
It’s time to move onto Vietnam. Today you’ll take a flight to Hanoi - Vietnam’s capital city, that’s crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards.
You’ll stay in the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and during your stay you’ll embark on a culinary and cultural journey through Hanoi with your private guide. You’ll learn all about local legends, admire the ancient architecture and taste a range of delicacies from grilled pork to vermicelli dumplings as you wander the streets of the Old Quarter.
Day 13 – Drift between limestone peaks
Early this morning, you’ll head by minibus to the coast, where your traditional junk boat is waiting. From here, you’ll sail into Bai Tu Long Bay, a beautiful stretch of turquoise water scattered with jungle-covered limestone islands. It’s just as impressive as Halong Bay, but generally much quieter, giving you more space to enjoy the scenery without the crowds.
Your junk boat will be your home for the night, with plenty of time to settle in, relax on deck and watch the landscape drift by. You can kayak between the islands, swim in quiet coves and venture into caves, before tucking into fresh seafood and watching the sun set over the bay. Depending on the cruise, there may also be optional activities such as Tai Chi or squid fishing.
By choosing Bai Tu Long Bay, you’re helping to spread visitors beyond the busiest parts of the region, while enjoying this spectacular scenery at a more relaxed pace.
Days 14-17 – Classic Hoi An
Once you’ve stepped off the boat in Halong, a minibus will take you back to Hanoi. That evening, you’ll board the overnight sleeper train south to Danang. The journey takes around 15 hours, giving you the chance to settle into your berth and watch the scenery change as you travel down the coast.
Wake up in central Vietnam, ready to continue your journey. From the train station you’ll be transferred the 45 minutes further south to your next stop, Hoi An, Vietnam’s most atmospheric town. A jumble of crumbling Chinese shop houses, artist studios and riverside restaurants, it’s crammed with charm. The pace is slow and the food is scrumptious. In recent years, Hoi An has become something of a national treasure with its day dreamy, timeless atmosphere.
While there, you’ll join a small group for a cooking class, starting with a visit to the vibrant local market to pick up fresh ingredients. After learning to cook traditional Vietnamese dishes, you’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch of your creations, leaving the afternoon free for you to explore.
Days 18 & 19 – Scooting through Saigon
This morning you’ll leave Hoi An, probably with a whole new wardrobe, and continue with your holiday in Vietnam. We’ll arrange your transfer from your hotel to Danang airport where you’ll take a quick 90 minute domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the heart of District 1.
Once the sun goes down, you’ll see another side of the city on a Vespa street food tour. Hop on the back and zip through the bustling streets and quieter backstreets, stopping at local food spots to try some of the city’s favourite snacks. Along the way, you’ll soak up the atmosphere, listen to live music and perhaps stop for a Vietnamese coffee. It’s a fun way to experience Ho Chi Minh City after dark, when the streets really come alive.
The rest of your stay is free to explore independently
Days 20 & 21 – Along the Mekong to Cambodia
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken by minibus to the pier, where you’ll board your boat and set off into the Mekong Delta. Over the next few days, you’ll travel through a maze of waterways, passing riverside villages, floating markets and tiny islands as you watch everyday life unfold along the river. You’ll spend a night in Can Tho, close to its famous floating markets, and another in Chau Doc near the Cambodian border. Along the way, you’ll explore Tiger Island by rickshaw, giving you a glimpse of life away from the main tourist trail.
As you head further south, the waterways become quieter, with fishing boats, stilted houses and lush green riverbanks lining the route. There’s plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the scenery, particularly as the sun starts to set over the Mekong. Eventually, you’ll cross the border into Cambodia by boat, making the journey between the two countries part of the adventure.
Days 22 & 23 – Past and present in Phnom Penh
Welcome to Cambodia! This morning, you’ll leave Chau Doc by small ferry, crossing the border into Cambodia. You’ll stop at the border to arrange your Cambodian visa before continuing by boat to Phnom Penh, where a transfer will take you to your hotel.
Cambodia’s capital sits where the Mekong, Tonlé Sap and Bassac rivers meet. It’s a lively mix of grand colonial buildings, busy markets, street food and riverside life, with plenty of history woven into the city. The rest of the day is free to settle in and explore at your own pace.
The following day, you’ll explore Phnom Penh with a local guide, visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields just outside the city. These important sites tell the story of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, offering a moving and sobering insight into one of the darkest chapters in the country’s history.
Days 24-26 – Amazing Angkor!
We’ll arrange a transfer to the bus station, where you’ll board a bus for the six-hour journey to Siem Reap. Best known as the gateway to Angkor, the town itself is worth some time too, with colourful markets, lively cafés, local restaurants and plenty of Cambodian flavours to try.
Over the next couple of days, you’ll head out with a local guide to explore the temples of Angkor. Wander among ancient ruins and jungle-fringed temples as your guide brings the history, architecture and stories of this remarkable site to life. You’ll visit some of the most impressive temples in the complex, with plenty of time to explore Siem Reap independently in between.
Day 27 - Depart Cambodia
After three weeks of travelling through Indochina, your adventure is coming to an end. You’ve travelled through bustling cities, explored ancient temples, cruised along the Mekong and sampled plenty of local flavours along the way. Hopefully, you’re heading home with plenty of great memories to look back on.
There’s time for one last wander or some souvenir shopping before your transfer to the airport. Then it’s time to say goodbye to Southeast Asia and board your flight home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Indochina Loop – Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia - In Style Accommodation
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.