18 to 35s Real Thailand & Laos

About this trip

Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.

1. 1
   Day 1 · BangkokBangkok

   

   Land in Bangkok and settle into the group at a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, wander Khao San Road, visit the Grand Palace, or haggle at Chatuchak Market. Join your new travel companions for dinner and check out the city's nightlife.

2. 2
   Day 2 · BangkokBangkok - Overnight Train

   Walk through Chinatown and Sukorn Alley with your leader, stopping at food stalls. Visit Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, a sacred site filled with gold statues and red lanterns dedicated to 58 gods. Lunch is included at Labour Egg Noodle, then browse Sampeng wholesale market. Evening free before your overnight train.

3. 3
   Day 3 · Chiang MaiChiang Mai

   Arrive in Chiang Mai and the day is yours. Climb the steps up Doi Suthep for views, get a traditional Thai massage, or take a cooking class. Stay centrally so everything's within reach. Head to the night bazaar in the evening and your leader can organise bar-hopping if you fancy it.

4. 4
   Day 4 · Chiang MaiChiang Mai

   Another free day in Chiang Mai with optional activities. Try a 1.5-hour Muay Thai class with professional trainers or go ziplining, white water rafting, or cycling. Alternatively, explore the temples scattered around town and end with a massage.

5. 5
   Day 5 · NanNan

   Take a local bus to Nan after breakfast. Once you arrive, refresh at your hotel then explore the town. Visit Wat Phumin, Nan's most famous temple, built in 1596 and restored during the reign of Chao Ananta Vora Ritthi Det. The rest of the evening is yours.

6. 6
   Day 6 · NanPua

   Morning free in Nan – browse galleries by the Nan River and grab a coffee. Tour Cocoa Valley chocolate farm and make your own chocolate while learning about sustainable bark waste management. Travel to Pua District to visit a hand-weaving centre run by a local woman honouring Tai Lue traditions, then explore the village.

7. 7
   Day 7 · Muang NgeunLuang Prabang

   

   Travel through rural countryside to the Laos border and stop in Muang Ngeun, a small district in Xayaburi Province where locals weave cotton. See the local Buddhist temple before continuing to Luang Prabang. Take an orientation walk around this well-preserved city, then hike up Wat Phu Si to watch the sunset.

8. 8
   Day 8 · Luang PrabangLuang Prabang

   Morning free to explore Luang Prabang. Head to Kuang Si, a three-tiered waterfall surrounded by tropical plants where you can hike or swim. Later, board a boat and watch the sunset cruising the Mekong, Asia's longest river.

9. 9
   Day 9 · Luang PrabangLuang Prabang

   Free day in Luang Prabang. Visit Wat Xieng Thong, a 16th-century temple built under royal patronage where Laotian kings were crowned – its carved gilded doors depict scenes from Buddha's life. Wander the streets, hike Mt Phu Si, or take a cooking class with new friends.

10. 10
    Day 10 · Luang PrabangVang Vieng

    

    Rise early to watch saffron-robed monks collecting alms – a centuries-old daily ritual. Townspeople wait outside their homes offering food that monks take back to the temple before midday. Rest of the day free to explore town or visit markets. Board a high-speed train to Vang Vieng in the late afternoon.

11. 11
    Day 11 · Vang ViengVang Vieng

    Free day in Vang Vieng with plenty of options. Cross the river to explore caves on the West Bank – Tham Poukham has a blue-green lagoon and reclining Buddha. Try cycling, kayaking on Nam Song River, or visit 16th and 17th-century monasteries. Hiking and boating aplenty in this natural area.

12. 12
    Day 12 · VientianeVientiane

    Private bus to Vientiane, Laos' capital. Visit Wat Si Saket, the oldest temple still standing in the city, housing almost 7000 Buddha images. Your leader will walk you around this French-influenced city and take you to COPE, an organisation helping those affected by unexploded ordnances from the war.

13. 13
    Day 13 · VientianeVientiane

    Your trip ends this morning with no planned activities. Say goodbye to your travel companions and depart when you're ready. Contact your booking agent beforehand if you'd like to stay in Laos longer.

What's included

• Guide: All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
• Meals: 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
• Activities: Bangkok - Chinatown walking tour Nan – Orientation Tour Pua – Hand Weaving Demonstration Pua - Cocoa Valley Visit and Workshop Muang Ngern – Local Village Visit Luang Prabang - orientation walk Luang Prabang - Talad Mued Night Market Luang Prabang – Wat Phu Si Sunset Hike Luang Prabang – Sunset Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang - Alms giving ceremony Vientiane - Wat Si Saket Vientiane - COPE visit Vientiane - Leader orientation walk
• Transport: TRANSPORT VARIATIONS: Occasionally the road between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng may be closed due to road conditions in which case we will have to fly between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. This will be at your expense, but we will endeavour to notify you of the road situation as early as possible. In this situation we would spend an extra night in Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Public bus, Slow boat, Private vehicle, Songthaew, Tuk-tuk, Train
• Accommodation: OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. TWIN SHARE : Accommodation on this trip is on a twin basis. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. Guesthouse (4 nights), Hotel (6 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night), Resort (1 night)

How travellers rate it

Your free day in Bangkok

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