14 Days Ultimate Cambodia & Thailand — Self-Launched
14 days · Cambodia & Thailand
UME Travel Co. Ltd charges £3,080
No-markup version: ~£1,080 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of UME Travel's 14-day Cambodia & Thailand private tour: Angkor's temples from Siem Reap, the floating villages of Tonle Sap, Bangkok's palaces and floating markets, the River Kwai and Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai's old-city temples, Doi Suthep and an ethical elephant sanctuary, then beach time in Phuket. Instead of a private guide and driver, you'll use tuk-tuks, local buses, overnight/life flights and self-booked day tours — roughly a quarter of the operator's price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP and exclude international flights to Siem Reap and home from Phuket.
Day-by-day
Arrive Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Land at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI, ~45km from town) and take the official airport shuttle or a shared remork (tuk-tuk) into the centre for £3–5. Settle into a guesthouse near Wat Bo or Sok San Road, then wander Pub Street and the Old Market for a first Cambodian dinner — fish amok and a £2 draft beer. Buy your Angkor pass this evening if you want an early start (1-day pass US$37, 3-day US$62).
🚌Airport shuttle / shared remork ~£4
🛏Guesthouse near Wat Bo, £10–14/night
- →Airport shuttle to Siem Reap centre
- →Old Market and Pub Street stroll
- →Buy Angkor pass at the Apsara Authority ticket office
Angkor Thom, Bayon & Angkor Wat sunset
Angkor Archaeological Park
Hire a remork driver for the day (£18–22 for the full circuit, split between two if you're travelling with someone) or rent a bicycle (US$3) for the flat 15km loop. Start at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, then Bayon's stone faces, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Break for lunch back in town, then spend the afternoon at Angkor Wat before climbing Phnom Bakheng for sunset (arrive by 4pm — numbers are capped).
🚌Private remork hire for the day ~£9 per person (shared)
🛏Guesthouse near Wat Bo, £10–14/night
- →Angkor Thom and South Gate
- →Bayon Temple
- →Baphuon and Phimeanakas
- →Terrace of the Elephants & Leper King
- →Angkor Wat
- →Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm & the grand circuit
Angkor region
Book a remork for the outer circuit (£22–25 for the vehicle). Head early to Banteay Srei, the pink sandstone 'citadel of women' 35km out, stopping at Banteay Samre on the way back. Afternoon for Ta Prohm's tree-swallowed ruins and the quieter Banteay Kdei. Optional sunrise return to Angkor Wat (free with your pass, but you'll need a 5am remork, ~£8 extra) or a visit to a local pagoda to sit with monks and nuns in the afternoon.
🚌Remork hire for outer circuit ~£12 per person (shared)
🛏Guesthouse near Wat Bo, £10–14/night
- →Banteay Srei Temple
- →Banteay Samre
- →Ta Prohm
- →Banteay Kdei
- →Optional Angkor Wat sunrise or pagoda monk visit
Kompong Phluk floating village, then to Bangkok
Tonle Sap → Bangkok
Take a morning remork to Kompong Phluk (~30km, £10 return) and join a shared boat through the stilted and floating village on Tonle Sap (£7 per person, negotiate at the village pier rather than a hotel-marked-up tour). Return to Siem Reap for lunch, then take the afternoon direct bus to Bangkok — Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham run daily from Siem Reap to Bangkok's Mo Chit for ~US$28–35, roughly 8–9 hours with border formalities at Poipet. Arrive late; a hostel near the BTS in Siam or Sukhumvit is the easiest landing spot.
🚌Remork + Giant Ibis bus Siem Reap–Bangkok ~£26
🛏Siam/Sukhumvit hostel, £12–16/night
- →Kompong Phluk floating village boat trip
- →Stilted village and school walk
- →Cross the Poipet border overland
Damnoen Saduak & Bangkok's royal temples
Bangkok
Join a morning GetYourGuide or Klook small-group tour to Damnoen Saduak floating market (£22–28 including long-tail boat), leaving around 6:30am to beat the crowds — or do it independently with a minivan from Sai Tai Mai bus terminal (~£7 return) plus a £4 boat hire. Back in Bangkok by early afternoon, walk to Wat Pho (£4.50) and the Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew (£11.50, cover shoulders and knees). Finish with sunset over the river from a £0.60 Chao Phraya orange-flag boat.
🚌Minivan/tour transfer + BTS & river boat ~£10
🛏Siam/Sukhumvit hostel, £12–16/night
- →Damnoen Saduak floating market long-tail boat
- →Wat Pho reclining Buddha
- →Royal Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- →Chao Phraya river boat ride
Kanchanaburi: Bridge over the River Kwai & Death Railway
Kanchanaburi
Take the 8:00am train from Bangkok's Thonburi (Wongwian Yai) station to Kanchanaburi, ~3 hours for about £2.50 — one of Thailand's great budget journeys. Base yourself in a riverside guesthouse, rent a bicycle or motorbike taxi to the Bridge over the River Kwai, then ride the Death Railway stretch from Tha Kilen back over the wooden trestle bridge (tickets ~£2.50). In the afternoon take a songthaew to Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum (free entry, £3), and if time allows the JEATH War Museum (£1.50) and Don Rak War Cemetery (free).
🚌Third-class train ~£2.50 + songthaew £4
🛏Riverside guesthouse, £10–15/night
- →Train from Thonburi to Kanchanaburi
- →Bridge over the River Kwai
- →Death Railway ride over the trestle bridge
- →Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
- →JEATH War Museum & Don Rak War Cemetery
Erawan National Park waterfalls
Erawan National Park
Catch the local bus or songthaew from Kanchanaburi to Erawan National Park (~1.5 hours, £3–4 each way), or rent a scooter for the day (£8). Entry is £5.50. Walk up all seven tiers of Erawan Falls, swimming in the turquoise pools at levels 2–4 (fish nibble your feet — it's normal), and have lunch at the park's simple food stalls. Return to Kanchanaburi for the evening and book onward transport — you'll want the early flight from Bangkok tomorrow.
🚌Local bus both ways ~£7
🛏Riverside guesthouse, £10–15/night
- →Erawan Falls seven-tier walk and swim
- →Erawan National Park jungle trail
Kanchanaburi to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Bus back to Bangkok (3h, £3) or take a morning minivan to Don Mueang/Suvarnabhumi for a cheap AirAsia or Nok Air flight to Chiang Mai (~£30–45 booked in advance). Alternatively save money and take the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for £18–25 — book 2nd-class fan sleeper a few days ahead. Check into a guesthouse inside the old city moat, then explore the Sunday Walking Street if your dates line up, or the nightly Night Bazaar and Nimmanhaemin's cafés.
🚌Regional flight ~£35 or sleeper train ~£20 + local bus £3
🛏Old-city guesthouse, £10–15/night
- →Flight or sleeper train to Chiang Mai
- →Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- →Sunday Walking Street (if weekend)
- →Nimmanhaemin Road cafés
Chiang Mai temples & Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai
Walk the old city on foot: Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang (both ~£1.50 each) in the morning, then Warorot Market for northern Thai snacks and cheap lunches. In the afternoon take a red songthaew to Doi Suthep (~£3 each way, agree the fare first) and climb the 309 steps to Wat Phra That for panoramic city views (entry £1.50; there's also a funicular for ~£1.50 if the stairs are too much after a week of temples).
🚌Red songthaew to Doi Suthep ~£6 return
🛏Old-city guesthouse, £10–15/night
- →Wat Phra Singh
- →Wat Chedi Luang
- →Warorot Market
- →Doi Suthep & Wat Phra That staircase
- →City viewpoint
Ethical elephant sanctuary day
Chiang Mai region
Book a no-riding, observation-only sanctuary day direct with Elephant Nature Park or a similarly vetted project (£60–85 including pick-up, lunch and Karen clothing loan) — check reviews for 'no riding, no bathing pressure' policies before you commit, as this is the one place worth spending real money. The day typically involves feeding bananas and sugarcane, walking with the herd and learning about rescue and mahout welfare. Back in Chiang Mai by late afternoon.
🚌Included sanctuary pick-up
🛏Old-city guesthouse, £10–15/night
- →Full-day ethical elephant sanctuary visit
- →Elephant feeding and guided jungle walk
- →Learning session on elephant welfare
Fly to Phuket
Phuket
Morning flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket with AirAsia or Thai Lion Air (~£35–50 if booked early; avoid last-minute prices). From Phuket airport take the smart bus to Patong or Karon (£4) or a shared minivan (£6). Check into a guesthouse or hostel a short walk from the beach — Karon and Kata are calmer and cheaper than Patong. Spend the afternoon swimming and watching the sunset with a £2 beer.
🚌Flight ~£40 + airport smart bus £4
🛏Karon/Kata guesthouse, £14–20/night
- →Flight to Phuket
- →Beach afternoon and sunset
Phuket island-hopping or beach day
Phuket
Either keep it simple with a beach day, or take a Klook/GetYourGuide speedboat day trip to the Phi Phi islands or Phang Nga Bay (£30–45 including lunch, national park fees sometimes extra). Cheaper alternative: rent a scooter (£7/day) and explore the quieter northern beaches, Nai Harn viewpoint and the Big Buddha, or take a local bus to Phuket Old Town for Sino-Portuguese architecture and street food.
🚌Scooter rental £7 or tour transfer included
🛏Karon/Kata guesthouse, £14–20/night
- →Optional Phi Phi / Phang Nga boat trip
- →Alternative: scooter to Nai Harn & Big Buddha
- →Phuket Old Town food walk
Free day in Phuket
Phuket
A slow day — Thai massage (£6–8 an hour), a beach book, and fresh seafood at a roadside restaurant rather than a beachfront one. If you want one more adventure, a half-day freedive or beginner surf lesson runs £25–35, or take the local bus to Phuket Town's weekend market for cheap eats. Sort your onward flight or bus to your departure airport tonight.
🚌Local bus / songthaew ~£3
🛏Karon/Kata guesthouse, £14–20/night
- →Beach relaxation
- →Thai massage
- →Optional surf or freedive lesson
Departure
Phuket
Final swim and breakfast, then take the smart bus or shared minivan back to Phuket International Airport (£4–6). If your flight is late, leave bags at the guesthouse and spend the morning at the beach or in Phuket Old Town.
🚌Smart bus to Phuket airport ~£5
🛏—
- →Beach morning
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. UME Travel Co. Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | UME Travel Co. Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,080 | £3,080 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,000 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more UME Travel Co. Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,080
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 14 Days Ultimate Cambodia & Thailand — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,080 per person for 14 days in Cambodia & Thailand. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with UME Travel Co. Ltd?+
Yes — UME Travel Co. Ltd charges around £3,080 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,080 — a saving of roughly £2,000 (65%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Cambodia & Thailand.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, beaches, adventure trip through Cambodia & Thailand, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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