Self-Launched Highlights of Cambodia & Thailand: Siem Reap to Chiang Mai
13 days · Cambodia & Thailand
Globus charges £3,560
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 13-day self-launched version of Globus's "Independent Highlights of Cambodia & Thailand" — same route from Siem Reap through Bangkok, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, but booked piece by piece. You'll swap private guides and tour hotels for hostels and guesthouses, use tuk-tuks, sleeper trains and budget flights instead of private coaches, and book day tours direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Expect to see Angkor at sunrise, cruise Bangkok's klongs, ride a longtail up the Kok River, visit hill-tribe villages around Doi Mae Salong, stand at the Golden Triangle, and spend a day at Elephant Nature Park. All costs are approximate per person in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Land at Siem Reap International Airport and take a tuk-tuk or airport shuttle to your guesthouse near Wat Bo or the Old Market area. Sort out a SIM card at the airport (Smart or Cellcard, ~£5 for data) and change a little cash into riel — USD is widely accepted in Cambodia. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Old Market and riverside, then eat a first amok or lok lak dinner. Book your Angkor day tour tonight through your guesthouse or GetYourGuide so you're set for sunrise tomorrow.
🚌Airport tuk-tuk ~£4–5
🛏Budget guesthouse near Old Market (dorm or private room, ~£12)
- →Old Market wander
- →Book Angkor sunrise tour
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Bayon
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Leave at 4:45am for Angkor Wat sunrise with a shared tuk-tuk driver (booked via guesthouse, ~£15 for the day incl. driver) plus the Angkor 1-day pass (~£29 / $37). Explore Angkor Wat as the light comes up, then let your driver take you to Angkor Thom's south gate, the face towers of Bayon and the Terrace of the Elephants. Bring water and breakfast snacks. Rest in the afternoon, then optionally book the Phare Cambodian Circus (~£15–18) or an Apsara dinner show (~£12 with buffet) via GetYourGuide or direct.
🚌Shared tuk-tuk driver for the day ~£15
🛏Budget guesthouse, Siem Reap (~£12)
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Angkor Thom
- →Bayon Temple
- →Optional: Phare Circus or Apsara dinner show
Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm & Tonle Sap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Hire a tuk-tuk again (~£20 for a longer loop) and head out to Banteay Srei, the intricately carved red sandstone temple about 35km north. Stop at a rural school en route if you'd like — bring notebooks and pens rather than sweets. Come back via Ta Prohm, the tree-strangled temple, and in the late afternoon take a shared boat out on Tonle Sap to see the floating village of Kompong Khleang (~£18 via local operator, cheaper than the tour version). Sunset over the lake is a highlight.
🚌Tuk-tuk loop ~£20 (shared with others to cut cost)
🛏Budget guesthouse, Siem Reap (~£12)
- →Banteay Srei
- →Ta Prohm
- →Tonle Sap floating village boat
Siem Reap to Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
A full travel day. Cheapest practical route: shared minibus from Siem Reap to Poipet border (~£10, 3hrs), cross on foot, then bus or minibus from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok's Mo Chit (~£8, 4–5hrs). Budget roughly 9 hours door-to-door and bring small USD/THB for border fees. Alternatively a direct Siem Reap–Bangkok flight (~£60–90) saves the day if you'd rather buy back time. Arrive in Bangkok and check into a hostel around Khaosan or Silom; grab street-food dinner at a night market.
🚌Minibus + border crossing + bus ~£18
🛏Hostel in Khaosan or Silom area, Bangkok (~£14 dorm / £22 private)
- →Border crossing Poipet–Aranyaprathet
- →Night market street food
Bangkok Temples & Klongs
Bangkok, Thailand
Explore by public transport: take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (~£1) and the MRT up to Sanam Chai. Visit Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn, ~£2.50), the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha (~£13), and Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha (~£5.50). Between them, join a longtail boat klong tour from Tha Tien pier (~£30 for the boat, shareable between 4–6 people, so ~£6 each). Dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees. Finish with sunset drinks by the river.
🚌Chao Phraya boat + MRT + walking ~£4
🛏Hostel, Bangkok (~£14 dorm / £22 private)
- →Wat Arun
- →Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha
- →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha
- →Longtail klong boat ride
Bangkok free day
Bangkok, Thailand
Pick from the optional extras on the original tour, all self-bookable: Jim Thompson's House (~£5, take the BTS to National Stadium), a Damnoen Saduak floating market half-day tour (~£18 via Klook/GetYourGuide — leave early, 7am pickup), or an evening Chao Phraya dinner cruise (~£20–30). Otherwise do a free walking tour of Chinatown/Talat Noi and eat your way through Yaowarat's street-food stalls after dark.
🚌BTS/MRT ~£3
🛏Hostel, Bangkok (~£14 dorm / £22 private)
- →Optional: Jim Thompson's House
- →Optional: Damnoen Saduak floating market
- →Free walking tour / Yaowarat food crawl
Bangkok to Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Travel day north. The cheap, classic option is the overnight sleeper train from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai (~£18–25 second class with fan or AC berth, book on the Thai Railways 12Go or at the station), then a 3hr bus to Chiang Rai (~£6). Or fly direct Bangkok–Chiang Rai with AirAsia/Nok (~£35–55, 1h20) to arrive in the afternoon. Check into a guesthouse near the night bazaar, and spend the evening at the Chiang Rai Saturday or daily night market for khao soi and northern sausage.
🚌Sleeper train + bus ~£25 (or ~£45 flight)
🛏Guesthouse near night bazaar, Chiang Rai (~£14)
- →Night bazaar food
Kok River, Mae Salong Tea & Hill Tribes
Chiang Rai / Doi Mae Salong, Thailand
Book a full-day Mae Salong and hill-tribe tour through your guesthouse or Klook/GetYourGuide (~£28–35 shared, includes transport and guide) — this is the self-launched equivalent of the private guided day on the original tour. It typically covers a longtail boat ride on the Kok River, a stop at a tea plantation on Doi Mae Salong with tastings, and visits to Yao, Lisu and Akha village communities. Buy directly from village artisans rather than photo-touting packages, and ask before photographing people.
🚌Included in day tour (shared minivan)
🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Rai (~£14)
- →Kok River longtail boat
- →Doi Mae Salong tea plantation
- →Yao, Lisu & Akha hill-tribe villages
Golden Triangle, Hall of Opium & Mekong
Chiang Rai / Golden Triangle, Thailand
Take the local green bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen (~£1.50, 1h30), then a short songthaew to the Golden Triangle viewpoint. Visit the Hall of Opium museum (~£8), take a Mekong River boat ride (~£8, boats depart from the Golden Triangle pier) and, if you want, hop a quick longtail across to Laos' Don Sao island (check visa/passport rules first). On the way back stop at Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple (free), and finish at the night market.
🚌Local bus + songthaew ~£4
🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Rai (~£14)
- →Golden Triangle viewpoint
- →Hall of Opium
- →Mekong River boat
- →Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)
White Temple to Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, Thailand
Visit Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, about 13km south of town — get there by local songthaew (~£1.50 each way) or a Grab (~£6). Entry is ~£2.50. Then take the afternoon Green Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai (~£4–6, 3hrs, book on 12Go or at the Arcade bus terminal). Check into a guesthouse inside the old city moat and spend the evening exploring the Sunday Walking Street market if it's the right day, or the Night Bazaar otherwise.
🚌Songthaew to White Temple + Green Bus to Chiang Mai ~£10
🛏Guesthouse inside old city, Chiang Mai (~£15)
- →Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
- →Walking Street / Night Bazaar
Elephant Nature Park
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Book direct at elephantnaturepark.org well ahead for the single-day visit (~£75, includes hotel pickup, lunch at the sanctuary and full day with rescued elephants — no riding). This is the ethical choice and the same sanctuary the original tour uses. Alternatively a half-day option exists for around £55. Dinner back in Chiang Mai: try a khao soi spot in the old city or a Khantoke dance dinner show (~£15) if you want the cultural evening.
🚌Included sanctuary pickup
🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Mai (~£15)
- →Elephant Nature Park day visit (no riding)
- →Optional Khantoke dinner show
Chiang Mai temples & walled city
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Walk the old city moat and visit Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang on foot (each ~£1.50 or free). Then take a red songthaew from Chang Phuak gate up to Doi Suthep (~£3 shared, or £10 return), climb the Naga staircase or take the tram car (~£1), and see Wat Doi Suthep with its golden chedi (~£1.50). If you're up for more, do a half-day cooking class (~£20, many options around the old city) or just wander the Sunday market.
🚌Songthaews + walking ~£5
🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Mai (~£15)
- →Wat Phra Singh
- →Wat Chedi Luang
- →Wat Doi Suthep
- →Optional cooking class
Depart Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Last morning for coffee in the old city, a final bowl of khao soi or a wander through the morning market. Take a red songthaew or Grab to Chiang Mai International Airport (~£3–5) for onward flights — frequent connections to Bangkok, plus regional routes to Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore if you want to extend the trip.
🚌Songthaew/Grab to airport ~£4
🛏N/A
- →Morning market
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £3,560 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,380 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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 Self-Launched Highlights of Cambodia & Thailand: Siem Reap to Chiang Mai cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 13 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £3,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £2,380 (67%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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 adventure, culture, backpacker 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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