Thailand Experience with Siem Reap — Self-Launched
15 days · Cambodia & Thailand
Cosmos charges £2,000
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day self-launched version of the classic Cosmos coach tour from Siem Reap to Chiang Mai. Same headline experiences — Angkor Wat temples, Bangkok's Grand Palace, the River Kwai, Sukhothai's UNESCO ruins, the White Temple and Doi Suthep — but booked independently using hostels and guesthouses, local buses, trains and shared minivans. Expect around £850-£1,050 all-in (excluding international flights) versus roughly £2,000+ for the guided group departure. All costs are approximate per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Land at Siem Reap International Airport and take a tuk-tuk or the official airport taxi to a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Market / Pub Street area. Get a Cambodian SIM (Smart or Cellcard, ~£3-5 for data), change some cash to riel or use USD (widely accepted), and buy your Angkor pass at the Angkor Enterprise ticket office in town if you're starting temples tomorrow. Evening: explore the night market and eat street food.
🚌Airport tuk-tuk ~£3-5
🛏Hostel dorm or basic private guesthouse, Siem Reap (£8-15)
- →Old Market night market wander
- →Buy Angkor pass at ticket office
- →Cambodian SIM card
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Bayon
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (£15-18 per vehicle, split between 2-4) or join a shared sunrise tour booked via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£15-20). Catch sunrise at Angkor Wat, then continue to Angkor Thom's South Gate, Bayon Temple with its giant stone faces, and the Terrace of the Elephants. Carry water, sun protection and a light breakfast; restaurants cluster near the temple entrances.
🚌Chartered tuk-tuk for the day ~£15-18 per vehicle
🛏Hostel dorm or basic private guesthouse, Siem Reap (£8-15)
- →Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- →Bayon Temple and Angkor Thom
- →Terrace of the Elephants
Banteay Srei & Ta Prohm
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Head out early to Banteay Srei (the 'Citadel of Women', about 40 minutes from town) for its intricately carved pink sandstone, then loop back via Ta Prohm, the jungle-swallowed temple made famous by Tomb Raider. Many tours also stop at a rural school or landmine-victim centre — you can visit one directly and donate instead of paying a tour markup. Afternoon free for the Angkor National Museum or a fish-massage on Pub Street.
🚌Chartered tuk-tuk ~£20-25 per vehicle
🛏Hostel dorm or basic private guesthouse, Siem Reap (£8-15)
- →Banteay Srei temple
- →Ta Prohm temple
- →Optional: Angkor National Museum
Siem Reap to Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Travel overland into Thailand. Options: shared minivan/bus Siem Reap to Poipet border then on to Bangkok (~£18-25, 10-12 hours with border formalities), or a budget flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok (~£50-90, 1 hour) if you'd rather save a day. Bus is the true self-launched route. Arrive Bangkok, take the BTS Skytrain or a metered taxi to your hostel in Khao San Road (backpacker hub) or Sukhumvit if you prefer quieter nights.
🚌Bus/minivan Siem Reap-Bangkok ~£18-25 (or flight ~£50-90)
🛏Hostel, Khao San Road or Sukhumvit, Bangkok (£10-20)
- →Border crossing at Poipet
- →Arrive Bangkok, Khao San Road evening
Bangkok's grand temples & palace
Bangkok, Thailand
Do the temple block on foot or by river ferry. Set off early to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) — dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Walk or take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) and Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) in Chinatown. Entry: Grand Palace ~£14, Wat Pho ~£6. Finish with sunset drinks or a rooftop bar and street-food dinner in Yaowarat.
🚌Chao Phraya Express Boat ~£1-2; metro/BTS ~£1-2 per trip
🛏Hostel, Bangkok (£10-20)
- →Grand Palace & Temple of the Emerald Buddha
- →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha
- →Wat Traimit Golden Buddha
Floating market day trip
Bangkok / Damnoen Saduak, Thailand
Book a half-day Damnoen Saduak floating market tour via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£15-25 including transport) or DIY it with a public bus from Sai Tai Mai terminal and a longtail boat. Watch traders selling fruit, noodles and crafts from wooden boats. Back in Bangkok by afternoon — use the time for Jim Thompson House, a Thai cooking class (~£25) or a night market.
🚌Shared tour minibus included in activity price
🛏Hostel, Bangkok (£10-20)
- →Damnoen Saduak floating market
- →Optional: Thai cooking class
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi via Bang Pa-In
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Travel north-west. A convenient self-launched combo: minibus or train to Ayutthaya (~£3-6, 1.5-2 hours), then visit Bang Pa-In Royal Palace and Ayutthaya ruins before continuing to Kanchanaburi. Alternatively take a direct minibus Bangkok-Kanchanaburi (~£4-6, 3 hours). Overnight in Kanchanaburi town near the Kwai bridge — riverside guesthouses and hostels are plentiful and cheap.
🚌Train/minibus Bangkok-Ayutthaya ~£3-6; minibus to Kanchanaburi ~£4-6
🛏Riverside guesthouse/hostel, Kanchanaburi (£8-18)
- →Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
- →Ayutthaya ruins (optional detour)
- →Kwai bridge area at dusk
Death Railway, Hellfire Pass & war museums
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Ride the historic Burma–Thailand Death Railway train across the River Kwai Bridge to Wang Po or Nam Tok (~£2-3, third-class). Stop at Hellfire Pass Memorial and its excellent museum (free entry; arrange a songthaew or join a shared tour ~£15-25). In town visit the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre (~£3) and the Allied War Cemetery. A sobering, memorable day — bug spray and water essential.
🚌Third-class train ~£2-3; shared songthaew to Hellfire Pass ~£10-15
🛏Riverside guesthouse/hostel, Kanchanaburi (£8-18)
- →Death Railway train ride over the River Kwai Bridge
- →Hellfire Pass Memorial & museum
- →Thailand-Burma Railway Centre
- →Allied War Cemetery
Kanchanaburi to Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok, Thailand
Long travel day north. Take a bus or train from Kanchanaburi to Phitsanulok (~£8-12, 6-7 hours) — the ordinary/tourist train and government buses are both cheap and comfortable enough. Arrive evening, find a guesthouse near the Yom River, and take a rickshaw (samlor) to Phitsanulok's night market for cheap eats and local atmosphere.
🚌Bus/train Kanchanaburi-Phitsanulok ~£8-12
🛏Guesthouse, Phitsanulok (£8-15)
- →Rickshaw ride to Phitsanulok night market
- →Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (if time)
Sukhothai Historic Park to Lampang
Sukhothai / Lampang, Thailand
Bus to Sukhothai (~£3-4), rent a bicycle (~£2) and explore the UNESCO Sukhothai Historic Park — Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum with its giant seated Buddha, and the moats and ruins of the old capital. Park entry ~£3-5. Then continue by bus to Lampang (~£5-8), Thailand's charming horse-carriage town, for the night.
🚌Bus Phitsanulok-Sukhothai ~£3-4; Sukhothai-Lampang ~£5-8
🛏Guesthouse, Lampang (£8-15)
- →Sukhothai Historic Park (UNESCO)
- →Wat Si Chum
- →Wat Phra That Lampang Luang area
Lampang to Chiang Rai via Phayao & the White Temple
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in the morning, then head north. Break the journey at Phayao Lake for lunch, and stop at Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) near Chiang Rai — one of Thailand's most striking modern temples (free, donations welcome). If you're a wildlife-minded traveller, the region's ethical elephant sanctuaries are a better choice than any 'hospital'; book direct with a reputable sanctuary rather than a roadside stop. Arrive Chiang Rai evening.
🚌Bus Lampang-Chiang Rai ~£6-9
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Chiang Rai (£8-15)
- →Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
- →Phayao Lake
- →Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
Doi Mae Salong tea hills & Golden Triangle
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Take a day trip to Doi Mae Salong — a Yunnanese hill village with tea terraces, cooler air and roadside teahouses. Combine with Mae Sai border town and the Golden Triangle viewpoint where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, plus an optional Mekong longtail boat ride (~£8-15). Shared minivan tours from Chiang Rai run ~£20-30; DIY with songthaews is cheaper but slower.
🚌Shared minivan day tour ~£20-30 (or songthaews)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Chiang Rai (£8-15)
- →Doi Mae Salong tea plantation
- →Golden Triangle viewpoint
- →Optional Mekong River boat tour
- →Mae Sai border market
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai via San Kamphaeng crafts
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai (~£4-6, 3 hours). On arrival, visit the San Kamphaeng handicraft road east of the city where you can watch lacquerware, silk, silver and teakwood carving workshops — self-guided by songthaew or rented scooter. Check into a guesthouse inside the old city moat, then sample northern Thai food (khao soi is a must) at a night market.
🚌Bus Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai ~£4-6; songthaew around town ~£1-2
🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Chiang Mai old city (£9-18)
- →San Kamphaeng handicraft workshops
- →Chiang Mai old city
- →Night market / khao soi dinner
Chiang Mai temples & Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Self-guided temple day. Walk the old city for Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, then head up to Wat Doi Suthep (entry ~£1). To reach it cheaply, take a red songthaew to the zoo/Doi Suthep junction and share onward, or hire a scooter (~£6-8/day). Evening: Sunday Walking Street market if timing lines up, otherwise the Night Bazaar.
🚌Shared songthaew to Doi Suthep ~£2-3 return
🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Chiang Mai old city (£9-18)
- →Wat Phra Singh
- →Wat Chedi Luang
- →Wat Doi Suthep
- →Chiang Mai night markets
Departure from Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Last morning for a Thai massage or coffee in the old city, then transfer to Chiang Mai International Airport by red songthaew (~£1-2) or metered taxi (~£4-6). If you're flying onward within Thailand, budget airlines are cheap; for international departures check in early.
🚌Songthaew or taxi to airport ~£1-6
🛏Not included (departure day)
- →Free morning in the old city
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £2,000 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,480 per person (74%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Thailand Experience with Siem Reap — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 15 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 Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £2,000 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £1,480 (74%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 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, budget, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.