Southeast Asia Encompassed — Self-Launched (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia)

Fly into Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and take the Airport Rail Link + BTS/MRT, or a Grab taxi (£4–7) to your hostel near Khao San Road or Banglamphu. Spend the afternoon acclimatising: stroll Khao San, get a SIM card (AIS/True tourist SIM ~£8–10 for 15 days data), withdraw Thai baht, and eat your first pad thai from a street stall. The group tour starts with a hotel meet-and-greet; you'll do a solo/meet-up-app version instead — Bangkok has plenty of hostel social nights.

🚌Airport Rail Link ~£1 + metro/BTS ~£0.60, or Grab taxi ~£5

🛏Hostel dorm, Banglamphu/Khao San area (~£9–13)

• →Khao San Road wander
• →Buy local SIM + cash
• →Street food dinner

Self-launch the included canal trip: take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (orange flag, ~£0.35) or a longtail boat from Tha Chang. Enter Wat Po (200 THB, ~£4.50) early to beat the crowds and see the Reclining Buddha. Afternoon options in place of the tour's optional add-ons: Grand Palace (500 THB, ~£11), National Museum (200 THB), or just wander Chinatown at dusk. Evening: overnight bus or train prep to Chiang Mai.

🚌Chao Phraya boat ~£0.35; overnight sleeper train Bangkok–Chiang Mai (2nd class fan/AC sleeper) ~£22–28

🛏Overnight sleeper train or bus to Chiang Mai (included in transport)

• →Chao Phraya canal boat
• →Wat Po
• →Grand Palace (optional)
• →Chinatown evening wander

Arrive on the morning train, check into a guesthouse or hostel inside the Old City moat. Take a red songthaew to the foot of Doi Suthep (~50 THB) then the shared truck up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (~£1.50 total each way) for the temple and city views. Afternoon: Old City temple circuit on foot (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh) or a Northern Thai cooking class (~£20–25, book via Klook/GetYourGuide or direct with a small school). Sunday Walking Street if it's Sunday.

🚌Songthaew to Doi Suthep ~£1.50 each way

🛏Guesthouse private room or hostel dorm, Old City (~£10–15)

• →Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
• →Old City temple walk
• →Optional Thai cooking class

Local bus or minivan Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai (~3 hrs, ~£4–5), then bus to Chiang Khong on the Mekong (~2 hrs, ~£2). En route stop at Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple (100 THB entry, ~£2.20) — day-trippers from Chiang Rai often combine it with the Blue Temple. In Chiang Khong stay in a riverside guesthouse, eat at the night market, and prep your Laos e-visa or visa-on-arrival paperwork and passport photos for tomorrow's border.

🚌Local bus Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai ~£4.50; Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong bus ~£2

🛏Riverside guesthouse, Chiang Khong (~£9–14)

• →Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
• →Chiang Khong riverside night market

Cross the Friendship Bridge IV at Chiang Khong–Huay Xai (bus shuttle ~£1–2; Laos visa on arrival ~$40/£32 for most Western passports, plus a small 'processing' fee). Get your slow boat ticket (~£20–25) and board the 10:30 longtail downriver — about 6–7 hours of Mekong scenery with a lunch stop. In Pakbeng, budget guesthouses and a homestay-style riverside night are easy to arrange on arrival; many travellers skip the group homestay and simply take a Pakbeng guesthouse, which is more comfortable for similar money.

🚌Border shuttle ~£1.50; Mekong slow boat Huay Xai–Pakbeng ~£22

🛏Riverside guesthouse/homestay, Pakbeng (~£9–15)

• →Thailand–Laos river border crossing
• →Mekong slow boat day 1

Second slow-boat day (~7–8 hrs, ticket often sold as a through fare to Luang Prabang; if not, buy on board ~£10–12). Boats stop at the Pak Ou Caves (20,000 kip, ~£1.70) — thousands of Buddha images in limestone caves above the river. Arrive Luang Prabang late afternoon; walk the night market and eat at a riverside BBQ or a khao soi stall. Book a guesthouse in the old town.

🚌Slow boat day 2 ~£10–12 + Pak Ou Caves entry ~£1.70

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Luang Prabang old town (~£12–18)

• →Pak Ou Caves
• →Mekong slow boat day 2
• →Luang Prabang night market

Hire a shared minivan or songthaew to Kuang Si Falls (~£8–10 return, 45 min) and go early for the turquoise pools — entry 20,000 kip (~£1.70). On the way back stop at Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre or the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre in town (~£2). Do the Baan Ou-style village lunch independently at any local restaurant (~£3–4). Optional: a sunset climb of Mount Phousi (20,000 kip).

🚌Shared songthaew/minivan to Kuang Si ~£9 return

🛏Guesthouse, Luang Prabang (~£12–18)

• →Kuang Si Waterfalls
• →Ock Pop Tok crafts centre
• →Mount Phousi sunset

A proper slow-travel day. Options: rent a bicycle (~£2/day) and ride to Wat Xieng Thong and the Mekong-side villages; take a Lao cooking class (~£20); get a Lao massage (~£5–8); or do the alms-giving sunrise walk (be respectful, buy sticky rice from a local vendor rather than a tour). Evening: night market and a Beerlao by the river.

🚌Bicycle rental ~£2

🛏Guesthouse, Luang Prabang (~£12–18)

• →Wat Xieng Thong
• →Cycling
• →Lao cooking class (optional)
• →Night market

Take the morning VIP bus or minivan over the mountain road (~6–7 hrs, ~£11–14) — the scenery is spectacular but winding, so motion-sickness tablets help. Arrive Vang Vieng, check in near the river, and watch the sunset over the karst peaks from a riverside bar or the bamboo bridge.

🚌VIP bus Luang Prabang–Vang Vieng ~£12

🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Vang Vieng (~£9–14)

• →Mountain bus journey
• →Sunset over the karst hills

Recreate the 'adrenaline bundle' à la carte: hot-air balloon at sunrise (~£75), a kayak/ tubing trip on the Nam Song (~£10–14), or a Blue Lagoon + Tham Phu Kham cave scooter day (~£6 scooter hire + 10,000 kip entry). Cheaper alternative: hike to Nam Xay viewpoint (~£1.70) for the classic clifftop photo. Book direct on the street or via Klook — all vastly cheaper than the group add-on.

🚌Scooter or bicycle hire ~£5

🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Vang Vieng (~£9–14)

• →Kayaking/tubing
• →Nam Xay viewpoint hike
• →Blue Lagoon (optional)
• →Hot-air balloon (optional)

Morning bus or minivan to Vientiane (~3–4 hrs, ~£6–8). Afternoon self-guided city loop on foot or by bike: Wat Sisaket (~£1.50), That Luang stupa (~£1.50), Patuxai arch, and the COPE visitor centre (free, donation). Buddha Park is 25 km out — reachable by local bus #14 (~£0.50) if you have time. Evening on the Mekong promenade.

🚌Bus Vang Vieng–Vientiane ~£7; city bike rental ~£1.50

🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Vientiane (~£10–15)

• →Wat Sisaket
• →Pha That Luang
• →Patuxai
• →COPE centre

Book a budget flight Vientiane–Hanoi in advance (Vietjet/AirAsia, often £55–85 one-way; the group tour flies the same route). Note: Vietnam e-visa must be arranged in advance (~$25/£20 for most nationalities, allow 2+ weeks). Land at Noi Bai, take bus #86 to the Old Quarter (~£1.20) or Grab (~£7). Evening: self-guided Old Quarter orientation — Hoan Kiem Lake, bia hoi corner, bun cha dinner (~£3).

🚌Flight Vientiane–Hanoi ~£70; airport bus ~£1.20

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Old Quarter, Hanoi (~£8–14)

• →Old Quarter orientation walk
• →Hoan Kiem Lake
• →Bia hoi corner

Walk or Grab to Ba Dinh Square for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (free, closed Mon & Fri; arrive before 10:30), then the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature (~£1.20). Afternoon: Museum of Ethnology (~£1.70). Evening: Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre — buy tickets at the box office or via Klook (~£4–6) rather than through a tour. Optional: a street-food walking tour on GetYourGuide (~£18–22) covering bun cha, pho and egg coffee.

🚌Walking + occasional Grab ~£3

🛏Hostel/budget hotel, Old Quarter (~£8–14)

• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
• →Temple of Literature
• →Thang Long Water Puppets
• →Optional food tour

Book a 2D/1N budget-to-midrange junk direct or via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£85–120 including transfers, meals and kayaking) — the group tour uses a comparable boat. Shuttle bus from Hanoi Old Quarter ~3.5 hrs each way, often included in the cruise price. Afternoon kayaking among the limestone karsts, cave visit, sunset on deck, seafood dinner.

🚌Shuttle bus from Hanoi included in cruise ~£0 extra

🛏Overnight on a Ha Long Bay junk/boat, twin or dorm cabin (cruise price includes it)

• →Ha Long Bay cruise
• →Kayaking
• →Cave visit
• →Sunset on deck

Morning on the bay and brunch on board, shuttle back to Hanoi for late afternoon. Use the gap for a bun cha dinner and a wander around Hoan Kiem. Then board the Reunification Express (SE1/SE3) sleeper from Hanoi to Hue (~13 hrs, soft sleeper ~£28–35 booked on dsvn.vn or at the station; hard sleeper ~£20). Book a lower berth in a 4-berth soft sleeper for comfort.

🚌Cruise shuttle to Hanoi; Reunification Express sleeper ~£30

🛏Overnight soft-sleeper train, Hanoi–Hue

• →Ha Long morning
• →Hanoi evening wander
• →Overnight train

Arrive early morning, drop bags at a hotel near the citadel or backpacker zone, then walk the Imperial Citadel (150,000 VND, ~£4.70). In the afternoon hire a scooter with driver or a Grab to the Thien Mu Pagoda (free) and the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh (~£4 each), or take the classic perfume river boat one-way. A motorbike food tour in the evening (~£12–15 via GetYourGuide) is the best-value way to eat bun bo Hue properly.

🚌Grab/motorbike taxi around tombs ~£6

🛏Budget hotel or hostel, Hue (~£8–14)

• →Imperial Citadel
• →Thien Mu Pagoda
• →Royal tombs
• →Optional Hue motorbike food tour

The scenic option is a motorbike 'Easy Rider' or a shared minibus over the Hai Van Pass (~£7–10 minibus, ~£25–30 for a motorbike-with-driver day, 3 hrs). Cheapest is the local bus (~£3). Stop at Lang Co lagoon and Marble Mountains if you're on a private ride. Arrive Hoi An, check into a guesthouse or hostel in the old town or by An Bang beach.

🚌Minibus or Easy Rider over Hai Van Pass ~£8–28

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Hoi An (~£9–15)

• →Hai Van Pass
• →Lang Co lagoon
• →Hoi An evening lanterns

Do a Cao Lau/noodle-making demonstration at a local restaurant such as Oodles of Noodles-style spots (~£8–12 booked direct) or take a half-day cooking class with a market visit (~£20–25). Afternoon: buy the Old Town entry ticket (120,000 VND, ~£3.80) covering five heritage houses, the Japanese Bridge and assembly halls. Evening: lantern-lit Thu Bon river and a boat ride (~£2).

🚌Walking + bicycle hire ~£1.50

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Hoi An (~£9–15)

• →Noodle-making demo
• →Hoi An Old Town ticket
• →Thu Bon river boat
• →Lanterns at night

Cycle to An Bang or Cua Dai beach (~£1.50 bike hire), get a suit or dress made at a tailor (from ~£35–60), or take a sunrise My Son Sanctuary tour (~£15–20 via Klook, half day). Evenings are best spent at the night market and Riverside bars.

🚌Bicycle hire ~£1.50

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Hoi An (~£9–15)

• →An Bang beach
• →Tailor fitting (optional)
• →My Son Sanctuary (optional)
• →Night market

Fly Da Nang–Saigon (Vietjet/Bamboo, ~£30–45 if booked ahead; airport transfer from Hoi An ~£8–10 shared shuttle) or take the overnight sleeper train (~£28, ~17 hrs). Group tours fly, and it's worth the small premium. Land in District 1, check into a hostel, and eat at Ben Thanh night market or a banh mi stall.

🚌Shared shuttle to Da Nang ~£9; flight Da Nang–HCMC ~£38

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, District 1, HCMC (~£8–14)

• →Ben Thanh night market
• →District 1 wander

Book a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£15–20 including bus and guide; independent DIY is possible by public bus ~£4 + 110,000 VND entry but slower). Afternoon: War Remnants Museum (~£1.70) and Reunification Palace (~£2.50). Evening: rooftop drink or a District 4 street-food crawl.

🚌Tour bus to Cu Chi (included in tour price)

🛏Hostel/budget hotel, District 1 (~£8–14)

• →Cu Chi Tunnels
• →War Remnants Museum
• →Reunification Palace

Take a small-group Mekong Delta day tour to Ben Tre or My Tho (~£25–35 via Klook/GetYourGuide, includes boat rides, coconut candy workshop and lunch) — you can also DIY by bus to My Tho and hiring a local boat, but the group tour is cheap and efficient here. Back in Saigon by evening for dinner on Bui Vien if you want the backpacker chaos.

🚌Tour minibus to Mekong Delta (included)

🛏Hostel/budget hotel, District 1 (~£8–14)

• →Mekong Delta boat trip
• →Coconut candy workshop
• →Bui Vien evening

Book a direct bus or minivan Saigon–Phnom Penh (~6 hrs, ~£12–16, Giant Ibis is the reliable option) — the border at Moc Bai/Bavet is straightforward and the bus staff handle the formalities (Cambodia e-visa ~$36/£29 in advance, or visa on arrival $30 + photos). Afternoon in Phnom Penh: a cyclo tour of the riverside and Wat Phnom (~£6 for an hour), sunset beers at a Riverside café.

🚌Bus Saigon–Phnom Penh ~£14; cyclo tour ~£6

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Riverside/Sisowath Quay (~£10–16)

• →Border crossing
• →Phnom Penh cyclo tour
• →Riverside sunset

Take a tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek Killing Fields (~£4–6 each way, entry $6/£5) early, then Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21, $5/£4) — hire the audio guide ($3) at each; it's worth it. Book a tuk-tuk driver for the half-day (~£12–15 total). Afternoon: Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda ($10/£8) or the Russian Market. Evening at a Responsible Travel-style social enterprise restaurant for dinner.

🚌Tuk-tuk half-day ~£13

🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel, Phnom Penh (~£10–16)

• →Choeung Ek Killing Fields
• →Tuol Sleng S-21
• →Royal Palace (optional)
• →Russian Market

Bus or minivan Phnom Penh–Siem Reap (~6 hrs, ~£10–13, Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham) or the faster boat on Tonle Sap in high water season. Arrive Siem Reap, check into a guesthouse near Pub Street or Wat Bo, and buy your Angkor pass at the ticket office or online (1-day $37/£29, 3-day $62/£49). Evening: Phare Circus (~£14–18, book direct) if it's running, or the night market.

🚌Bus Phnom Penh–Siem Reap ~£12

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Siem Reap (~£8–14)

• →Bus journey
• →Angkor pass purchase
• →Phare Circus (optional)
• →Night market

Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£13–16 for the small circuit, or £18 for sunrise + small circuit) and start at 4:45am for sunrise at Angkor Wat. Then Bayon's faces, Ta Prohm's tree roots, and Angkor Thom. A licensed guide is optional (~£35/day) — otherwise use the free audio guides or a good guidebook app. Sunset at Phnom Bakheng if you have energy. Dinner: a Khmer BBQ or amok at a local spot (~£4–6).

🚌Tuk-tuk day hire ~£15

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Siem Reap (~£8–14)

• →Angkor Wat sunrise
• →Bayon Temple
• →Ta Prohm
• →Angkor Thom

Second Angkor day: the grand circuit — Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, and Banteay Srei if you have a pass and want the extra distance (~£20 tuk-tuk). Alternatively swap for a Tonle Sap floating village trip to Kompong Khleang (~£15–20, more authentic than Chong Khneas) or the Angkor National Museum (~£8). Evening: Pub Street or a quiet Khmer restaurant.

🚌Tuk-tuk day ~£18

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Siem Reap (~£8–14)

• →Angkor grand circuit
• →Banteay Srei (optional)
• →Tonle Sap floating village (optional)

Fly Siem Reap–Bangkok Don Mueang (AirAsia, ~£45–70 booked ahead, ~1 hr) — that's what the group tour does — or, on a tighter budget, bus Siem Reap–Poipet border (~£5) then bus to Bangkok (~£7–9, ~10–12 hrs total). Arrive Bangkok, check into a guesthouse, and spend the evening at a night market or rooftop bar as a finale.

🚌Flight Siem Reap–Bangkok ~£55 (or buses ~£15)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Bangkok (~£9–14)

• →Flight to Bangkok
• →Night market dinner
• →Finale drinks

Slow breakfast, last-minute shopping at Chatuchak (weekends) or MBK, then take the Airport Rail Link or a Grab to the airport for your international flight home. If your flight is late, drop bags at the hostel and do a final Thai massage (~£7).

🚌Airport Rail Link ~£1 or Grab ~£5

🛏—

• →Chatuchak/MBK shopping
• →Thai massage (optional)