Tour Real Thailand & Laos | Visit Thailand, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Meals

10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Others

Included activities Bangkok - walking tour Mekong River - 2 day boat cruise Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves Vientiane - Wat Si Saket Vientiane - Leader orientation walk

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 (11 nights),Hotel (1 nights),Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

Transport

Public bus,Slow boat,Private vehicle,Songthaew,Tuk-tuk 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.

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader 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 leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader 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 leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Others

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Flights

International flights not included.

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Day 1 Day 1: Bangkok
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Bangkok

Sawasdee! Welcome to Bangkok. Arrive in this bustling hub and get to grips with this awesome city. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early perhaps take a walk around Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, or head to the magnificent Grand Palace. As one of the world’s largest marketplaces, Chatuchak Market is also a great place to practise your haggling and pick up some bargains.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 Day 2: Bangkok - Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Bangkok - Overnight Train

Today, explore some of Bangkok’s oldest neighbourhoods on a walking tour with your leader. Begin after breakfast and hop on a public boat. This is a good chance to take some beautiful pictures of the curves of the Chao Phraya River. After, take a short walk around Talad Noi, with more than 200 years of history and plenty of opportunities to spot the hidden street art. Then head to Wat Tri Mit temple – the site of the world’s largest solid gold seated Buddha from the Sukhothai era, measuring nearly 5 metres tall and weighing 5.5 tonnes. Here you will learn about the history behind the Buddha, as well as visit the Chinatown Heritage Museum. Along the way, you’ll be able to stop by some food stalls on Sukorn Alley for some snacks. Onto the Odien Circle intersection and the Chinese Temple and finishing with a walk through the bustling daytime Sampeng wholesale market. You’ll have an included lunch at the famous Labour Egg Noodle (or similar), so tuck into some Fish Ball Noodles or Tom Yam Pork Noodles – they’re to die for. Finish in the Chinatown area and the rest of the day is yours to do what you like. Head north to Chiang Mai in the evening on an overnight train (approximately 13 hours), sleeping in an air-conditioned berth.
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Day 3 Day 3: Chiang Mai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Chiang Mai

Arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning. The day is yours – see how many (or how little) activities you want to pack into your stay. You will be staying in a centrally located Hostel in Chiang Mai so you will be close to all the action. There are over 120 temples in the city centre alone. You can set off on an excursion to the top of Doi Suthep. There are a few hundred steps to climb, but the views are well worth it. Maybe treat yourself to a traditional Thai massage, or even partake in a cooking class so you can impress your friends in the kitchen when you get home. The night bazaar is a great chance to practice those ever-important bargaining skills. Your group leader will also be available to take you and the gang on a bar hopping adventure around town. The Nimman area is where it’s at – a trendy neighbourhood full of jazz bars and lounges to relax in and grab a few drinks.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 4 Day 4: Chiang Mai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Chiang Mai

Another day, another chance to get your fill of Chiang Mai. In the morning, you’ll have the chance to learn one of the legendary martial arts, Muay Thai (Thai Boxing). Spend around 1.5 hours exercising and learning the basics with professional trainers. You’ll be shown how to adapt yourself to be the ‘weapon’ and to guard. Seriously cool. Then, the rest of the afternoon is yours.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 5 Day 5: Chiang Mai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Chiang Mai

Have you realised how thai-riffic Chiang Mai is? Well, you’ve got another day to explore. You might want to visit a great elephant sanctuary at ChangChill, where you can learn all about these gentle giants. Otherwise, go visit one of the temples you haven’t made it to yet, or head into town and grab a bowl of khao soi (crunchy and soft noodles in a creamy coconut curry broth). If you want some more ideas, go ahead and ask your group leader – they know the best spots to go.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 6 Day 6: Chiang Khong
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Chiang Khong

Take a public bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong via Chiang Rai (approximately 6.5 hours). Explore this quiet town that sits on the Thai side of the Thailand-Laos border. Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Luang are both beautifully ornate temples well worth a visit while you are here. Perhaps rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside and Hmong villages along the banks of the Mekong. Live like the locals with accommodation tonight being a basic guesthouse with all the creature comforts you’ll need.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 7 Day 7: Mekong River - Pakbeng
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Mekong River - Pakbeng

This morning you will complete border formalities at Huay Xai before boarding a slow boat for a calming trip down the Mekong River (approximately 7 hours). This is where the real relaxation starts, as you ease into Laos. Read a book, play cards, swap travel stories or just watch the amazing scenery pass by. Arrive in Pakbeng late in the afternoon and have a wander around this colourful village. This place is at the junction of the Mekong and Beng rivers. Quick note: ’nam’ means river, so if you say ’Nam Beng River’, you’re saying river too many times (just like we have).
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 8 Day 8: Luang Prabang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Luang Prabang

Get back on your private boat, stopping to stretch your legs and explore the Pak Ou Caves, which contain hundreds of Buddha statues. Arrive in Luang Prabang in the evening and wander the streets of ‘the best-preserved city in South East Asia’ (it’s the local government that started using this phrase, but it has caught on for a reason). Get a load of those French villas. And that sunset over the Mekong – damn. Tonight, something special is planned for you. Think Korean BBQ, but Laotian style. ‘Sindad’ is the art of grilling meat on a hot pan, a type of traditional BBQ set on a charcoal stove and has a surrounding rim full of boiling water for blanching vegetables. Veggies on the outside, meat cooking in the middle. It’s a hands-on experience, barbecuing all different types of meat cut into bite-sized pieces, and dunking them in some seriously addictive spicy, salty and sweet dipping sauces. Your group leader will take you to one of the best all-you-can-eat places in Luang Prabang, where you may be treated to some live music or a show while you’re cooking.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 9 Day 9: Luang Prabang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Luang Prabang

It’s worth getting up early morning to view the procession of saffron-robed monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. The people of the town wait out the front of their houses with food for the monks to collect and take back to the temple. It is done early, as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you ‘het bon’ or make merit, which should augur well for your next life. Your leader will guide you through the dos and don’ts and help you to take part in this alms giving tradition. Next take tuk tuks to visit Wat Xieng Thong. This temple was built in the 16th century under the patronage of the royal family, and the Laotian kings were crowned here. The main viharn (assembly hall) and buildings have carved gilded wooden doors depicting scenes from Buddha’s life. Afterwards, enjoy some free time for optional activities! A trip to Kuang Si Falls is highly recommended if you feel like a swim in nature (and when you see these waterfalls, you probably will). Otherwise, take a rest. Find a herbal steam room or maybe play some petanque with the locals (it’s a bit like bocce). Don’t expect them to go easy on you.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 10 Day 10: Luang Prabang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Luang Prabang

Today you can do whatever you choose. Whether it’s cruising around town or heading to those waterfalls that even an Instagram filter couldn’t make more pretty, this is another day in the middle of Laos. By now you may have discovered the delicious (and amazingly inexpensive) night market food, which is always a great excuse to mingle with locals and dine with other travellers. For lunch, before the market opens, you might want to try some delicious noodle soup at one of the top-notch French cafes along the main drag. If you feel like learning, drop into the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 11 Day 11: Vang Vieng
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Vang Vieng

Transfer in a private minivan to the village of Vang Vieng (approximately 6–7 hours). This beautifully located adventure gateway lies on a bend in the Nam Song (that’s a river, remember). Take in the views of mountains, rivers and big limestone cliffs that are so close you’ll feel like you could reach out and touch them. Cross the river and explore the huge caves that line the West Bank. There will be plenty of time to make your own discoveries.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 12 Day 12: Vang Vieng
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Vang Vieng

This morning, take a leader-led walking tour around Vang Vieng on your way to Tham Jung and the caves. It’s about 147 steps to the upper caves system (yes, we’ve counted). Spend your morning checking out the caves and maybe stop by the crystal-clear lagoon for a swim! Up top, you can see a great view of Vang Vieng, and there’s also a lot of Buddha iconography around to take a look at. Take some free time in the afternoon to spend as you wish – there’s some beautiful countryside around, so maybe hire a bike or kayak down the Mekong River to take it all in.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 13 Day 13: Vientiane
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Vientiane

Finish up in Laos’ classy capital of Vientiane by catching a public bus from Vang Vieng (about 5 hours). Swap your instant coffee for a latte and white rice for a baguette before snapping a few pics at Wat Sri Saket – the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane, and home to almost 7000 Buddha images. Your tour leader will show you around this chic, French-influenced city, and take you to COPE – an organisation dedicated to assisting those who have been injured or affected by the shocking number of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) in the countryside. UXOs are explosive weapons, such as bombs and grenades that still pose a risk after they were used. About 30% of Laos remains contaminated with UXOs from the Vietnam War and pose a serious risk to residents. COPE provides prosthetics and other assistance to people affected by this devastating war history still present around the country. Grab some dinner with your travel mates tonight, and explore what Vientiane has to offer on Quai Fa Ngum Road.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 14 Day 14: Vientiane
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Vientiane

Today there are no activities planned, so you are free to depart at any time. If you’d like to spend more time in Laos, we don’t blame you! If you would like to stay in Vientiane longer, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation (subject to availability).

+11

14 days tour

Real Thailand & Laos

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Real Thailand & Laos

Day 1: Bangkok

Day 2: Bangkok - Overnight Train

Day 3: Chiang Mai

Day 4: Chiang Mai

Day 5: Chiang Mai

Day 6: Chiang Khong

Day 7: Mekong River - Pakbeng

Day 8: Luang Prabang

Day 9: Luang Prabang

Day 10: Luang Prabang

Day 11: Vang Vieng

Day 12: Vang Vieng

Day 13: Vientiane

Day 14: Vientiane

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