Indochina and Thailand Family Holiday
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This is a brilliant holiday for families wanting to get a flavour of Indochina’s heritage with a little adventure before retreating to an idyllic hidden Thai beach resort. It would suit families who are already accustomed to Thailand and want to see a little more of it and of Southeast Asia - to go beyond the familiar. Likewise it's a great option for first-time visitors to the region who want to get a sense of the diverse scenery, culture and local life of this captivating and beautiful part of the world.

Highlights include

• Marvelling at majestic Asian elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai
• Getting engrossed in the jungle-clad scenery as you kayak through the remote Laos countryside
• Admiring picture-postcard views out to the "hong" islands from your beachside hammock on Koh Yao Noi
• Discovering the cuisine of Chiang Mai on an exciting street-food tour; your guide will introduce you to rice noodles with curry soup, Thai coconut puddings and more
• Immersing yourselves in Luang Prabang whilst cycling around the sites, playing petanque with the residents or exploring the surrounding villages
• Soaking up the atmosphere of magnificent Angkor Wat before sunrise; an early start for a magical experience

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can change this holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive Journey Planner here.

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

Day 1 Depart The UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Siem Reap.

Days 2-5 Siem Reap (Cambodia)

On arrival in Siem Reap you’ll be met by your guide and driver for the short transfer to your hotel, Sala Lodges. Here you’ll stay in a two-bedroom  traditional Khmer house on stilts.  Your first afternoon is free to relax in the lush setting and enjoy the facilities such as the swimming pool or spa.

Undoubtedly a highlight of your stay here will be the time spent with your guide exploring the Temples of Angkor. We tailor our family tours here carefully to ensure you all experience the temples at their best and learn a little whilst having heaps of fun. Activities include a leisurely bike ride to jungle-clad Ta Prohm, before continuing on to intricate Angkor Thom; flat trails make this a great temple to explore by bike.  An early start is best for Angkor Wat; if you arrive before sunrise you’ll beat the crowds and experience a truly fairytale-like moonlit scene.

Other adventures here include a zip line route through the forest, a quad bike ride through the countryside to catch a beautiful sunset across the rice fields, a boat trip to a remote floating village on the Tonle Sap lake and an ox and cart ride through local villages and farm land where you'll mingle with the locals and see how they live.

Days 6- 8 Luang Prabang (Laos)

A short flight will take you from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang, a cluster of villages wrapped around the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River. The town's well-preserved architecture and the surrounding green mountains and jungle forest make for a beautiful place to explore and to enjoy a range of adventures. You’ll have a chance to take in the sites of the town on a guided bicycle tour and explore the countryside during a kayaking excursion. The tours will take in captivating, small settlements where there is an opportunity to meet villagers, try local food and see how traditional handicrafts are made.

Days 9-11 Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Head west (a one hour flight) to Chiang Mai. On arrival your guide and driver will meet you for the transfer to your hotel and the first evening is free to relax and enjoy your hotel in the centre of the old town. During your stay you’ll have a chance to explore the city sights with our Chiang Mai signature tour. As you take in the surrounding countryside, taste the local street food and observe Buddhist monks collecting their alms at dawn you’ll get a strong sense of Thai culture and tradition. During your stay you’ll also visit the nearby Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for rescued elephants.  

This part of the holiday can be tailored to incorporate a camping adventure with the Elephant Mahout Programme which will take you further afield to observe elephants in their natural habitat in the jungle. Talk to your travel expert to find out more about the “elephant friendly” experiences available.

Days 12-16 Ko Yao or Koh Phangan (Thailand)

It's a short flight south to Phuket where you’ll be transferred to the pier for the boat transfer to nearby Koyao Island Resort. Here you’ll check into a family beach villa. The location is superb, with panoramic views of the ocean and the nearby Hong Islands. This is the perfect place to relax in paradise or to enjoy canoeing, swimming, mountain biking and of course some delicious Thai food.

As an alternative, you could opt to fly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui instead and take a boat across to Koh Phangan and to Buri Rasa Village. This might be preferable at certain times of year as Ko Yao (west coast) and Koh Phangan (east coast) have different weather patterns. Both hotels and locations work well with this holiday and offer brilliant beach escapes for families looking to avoid Thailand's main tourist hubs. We recommend discussing the options with one of our Southeast Asia experts who will help you settle on the perfect beach resort for your family.

Day 17 Fly Home

Depart Thailand for your flight back to the UK.