The Back Roads of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand

DAY 1  DEPART UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Chiang Mai.

DAYS 2 & 3  CHIANG MAI

On arrival in Chiang Mai, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel. Spend your first afternoon here getting acquainted with the city on an introductory walk through Old Chiang Mai. Venture out to explore sacred temples, ancient ruins and markets by songthaew, long-tail boat and bicycle. Spend your second day out in the countryside as you walk through the forest, passing tea and coffee fields before observing jungle life from a unique perspective.

DAY 4 THAI LUE 

It's about two hours north to the neighbouring province of Phayao today. Visit the Thai Lua community, an ethnic minority of Thai people from southern China. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know the people, learn about their fascinating history and see how they have retained traditional ways of life. Visit their temple, wander through the village, help cook food and enjoy a traditional dinner with community members.

DAY 5 PHAYAO TOWN

You’ll travel an hour or so to Phayao town, stopping on the way to admire Buddha carvings in the cliffs at a temple. Take a trip in a Thai-style punt on the lake before visiting Wat Analayo, with its exceptional views of the lake and relaxing gardens. Continue to the village of Ban Dok Bua to spend a night in a homestay. In this community, the people live by being economically self-sufficient and organic farming is practised. Enjoy dinner with your homestay host family and learn how they maintain this self-sufficient lifestyle.

DAY 6 BAN DOK BUA

Gain a deeper understanding of how the community withhold their traditional ways of life, visit a composting enterprise, see how rice husks are used as a cooking fuel, and how bamboo is made into various handicraft products. You’ll also board a Thai-style farm tractor for a ride around the village and up into the hills, taking in the tranquillity and beautiful scenery.

In the afternoon, transfer by road to Chiang Rai and check in to your contemporary resort. 

DAY 7 Chiang Rai 

Discover some of Chiang Rai's most important cultural sights, beginning with a visit to the home of the region's most extensive collection of artefacts from the Lanna and Tai cultures. You'll also visit the Golden Pavilion of Haw Kham and the glittering white temple of Wat Rong Khun, whilst a stop at Wat Phra Kaew provides an opportunity to see where Bangkok's famous Emerald Buddha was originally found in 1434. 

DAY 8 DOWN THE MEKONG

Today you’ll be driven to the border crossing at Chiang Khong, where you will take a short boat ride across the river to Laos. Once you’ve completed immigration formalities, you'll depart on your private boat cruise down the Mekong towards Pakbeng. The journey allows you to enjoy the passing scenery and observe rural life along the Mekong. Stop off en route to visit riverside villages and arrive in Pakbeng before sunset for an overnight stay at a simple hillside lodge overlooking the river. 

DAY 9 & 10 NORTHERN LAOS

Today you’ll travel by car towards Oudomxay with scenic stops along the way, arrive in time for lunch and check-in at your off-the-beaten-track resort set amongst a protected forest. Surrounded by mountains and jungle, this is a wonderful base for exploring the area. 

This area sees few visitors, making for a very serene environment and the opportunity to experience day-to-day village life without feeling that you are just one of many tourists passing through.  For adventurous types, there is some excellent trekking in the jungle-clad hills and, for those who prefer to take it a bit easier, there are some lovely easy walks that could wind up with a picnic at a waterfall or a trip to the local hot springs.

DAY 11 JOURNEY DOWN THE NAM OU RIVER 

Today your guide and driver will take you to Muang Khoua on the banks of the Nam Ou River. Here you’ll board a private boat for the first day of the river journey downstream to Luang Prabang. The initial part of the journey takes around 2.5 hours towards the Nam Ou Dam, where you’ll cross to another private boat for the second part of the journey towards Nong Khiaw. The scenery en route is remarkable so enjoy sitting back and just taking it all in. The boat stops along the way for swimming and to visit riverside villages. On arrival in Nong Khiaw, you’ll transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 12 LIMESTONE & JUNGLE and on to Luang Prabang

The beautiful area around Nong Khiaw is excellent to explore by bike or kayak. The hotel has bicycles available for hire, so you could choose to head out with your guide to the picturesque local limestone caves.

In the afternoon, you’ll continue your journey downstream to Luang Prabang, passing more spectacular mountain scenery as the Nam Ou meets the Mekong River. The famous Pak Ou caves are situated near the confluence, and you can visit them if you choose. Later in the afternoon, you’ll reach Luang Prabang - the river route is a lovely way to arrive at one of Asia's most romantic and beautifully preserved cities.

Day 13 & 14 Luang Prabang

During your stay in Luang Prabang, you’ll spend time with your guide getting a feel for the magical town itself; the effect of Luang Prabang's ornate Buddhist temples and Indochinese architecture set against a jungle backdrop is spellbinding. A highlight will undoubtedly be the early morning visit to Kuang Sii Waterfalls, where a special permit will allow you to enjoy a gourmet breakfast there before the crowds arrive.

There will be free time too, to absorb the scenery, explore the sleepy backstreets of this UNESCO town, take in the picturesque night markets and perhaps join in with the popular local street sport petanque!

Day 15-18 Siem Reap and The Temples of Angkor 

Say goodbye to Laos and take the short flights from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap in Cambodia. On arrival, you’ll be met by your local guide. 

Each day here will be designed around your particular interests - to ensure you have the best possible experience of this remarkable area.  On one day, we might suggest focusing on the more remote temples such as Beng Melea, another day an early start for sunrise over the Tonle Sap Lake, followed by the more famous temples like Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon. A local restaurant or picnic lunches will be included, as will plenty of time to relax.  You might also like to get to grips with the Cambodian food scene; an after-dark food tour by Vespa is a fantastic way to do this.

DAYS 19 & 20  PHNOM PENH

Travel by road to the capital Phnom Penh. You’ll spend a whole day exploring with your guide during your time here, taking in the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, Emerald Buddha and the National Museum. You'll also have the chance to visit Toul Sleng Museum, formerly used by the Pol Pot regime as a detention centre, and the killing fields. This is a moving example of the difficulties faced by Cambodia between 1975 & 1979. For those who would rather miss the museum, there is the option of taking a cycle tour of Koh Dach island - just a short boat ride across the Mekong from the city centre.

DAYS 21 & 22 the CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS

With your guide and driver, you'll begin the journey to the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia's remote South West. You will take a short boat trip along a peaceful river until you get to 4 Rivers Floating Lodge, where you will have three nights to relax, explore and take in the idyllic surroundings. A variety of activities based around the waterways and its surrounding nature and wildlife are available.

DAYS 23 - 27 KOH KOOD or Koh Chang (Thailand)

From Four Rivers, it’s barely an hour to the Thai border, where you'll cross into Thailand. Your destination will either be Koh Chang or Koh Kood. Both islands are reached from a jetty near the city of Trat. Unlike other Thai islands, Koh Kood, in particular, still feels relatively unexplored and is idyllic. Spend four nights here, relaxing on the quiet and untouched white sand beaches.

DAYS 28-29 BANGKOK

Take a short flight from Trat to Bangkok and return to fast living! Spend two nights at Ariyasom Villa, a stunning boutique hotel in the heart of Bangkok. A personal guide is included to take you to the sites that take your fancy, from the Royal Palace to a boat trip through the never-ending waterways and, of course, the simply unbeatable food stalls!

DAY 30

Transfer to Bangkok Airport for your flight home.