18 to 35s Real Thailand & Laos - 13 Days

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Your adventure begins in the bustling hub of Bangkok with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe get to grips with this awesome city and take a walk around Khao San Road, known for its neon lights and street food, or head to the ornate Grand Palace. As one of the world’s largest marketplaces, Chatuchak Weekend Market is also a great place to practice your haggling and pick up some bargains. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner with your new travel companions and hit the nightlife to celebrate the start of an epic adventure.

Explore some of Bangkok's oldest neighbourhoods on a walking tour with your leader. Wander through Chinatown and along the way, maybe stop by some food stalls on Sukorn Alley for some snacks. Visit Wat Mangkon Kamalawat – home to statues of 58 gods, this is said to be one of the most sacred sites in the area. Offer prayers to the Buddhist and Chinese Taoist gods, take your time in this sacred place surrounded by gold statues and red lanterns and then finish with a walk through the busy Sampeng Market. You’ll have an included lunch at the famous Labour Egg Noodle, so tuck into some fish ball noodles or tom yum pork noodles. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to do what you like until your overnight train this evening.

Arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning. The day is yours to choose your own adventure. You’ll stay in a centrally located guesthouse, so you’re close to all the action. You can set off on an excursion to the top of Doi Suthep – there are a few hundred steps to climb here, but the views are well worth it – or maybe treat yourself to a traditional Thai massage. You could also take a cooking class so you can impress your friends in the kitchen when you get home. Tonight, check out the night bazaar and practice your bargaining skills. Your leader will also be available to take you and the gang on a bar-hopping adventure around the Nimman area – a trendy neighbourhood full of jazz bars and lounges.

Another free day, another chance to get your fill of Chiang Mai, with a bunch of optional activities on offer. In the morning, maybe learn one of the legendary martial arts, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), with a 1.5-hour class learning the basics with professional trainers. You’ll be shown how to adapt to be the weapon and how to guard – is there a better way to spend a morning? If you’re keen to see some impressive views of waterfalls, meadows and mountains, pay a visit to Doi Inthanon National Park to walk one of its many nature trails. You could also go ziplining, whitewater rafting or cycling around the area if you’re feeling active. Maybe just wander around the city’s many temples and end the day with a relaxing massage.

This morning after breakfast, take a local bus to Nan. When you arrive, take the chance to refresh at your hotel before heading out to explore the town. Along the way, visit Wat Phumin – Nan’s most famous wat (a sacred Buddhist precinct, home to a temple, a Buddha and an educational facility). This wat was constructed in 1596 and was restored during the reign of Chao Ananta Vora Ritthi Det. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore at your own pace.

This morning, you’re free to explore Nan how you like. Maybe wander through a gallery by the Nan River, where you can have a coffee and view modern art by local Thai artists. Then, visit a chocolate farm at Cocoa Valley. Take a tour of the farm, then join a workshop to hear how using the bark of the cocoa helps with waste management and make some of your own chocolate. Later, travel to the Pua District and visit a hand-weaving centre to meet the local woman who started this enterprise. Learn how she is helping to keep Tai Lue traditions alive and providing employment opportunities for women in the community. See their beautiful craft of handwoven textiles and then explore the village of Pua. Tonight, you’ll head to the evening market with your leader, with the option to go out for dinner at a local restaurant.

Travel through the countryside this morning to the border into Laos. After border formalities, you’ll stop at the village of Muang Ngeun – a small district in the Xayaburi Province. The Tai Lue and Nan people make most of their income through cotton weaving here. Explore the local Buddhist temple and see the outskirts of Laos before continuing to Luang Prabang. When you arrive, head out on a leader-led orientation walk of ‘the best-preserved city in Southeast Asia’ (the local government started using this phrase, but it caught on for a reason). Tonight, you’ll hike up to Wat Phu Si for sunset. As the sun goes down, witness some epic views over Phu Si Mountain and then head to the Talad Mued Night Market for dinner. Enjoy a barbecue feast known as sindad – the Laotian tradition of grilling meat on a traditional barbecue set on a charcoal stove that has a surrounding rim full of boiling water for blanching vegetables.

This morning is free for you to explore Luang Prabang at your own pace. Maybe head to Kuang Si – a beautiful three-tiered waterfall surrounded by brightly coloured tropical foliage and flowers. Here, you might want to set off on the round-trip hike or take a dip in the refreshing water at the base of the waterfall. Later, board a boat and watch the sun set as you cruise down the Mekong – Asia’s longest river.

Today is a free day in Luang Prabang. Maybe take a tuk-tuk 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 gilded wooden doors depicting scenes from Buddha's life. Otherwise, just wander the streets and take photos of the lush greenery and beautiful buildings. You can also take a hike on Mt Phu Si or join a cooking class to meet some new friends as you gain some skills.

It’s worth getting up early this 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 in front of their houses with food for the monks to collect and take back to the temple. This is done early in the morning as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. The rest of the day is free until your late afternoon train to Vang Vieng. Maybe cruise around town or mingle with the locals at the markets. For lunch, you might want to try some delicious noodle soup at one of the top-notch French cafes along the main drag. Later, you’ll take a transfer to the train station and then jump on a high-speed train. Vang Vieng lies on a bend in the Nam Song. When you arrive, 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.

Today is a free day to explore Vang Vieng however you like – this naturally beautiful city has no shortage of fun activities! Maybe cross the river and explore the huge caves that line the West Bank – Tham Poukham Cave has a blue-green lagoon and a reclining Buddha statue that’s well worth a look – or take a cycling tour of the town. You can also go kayaking on the Nam Song River or explore the nearby 16th and 17th-century monasteries. With hiking and boating options in this gorgeous area, the day is your oyster.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll take a private bus to Vientiane – Laos’ charming capital. Swap your instant coffee and white rice for a latte and a baguette before snapping a few pics at Wat Si Saket – the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane, home to almost 7000 Buddha images. Your trip 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 did not detonate when they were deployed. About 30 per cent of Laos remains contaminated with UXOs from the Vietnam War, posing a serious risk to residents. COPE provides prosthetics and other assistance to people affected by this devastating ongoing impact of war. Grab some dinner with your travel mates tonight, and explore what Vientiane has to offer on Quai Fa Ngum Road.

As there are no more activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end this morning. Say goodbye to your new friends and head off whenever you’re ready. If you’d like to stay in Laos longer, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.