Explore Thailand, Laos & Cambodia

Overnight flight to Bangkok

Afternoon

Begin your Asian adventure with an overnight flight to Thailand’s bustling capital city, Bangkok.

Arrive in Bangkok

Afternoon

Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport, you will be met by your local expert guide and transferred to your hotel in Bangkok. Bangkok is a modern metropolis, well known for ornate shrines and vibrant street life. Embark on a brief walking orientation tour with your local guide to discover the best places to eat, shop, drink and sight see. The remainder of your day will be at leisure for you to continue exploring independently.

Optional Excursion: Chinatown Street Food Walking Tour

Evening

If you would like to discover Bangkok’s sophisticated flavours during a guided foodie experience, then join our taste of Chinatown street food walking tour. Explore the 200-year-old district that is filled with rich ethnic traditions and authentic food. During the tour you will explore on foot and taste local cuisines from 7 famous eateries, ranging from street food vendors to renowned fine dining restaurants. Between each tasting location, you will have behind-the-scenes detours that will give you a closer look at this unique neighbourhood, meeting the food bazaar’s lively characters, hearing its memorable stories and visiting religious and cultural landmarks. Culinary guide and food tastings included (Please note: This excursion is subject to minimum numbers)

Accommodation

Overnight

Explore Bangkok by bicycle

Morning

Get to grips with the hidden gems of Bangkok as you explore the city’s small lanes, alleyways and canal boats by bicycle with your local expert guide. Experiencing Bangkok by two wheels will give you a unique insight into the soul of the city as you discover places that you will not find in a guidebook. Along the banks of the Chao Phraya River is where Bangkok first began. Stop at the first Christian community of Santa Cruz to visit the descendants of the early Portuguese traders before pedalling to the neighbouring Chinese Thai temple of Wat Kalayanamit and the site of Bangkok's first Chinatown. Next from the saddle make your way to Wat Hongrattanaram, where you will stop briefly to see a shrine devoted to the first king of Bangkok, Taksin.

Lunch at a community temple & Thai puppet show

Afternoon

Next you will cycle back lanes and pedal along small tree-lined canals before arriving at an old wooden market with a historic community temple. Enjoy a simply tasty Thai lunch in a local eatery by the canal in the grounds of the community temple before continuing to a traditional Thai puppet show in a 200-year-old traditional wooden house on the banks of Khlong Bang Luang. Stowing your bicycle in the back of a long tail boat, you will wind your way down the ancient canals of Bangkok to Chao Phraya River before sailing up the River of Kings, past the Grand Palace, and docking near Khaosan Road. After disembarking the long tail boat you will cycle back to the starting point, ending in the mid late afternoon. (Cycling distance: 15km / Cycling duration: 3 hours / Cycling terrain: Flat / Cycling difficulty: Moderate).

Free time at leisure

Evening

The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. You can enjoy some free time unwinding at the hotel or else you can continue to explore the city of Bangkok independently. Your local expert guide will be happy to suggest some activities to suit your taste. We recommend taking a tuk tuk around the city to experience the buzz of this city as night falls.

Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Early morning

Depart on an early morning internal flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of Northern Thailand. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage, before departing for a Chiang Mai city tour.

Explore Chiang Mai

Full day

Chiang Mai is located high in the mountains and is encircled by jungle. The old city area still retains traces of walls and moats from its history as a cultural and religious centre. Begin your city tour by heading to the riverfront Worarot Market. Here you will find colourful flowers, clothes made by the local hill tribe, as well as silks, hats and beads. Afterwards you will visit Thapae Gate, one of the four original city gates. From here you will continue by rickshaw with stops made along the way at the temples of Wat Chiang Man, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. At Wat Phra Singh you will have the unique opportunity to meet with an English-speaking monk for a chat.

Accommodation

Overnight

Thai Cooking Class with a local family

Full day

This morning you will visit a nearby village to meet with a local family. They are a Lanna family, meaning they continue the old tradition of building their homes of teak wood and maintaining the natural surroundings in a way now rarely seen in Chiang Mai. The family orchard has many types of fruit such as banana, mango, coconut, whilst the garden is filled with herbs. During this culinary class with a difference, the family will teach you about their culture as you select ingredients from their garden and then cook and eat together. You will also learn how to make small bamboo baskets. Today will be one of the cultural highlights of your time in Thailand, as you will have the unique opportunity to get to know a Thai family, spending the day their house as guests.

Free time at leisure

Evening

The remainder of the day will be at leisure in Chiang Mai. Continue to explore this charming mountain city independently or simply relax and rejuvenate. The choice is yours!

Transfer to Chiang Rai with temple visits en route

Morning

This morning you will leave Chiang Mai for the mountain town of Chiang Rai. Drive through the lush landscape of northern Thailand stopping en route to visit the white temple of Wat Rong Khun and the blue temple of Wat Rong Suea Ten before continuing to Wat Huai Pla Kang. Lunch is included at a local restaurant and there will also be time to discover traditional art work at the Black House Museum before arriving at your hotel in Chinag Rai. (Approximate driving distance: 190km / Approximate driving time: 4 hours)

At leisure in Chiang Rai

Afternoon

You will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to explore as you wish. Your local guide will be happy to make recommendations to suit your taste. Chiang Rai is a more relaxed town compared with Chiang Mai, however it is not short on cultural and historical attractions of its own. The modest selection of bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment facilities are concentrated in the area around the Clock Tower. We recommend exploring this charming place by foot or by tuk tuk!

Accommodation

Overnight

Kok River & Ruak River

Morning

Depart Chiang Rai on a journey through stunning mountain scenery towards Chiang Khong. Begin by driving to the Kok River where you will board a longtail boat for a short cruise to the Karen village of Ban Ruammitr. Next, you will drive to Doi Mae Salong where you will visit the ethnic Chinese KMT village and afterwards visit Yao & Akha village as well as a Chinese tea plantation. Following this continue by coach to the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River and the Mekong River meet forming the borders of three countries (Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos) before arriving at your hotel in Chiang Khong. (Approximate driving distance: 101km / Approximate driving time: 2 hours)

At leisure in Chiang Khong

Afternoon

You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to settle in and get to you know your new surroundings. Your local guide will be happy to make suggestions to suit your taste. Mingle with the locals at a traditional eatery, explore the riverfront area by foot or rent a bicycle and discover the small town of Chiang Khong independently from the saddle.

Accommodation

Overnight

Cross the border from Thailand to Laos

Early morning

Early this morning, transfer to Chiang Khong Thai-Laos Border. Here it will be time to say goodbye to your Thai local expert guide as you cross the border into Laos at the Thai Friendship Bridge IV . The bus ride to cross the border usually takes approximately 20 minutes, after which you will go through immigration independently. Your Lao local expert guide will be waiting for you after you clear immigration. Afterwards transfer from the Thai Friendship Bridge IV border crossing to the pier to board a boat. (Approximate driving distance: 22 Km / Approximate driving duration: 50 minutes)

Mekong River Cruise & local village visits

Full day

Today's cruise will take you down the Mekong River to Pakbeng, a small town in northern Laos. En route, there will be stops made to observe rural life along the riverbanks as well as a visit to the Khmu village of Ban Houaypralam. Lunch today will be a selection of Lao specialities on board, allowing you to taste the flavours of Loas as you cruise along one of the world’s most famous rivers. Your boat will dock at Pakbeng just before sunset. Your accommodation tonight is a basic but comfortable local guesthouse which will give you an insight into simple rural life in Laos. Dinner is included at your guesthouse so you can dine like a local.

Accommodation

Overnight

Pakbeng to Luang Prabang

Morning

This morning wander around the market at Pakbeng before re-boarding your private boat and continuing down the river towards Luang Prabang. En route stop at Ban Bor, a Lao Loum village. The Lao Loum are the major ethnic group in Laos and here you can learn more about their culture and way of life. There will also be a stop at the Pak Ou caves, a mystical pilgrimage site perched high above the Mekong River. Peering into dark corners, your eyes will adjust to reveal the serene faces and lithe bodies of over 3,000 Buddhas some inlaid with semiprecious stones. The fact that these remain undisturbed in one of the world’s poorest countries is a tribute to the devotion of the local Lao people to their faith. A visit to the rice whiskey producing village of Ban Sang Hai is also included before your arrival in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. Lunch is included on board your boat.

At leisure in Luang Prabang

Afternoon

You will arrive in to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. The remainder of the day will be at leisure for you to spend independently as you wish. Your local guide will be happy to make suggestions to suit your taste. Explore the vibrant night markets or eat to your hearts content on Buffet Street, a narrow laneway filled with a market style buffet. The perfect way to sample an array of local street food!

Accommodation

Overnight

Walking tour, temple visits & climb Mount Phousi

Morning

Embark on a walking tour of Luang Prabang’s historic and charming heritage old town with your local expert guide. Explore some of the small side streets, back alleys and soak up the ambience and hidden charms of Luang Prabang. Afterwards transfer to Wat Xieng Thong, a 500 year old temple that is the perfect example of Luang Prabang style. Visits to the nearby Wat Mai and Wat Sene temples and the National Museum will also be included. To end your morning of exploring will be a climb up Mount Phousi, a hill which is perched 100 metres above the old town. Venture up the 328 steps with your local expert guide. Those who make the effort are rewarded with remarkable 360 degrees views of the surrounding area.

Lunch at Khai Paen Restaurant

Early afternoon

Lunch today is included at the Khai Paen Restaurant. This is a training restaurant that is powered by Friends International NGO, a leading social enterprise that helps marginalised communities in South East Asia. At Khai Paen Restaurant underprivileged Lao youths receive hands on training in hospitality, food & beverages and the English language. Food for your lunch will be prepared by the youths as part of their training, using local fresh ingredients, making today’s meal an immersive community experience that gives back to the local economy.

At leisure in Luang Prabang

Afternoon

The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free to continuing exploring Luang Prabang further at your leisure. Perhaps you would like to venture back up Mount Phosi to watch the sunset above Luang Prabang? The choice is all yours.

Explore the Laos countryside by mountain bike

Morning

This morning you will take a tuk tuk from your hotel towards the pier and cross the Mekong River by public ferry to begin your mountain biking experience. Bike through local villages towards the Wat Chom Phet temple, where you can see the 500-year-old Mango Tree. Marvel at the untouched landscape and famous Mekong River scenery on two wheels as you experience Luang Prabang from a whole new perspective. Follow the mountain road to Ban Nahkham village. Here locals produce Khao Lam, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes. You will have the chance to sample some as well as a glass of sugarcane juice before jumping back in the saddle and continuing to ride towards Ban Na for a picnic lunch. After some food and recharging your batteries cycle towards Ban Chomphet and further to Ban Can which is a famous pottery village, where you can witness the locals producing these pieces of art in their ancient tradition. On the ride back to the ferry pier there will be stops made at various viewpoints to enjoy the breathtaking scenery before arriving back in Luang Prabang in the late afternoon. (Cycling distance: 10km / Cycling duration: 1.5 hours / Cycling terrain: A mixture of inclines and declines / Cycling difficulty: Moderate

At leisure in Luang Prabang

Evening

You will have the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure in Luang Prabang. Perhaps you would like to relax and unwind at your hotel after your active day of exploring the countryside by mountain bike? Or perhaps you would like to continue exploring independently by foot or tuk tuk. The choice is all yours.

Fly from Laos to Cambodia

Morning

This morning it will be time to say goodbye to your local Lao expert guide as you transfer from your hotel to Luang Prabang airport for your internal flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Arrive to Cambodia and explore Siem Reap

Afternoon

Upon arrival to Siem Reap, Cambodia, you will be met by your Cambodian expert guide and transfer to your hotel. You will have the remainder of the evening free to settle in and get to know your new surroundings. Your guide will be happy to make suggestions for places to eat and drink for your evening at leisure.

Accommodation

Overnight

Angkor Archaeological Park

Morning

The Angkor Archaeological Park is visually, architecturally and artistically breath-taking and one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, the park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. Today you will have a chance to see some off the beaten track sights. Begin with a 1-hour drive to the trail head at Kbal Spean, commonly named the River of Thousand Lingams, a spectacular carved river bed in the jungle. You will climb to the top of the hill where a well-earned lunch will be included at a local restaurant. (Incline: 200 metres / Duration: 1 hour / Difficulty: Moderate) Afterwards transfer by coach to visit some hidden temples in the mountains such as the pink sandstone Banteay Srei, Preah Dak, Takeo and Banteay Samre.

Local village visits & the Cambodia Landmine Museum

Afternoon

En route back to Siem Reap from Kbal Spean there will be stops at local villages so you can see palm sugar and rice noodles being made. There will also be a visit to the Cambodia Landmine Museum. The Cambodia Landmine Museum strives to enlighten visitors of the importance of clearing landmines in Cambodia. It also educates and supports over twenty at-risk Khmer children at a Relief Center located on the museum property.

At leisure in Siem Reap

Evening

After returning to your hotel in the late afternoon, you will have the evening at leisure in Siem Reap to discover the city independently. Siem Reap has a lot to offer in terms of culture and nightlife. Take a tuk tuk to explore the Old Market and mingle with the locals or check out the many bars, complete with neon flashing signs, on the vibrant Pub Street.

Experience Angkor Wat at sunrise

Early morning

Experience an unforgettable morning riding by bicycle on the back trails among the ruins of the Angkor Kingdom. Begin at dawn break for a visit to the famous Angkor Wat temple. If the weather is in your favour, you will be able to witness the sun rising behind the majestic spires of Angkor Wat. Explore this ancient wonder with your local expert guide in the early morning light before continuing to explore the awe-inspiring collection of ancient temple ruins in the Angkor Archaeological Park from the saddle.

Explore the jungle by bicycle

Afternoon

The remainder of the day will be spent cycling the back trails through thick forest to ancient ruins, stopping at both the iconic and some of the lesser-known temples in Angkor Archaeological Park. Cycle through this historic site, marvelling at the stunning natural scenery and the fascinating temples, parking your bicycle to explore both the temples of Bayon, Ta Prom and The Elephant Terrace by foot. End your day of pedalling through the mysterious jungle with a lunch by a small reservoir called Sra Srang before returning to Siem Reap in the mid afternoon. (Cycling distance: 35km / Cycling duration: 2.5 hours / Cycling terrain: Paved roads and jungle paths / Cycling difficulty: Challenging)

At leisure in Siem Reap

Evening

Your final evening in Siem Reap will be at your leisure for you to explore at your whim. Indulge in some traditional delicacies with the locals at a typical Cambodian eatery or maybe enjoy a tipple at one of the many watering holes along the bustling Pub Street.

At leisure in Siem Reap

Morning

You will have the full morning and early afternoon at leisure to explore independently. Your final day is yours to spend as you wish in this fascinating city. Rent a bike to explore Siem Reap on two wheels, educate yourself on Cambodia’s history at one of the many War museums and learn a local craft at the Angkor Pottery Center. Or perhaps you would like to wander the city by foot and do some last minute souvenier shopping. The choice is all yours. Your local expert guide will be happy to assist you with suggestions on how to spend your last day in Siem Reap.

Transfer to the airport

Afternoon

In the late afternoon transfer to the airport for your return overnight flight home.

Morning

Arrive home to Ireland following your once in a lifetime Asian adventure to Thailand, Laos & Cambodia.