Experience Overview
From the energy of Bangkok to the calm of Laos, this trip is a study in contrasts. Visit temples in Chiang Mai then spend the evening exploring the night market. Cruise the Mekong into the heart and soul of Laos. An experienced Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will make sure you get the most out of your tour, but will leave plenty of time for you to do your own thing. We utilize many forms of transport to maximize time spent exploring the history and culture of this unforgettable region.
Highlights
- Explore Bangkok's canals
- Discover Buddhist temples
- Float down the mighty Mekong River
- Get wet in the spray of waterfalls
Trip Details
Product Code: 1566
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Train, air-conditioned van, slow-boat, longtail boat, tuk-tuk, plane.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Classic
Supplier Code: ATBH
Starts: Bangkok, Thailand
Finishes: Hanoi, Vietnam
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Mekong River Homestay & Traditional Performance, Muang Pakbèng Your G for Good Moment: Meal with Local Baan Ou Community, Luang Prabang Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Luang Prabang
- Bangkok klong trip
- Wat Pho entrance and guide
- Doi Suthep entrance (Chiang Mai)
- Mekong River slow boat excursion
- Pak Ou caves entrance (Luang Prabang)
- Traditional Arts & Ethnology Museum guided tour
- Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre
- Meal with local Baan Ou Community
- Kuang Si waterfalls trek (half-day)
- Water puppets performance (Hanoi)
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum entrance (when open)
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (11 nights), village homestay (1 night), sleeper train (1 night).
- 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
- Train, air-conditioned van, slow-boat, longtail boat, tuk-tuk, plane.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1986 (CAD $142 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Bangkok
Arrive at any time.
Today is arrival day, so there are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting. Relax, explore the city, and adjust to the pace of life in Bangkok.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Hotel Royal Bangkok @ Chinatown
Day 2: Bangkok/Chiang Mai
Guided longboat tour of Bangkok's klongs and Wat Po. Optional Grand Palace and National Museum visits. Overnight train to Chiang Mai.
Enjoy a 1-hr longtail boat tour of Bangkok's famous klongs (canals). The trip finishes at the Royal Temple of Wat Po for a guided tour.
After, there is time for shopping, a visit to Grand Palace or a stroll along Khao San Rd. In the evening, board the overnight train to Chiang Mai.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Travel by longtail boat on the busy Chao Phraya River and through the small canals of western Bangkok's Thonburi district. Observe colourful scenes of everyday life along the river banks.Activity - Immerse yourself in Thai Buddhist culture and visit the famous giant 46m (151ft) reclining Buddha, covered in gold leaf. Relax with a traditional Thai massage at the country’s leading school of massage at Wat Po.Free_time - Use some free time in Bangkok to make the most out of this city.Transport - Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.
Day 3: Chiang Mai
Enjoy a guided tour of Doi Suthep temple. Optional activities include a cooking class or visit to the night market.
Arrive early morning and use some free time to explore. Choose from a range of optional activities or stroll the city independently. Experience the flavours and scents of traditional northern Thai cuisine by pre-booking the Northern Thai Cooking Class.
In late afternoon, set off to visit the temple complex, Doi Suthep. If you're lucky, you may witness the chanting of the monks.
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - With so much to do in Chiang Mai, make the most of your free time here.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Climb the 300-step naga (mystical serpent) staircase to one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, or opt to take a cable car and enjoy the view. Learn all about Doi Suthep’s history from a local guide – built on top of a mountain, the temple sits among pagodas, statues, bells and shrines.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai
Day 4: Chiang Mai/Chiang Khong
Head to Chiang Khong via Wat Rong Khun and enjoy the view of the mighty Mekong.
Drive to Chiang Khong, a sleepy trading town nestled on the bank of the Mekong River. En route, visit Wat Rong Khun — the dazzling 'White Temple'. Wander the local food market or sit back and enjoy a slower pace of life relaxing in Thailand with river views of Laos.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Visit Wat Rong Khun (better known among foreigners as the White Temple), an unconventional Buddhist temple designed by prominent Thai painter-turned-architect Chalermchai Kositpipat. Be wowed by the temple’s contemporary exterior made up of a mosaic of mirrors. View the interior walls that have a pop culture and sci-fi influence. Find murals of Batman, Superman, Predator, and the Matrix.Accommodation - Nam Khong Guesthouse
Day 5: Chiang Khong/Muang Pakbèng
Cross the border into Laos then travel by traditional boat down the Mekong River. Experience a local homestay in a nearby village.
Here, enjoy traditional Laotian food while getting to know your host family. Your CEO will provide insight into the way of life of village residents.
Cross the border to the Laos immigration area, then take a songthaew (local bus) to a traditional slow boat.
Travel down the Mekong River and adjust to the relaxed pace of life in Laos. This predominantly mountainous country has unsurpassed views of the riverside villages, the tropical jungle, and the mountains.
Meals included: Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Activity - Enjoy the ride down the Mekong on our private boat (it’s pretty comfortable and spacious, and there’s a toilet on board). Have some fruit, tea, and coffee (free of charge); water and soft drinks are available for purchase. Bring some warm gear – it can be quite cold from November to February.Activity - G Adventures and the Planeterra Foundation have worked with two communities in the Mekong River to help develop their homestay programs, providing a unique cultural experience for travellers and the local community.
Here you have the chance to stay overnight in a Mekong village to get a glimpse into rural daily life. Enjoy dinner with your hosts. Experience a traditional Khamu Cultural Performance, and enjoy the chance to dance with the locals.Accommodation - Ban Huay Thum Homestay
Day 6: Muang Pakbèng/Luang Prabang
Continue down the Mekong for most of the day. Take a guided tour of the Pak Ou caves before arriving in Luang Prabang.
Continue on by slow boat down the mighty Mekong. Before arriving at Luang Prabang, enjoy a visit outside to the Pak Ou caves.
After, re-board the boat and continue to Luang Prabang, arriving in the early evening.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy the ride down the Mekong on our private boat (it’s pretty comfortable and spacious, and there’s a toilet on board). Have some fruit, tea, and coffee (free of charge); water and soft drinks are available for purchase. Bring some warm gear – it can be quite cold from November to February.Activity - Visit these dramatic caves considered an important spiritual site by many Lao people. See thousands of Buddha statues and images that line the limestone walls. Accommodation - Villa Malida
Day 7: Luang Prabang
Enjoy a guided tour of the Ethnology Museum and Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre before heading to the new Planeterra project Ban Ou community. Relax in the afternoon at the Kuang Si waterfalls.
Take a tour of the Ethnology Museum — a great chance to learn more about the dress and customs of local people. Drop into Ock Pop Tok for an introduction to Laos textiles and handicrafts. Then, take a half-day trip out to the stunning Kuang Si waterfalls and be sure to pack a swimsuit.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Take a guided tour of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) to learn about the traditional arts and cultures of Laos’s many diverse ethnic groups. Shop in the TAEC Boutique for authentic village-made handicrafts and relax with a drink at the museum café.Activity - Visit Ock Pop Tok "East Meets West" Living Crafts Centre on the banks of the Mekong River to learn from artisans about Laos handicrafts and the importance of woven textiles in Laos culture. Wander around the grounds for free, for opt to enjoy a drink in the cafe, join a workshop, or take an audio tour.Activity - Enjoy a delicious meal with the local Baan Ou Community. Learn about Laotian cuisine and life in Luang Prabang. Start the visit with a welcome drink and a brief introduction to the village before a Baci Welcome ceremony. Then walk through the village and visit the noodle house and weaving house. Sit down for a lunch prepared by a group of women in the community.Activity - Journey to this magnificent tiered waterfall, where relaxing is highly recommended. Opt for a dip in the turquoise waters and explore multiple picture-perfect pools, framed by the jungle landscape.Accommodation - Villa Malida
Day 8: Luang Prabang
Enjoy a free day exploring all Luang Prabang has to offer. Options include cooking classes, temple visits, massages, night market shopping, and cycling.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - There's a wealth of activities going on in and around Luang Prabang. Pick and choose what sounds best.Accommodation - Villa Malida
Day 9: Luang Prabang/Vang Vieng
Take a high speed train to Vang Vieng this morning. Enjoy the afternoon free to rest or explore!
Ride a high speed train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. Enjoy free time.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Free_time - Spend the afternoon free in Vang Vieng.Accommodation - PM Hotel Vang Vieng
Day 10: Vang Vieng
Enjoy free time in Vang Vieng, an ideal location for exploring the countryside by bicycle or kayak.
Opt to pre-book the "Vang Vieng Adrenaline Bundle" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - With many options for Vang Vieng, choose what suits you best.Accommodation - PM Hotel Vang Vieng
Day 11: Vang Vieng/Vientiane
Explore the capital of Laos. Opt to visit temples, see the National Museum, or explore highlights of the town.
Head out of the mountains to one of Asia's sleepiest capital cities. Opt to visit some of the highlights of Vientiane including Wat Sisaket, one of the city's oldest and most fascinating temples, and Wat Phra That Luang, Lao's national symbol and one of her most sacred sites.
For those who like to shop, don't miss the morning market, which, incidentally, is open all day!
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Opt to visit the sights, get a massage or indulge in one last day of Laotian cuisine in Laos' capital city.Accommodation - Vientiane Golden Sun Hotel
Day 12: Vientiane/Hanoi
Fly from Vientiane to Hanoi.
Take a short flight from quiet Laos into the bustling capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. Take a leisurely walk through the Old Quarter to get to know the narrow streets of this city.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy a free morning in the capital before you take flight.Transport - After the short flight to Hanoi, a private vehicle will transfer the group 45 mins to the hotel in the city centre.Activity - Take an orientation walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, a maze of streets, each one traditionally devoted to a different product or industry. Each street is named after the trade practiced on that street for several generations; it's an interesting glimpse into the life of a Hanoian in one of the oldest parts of town. Need a rest? Stop at Bia Hoi corner and pull up a plastic stool. Drink the local brew with the locals and make new friends.
Accommodation - Chalcedony Hotel
Day 13: Hanoi
Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, stilt house, and Presidential Palace. Enjoy an included water puppet show. Opt to visit the Temple of Literature, museums, and Hoa Lo Prison.
Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and the former president's house on stilts for insight into an important figure in Vietnam's history.
During the afternoon, use some free time to explore this beautiful city. Opt to indulge in traditional Vietnamese cuisine while exploring the streets of Hanoi. Choose to visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Museum of Ethnology or just sip delicious Vietnamese iced coffee in a café along the lake. In late afternoon or early evening, attend a performance of Vietnam's famous water puppets before sampling one of Hanoi's amazing eating venues.
Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Take a guided tour of the mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body is housed in a glass case. Continue to the Presidential Palace and visit the museum to learn about Ho Chi Minh’s life and political history. Opt to visit the palace gardens.
Note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is open until 11:00am and closed on Monday and Friday. Entry is dependent on what time the group arrives in Hanoi.Free_time - Choose what interests you most with some free time in Hanoi.Activity - Watch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show with beautiful live music and intricate puppets dancing in a water stage.Accommodation - Chalcedony Hotel
Day 14: Hanoi
Depart at any time.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Similar Experiences
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Declan B - Traveled, December 2023
The CEO was really good, great group, loved the places picked the Honestay was a highlight
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
David L - Traveled, December 2023
It is great to have all of the travel plans, itineraries, etc. taken care of by a company that knows how to see and do as much as possible in the time available to travel. Also, the social aspect of travelling this way can be enjoyable and G Adventures does a good job at fostering that.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Paul O - Traveled, December 2003
Great experience travelling with G
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Manfred B - Traveled, November 2023
My expectations got fulfilled overall
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Roman G - Traveled, November 2023
Good CEO (Bamboo), good organized, easy communication, mixture of types of activities on tour, good accomadition
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/19/2023
Rebecca B - Traveled, November 2023
Really well organised, a great way to see more of the local community. Feels travel sustainable and have had great company on the tours I've joined
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Ashlynn T - Traveled, November 2023
Organization of trip, unique experiences
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Justin Brian C - Traveled, November 2023
Mostly stress free and convenience! .
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/05/2023
Stuart M - Traveled, October 2023
Would definitely recommend G Adventures to others, the open age range of the group worked well. Found this trip slightly more fast paced than others I've completed in the past, but had a very enjoyable time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/05/2023
Stephanie C - Traveled, October 2023
I like how they support local businesses and other good causes
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/05/2023
Dayna R - Traveled, October 2023
The incredible CEO, Tom Tom.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/05/2023
Kari K - Traveled, October 2023
from start to finish the trip was wonderful, the best part was the CEO! Chit made everything so seamless and it was a wonderful experience,
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Alexander T - Traveled, October 2023
G Adventures tours make it easy to see everything you would want to see
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Gemma I - Traveled, October 2023
Friendly and professional service, and the trips are a good pace - perfect mix of activities, travel, and down time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Anthony D - Traveled, October 2023
G provides a good overall package
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Jean N - Traveled, October 2023
The entire experience was top notch!!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Scott N - Traveled, October 2023
the CEO was amazing
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Deborah L - Traveled, November 2023
Well organised trips with a variety of activities included. The philosophy of the company re investing in the community.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/26/2023
Hugh S - Traveled, November 2023
Friend was doing a tour. I joined him
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/28/2023
Pamela T - Traveled, October 2023
I had fantastic experiences and have so many new lovely memories __ The group was (as usual) international and just fantastic ?? our CEO Min was extraordinary with so much passion for showing us the world?he was always amazingly friendly, with brilliant communication skills?such a lovely person?I fully enjoyed traveling with him and always felt safe as well as very well informed __ In general, I really like Gs type of travel: exploring the world and it also always allows insights to locals, e.g.our homestay in Laos, even though standard was pretty basic, I do not want to miss this time with this Laotian community and dancing with all their kids __
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/28/2023
Download a personalized trip brochure!
Why book with us?
Best Rate Guarantee
Mytours.Travel makes sure you always have the best available rate
Best Selection
The best operators from around the world
Trusted Payments
Secure payments with Stripe
Expert Advice
Our expert agents will assist you in booking the perfect experience







