Ultimate South East Asia

Day 1  Bangkok                  
Welcome to Bangkok fellow globe roamers, where a glorious adventure lies ahead of you. After checking into your swanky hotel you may wish to do some DIY exploring, grab a massage or just lie by the pool soaking up those sweet Thai rays. Later the group will join forces to hear what's in store for the trip, then the night is yours.    

Day 2  Bangkok to Kanchanaburi                
The Royal Palace and its 61 acres of incredible buildings will be number one on today's to do list. Start with a tour of the klongs (canals) and some fish feeding, as well as watching locals go about their day and living life along the river. This afternoon, make tracks to your next destination, the sleepy town of Kanchanaburi. Hop into a boat along the River Kwai where you'll reach your home for the night, The Jungle Raft Hotel. Rooms lit by candle light are what you'll be greeted with, followed by a delicious included dinner at dusk. You can even jump in the river directly from your room. Amazing!  

Day 3  Kanchanaburi to Chiang Mai                
We've got an exciting journey ahead of us today! We'll first make our way to the impressive Erawan falls. Walk across the serene trails. Or dip your feet into the emerald blue waters before we head to our next destination. We’ll make a stop in the UNESCO listed city of Ayutthaya, once the capital of Kingdom of Siam before being destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th Century. We'll grab bikes & ride past ornate temples, towering spires and beautiful palaces. Later, we board our overnight train to Chiang Mai.    

Day 4  Chiang Mai      
Time to rise and shine. Today we're waking up in Chiang Mai! Right here in this city is everything you’ve been waiting for. That’s right, we’re spending today at an elephant nature park! Watch these majestic giants strolling through their natural habitat as a part of an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. (Who knows, you might even befriend one!). We’ll grab a wholesome lunch at the park and make our way to Chiang Mai. A free evening in this blissful city? How about spending the evening zipping around on a Vespa? Exploring like a local is the best way to explore, after all.    

Day 5  Chiang Mai            
Ah yes. A completely free day in this amazing city - and there’s so much you can do. How about getting into a glove game with a Muay Thai lesson? Or maybe tour the local markets, guided by the head chef - who’ll then teach you how to rustle up an authentic Thai meal (right in the middle of a rice field!). The city really is all yours to make the most of.

Day 6  Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai      
It’s time to bid farewell to this lovely place. Why, you ask? Because we’re saying hello to the Chiang (‘city’ in Thai) of colourful temples! We’ll munch on a delicious breakfast, then head straight there. The Black House Museum. A blue temple, and a majestic white one too. Welcome to the city where the beauty of colours culminates. We’ll drop our bags off at our hotel and head straight to the Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) - a modern architectural marvel, entirely designed using white glass. You won’t really find any temple like this in Thailand! We’ll then call it a day after admiring the incredible design of Wat Rong Seua Ten (Blue Temple), and the Baan Dam Museum.    

Day 7  Chiang Mai to Pakbeng          
Taking a border hop, cross out of Thailand and into Laos. After collecting your passport stamps you’ll journey to Pakbeng, taking part of the trip by river cruise on a local boat. Remote, traditional, and endlessly charming, Pakbeng is a true traveller’s dream.    

Day 8  Pakbeng to Luang Prabang        
Ending your Mekong magic, arrive in the much loved city of Luang Prabang. Temples dusted in gold, historic French mansions, and locals wrapped in saffron robes make this one of the prettiest places in Asia. Your explorations will involve a sunset from a hill top stupa and a bout of shopping at the local night markets.    

Day 9  Luang Prabang                
A city cycle and a swim under the 60 metre cascades of Kuang Si Falls will provide your daily nature fix, but most of the day is free to visit palaces, temples and to watch local life by the river - or choose to explore any way that suits. Tonight, watch the sunset at a riverside bar.  

Day 10  Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng            
This morning early risers can take part in a sacred Laotian ritual offering alms (food) to Buddhist monks. This morning we take an overland journey to a lively tourist hub filled with opportunities for adventure. Known for its dramatic limestone karsts and world food flair, Vang Vieng will keep you busy. Explore the local rivers and caves or chill out surrounded by like-minded travellers, watching the sun set over the mountains.  

Day 11 Vang Vieng to Vientiane          
Today you should wake up feeling satisfied with your Vang Vieng explorations, and ready to peel back the layers of another Laos hotspot… Welcome to the largest city in Laos! If you’re expecting a bustling Asian capital, prepare to be surprised. The vibe here is strictly chilled. Apart from seeing the beauty of Pha That Luang stupa & the artistic talent of Patuxai, we’ll use our time here to lend a helping hand to the COPE centre - a local charity that provides prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation services to those who have lost their limbs as a result of unexploded bombs. It’s now time to visit the Buddha Park - a fanciful sculpture garden adorned with significant Buddhist images. Spend some time talking amongst the bizarre & sometimes ornate statues, and head back to our hotel for a good night’s rest.    

Day 12  Vientiane to Phnom Penh                
This morning we’ll cross the border sky high, flying out of Laos as we make our way to the capital of Cambodia. Drop your bags off at our cool hotel in the Bassac Quarter (the perfect spot to kick back with a beer and a bite). We’re doing some historical sight-seeing today. We’ll visit The Royal Palace (the official residence of the Cambodian royals) and the Silver Pagoda (one of the finest examples of Khmer architecture). Later tonight, the city is yours to explore as you please.    

Day 13  Phnom Penh                
You'll find reminders of Cambodia’s dark past hidden among the shy smiles and pretty tree-lined streets. Today we'll learn about the horrific Khmer Rouge rule by visiting the mass graves of the ‘Killing Fields’ & the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum with our local guide. Next, you can choose to hit the streets on a tuk-tuk and taste your way through the city's best foodie spots. Then we’ll head back to our hotel located at an after-dark dinner hotspot. (Ask your Trip Manager for some local favourites!)

Day 14  Phnom Penh to Siem Reap                  
Another included flight takes you to Siem Reap: the heartland of an ancient masterpiece and what is still the largest religious monument in the world.  

Day 15  Siem Reap            
Journey to Angkor Wat through dawn's hours in preparation for sunrise. Nothing can quite describe the feeling of watching the day's first rays touch this ancient spiritual site, it's pretty much magic. After a siesta, head back to the temples to explore Angkor Thom and the Tomb Raider temple of Ta Prohm, which is slowly being swallowed by the jungle. With no early rise on tomorrow's agenda, you can let loose on the city's famous Pub Street and the buzzing local night markets.  

Day 16  Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City      
Say farewell to some of your crew at breakfast, and set off to country number four: Vietnam.   With a Banh Mi baguette in one hand and a Vietnamese coffee in the other, hit the road and get ready to explore the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh. Tonight, take on the Ben Thanh markets where you can eat and shop to your heart’s content.    

Day 17  Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta                  
It's goodbye busy city and hello river life today as we make for the Mekong Delta for an extra special overnight experience you won't be forgetting fast. Travelling down the river on local sampans, peace and tranquillity will be at an all-time high. This afternoon you’ll visit a local tea garden and see the floating markets, learning about local industries along the river and meeting some of the friendliest people on earth. Definitely one to give you all the local feels, topped off with a night at a Mekong Guesthouse.

Day 18  Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City        
After an early breakfast you'll make your way back to Ho Chi Minh, detouring past the staggering 250 kilometres of tunnels that make up the Viet Cong’s Cu Chi. See traps, hidden doors and tunnels that Vietnamese resistance fighters dug by hand to look into Vietnam's staggering past. Back in the addictive mayhem of Vietnam's biggest city you will have free time to carry on your explorations. Continuing to eat your way through Vietnam's culinary highlights would be one wise way to use your time.

Day 19  Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang    
This morning, dabble in history and religion with some city sightseeing, before taking flight to a coastal town overlooking the South China Sea. Golden sand beaches, turquoise oceans, water sports galore - this is Nha Trang. This afternoon why not book in for a mineral mud bath and hot thermal spring experience before heading out to dinner with your crew.

Day 20  Nha Trang to Hoi An            
Good news - we have a whole full day to soak up Nha Trang before heading to Hoi An. Have a massage, sign up for the optional cruise, or just hang on the beach before returning to our hotel to freshen up for our overnight train experience. Tonight, we'll head north via our comfy overnight train - where you'll wake up in our next destination and ready to explore it all.    

Day 21  Hoi An          
Time to rise and shine. After travelling North overnight, you'll be waking up in stunning Hoi An. With Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and European influences, Hoi An has no shortage of charm and architectural interest. Bike riding through the vibrant town, visiting an ancient house & ordering custom-made clothes at an artful tailor are just some of the activities that will colour our day. Tonight you can opt into a Vietnamese cooking class, whipping up a storm of up to 4 traditional dishes.    

Day 22  Hoi An                
Morning travellers! The day is all yours. Poke around in galleries & market stalls (the best shopping spots in Vietnam in our opinion) and devour all of the delectable treats on offer. And for a dose of culture, you could ride on one of Vietnam’s very own Bamboo Basket Boats (Yes, the ones that you’ve probably seen on Instagram). And to top it all off, we’ll grab some fresh coconut water straight from the tree to your tummy.    

Day 23  Hoi An to Hanoi          
Leaving Hoi An will be sad. But we’re heading to Hanoi, so there’s hardly an excuse to not be excited. We’ll grab a quick breakfast and head to Da Nang… Fasten your seatbelts, folks. We’ll catch our internal flight to Hanoi from this quaint coastal town. Welcome to the city where all the bustling magic happens! We bet you’re starving from all that travel. That’s why we’ll head straight to the KOTO restaurant - a unique dining experience that supports disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. And with our tummies happy and full, we’ll visit the Temple of Literature (AKA Vietnam’s first-ever university.) But the sight-seeing doesn’t end there. It’s time to make our way to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, dedicated to a Vietnamese revolutionary leader. In the evening, you’re free to explore the capital however you like.    

Day 24  Hanoi to Ninh Binh                
Next up, we’re heading to the epicentre of Vietnam's show-stopping natural beauty. Do you see them? Those lovely landscapes are all yours to admire and explore today. Get inside Vietnam’s legendary army jeep and let’s get going. Spend the day cherishing the crisp air and greenery. And if you love bird-watching, make sure to have your binoculars ready at all times.  

Day 25  Ninh Binh to Halong Bay            
Up and about at the crack of dawn today! We’re climbing up 500 steps to the top of the Mua Cave to witness an incredible sunrise over the valley. (You certainly don’t wanna forget your camera for this one). A drive through stunning scenery will evoke plenty of 'oh wow's', but it only gets better as we board our home for the night, a Chinese-style junk boat in Halong Bay. Feel the serenity kicking in immediately as we drift the limestone island seas of the Gulf of Tonkin. We’ll pass hidden lagoons, thick forests & dreamy grottos. And also chill atop the Ti Top Island. A fresh seafood dinner and sunset at our docking spot will polish off a wonderful day packed with unforgettable moments and experiences.  

Day 26  Halong Bay to Hanoi                
Today will be all about leisurely vibes as you wake up to breakfast and a grotto swim. Make the most of your time on the junk boat and kayak your way around Halong Bay - the views don't get much better than this. After heading back to Hanoi, enjoy your final night on tour.  The quirky world famous water puppet performance in Red River Delta makes for the perfect send off, should you fancy opting for something a bit different.    

Day 27  Hanoi        
Enjoy one final breakfast with the squad this morning before the trip wraps up.