18-Day Discover Southeast Asia Tour from Bangkok: Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap | Small Group Tour

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting. You are free to relax, explore the city, and adjust to the frantic pace of Bangkok.

【Airport Transfer】

Upon arrival at the airport, head to the arrival hall and go to gate number 4 near the airport information counter. Look for a driver holding a G Adventures sign with your name, who'll take you to your hotel so you can check in and start exploring.

【Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting】

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Set out to explore the Thai capital. Board a traditional klong boat for a ride along the city’s winding canals, gliding past quaint temples, modern skyscrapers, and houses perched above the water. Then explore the gardens, and courtyards of the dazzling Grand Palace, once the official residence of the Thai royal family, and gaze upon the sacred statue of the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew. Later, catch a flight to Chiang Mai.

Settle into exquisite surroundings in Chiang Mai and take a relaxing break from the fast pace of Bangkok.

【Klong Riverboat Tour】

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.

【Grand Palace Visit】

Visit the King’s official residence (made up of many buildings, halls, lawns, gardens, and courtyards) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Please note the cost of this optional activity does not include the entrance fee.

Delve into the bustle of Chiang Mai’s morning markets with a local chef, and learn about colourful fruits and fragrant herbs as you select ingredients for a Thai cooking class. Enjoy your creation for lunch, then set out to visit a historic temple. Sit down with one of the resident monks to discuss daily life and the tenets of Buddhism. Later, clear your mind to the chanting of monks at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the most spectacular gilded temples in Thailand.

Monk Chats are a great cultural exchange, but is also important in helping the young Monks improve their English.

【Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class】

Pick out the best ingredients at a local market and learn how to make delicious Thai dishes.

【Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet with Monks】

Visit a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai’s Suthep district. Sit down with young monks to discuss daily life and Buddhism, and leave feeling spiritually refreshed. Monk Chats are informal discussions at a round table with a prepschool age Monk, usually accompanied by their teacher.

【Doi Suthep Temple Visit】

Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a golden Buddhist temple outside of Chiang Mai on the Mt Doi Suthep. Climb 300 steps to reach the temple and be rewarded with an unforgettable view. Admire the many Buddhist relics at this sacred temple and visit the white elephant shrine. Legend has it that the location of the temple was chosen after a white elephant carried a relic to the mountain and trumpeted three times before dying on the spot. Also, with a little luck, you may witness the chanting of the monks.

Spend a full day exploring Chiang Mai’s temples and forested hills on your own, or choose between a variety of optional activities. Opt to take a cycling tour through verdant rice paddies and the elegant historic district. This evening, visit a village outside of the city for a khantok-style dinner, served on low pedestal trays, and chat with your hosts about life in rural Thailand. Later, choose to visit Chiang Mai’s vibrant night market.

The Khantok dinner is a must-do when you reach northern Thailand. Khantok in the Northern dialect means a wooden tray used for carrying dishes, round in shape, made of teak wood. The host will invite guests to sit on the floor around the khantok. The main dishes on the khantok usually include sticky rice, hang-le curry (Burmese-styled curry), and some chili-pasted crispy pork. After, enjoy tea time with the opportunity to talk with local people to learn their way of living.

【Free Time】

Opt to visit local handicraft workshops and the bustling Chiang Mai night market.

【Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Thai Home Dinner】

Visit a village outside Chiang Mai and sit down to an authentic Khantoke dinner in the home of a local family. Dishes typically include sticky rice, hang-le curry, and crispy pork with chilli paste. Over tea, learn about life in rural Thailand and visit the family garden to learn about herbs and spices popular in local cooking.

Fly to Luang Prabang, a leafy Laotian city nestled at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. Take an orientation walk of the beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage-listed town, strolling past traditional wooden Buddhist temples and elegant French colonial buildings.

【Orientation Walk】

Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Rise at dawn to observe the daily almsgiving ritual, when Buddhist monks walk through the streets collecting offerings of food from the local residents in exchange for blessings. Then visit the National Museum—formerly the Royal Palace—to see the golden Phra Bang Buddha statue for which the city is named; and explore the resplendent Wat Xieng Thong, one of Luang Pragang’s largest and most historic temples. Later, hop on a boat and float down the Mekong to the caves of Pak Ou, a religious site that harbours thousands of Buddha sculptures within its limestone chambers.

【Royal Palace Museum Visit】

The ornate rooms of this royal palace-turned-museum house the country’s crown jewels, many religious artifacts, and a 50kg (110 lb) Buddha, cast of gold, silver and bronze. Gifts from visiting heads of state are on display, as are the beautiful silk screens crafted by the Queen.

【Wat Xien Thong Visit】

Once a royal temple where Kings were crowned, the importance of this 16th-century Buddhist temple as a religious monastery is not lost on visitors. Wat Xieng Thong stands resplendent among shrines, pavilions, chapels, towers and gardens, and its gilded wooden doors, mosaics, and ceiling displays are representative of typical Laos art and craft.

【Pak Ou Caves Visit】

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.

Spend the morning at leisure in this enchanting town. Opt to visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, which exhibits handicrafts and cultural artifacts from around the country, or enjoy a drink in one of the town’s laid-back cafés. In the afternoon, venture into the lush countryside to visit the magical Kuang Si Waterfall. Relax by the waterfall’s tiered limestone pools and take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters. Later this evening, opt to visit Luang Prabang’s bustling night market.

【Kuang Si Waterfalls Excursion】

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.

【Your Discover Moment】

There's plenty to see and do in Luang Prabang, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like learning about Laotian cuisine with a cooking class, getting a massage, and cycling around town.

Enjoy some free time in Luang Prabang before catching a late afternoon flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.

【Free Time】

Get out and explore this picturesque city with some free time.

Begin the day with a visit to the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, one of Vietnam’s most influential political leaders. Afterward, transfer to Ha Long Bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from serene, turquoise waters. Settle into your cabin on a traditional-style wooden boat or junk, where we’ll spend the night, and embark on a cruise of Bai Tu Long Bay, a more secluded section of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue to glide around the bay’s stunning karst formations, and explore the fascinating Me Cung cave with our local guide.

This traditional wooden sailing boat offers a unique way of navigating the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay with all the comforts of a motorized, floating hotel. The boat crew will prepare an included seafood lunch and dinner. All cabins are twin share and have an en-suite bathroom. The boat features an enclosed dining and sitting area and of course plenty of outside deck space to enjoy your beautiful surroundings.

【Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Guided Tour】

Take a guided tour of the mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body is housed in a glass case. During seasonal closures (see below), visit the Presidential Palace grounds for a short guided tour.

Note: 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. The mausoleum will be close for 2 months every year for maintenance. It's usually from June 16th - August 16th every year, but this can vary.

【Ha Long Bay Overnight Junk boat Cruise】

Cruise through stunning and secluded Bai Tu Long Bay, a less visited section of Ha Long Bay. Relax on board our comfortable traditional wooden junk boat. Enjoy your time afloat eating fresh seafood, admiring the magnificent karst formations, and exploring Me Cung Cave. Spend a peaceful night anchored in the bay under the stars.

Return to land and head back to Hanoi. Enjoy lunch at Hoa Sua, a non-profit training restaurant for underprivileged Hanoi youth, and meet with one of the organizers to learn about the positive impact of the project. Then set out to discover Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter on a cyclo, a three-wheel bicycle taxi, whizzing past vendors hawking all manner of trinkets and roadside chefs cooking up sizzling street eats.

Classic French colonial architecture, beautiful decor and a scenic location makes Hanoi a fantastic place to visit. If local cuisine piques your interest, opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

【Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Lunch at Hoa Sua】

Savour a meal of Western (mainly French) and Vietnamese cuisine at this restaurant while supporting a training program that prepares local disadvantaged youth for careers in the culinary arts. After 19 years of operation the Hoa Sua School has trained more than 7,000 young people giving them the skills to overcome poverty, many of them going on to have very successful careers. Meet with one of the organizers to learn more about this successful organization.

【Hanoi Cyclo Tour】

Take a seat on a cyclo for a tour of Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter. Let the driver navigate through the bustling streets and start taking some photos or just use the tour to help get familiar with the area.

【Free Time】

Head to dynamic Hang Gai Street or the night market for some evening shopping.

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, and absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of this bustling metropolis on a cyclo tour. Later, opt to delve into the colourful aisles of Ben Thanh Market, known for an abundance of food stalls as well as shops selling handicrafts, textiles, jewelry, and electronics; and try your hand at bargaining.

【Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Tour】

​​​​​​​Take a city tour on a cyclo (cycle rickshaw) – a great way to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of Ho Chi Minh City while keeping your hands free for that camera action.

Venture to the legendary Cu Chi tunnels, a network of underground passageways that provided a base for Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. Visit underground hospitals and ammunition stores, and learn about the vital role that the tunnels played in the eventual victory of the North. Later, visit the War Remnants Museum, a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War. Choose to take a tour of the Reunification Palace, the site which marked the end of the war.

【Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour】

Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.

【War Remnants Museum Visit】

Visit the War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware. Learn about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today.

【Free Time】

Shop at the Ben Thanh Market, tour the city by cyclo, or boat down the Saigon river.

Fly to Phnom Penh and explore the eclectic Cambodian capital on a cyclo tour. Pedal along the tree-lined riverfront past some of the city’s main sights, including the French colonial post office and the gleaming Royal Palace, where the king of Cambodia still resides. Then opt to visit the famous Foreign Correspondents' Club for sunset drinks.

【Phnom Penh Cyclo Tour】

Settle in a traditional cyclo and depart from Wat Phnom. Tour busy streets to soak up the real vibe of the city. Pass the post office and Van's restaurant, both stunning colonial buildings, and make your way to the Royal Palace and National Museum. Go along the riverside road and take in the atmospheric cafes that line the street.

Today, we spend time learning about Cambodia’s tragic 20th-century past, visiting sites that commemorate the “killing fields” of the Khmer Rouge—a brutal regime that ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. Pay your respects to victims of the Cambodian genocide at the haunting Choeung Ek Memorial; and visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high-security prison where nearly 17,000 people were tortured and incarcerated during the Khmer Rouge’s years in power.

【Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison) Guided Tour】

Learn about the dark history and devastation that occurred at Security Prison 21 (S-21); the prison, used by the Khmer Rouge regime, is now Tuol Sleng Museum. Take a guided tour to hear the stories behind the sombre photos lining the museum walls.

【Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) Guided Tour】

Learn more about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge visiting the killing fields of Choeung Ek; the grounds now stand as a powerful memorial filled with victims’ skulls and mass graves. Tour this sombre, yet serene, site with a guide.

Drive to Siem Reap—the gateway to mystical Angkor. Take an orientation walk through the entertainment district and visit one of the city’s exciting night markets, an open-air maze of neon-lit stalls selling a kaleidoscopic array of products.

【Orientation Walk】

Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

【Night Market Visit】

A neighbourhood unto itself, Siem Reap’s night market is lively with shoppers exploring more than 240 hut shops selling souvenirs, artwork, and clothing. Opt for a Dr. Fish massage—small fish nibbling dead skin off your feet—or a visit to the tropical Brick House Bar.

Spend the day exploring the ruins of Angkor, the magnificent 12th-century capital of the Khmer Empire. Wake early to watch the sunrise over the spires of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument ever built, and wander through the city’s mystical courtyards and jungle-covered temples with an expert local guide. Stop for a typical Khmer lunch at the New Hope Cambodia vocational training restaurant, a G Adventures–supported initiative that provides hospitality training to unemployed youth. This evening, we’ll enjoy a performance at a Cambodian circus, another social enterprise aimed at uplifting underprivileged young adults.

【Angkor Wat Guided Tour】

Enjoy a tour of the impressive ancient ruins with a local guide. Explore magnificent Angkor Wat temple--Visit the enigmatic faces of Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and tour Ta Prohm (aka the "Tomb Raider" temple), which is slowly being swallowed by the jungle.

【Tuk-Tuk】

Scoot quickly around the big cities inside a three-wheeled mini-taxi.

【Your G for Good Moment: New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant】

Enjoy a traditional meal of Khmer food at the New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, an initiative kickstarted by G Adventures. Providing skill-building opportunities to marginalized community members, the project also funds the adjacent free community school and health centre. Visit the restaurant run by locals and see how the New Hope project has supported positive change in the community.

【Free Time】

Take some time to explore this lively town on your own. This evening, opt to enjoy a Cambodian Circus show.

【Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cambodian Circus Performance and Talk】

Enjoy a performance at Phare, the Cambodian Circus and meet with one of the organizers who gives an overview of the history of this incredible organization and circus arts in Cambodia. Phare Performing Social Enterprise provides training and gainful employment to at risk Cambodian youth from difficult social and economic backgrounds. The shows are outstanding and based in storytelling, inspired by the real-life experiences of the circus's creators and performers, dealing with themes such as war, discrimination, relationships, and poverty. Performances combine theatre, dance, original live music, and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories, both traditional and contemporary.

Continue to discover the archaeological wonders of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor with our local guide. Opt to visit the Angkor National Museum, browsing its interactive galleries and stunning collections of relics; or choose to tour the floating villages of Tonle Sap lake, encountering lively communities complete with markets, clinics, and schools.

【Angkor Wat Guided Tour】

Enjoy a tour of the impressive ancient ruins with a local guide. Explore magnificent Angkor Wat temple--Visit the enigmatic faces of Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and tour Ta Prohm (aka the "Tomb Raider" temple), which is slowly being swallowed by the jungle.

【Tuk-Tuk】

Scoot quickly around the big cities inside a three-wheeled mini-taxi.

【Free Time】

In your free time opt to shop, or visit the museum or floating village.

Depart at any time.