Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
Your Thailand and Laos adventure starts today. You've got eventful days lined up ahead, so you'll want to make sure you're ready for what's coming.
- Day 2
Bangkok
After you arrive, your guide takes you to the hotel and gets you settled in. If you're interested, there's an optional evening tour through Bangkok's food scene and night spots, so you can check out the city's culinary side if the energy's there.
Optional Activities
- Tuk Tuk Foodie Tour including snacks and visit to Wat Suthat
- Relaxing drink in a secret bar
Landmarks Wat Suthat - Day 3
Bangkok
Today you'll spend time in Bangkok's busy streets. You'll take the skytrain and ferry to reach the historic center, then see the Grand Palace, Wat Pho with its reclining Buddha, and the Temple of Dawn. Before wrapping up, you'll walk through Sanam Chai metro station and check out its royal palace-inspired design.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Grand Palace
- Visit Wat Pho with reclining Buddha statue
- Visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
- Explore Sanam Chai metro station
- Skytrain and ferry transportation included
Landmarks Grand Palace Wat Pho Wat Arun Sanam Chai metro station - Day 4
Bangkok to Ayutthaya to Northern Thailand
After breakfast, you head to Ayutthaya and visit the Koh Kerd community to learn about sustainable living. Later you'll walk through the old temple ruins that show what the former Siamese kingdom looked like, then take a boat along the river. By evening, you board a night train heading north.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Koh Kerd community
- Explore temple ruins in Ayutthaya
- Boat trip on the river in Ayutthaya
- Night train journey
Landmarks Ayutthaya 
- Day 5
Chiang Mai
You arrive in Chiang Mai and get to know the historic old town. There's time to wander through local markets and visit temples like Wat Chiang Man and Wat Chedi Luang. Your afternoon's free for a Thai massage or whatever else appeals to you, and you can pick what you'd like to do in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore historic old town of Chiang Mai
- Visit local markets
- Visit Wat Chiang Man
- Visit Wat Chedi Luang
Optional Activities
- Relaxing Thai massage
- Evening Vespa tour through Chiang Mai streets with English-speaking guide
- Culinary exploration of Chiang Mai's diverse dining scene with live music
- Traditional dinner with a Thai family including home-grown vegetables and local music
Landmarks Wat Chiang Man Wat Chedi Luang - Day 6
Chiang Mai
You'll visit Wat Ton Kwen and have the option to join a meditation and alms ceremony. Then you head to Hang Dong to meet Mr. Prapat's family, see their place, learn traditional handicraft skills, and cook Thai lunch together. After that, you explore the surrounding area before heading back to Chiang Mai.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Thai lunch prepared together with family)
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Ton Kwen
- Attend alms ceremony
- Visit Mr. Prapat's family in Hang Dong
- Learn traditional handicraft techniques
- Cook Thai lunch with family
- Explore surrounding area
Optional Activities
- Meditation at Wat Ton Kwen
Landmarks Wat Ton Kwen - Day 7
Chiang Mai to Golden Triangle
You leave Chiang Mai toward the Golden Triangle. First stop is Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, where the modern design shows detailed scenes of heaven and hell. From there you continue to the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet for great views of the landscape and the border river, ending with a stop at the opium hall.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
- Visit Golden Triangle
- Visit opium hall
Landmarks Wat Rong Khun Golden Triangle - Day 8
Golden Triangle to Pakbeng (Mekong Cruise)
After border formalities, you board a ship for your Mekong River cruise. You'll stop at a hill tribe settlement and have lunch while the boat moves along the river. By late afternoon, you reach Pakbeng and check into your lodge for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious buffet lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit hill tribe settlement
- Mekong River cruise
- Buffet lunch on the ship
- Day 9
Pakbeng to Luang Prabang (Mekong Cruise)
The Mekong River cruise continues with nice scenery all around. You stop in a local village to see how rice wine gets made, then visit the Pak-Ou Caves with thousands of Buddha statues. Later that evening you arrive in Luang Prabang.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- River cruise on Mekong
- Visit local village
- Learn rice wine production
- Visit Pak-Ou Caves
Landmarks Pak-Ou Caves 
- Day 10
Luang Prabang
Your morning starts with Buddhist almsgiving in a local village, so you get to see a spiritual practice that's been going on for centuries. After that, you explore the old town's temples like Wat Xieng Thong, then visit the former royal palace which is now a museum. You finish by climbing Mount Phou Si for views and checking out the night market.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Buddhist almsgiving ceremony in traditional village
- Explore historic old town
- Visit Wat Xieng Thong
- Visit former royal palace (national museum)
- Visit Mount Phou Si
- Explore night market
Landmarks Wat Xieng Thong Mount Phou Si - Day 11
Luang Prabang
You start at the Traditional Arts and Ethnicity Center to learn about Laos's different ethnic groups and their ways. Then you head to Kuang Si waterfalls where you can swim in the turquoise pools and hike around the forest. Later there's a picnic with local food, and you visit the Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm for ice cream. Back in the city by late afternoon, you can optionally join a Bamboo Experience workshop if interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic with local cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center
- Visit Kuang Si waterfalls
- Picnic with local cuisine
- Visit Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm
- Enjoy ice cream at Buffalo Dairy Farm
Optional Activities
- Bamboo Experience workshop including dinner (weaving, cooking, and learning about Lao culture)
Landmarks Kuang Si waterfalls Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm - Day 12
Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng
You take a modern train from Luang Prabang toward Vang Vieng and the karst mountains. In the afternoon, you go through rice fields to Tham Pou Kham Cave, which goes 100 meters underground, so you can explore the huge cave and swim in the spring-fed pool. After that, you visit Tham Chang Cave high in the cliffs where you'll see stalagmites and stalactites and get nice views over the farms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train journey to Vang Vieng
- Visit Tham Pou Kham Cave
- Swim in spring-fed waterhole at Tham Pou Kham
- Visit Tham Chang Cave
- Swim in natural pool at Tham Chang Cave
Landmarks Tham Pou Kham Cave Tham Chang Cave 
- Day 13
Vang Vieng
The day starts with a boat trip on the Nam Song River past impressive limestone cliffs, and you can jump in the water if you want. You visit a Khmu village where a craftsman shows traditional knife-making and lets you try it. Then you're invited to a family for traditional lunch where you learn about their beliefs. Later you hike through rice fields to a cave, then have free time to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch with Khmu family)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Nam Song River
- Visit local Khmu village
- Meet traditional knife maker
- Traditional lunch with Khmu family
- Learn about animism
- Hike through rice fields to cave
- Observe farmers at work
Optional Activities
- Refreshing dip in Nam Song River
Landmarks Nam Song River - Day 14
Vang Vieng to Vientiane
You arrive in Vientiane and check out the city's main religious and historical sites. You'll see temples like Wat Sisaket and Wat Phra Keo, walk past the Presidential Palace and Patuxay Monument, and view the That Luang stupa before you head to Thailand.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Sisaket
- Visit Wat Phra Keo
- See Presidential Palace
- See Patuxay Monument
- Visit That Luang stupa
Landmarks Wat Sisaket Wat Phra Keo Patuxay Monument That Luang stupa - Day 15
Vientiane to Udon Thani to Bangkok
After breakfast, you drive to Baan Chiang, a UNESCO site in Udon Thani with settlements going back 5,600 years. You see the pottery and artifacts that came from excavations. Then you go to Ban Non Kok to visit a community and watch people weaving red lotus silk fabric. By evening, you board a night train back to Bangkok.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Baan Chiang archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Ban Non Kok community center
- Observe traditional weaving techniques
- Night train to Bangkok
Landmarks Baan Chiang - Day 16
Bangkok
You reach Krung Thep station early morning. Until 2 pm check-in, you can join an excursion to Bang Krachao or plan your own time. The Bang Kor Bua option includes natural dyeing, canal cleanup, planting palm trees, wrapping lotus leaves, and making herbal compress, plus lunch. Otherwise, book early check-in and explore however you like. Later you gather for dinner to talk about what you've seen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner together reviewing impressions of the journey)
Included Activities
- Early breakfast upon arrival
Optional Activities
- Sustainability in action: Bang Kor Bua community activities (natural dyeing workshop, garbage collection by boat, planting palm trees, wrapping sacred lotus leaves, making Thai herbal compress balls, lunch included)
- Early check-in (per room)
- Day 17
Departure
Your trip winds down after all these experiences. You can either extend with beach time on one of Thailand's islands or fly home, arriving back at your airport the same day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend trip with beach holiday on Thailand's beaches
