Itinerary
- Day 1
Bangkok
Touch down in Bangkok and get settled at your starting hostel. At 5:00 PM you'll meet your tour leader and the group for a welcome briefing, then hop on a tuk-tuk heading to a local rooftop restaurant for dinner. After eating, you'll take another tuk-tuk tour around Bangkok's main sights before returning to the hostel around 9:00 to 9:30 PM.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local rooftop restaurant)
Included Activities
- Tuk-tuk ride to local rooftop restaurant
- Tuk-tuk tour of city's main sights
Optional Activities
- Pre-tour accommodation arrangement
- Day 2
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Start the day with an optional temple tour in Bangkok, visiting Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and the Grand Palace if you choose. The morning gives you time to see these iconic sites at a reasonable pace. In the afternoon, head to the train station for your overnight journey. You'll board around 19:45, so grab an early dinner before departure. Settle into your sleeper berth and get comfortable for the ride north to Chiang Mai.
Optional Activities
- Guided tour to Bangkok's main temples including Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and the Grand Palace (approximately 1,000 THB)
Landmarks/POIs Wat Pho Wat Arun Grand Palace - Day 3
Chiang Mai
Pull into Chiang Mai just before 9:00 AM. After getting off the train, grab breakfast to shake off the overnight travel. From there, transfer up into the hills to your homestay. Lunch is freshly prepared and waiting for you. The afternoon has you trekking for 2-3 hours through the local landscape, and there's a swimming stop at a waterfall to cool off. Back at the homestay, you'll have dinner and spend the night in a simple local house.
- Meals
- Lunch (Freshly prepared lunch at homestay), Dinner (Dinner at homestay)
Included Activities
- Jungle trek in Chiang Mai hills (approximately 2-3 hours, 4-6 km distance)
- Swimming stop at local waterfall during trek
- Lunch at homestay
- Dinner at homestay
- Day 4
Chiang Mai
Head to Chang Chill Elephant Park, an ethical sanctuary where you'll walk into the forest with a local guide to observe elephants in their natural behavior as they feed and socialize. Lunch is included at the park. By evening you're back at the hostel with options to relax or join optional activities like cooking class or a Muay Thai show.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at the elephant park)
Included Activities
- Elephant sanctuary visit at Chang Chill Elephant Park
- Forest walk with local guide to observe elephants
- Lunch at elephant park
Optional Activities
- Cooking class (approx 800 THB)
- Muay Thai show (approx 600-1,000 THB)
Landmarks/POIs Chang Chill Elephant Park - Day 5
Chiang Mai
Take a songthaew early to reach Wat Doi Suthep, where you can participate in a monk chat and learn about Buddhist practices. Explore the temple itself, which is one of Chiang Mai's most famous. The rest of your day is open, so you can relax or join an optional trip to the Sticky Waterfall if you're interested. Come evening, there's the option to head out to local bars for drinks if you're up for it.
Included Activities
- Monk chat at Wat Doi Suthep
- Visit to Wat Doi Suthep Temple
Optional Activities
- Guided tour to the Sticky Waterfall
- Evening drinks at Chiang Mai bars
Landmarks/POIs Wat Doi Suthep - Day 6
Chiang Mai
You've got the full day free in Chiang Mai to explore at your own pace. Optional activities like trekking or white water rafting are available, though you'll need to book these with your tour leader beforehand. Alternatively, head into the Old Town independently and browse the local market for street food and souvenirs.
Optional Activities
- Trekking (approx 1,400 THB)
- White water rafting (approx 2,400 THB)
- Trekking and white water rafting combined (approx 2,900 THB)
- Independent exploration of Old Town
- Local market visit
- Day 7
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Cross into Laos as you head toward Luang Prabang. Journey times shift based on your departure date, so your tour leader will give you the specifics. Once you've settled into your accommodation, the group can head out for dinner and browse the famous Hmong night market.
Optional Activities
- Group dinner
- Browse Hmong night market
Landmarks/POIs Hmong night market - Day 8
Luang Prabang
You have a choice for the morning. Either wake early to watch the Takbat Lao Ceremony, where local monks collect food around the city, or pick from other optional morning activities. In the afternoon, you'll visit Kuang Si Waterfalls with time for hiking and swimming in the pools. An optional evening includes dinner at a local home where a Baci ceremony takes place, which is a traditional blessing ritual.
Included Activities
- Visit to Kuang Si Waterfalls
- Hiking around the waterfalls
- Swimming at Kuang Si Waterfalls
Optional Activities
- Takbat Lao Ceremony sunrise viewing
- Cooking experience (approximately USD $20) including tuk-tuk pickup, visit to local wet market, welcome drink, and hands-on cooking class
- Volunteering at Big Brother Mouse local school
- Rice experience (approximately USD $36)
- Cycle ride to pottery making class (approximately USD $22)
- Dinner at local home with Baci ceremony (approximately USD $21)
Landmarks/POIs Kuang Si Waterfalls 
- Day 9
Luang Prabang
This is your free day in Luang Prabang. Wander around at your own pace and see what catches your interest. If you want something structured, there are several options available. You could try your hand at rice farming, join a cooking class that includes a local market visit, or volunteer with a community English project. It's completely up to you how to spend the day.
Optional Activities
- Rice Experience at local community farm (approximately USD $36) - learn traditional rice growing and harvesting
- Cooking Experience (approximately USD $20) - make authentic Lao dishes using ingredients from local wet market
- Volunteering with Big Brother Mouse - community project supporting local English language skills
- Day 10
Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng
Leave Luang Prabang and travel to Vang Vieng. On the way, stop at Blue Lagoon 2, a natural pool at the foot of a mountain, where you'll spend roughly 3 hours with plenty of time for swimming. You'll arrive at your Vang Vieng hostel around 5:00 PM, with the evening at leisure.
Included Activities
- Stop at Blue Lagoon 2
- Swimming at Blue Lagoon 2
Landmarks/POIs Blue Lagoon 2 
- Day 11
Vang Vieng
You've got a completely free day in Vang Vieng. Your tour leader will be leading an optional bike ride to Pha Ngern View Point, or you can try a half day rock climbing experience or tubing on your own.
Optional Activities
- Bike ride to Pha Ngern View Point (approx USD $5)
- Half day rock climbing experience (approx USD $30)
- Tubing (approx USD $6)
Landmarks/POIs Pha Ngern View Point - Day 12
Vang Vieng to Hanoi
Depart Vang Vieng around 9:00 AM and head to Vang Vieng airport. Fly to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, then take public bus 86 to the city center and your hostel. Some travelers end their tour today while others are joining. Evening features a group dinner and bar crawl to help everyone connect.
Optional Activities
- Group dinner
- Bar crawl
- Day 13
Hanoi
Start with an included visit to Hoa Lo Prison, the historic 'Hanoi Hilton,' to learn about Vietnam's complex past. Then head to Hoan Kiem Lake, a peaceful spot with a central temple surrounded by French-designed streets in Hanoi's historic district. Take a leisurely walk observing locals, then explore the nearby Old Quarter for authentic street food. Your afternoon opens up for wandering Hanoi's narrow streets. End with an optional traditional Water Puppet Show, followed by an optional group dinner for those departing tomorrow.
Included Activities
- Visit to Hoa Lo Prison
- Guided sightseeing in Hanoi including Hoan Kiem Lake
- Leisurely walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
Optional Activities
- Exploration of Old Quarter street food
- Water Puppet Show (approx 100,000 VND)
- Group dinner and drinks
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lo Prison Hoan Kiem Lake Old Quarter - Day 14
Hanoi
Your tour wraps up today. Check out is at 12:00 PM after breakfast. Post-tour accommodation and airport transfers can be arranged if you need them.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Post-tour accommodation arrangement
- Airport transfer arrangement
