Thailand and Laos Group Tour

Day 1 – Bangkok, Thailand:

Welcome to Bangkok! To start off your Dragon Trip and Thailand and Laos group tour, you will meet your Adventure Leader and the rest of your group at the hostel around 5pm. You’ll have a briefing and get to know your travel companions. After this, you’ll head straight to the station to board your night train to Chiang Mai – your train will depart at 8.05pm from the station, so don’t be late!

Day 2 – Chiang Mai, Thailand:

You’ll wake up to Northern Thailand’s stunning scenery as your train passes through the mountains before arriving in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is 700 years old and has an Old City which possesses original parts of walls and moats from its history as a religious hub, meaning it’s home to hundreds of stunning Buddhist temples.

You will spend the morning at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, an ecotourism project set-up by The Karen Hilltribes Trust. This is where you will feed, walk, wash and learn about these elephants. This is one of the main highlights of Chiang Mai, so enjoy!

After, you will head to a homestay and enjoy some dinner cooked by the locals. You will spend the evening at a local house.

Day 3 – Chiang Mai, Thailand:

Wake up and head out on a jungle trek to a local hill tribe village. Here, you can gain an insight into this unique way of life and experience the authentic side of Northern Thailand.

In the evening, you have the option to learn how to cook authentic Thai dishes. Or, if you want to experience traditional Thai entertainment, you can watch a Muay Thai Boxing Show and cheer on the fighters!

Day 4 – Chiang Mai, Thailand:

Today, you’ll either hop on a songthaew to Wat Doi Suthep, a Buddhist temple located in the mountains, or join in on an opportunity to chat with a Buddhist Monk. Then, you’ll head back to the hostel where you can take some time to enjoy a spot of lunch. 

After lunch, you will be driven by songthaew to a stunning limestone waterfall, famous for its unusual face. After your hike here, you’ll visit Wat Ban Den before heading back to the hostel. In the evening, you can visit ‘Zoe in Yellow’ – one of Chiang Mai’s most iconic bars.

Day 5 – Chiang Mai, Thailand:

Today you have the option to either explore the city’s dozens of temples and cultural delights. For the thrill-seekers amongst you, there’s the option to get your adrenaline pumping by trekking, driving a quad bike, or going rafting down the Mae Taeng River. 

For your last night in Chiang Mai, why not explore the vibrant famous night market, complete with souvenirs and street food? 

Day 6 – Luang Prabang, Laos

The adventure tour moves on to Laos! Today, fly to Luang Prabang. Upon on arrival you will transfer to your hostel and sit down for an optional group dinner. Afterwards, why not pay a visit to Hmong Night Market, a venue for traditional music, crafts and food.

Alternatively, you can opt for a truly unique experience and head to a traditional house to have dinner prepared by a local. They’ll welcome you with a drink, and you’ll then attend a Baci ceremony – a tradition of the Lao people, this ritual is performed before special events to bring luck. After this, you’ll be treated to a meal of delicious Lao food.

Day 7 – Luang Prabang, Laos

This morning you can either opt to have a lie-in or witness the must-see Takbat Lao Ceremony, a Buddhist ceremony. This morning ritual is a collection of food for monks, where they receive food from the locals and tourists.

Afterwards, there are a number of options for how you spend your day.

• You can choose to spend the rest of the morning at the Big Brother Mouse volunteering program, interacting with local children who are learning English and developing your understanding of Laos’s culture.
• You can learn about ‘the farm to table process’ of making rice at the Rice Experience farm. Here, they farm rice the traditional way, as well as maintain an organic garden and running a cooking school.
• You can attend a cooking experience nearby – you’ll be picked up, taken to the local wet market to grab ingredients, and then taken to a class where you’ll have the chance to prepare and eat traditional Lao food.
• Finally, you can opt to join a bicycle tour which will help you explore the area. You’ll end up at a local pottery which makes jars, and you’ll even get the chance to learn how to make them yourself!

Spend the afternoon at the impressive Kuang Si Falls, made up of three tiers, located in the Luang Prabang area. The falls begin with shallow pools – so, jump in and prepare to have lots of fun! These waterfalls are a favourite attraction for tourists in Luang Prabang.

This evening is yours to spend how you’d like – why not visit the Old Town?

Day 8 – Luang Prabang, Laos

Take part in an optional visit to Ban Xanghai village, a place famous for its whisky and rice wine. Afterwards, hop on a boat and sail down the Mekong River to explore the historic Pak Ou Caves filled with over 400 Buddha statues – you’ll stop for lunch at a delicious local restaurant outside the caves.

On your way back to the hostel stop off at Mt Phousi and soak up the golden hues as the sun sets behind the mountains.

Day 9 – Vang Vieng, Laos

In the morning, it’s time to make your way to Vang Vieng, a small town in central Laos. Head straight to the Blue Lagoon where you can swim in the refreshing waters. This is the perfect way to escape from the heat and humid weather. Bring your waterproof camera if you have one!

Later, you will transfer to the hostel, where you can a free evening to relax, grab a drink in one of the many riverside bars or find a nearby party.

Day 10 – Vang Vieng, Laos

Today, you’ll have the option to try your hand at rock climbing or take a biking tour of the area, followed by a hike up to Pha Ngern Viewpoint for breath-taking views. It will take about half an hour to hike to the lower viewpoint where you will be greeted with a stunning view. You can also hike up an additional 500 meters, to reach the highest viewpoint with a much better view.

For a different viewpoint of Vang Vieng’s limestone mountains, drift down the Mekong River in a rubber tube, stopping along the way to admire the views. Tubing in Vang Vieng has long been a backpacking right of passage in Laos and while the bars are no longer as boozy, it’s still a must-do activity.

Enjoy some free time in the evening to further explore the wonders Vang Vieng at night.

Day 11 – Hanoi, Vietnam:

In the morning, you will take a bus to the airport and fly out to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi is the big bustling capital of Vietnam’s north and it’s known for its narrow streets, French architecture, rich culture and incredible street food. After checking into the hostel at around 6.30pm, if you’re not too tired, join in the free bar crawl, which heads out around the city’s Old Quarter. If you’re hungry, you don’t have to go too far. Street food sellers line the pavements in the evening and the smell of pho and banh mi fills the air.

Day 12 – Hanoi, Vietnam:

Today you will visit the Hoa Lo Prison and learn about Vietnam’s history. This was a prison used by North Vietnam and the Viet Cong communists, for U.S. prisoners during the Vietnam War. After, you will head over to Hoan Kiem lake with its temple in the centre. You can walk around the lake, watching the locals play games on the wide streets built by the French in the historical centre of Hanoi.

If you’re hungry, you can grab lunch at Old Quarter Street followed by a free afternoon to explore Hanoi’s narrow streets and practise crossing the road like a local.

In your free time, you could pay a visit to the Hanoi Opera House, built by French colonial administration – you can take a look around the building for free or pay to see one of the shows on offer. If you fancy some evening entertainment, why not watch a unique Water Puppet Show?

Day 13 – Hanoi, Vietnam:

Today marks the end of your Thailand and Laos group tour. Wake up and check out of your hostel at 11am. Here, you will take the time to bid farewell to your group and either head home or continue your independent travels.

We wish you safe travels!