- -Overnight cruise in Halong Bay
- -Overnight train to Hoi An (via Danang)
- -Overnight train to Nha Trang
- -Overnight train to Ho Chi Minh City
- -Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- -Visit Ho Chi Minh City War Remnants Museum
- -Tour of Killing Fields and S21 Museum in Phnom Penh
- -Full-day tour of Angkor Wat temple complex
- -Half-day tour to Mae Klong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- -Overnight public bus and ferry to Koh Tao
- -Overnight stay at Cheow Lan Lake, including longtail boat trip, kayaking, trekking and Nam Talu Cave visit
Your dream trip starts here
Get Social: Big Southeast Asia
Trip overview
TRIP VIBE = fast-paced fun with tons of socialising, bucket-list sights and good times all round. Eye-popping sights. Paradisical beaches. Mad-crazy cities. Tasty AF food. Calling this corner of the world epic would be an understatement. And why waste time choosing one Southeast Asian country when you can see three? We’re going big (and we mean REAL big) with this jam-packed adventure full of fun, culture and all-round good times. Ready for the most in-CREDIBLE month of your life? We’re waiting.
Worth noting…
FYI if you’re departing on 26 Oct 2024, you’ll be cruising overnight in Halong Bay on Day 2 instead. Day 3 will be spent exploring Hanoi.
Wanna experience Koh Phangan’s legendary Full Moon Party? Grab a space on our 26 Oct 2024 or 22 Mar 2025 departures. You'll even get a one-way transfer to the party included. Nice!
Tales from Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
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Hanoi (Vietnam)
1Blaring horns. French Colonial buildings. Picturesque lakes. And the smell of incense in the air. Welcome to historic Hanoi! We’ll be kicking off the fun in Vietnam’s second-biggest city. Say xin chao (sin chow) to your travel buddies and then head to a local eatery to gorge on goodies like bánh mì, pho, spring rolls and egg coffee – trust us, it’s tasty. Then: make a beeline for Bai Hoi (aka Beer Corner). No need to guess how this place got its name. Pull up a roadside stool and get to know your crew a bit better over a few cold ones. This is gonna be good.
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Meals
- Dinner
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Meals
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Hanoi
2Ready to dive into this incredible city? We thought so. Slip on the Birks, grab your new travel BFFs and start exploring. Tick off the likes of One Pillar Pagoda, Lenin Park, Northern Gate, Cua Bac Church, B52 Lake and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. If you’d prefer to see the sights on two wheels, jump on our optional vintage Vespa guided tour. Cruise through Hanoi’s buzzing streets and alongside railway tracks, stopping off at local markets and tranquil temples. Need some new threads? There’s also a trip to Van Phuc Silk Village on the cards where you’ll enjoy a masterclass in silk weaving. Tonight: fill your belly with more local treats during an optional evening street food tour. How many spring rolls is too many spring rolls? Asking for a friend.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Vespa tour of Hanoi: from 2,010,000 VND
- Evening street food tour in Hanoi: from 891,000 VND
- Visit Van Phuc Silk Village and the Silk Collage workshop: from 891,000 VND
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Meals
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Hanoi – Halong Bay
3Halong Bay: World Heritage Site. The jewel in Vietnam’s crown. One of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’. Whichever way you look at it, Halong Bay is pretty damn special. So, today we’re gonna do it justice with an overnight cruise. Spend the day back-flipping off the boat into glittering turquoise water, exploring limestone islands by kayak or chilling with your travel buds. Finish off the day with cocktails at sunset up on deck. Did somebody say Happy Hour?
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Activities
- Overnight cruise in Halong Bay
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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Activities
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Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hoi An
4Head feeling a little sore today? A hearty brunch with your crew will sort you right out. Then: we’re dropping anchor and heading for Hanoi station. Why? Because we’ll be moving on to ancient Hoi An the traditional way – by overnight train! This is your chance to catch up on some zzzs and swap tales with your trip mates. Shotgun the top bunk!
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Activities
- Overnight train to Hoi An (via Da Nang)
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Hoi An
5Hop off the train and wave goodbye to the locals. After a short drive from Da Nang, prepare to be SERIOUSLY charmed by the lantern-filled city of Hoi An. This stunner is a patchwork of all the civilisations that have left their imprint here. Expect: rustic Chinese shophouses, multi-coloured French Colonial villas, and one helluva spectacular Japanese bridge. Need help discovering this gem of a place? We got you. Soak up views of Hoi An''s beaut coco palm forest on an optional sunset basket boat adventure along the river. Or opt for a local basket boat ride and a cooking class – your mad new gastro skills are sure to impress the Hinge matches back home. Tonight, we’ll have free time to explore the magic of Hoi An Old Town and enjoy a few cocktails along the riverfront. This is what you came for.
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Your Options
- Sunset basket boat experience in Hoi An: from 974,000 VND
- Cam Thanh cooking class and basket boat ride in Hoi An: from 1,000,000 VND
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Your Options
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Hoi An
6You wanted more free time to explore. So, here it is. Need some suggestions? Explore the buzzing Central Market. Get a custom piece made by the city’s famous tailors. Or dive a little deeper to the hidden beauty spots that makes Vietnam hit different on a day tour of Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge. Think: cable cars, flower gardens, bridge strolls, views for days and delish local eats. And tonight? There’s an evening street food tour to sink your teeth into. Cue = stuffing your face with local bites like white rose (dumplings) and banh xeo (crispy pancakes filled with shrimp and beansprouts).
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge day tour with lunch in Hoi An: from 3,549,000 VND
- Evening street food tour in Hoi An: from 891,000 VND
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Meals
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Hoi An – Nha Trang
7Fallen in love with Hoi An? You’ve got another morning to tick off any activities you didn’t quite fit in yesterday. Get any final alterations on your new ‘fit. Or gather the gang for one last lunch at a local eatery in the Old Town. This afternoon, we’ll make tracks back to Da Nang to catch our second overnight train of the trip. Ear plugs? Tick. Pillowcase? Tick. Snacks? Tick. You know the drill.
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Activities
- Overnight train to Nha Trang
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Nha Trang
8Second overnight train = completed. Grab some brekkie at a local café before exploring this beaut coastal city. Nha Trang is Vietnam’s diving capital – but it’s not just underwater marvels that you’ve got to look forward to. Need some recs? Soak up the city’s top sights on an optional guided tour followed by a visit to one of the city’s famous mud baths. Or get horizontal lying on paradisical white-sand beaches during a full-day tour of Nha Trang’s nearby islands. Can’t get enough of Vietnamese grub? There’s also an evening cycle and street food tour on offer. Tonight, show off your best moves at a beach party. This is livin’.
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Your Options
- Half-day Nha Trang city tour with mud bath visit: from 2,175,000 VND
- Cycle and street food tour of Nha Trang: from 1,815,000 VND
- Full-day islands tour from Nha Trang: from 3,375,000 VND
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Your Options
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Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City
9Feeling sleepy after last night’s shenanigans? Grab your travel buddies and hit Nha Trang Beach for some sunshine, swimming and snoozing. Or tick off the city’s best hiking trails. Your Trip Leader has heaps of food recs for when you get peckish. Then, pack up your bags ‘cos we’re making tracks for Ho Chi Minh City. By overnight train, obvs.
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Activities
- Overnight train to Ho Chi Minh City
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Ho Chi Minh City
10Home to nearly 9 million people, HCMC is a bubbling pot of energy, excitement and hidden gems. Hop off the train and start exploring. Wanna pull on your history hat? Let’s start with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Surrounded by jungle that was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong, take a guided tour of the area and learn all about how this underground network was used by guerilla fighters during the Vietnam War. Then, we’ll visit the sobering War Remnants Museum to learn more about a key part of modern Vietnamese history. Afterwards: shop for bargains at the massive Ben Thanh Market or sip beer and soak up epic scenes from Saigon SkyView – the top floor of Vietnam’s tallest building.
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Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Visit Ho Chi Minh City War Remnants Museum
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Your Options
- Visit Saigon SkyView with beer tasting: from 2,365,000 VND
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Activities
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Ho Chi Minh City
11Today = options. First up, an optional motorbike tour up for grabs. Soak up allll the city’s highlights on two wheels, including Saigon Central Post Office (designed by the same guy as the Eiffel Tower), Dong Khoi Street and Gia Long Palace. Or visit the ''rice bowl’ of Vietnam: the Mekong Delta. Evening plans? Easy. Grab the whole group for dinner and drinks at a rooftop restaurant. Or get lost in the streets and find yourself along the way.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Motorbike tour of Ho Chi Minh City: from 1,797,000 VND
- Visit Mekong Delta: from 4,349,714 VND
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Meals
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Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
12No cap, today’s a bit of a drive day. We’ll be swapping one capital city for another as we make tracks to Phnom Penh. Keep your forehead pressed to the window as we whizz past some of Cambodia’s most idyllic rural scenes. When we roll into Phnom Penh, you’ll have a few hours to relax. Then, dinner’s on you tonight. Dishes to look out for: amok trey (coconut fish curry), green mango salad, and steamed pork buns. You might wanna wear your elasticated trousers. Just saying.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
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Phnom Penh
13Warning: today’s set to be an emotional rollercoaster. We’ll begin with a sobering visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which documents the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge during their ‘revolution’. Then, head just beyond the city limits to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. There’s a lot to take in, but learning about this devastating period of the country’s history is important to fully understand modern Cambodia. Afternoon plans? Completely up to you. Check out the city’s beaut temples (there’s a guided tour of Phnom Penh Temple up for grabs) or visit a local brewery (craft beer is having a bit of a thing in Phnom Penh right now). You could also quiz your expert Trip Leader on the best bargains to sniff out at the iconic art deco Central Market. Then, the evening’s yours to sample some sizzling street food along Sihanouk Boulevard. And if cocktails are your thing, join an optional tour where you’ll taste allll the flavours of Phnom Penh.
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Activities
- Tour of Killing Fields and S21 Museum in Phnom Penh
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Afternoon tour of Phnom Penh Temple: from 87 USD
- Evening cocktail tour in Phnom Penh: from 76 USD
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Activities
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Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
14Stock up on snacks and dig out that inflatable neck pillow. Today’s a big travel day as we swap Phnom Penh for Siem Reap. When we arrive, you’ll have some free time to settle in and get your bearings. Wanna do some good? There’s an optional half-day tour around some local social enterprises. Learn about a range of awesome projects that are helping make Cambodia a better place. Later, there’s an evening under the big top with the Cambodian Circus on offer. Then, immerse yourself in the neon jungle that is Angkor Night Market or experience the crazy of Pub Street. Go steady – tomorrow is packed with memory-makers that you’re not gonna want to miss.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Social enterprise tour in Siem Reap: from 82 USD
- Evening at the Phare Circus: from 39 USD
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Meals
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Siem Reap
15Ready for a real-life temple run? This is it. First up: we’ll explore the Angkor Thom complex with our local guide. Venture through statue-lined South Gate, the intricately decorated Bayon Temple and check out the Elephant Terrace. Then it’s onto Ta Prohm – a ruin filled with crumbling towers and overgrown tree roots. Think: Tomb Raider. Refuel and rehydrate – next we’re headed for Angkor Wat temple. The biggest temple complex in the world, ‘otherworldly’ doesn’t even come close to describing this place. Once you’re all temple-d out, there’s a couple of optional activities up for grabs. Go on a quad bike and ride into the sunset. Or eat allll the street eats on an evening tour. Think: family-run restaurants. Authentic foods. Bustling markets. Fried tarantulas and crunchy crickets if you’re brave enough.
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Activities
- Full-day tour of Angkor Wat temple complex
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Sunset quad bike tour of Siem Reap: from 45 USD
- Evening street food tour in Siem Reap: from 39 USD
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Activities
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Siem Reap – Bangkok (Thailand)
16Today, we’ll be up bright and early to begin our journey to Bangkok – Thailand’s high-energy, temple-filled, market-brimming, food-loving capital. Bus essentials: snacks, ear pods, a comfy ‘fit. When we hit Thai soil, there’s a street food tour you can join. Transport? Tuktuk. Bit smaller than the bus, but it’s got big city energy. This evening is yours for the taking. Ask your Trip leader for dinner recs. Early disclosure: chawp pet noi (chop–pet-noy) is a phrase some of you will need to remember – meaning you like things ‘a little bit spicy’. Best used when ordering food.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Tuktuk street food tour in Bangkok: from 68 USD
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Meals
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Bangkok
17Ready to explore one of Asia’s most action-packed cities? Experience local life on an optional bike tour around Bangkok’s historic centre. Or join a tour that takes you through the quiet back alleys and see the REAL Bangkok. We’re talking local neighbourhoods, temples, restaurants, markets and MORE – with a delish lunch and an expert guide thrown in the mix too. Later, grab dessert at the Chinatown Market. Or catch up with your group over a few cocktails at a rooftop bar with epic views of Bangkok’s neon-lit streets.
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Your Options
- Historic Bangkok bike tour: from 49 USD
- Through the lanes tour of Bangkok with a local guide: from 102 USD
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Your Options
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Bangkok
18Want more free time to explore Bangkok? Wish granted. Practice your foot jabs and switch kicks in a Muay Thai boxing class. Or get your fill of jaw-dropping, can’t-believe-this-is-real, ICONIC sights on a tour of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Afterwards, the evening is yours for the taking. The city’s night markets are a VIBE. Our picks? Jodd Fairs (for bar hopping) or Chang Chui Plane Market (it has a slide, ‘nuff said).
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Your Options
- Muay Thai boxing class in Bangkok: from 104 USD
- Tour of Grand Palace and Wat Pho: from 53 USD
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Your Options
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Bangkok – Koh Tao
19Stuff those souvenirs into your suitcase and say goodbye to the locals. Today, we’re making a beeline for the INCREDible island of Koh Tao. First though, a duo of awesome markets. Arrive at Mae Klong Railway Market just in time to see the locals pack up their stalls and make way for the train (yep, an actual train) to pass through. Next up: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This colourful maze of canals (khlongs in the local lingo) is the place to pick up everything from fragrant spices to cool artwork. Afterwards, board the bus, recline your seat and get comfy. When you wake up, we’ll (almost) be in Koh Tao.
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Activities
- Half-day tour to Mae Klong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Overnight public bus and ferry to Koh Tao
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Activities
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Koh Tao
20All aboard, sailors! After a quick ferry ride, we’ll arrive in Koh Tao. Think: lush rainforest, gleaming white beaches (sunnies essential) and turquoise water so dreamy even the Little Mermaid would want to stay there. AND you’ve got the afternoon to explore it all. Need a suggestion? Head to a couple of beaut viewpoints to see this place from a different angle – take a min to breathe it allll in, then grab the photos that’ll make everyone back home real jel. Tonight? Grab the gang and head to your nearest beach for fruity mocktails, convos, and general good times.
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Your Options
- Visit Koh Tao viewpoints: from 68 USD
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Your Options
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Koh Tao
21Fancy a free day in the sunshine? Course you do. Today, Koh Tao is your oyster – whether you want to laze around on the sand or dive into some pretttty awesome activities. Make friends with the local sea turtles during an optional snorkelling trip around Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Nangyuan. Or park yourself at the nearest beach club for an afternoon of swimming and sippin’ on fruity cocktails. THIS is what you came for.
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Your Options
- Snorkelling trip around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: from 39 USD
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Your Options
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Koh Tao – Koh Phangan
22Ready for another day in paradise? Hell. Yes. Today, we’ll be swapping one beaut island for another as we hop across to Koh Phangan. You’ve got over 48 hours to experience it ALL. Need some recs? Your in-the-know Trip Leader’s got them by the bucketload. First on their list? Levelling up those hands-on skills at an optional Thai cooking class. This evening: track down a beachside stall selling sizzling satay skewers and end the day on a high.
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Your Options
- Thai cooking class: from 79 USD
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Your Options
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Koh Phangan
23Today is totally up to you – but we’ve got the inside scoop, obvs. Jump in a longtail boat and get ready for an optional underwater adventure around three stunning snorkelling spots. Or channel your inner eco-warrior with an optional tour of a local sustainable farm. Stroll around lush gardens, learn about habitat restoration and make your own drink out of Mother Nature’s bounty. Tonight, round up your trip mates and tuck into satay, spicy soup and shrimp salad. Sparkling convo = guaranteed.
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Your Options
- Longtail boat snorkel trip from Koh Phangan: from 71 USD
- Visit to eco-learning farm: from 30 USD
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Your Options
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Koh Phangan – Khao Sok National Park
24Say lah gorn to the locals: this morning we’re heading to Khao Sok National Park. After we’ve checked into our hostel and soaked up some serious tropical vibes, the rest of the afternoon is yours. Want recs? We got you. Get your hike on around this stunner of a park to spot the resident wildlife – it’s like being dropped straight into The Jungle Book. Or grab your mates and shimmy your way down to the pool for happy hour. Bliss.
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Khao Sok National Park
25Tums filled with another tropical fruit-laden breakfast, today we’ve got the super-stunning Cheow Lan Lake in our sights. Not to boast, but this lake is big (like, REALLY big), with magical limestone cliffs and beaut islands galore. Time to activate explorer mode and get out there! Dive into the crystal-clear water and make BFFs (or not) with the local fish. Jump in a kayak and weave around the ultra-dramatic rock formations. And channel your inner Indiana Jones to discover Nam Talu Cave and the glittering hidden waterfalls. Lunch and dinner are on us today, so expect more drool-worthy, rainbow-coloured dishes of dreams. And tonight? We’re hunkering down in a traditional raft house bobbing along the twinkling lake. Sweet dreams.
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Activities
- Overnight stay at Cheow Lan Lake, including longtail boat trip, kayaking, trekking and Nam Talu Cave visit
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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Activities
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Khao Sok National Park – Phuket
26Truth bomb: today is a bit of a drive day. We’ll be making tracks for Phuket via land and sea, so stock up on local snacks, soak up the tropical views, and put the lingo skills of your travel buds to the test. Crazy-gorgeous beaches. Lip-smacking eats – try ’em out on a local food tour that includes a cheeky visit to a traditional barber shop. And a fascinating fusion of cultures and traditions. Phuket sure packs a punch. Tonight, head up Khao Rang viewpoint and check out this dazzling island under a blanket of stars. Dreamy.
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Your Options
- Local food tour with barber visit in Phuket: from 68 USD
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Meals
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Phuket – Phi Phi Islands – Phuket
27Bad news = it’s our last day in paradise. Good news = we’ve got incred options lined up. First up, a day trip speedboating around the Phi Phi Islands for more emerald waters and mind-blowing scenery. Next, a hot yoga class back in Phuket. Getting extra wet or extra sticky not your vibe? There are golden beaches to lounge on, plus a huge white marble Buddha statue you can (slowly) climb up to for amazing island views. Tonight? Settle in for our final group dinner. WHAT an adventure it’s been.
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Your Options
- Full-day Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour: from 108 USD
- Kata hot yoga class in Phuket: from 73 USD
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Meals
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Phuket
28Four weeks of non-stop fun? Completed. You embraced it all and shared the ride with a bunch of strangers who are now like family. Now, all that’s left to do is to swap insta handles – you’ll need them for next year’s reunion trip, obvs.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
Your Inclusions
Activities
Accommodation
-17 nights in hostels, 5 nights in hotel-style accommodation (twin or double), 3 nights on overnight trains, 1 night on an overnight cruise, 1 night on a public overnight bus
Transport
Overnight train, overnight cruise, local boat and private vehicle
Your Options
FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
-Vespa tour of Hanoi: from 2,010,000 VND
-Evening street food tour in Hanoi: from 891,000 VND
-Visit Van Phuc Silk Village and the Silk Collage workshop: from 891,000 VND
-Sunset basket boat experience in Hoi An: from 974,000 VND
-Cam Thanh cooking class and basket boat ride in Hoi An: from 1,000,000 VND
-Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge day tour with lunch in Hoi An: from 3,549,000 VND
-Evening street food tour in Hoi An: from 891,000 VND
-Half-day Nha Trang city tour with mud bath visit: from 2,175,000 VND
-Cycle and street food tour of Nha Trang: from 1,815,000 VND
-Full-day islands tour from Nha Trang: from 3,375,000 VND
-Visit Saigon SkyView with beer tasting: from 2,365,000 VND
-Motorbike tour of Ho Chi Minh City: from 1,797,000 VND
-Visit Mekong Delta: from 4,349,714 VND
-Afternoon tour of Phnom Penh Temple: from 87 USD
-Evening cocktail tour in Phnom Penh: from 76 USD
-Social enterprise tour in Siem Reap: from 82 USD
-Evening at the Phare Circus: from 39 USD
-Sunset quad bike tour of Siem Reap: from 45 USD
-Evening street food tour in Siem Reap: from 39 USD
-Tuktuk street food tour in Bangkok: from 68 USD
-Historic Bangkok bike tour: from 49 USD
-Through the lanes tour of Bangkok with a local guide: from 102 USD
-Muay Thai boxing class in Bangkok: from 104 USD
-Tour of Grand Palace and Wat Pho: from 53 USD
-Visit Koh Tao viewpoints: from 68 USD
-Snorkelling trip around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: from 39 USD
-Thai cooking class: from 79 USD
-Longtail boat snorkel trip from Koh Phangan: from 71 USD
-Visit to eco-learning farm: from 30 USD
-Local food tour with barber visit in Phuket: from 68 USD
-Full-day Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour: from 108 USD
-Kata hot yoga class in Phuket: from 73 USD
Other information
Overnight trains
On this trip you’ll be travelling like a local – including hopping on three overnight trains. You’ll be sharing a cabin with a few of your trip mates, too. The trains can be a bit basic, so you might wanna bring your own pillowcase.
Overnight bus
You’ll spend one night on an overnight bus. These are public buses with basic facilities, but you’ll get a comfy seat that reclines for snoozing.
Views & reviews
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