Thailand & Laos

Follow the same incredible route from Chiang Mai to Vientiane — through Nan, Pua, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng — without the group tour price tag. You'll swap the guided leader for local buses, shared songthaews and a high-speed train, stay in well-reviewed guesthouses and hostels, and book activities directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. From sunset hikes at Wat Phu Si and Mekong river cruises to waterfall swims at Kuang Si and a sobering visit to COPE in Vientiane, every highlight is absolutely doable independently. Budget roughly £550–£620 all-in for the 10 days — less than half the Intrepid price. All costs are approximate estimates.

Travel Crew

~£590

Follow the same incredible route through northern Thailand and Laos — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nan, Pua, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane — without the group tour price tag. Swap the guided leader for local buses, sleeper trains, the Laos high-speed rail and public boats. All the same bucket-list experiences — Kuang Si waterfalls, Wat Phu Si sunsets, alms-giving ceremonies and Mekong cruises — self-booked at a fraction of the cost. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates (early 2025).

Travel Crew

~£545

Follow the same incredible route from Chiang Mai to Vientiane — through Nan, Pua, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng — without the group tour price tag. You'll swap the guided leader for local buses, shared songthaews and a high-speed train, stay in well-reviewed guesthouses and hostels, and book activities directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. From sunset hikes at Wat Phu Si and Mekong river cruises to waterfall swims at Kuang Si and a sobering visit to COPE in Vientiane, every highlight is absolutely doable independently. Budget roughly £550–£620 all-in for the 10 days — less than half the Intrepid price. All costs are approximate estimates.

Travel Crew

~£590

Follow the same incredible route through northern Thailand and Laos — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nan, Pua, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane — without the group tour price tag. Swap the guided leader for local buses, sleeper trains, the Laos high-speed rail and public boats. All the same bucket-list experiences — Kuang Si waterfalls, Wat Phu Si sunsets, alms-giving ceremonies and Mekong cruises — self-booked at a fraction of the cost. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates (early 2025).

Travel Crew

~£545

Three countries, one epic self-launched adventure — no group tour required. This 22-day independent route takes you from the buzzing streets of Hanoi south to the beach city of Nha Trang, across the Mekong into laid-back Laos, and finally overland into northern Thailand. You'll travel by overnight trains, local buses, and slow boats — soaking up the same riversides and railways as the commercial tour at a fraction of the price. Estimated cost is approximately £550–£620 per person, saving you over £650 compared to the operator price. All costs are approximate and based on current backpacker rates.

Travel Crew

~£590

Experience the very best of Southeast Asia — Bangkok's neon streets, the legendary Ha Giang Loop, Angkor Wat at sunrise, ethical elephant sanctuaries, and Thailand's paradise islands — all on your own terms and at a fraction of the group tour price. This self-launched itinerary follows the same route as Gap360's Southeast Asia Adventure, swapping guided group travel for local buses, trains, ferries and self-bookable activities. Accommodation is budget guesthouses and well-reviewed hostels throughout. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current backpacker rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,350

Follow the same epic Bangkok-to-Ho Chi Minh City route as Intrepid's popular 18–35s tour — hitting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nan, Pua, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba Island, Hoi An, and more — but do it entirely independently for a fraction of the price. Swap the group leader for locally booked guides and GetYourGuide activities, overnight sleeper trains for the group bus, and tour-operator accommodation markups for well-rated hostels and guesthouses. All the same bucket-list moments; far more flexibility and cash in your pocket. Costs are per-person estimates based on current backpacker rates and assume solo travel with shared dorm or budget private room options.

Travel Crew

~£950

This self-guided equivalent of Intrepid Travel's Epic South East Asia tour covers the same iconic destinations — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nan, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Cat Ba Island, Siem Reap, Koh Rong and Sambor Prei Kuk — at a fraction of the cost. Swap group tour mark-ups for local buses, trains, ferries, hostels and self-bookable activities via GetYourGuide and Klook. All costs are approximate estimates per person based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,095

Ditch the group tour price tag and do this classic Laos-to-Thailand route entirely on your own terms. From the laid-back capital of Vientiane, north through the karst paradise of Vang Vieng and the UNESCO gem of Luang Prabang, then onto the legendary two-day Mekong slow boat into Thailand, finishing in the vibrant city of Chiang Mai. Every transport link, activity and bed on this route is easily self-bookable — and you'll save a fortune doing it independently. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£363

Follow the same epic Bangkok-to-Ho Chi Minh City route as Intrepid's popular 18–35s tour — hitting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nan, Pua, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba Island, Hoi An, and more — but do it entirely independently for a fraction of the price. Swap the group leader for locally booked guides and GetYourGuide activities, overnight sleeper trains for the group bus, and tour-operator accommodation markups for well-rated hostels and guesthouses. All the same bucket-list moments; far more flexibility and cash in your pocket. Costs are per-person estimates based on current backpacker rates and assume solo travel with shared dorm or budget private room options.

Travel Crew

~£950

This self-launched equivalent of Intrepid Travel's Epic South East Asia tour covers the same iconic destinations — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nan, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Cat Ba Island, Siem Reap, Koh Rong and Sambor Prei Kuk — at a fraction of the cost. Swap group tour mark-ups for local buses, trains, ferries, hostels and self-bookable activities via GetYourGuide and Klook. All costs are approximate estimates per person based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,095

Temples, river cruises, and ancient ruins across two of Southeast Asia's most captivating countries — all at a fraction of the guided tour price. This self-launched itinerary follows the same Luang Prabang → Vientiane → Phnom Penh → Siem Reap route as the Hoi An Express group tour, swapping package markups for direct bookings, local buses, and budget-friendly guesthouses. You'll see every major sight — Angkor Wat, the Pak Ou Caves, That Luang Stupa, the Royal Palace — on your own terms, with full flexibility to linger where you love it most. All costs are approximate estimates based on current backpacker rates.

Travel Crew

~£584