Laos & Thailand on a Shoestring — Self-Launched
12 days · Laos & Thailand (Hanoi to Bangkok)
G Adventures charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£403 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on G Adventures' 12-day "Laos & Thailand on a Shoestring" route, running from Hanoi through Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and the slow boat down the Mekong into northern Thailand, finishing in Bangkok. Same destinations and experiences — limestone karsts, alms-giving, Kuang Si Waterfalls, Thai cooking classes and the Chao Phraya longtail boats — but booked independently using budget guesthouses, hostels, local buses, shared minivans, the Mekong slow boat and a sleeper train. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam
Land in Hanoi and settle into a hostel in the Old Quarter. Spend the late afternoon walking Hoan Kiem Lake, then join a self-organised street food crawl — bia hoi corner, bun cha, banh mi and egg coffee. If you want the optional Tran Quoc Pagoda visit, it's a short taxi or Grab ride to the eastern shore of Tay Ho lake.
🚌Airport bus #86 to city centre (~£1.20), or Grab (~£6)
🛏Old Quarter hostel dorm (e.g. Hanoi Backpackers area)
- →Hoan Kiem Lake walk
- →Old Quarter street food crawl
- →Optional Tran Quoc Pagoda visit
Fly Hanoi to Vientiane
Vientiane, Laos
Take a short flight from Hanoi to Vientiane (the original tour flies this leg). In the afternoon explore Laos' sleepy capital on foot or by rented bicycle: Patuxai monument, the golden stupa of Pha That Luang, and the riverside night market along the Mekong.
🚌Flight Hanoi–Vientiane (~£55-80 booked ahead); airport tuk-tuk ~£3
🛏Vientiane guesthouse or hostel dorm
- →Patuxai monument
- →Pha That Luang stupa
- →Mekong riverside night market
Vientiane to Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng, Laos
Ride a local bus or shared minivan north to Vang Vieng (about 4 hours). The town sits amid dramatic limestone karsts. Check in, then head to the river for sunset and a Beerlao on a riverside deck. Options for the afternoon: hike to a viewpoint, rent a bike, or float in a tube.
🚌Local bus or shared minivan Vientiane–Vang Vieng (~£4-6)
🛏Vang Vieng hostel dorm or guesthouse
- →Limestone karst viewpoint hike
- →Riverside sunset
- →Bicycle rental
Vang Vieng free day
Vang Vieng, Laos
A full free day to explore. Cycle or tuk-tuk out to Tham Chang or Tham Phu Kham caves, swim in the blue lagoon, kayak the Nam Song, or take a hot air balloon ride if you fancy splurging. Finish the day watching the sun set over the karsts from the river.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£1.50/day; tuk-tuk to caves ~£3
🛏Vang Vieng hostel dorm or guesthouse
- →Tham Phu Kham cave & blue lagoon
- →Kayaking on the Nam Song
- →Optional hot air balloon
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, Laos
Travel north to the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang by local bus or minivan (roughly 6-7 hours through mountain roads). On arrival, get your bearings on a self-guided orientation walk of the peninsula — the royal palace, Wat Xieng Thong and the Mekong–Khan river confluence.
🚌Local bus or minivan Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang (~£8-10)
🛏Luang Prabang guesthouse or hostel dorm
- →Self-guided old town walk
- →Wat Xieng Thong
- →Mekong/Khan river confluence
Luang Prabang — alms-giving & Kuang Si
Luang Prabang, Laos
Rise early (around 5:30am) to respectfully observe or join the alms-giving to Buddhist monks along Sisavangvong Road — buy sticky rice from a vendor, keep a distance and don't photograph intrusively. Later, take a shared tuk-tuk or minivan out to the tiered, turquoise Kuang Si Waterfalls (~£5 return) and swim in the pools. In the evening, browse the Hmong night market.
🚌Shared tuk-tuk/minivan to Kuang Si (~£5 return); walking in town
🛏Luang Prabang guesthouse or hostel dorm
- →Alms-giving to monks
- →Kuang Si Waterfalls
- →Hmong night market
- →Optional Lao cooking class
Mekong slow boat to Pakbeng
Pakbeng, Laos
Board the public Mekong slow boat from Luang Prabang heading downstream — two days of scenery through jungle, limestone and riverside villages. Break the journey overnight in Pakbeng. Book a simple riverside guesthouse on arrival (they fill up, so arrive early in the day). Dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the river.
🚌Public Mekong slow boat Luang Prabang–Pakbeng (~£15-20, ~7-8 hrs)
🛏Pakbeng riverside guesthouse
- →Slow boat on the Mekong
- →Riverside village views
- →Pakbeng sunset
Pakbeng to Huay Xai & cross into Thailand
Huay Xai / Chiang Khong, Thailand
Continue on the slow boat from Pakbeng down to Huay Xai near the Thai border (~5-6 hours). Cross the Mekong by ferry to Chiang Khong, clear Thai immigration, and settle into a guesthouse on the Thai side. Evening stroll along the Mekong and a first Thai meal.
🚌Slow boat Pakbeng–Huay Xai (~£12); border ferry/immigration ~£1
🛏Chiang Khong guesthouse
- →Second day on the Mekong
- →Thailand border crossing
- →Mekong riverside evening
Chiang Khong to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Take a local bus south to Chiang Mai (roughly 5-6 hours). Check into a hostel in the old city. In the afternoon, join a self-booked Northern Thai cooking class — market trip with the teacher, then cooking a handful of regional dishes. Evening options: the Sunday Walking Street night market or a Muay Thai boxing match.
🚌Local bus Chiang Khong–Chiang Mai (~£6-8)
🛏Chiang Mai old city hostel dorm
- →Northern Thai cooking class (~£22)
- →Night market
- →Optional Muay Thai match
Chiang Mai — Doi Suthep & temples
Chiang Mai, Thailand
A free day in Chiang Mai. Take a songthaew up to Doi Suthep temple on the mountain for city views, then explore the old city's temples (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh) on foot. Afternoon optional: an ethical elephant sanctuary day trip booked via GetYourGuide or directly with the sanctuary. Evening at the night bazaar.
🚌Songthaew to Doi Suthep (~£1.50 each way); shared pickups locally
🛏Chiang Mai old city hostel dorm
- →Doi Suthep temple
- →Old city temple walk
- →Optional ethical elephant sanctuary
- →Night bazaar
Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Take the overnight sleeper train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok (book a second-class air-con berth in advance). On arrival, head to your hostel. Optional Chao Phraya longtail boat tour through the Thonburi klongs, and a visit to Wat Po to see the giant reclining Buddha. Evening: Khao San Road or a rooftop bar.
🚌Sleeper train Chiang Mai–Bangkok (~£20-28)
🛏Overnight sleeper train (1 night), then Bangkok hostel
- →Chao Phraya longtail boat (~£15 shared)
- →Wat Po reclining Buddha (£4)
- →Khao San Road
Bangkok — depart
Bangkok, Thailand
Final morning in Bangkok. Explore the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, or simply wander Chinatown for one last bowl of noodles. Depart at any time for the airport — the BTS Skytrain and Airport Rail Link make this cheap and easy.
🚌Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi (~£1) or BTS to Don Mueang
🛏None (departure day)
- →Grand Palace & Wat Arun
- →Chinatown food walk
- →Final street food stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£403 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £747 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£403
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Laos & Thailand on a Shoestring — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £403 per person for 12 days in Laos & Thailand (Hanoi to Bangkok). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £403 — a saving of roughly £747 (65%) per person.
How long is the Laos & Thailand (Hanoi to Bangkok) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Laos & Thailand (Hanoi to Bangkok).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a backpacker, budget, culture trip through Laos & Thailand (Hanoi to Bangkok), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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