Laos to Thailand: Night Markets & Mekong Cruising (Self-Launched)
11 days · Laos & Thailand
G Adventures charges £734
No-markup version: ~£470 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of G Adventures' 11-day Vientiane-to-Bangkok route — same limestone karsts, Kuang Si waterfalls, Mekong slow boat and Thai night markets, but booked piecemeal on local transport and hostel/guesthouse stays. You'll use the Laos-China high-speed railway and public buses for the Laos legs, a shared slow boat down the Mekong, a village homestay in Pak Beng, then overnight sleeper train into Bangkok. All activities are self-bookable via GetYourGuide/Klook or directly with local operators. Costs are rough per-person estimates for a budget/backpacker traveller and exclude international flights and travel insurance.
Day-by-day
Arrive Vientiane — Mekong night market
Vientiane, Laos
Land at Wattay International Airport and take a metered taxi or the airport shuttle bus (approx. £3) into the centre. Vientiane is Laos' sleepy capital and easy to walk. Settle into a hostel or guesthouse near the riverfront, then head to the Vientiane Night Market along the Mekong promenade — stalls of grilled fish, Lao sausages, sticky rice and cheap Beerlao. Wat Pha That Luang and Patuxai are walkable for sunset if you arrive early. Note: you must register the Lao immigration card online within 3 days of arrival.
🚌Airport taxi or shuttle ~£3
🛏Riverside hostel/guesthouse, Vientiane (£10 dorm / £18 private)
- →Mekong riverside night market
- →Sticky rice & street food crawl (budget £5)
- →Sunset at Patuxai (free)
Vientiane to Vang Vieng — karst country
Vang Vieng, Laos
Book the Laos-China high-speed train from Vientiane to Vang Vieng (2 days ahead via the LCR app or a guesthouse agent — ~£9, and the 20kg luggage limit applies). It's a 1-hour ride through dramatic limestone country. From Vang Vieng station, take a shared tuk-tuk (10,000 kip / ~£1) into town. In the afternoon, rent a bicycle (£3) and ride north to a riverside swimming spot — a short undemanding forest loop up to a small waterfall and natural pool. Evening is the backpacker main drag; eat at a local Lao restaurant rather than the tourist-strip Western bars until later.
🚌High-speed train Vientiane–Vang Vieng ~£9; shared tuk-tuk ~£1
🛏Vang Vieng hostel with pool (£9 dorm / £16 private)
- →Laos-China high-speed rail ride
- →Bicycle rental & waterfall swim (£3)
- →Riverside sunset
Vang Vieng free day — caves, kayaks & blue lagoons
Vang Vieng, Laos
Book a full-day kayak + cave + Blue Lagoon day directly with any of the operators on the main street or via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£22-25, includes transport, guide and kayak). You'll paddle the Song River, venture into Tham None or Tham Chang cave with a headtorch, and swing off the rope at Blue Lagoon 1 or 3 (Lagoon 3 is quieter). Alternatively, cheaper DIY: rent a bicycle (£3) and pedal to the lagoons yourself with the entrance fee (~£2). Adrenaline options like tubing or rock-climbing are bookable locally for £15-30.
🚌Included in tour or bicycle ~£3
🛏Vang Vieng hostel with pool (£9 dorm / £16 private)
- →Kayaking & Tham None cave (booked via Klook/GetYourGuide ~£23)
- →Blue Lagoon swim
- →Optional tubing (£5)
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang — Phousi sunset
Luang Prabang, Laos
Take the high-speed train on to Luang Prabang (~£7, about an hour) or, if you prefer the scenic route, the VIP bus (~£12, 6-7 hours). Check in at a guesthouse in the old town peninsula. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided old-town walk: Wat Xieng Thong, the Royal Palace Museum and the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre. Around 4.30pm climb Mount Phousi (20,000 kip / ~£1.60) for the 360° sunset over the Mekong. Then join the nightly Sisavangvong night market street food alley: Lao BBQ skewers, khao soi noodles and coconut pancakes for under £5.
🚌High-speed train Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang ~£7; tuk-tuk ~£2
🛏Luang Prabang old-town guesthouse (£12 dorm / £22 private)
- →Wat Xieng Thong & TAEC museum (~£3)
- →Mount Phousi sunset hike (~£1.60)
- →Night market street food crawl
Alms ceremony & Kuang Si Waterfalls
Luang Prabang, Laos
Set an alarm for 5.30am to watch the tak bat almsgiving procession of monks along Sakkaline Road — a genuine daily religious ritual, so dress respectfully and keep a respectful distance. Buy sticky rice from a local stall if you'd like to take part. Then take a shared songthaew (about 50,000 kip / £4 return, or split a private van) 30km out to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Entry is ~20,000 kip (£1.60). Swim in the turquoise lower pools (don't jump or dive — injuries are common), visit the bear rescue centre at the entrance, and allow 3-4 hours. Return to town by mid-afternoon for a £4 massage and dinner.
🚌Songthaew to Kuang Si ~£4 return
🛏Luang Prabang old-town guesthouse (£12 dorm / £22 private)
- →Tak bat almsgiving ceremony (free)
- →Kuang Si Waterfalls & swimming (~£2 entry)
- →Tat Kuang Si bear sanctuary
- →Lao massage ~£4
Mekong slow boat to Pak Beng homestay
Pak Beng, Laos
Book your Mekong slow boat through a local travel agent or directly at the pier the day before — the two-day public slow boat Luang Prabang to Huay Xai costs around £28-33 (about 1,300 baht) including the overnight stop; private 'luxury' versions cost more. Depart from the boat pier at 8.30am and drift downstream past jungle villages, fishing traps and buffalo. Break the journey overnight at Pak Beng, a tiny riverside village. Book a village homestay through your guesthouse or the boat operator (~£10 incl. dinner) — expect futon mattresses, shared bathrooms and a home-cooked Lao dinner. Spend the evening with your hosts and see a local Khamu dance/music performance if offered.
🚌Public slow boat Luang Prabang–Pak Beng (two-day ticket ~£30)
🛏Pak Beng village homestay, multi-share (£10 incl. dinner)
- →Mekong slow boat cruise
- →Village homestay dinner
- →Khamu cultural performance (ask your host)
Slow boat to Huay Xai & cross into Thailand
Chiang Khong, Thailand
Second day on the boat: re-board at 9am and continue to Huay Xai (Ban Houayxay), arriving mid-afternoon. Get your exit stamp at the Laos immigration office by the pier, take the shuttle bus across the Friendship Bridge IV to Chiang Khong, and enter Thailand (most nationalities get 30 days visa-free by air but only 15 days overland — check your nationality). Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival. Check into a riverside guesthouse in Chiang Khong for around £12 and watch the Mekong from a balcony with a cold Leo.
🚌Slow boat ~6 hrs (included in 2-day ticket); Friendship Bridge shuttle ~£1
🛏Chiang Khong riverside guesthouse (£12)
- →Mekong river crossing
- →Thai border crossing
- →Riverside evening in Chiang Khong
Chiang Khong to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Take the local bus or minivan from Chiang Khong to Chiang Mai (~6 hours, £8-10, book at the bus station or via 12Go Asia). Arrive into the old city and check into a hostel in the moated square. Spend the late afternoon on a self-guided temple wander (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh) then hit the Sunday Walking Street or Night Bazaar for khao soi (northern curry noodles) and sai ua sausage. If you want organised local colour, book a Khantoke dinner + show or a Northern Thai cooking class on Klook or GetYourGuide (~£27) — both are easy to arrange the day before.
🚌Local bus/minivan Chiang Khong–Chiang Mai ~£9
🛏Old City hostel, Chiang Mai (£9 dorm / £18 private)
- →Wat Chedi Luang & Wat Phra Singh (~£1 each)
- →Sunday Walking Street / Night Bazaar
- →Optional Khantoke dinner & show (£27 via Klook)
Doi Suthep & overnight sleeper train to Bangkok
Chiang Mai / sleeper train
Rent a scooter (£6/day, bring an IDP) or take a red songthaew up to Doi Suthep temple (50 baht / £1 entry) for the morning views over Chiang Mai, stopping at Wat Pha Lat on the jungle road down. Spend the afternoon at a coffee shop in Nimman or a £6 Thai massage, and get a cheap meal at a local market. Book your sleeper train on the SRT app or 12Go Asia a few days in advance: the Chiang Mai–Bangkok overnight train (2nd-class berth, fan or air-con) runs from £20-30 and takes about 12-13 hours. Board around 5pm and sleep your way south.
🚌Scooter/songthaew to Doi Suthep ~£5; overnight sleeper train ~£25
🛏2nd-class sleeper train berth (£20-30)
- →Doi Suthep temple at sunrise (~£1)
- →Wat Pha Lat forest temple
- →Thai massage ~£6
- →Overnight sleeper train experience
Bangkok — temples, canals, night out
Bangkok, Thailand
Arrive into Krung Thep Aphiwat station in the morning; take the MRT or a metered taxi to a Khao San or Silom hostel. A DIY temple circuit: Grand Palace (500 baht / £11, get there early and dress modestly) and Wat Pho (200 baht / £4.50) are a 10-minute walk apart, then hop on the orange-flag Chao Phraya express boat (16 baht / £0.35) — much cheaper than the tourist boat — up to the Jim Thompson House (250 baht / £5.50). For klongs, book a 2-hour longtail boat through a Klook/GetYourGuide operator or split one at Tha Tien pier (~£18 per boat, cheaper per head if shared). Finish with a rooftop beer and street food on Soi Rambuttri.
🚌MRT/BTS ~£2; Chao Phraya express boat ~£0.35
🛏Khao San / Silom hostel (£11 dorm / £22 private)
- →Grand Palace (~£11)
- →Wat Pho reclining Buddha (~£4.50)
- →Chao Phraya express boat
- →Jim Thompson House (~£5.50)
- →Longtail klong boat (~£18 per boat, split it)
Depart Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
A last morning for souvenirs: Chatuchak Weekend Market if it's a weekend (MRT Kamphaeng Phet), or the talat inside Klong Toey. Grab a £4 final bowl of boat noodles and then take the Airport Rail Link (£1) or a metered taxi to Suvarnabhumi/Don Mueang for your flight out. No transfer is needed if you're continuing south to the islands — buses and trains leave from the same stations.
🚌Airport Rail Link ~£1
🛏—
- →Chatuchak or local market shopping
- →Boat noodles breakfast
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£470 | £734 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £264 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£470
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 to Thailand: Night Markets & Mekong Cruising (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £470 per person for 11 days in Laos & Thailand. 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 £734 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £470 — a saving of roughly £264 (36%) per person.
How long is the Laos & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Laos & Thailand.
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, 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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