Bangkok, Singapore & Bali: The Self-Launched Version
12 days · Thailand, Singapore & Indonesia
Wanderful Holidays LLC charges £1,545
No-markup version: ~£1,055 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 12-day self-launched run through Bangkok's temples and floating markets, Singapore's Sentosa and skyline, and Bali's rice terraces, temples and sunset cruises — built for solo travellers who want the same experiences without the group-tour markup. You book your own hostel/guesthouse beds, use the Skytrain, MRT, budget flights and local drivers, and join shared day tours via GetYourGuide or Klook. All costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP, excluding international flights to/from Asia.
Day-by-day
Land in Bangkok, ease into Banglamphu
Bangkok, Thailand
Fly into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (~£0.90) then BTS/taxi to your guesthouse. Book a private room in a hostel around Banglamphu/Old Town or Khaosan fringe (Mad Monkey, Bed Station, or similar) — central and cheap. Spend the evening on a gentle walk: Wat Saket (Golden Mount) at sunset, then street food on Soi Rambuttri. Skip the private airport transfer; the rail link is faster in traffic.
🚌Airport Rail Link + BTS/taxi ~£2
🛏Hostel private room, Old Town/Banglamphu, ~£16
- →Airport Rail Link into the city
- →Golden Mount sunset viewpoint
- →Khaosan/Soi Rambuttri street food wander
Damnoen Saduak floating market by shared minivan
Damnoen Saduak, Thailand
Book a shared half-day floating market tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£18-22 incl. long-tail boat ride and pickup) — this replicates the operator's included boat ride. Minivans leave town around 6:30-7am to beat the crowds. At the market, pay a few pounds extra for a small rowing boat through the side canals. Return to Bangkok by early afternoon; rest, then evening at Asiatique night market or a rooftop bar for a cheap skyline view.
🚌Included in day tour minivan
🛏Hostel private room, Old Town/Banglamphu, ~£16
- →Shared long-tail boat tour to Damnoen Saduak
- →Optional paddled rowing boat through side canals (~£3)
- →Asiatique night market or free rooftop viewpoint
The big three temples, DIY
Bangkok, Thailand
Do the operator's temple trio independently: Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) near Hua Lamphong, Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha, ~£5 entry, includes a free bottle of water) and Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple, ~£1.50). Use the MRT to Hua Lamphong then a Chao Phraya orange-flag river boat (~£0.40) to Tha Tien for Wat Pho. Lunch at a local shophouse near Wat Pho. Dress code: covered shoulders and knees. Evening: Chinatown (Yaowarat) food crawl — £6-8 gets you full.
🚌MRT + river boat + walking ~£3
🛏Hostel private room, Old Town/Banglamphu, ~£16
- →Wat Traimit Golden Buddha
- →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha
- →Wat Benchamabophit Marble Temple
- →Chao Phraya river boat ride
- →Yaowarat street food crawl
Fly Bangkok to Singapore, hawker dinner
Singapore
Book a budget flight (AirAsia/Scoot/Jetstar) Bangkok–Singapore in advance — ~£55-75 one way with a 20kg bag. Take the MRT from Changi to your hostel (Lavender/Bugis/Chinatown area; a capsule hostel is ~£25-30/night, private rooms more). Afternoon: walk Marina Bay — Gardens by the Bay free outdoor areas plus the free nightly Garden Rhapsody light show (19:45/20:45), and the Spectra light-and-water show at Marina Bay Sands. Dinner at a hawker centre (Maxwell or Chinatown Complex) for £4-6.
🚌Flight ~£65 + MRT ~£1.50
🛏Capsule/budget hostel, Bugis or Chinatown, ~£27
- →Budget flight Bangkok–Singapore
- →Gardens by the Bay outdoor gardens
- →Garden Rhapsody and Spectra light shows (free)
- →Hawker centre dinner
Sentosa and S.E.A. Aquarium
Sentosa Island, Singapore
Self-book the Mount Faber Cable Car (Sky Pass ~£20) and buy a Klook combo ticket for S.E.A. Aquarium (~£28, cheaper online than at the gate). Walk Sentosa Cove and Palawan Beach, cross the Palawan suspension bridge, and use the free Sentosa Express or beach shuttle to get around. Skip the 4D cinema if it's not your thing — or add it for ~£10. Return by cable car for the sunset. Cheap dinner back at a hawker centre.
🚌MRT to HarbourFront + cable car ~£21
🛏Capsule/budget hostel, ~£27
- →Mount Faber Line cable car
- →S.E.A. Aquarium
- →Palawan Beach and Sentosa Cove walk
- →Optional 4D AdventureLand show
Singapore free day: Tiong Bahru, Botanic Gardens, Little India
Singapore
A self-launched free day with no paid tour: start with breakfast at Tiong Bahru Market (kaya toast, ~£3), walk the Art Deco estate, then the UNESCO Botanic Gardens (free entry) and the Southern Ridges/Henderson Waves walk (free). Afternoon in Little India and Kampong Glam for murals and teh tarik. Evening: cheap eats at Old Airport Road hawker centre. Keep an eye on your budget — Singapore is the pricey leg, so lean on free attractions.
🚌MRT day of rides ~£5
🛏Capsule/budget hostel, ~£27
- →Tiong Bahru Market breakfast
- →Singapore Botanic Gardens (free)
- →Henderson Waves / Southern Ridges walk
- →Little India and Kampong Glam
- →Hawker centre dinner
Fly Singapore to Bali, settle in Kuta/Legian
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Budget flight Singapore–Denpasar (Scoot/AirAsia) ~£55-80 one way with a checked bag. At DPS, use Grab or a metered Blue Bird taxi to Kuta/Legian (~£8) rather than the airport touts. Note Indonesia's visa-on-arrival (~£27 / IDR 500k, payable card or cash) — this replaces the operator's visa handling. Check into a guesthouse with a pool in Kuta or Seminyak fringe (~£15-18/night). Sunset at Kuta Beach, dinner at a warung for £4.
🚌Flight ~£65 + Grab/taxi ~£8
🛏Guesthouse with pool, Kuta/Legian, ~£16
- →Budget flight Singapore–Denpasar
- →Visa on arrival
- →Kuta Beach sunset
- →Warung dinner
Bali free day: beach, surf lesson or waterfall
Kuta / Uluwatu, Bali
The operator gives you a free day with optional water activities — book the same via Klook or a beachfront operator: a 2-hour beginner surf lesson in Kuta is ~£20-25, or a snorkelling/diving day out to Nusa Penida is ~£45-55. Cheaper alternative: rent a scooter (~£5/day, bring an IDP) and ride to Uluwatu for the free clifftop walk and Padang Padang beach, ending with the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple (~£8). Keep some cash for parking and temple sarong hire.
🚌Scooter rental ~£5
🛏Guesthouse with pool, Kuta/Legian, ~£16
- →Optional beginner surf lesson (~£22)
- →or Nusa Penida snorkelling day (~£50)
- →Uluwatu Temple and clifftop walk
- →Kecak fire dance at sunset
Ubud and Tanah Lot full-day loop
Ubud & Tanah Lot, Bali
Join a small-group or shared Ubud + Tanah Lot day tour via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£30-40) — this covers the operator's Barong dance, Batuan Temple, Luwak coffee plantation tasting, Tegallalang rice terrace walk and Tanah Lot sunset in one loop. Alternatively hire a private driver for the day (~£40 total, split with other travellers) for more flexibility. Bring a sarong for temples and £5-8 cash for entry donations and coffee tasting.
🚌Shared day tour vehicle included / private driver option
🛏Guesthouse with pool, Kuta/Legian, ~£16
- →Barong dance performance
- →Batuan Temple
- →Luwak coffee and spice plantation tasting
- →Tegallalang rice terrace walk
- →Tanah Lot Temple at sunset
Bali free day: Nusa Penida or beach time
Bali
Another free day — the classic splurge-free option is a fast boat to Nusa Penida from Sanur (~£20 return) plus a shared island tour to Kelingking Beach and Angel's Billabong (~£18), or stay local, swim, and get a Balinese massage for £8-12. Budget a slow morning, a long lunch at a warung, and a cheap sunset beer on the sand. Swap days around based on the weather.
🚌Fast boat + shared car if doing Nusa Penida ~£40, or ~£3 local
🛏Guesthouse with pool, Kuta/Legian, ~£16
- →Optional Nusa Penida day trip (~£38 total)
- →Balinese massage (~£10)
- →Beach time and sunset
- →Warung lunches and local market browsing
Sunset dinner cruise from Benoa
Benoa Harbour, Bali
Book the Bali Hai or Bounty sunset dinner cruise direct or via Klook (~£45-55) — this is essentially the operator's included cruise: buffet dinner, live music, cabaret/dance show and an open-deck cocktail at sunset. Boats leave Benoa Harbour around 17:00 and return ~20:00; book a day or two ahead and arrange a cheap Grab to the harbour (~£4 each way). Pack a light layer for the breeze on deck.
🚌Grab to/from Benoa ~£8
🛏Guesthouse with pool, Kuta/Legian, ~£16
- →Bali sunset dinner cruise with buffet and live show
- →Open-air deck cocktail at sunset
- →Benoa Harbour evening
Depart Bali
Denpasar, Bali
Breakfast at the guesthouse, a last swim, then a Grab or Blue Bird taxi to Ngurah Rai International (DPS) — allow 2.5-3 hours before an international flight (~£8). If you have a late flight, stash your bag at the guesthouse and spend the morning at a Kuta cafe or do one final beach walk. Pay any remaining visa extension fees at the airport if you've overstayed your 30-day allowance.
🚌Grab/Blue Bird taxi to DPS ~£8
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final beach walk or cafe morning
- →Airport transfer to DPS
Self-launched vs. Wanderful Holidays LLC
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Wanderful Holidays LLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,055 | £1,545 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £490 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Wanderful Holidays LLC-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,055
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Bangkok, Singapore & Bali: The Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,055 per person for 12 days in Thailand, Singapore & Indonesia. 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 Wanderful Holidays LLC?+
Yes — Wanderful Holidays LLC charges around £1,545 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,055 — a saving of roughly £490 (32%) per person.
How long is the Thailand, Singapore & Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Thailand, Singapore & Indonesia.
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 culture, beaches, foodie trip through Thailand, Singapore & Indonesia, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.