Grand Southeast Asia Escape: Self-Launched Bangkok to Bali in 18 Days

Land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (~60 THB / £1.40), then walk or hop the BTS. Check into a hostel around Khao San Road / Banglamphu or the Riverside area — this puts you within walking distance of the Grand Palace for tomorrow. Spend the afternoon acclimatising: a stroll along the Chao Phraya, a 16 THB orange-flag river boat ride, and street food on Soi Rambuttri. Book your Grand Palace ticket online tonight to skip the queue.

🚌Airport Rail Link £1.40 + BTS/river boat £1-2

🛏Hostel dorm or private budget room, Banglamphu/Khao San area (~£10-14)

• →Airport Rail Link to city
• →Chao Phraya river boat ride
• →Khao San Road street food wander

Be at the Grand Palace gates for opening at 08:30 (500 THB / £11) to beat the heat and crowds — dress code is strict (shoulders and knees covered). Walk 10 minutes south to Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha (300 THB / £7), and treat yourself to a Thai massage at the temple's own massage school, the birthplace of the discipline. In the evening, cross the river by 5 THB ferry to Wat Arun for sunset, or take a Klook longtail boat canal tour if you want the klong-side view.

🚌Walking + cross-river ferry £0.50

🛏Hostel dorm or private budget room (~£10-14)

• →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (£11)
• →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha & temple massage school (£7)
• →Wat Arun at sunset via cross-river ferry (£0.15)

Catch a third-class train from Hua Lamphong/ Bang Sue to Ayutthaya (~20-35 THB, 1.5-2 hrs) — the most characterful way to arrive. Hire a bicycle at the station (~60 THB/day) or split a tuk-tuk loop with other travellers and hit the highlights: Wat Mahathat with its famous Buddha head in tree roots, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Ratburana and Wat Yai Chaimongkhol (temple tickets ~50 THB each). If you want Bang Pa-In Summer Palace too, add a songthaew or Grab out there. Either day-trip back to Bangkok tonight or stay in an Ayutthaya guesthouse near the ruins — staying means you get the ruins at golden hour.

🚌Third-class train ~£1 + bike hire £1.50

🛏Ayutthaya guesthouse near the historical park (~£12)

• →Train to Ayutthaya
• →Bicycle loop of Ayutthaya Historical Park (~£6 in tickets)
• →Wat Mahathat Buddha head, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Yai Chaimongkhol
• →Optional Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

Spend a relaxed morning cycling the quieter ruins (Wat Chaiwatthanaram is worth the extra ride) or taking a longtail boat around the island city. Then head to Ayutthaya station for the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai — second-class air-con sleeper runs around 800-1,100 THB (£18-25) and arrives early morning. Book ahead on the Thai Railways website (12go.asia also works) as sleepers sell out. Alternatively, a budget flight from Don Mueang to Chiang Mai with AirAsia/Nok Air is often £25-40 if you value speed.

🚌Second-class sleeper train £18-25

🛏Sleeper berth on board train (~£20)

• →Morning cycle to Wat Chaiwatthanaram
• →Overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai

Arrive early, drop bags at a guesthouse inside the moat in the old city. For the Chiang Rai temples — White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suer Ten) and the Black House (Baan Si Dum) — the cheapest route is a Green Bus to Chiang Rai (~£5, 3 hrs) with a local songthaew or Grab between sites, staying one night up there; quicker but pricier is a Klook/GetYourGuide Chiang Rai day tour from Chiang Mai (~£30-40, 12 hrs). If you day-trip, save the evening for the Sunday Walking Street or the Night Bazaar. Maekhachan Hot Spring is a roadside stop most tours include — easy to add on the bus route.

🚌Green Bus VIP to Chiang Rai ~£5 each way, or Klook day tour ~£35

🛏Old city guesthouse or hostel, Chiang Mai (~£10-13)

• →White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) — 100 THB
• →Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suer Ten)
• →Black House / Baan Si Dum — 80 THB
• →Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Thailand's highest peak is easiest by organised minivan day tour booked through Klook or a Chiang Mai old-city agency (~£25-30, includes park entry 300 THB). You'll hit the King and Queen Chedis, Wachiratharn Waterfall, the Angkha nature trail boardwalk and the summit — bring a jacket, it's genuinely cold up there. Hill tribe village visits (Karen/Hmong) are often included; if you're booking independently, note that some village stops are commercialised and you can choose a tour that supports community projects instead. Back in Chiang Mai by early evening — grab khao soi for dinner.

🚌Klook/agency minivan day tour ~£27

🛏Old city guesthouse or hostel, Chiang Mai (~£10-13)

• →Doi Inthanon summit & Angkha nature walk
• →Wachiratharn Waterfall
• →King & Queen Chedis
• →Karen/Hmong village stop

The original tour leaves Day 7 free with an optional elephant sanctuary add-on (USD 85). Book directly with an ethical, no-riding sanctuary instead — Elephant Nature Park, Kindred Spirit or Baan Chang — for roughly £55-75 for a full or half day including pickup and lunch. Book 2-3 weeks ahead in high season. Alternatively, stay in town: climb the 306 steps to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (songthaew from the north gate ~£1), wander the old city's temples (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh), and take a Thai cooking class (~£20-25).

🚌Songthaew £1 or sanctuary pickup included

🛏Old city guesthouse or hostel (~£10-13)

• →Ethical elephant sanctuary half/full day (~£60)
• →Or: Doi Suthep temple by songthaew
• →Optional Thai cooking class (~£22)

Budget flights (AirAsia, VietJet, Thai Lion) from Chiang Mai to Hanoi via Bangkok run roughly £55-90 one-way — book 3-6 weeks ahead. Sort your Vietnam e-visa (£20-25, official site evisa.gov.vn) at least a week beforehand. Land at Noi Bai, take the 86 bus (~£1.20) or Grab (~£7) into the Old Quarter. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the Old Quarter and do a first pass of bia hoi corner and Bun Cha for dinner — Hanoi's street food is the main event.

🚌Flight £55-90 + airport bus £1.20

🛏Old Quarter hostel dorm or budget hotel (~£9-14)

• →Budget flight to Hanoi
• →Old Quarter orientation walk
• →Bia hoi corner & bun cha dinner

Take a limousine bus or train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (~£5-7, 2-2.5 hrs) and either day-trip or — better — stay overnight in Tam Coc village. Hire a bicycle (~£2) and ride to Hoa Lu ancient capital (20,000 VND / £0.65), then do the 1.5-hour rowboat through the Tam Coc caves (150,000 VND + tip, ~£6). Climb Hang Mua's 500 steps for the dragon-viewpoint panorama (~£4) — this isn't in the original itinerary but is the best view in the region. Eat at a local goat-meat restaurant (Ninh Binh's speciality) for ~£5.

🚌Limousine bus Hanoi-Ninh Binh £6

🛏Tam Coc homestay (~£10-14)

• →Hoa Lu ancient capital
• →Tam Coc bamboo boat through caves (£6)
• →Hang Mua viewpoint 500 steps (£4)
• →Cycle through Tam Coc village

Book a 2-day/1-night budget cruise on Halong or Lan Ha Bay via Klook, GetYourGuide or a Hanoi agency — expect £75-110 per person for a mid-range wooden junk including transfers from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, cave visit and a cabin. Cheaper backpacker boats exist but quality varies sharply; read recent reviews. If you're coming from Ninh Binh, arrange pickup there (most operators can, small surcharge). Afternoon is swimming and kayaking; evening is squid fishing and sunset on the deck.

🚌Shuttle from Ninh Binh/Hanoi included in cruise price

🛏Cabin on a budget/mid-range junk boat (~£90 incl. meals)

• →Halong/Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise
• →Kayaking & swimming
• →Sunset on the anchorage
• →Squid fishing

Optional sunrise Tai Chi on deck, then a limestone cave visit (Surprise Cave or similar) before brunch on board and the shuttle back to Hanoi by mid-afternoon. Check back into the Old Quarter. Spend the evening around Hoan Kiem Lake, catch a water puppet show at Thang Long theatre (~£4-5) and eat at a bun cha or pho institution. If you want a beer street night, Ta Hien is right there.

🚌Cruise shuttle back to Hanoi (included)

🛏Old Quarter hostel dorm or budget hotel (~£9-14)

• →Sunrise Tai Chi on deck
• →Limestone cave visit
• →Water puppet show (£5)
• →Hoan Kiem Lake evening walk

Fly VietJet/Bamboo/Vietnam Airlines Hanoi to Saigon in ~2 hrs for £40-70 booked ahead (the Reunification Express train takes 30+ hrs, so flying is the sensible call unless you'd rather slow-travel it with stops in Hue/Hoi An as an extension). Land at Tan Son Nhat, Grab into District 1 (~£3). Base yourself in Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area for cheap beds, or District 3 for quieter budget hotels. Evening: Ben Thanh Street Food Market and a walk down Nguyen Hue walking street.

🚌Flight £40-70 + Grab £3

🛏Pham Ngu Lao hostel or District 1/3 budget hotel (~£10-15)

• →Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
• →Ben Thanh street food market
• →Nguyen Hue walking street

Book a small-group Mekong Delta tour via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£20-28, 8-9 hrs) — it covers the boat ride past the Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands, a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal, fruit tasting, honey tea at a bee farm, coconut candy workshop and a cycling loop around Tan Thach village (or hammock time). Cheaper and more local: take a public bus to My Tho (~£2) and arrange a small boat at the pier yourself, though communication is tricky without Vietnamese. The organised day trip is genuinely good value here.

🚌Klook small-group Mekong tour ~£25

🛏Pham Ngu Lao hostel or District 1/3 budget hotel (~£10-15)

• →Mekong boat & sampan ride
• →Unicorn Island orchards & fruit tasting
• →Honey bee farm & coconut candy workshop
• →Cycling Tan Thach village

Direct or one-stop budget flights SGN to Denpasar (DPS) with VietJet/AirAsia run £70-110 one-way. Arrive, get the 200-300k IDR airport taxi/Grab to Kuta, Legian or Sanur (~£12-15), and pay the 500,000 IDR (£25) Bali tourist levy online in advance or at the airport. Tonight is a low-key one: warung dinner for ~£3, sunset at Kuta beach, and sort your Ubud transport for tomorrow. A Grab car Kuta-Ubud is ~£10-13; a Perama shuttle is cheaper (~£5).

🚌Flight £70-110 + airport transfer £13 + Bali tourist levy £25

🛏Kuta/Legian guesthouse or hostel (~£10-16)

• →Flight to Bali
• →Kuta beach sunset
• →Warung dinner

Move to Ubud (Grab ~£11, or Perama shuttle £5) and stay in a family-run homestay — Ubud homestays are excellent value at £12-18 with breakfast. Book a full-day Klook/GetYourGuide Ubud highlights tour (~£25-35) covering the Barong dance (tickets ~£7), Batuan Temple, a coffee and spice plantation with luwak coffee tasting, and the Tegallalang rice terraces walk. Finish at Tanah Lot for sunset (entry ~£3). Alternatively hire a scooter (~£5/day) and self-drive between sites — you'll need an international driving permit.

🚌Kuta-Ubud Grab £11 + tour transport £30

🛏Ubud homestay with breakfast (~£12-18)

• →Barong dance performance
• →Batuan Temple
• →Coffee & spice plantation tasting
• →Tegallalang rice terrace walk
• →Tanah Lot sunset

The original tour includes a Bali Hai sunset dinner cruise from Benoa — book directly for £35-45 and it includes the buffet, live music, cabaret and a welcome cocktail. Budget alternative many backpackers prefer: sunset cocktails at a Jimbaran beach warung with grilled seafood (£10-15) or a free Ubud evening walk along Campuhan Ridge. Add a Balinese massage in Ubud (£6-10 for an hour) — far better value than resort spas. Note the cruise wharf is a 45-min drive from Ubud, so plan either a Ubud day or a Benoa-based day, not both.

🚌Grab to Benoa and back ~£16

🛏Ubud homestay with breakfast (~£12-18)

• →Bali Hai sunset dinner cruise (~£40)
• →Or Jimbaran seafood sunset
• →Balinese massage (£8)
• →Campuhan Ridge walk (free)

Do what group tours never leave time for: the Ubud Art Market and morning food stalls, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£7 — hold your belongings tight), and a scooter or Grab ride to Tegenungan Waterfall (~£3 entry) or Tibumana. Deeper options: Tirta Empul water temple for a purification ritual, or a sunrise hike up Mount Batur if you're up for a 02:00 start (~£30-40 with guide and breakfast — book the night before). Evening: a Kecak dance at Ubud Palace (~£8) or jazz at a warung on Jalan Bisma.

🚌Scooter hire £5 + Grab rides £6

🛏Ubud homestay with breakfast (~£12-18)

• →Ubud Art Market & morning market
• →Sacred Monkey Forest (£7)
• →Tegenungan or Tibumana Waterfall
• →Optional Mount Batur sunrise hike
• →Kecak dance (£8)

Last morning for souvenir shopping — the Ubud market is best before 10:00, and the Sukawati art market nearby is cheaper still. If you have a late flight, store bags at the homestay and have one more £3 nasi campur. Grab to Denpasar airport is ~£12-15 from Ubud (allow 1.5 hrs in traffic). If your flight is an overnight, consider a cheap day room near Kuta instead of paying for a full extra night in Ubud.

🚌Grab to DPS airport £13

🛏Departure day (or airport-area day room ~£15 if needed)

• →Ubud & Sukawati souvenir markets
• →Final Balinese meal
• →Transfer to Denpasar airport