Frenetic yet tranquil, modern yet traditional, sweet yet spicy – South East Asia is the best of everything wrapped up in one tidy package.
A place where natural beauty, sleepless cities, taste-bud-tingling cuisine and wondrous wildlife collide. It’s here, amongst this cluster of captivating countries, that you can honestly say there’s something for everyone. From devouring banh mi at a street food stall in Hanoi to cycling through the green hills of Ubud. Interacting with the local Batak tribe living on Palawan to visiting the world’s first elephant hospital in Chiang Mai. We dare you to discover South East Asia and be able to leave not already craving more.
Our tours in South East Asia
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18 Days
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Tailor-Made trips
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Travel from Vietnam to Thailand on a South East Asian adventure that explores Cambodia...
6 Days
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Uncover the mysteries of incredible Angkor Wat on a Premium tour of Cambodia. Travel...
8 Days
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1200
From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, discover the delights of one of South East Asia's...
15 Days
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1024
Journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on this 15-day Vietnam adventure. Trek in the...
6 Days
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Unearth the essence of Cambodia on a leisurely journey that spends time seeing the...
11 Days
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Head from old-world Hanoi to ancient Hue and on to pretty Hoi An via beachy Phan Rang,...
12 Days
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15 Days
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Travel to Myanmar and discover mythical landscapes and amazing hospitality. Visit...
8 Days
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754
Travel from Bangkok to Sukhothai and Chiang Mai on this scenic tour through Northern...
15 Days
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Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Vietnam. Take in cultural...
15 Days
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1040
Discover Vietnam’s east coast on this 15-day tour, uncovering the hidden delights of...
20 Days
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10 Days
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1945
Journey through Borneo on an adventure that includes river cruising, jungle nature...
14 Days
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1084
See the Best of Cambodia on a trip from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, via the...
11 Days
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Delve into Vietnamese culture on this 11-day Lonely Planet Experience powered by...
12 Days
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12 Days
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Travel the breadth of Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, experiencing tranquil...
9 Days
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600
Follow the ancient trails on a trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Explore the temples of...
12 Days
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Discover Borneo’s wild heart on a Premium adventure. Cruise the Kinabatangan River,...
24 Days
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12 Days
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15 Days
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11 Days
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Hike, bike and kayak across Vietnam on this active tour based out of Hanoi. Trek in...
13 Days
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1500
Experience Vietnamese customs and charms on a 13-day family adventure from Hanoi to Ho...
13 Days
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Uncover the dramatic histories of these two beautiful countries on a trip through the...
7 Days
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30 Days
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Travel into the heart and soul of South East Asia on this comprehensive tour of...
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8 Days
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20 Days
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22 Days
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9 Days
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9 Days
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1120
Visit Thailand, a country with all the ingredients for a holiday in paradise – pristine...
12 Days
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Experience the best of South East Asia with Lonely Planet. Marvel at the Angkor complex...
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23 Days
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1690
Take a trip with the lot – Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hue, Phong...
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35 Days
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22 Days
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3160
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1970
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1145
Cycling allows you to get closer to the real face of Thailand. From bicycles to...
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3275
Taste the true flavours of Vietnam and Cambodia, feasting on local food and catching...
22 Days
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2840
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3 Days
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328
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1090
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27 Days
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3975
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8 Days
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788
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4 Days
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353
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23 Days
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2520
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3 Days
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550
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365
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283
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3 Days
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238
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905
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2 Days
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258
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2 Days
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190
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28 Days
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3930
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8 Days
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1200
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Highlights of South East Asia
Stay with a local Khmer family
Visit Chambok, a rural spot in Cambodia renowned for its ecotourism, where you’ll join a member of the local community on a village walk and hear stories of their history, lifestyle and ecotourism projects. Meet the family you’ll be staying with before heading to a nearby community centre for a traditional Khmer dinner and dance performance.
Take a Thai cooking class
Ready yourself for a hands-on masterclass in Central Thai cuisine. Start the day with a trip to the morning markets in Kanchanaburi, where you’ll find stalls piled high with fresh fruit and veg, meat, fish and spices. Then make your way into the kitchen where you’ll whip up classics like jungle curry, wing beans and banana flower cake, then feast on your creations for lunch.
Visit the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre
Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, which was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can watch and photograph these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat the supplementary diet of bananas and milk that is laid out for them twice a day.
Kayak around Halong Bay
Grab your paddle and explore the far reaching corners of World Heritage-listed Halong Bay. Kayak between the gigantic limestone karsts that lie off the coast of Cat Ba Island and pepper the lesser-visited Lan Ha Bay. If you’re feeling adventurous, make your way through water-carved tunnels and caves. When kayaking at dusk be sure to take a break to admire the sunset over the South China Sea.
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Reviews
What to see in 7-10 days in South East Asia
If you’ve only got a week or so to play with, you’re probably better off sticking to a single country. That way you’ll be sure to tick off the highlights whilst leaving time for a bit of rest and relaxation. Vietnam would be perfect! Fly into the vibrant capital of Hanoi, spend the night on a boat at Halong Bay and ride the overnight train to heritage-listed Hue. You could then take the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An, squeeze in a visit to the Mekong Delta, before winding up in Ho Chi Minh City.
Another option would be to head to Myanmar. Home to the floating village communities on Inle Lake, mouth-watering Burmese delicacies, a plethora of golden-domed temples and more. Alternatively, with 10 days in Borneo you could experience Kinabalu National Park, meet the locals in Dusun, meet mischievous orangutans in Sepilok and soak up the sun on Manukan Island.
| Trip Name | Days | Start city | Destination | Style | From EUR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beautiful Bali | 9 |
Ubud |
Indonesia |
Original |
|
|
| Vietnam Express Southbound | 10 |
Hanoi |
Vietnam |
Original |
|
|
| Cambodian Traveller | 9 |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Cambodia |
Original |
|
|
| Classic Borneo | 10 |
Kota Kinabalu |
Malaysia |
Comfort |
|
|
| Myanmar Highlights | 9 |
Yangon |
Myanmar (Burma) |
Original |
|
What to see in 3 weeks in South East Asia
You’ll see a fair bit in three weeks and combining the likes of Cambodia and Thailand will help you get a proper feel for South East Asia. You’d be able to amble around the temples of Angkor, experience the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and snorkel off the beaches fringing the idyllic Thai islands. And even after all that, you’d still have time to uncover Cambodia’s tragic past in Phnom Penh and take a bike ride around the tiny rural villages near Battambang.
Swap Thailand for Laos and you could add a two-day slow-boat trip down the Mekong, a refreshing swim at Kuang Si Falls and a pit-stop to explore the Buddha-filled Pak Ou Caves. Island hopping around Indonesia would be another great idea, where you could do everything from witnessing the mythical dragons living on Komodo to watching the sunrise from the summit of Bali’s Mount Batur.
| Trip Name | Days | Start city | Destination | Style | From EUR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best of Vietnam & Cambodia | 18 |
Hanoi |
Vietnam |
Original |
|
|
|
Real Thailand
Ages 18 to 29
|
16 |
Bangkok |
Thailand |
Basix |
|
What to see in 6 weeks in South East Asia
With six weeks to spare, South East Asia is your oyster! The traditional loop of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia never disappoints. Travelling in a circle from Bangkok, you’ll visit the elephant hospitals in Chiang Mai, admire the colonial architecture of Luang Prabang, cruise around picture-perfect Halong Bay and experience the majesty of Angkor Wat. Add a couple of days in Myanmar and you’ll enjoy Yangon, Bago and the famous Golden Rock pagoda too.
Or, if you’ve already tackled the classic route an extended trip through Malaysia would be amazing. You could conquer Mount Kinabalu, soak up the city skyline with a cocktail at the Petronas Towers and see turtles laying their eggs in the sands of Turtle Island. You won’t regret a fleeting visit to Singapore either, stopping off at Little India, Gardens by the Bay, Raffles Hotel and Sentosa Park.
| Trip Name | Days | Start city | Destination | Style | From EUR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East Asia Loop | 30 |
Bangkok |
Vietnam |
Original |
|
|
| Cambodia & Vietnam Experience | 26 |
Bangkok |
Vietnam |
Basix |
|
|
| Bangkok to Bali | 28 |
Bangkok |
Indonesia |
Original |
|
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