South East Asian Explorer Tour

Highlights

• Rock climbing in the Mae On Valley or learn to cook great Thai food
• Mountain biking in Doi Suthep National Park or visit a renowned elephant sanctuary
• The lush jungles and mist shrouded mountains of Laos
• Boat trip up the remote Nam Tha
• 3-day village and hill tribe trek
• Kayaking and caves in Vang Vieng
• UNESCO listed Luang Prabang
• Swim in blue lagoons amongst waterfalls
• Night markets and delicious food!

Experience Level

None – All activities on this tour require no previous experience and although included, are optional. Lost Earth Adventures provides all instruction, equipment and plenty of staff, as well as entertaining alternatives to planned activities. Please see the info section above for this trip’s grading.

Want more adventure? Add an extra week! Only £340 more to create an epic 21 day tour.

Dates and Prices

Land Only Price £1595

Allow £600 – £750 for return flights from London or Manchester. For all of your flying requirements visit our flight information page.

We accept foreign payments, please click here for details.

Runs Wednesday – Wednesday, 15 days

There are no other hidden costs. This is the full amount of your holiday. For a complete list of what’s included and what’s not included please see the South East Asian Explorer Dossier (PDF 0.6MB).

This trip is guaranteed to run with a minimum of 4 people

A deposit of £200 secures your place on the trip, with the balance due 60 days before the start of the tour. Monthly payment plans can be set up on request. If you book less than 60 days before the start of the trip then the full amount is due immediately.

1% of the price listed will be donated to our charity ‘Share the Load Foundation’. For more information about this charity, and what your money will be used for, click here.

We can run this tour as a private trip at any time you like as long as there is a minimum of 6 people in your group. We also have set departures so you can join with a tour on the dates listed below. The best time to travel to Thailand and Laos is from October to April. Contact Us for more information.

How do I get a discount?

The more people you book at the same time the more of a discount you will get. 4 people you get 5% off. Then you get another percent off for every person above that. So, for 5 people you would get 6% discount, 6 people 7% and so on. If you are coming on a second or third tour you will get a loyalty discount of 5%

Will there be any surcharges or price changes?

We do not impose ‘local payments’ or have any hidden charges. There is a guaranteed ‘no price increase’ in the trip price after you have paid your deposit.

Optional Extras

Single Traveller?

We don’t charge a single supplement fee if you’re a solo traveller. Our prices are based on staying in twin rooms with a member of the same sex or your partner. If you wish to stay in your own room there will be a £100 charge for this trip. In some circumstances single rooms may not be available for example when we stay in small villages and home stays where there is limited accommodation. We will always try to meet your requirements.

If you would like to arrive early or depart later then we can arrange accommodation and transport for you. Please contact us with any requests.

Activities

Activities mentioned in the itinerary though not included in the total price are readily available in the places we visit. Your tour leader can help you arrange these. Listed below are some activities available and a general price guide.

• Tubing £3
• Caving at Vang Vieng (entrance into cave) £0.50-£1 + small fee (£0.50 for local guide – optional)
• Bicycle rental (various locations) £3-£6
• Motorbike rental (various locations) £5-£15 – depending on size/type of bike
• Thai Massage £3-£7/hour
• Massage/Sauna (Luang Prabang) £3-£5/hour
• For more ideas of what’s available, visit our Day Tours and Extensions Page

Want more adventure? Add an extra week! This itinerary is part of our 3 week South East Asian Odyssey Tour.

Itinerary and Route

All of our itineraries are meticulously researched and well planned. They are designed to give you the most amounts of fun and excitement, whilst also giving you ample time to relax. Lost Earth Adventures takes the hassle out of organising your trip, leaving you to sit back and enjoy your adventure!

• Day 1: Arrive Chiang Mai, wander around the incredible night market and many temples of the ‘jewel of the north’
• Day 2: Rock climbing in Mae On Valley or take an authentic Thai cooking class
• Day 3: Visit a renowned elephant sanctuary or mountain bike in Doi Suthep National Park
• Day 4: Through the Golden Triangle and into Laos
• Day 5: Experience an incredible river journey up the remote Nam Tha
• Day 6: Nale to Luang Nam Tha
• Day 7: Nong Khiaw, seek out caves or relax by the river in this sleepy village
• Day 8-10: Trek into the jungle, visiting and staying with Hmong and Khmu hill tribes
• Day 11: Journey up the magnificent Mekong River to UNESCO listed Luang Prabang
• Day 12: Luang Prabang and Kuang Si Waterfall
• Day 13: Vang Vieng – explore this adventurer’s playground, climbing, tubing, caving or cycling
• Day 14: Kayak down the dramatic Nam Lik
• Day 15: Depart for home

See a more detailed itinerary for this trip.

Photos

Click on the arrows below to take a photographic adventure Northern Thailand and Laos.
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Trip Grading

This trip is considered to be graded easy/moderate. While mountain biking, there are three alternative routes of descent, which caters to the first time mountain biker or to an advanced rider. Rock climbing is done with internationally certified guides. When climbing there are over 150 routes, varying from introductory to advanced. We are provided with helmets, harnesses and the best safety equipment in the industry.

Whilst trekking in Laos, you will need to carry a small bag with enough clothing for 2 days. The terrain varies through jungle and open paths, but the trekking is not very strenuous.

It has a moderate level of ascents and descents. However, it can get quite hot and humid at times. We trek for a maximum of 4-5 hours per day. There is one grade 2-3 rapid while kayaking, whilst the rest of the time we are on calm water. We use the best safety gear (helmets, life jackets and equipment) and qualified guides. There is extensive travel on rivers throughout Laos – it is their way of life! On most, but not all boats there are life jackets. You must be comfortable and able to swim in water above head height.

As with most things, a certain degree of fitness will make this trip more enjoyable. No previous experience is needed for any of the activities provided on this holiday. It is important to know that on this trip we travel into fairly remote areas with limited infrastructure and facilities, particularly in Laos, where the tourism industry is in its infancy. This is part of the joy and reality of adventure travel in developing countries.

See here for more information on Laos and Thailand.

What’s Included

• 11 nights guesthouse accommodation
• 3 nights home-stay accommodation
• Meals as detailed in trip dossier (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=Dinner)
• Airport transfers to and from the airport on the first and last day
• All transportation for duration of tour (unless otherwise specified)
• Admission to Kuang Si Waterfalls
• 1-day rock climbing in Mae On Valley (including all equipment and qualified guides) or 1-day Thai Cooking Class
• 1-day mountain biking in Doi Suthep National Park (including guide, equipment and national park fee) or 1-day at an Elephant Sanctuary (including transport and guide)
• 1-day kayaking on Nam Lik
• Fully Qualified, First Aid trained Western Leader
• 1 English speaking local guide
• Thuraya satellite phone (to be used for organising logistics and in emergencies)
• Guides will check in daily with our UK office to get regular bespoke weather updates and confirm locations
• Financial protection: we are a fully bonded and insured UK based tour operator
• Pre-departure support and advice by email, phone and face to face meetings in York if you would like. After booking with us we will send you a highly informative and comprehensive trip information pack
• Remote medical support from specialist doctors
• Small groups. No more than 12 people on a set departure trip
• We don’t force a fast or slow pace. Our teams are supported with two leaders so you can ride/walk etc at your own pace. We let you explore at a pace that is right for you.
• Photo book
• Our guides and porters are paid fairly and are properly equipped
• T-shirt
• If you’d like to meet some of our team and experience our services beforehand you can join us on one of our UK adventures.

What’s Not Included

• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Items of a personal nature (drinks, snacks, souvenirs, etc.)
• International flights
• Laos visa (Available to buy for $35 USD on arrival at Laos border)
• Activities not included in itinerary (i.e. cycling, caving, climbing, tubing in Vang Vieng)
• Tips to local guides
• Airport transfers taken outside of the itinerary’s arrival and departure dates

For a full list of what is included download the trip dossier (PDF 0.6MB)

What Our Guests Say

“Our Laos trip was amazing and was the highlight of my 8 week visit to the region and I would certainly be up for further adventures there!” Patrick Tehan – March 2014

I really liked the tour a lot. It was good mix of sports, trekking and relaxing on the river. When I go to Nepal, you are the first operator I will look at. Rene Fiedler – March 2014

“Brilliant holiday! We had a fantastic time, our guides were friendly, knowledgeable and looked after us really well. The holiday ran very smoothly and we saw a lot of Thailand and Laos the average person doesn’t see. We also got to rock climb, go along underground rivers on an inner tube and stay in little huts with villagers. Highly recommended.” Anne O’Hare – February 2010

Click here for more reviews.