Price based on tours starting:

• 3 May 2026
• 17 May 2026
• 7 June 2026
• 14 June 2026

Extra charges apply for:

• 2 November 2025 ($200pp)
• 1 February 2026 ($200pp)
• 1 March 2026 ($200pp)
• 15 March 2026 ($200pp)

Travel Seasons for this itinerary:

Nov-Feb (Cool & Comfortable)
This is the best time to visit Northern Thailand and Laos. Expect mild temperatures, low humidity, and mostly dry days—ideal for sightseeing, boat cruises, and exploring temples or national parks. It’s peak travel season, so popular spots can be busier, but the pleasant weather makes it worthwhile.

Mar-Apr (Warm & Vibrant)
These months bring warm, sunny days and a lively atmosphere across Northern Thailand and Laos. While temperatures can rise to 35deg, this is a great time to experience local life, colourful traditions, and vibrant street scenes. It’s perfect for travellers who enjoy warm weather and a cultural buzz, with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, dining, and river experiences.

May-Jun (Lush & Green)
This marks the start of the wet season, but don’t be discouraged—rain tends to fall in short bursts, often in the afternoon or evening. The countryside is lush, waterfalls are flowing, and the landscapes are at their most scenic. A great time for nature lovers and fewer crowds.

Price based on departing from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Pace & Fitness 

A moderate level of fitness is required. This tour covers multiple regions in Thailand and Laos and involves early starts and some long travel days – refer to the day-by-day itinerary for more details.

You must be able to move about unassisted, including boarding and alighting vehicles and other forms of transport, walking up and down stairs, and navigating uneven terrain and footpaths. Some sections of the tour, particularly in Laos, may involve slippery surfaces, steep stairways, and natural trails when visiting national parks or scenic areas.

If you have any physical limitations or concerns, please discuss them with us at the time of booking to ensure this tour is suitable for you.

Visa Required

• Thailand: No visa is required for Australian passport holders.

• Laos: A visa is required due to the border crossing on Day 5 of your itinerary. A visa on arrival is available for all Australian passport holders. To obtain your visa at the border, you will need:
  • A valid passport
  • Two passport photos (if you do not have these, Laos immigration may take them for you at an additional cost)
  • Visa fee of approximately USD $50 cash per person

For the most up-to-date information on Laos immigration policies and visa requirements, please visit: smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/laos

Transfers  

Group airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the tour only. Transfers are not included for early arrivals or extended stays outside the tour dates.

Baggage 

Each traveller is permitted one bag, not exceeding 20kg plus a small day bag or backpack for the duration of the tour. This supersedes any airline baggage allowance. Due to internal flights, this weight limit is strictly enforced and excess baggage fees will apply if you exceed it.

Group Size

Travelling in a small group allows for a more personal experience. This tour operates with a minimum group size of 6 and a maximum of 16. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be offered a travel credit or the option to move to an alternative departure date.

Tour Leader

This 13-day guided group tour is led by two local tour leaders. From Day 1 to Day 5, you’ll be accompanied by a dedicated Thailand Tour Leader. From Day 5 to Day 13, a knowledgeable Laos Tour Leader will guide you through Laos.

Refer to Important Info for further details. 

Our hotels are carefully selected to suit the group size and itinerary, with a local rating of 3.5 to 4 stars. Rooms will be either twin (two single beds) or double (one queen bed). Bedding requests cannot be guaranteed, but please advise any preferences at the time of booking. Unless stated otherwise, rooms are lead-in category and non-smoking will be requested.

Indicative hotels:

• Bangkok – ASAI Bangkok Chinatown or similar
• Chiang Mai – Mövenpick Chiang Mai Hotel or similar
• Houay Xai – Vangview Borkeo Hotel or similar
• Pakbeng – Sanctuary Pakbeng Resort or similar
• Luang Prabang – Sunrise Garden Hotel or similar
• Vang Vieng – Silver Naga Hotel or similar
• Vientiane – Vientiane Hotel or similar

Please note: Hotels listed are indicative only and may be substituted. Final hotel details will be provided with your documents, no later than 30 days before departure.

A single supplement charge from $1000*pp is payable in addition to the twin share price for solo occupancy, providing you your own room for the duration of the tour. Single rooms can sometimes be smaller than twin/double rooms in Thailand & Laos.

Exclusions 

Meals not stated, drinks with meals, travel insurance (strongly recommended), visas fees – please see below for more details), tipping, personal expenses and anything not explicitly listed under inclusions are at your own expense.

Payment 

A first deposit from $499*pp is required to secure your booking. A second deposit (partial payment) is due 10 months before departure – the amount to be advised at the time of booking. The final balance will be due 5 months before departure. Full payment is due at the time of booking for departures within 5 months.

Triple Share 

Triple share is not available.

Extra Accommodation 

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation for this tour is not available.

Child 

This tour is best enjoyed by adult travellers and is not suitable for children under 12 years of age. Children 12 years and above are subject to the adult price and must be accompanied by an adult.

Price

Surcharges may apply for select travel periods and departure cities. Prices are correct at time of publication and are subject to availability, change, cancellation, or withdrawal without notice. All prices are in Australian dollars per person twin share unless stated otherwise.

Change & Cancellation Fees

Changes for any reason will incur a fee of $110 per person per change in addition to any travel service provider fees. Cancellation for any reason will incur a fee of $550 per person in addition to any travel service provider fees. Travel service provider fees for the tour and air components of the package are dependent on the date of the change or cancellation as follows:

• 0-29 days before departure 100% of the tour fee and 100% of the air fee will apply
• 30-60 days before departure 65% of the tour fee and 100% of the air fee will apply
• 61-99 days before departure 50% of the tour fee and 100% of the air fee will apply
• 100-180 days before departure 30% of the tour fee and 100% of the air fee will apply
• 181+ days before departure 10% of the tour fee and 100% of the air fee will apply

Airfares are generally non-refundable but any refundable ticket taxes will be returned. Full details of the change and cancellation fees is outlined in the Terms & Conditions available on our website.

Deviation 

Any request to deviate from the original dates or routing, including early arrival and stay behind, is subject to a flight deviation fee from $150 per person plus applicable airfare and tax difference. Packaged tour extensions are not subject to the deviation fee (applicable airfare and tax difference may still apply) if booked according to the original advertised dates and routing.

Passport 

For international travel, each customer must provide a copy of the passport photo page at the time of booking. It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure all names are full names exactly matched to the passport with six months validity beyond trip completion. The customer is liable for all fees due to incorrect names, invalid passport information and expired passports.

Visa 

For Australian passport holders, no visa is required for travel to Thailand.

A visa on arrival is required for travel to Laos. Due to the border crossing on Day 5, all Australian passport holders will need to obtain a visa on arrival. To obtain your visa at the Friendship Bridge border crossing, you will need a valid passport, two passport sized photos and pay a visa on arrival fee of approximately USD $50 cash per person.

Please note if you do not have passport sized photos the Laos immigration may take them for you however a fee will apply. The visa on arrival fee is subject to change at any time.

For the most up-to-date information on Laos immigration policies and visa requirements, please visit: smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/laos

Pace & Fitness

A moderate level of fitness is required. This tour covers multiple regions in Thailand and Laos and involves early starts and some long travel days – refer to the day-by-day itinerary for more details.

You must be able to move about unassisted, including boarding and alighting vehicles and other forms of transport, walking up and down stairs, and navigating uneven terrain and footpaths. Some sections of the tour, particularly in Laos, may involve slippery surfaces, steep stairways, and natural trails when visiting national parks or scenic areas.

If you have any physical limitations or concerns, please discuss them with us at the time of booking to ensure this tour is suitable for you.

Health 

It is the responsibility of the customer to check and comply with the health, vaccination, COVID-19 and immigration requirements of each origin and destination country, and health requirements imposed by air, tour, cruise, and accommodation providers. Vaccinations, testing, and quarantine costs are the expense of the customer. Comprehensive travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is strongly recommended.

Baggage 

Each traveller is permitted one bag, not exceeding 20kg, for the duration of the tour. This supersedes any airline baggage allowance. Due to internal flights, this weight limit is strictly enforced and excess baggage fees will apply if you exceed it.
We strongly recommend packing light. A small day bag or backpack is permitted on the coach. Porterage is not included – you are responsible for carrying your own luggage. Please note, we do not accept liability for lost or damaged belongings.

Meals 

Included breakfasts offered by the accommodation providers are typically buffet style, with limited vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options. For other meals included in the itinerary, we aim to cater to a wide range of tastes, providing food that is not too spicy or unusual but still represents the delicious local cuisine. Please notify us at the time of booking of any special dietary requirements and allergies. We endeavour to pass on your dietary requirements but cannot guarantee that they can be met as certain choices may be limited or not catered for. Your patience and understanding are appreciated. You are required to reconfirm dietary requests with your Tour Leader whilst on tour.

Accommodation 

A range of accommodation styles including hotels and resorts are carefully selected to suit the size of the group. Accommodation names referenced are to be used as an indicative guide for the standard of accommodation to expect. Actual accommodation names may differ and will be confirmed on your final documentation. All rooms are lead-in category or run of house unless otherwise specified. Requests for bedding double or twin bedding types can be made however these cannot be guaranteed. The standard check-in time is after 2pm and check-out is before 10am – actual times may vary.

Tipping 

Tipping for guides and drivers is discretionary and recommended as a gesture of appreciation for the service provided. It is customary to tip the tour leader and driver at the end of the tour from US$5 per person per day.

Flights 

The outbound flight may depart one day prior to day 1 shown on the itinerary. The inbound flight may arrive one day after the final day shown on the itinerary. Flights are booked about 8 to 10 months before departure. The flights included in your package are based on a specific predetermined airfare allowance. Should there be a significant increase in airfares, fuel levies, taxes, or government fees at the time of booking flights, then an airfare supplement may be imposed. The flights team will discuss options with you prior to ticketing, should this situation arise. Flights may not operate daily or directly to your destination. No show of any flight sectors will result in the automatic cancellation of all onward flights by the airline.

Fuel 

In the unlikely event of a significant increase in fuel costs levied by third-party air, land and cruise transportation operators before travel, a fuel supplement may be passed on to the customer.

Transfers  

Group airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the tour only. Transfers are not included for early arrivals or extended stays outside the tour dates.

Optional Programs

Specially crafted optional programs provide flexibility for you to explore further. Optional programs are expertly guided and include dedicated coach transportation, admissions and more. Optional programs may be offered in-destination by your tour leader with any amount quoted paid directly to the tour leader in local currency.

Group Size 

Travelling in a small group allows for a more personal experience. This tour operates with a minimum group size of 6 and a maximum of 16. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be offered a travel credit or the option to move to an alternative departure date.

Itinerary 

The operating schedule and itinerary may be impacted without notice by adverse weather, seasonal factors, closures, local conditions, COVID-19 or other factors beyond our control including force majeure. If attractions are not available due to reasons beyond our control such as closures or adverse weather, alternatives will be provided where possible. The itinerary and its order, sightseeing and transportation may be adjusted as deemed appropriate by the operator for optimum safety, enjoyment, and operation. Any reference to ‘optional,’ ‘not included’ or ‘exclusions/excluded’ means at your own expense.

Breakaway 

Customers must always remain with the tour group and not leave unless written approval is given before departure.

Documentation 

Final documentation will be emailed within four weeks of departure. For packages consisting of multiple tours or countries, documentation will be emailed individually within two weeks of departure of each respective tour.

Travel Insurance 

Travel insurance is not included and is strongly recommended. Ask our holiday experts for great coverage options.

Force Majeure 

Force majeure means any natural disaster, accident, fire, act of God, act of war, terrorism, legally binding judgment, injunction, action of a court or other relevant authority, emergency, unplanned repairs, maintenance, strike, industrial dispute, work ban, blockade or picketing, travel ban, pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of infectious disease, or other event beyond our reasonable direct or indirect control. In case of force majeure or other extraordinary event that prevents safe travel, the supplier reserves the right to adjust, postpone or cancel the trip.