-
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
-
Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China
-144-hour visa-free
-You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country
-Passport
-You’ll need to fill out an arrival card upon landing, which is usually provided on the plane or available at the airport.
-Inform the Airline Staff: When checking in for your flight to China, let the airline know that you intend to use the 144-hour visa-free transit.
Upon arrival at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA) airport, go to the dedicated immigration counter for visa-free transit. There, you’ll present your passport, onward flight ticket, and any necessary documents (like accommodation booking).
Receive Temporary Stay Permit: The immigration officer will stamp a temporary stay permit in your passport, allowing you to stay in the region for up to 144 hours.
-
Bangkok, Thailand
Look at Organic maps as well
3 nights most recommend
Bella Bella Riverview hostel
Check in:14:00-18:00 - said we could do a late check in if we message for the code a few days beforehand
Check out:08:00-12:00
Samsen 3 Alley, Phra Nakhon, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
—>overnight bus from 12th to 13th- arrive in trekkers on 13th
To do:
Grand Palace
Wat Pho
Ferry to Wat Arun
Khao San Road
Icon Siam mall
Bayoike Tower
Central World, MBK centre, Iconsiam
Yaawarat road -Chinatown
River Cruise
Golden Mount
Mahanakon skywalk
Chatachuk weekend market
Float markets
Can get flight out to Chaeng Mai
Can either go to Chiang Mai OR fly to Phuket / sleeper bus
Thailand = Visa- free entry on arrival for 60 days
November to March 28 ‘C
-at least THB 20,000 per person
-passport valid for 6 months
-2 remaining unused pages
-
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Old city
Trekker Hostel
Check in: 14:00-20:00
Check out: 08:00-11:00
20 Paprow, Padad, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50100 Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Cube check in 14:00 🕑 on 17th
Check out 19th @ 11:00
19th getting yellow bus @ 11am @ Wororas Market to Watcharas Organic Farm to volunteer for 1 week
Lanna Market ✔️
Doi saket north of lake free release of lanterns✔️
Sticky waterfall ✔️
-
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Order Laos Visa
Can get the slow boat to Luang Prabang-> cross border & stay in Pak Beng for one night and onto Luang prabang
Instead of slow hot get Shampoo Cruise as will sleep better hopefully & be less cramped
•Blue temple
•White temple
•Bamboo Bridge
NB skipped Pai as people say it is just for backpackers, hippies & partying. Not very good for Thai culture as mainly westerners backpacking. The only thing we were interested in there we couldn’t do elsewhere is Pai Canyan so not worth the price to spend on travelling.
-
Pak Beng, Laos
Slow boat from Chiang Rai to Pak Beng
-
Luang Prabang, Laos
Fast train from luang prabang to Vang Viene
the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, it earned UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to its well-preserved architecture that blends traditional Laos and French colonial styles.
-night market
-Wat Aham
-Mount Phousi, a temple-topped hill right in the middle of town, will give you some wonderful sunset panoramas
-multi-tiered Kuang Si Waterfalls with their shimmering azure pools are phenomenal, but it’s best to go here in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the mid-day rush.
-2-minute ferry across the Mekong from the docks in downtown- wilder
-River North - Pak Ou, where you can visit caves and Buddhist temples. The excellent site Travelfish has a great suggested motorbike loop covering many great highlights around Pak Ou. If you don’t have your own transportation, you can visit several waterfalls and caves on a day trip.
-motorbike from Luang Namtha to Muang Sing that I can highly recommend. It goes right through Nam Ha National Park
-
Nong Khiaw, Laos
Not many people mentioned here, can leave out
3hrs from Luang Prabang
-Hike to 3 viewpoints looking into town - kayaking, trekking, caving, hiking
-Muang Ngoi Neua is in a stunning location one hour by boat north (not much to do here)
-
Luang Namtha, Laos
Close town to reach Nam Ha Nat’l Park
-Stay at Taidam Guesthouse
-jungle treks
- indigenous hill. Villages - more ethical than Thailand & Vietnam as limited to 2 visits of 8 per week… check your guide is an ethical company
-Gibbon Experience in Nam Kan Nat’l Park - sleep in the world’s highest tree huts and zipline across jungled valleys using a combined 15 kilometers of cables & hear gibbons -a 3-day package costs about $300 - however it genuinely contributes to forest & villages
-
Muang Sing, Laos
Near Chinese border of China’s Yunnan province
Quiet
- guesthouses, museum. Bicycle rental, government run trekking
-
Phonsavan, Laos
Phonsavan and the Plain of Jars
Megalithic Archaeological site -stone jars strewn across the Xiangkhoang Plateau
Easiest reached from province capital Phonsavan
Jar Site 1 is the most impressive one, though there are over 100 jar sites.
Annoying far away from other sites - whole day to get here from Luang Prabang - such as to Viang Xai or into Vietnam
US during the Vietnam War, suffering from heavy bombardment and conflicts instigated by the CIA. Local museums can tell you about the war and the issues with unexploded ordnance
-
Vang Vieng, Laos
Can get a bus on 12Go to Vientiane
Vang burn Chill hostel & you can book a hot air ride through them
-
Thakhek, Laos
To get to Pakse- need to bus back to Viatien capital
Takes 3-5 days loop
-
Vientiane, Laos
Some people skip Thaket and get a sleeer to pakse
-
Pakse, Laos
Pakse loop/ Bolaven Loop
2 days for short loop & 3-4 days for long loop - many people skipped Thaket and went straight here
Mini Van to Don Det with hostel (£6)
-
Si Phan Don, Laos
This place apparently has the nicest waterfalls in Laos - Riverine archipelago of Si Phan Don which may include Don Det
-
Don Det, Laos
4000 islands - Island on the Makong river
Need cash as no cash machines on islands
Not much to do just chill out
If doing Kratie- best option=
Straight from Nakasong/Don Det to Kratie: 6-8 hours (including border crossing). Cost: $18-25.
From Nakasong/Don Det (Si Phan Don) minivans run to Kratie. The journey includes a border crossing at the Cambodian border town of Trapaing Kreal. The most common operators for this route are travel agencies that cater to backpackers, such as Green Paradise and Asia Van Transfer (AVT).
Or
To get to Cambodia =
—>Ferry from Don Det to Nakasong (20-30mins)
—>Bus/minivan from Nakasong to Pakse (3-4h)
—>Pakse to Cambodia
By Bus:
Pakse to Stung Treng (Cambodia): This is the nearest Cambodian town just across the border. Minibuses/buses are available for this route, 2–3 hours + Dong Kralor–Veun Kham border crossing
P To Phnom Penh: Direct buses are available from Pakse to Phnom Penh, 10–12 hours. These buses often pass through Stung Treng.
Pakse to Siem Reap: Direct buses from Pakse to Siem Reap (home of Angkor Wat) take around 10–12 hours.
Minivans are available but more expensive
-
Krong Kracheh, Cambodia
Kratie
If see the dolphins in Don Det can leave out ….Irrawaddy river dolphins, ancient pagodas and its French colonial architecture.
To go to Siem Reap =
£10 bus with Virak Buntham Express
12Go
You may be switched between VIP bus/sleeping bus/seated bus- speak to staff on arrival
6h30m - may be late 1-2h because of traffic
Be at departure point- The office 30mins prior to departure
-
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
To get to Battambang
12Go Capitak VIP offer £5 4h bus
-
Krong Battambang, Cambodia
Battambang to Kampot- Rome2Rio shows £20 bus to Pomb Pen and then into Kampot
-
Krong Kampot, Cambodia
-
Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia
-
Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia
-
Koh Rong, Cambodia
-
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
-
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
-
Da Nang, Vietnam
-
Hội An, Vietnam
-
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
-
Ninh Bình, Vietnam
-
Hanoi, Vietnam
-
Hanoi, Vietnam
-
Hà Giang, Vietnam
-
Phuket, Thailand
-
Railay Beach, Thailand
-
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
-
Koh Tao, Thailand
-
Koh Phangan, Thailand
-
Koh Samui, Thailand