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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of Southeast Asia

Escorted 19-day rail and cruise journey through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Illustration of Grand Tour of Southeast Asia

Great Rail Journeys' 19-day Grand Tour of Southeast Asia is an escorted journey through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, departing London Heathrow and returning via Bangkok. The tour opens with two days exploring Bangkok's temples and riverways, then moves to Kanchanaburi to ride the Burma Railway over the bridge on the River Kwai. From there, travelers fly to Vientiane and take the Laos-China Railway to Luang Prabang, where they participate in an authentic cooking class and experience the Tak Bat ritual with monks. The tour includes an overnight luxury junk cruise through Ha Long Bay, an overnight sleeper on the Reunification Express from Hanoi to Hue, and rail travel to the ancient city of Hoi An. The final days are spent exploring Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Throughout the 19 days, a UK Tour Manager provides guidance, accommodation is in four and five-star hotels, and all major transport, most meals, and guided tours are arranged. The pace mixes relaxing resort time with guided sightseeing in major cities and temples.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement is substantial: £6,299 versus £4,499 from, nearly 40 percent above half the double-occupancy price.
  • Day 15 in Hoi An is unguided; activities are listed as optional choices you organize independently.
  • An optional Apsara dance show with dinner in Siem Reap is payable locally and not included in the tour price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: In flight

    Overnight flight to Thailand

    Meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London Heathrow for an overnight flight to Bangkok, via Singapore.

  2. Day 2overnight: Bangkok

    A relaxed day in Bangkok

    Land in Bangkok and transfer to a five-star riverside hotel for a day to acclimatise. The hotel is perched on the banks of the Chao Phraya River with a waterfront garden and outdoor pool. Optional exploration including Wat Ratcha Singkhon temple or a ferry along the river. Group dinner at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Bangkok

    Embracing Thai culture and history

    Guided tour of Bangkok's most revered sites: Wat Traimit (home to a 5.5-ton golden buddha), Wat Pho (largest temple complex in Bangkok with a 150-foot reclining golden buddha), and the Grand Palace with the Emerald Buddha temple. After lunch, board traditional long-tailed wooden boats to glide along narrow klongs. Evening free.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4railovernight: Kanchanaburi

    To Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai

    Coach journey into Thailand's tropical interior to Kanchanaburi. Visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre and Allied War Cemetery. Arrive at resort hotel on the River Kwai for lunch. Sail up the River Kwai by long-tail boat to visit an ethnic Mon Tribal Village and enjoy a cultural show. Dinner at hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Vientiane

    Riding the Burma Railway and on to Laos

    Visit the Hellfire Pass museum after breakfast, walk through the cutting, then embark on a journey along the Burma Railway over the actual bridge on the River Kwai. After lunch, return to Bangkok for a short flight to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Check in to a five-star hotel near the Mekong River.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  6. Day 6railovernight: Luang Prabang

    From Vientiane to Luang Prabang by rail

    Morning sightseeing tour of Vientiane including Patuxai (Victory Gate) and Pha That Luang golden stupa. Lunch at a local restaurant. Board the Laos-China Railway to Luang Prabang, travelling at around 100mph in approximately two hours. Transfer to hotel for an evening at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  7. Day 7overnight: Luang Prabang

    The untouched beauty of Luang Prabang

    Early rise to experience the Tak Bat ritual with Buddhist monks. Visit a fresh fruit market and admire the city from Phousi Hill. Return to hotel for breakfast. Cruise along the Mekong to Pak Ou and its sacred caves housing hundreds of Buddha statues. Visit the Ock Pop Tok centre for traditional crafts. Sundowner drinks at the riverside. Evening at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Hanoi

    Authentic experiences of Laotian cuisine

    Early breakfast then tuk tuk ride to a farm-to-table restaurant to meet a top regional chef. Visit a traditional market to buy ingredients, then take part in a cookery class followed by lunch. Later, fly from Luang Prabang to Hanoi, Vietnam. Check in to a five-star hotel in the city centre. Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Hanoi

    Uncovering the sights of Hanoi

    Visit Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum after breakfast. Lunch at a local restaurant. Three-hour city tour including the Confucian Temple of Literature. Refreshments at a local coffee shop. Evening free to explore Train Street and dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  10. Day 10overnight: Ha Long Bay (aboard ship)

    Experiencing a night cruise on UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay

    Coach transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. Board a luxury junk boat for an overnight cruise. Lunch on board. Arrive at Cat Ba Island with choice of a stroll around the bay or a gentle bike ride to Viet Hai village. Dinner on board as the sun sets over the bay. Overnight in cabin.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  11. Day 11railovernight: Aboard Reunification Express

    Sunrise on Ha Long Bay and boarding the overnight sleeper train

    Early risers enjoy sunrise and a tai chi session. Breakfast served while cruising to the centre of the bay. Visit Trinh Nu cave (over 25,000 sq ft) with an included kayak trip. Disembark and coach back to Hanoi for a traditional water puppet show. Board the Reunification Express overnight to Hue in private-use cabins.

    Meals: Breakfast

  12. Day 12railovernight: Hue

    Arrival in the imperial city of Hue

    Enjoy a picnic breakfast on board as the Reunification Express arrives in Hue. Early check-in at a five-star hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of the Imperial Citadel (Nguyen dynasty capital 1802–1945) and the Thien Mu pagoda (seven-storey octagonal Buddhist temple built in 1601). Evening at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  13. Day 13railovernight: Hoi An

    Along the coast to Da Nang and Hoi An

    Morning visit to Dong Ba market, the oldest in Hue. Board the Reunification Express in Soft Seat class to Da Nang. Visit the Cham Museum. Transfer to Hoi An and check in to a five-star Art Nouveau hotel on the riverbank with a pool and rooftop bar. First evening free to explore.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14overnight: Hoi An

    Exploring the 'Lantern City' of Hoi An

    Guided walking tour of Hoi An including Tan Ky Old House (built 1741) and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge. Traditional lunch at a restaurant. Hands-on lantern-making workshop. Evening free to wander the Old Quarter lit by rainbow-hued lanterns.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  15. Day 15overnight: Hoi An

    Free day to discover Hoi An

    Free day to explore independently. Options include the Cantonese Assembly Hall, Trang coconut village basket boat trip, Central Market street food, or the Night Market for seafood. Breakfast included.

    Meals: Breakfast

  16. Day 16overnight: Siem Reap

    To the Cambodian jungle city of Siem Reap

    Leisurely final breakfast in Hoi An. Transfer to Da Nang for a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Check in to a luxurious five-star hotel. Free evening to explore markets, try Cambodian cuisine, or enjoy the hotel facilities.

    Meals: Breakfast

  17. Day 17overnight: Siem Reap

    Exploring Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm Temple

    Tuk tuk ride to Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Visit the Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Phimeanakas Temple, and Ta Prohm Temple (where trees have reclaimed the 12th-century Buddhist temple). Lunch at a local restaurant. Free afternoon and evening. Optional Apsara dance show with dinner (payable locally).

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  18. Day 18overnight: In flight

    The spectacular lost temples of Angkor Wat

    Visit Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure covering more than 400 acres. Explore ornate halls with intricate carvings and enjoy views from the Bakan Tower (steep steps). Receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk at a pagoda. Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for an overnight flight to London Heathrow via Singapore.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  19. Day 19

    Homeward bound

    Land at London Heathrow this morning, bringing the adventure to an end.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Day 5: Ride the Burma Railway over the bridge on the River Kwai after visiting Hellfire Pass museum.
  • Day 6Day 6: Board the Laos-China Railway to Luang Prabang, traveling at 100 miles per hour for approximately two hours.
  • Day 7Day 7: Rise early for the Tak Bat ritual with Buddhist monks and cruise the Mekong River to Pak Ou and its sacred caves.
  • Day 11Day 11: Kayak in Ha Long Bay's Trinh Nu cave, then board the Reunification Express overnight sleeper to Hue in private-use cabin.
  • Day 18Day 18: Explore Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure, and receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 14 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • 1 night in a double occupancy cabin aboard the Reunification Express
  • 1-night cruise aboard a luxury junk boat in Ha Long Bay
  • Standard & Soft Seat Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok
  • Flights from Siem Reap to London Heathrow via Bangkok
  • All internal flights
  • Breakfast each day, 1 brunch, 11 lunches, 4 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price from £4,499 includes all rail, coach, and cruise travel throughout the tour: the Burma Railway, the Laos-China Railway, and the Reunification Express (overnight sleeper Hanoi to Hue, Soft Seat Hue to Da Nang), plus Ha Long Bay junk cruise and internal flights.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from start to finish, and all transport, hotels, and guided tours are arranged.
Which trains are part of the itinerary?
The Burma Railway from Hellfire Pass to Kanchanaburi over the River Kwai bridge; the Laos-China Railway from Vientiane to Luang Prabang; and the Reunification Express from Hanoi to Hue (overnight in private-use cabins) and Hue to Da Nang (Soft Seat class).
What hotels are included?
Great Rail Journeys books 14 nights in four and five-star hotels: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham in Bangkok, River Kwai Resotel in Kanchanaburi, Crowne Plaza in Vientiane, Luang Say Residence or Avani+ in Luang Prabang, Hotel du Parc in Hanoi, Indochine Palace in Hue, Hotel Royal Hoi An, and Angkor Miracle Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. One night is aboard the Reunification Express sleeper and one aboard a Ha Long Bay junk boat.
When does this tour depart?
Departures run in October, November, January, February, March, and April. Eight departures are scheduled across 2026 and 2027.
What meals are included?
Breakfast every day, 11 lunches, 4 dinners, and 1 brunch. Most major meals are provided; some dinners and lunches are described as free or optional (for example, Day 9 evening and some Day 15 options in Hoi An).

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