Experience the best of Southeast Asia on your gap year with this package that covers Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines in one epic trip!
Kick off your gap year in Thailand - the backpacking mecca of Southeast Asia. Spend a few days exploring Bangkok before travelling north to Chiang Mai... on foot! You'll be joining the adventurous Umphang Trek with the chance to spot Asian elephants in the wild.
From Chiang Mai, tackle your first border crossing into Laos with accommodation and transport all sorted. Then it's time to start travelling independently through Laos and northern Vietnam to reach Hanoi, where you'll meet your motorbike guide for a trip around the Ha Giang Loop. Afterwards, you can travel independently down the length of Vietnam and through Cambodia to reach Hua Hin, back in Thailand. This is where you'll spend two weeks volunteering with elephants, because gap years are better when you can give back to the local community and boost your CV at the same time!
After all that hard work, take your time travelling south through Thailand to the beautiful island of Koh Tao where you can learn to dive and get your PADI certificate. You'll be a backpacking pro by this point, so travel overland through Malaysia to Singapore where you can get a cheap flight over to Indonesia and explore the islands.
Just make sure you're in Canggu in time for your surf camp! Because you'll be learning how to ride the waves before booking another flight to Manila to join a two week island-hopping adventure around the Philippines.
*From price per person based on shared accommodation
What's included
- Flights from the UK to Thailand, returning from the Philippines
- 4-day arrival package in Bangkok with airport transfer, accommodation and activities
- 6-day Bangkok to Chiang Mai guided Umphang trek with accommodation, transport and meals
- 3-day Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang package with accommodation and local transport
- 6-day Ha Giang Loop Easy Rider motorbike tour with accommodation, transport and activities
- 15-day Elephant Refuge and Wildlife Rescue Centre volunteering project in Thailand with accommodation and meals
- 5-day learn to dive package on Koh Tao island in Thailand with accommodation and breakfast
- 8-day learn to surf package on Bali island in Indonesia with accommodation and some meals
- 13-day Philippines Island Explorer group tour with accommodation, transport and activities
- Booking fees
- Services of your own travel advisor
What's not included
- Travel insurance (but we can help you with that)
- Vaccinations (ask us about our discount with Nomad Travel)
- Meals (unless otherwise specified)
- Optional activities (but we have loads more to choose from!)
- Travel arrangements and accommodation during DIY sections of the itinerary (because we know you'll also want to travel independently on your gap year)
Suggested Itinerary:
Complete Southeast Asia Gap Year
Home - Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Hua Hin - Koh Tao - Singapore - Yogyakarta - Bali - Manila - Cebu - El Nido - Manila - Home
This itinerary is just a suggestion and can be customised to suit your unique travel plans. Make it longer, make it shorter. Add in the things you want to do. Get in touch with our travel experts to turn this itinerary into your dream Southeast Asia gap year.
Thailand
Start your gap year in Bangkok
Welcome to Thailand! And the start of your epic gap year.
We know backpacking for the first time can be a little intimidating. That's why we've set you up with a 4-day arrival package in Bangkok that includes a friendly transfer from the airport to your accommodation. Spend three nights in the city in a dorm room, where you'll get to meet other young travellers.
The package also includes a nighttime tour around Chinatown exploring the side-streets and food stalls less-visited, and a longtail boat ride along the Chao Phraya river with guided visits to different temples.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Trek your way north
Sure, you could take the bus north to Chiang Mai. But why do that when you can trek your way there instead?!
In Bangkok you'll meet the people that will be your travel buddies and fellow adventures for the next six days. And over the course of those days, you'll enjoy a cultural homestay in the Karen village of Palatha, witness Asian elephants in their natural jungle habitat, swim in the crystal-clear waters of Thi Lor Su Waterfall and spend a night camping in the jungle.
This is one adventure you won't forget in a hurry!
Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Tackle your first border crossing
Make your way from Thailand's northern capital of Chiang Mai to Laos' former colonial capital of Luang Prabang overland. You'll stop at Chiang Rai's famous White Temple on your way to the border town of Chiang Khong, where you'll spend the night within a stone's throw of the famous Mekong River.
Then cross the border into Laos and take the famous "slowboat" down the Mekong, stopping at the small village of Pak Beng for a night, before finishing your boat trip in Luang Prabang. Enjoy the natural scenery along the Mekong and leave the modern world behind for a couple days with transport and accommodation taken care of for you.
Laos to Vietnam
Independent travel
Now it's time to hit the road independently. From Luang Prabang you can explore more of Laos, exploring the stunning landscapes of Vang Vieng and enjoying the capital of Vientiane. We recommend you spend at least two weeks in this gorgeous little country.
From there, continue your journey to the north of Vietnam, aiming for Hanoi where you can enjoy a cold brew on the busy streets - perfect for people-watching. Then you can strike out to Halong Bay for a night or two cruising the spectacular karst island seascapes before meeting your local guide for a real off-the-beaten track adventure!
Ha Giang Loop
Motorbike tour of Northern Vietnam
For the next six days you'll be exploring the wild north of Vietnam on the back of a motorbike! Your local guide will be driving you around the enchanting Ha Giang Loop. On your adventure you'll witness incredible vistas, stop by authentic hill tribe villages and sample local, home-cooked cuisine.
Accommodation, transport and meals are included, with nights spent at local homestays for a complete cultural immersion. You'll also visit a few local temples and a royal palace.
The adventure ends back in Hanoi where you can spend a few more nights before heading south or hop straight on a train (or bus) to continue your journey through Vietnam.
Hanoi to Hua Hin
Travel DIY through Vietnam and Cambodia
If you want to follow the classic backpacker route through Vietnam from Hanoi, continue south to Ninh Binh for a similar karst island scenery, but this time on land. Then continue to the imperial city of Hue and the picture-perfect Hoi An.
You can make a side trip into Vietnam's highlands at Dalat or head to the beaches of Nha Trang before reaching the busy capital of Ho Chi Minh City. Before leaving Vietnam, we recommend you spend a few days exploring the waterways and communities of the Mekong Delta.
Then cross the border into Cambodia. Here you can explore completely independently (though we're always here to help with activities if you need us!). You can't visit Cambodia without seeing the spectacular Angkor Wat temple complex. In fact, you could easily spend a few days here exploring all of the different temples.
Elsewhere in Cambodia you can enjoy the beaches of Koh Rong, get to grips with the country's history in Phnom Penh or soak up the rural views in Kampot.
Once you've had your fill of Cambodia, head back into Thailand, where we've arranged a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with elephants.
Hua Hin
Volunteer with elephants in Thailand
If you want to make your gap year count for more than just a fun experience, volunteering is the way to go. It's an opportunity to give back to local communities and boost your CV for future employment.
That's why we've included a two-week volunteering package working with elephants and other rescued wildlife at a refuge in Thailand. This hands-on and ethical experience will help you learn more about these majestic creatures and the challenges they face, while caring for a wide variety of different animals.
You'll be working alongside other like-minded travellers from all over the world with accommodation and meals included.
Hua Hin to Koh Tao
Travel DIY south through Thailand
After all that hard work, you're free to explore the south of Thailand at your leisure. Once the volunteer programme has come to an end, head to the famous beaches and islands of southern Thailand for plenty of rest and relaxation. Popular stops include Phuket and Koh Phi Phi where you can admire the scenic karst islands.
End your island-hopping trip around southern Thailand on Koh Tao island for your next adventure... underwater!
Koh Tao
Learn to dive in Thailand
A gap year is a great opportunity to upskill and learn something new. That's why we've included a 5-day learn to dive package on Koh Tao island in the south of Thailand.
With calm waters and abundant aquatic life, Koh Tao is the perfect place to get certified as an Open Water Diver! You'll receive all the theory you need before heading underwater to put that knowledge into practice.
And it's the perfect point on your Southeast Asia adventure to learn to dive, so that you can use these new skills to dive in other spots in the region, like Indonesia or Malaysia.
Southern Thailand to Singapore
Travel DIY through Malaysia
By this point you'll be a seasoned backpacker. So travelling from the south of Thailand to Singapore will be a breeze!
We recommend you travel overland through Malaysia, visiting highlights like Langkawi Island (if you haven't had enough of the beach life yet!), the lush Cameron Highlands, the fascinating city of Penang and, of course, the capital of Kuala Lumpur. The street food here is incredible! But once you've had your fill, continue to Singapore, where you can spend a few days exploring before catching a cheap flight to Indonesia.
We've not included this flight in your itinerary to give you maximum flexibility. Plus, Air Asia is the region's equivalent of EasyJet, with affordable flight tickets between loads of destinations in Southeast Asia.
From Singapore you can either fly to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. But if big, busy cities are not your thing, fly instead to Yogyakarta, a vibrant city rich in cultural heritage.
Yogyakarta to Bali
Travel DIY through Indonesia
What you see and do on the Indonesian island of Java is entirely up to you as this section of your gap year itinerary is independent.
We recommend starting in Yogyakarta where you can visit the impressive temple complex of Borobudur. From there you can head Mount Bromo to witness sunrise over the smoking volcanic peak. There's a few other volcanoes and some stunning waterfalls worth visiting too, before you make your way to Bali.
Bali
Learn to surf
We've said it once, but we'll say it again - your gap year is the perfect opportunity to try things you've never done before. Which is why we've included an 8-day learn to surf package in Bali.
You'll learn to ride the waves like a pro with 10 hours of surfing lessons at our popular surf camp in Canggu. And there are plenty of social activities to help you make friends with your fellow surfers, like BBQ and pool parties. Accommodation, activities and some meals are included in the package.
When you're ready to leave Bali, book yourself a flight to Manila - the capital of the Philippines - for the last leg of your Southeast Asia gap year.
Manila to El Nido
Island-hopping in the Philippines
With pristine white beaches and majestic emerald cliffs, the Philippines is a tropical haven home to thousands of islands. You'll be exploring some of the most popular on a 13-day island-hopping adventure.
You'll be snorkelling in turquoise waters, visiting local villages, hanging out at waterfalls, discovering untouched islands and much more, travelling between islands by boat. Some of the highlights include canyoneering through the stunning Kawasan Falls and touring El Nido in a traditional Jeepney.
Once the tour is over, you can spend more time relaxing in El Nido or explore more the Philippines before heading back to Manila for your return flight home to the UK.
