Laos Thailand Cambodia Trip: 25 Days

There is a philosophy in Buddhism that the more you give, the wealthier you will become. And the almsgiving that takes place in the breathtaking town of Luang Prabang in Northern Laos is a beautiful visual display of this philosophy.

Every morning (just after sunrise) hundreds of saffron-robed monks from the various monasteries walk barefoot through the streets and are given food by the local people that sit and wait for them along the side of the road. This is a very important ritual not only so that the monks can receive food as they are not permitted to ever ask for anything, but also for the people that give the food as they gain merit and karma by feeding the monks.

If you are not a practicing Buddhist, then we would recommend only observing the almsgiving and not participating. As one thing that is taught by seeing this ritual is that the most important attribute to display is: Respect.

Just outside of Siem Reap in the heart of Cambodia lies one of the most remarkable cities in the world, sprawled out over an area the size of Paris lies the Lost City of Angkor Wat: the remains of one of the greatest kingdoms in Asia.

Its hundreds of temples and monuments will leave you speechless when you walk through them, as you're sure to be continually pinching yourself to make sure that you're not dreaming. The incredible temples of Angkor were abandoned over 500 years ago and then began to be slowly enveloped by the encroaching jungle.

However, the huge trees that have sprung through the ruins and wrapped their roots around its stones only add to the mystique and spiritual energy of Angkor Wat, one of the most wondrous places to see in the world!

*This is an ETHICAL ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE* Its giant size and gentle nature make it one of the most powerful, yet loving animals in the world. But because of this, they are often captured in the wild and sold to the logging industry to be worked to death hauling trees through the jungle.

Many organizations have sprung up to rescue elephants from this horrible practice and keep them in protected camps, run by families that afford to keep them fed and healthy, by giving other people the chance to interact with the beautiful animals. Deeply rooted in Thai culture, caring for elephants is extremely sacred; a family that cares for elephants dedicates a great deal of their life to the one elephant entrusted to their care, as they are usually bound to one another for their entire lives.

Getting face to face with an elephant is an incredible experience and one that you'll likely never forget!

Let's face it, we all want to ride in a hot air balloon. There's something about them that has captivated our imagination since we were kids. And what's not to love?

You get to float up to great heights in a giant picnic basket attached to a massive balloon powered by an open flame. It's an experience that belongs on everyone's bucket list.

Deep in the jungle of Laos along the Mekong River and surrounded by limestone cliffs, Vang Vieng is definitely one of the most incredible places on the planet to view from a hot air balloon. And the cave city of Cappadocia with its moon-like terrain and fairy chimneys is like no other place on Earth and perfect for viewing from the air at a relaxing pace in a hot air balloon to truly soak up its incredible beauty! *This experience is not doable from June-August

Most of us have tried rock climbing, but it's usually been in a sweaty gym with an artificial climbing wall that is trying to mimic the outdoor experience of rock climbing. When you climb a natural cliff face, your body seems to know it and you almost feel like you're tapping into a core part of your humanity that is telling you that somehow, someway you have to scale this cliff - and most people surprise themselves with their ability to do it.

One of the best parts of outdoor rock climbing is that it's generally done in some of the most surreal places on this planet so when you get to the top of your climb you're rewarded with a breathtaking view. From Thailand to Peru and beyond, get your climb on in some of the most beautiful settings for an incredible experience and tremendous feeling of personal accomplishment.

For most travelers, shopping at home is an expensive and (for some) inconvenient chore, as we must troll through stores, malls, websites and our friends' closets in search of clothes that fit us properly and match our style. If only we could just go see some kind of person who makes clothes specifically for our size and preference… like a tailor?

Having your clothes tailor-made is something we shrug off as something only for the rich and people interested in suits and dresses, but in many parts of the world tailors are still very prevalent and surprisingly affordable - and there is perhaps no place where this is truer than in Southeast Asia.

Bangkok in Thailand is famous for its many suit and dress tailors offering great deals on a virtually infinite list of outfits. Likely the only place better than Bangkok is in the beautiful ancient capital of Hoi An in Vietnam, where you can find very cheap and very good tailors that make both western and traditional Vietnamese clothing.

And we mean they'll make you anything: suits, dresses, jeans, shoes, jackets and with any material from high-quality silk to denim to leather. It’s a dream come true for clothes lovers and an easy and cheap solution for those that detest shopping!

Now we don't want to fool you, a jungle is an unforgiving setting to hike through - there is thick vegetation, overwhelming heat, leeches and an untold amount of other creatures lurking around. But there is also an extreme beauty that lies within the power of a tropical jungle, a rainforest is full of life and every square foot is covered in something interesting and unique!

You'll experience true adventure when you trek through a jungle and even if you're tired, dirty and fending off insects when you're doing it, you'll be proud of yourself when you finish! 

On our LTC trip, we go on a 3-day jungle trek in Northern Thailand that includes an amazing array of activities (including ethically interacting with elephants and riding a bamboo raft down a river).

We camp in tribal villages at night - eating with them, seeing how they live and tasting their not-so-delicious-but-potent "happy water" (rice moonshine). We sleep in a massive hut that fits the entire group and each morning we wake up, eat breakfast, shake off the happy water cobwebs and continue on our adventure.

It's an experience that fully encompasses the trials and tribulations of trekking through a tropical jungle - from muddy uphill paths to utopian waterfalls!

There are a lot of incredible cities in the world, but there is only one Bangkok. The main jumping point for virtually every person traveling through Southeast Asia, Bangkok is full of people from all over the world and there is something for everyone in this massive, colourful city.

And the temples, markets and shopping are sure all nice and dandy, but most "memories" that come from Bangkok are created after you have that first Chang beer or Sangsom bucket set, because after that really anything is possible!

We won't get into the details of what all happens in Bangkok because everyone will have their own story to tell after a night of partying in a city filled with all-night clubs, street-side bucket stands and essentially an adult "playground" everywhere you look. It's a common feeling to wake up in Bangkok, have no idea what time it is and try to figure out if what you remember happening the night before was a dream or if it really did all happen!

When leaving home and hitting the road with your backpack, one thought you may have in mind is that you're not going to have another good shower for awhile. In most parts of the world water pressure is lower, there is often no hot water and you just can't seem to scrub off that distinct backpacker odour.

However, there is one place where hundreds of gallons of refreshing fresh water can pour all over you in a surreal bathing experience and that spot is found at the bottom of a waterfall. When hiking around jungles, one of our favourite things to search out is a good tropical waterfall where you can swim, relax, and get right under it and let the huge torrent of water pour all over you and wash you clean!

Included in this trip is a guided temple tour to Doi Suthep (or Wat Phra That Doi Suthep) temple in Chiang Mai. Located on top of a mountain, this is a sacred site to many Thai people.

Walk up the gorgeously wrought staircase and be greeted by the beautiful golden spire located in the center of the mountaintop temple. It’s surrounded by historical murals and shrines, and also features a wonderful copy of the Emerald Buddha, the original of which now resides in Bangkok.

Built in 1383, Doi Suthep is still a working Buddhist monastery today. Get ready for some breathtaking views of Chiang Mai from the top of the mountain too.

This must-do activity in Northern Thailand is a dream come true for any foodie, traveler, or just plain hungry person. Start the day by meeting up with your host at a local market where you will help pick up fresh ingredients among the bustling, laughing Thai people.

Then it’s off to your host’s home, a beautiful villa with a huge garden where more of your ingredients come from... you know it’s going to be good. Even though nothing is pre-made and you are actually preparing every part of the meal, this doesn’t feel like work. With nap time included, it’s an easy-going day of cooking, tasting, and enjoying with your FnEZ family.

Plus, with 5 meals in total (one of them is desert!) you’ll be stuffed, rested, and ready to show off your new skills in the kitchen to your family and friends back home.

You want authentic? You got it. Grab a cold one, take a seat, and come watch the national sport of Thailand in its hometown: Chiang Mai! With open-air stadiums surrounded by street food, street beers, and a ton of locals, you’ll be right in the middle of an ultimate part of Thai Culture.

The Thai People take Muay Thai quite seriously, with events ranging in age from young children to full fledged athletes who have been training all of their life. This is real, intense, amazing stuff that you won’t want to miss on your trip to Northern Thailand. Feeling gutsy? Place a bet with a local, or your TFF, and join the scene!

Imagine: You’re on a slowboat on the Mekong River along the border of Laos and Thailand, there are palm trees swaying in the wind, deep rushes all around you, and your friends, new and old, are there enjoying it right alongside you.

This is what the best travel day on our LTC looks like! On the 12th longest river in the world, a wonderful local Laos family runs the private boat and you can spend the day playing cards, listening to music, writing, reading... whatever you want, whenever you want!

With places to sit, tables, beds, and three meals included (score!) you’ll hardly realize that you actually spent the day getting from one country to another.

The (in)famous party that really put Vang Vieng on the backpacker map is impossible to leave off our LTC trip! Get dressed up in whatever wacky hilarious costumes you can find and hang on! With riverside bars spotted along the tube ride, various games like beer pong, flip cup, mud pit volleyball, sprinkler basketball, and dance parties galore, you’ll be glad you came.

Try a selection of interesting drinks from rice whiskey to Laotian beers to fruity slushies. We take a tuk-tuk to the start of the tubing and ride the river back into town before the sun goes down. Some bars give out free shots on arrival and a string bracelet that can be used to redeem a shot at their bar in town later that night, just to make sure you’re having a good time!

Step off the beaten path and into the lush jungle where a meal becomes an experience with 12 authentic, home-cooked Thai meals included in this adventure. Our food journey begins in the villages of the North Thai jungle and continues through to the lakehouse for four days of delicious family-style meals.

Traditionally Thai cuisine is centered on five essential flavors: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy. Each meal includes a delicious rush of flavor and leaves you wanting more. Once we arrive at the first village our local guides work with the villagers to prepare the homemade meal, and there’s always room for an extra set of hands in the kitchen. Later we sit down to this fresh meal overlooking the rice fields and gardens where the food was grown.

Our second day in the jungle is filled with a delicious variety of meals! We start the day with the freshest of eggs, trek to our lunch spot to enjoy endless noodle soup, and finally, for dinner we dive into a meal of meat and veggie skewers with curry, which is presented to us on homemade bamboo plates. What a rush!

After a much-needed digestion break, we head to the campfire and top our night off with some local “Happy Water”. The following morning we hop on our bamboo rafts and head for a Pad Thai lunch stop on our way out to the lake house. Our flavour journey doesn’t stop there as our taste buds are in for a treat out at the lake.

Some highlights include traditional Chiang Mai sausage with sticky rice, fresh fish, tom yum, and pork chops. Vegetarian? No problem! All of our meals can be adjusted to accommodate a vegetarian diet. Take your taste buds on a flavour rollercoaster in Northern Thailand!

A trip to Thailand is not complete without a day spent shopping in Bangkok. Whether male, female, or a bit of both, there’s something for everybody in this crazy city! From the infamous street markets to the luxurious malls to the seemingly infinite amount of random market stalls, you can literally buy everything in Bangkok!

Get right into it and sift through boxes of knock-off designer jeans, check out the funky tee’s created by local artists, find piles and piles of rad shoes. Hit the electronics and find every movie ever made or cheap cellphones, computer software and old video games. Peruse the knick-knacks and score samurai swords, unique art, Buddha carvings, and homemade jewellery.

Party for Prosthetics is one of our newest initiatives that turns the aluminum tabs from beer cans into prosthetic limbs for people in need, such as those who have been dismembered from injury, disease, or landmines. We have partnered with a Thai organization called The Prostheses Foundation that has been doing this since the early 90’s - when we realized how much we could help out just by saving our beer tabs we thought this was a real win-win!

Through a combination of our beach bevvies, travel day sippy cups, and all-night ragers, we have been known to put away a few beers from time to time, and now we are turning these parties into prosthetic limbs! This initiative adds even more zest to each cheers, shotgun, and beer bong, and fills us with a sense of pride as we gather the tabs over the course of each trip and see buckets fill with valuable little pieces of metal that are going to change someone’s life!

What better way to end a days-long trek through the jungle than by retreating to a secluded lake house in the middle of the hills of Northern Thailand? Rinse off the jungle muck in the clear freshwater of the lake, crack open a beer (or five), and relax in your own private lake house.

Oh, did we mention that this lake house is also floating in the middle of the lake! We include all meals in this stay so there's no need to even worry about what you're going to eat. With one amazing meal after another served up to you right at the floating lake house, you can spend your days in a cool reclined position or roll into the water for a refreshing swim or hop on a kayak and paddle to an amazing local temple.

It's your place and it's smack dab in the middle of the lake so you can do whatever you damn well please! There's a rule that many of us already know: what happens at the lake stays at the lake!