Trail of the Dragon - 29 Days

Drifters Price: £693.50

RRP: £730.00

Trip Code: INTTOD

Local Payment: USD$400.00

Days 1-2 Bangkok

Travellers will be arriving at all times today, from all corners of the world. Feel free to arrive at the joining point at any time on day 1. For those who arrive early, see the noticeboard in the hotel for ideas on what to do around Bangkok, and ask for a map from hotel reception. There will be a group meeting at 18.00 on day 1, followed by dinner. You will need to bring your insurance documents and passport to the group meetings. There will be a notice from your leader confirming the time and location of the meeting. Please note that your leader will collect part of your local payment (USD200) today.

On day 2 we board a brightly coloured longtailed boat to explore the other side of Bangkok and experience life in the famous canals (khlongs). We then enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Wat Pho, home of the magnificent and huge reclining Buddha. There is free time in the afternoon and a popular activity among Intrepid travellers is to experience a traditional Thai massage, a great way to straighten out after a long flight. In the late afternoon we travel by taxi to the train station where we board our comfortable overnight train for Chiang Mai (approx. 13 hours). Our baggage travels in the carriage with us and there is a food and drink service available on board.

Day 3 Chiang Mai

On arrival at Chiang Mai station, we stop for breakfast before checking into our guesthouse. There is plenty of free time to explore the many temples, the old city and the fantastic view over Chiang Mai from the mountain temple of Doi Suthep. Finally, a visit to the vibrant night bazaar or some fine dining on the riverfront is a great way to round off the day.

Day 4 Chiang Khong

After breakfast we take a 7-hour bus journey through colourful countryside to the Thai border town of Chiang Khong. We stay in a guesthouse with spectacular views overlooking the Mekong River into Laos. You can relax on the verandah and enjoy a well-earned drink. For those wanting to stretch their legs the town can easily be explored on foot. What better way to enjoy the evening than to dine on our last Thai feast, while Laos beckons from across the river?

Days 5-6 Mekong River

After crossing the border into Laos, we board our barge for the 2-day journey down the mighty Mekong River to Luang Prabang. The journey is relaxed, as take in the slow pace of village life and the breathtaking scenery along the river.

We dock at the small pioneer town of Pakbeng where we spend the night. The standard of accommodation in this trading port is simple but comfortable. The following morning we reboard our boat and cruise to Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of Buddha images.

Our journey continues to the once royal capital of Luang Prabang, where we arrive in the early evening. Please note that the river boat is of a basic standard and some travellers may find the amount of room restrictive, though most of our travellers are happy with a book to read. Your leader will help arrange the purchase of food and drinks for the boat journeys. It can also be quite cold from November to February so make sure you have some warm gear packed!

Days 7-8 Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has a magical feel about it. Nestled in the hills of northern Laos on the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers, it is studded with ornate temples and French colonial architecture.

We visit the Royal Palace Museum, which has remained untouched since the royal family departed in 1975. We will also hop on a songthaew to the beautiful Kuang Sii falls, where pale turquoise waters cascade over limestone formations.

For a small additional cost there is also the option, for those who feel active and want to stretch their legs, to take a 3 to 4-hour walk through the countryside to the falls (in wet season it may be too slippery). At the base of the falls there is a large pool, making this an ideal location for a refreshing swim.

There is also free time to experience the charm of Luang Prabang. A climb to the top of Mt Phousi provides a fantastic view over the town and its surrounds. You can also visit Dala market, the many temples or take a longboat across the river to a traditional Laotian village.

Days 9-11 Vientiane

Today we take the bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. There is time to explore the town and admire the fantastic limestone karst scenery, wander through the local markets, or take a walk along the river. The numerous caves in the area are also worth the effort to visit, travelling through small villages and gaining an insight into the local life.

Life in Vientiane is relaxed with daily affairs conducted at a slow pace. There is a wealth of cultural delights to discover; on foot, by bicycle or, for the less energetic, by songthaew. Visit Laos' most important national monument, Phat That Luang, or meander down the dusty riverside tracks to find villages full of friendly children, dogs and chickens. A visit to Vientiane's vibrant, colourful morning market (which incidentally is open all day!) is full of local treasures. A great way to round off the day is to enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Mekong at one of the many stilt restaurants along the riverbank.

Day 12 Lak Sao

A bus ride (approx. 7 hours) takes us along the mountains and limestone karsts south and east to the border town of Lak Sao. Our accommodation is basic though comfortable, with a strong Vietnamese cultural influence.

Days 13-15 Hanoi

A long, long day takes us across the border and north to Hanoi, arriving in the evening of day 13. This journey is a long bus day along Vietnam's famed Highway No. 1.

Hanoi is renowned for being one of the most beautiful Asian cities. There is time to explore this wonderful city filled with wide tree-lined boulevards, pagodas, lakes and alfresco cafes which are pefect for sitting and absorbing the atmosphere. We have the option to take a tour of the vibrant old quarter which is comprised of 36 streets where all manner of goods can be found - silk, wood carvings, lacquerware. Shopping here is a must!

As this is a combination trip there may be a change in group composition here in Hanoi. There will be a meeting in the evening of day 15 to meet those joining here and cover details of our travel into China. Please note that your leader will collect the second part of your local payment (USD200) today.

Days 16-18 Halong Bay

We travel to Haiphong (approx. 3 hours) and board a ferry for Cat Ba island (approx. 3 hours). Day 17 is spent on the island and there are options of trekking in the National Park, spending time on the beaches, checking out a village or watching the activity in the harbour - a great foreshore to sip an evening beer and watch the sunset.

On day 18 we board a chartered boat to cruise around majestical Halong Bay for 4 hours, where 3000 limestone peaks emerge straight from the sea. Halong Bay has been declared a World Heritage site and it's easy to see why. During warm weather we may swim around the boat and to beaches. We have the opportunity to visit some spectacular caves crammed with stalagmites and stalactites and eat a scrumptious seafood feast on board for lunch. Later we travel around 5 hours to the border town of Lang Son, where we spend the night before our early start tomorrow.

Days 19-21 Huashan

Be prepared for some long waits at the Friendship Gate border crossing into China. We travel on to Ningming (approx. 1 hour) and board a riverboat to take us up the Zuo River to Huashan (approx. 2 hours). This is an area filled with magnificent karst scenery and prehistoric rock paintings. We spend the night in the charming Huashan Hotel, set in a little village of wooden Dong and Zhuang-style houses. There are no cars or motorbikes here as the only access is by the Zuo river, so we can explore the magnificent mountain scenery undisturbed.

On day 21 we leave the Zuo River, joining locals on the bus from Ningming to Nanning (approx. 4 hours). Then its onto Guilin (approx. 5 hrs).

Days 22-23 Chengyang

Leaving the provincial capital, we continue north by bus on the tough road from Guilin to Sanjiang (approx. 5 hrs). 20 kms north is Chengyang where stay in a traditional wooden guesthouse. We enter the village by foot across one of the many wind and rain bridges in Sanjiang County. The bridges, or fengyu qiao as they are called locally, once served religious purposes but are now mostly used as a place for the local people to sit around, chat and sell their wares. They were traditionally entirely built in pegged cedar, and it has been said that there is not a single nail used in their construction.

We have a full day to explore Chengyang with its two and three-storey wooden houses. The village is set around a small lake with waterways running amongst the houses - it's like stepping a hundred years back in time. Here we can experience rural life in the region.

Days 24-25 Longji

Our journey continues by local bus as we cross the ancestral home of many of South East Asia's minority hilltribes to reach the Longji Valley (approx. 5 hours).

Carrying just a daypack, we hike for 1 hour to our guesthouse in a small village which affords magnificent views of the valley. On day 25 we take a day hike through the Longji Valley to visit local hilltribe communities and learn about village life. Expect to carry your own daypack and walk for up to 6 hours. The Longji Valley has some of the most extensive rice terracing that you are ever likely to see. The terraces change with the seasons, from being filled with pure water from the mountains, to turning green during the growing season and then golden brown when the rice is ready to be harvested.

Days 26-27 Yangshuo

After walking back out from the village, we travel by bus via Longsheng and Guilin to Yangshuo (approx. 8 hours). The region around Yangshuo is a well-known scenic attraction in China where the Li River winds its way around thousands of limestone karst mountains. Each is impressively named, in true Chinese tradition!

There are many options for our time here. We have the opportunity to do a boat trip up the Li River, taking bikes on board and cycling back through the countryside, stopping in at markets along the way. We have free time to venture out onto the waters to observe one of the local traditions, cormorant fishing, or to take a bike ride through the surrounding countryside with a local guide. It is also a wonderful area for taking off and exploring by yourself as every turn in the road brings you to another picture-postcard location and illustrates why Yangshuo is a firm favourite of Intrepid travellers.

In the afternoon of day 27 we transfer to Guilin and board a comfortable overnight train bound for Guangzhou (approx. 14 hours).

Days 28-29 Hong Kong

Arriving in Guangzhou from the overnight train, we transfer to Hong Kong by bus or hydrofoil (approx. 4 hours).

There are many things to do in bustling Hong Kong, from catching a bus to Stanley Market and shopping along Nathan Road, to taking in the stunning views from Victoria Peak or cruising on the harbour - you choose. You may wish to book some extra accommodation to take full advantage of this dynamic city. Hong Kong's many fine restaurants provide the perfect setting for a final night's dinner.

You are free to depart at any time on day 29.

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