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Peregrine Travel Centre

China & Laos: Kunming to Bangkok by Rail

China & Laos: Kunming to Bangkok by Rail

From $ 3,495 AUD

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Description

Get ready for 11 days of authentic culture, delicious food and standout scenery as you travel from China to Laos on a bullet train. Kick off in the Eternal Spring City of Kunming, then hop on China’s high-speed rail to Jinghong, where you’ll dive into ancient customs at a Hani village and pluck and brew Yunnan’s famous pu’er tea. Cross the border into Laos to watch the sunset wash orange hues over Luang Prabang’s sacred Wat Phu Si hill and kayak the picturesque Nam Song River. Then, wander the mansion-lined boulevards of Vientiane before bunking up on an overnight train to the buzzing streets of Bangkok.

Trip Name
China & Laos: Kunming to Bangkok by Rail
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
11
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Embrace the sleek bullet train from Jinghong to Luang Prabang. Completed in 2021, this rail line – one of the first international high-speed routes outside Europe – has revolutionised travel in the region with comfort and speed.
  • Discover how Yunnan's unique pu'er tea is made from start to finish in a Hani village on Nannuo Mountain. Pluck your own leaves, learn how to prepare it, then share a hearty Hani lunch with your host family.
  • Cruise the quiet waters of the Mekong to Pak Ou Cave to explore sacred limestone caverns filled with hundreds of timeworn Buddhist statues.
  • Paddle through karst-studded scenery on a kayaking adventure on Vang Vieng’s Nam Song River. Wave at local fishermen and enjoy some small (but fun!) rapids along the way.
  • Learn about Laos’ wartime history at COPE – an organisation dedicated to assisting people injured by the country’s multitude of unexploded bombs.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. PASSPORTS USED FOR ENTRY TO TOURISM SITES AND TRAIN STATIONS International visitors will have their passport scanned upon entry to tourism sites and at train stations in China. The passport acts as an entrance ticket and it takes 1-2mins for scanning and entry. This means that it can take 20-30mins for our groups to enter some locations, depending on group size and processing capacity in each location. Chinese nationals have their ID cards scanned at these locations and these are processed instantly.

Day 1 - Kunming
Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring thanks to its mild climate and ample green spaces, there's plenty to do in Yunnan’s capital city if you arrive early. Wander Green Lake Park’s manicured gardens and watch locals practising tai chi, check out the galleries and cafes in an old factory area known as The Loft or visit the grand Yuantong Temple. This evening, maybe get to know your group over an optional dinner and sample some flavourful Yunnan cuisine – crossing-the-bridge noodles (rice noodle soup) is Kunming’s signature dish.
Day 2 - Jinghong
Today you'll take your first high-speed train from Kunming to Jinghong. Arrive around midday, then join your leader for a walk in Manting Park – the former royal garden of the Dai Empire with over 1300 years of history. Take in the Dai architecture, see rare flowers and explore revered Buddhist temples. This evening, head to the Starlight Market which sits beneath the Golden Pagoda. Yunan province is famous for its diverse ethnic cultures – including the Dai – and this is reflected in the huge variety of local artisans, craftspeople and food stalls. It’s a great chance to sample Dai delicacies – how about Dai-style sour vermicelli or bamboo sticky rice? If you’re overwhelmed by the options (we don’t blame you), just ask your local leader for recommendations!
Day 3 - Jinghong
Take a private vehicle to Nannuo Mountain to visit a local Hani village. The mountain is one of the ancestral homes of the Hani – an ethnic group who’ve lived in southern Yunnan for over 1300 years – and they’re deeply connected to it. The mountain is also famous for producing China’s top pu'er tea, and you’ll learn all about how it’s made straight from the source! Go on a short hike through the plantations where you’ll see an 800-year-old tea tree, pluck your own leaves and enjoy a tasting with your Hani hosts – a family who’ve been growing pu’er for generations. Then, share a hearty home-cooked lunch on banana leaves before returning to Jinghong. The rest of the afternoon is free to unwind.
Day 4 - Luang Prabang
Take a bullet train across the border to Luang Prabang this morning. Your leader will be on hand to assist with any border formalities. After checking into your hotel in the early afternoon, stretch your legs on an orientation walk with your leader to find your bearings in this UNESCO-listed city. Once the capital of the ancient Lao Kingdom (Lan Xang), Luang Prabang is a city of opulent Buddhist temples and French Indochinese architecture set in the lush northern highlands. Then, enjoy a few hours of free time before regrouping to watch the sun set over the city and its surroundings on the sacred Wat Phu Si hill. There’s an optional dinner tonight at Talad Mued Night Market to try sindad – a traditional communal BBQ set on a charcoal stove with a rim full of boiling broth to blanch veggies.
Day 5 - Luang Prabang
Find your river legs on a half-day cruise along the Mekong River – the world's twelfth-longest river and the third-longest in Asia. Enjoy the relaxed river vibes as you drift past overhanging reeds and see forested mountains in the distance. Stop at Pak Ou Caves – an important religious site only accessible by boat – to explore hundreds of Buddha statues inside the limestone caverns. Reboard the boat and eat lunch on the way back to Luang Prabang, returning to your hotel in the early afternoon. If you’re keen to see more, you could visit Kuang Si Waterfall to swim in its chalk-blue waters. Tonight, maybe hit up the night market to try more Laotian dishes – khao niew (sticky rice) and larb (minced meat salad) are classics.
Day 6 - Vang Vieng
Rise early this morning to witness a traditional alms giving ceremony – a centuries-old Laos Buddhist ritual that happens daily at sunrise. View a procession of saffron-robed monks as they collect food offered by devotees. The offerings must be collected early, as the monks can’t eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk, it’s believed you ‘het bon’ (make merit) which will be carried over into the next life. Your leader will guide you through the dos and don’ts and help you take part. Then, enjoy an easy morning or take the time to visit a local fair trade centre that’s on a mission to preserve traditional Laotian handicrafts and make your own bamboo basket. Leave in the afternoon to catch a bullet train to Vang Vieng. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon, then maybe grab dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7 - Vang Vieng
This morning, head to the Nam Song River for a kayaking trip. Paddle with a backdrop of limestone cliffs and forested mountains, maybe riding the occasional mini river rapid along the way. Rest ashore for a while and stretch your legs to Phar Norn, meaning ‘Sleeping Cave’, to snap a photo of the surrounding karsts before kayaking downstream back to Vang Vieng. You have free time for the rest of the afternoon. You might like to visit Tham Chang – a beautiful cavern fed by a natural spring – or explore the area on a bike.
Day 8 - Vientiane
Enjoy a relaxed morning before taking a train to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. You’ll arrive in the afternoon. Spend the day in what could possibly be Asia's most laidback capital. Walk, hire a bike or jump on a jumbo (tuk-tuk) to explore the city’s faded mansions, tree-lined boulevards and old temples. There’s an atmosphere of timelessness in Vientiane, especially in the older part of town along the Mekong River. After sunset, why not grab a bite at the lively night market?
Day 9 - Vientiane / Overnight Train
This morning, visit Wat Si Saket – the city’s oldest temple still standing and home to almost 7000 Buddha images. Then, visit COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) – an organisation dedicated to supporting people affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO), which still affects many Laotians each year due to the US bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. This is an excellent cause and a chance to educate yourself about Laos' devastating war history. After, buy a snack or drink from their Karma Cafe. Relax for the next few hours, as tonight you’ll take an overnight train to Bangkok!
Day 10 - Bangkok
Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. You’ll arrive in Bangkok early in the morning. You'll be able to use the multishare rooms for a quick freshen-up, and your leader will show you where to get breakfast. Maybe try a classic Thai breakfast like khao tom (savoury rice soup) or pathongko (Thai-style doughnuts). The rest of the day is free to explore Thailand’s bustling capital – and there’s so much to see and do! Wander the Chinatown area, visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or grab a drink in the backpacker hub of Khao San Road. Depending on how well you slept on the train, you could even treat yourself to a Thai massage. Tonight, regroup with your leader and fellow travellers for an optional farewell dinner and toast to a brilliant adventure.
Day 11 - Bangkok
With no activities planned, your adventure comes to an end today and you’re free to leave any time after checking out. If you’d like to extend your stay in Bangkok, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
12-03-202622-03-2026AUD $ 3,495-
16-04-202626-04-2026AUD $ 3,635-
30-04-202610-05-2026AUD $ 3,635-
04-05-202614-05-2026AUD $ 3,635-
02-07-202612-07-2026AUD $ 3,775-
16-07-202626-07-2026AUD $ 3,775-
20-08-202630-08-2026AUD $ 3,635-
03-09-202613-09-2026AUD $ 3,635-
17-09-202627-09-2026AUD $ 3,635-
15-10-202625-10-2026AUD $ 3,495-
22-10-202601-11-2026AUD $ 3,495-
11-03-202721-03-2027AUD $ 3,495-
15-03-202725-03-2027AUD $ 3,495-
29-03-202708-04-2027AUD $ 3,495-
03-05-202713-05-2027AUD $ 3,495-
01-07-202711-07-2027AUD $ 3,495-
15-07-202725-07-2027AUD $ 3,495-
19-08-202729-08-2027AUD $ 3,495-
02-09-202712-09-2027AUD $ 3,495-
16-09-202726-09-2027AUD $ 3,495-
14-10-202724-10-2027AUD $ 3,495-
21-10-202731-10-2027AUD $ 3,495-

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights),Overnight Train (1 night)

Transport

Private vehicle,High Speed Train,Overnight Train,Boat

Map

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