Discover Asia - 37 Day Trip
One for the adventure people! The backpacking trip of your dreams ☀️
Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam in 37 epic days - ready to see it all?
Discover Asia - It says it all. The ultimate 37-day backpacking experience across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam! Starting in Bangkok, this tour will include all things tropical to kick off our backpacking adventure...islands, boats, beach parties and so much more before finishing in Phuket. A Tru-ly incredible way to kick off this trip of a lifetime before heading over to spend 11 unforgettable days in Cambodia and 13 days venturing up the beautiful coast of Vietnam. With a perfect balance of culture, adventure, nature and partying, you'll experience it all for sure! From visiting temples to trekking the jungle, tuk-tuk rides to exploring the coast by Hai Van Pass as well as trying out the food markets, seeking out all the insane Instagram-famous spots and snorkelling through crystal clear waters, Discover Asia has it all!
Travel Style
When we say classic, we mean the perfect balance of culture, adventure, beaches and parties. High number of inclusions, low cost. Tru-ly authentic experiences from home-stays & hostels to beach huts, hotels and boats. A classic tour means maximum adventure, minimum hassle. Built for backpackers by backpackers.
What's Included
Your Trip Planner
Discover Asia
37 Days
bangkok - hanoi
Map
Bucket List
Itinerary
welcome to thailand!
Welcome to Thailand and the start of your Epic Asia adventure! Our Tru Ninja’s have been patiently waiting for your arrival and will be ready to pick you up at the airport! A TruNinja is what we call our tour guides, they go above and beyond, they’re super cool, and will soon become your best friend. We’ll head straight to the hotel so you can get settled in before you meet the rest of what will soon be your TruFam! We’ll get to know each other, enjoy the first of many incredible dinners and hit the famous Khao San Road for a night to remember! You know it’s going to be an incredible 37 days!
exploring bangkok , thai massage & overnight train
Starting the trip on a high, we’re sightseeing the capital by water- yeah you read that right! We’ll be cruising along Chao Phraya River before exploring some of the most famous temples in Thailand- Wat Arun & Wat Pho, where you’ll certainly get plenty insta worthy shots! The rest of the day is for you to explore and get lost in the craziness of this beautiful city until we meet again in the evening to grab some delicious food and dance the night away with your new TruFam! We get it, the struggle is real so we’ll spend our second day relaxing, chilling, having a great time (if you know, you know). It’s time to destress with a traditional Thai massage before we travel on an overnight train to the stunning Khao Sok National Park located in the southern part of Thailand!
khao sok national park & bottle beach experience
Rise and Shine! We’ve made it to Surat Thani train station and it’s finally time to explore the wonders of Khao Sok National park where you can expect to see the most breathtaking scenery! Picture low clouds floating over the limestone mountains surrounding the emerald green lake.. Sounds dreamy right? We’ll spend the day floating around, kayaking or simply relaxing by the lake before heading back to the floating bungalows where we’ll stay the night and be treated to an incredible Thai buffet dinner! And if things couldn’t get any better, the next day we’ll be off to one of our favourite beaches in the world, Bottle beach for the most epic TruExclusive experience! We’ll play volleyball, go for a swim or a kayak, hike to an incredible viewpoint and end the day with dinner on the beach (obviously) followed by one too many cocktails by a campfire with our own private fire show.. Could it get any better than this? No, probably not.
muay thai lesson & koh phangan island boat trip
Enjoy a lazy morning, sleep in, relax at the beach, trek through the jungle, or do whatever tickles your fancy but make sure to recharge those batteries before it's time to work up a major sweat… You know what’s coming! We’re headed to a local gym, where we’ll get the opportunity to practise the ancient art of Muay Thai, Thailand’s national sport. We’ll take the ring before checking into our new home where we can freshen up, relax and test out all the incredible bars and restaurants for the next few days! We’ll live our best pirate life on our very own private boat trip, as we sail around the coast of the island, check out some incredible sea life and catch some rays with a drink or two in hand with tunes playing all day long! We’ll even stop for some lunch before heading back just in time to watch yet another magical sunset and dance the night away for one last time in Koh Phangan. Alternatively a quiet night by the pool/beach bar can also be arranged!
koh tao bound & koh nang yuan
Wave goodbye to the wonderful island of Koh Phangan, and say hello to its gorgeous little neighbour Koh Tao. An incredible island that’s bursting with nature, full of coconut farms, fishing villages and that’s most known for its unbelievable diving spots, beautiful beaches and laid back lifestyle. Once we arrive, we check in to our hotel near Sairee Beach, which is now lined with cool little restaurants and beach bars (and plenty of dive schools of course). We’ll spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, exploring the town or chilling on the beach before we hit some of the bars and see where the night takes us! The next day we get to see what all the fuss is about with the snorkelling and scuba diving in Koh Tao, we’ll even get to visit a beautiful island called Koh Nang Yuan. And to make things even better, snorkelling gear, lunch and drinks on the boat will be on us! However, If you’d like to arrange a scuba diving session instead then speak to your Travel Ninja or another one of the Tru Crew in advance, so that they can sort it out for you! We’ll then head over to one of the island's nice restaurants for dinner where we’ll shell-abrate with a few beers (or cocktails, even waters if you prefer) at one of the many little bars lining Sairee Beach. On our last day in this little paradise we’ve got options.. You can join us in Tanote Bay where we can arrange a jam-packed day with some extreme activities or you can simply spend the day in bed until we check out and begin our journey to the next destination.. It’s completely up to you!
phi phi islands & maya bay “the beach”
We’ve made it to the Phi Phi islands and you have time to do whatever the hell you like. We can trek up to the viewpoint, wander around the town, chill on the beach with a cocktail in hand, enjoy the lively nightlife and most importantly, head to some beach parties that often go on into the early hours. Whatever it is that you do, you know it’s going to be epic! We’ll spend some time in Maya Bay (iykyk) where you’ll walk in Leo Dicaprio's footsteps for the day! Of course we’ll do some more snorkelling, visit the Viking cave and even head to Monkey beach (yes that’s a place) before heading back while watching yet another stunning sunset from the boat. Living the best life! Moving onto the final stop.. Phuket (no we didn’t just swear). Here we'll stay near Patong Beach where there’s sooo much for you to do so have a little chill, explore and prepare yourself as we get ready to spend our last evening in one of the most epic countries in SouthEast Asia! Let’s end our Thailand experience on a high before we head to the next destination that is Cambodia!
Please note: The National Tourism Department of Thailand has announced Maya Bay will be shut for conversation and preservation in August-September 2025. If your tour is during this time we will instead take you to Bamboo Beach or another amazing beach nearby!
welcome to cambodia, rural experience & sunset bbq
Welcome to Cambodia! The travelling has probably taken it out on you so let’s meet our next Travel Ninja who will take us straight to our hotel! You’ll have the day to chill, before heading to the legendary Pub Street. You heard us right. PUB. STREET. A place of bonkers bars, weird and wonderful food, and enough neon lights to make Blackpool look like amateur hour. Then, if you fancy it, sink a drink or two with the TruFam. We’re starting our second day in Cambodia on a high with yet another TruExclusive! This time, we’re hopping in a tuk tuk and driving through the bustling streets of Siem Riep for an incredible cultural experience. We’re stepping into the shoes of a local Mango/Rice farmer to learn what it takes to harvest everyone’s favourite tropical fruit (if in season). The evening is yours to relax or take a dip in the pool, before we head to a magical sunset BBQ this evening. You’ve got an early and busy day ahead tomorrow, so sleep tight and recharge your batteries! It’s going to be a good one!
sunrise at angkor wat
Rise and shine people. We told you it would be an early start..ending your time in Siem Reap, today we’re off to visit the world’s biggest religious monument. Say (Angkor) waaaat? Get ready to snap away as we arrive at the UNESCO Heritage site just in time for a beautiful sunrise. We’ll spend the rest of the day relaxing, exploring Siem Reap and taking a much needed nap before our last night on Pub Street so let’s make it memorable!
travel by bus to phnom penh & khmer killing fields & s21
Today is an exciting day as we say hello to Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh. We get it, you’ll be tired so take a nap, catch up with your nearest and dearest and enjoy the ride! Then we’ll stop for some lunch in the countryside before we get checked in and head straight to the city for a lovely evening with the TruFam. In the morning, we head to Killing Fields, where a haunting Cambodian genocide took the lives of millions of people and the S21 Prison, where the Khmer Rouge held 17,000, very few of which survived. Of course, today’s visit won’t be easy but it’s a huge part of Cambodia's recent history and a place definitely worth visiting at some point in your life so in the evening feel free to spend your evening however you like.
arcadia water park & pepper plantations & cooking class
It’s day 20 and do you know what that means? No? Of course you don’t. Today we’ll be slipping and sliding by the riverside at Arcadia Waterpark in Kampot! Surrounded by stunning scenery, cool waters, rope swings and so much more, this is the perfect place to let your hair down and get wild with your TruFam! Spend your day sunbathing, kayaking, paddling or or fly high on ‘The Blob’, before you crash into the water, lose your bikini bottoms, and emerge, spluttering. If you can’t tell already, it’s going to be a greaattt day! The next day we’re off to a local pepper plantation where we’ll learn everything and anything about the famous Kampot peppers, you pepper believe it’s going to be a fun day! Get ready to cook up a storm because once you’ve acquired all the knowledge, we’ll head straight to the kitchen for a traditional Cambodian cooking class! In the evening, we’ll make our way to the waterside for a lovely dinner overlooking the river, sounds bloody lovely right?
travel to koh rong & snorkelling boat trip
They say you haven’t seen beauty until you’ve seen this place, and they ain’t (Koh) Rong. Today we’re headed to the island of dreams! Imagine this. Crystal clear waters, a cool breeze, white sands, beach huts and hammocks.. Sounds quite like a dream right?! Well that’s how you’ll be spending your day today before we head on a little adventure in the morning! The next day is all about getting your chill on. Have a lie in, enjoy a late breakfast and have a little stroll until we island hop in style in a traditional longtail boat, soak up the rays, top up your tan and check out the various marine life. We’ll head back for a final night on this beautiful island so get ready to have a beer or two and cut some shapes with the TruFam!
check out & travel to vietnam
Ah. The final day in Cambodia! But, lucky for you, your trip has not come to an end just yet! We make our way back to Phnom Penh before travelling to Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam, here we comeee! Once we reach Ho Chi Minh and start our last leg of this insane Ultimate Asia tour, we'll take it easy, head out for some food and enjoy yet another delicious dinner!
ho chi minh exploring, war museum & cu chi tunnels
There’s no messing around here! We’re diving straight into the history of this beautiful country and head to the iconic and historic city of Saigon where we’ll learn all about the Vietnamese war which spanned over 20 years and still impacts so many lives to this date. We’ll visit the Independence Place before continuing on to the cathedral and post office. Of course we couldn’t not visit a food market on our first day so that’s where we’ll head to next! Afterwards we’ll freshen up for dinner and see where the night takes us! In the morning we’ll have a big day ahead of us so get your comfies on as we head to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Built in the late 1940’s and spreading over nearly 250km, the Cu Chi Tunnels were used for housing troops, transporting communications and supplies, laying booby traps before returning to safety inside the tunnel and for many other things. You’ll get the chance to get up close and personal and even explore some of the underground hiding spots. In the afternoon we head back and prepare to wave goodbye to Ho Chi Minh as we head to the next destination- Hoi An!
hoi an lantern making, tailors, basket boat experience & bike rides
Welcome to Hoi An! Prepare yourself for an incredibly busy 3 days as we explore everything this place has to offer! As well as being a World Heritage Site, Hoi An is probably most famous for its Vietnamese lanterns that glow each night by the river. So we better let the locals teach you how to make one of your own before we head to yet another famous activity that is getting your own clothes tailor made, styled and designed exactly how you want them! Later on, we head to Thinhs, a local coffee shop owned by a Tru friend of ours Tinh who grows his own coffee beans and has some of the best Vietnamese coffee in the country! We’ll even learn the process of developing and roasting the beans before trying our very own coffee! The rest of the afternoon is free to explore as we please! You’ve had a busy day so the next morning feel free to snooze your alarm as much as you like, walk alongside the river, visit the famous Golden Bridge and get lost in the beauty of this city. It's day 30, our last day in Hoi An and we’re off on an exciting adventure! We’ll take a bike ride through the countryside before arriving at our destination where we’ll tick off a bucket list 10/10 experience.. We’re off to Coconut Woods where you’ll have your first experience on a basket boat. Get ready to laugh yourself senseless while you glide through the surroundings until things get a little wild to say the least as you’re shown exactly what these boats are used for! Once we’ve wrecked up an appetite we finish our day and head for dinner with the local family.
hai van pass in open top jeeps & cooking up a storm
If you’re a Top Gear fan then you’ll have definitely heard of the legendary Hai Van Pass which of course we’ll be doing today! We’ll hit the road in open top war jeeps, stop for some snaps, eat some delicious lunch and take a cheeky dip in the water before reaching Hue! It’s going to be a blast of a day we promise! Once we check-in and get settled in, we’ll head out to explore Hue’s nightlife, try out some local beers and dance the night away. No trip is complete without an authentic cooking class so prepare yourself to cook up a storm, slice and dice and enjoy every bite of your culinary masterpiece! After an incredible day, we wave goodbye to Hue and head onto our next destination - Ninh Binh!
ninh binh & halong bay cruising
If you’ve not heard of Ninh Binh then you will have definitely heard of what is known as.. Halong Bay on land and that’s because it’s just as beautiful! Once we arrive we’ll get straight onboard small boats and explore the area. We’ll even head to Tam Coc valley where you’ll find the famous limestone hills! The afternoon is yours to have a chill but if you’re feeling up to it we’ll hop on bikes and cycle around until mid afternoon where we head to the epic Hang Mua viewpoint. With around 500 steps to the top, you know it’s going to be a jaw dropping view! The next day we’re going to arguably the most iconic place in Asia - Halong Bay.
Picture this. Bright green sea, thousands of limestone islands dotted around and a night under the stars.. This is paradise! We’ll set sail, visit some beaches and spend an overall incredible day at sea and in the evening and learn how to make spring rolls whilst watching the sun go down!
idylic halong bay views & the hustle & bustle of hanoi
Wake up, rub your eyes, no you’re really here. Sit back, relax and soak in the beauty of Halong Bay before we make our way to Vietnam’s Capital- Hanoi! We’ll have some dinner, drink and of course, head out to see the city’s incredible nightlife! The next day is our final full day of our epic Ultimate Asia tour.. It’s going to be an emotional one. We’ll start the day sampling the famous egg coffee and head to see how they’re actually made. The rest of the day is left for you to explore the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Opera House and all the other beautiful spots in the city. It’s going to be an incredible day! In the evening we’ll get dressed up for our BIGGEST night out yet with the wonderful TruFam.
chill out & check out
It’s day 37! A day for sore heads and emotional goodbyes as we’re at the end of our Ultimate Asia tour. Just over a month of epic fun, unforgettable memories and life changing experiences! You’re a lifelong member of the TruFam and by now we're sure we’ll see you again real soon! Now the real question is.. Where Tru next??
WHERE WE STAY
FAQs
Where does the trip start & Finish?
The trip begins in Bangkok and ends in Hanoi.
Which airport do I need to fly into?
You will need to fly into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) which is the main international airport or alternatively we can also collect you from Don Muang (DMK).
What is the closest airport to the end destination?
The closest airport to your end destination is Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport) HAN.
Will there be a guide with me for the entire tour?
For 99% of the time your amazing Tru Leader will be with you to guide you, become your group's best friend, and show you the hotspots, hidden gems and best sunset beer spots (our favourite time of the day!)
On this tour, the guide will not be with the group for flights between Phuket & Siem Reap (day 14) or the bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City (Day 25.)
How much is my baggage allowance for the included flight?
All our included flights come with a free 20kg check-in bag. If you have oversize and additional bags to check in you will need to pay for them yourself.
What kind of accommodation is included on this trip?
Accommodation is twin share private rooms.
How much is pre-night accommodation?
If you would like to arrange a pre-night please email info@trutravels.com
Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We have no strict upper age limit on our tours but all of our tours are specifically designed for those of this age group which is worth noting when browsing through our website.
Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!
Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.