Khiri Travel has announced twice-a-week guaranteed departures for four itineraries across Indochina: Bangkok to Saigon via Angkor Wat, Bangkok to Luang Prabang via either Luang Namtha or Vientiane, and Luang Prabang to Hanoi via the Plain of Jars. The trips require a minimum of two travellers.

“The political situation in Bangkok and Thailand has returned to peace and quiet,” said Willem Niemeijer, CEO and co-founder of Khiri Travel. “Bangkok is once again the perfect start point to discover Indochina overland.”

The four itineraries are being offered by a division of Khiri Travel, Khiri Naga, which specialises in flexible FIT travel options for independent and informal travellers on a budget.

“Khiri Naga’s thoughtful use of reliable public transport by train, bus and van and optional join-in tour segments allows us to open up authentic discoveries across Indochina and keep prices down,” said Anne Ujjin, sales manager of Khiri Naga.

The four trips include visits to iconic landmarks of Southeast Asia such as the Plain of Jars in Laos, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Viengxai ‘war caves’ in Northeast Laos, the Perfume Pagoda near Hanoi, and the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam.

Khiri Naga guests enjoy hands-on experiences such as a one-day hill trek with an Akha huntsman in northern Laos, cooking classes in Bangkok, elephant riding, swimming in waterfalls, taking the Bangkok to Chiang Mai night train, and staying in a village homestay in the Mekong delta. Khiri Naga travellers have enough time to add on soft adventure activities such as trekking, rafting and river tubing in Vang Vieng in Laos.

Niemeijer believes that the greater Mekong sub-region is ripe for exploration by a whole set of travellers who prefer to travel at around the three-star level. They are more interested in cultural experiences and exploring off-the-beaten track than staying in luxury accommodation.

Travel in the region is also easier now. “Border crossing points between Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are increasing all the time,” said Niemeijer. “Khiri Naga makes use of the improved roads now linking the countries of Indochina. More reliable transport now makes places that were hard to get to easier to reach.”

He added: “The trips are designed to be much more comfortable than backpacking. But they keep the fun and adventure of exploration.”

All four Khiri Naga journeys last seven or eight days. Group sizes never exceed eight passengers per trip.