Young Pioneer Tours are excited to announce our program of South-East Asia Tours for 2024 and 2025. These include some of our regular favourites to lesser visited places around Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, but also some new key additions to our travel options in the region, such as Bougainville, where we meet the King and are welcomed as one of a few groups in what might well become the world’s newest nation next year.
South-East Asia is very much at the heart of YPT, with us not only being based here, but having run tours of some description since 2009. This way we have managed to go beyond the usual and uncover the unseen parts, through the places we bring you and the stories of its people.
Group Tours to South-East Asia
Since starting with the Philippines, YPT have since expanded our repertoire to include Indonesia, East Timor, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. We also now include one large South-East Asia Adventure, which incorporates not only the deepest exploration of the Indochina-War, but also a lot of fun.
While much of South-East Asia is very much on the tourist radar, it is still possible to get off the beaten track here, as well as view some truly unique festivals. On this path we also continue through to the heartlands of Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, West Papua, East Timor, and beyond.
Perhaps most importantly though, we are always out looking for the next untouched hidden gem within the region, having built meaningful relationships here since 15 years.
South-East Asia Tours 2024 – 2025
YPT run a number of iconic trips to South-East Asia, such as to the Cutud Lenten Rites, the festivals of Papua New Guinea, and of course dark tourism in Cambodia.
The following published group tours to South-East Asia are all confirmed departures. They are generally capped at 16 people. All are cultural in nature and draw a broad age group and demographic. Click on specific countries to view our bespoke travel packages to specific and multiple countries within the region.
Cambodia Dark Tourism Tour April 8th – 14th/16th 2025 – $995 / $1195
YPT also takes you well off the beaten track in some of the more popular destinations! And so, we head to Cambodia for our Dark Tourism tour, showing you sites that you won’t find in any guide book.
Myanmar Water Festival and Burmese New Year Tour April 13th – 22nd / 24th 2025 – $1495 / $1895
Escape with YPT to the enchanting beauty of Myanmar, right in time for the most important celebration of the year: the Water Festival. Locally known as “Thingyan”, it lasts for four days and marks the beginning of the Burmese new year.
Cutud Lenten Rites Day Trip April 18th – 18th/19th 2025 – $150 / $195
YPT arrange exclusive media and VIP passes for this iconic event where people quite literally nail themselves to crosses. Quite simply needs to seen to be believed.
Extreme Philippines Tour April 17th – 25th 2025 – $1295
Our Extreme Philippines tour is one of our signature trips. Aside from the Cutud festival it also takes us to Angeles, Baguio, Sagada, and even the Banaue Rice terraces one of the 8 wonders of the world, before we finish st Smoky Mountain!
Timor Independence Day Overland May 14th – 22nd 2025 – $1995
This tour starts in Bali before we fly to Kupang. From here we travel overland to Oecusse, before flying into Dili for the Independence Day celebrations with the President.
East Timor and West Papua Tour May 14th – 29th 2025 – $4195
A great combination of West and East Timor, before we head to West Papua to learn about the tribes here. In between we have two great nights in Bali.
West Papua Tour May 22nd – 29th 2025 – $2495
One of the least seen and underrated parts of the world, West Papua has some of the most interesting tribes around.
Ultimate South East Asia Adventure July 14th – 25th / 27th 2025 – $495 / $1295 / $1795
Go off the beaten track in South East Asia on this carefully curated two-week trip to experience four of its most beautiful countries in a new way.
Laos Secret War Tour, July 4th – July 9th 2025, $995
Ultimate Palawan Island Hopping Tour – September 26th to October 5th 2025 – $1295
Originally not what you would have called a classic, but this tour has now lasted over 10 years. It’s drinking on boats, but also with some stunning island scenery on what is known as the best island in the world.
Myanmar Lighting Festival Tour – October 3rd to 12th / 14th 2025 – $1545 / $1995
Escape with YPT to the enchanting beauty of Myanmar, right in time for the popular Thadingyut Festival, also known as the Lighting Festival.
Explore East Timor October 6th – 13th 2024 – $1995
Our most exhaustive trip to Timor-Leste with is doing the full circumference of the country, which remains one of the least visited in SEA.
Independent Tours to South-East Asia
Young Pioneer Tours can run combination tours that run through multiple countries in South-East Asia, as well as country specific tours.
We currently have the following dedicated country specific pages for tours to South-East Asia
Read some of our favourite featured blogs for more in-depth info and stories:
Who has the strongest and weakest militaries in Southeast Asia?
Untouched South-East Asia: East Timor
What is it like to take the train in Vietnam?
What’s the difference between West Papua and Papua New Guinea?
Top 25 best tourist attractions in Asia announced
Top 25 Asian Travel Destinations announced
Frequently Asked Questions about South-East Asia Tours
For questions specific to individual sub-regions, countries, and provinces, we recommend that you check out the respective landing page, which can be reached on the side menu.
Why Travel To South East Asia with Young Pioneer Tours
Our South-East Asia tours embody YPT’s ethos: competitive pricing, expert guides, and adventures that will stay with you for life. An experienced Western YPT guide leads every tour, to foster friendships and good times, we cap our tour groups at a maximum of 22 people. When our South-East Asia Group exceeds 22 participants, we split the tour into two groups, each with separate vehicles, local and Western guides. Our average group typically has between ten and twelve people.
Young Pioneer Tours has been running group tours to South-East Asia for over fifteen years and we have been to every part of this vast region. Often, we are the first tour provider to open certain areas or even entire countries to tourism. We utilize our local contacts to take you to places well off the beaten path, and to hidden gems that other tour companies haven’t even heard of.
And it is for these reasons among many others that we feel ourselves THE experts with South-East Asian tours and travel packages.
Thailand Visa: Most countries can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days. This includes countries from the EU, UK, USA, Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong, and many more. Visitors from countries such as China, Taiwan, India, and Mexico are eligible for visa on arrival for up to 15 days of stay duration. For more information click here: https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/visa-exemption-and-visa-on-arrival-to-thailand
Cambodia Visa: Passport holders from any countries can apply for a visa on arrival (VoA) when travelling to Cambodia to stay up to 30 days. • The cost of VoA is $30 (subject to change) • You will need clean and crisp USD-notes or a credit card to pay • You will need a recent passport-size photo
It is also possible to apply for an e-Visa online for $36 prior to arriving in Cambodia: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/
Vietnam Visa: Passport holders from 25 countries are now eligible for the visa exemption. This includes Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Vietnam grants e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories with 90-day stay duration and valid for multiple entry. To apply, click here: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt
The cost of the e-Visa is $25 for single-entry and $50 for multiple entry.
Laos Visa: Passport holders from most countries can apply for a visa on arrival (VoA) when travelling to Laos to stay up to 30 days. The visa costs between $30-$42. • You will require clean and crisp USD-notes to pay, no credit card possible • You will require a recent passport-size photo
The Laos e-Visa service was launched in 2019. The e-Visa is issued in three days. It is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and its holders may stay for up to 30 days in the country. The e-Visa cost is $50. It can be accessed here: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index
Myanmar: Citizens of most nationalities need to get a visa in advance to visit Myanmar. In the recent years, the process has been simplified a lot and now a lot of nationalities can get an e-visa including every country of the EU, Canada, the United States, Australia and New-Zealand Visas can be applied for from your nearest Myanmar Embassy or online at https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/ You will need the following before you apply: - You have to upload one COLOUR PHOTO (4.6 cm X 3.8 cm) taken during the last three months. - You have to upload your passport bio-data page. - A proof of return ticket from Myanmar must be attached to the application. - A proof of hotel booking must be attached to the application. This will be sent to you by your YPT guide before departure
Philippines: Most nationalities do not require a visa to enter the Philippines. Please check your local Government’s website regarding entry requirements. For more details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_the_Philippines
Indonesia: You can enter Indonesia without a visa for 30 days through 29 airports, 88 seaports, and 7 land border crossings if your passport is valid for six months and you are a citizen of one of the mentioned nations, which includes all of Europe, America, Canada, and many more. The only drawback to this arrangement is that you cannot change your visa type or extend your stay. Obtaining a visa on arrival, which is applicable to many more nations, enables you to extend your stay for an additional 30 days for a price of US$35.
Please note that there are further specific visa rules for East Timor or West Papua, which you can find on our respective sites.
Thailand: On arrival in Bangkok, you may also exchange cash for the local currency (Thai Baht) directly at the airport.
Laos & Cambodia: In Laos, the maximum withdrawal sum at ATM´s can be quite low in comparison to the applied fee (For both, Laotian Kip as well as USD). Therefore, it is recommended to bring enough USD in clean and crisp notes and exchange them to avoid the accumulation of bank fees along the tour. USD is also widely accepted in Cambodia, making it a convenient currency to carry as an addition to the local currency, Cambodian Riel.
Vietnam: The Vietnamese Dong is the commonly used currency within the country.
Even though credit card payments are accepted in various locations, we very much recommend having enough cash at hand for day-to-day consumption once we venture out.
Myanmar: International ATMs are limited, don't accept all cards, and in some areas aren't accessible. The easiest and best option is to bring U.S Dollars with you and to exchange into Kyat (pronounced “chyat”), the local currency, at an official exchange office or bank in Myanmar.
It is also possible to exchange Singapore dollars and euros, but USD is the most accepted currency.
US dollar notes need to be brand new and clean. Any note with folds, stamps, stains, writing or tears won't be accepted, even at a bank. $100USD notes get the best exchange rate.
Philippines: They use PHP, or the Philippines Peso. It generally floats around 50 – $1. USD, Euro, Korean WON, and Chinese RMB are easily exchanged at the numerous money changer facilities throughout the country. YPT can help you exchange money. Compared to other Asian countries the Philippines is very credit card friendly, taking VISA, MASTERCARD, JCB, UNION PAY, and even American Express. Local cash can be withdrawn from ATMs at fixed fee of 200 PHP, or around $4 per transaction.
Indonesia: The rupiah (symbol: Rp; currency code: IDR) is the official currency of Indonesia, issued and controlled by Bank Indonesia. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit word for silver, rupyakam.
English works in many major countries for essential travel purposes, especially in more urban and touristy areas. It can become more complicated in rural areas and smaller towns. But since most people have a very friendly attitude, they will still try to help you out.
You can find specific info on our respective country sites.
Young Pioneer Tours has been running group tours to South-East Asia for over fifteen years and we have been to every part of this vast region. Often, we are the first tour provider to open certain areas or even entire countries to tourism. We utilize our local contacts to take you to places well off the beaten path, and to hidden gems that other tour companies haven’t even heard of.
And it is for these reasons among many others that we feel ourselves THE experts with South-East Asian tours and travel packages.
If you are interested in filming in South-East Asia click here.
If you are interested in journalistic travel to South-East Asia click here.
Simply get in touch to have us arrange your trip.
Are you planning to add more South-East Asia Tours?
Young Pioneer Tours are currently working on trips to remote parts of Indonesia, the Sultanate of Brunei and a whole heap of undiscovered gems hidden in Southeast Asia. For now follow the site, follow our social media bookmark this page to be kept up to date about our tours to South-East Asia.
