It answers a lot of these questions in more detail than I can in a comment reply Its worth checking out for increased peace of mind: http://www.indietraveller.co/book/. Monsoon season is something to keep an eye on but if youve got some time (as you will have) then its not necesserily a bad time to travel. Im traveling to Thailand for 2 weeks, 1 day in Cambodia ( I just want to see Siem Reaps Angkor Wat, and then back to Thailand) and then another 2 weeks in the Philippines, so 4 weeks in total. I am not sure where theres good surf. (or anywhere on it, for that matter!) Hey Matt, great to hear your positive feedback! I guess I follow your advices keeping it flexible. Sadly, its been going through many political issues and its an unstable place right now, embroiled in a civil war. Do you wish you could travel more but can never find the time or money? Care to share your opinion? I settled for the osprey farpoint 40 bag which I love and have managed to get all my belongings in and still have some room . Lombok is a great place to go if youre trying to escape the tourist hoardes, with the Gili Islands (although Gili means island, so thats island islands) some of the best places in the world to learn to dive.

Yep I normally just figure that stuff out when I get there. Email: Perez418@gmail.com or IG Perez418. An essential purchase. Its always best to create your own itinerary based on your interests and what places sound the most appealing to you. so will I still be able to do jungle or hike trips? It connects well with Cambodia. Seems like you are really passionate about what you do. Im struggling with trying not to spread myself too thin and seeing as much as I can see in the remaining 6 weeks. My friend and I just booked round trip flights to Bangkok starting in mid July and ending in early August (exactly 3 weeks). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Ive loved reading your blog and have been using it to help plan a trip to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia starting next week! Were happy to leave this country and come back to do other activities throughout the month. 3 countries in 4 weeks is a lot and youll be skirting the surface for sure.

Buses are usually your best bet in the other countries. I had only 10 days coz i have to go back to my work in Dubai. Dont worry about going alone (and that nervous feeling you have is normal!). Hopefully, this article has helped you get some ideas for your Southeast Asia trip. Since you tend to often reply back Thanks for that tip! Thanks! Whats the best way to travel down Vietnam with stops? Thanks for the helpful, prompt response and keep up the good work. Hello! when and how would you recommend us to get to philippines? Bangkok 2 days while you acclimatise and check out Chinatown, Kao San Road and MBK Mall. Myself & my partner are flying to Bangkok in January for 8 weeks. So yeah, the first thing Id do is consider other places within Cambodia that you might like. Its quite a specific type of experience and its not all there is to travelling this part of the world. Thank you very much! There are certainly other insurers around so if youre on a tight budget, you may wish to go for a different backpacker or nomad insurance.

I have a flight in and out of Bangkok at the end of the year, with a month to play with. Some of my favorite backpacking destinations are on Southeast Asias periphery. Would love to know if you have any recommendations! Visa: Most Western passport holders get 30 days on arrival for free. But how much time do you need to see Southeast Asia?, you might ask. Hope to hear from you! Either way for this time of year could you recommend an itinery? Near Ho Chi Minh City its worth going to the Mekong Delta and seeing the floating markets there. My mind has been doing a lot of flip-flopping here, and I think Im going to have to go for only 4 weeks in June-July now. I am concerned about the weather (I know it will be pretty hot/rainy) and I was wondering what the best places to visit vs avoid are for that time of year. get a little taste. Unfortunately due to work and study we can only go for just over a month. thanks again, bud. Intrigued? Just looking at a guide I have with me here, Vieng Xai (Laos) to Mai Chau / Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) is a possibility (every morning at 8.30am), and buses also go from Phonsavan to Vinh in Vietnam (in the morning 4 times a week: tue/thur/fri/sat). With that in mind, does this route make sense: Bangkok This will be my first time travelling and Im going it alone so Im trying not to think of how nervous I am :S my budget is going to be 100 a week do you think this will be enough? Ive always been able to do a city in a short time, which is exhausting but thats not a problem for me. Another insurer I recommend here is Columbus Direct by the way, and they may be a little cheaper too (used them a lot too). Absolutely brilliant post thank you so much. Any areas to avoid? Plan 2 also sounds good for a cultural focus/ I must admit its hard for me to think about 2-week itineraries as Ive usually had the luxury of more time. Might want to get a guided hike. Was considering SEA as my first go, but Im open to other countries/routes as well. Thanks so much! Sounds like a good amount of time! So do you reckon this seems reasonable in 6 weeks? People often do the Banana Pancake route first and then the other countries, but your sequence makes sense for the weather/climate (Sept = dry in Indonesia, wet in Thailand). Do you think 3 weeks in each place is enough? So you may be overthinking it and you should just go in whatever time is most convenient (Jan/Feb is generally considered a great time to travel Thailand/Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam.).

I should probably do a post on cost of travel in SEA sometime! Chiang Rai I dont know if that information helps. He is a hotel kinda guy so I am hoping to find a go-between that makes sense for both of us without breaking the bank! I have approx 3 months. Changi Airport is regularly held up as an example of one of the worlds best, so if youre flying out of here, you might want to arrive early. Stay safe out there! Beautiful architecture and great street food mean a must stop off.. After the rush of the capital city, enjoy some rural idyll in beautiful Sapa. You might feel some first day at school apprehension at first, but honestly everyone on the travel circuit is super open and in a positive mindset. Or do you want to pick a more realistic number of places and then see them in a more meaningful way? How much do we need to plan or is it better to improvise and see what happens? You could even do some more holiday-type stuff every now and then (theres a great water park in Nha Trang, Vietnam). Ive been reading it over the last few days. Think I just need to decide how long and how much I want to spend. Go shopping on Orchard Road, explore the food courts and markets of Chinatown (including some of the worlds cheapest Michelin Starred meals), wander the futuristic Gardens by the Bay with their Avatar inspired mega trees, and enjoy the view of the city from the Marina Bay. Though the more remote you go the more difficult it gets. Head to Khao Sok National Park for a couple of days trekking in the jungle. Using sites such as Viator you can easily book some of the most important things to see and do before you arrive often for a better price than youll pay there. Less time spent in transit is more time spent sightseeing or going on activities. Im in southern Thailand right now and noticing again how the prices are higher here (in bangkok and tourist areas) than elsewhere in SEA. Im about to explore the nearby Cardamom Mountains (4 day jungle excursion) and maybe its up your alley too. To a lesser degree, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are also common entry points into the region.

Do I need to apply for a two month visa or will they issue a new one when I re enter? For instance: Chiang Mai and Siem Reap/Phnom Penh. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Its nice to improvise, and this is pretty easy in Southeast Asia. My partner and I are travelling SEAsia next month and it has been an absolute nightmare planning it with all the restrictions in place.

Countries like Thailand and Malaysia have an excellent infrastructure of trains and buses. Philippines this is sort of the bonus baby, I have a friend living out in Princess puerto and would be nice to see him plus free accomodation if its not plausible or will lesson the experience of the rest of my trip im happy to cross it off. I have traveled a fair bit in Asia but, in the end, Im just some guy with a blog who has some biased opinions. Hey Eric. You could get a single to Bangkok and a single back from wherever, but sometimes its cheaper to just buy a return. From Bangkok, you could also make an excursion into Cambodia to see the sprawling temples of Angkor Wat, though Thailand also has its own ancient temple ruins at Ayathuya and Sukhothai. Hey Kyle. * Were looking for a city to fly out of back to Europe. All I can find are either long luxury cruises, touristy delta tours or the 2-day trip from Luang Prabang to the Thai border (which sounds nice, but not really practical as we are not travelling to Thailand!) Yes I think you could actually manage to add another destination sometimes I have to go contrary to my normal advice! lay around the beach then keep walking. Hey Laura! Visa: Requirements vary, with UK citizens needing to get their visa in advance, or pay $35 on arrival. Lastly, I realize this is quite a list of questions to ask, but you seem to be very much the guy to answer them. Ben. what if its a hike thats longer than one day and cant guarantee me cover from the rain; besides for getting a bit wet, is that dangerous? Aww gotya.

A seperate trip from Bangkok? Since I will be that far away from home (I live in los angeles) I want to try to hit one other country. I have few questions on Visa. Phnom Penn I based this particular segment of the route off of what some friends did they took a minibus from Viang Xai to Vietnam but I dont think this went direct to Hanoi. My first trip overseas was to Bangkok and I had five weeks. Since youre on a limited budget Id recommend maybe keeping track of your spending with a notebook or an app. I would stick it to the end makes for a nice end of a trip. Hey Josh! We are currently at KL, and trying to plan out our Philippine trip in Mid December, hoping to find some good deal to fly in.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. I actually agree that a well-paced 2 week Thailand/Cambodia trip is totally possible. Dont want to be rushing around, just taking it at a good pace, being able to explore off the beaten track in the non touristy parts at times. Could you clarify this for me? Hotels and airfare are taken care of so basically Im just worried about transportation expenses and food. Explore forests, waterfalls and colonial architecture.

Hi Marek, thanks for these nice tips! I wasnt too impressed with the Mekong delta sightseeing tours in Vietnam, but actually travelling the Mekong to Cambodia might be a much better way to experience the river. Hey Ben. We are happy to go via the Northern Terretories of Vietnam like you suggested in your itinerary, how I cant find any information on how to get across the border into Vietnam and the transport options! me and a friend are looking to travel SE Asia for 4 weeks with the following route (not set and stone!) Your web site is amazing and gonna be very usefull When I was in Thailand about 4 years ago it was very hard to eat. Peninsula Malaysia is packed full of beautiful colonial cities including Penang. Hmm, thats a specific question! Ive mostly done carry-on flights, but I did a couple of flights with checked luggage. Ive personally only done Siem Reap straight to Bangkok by bus. Not done Bangkok to Singapore but hear its good too. Hey Daniel. Heard good things about group tours by Intrepid or G Adventures. amazing things to do in Siem Reap, click here. Jump on a flight from Hanoi to Cambodia to do the Angkor Wat complex for 3 days. When you advise up to $20 to $40 per day for some countries, did you take into account staying, site-seeing and leisure? So maybe that should be your rock climbing destination instead . (Probably for January). Other destinations with flights already booked are Malaysia (for 3 weeks after Cambodia), India (2 weeks), Nepal (2 weeks), then back to Thailand (2 weeks) then a layover in Japan and back home. Save time as well and book your travel experiences and local tours in advance. Its a backpacker budget though, so it assumes you avoid the most expensive activities and focus on things that are either free or relatively cheap. Initially, I wanted to island hop but seeing as it will be the rainy season Im kinda bummed. Do you think our plan is too ambitious? I will be doing a route similar to your alternative banana pancake route and wanted to check with you regarding the transport options from Laos to Vietnam. Theres great jungle trekking in Borneo (Malaysian side) as well as Mt. Most of these are designed for budget travellers looking for a fun way to explore the world, so were aiming for an outlay of around GB1000 ish (approx US$1300) for your whole trip. so my question is, how bad is it really? Its rainy season is different from the mainland, and July is actually peak season there. By june/july youll be hitting the monsoon in places like Cambodia/Thailand though which makes the beaches not as great. Hi Marek, After Hong Kong, Im planning to follow this itinerary within 5 months: Hong Kong Singapore Malaysia Indonesia (From Jakarta to Lombok) Thailand/Laos/Vietnam/Cambodia (Banana Pancake trail). Destinations like China, Sri Lanka, India, or Nepal are not terribly far away.

Me and my partner are thinking about Indonesia and Philippines. Starting to panic that might not be enough. This itinerary is still work in progress, and Im assuming itll change once Im there, so not too bothered, but want to have a rough idea. Leave a commentYour email address will not be published. Unfortunately, I cant find any information if there are actually any buses doing this route. Then back to HCMC for your flight home, And that is our very rough guide to getting the most out of a one month bucket list trip around south east Asia.

I am travelling from Canadamost likely in June. Just a simple question from me: We have 10 days to spend somewhere in South East Asia.

Is going to Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia too many places? Have a great day! Its a full schedule for sure, and some of these places are quite far apart. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. Hi Marek! From exotic to cultural, to party hot spots. An example of what the Banana Pancake route commonly looks like, more or less. Insurance has been the most difficult thing for me in picking. It can be as little as $25 USD per dive or as much as $50. 1. We will only be eating street food & only staying in very basic rooms, travelling by sleeper trains/buses when travelling far & doing things very cheap but we do want to do alot of trips like elephant sanctuary, visit temples etc. While your routes are awesome, Im curious how much you would suggest altering them (if at all) based on weather. Personally, I think its often better to pace yourself.

Hello You Designs. Ive always wanted to do it on our own, but due to lack of time we are leaning more towards doing a tour. I guess I have two questions (if you dont mind) for you. And if not, what bits do you reckon I should cut out? Also is the season too rainy to start in Cambodia this time of year? It depends on where youre going you can get visa-on-arrival in most countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, etc.). I was thinking Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam but wasnt sure if thats stretching things our too much. Some adjacent countries combine especially well. I am asking for some advice (oh no not another one haha) I really liked Lombok, Flores and the Komodo Islands, and Mount Bromo and the Ijen Plateau on Java are also amazing. Hi Marek, great article and thanks for sharing your experience! However I am now reconsidering my route because of rainy season in Cambodia, would anyone have a different route to avoid rainy season at this time or does this sound ok? Hey Brittney. Dec & Jan tends to be busy high season though. One more question is that I know fall is Monsoon season and our trip is a bit close (July-August) so I just wanted to know if we would have to be weary of weather during this time or if it should still get mostly sunny days? We will ask around to see the best way to get there from Battambang. Drop them in the comments and we might pop them in for a future edit of this article. Thank you! Generally, Id say it doesnt matter too much where you start. I am looking to travel to two countries in south east asia. Hi Marek! Hmm, I think even with 4 months youll still have to make some choices. Honestly, these things always depend on the person. To learn more, please refer to my disclosure. We plan on working in Australia. Ive found that not being connected all of the time made me be more in the moment. Would love to get your opinion on that. One of the huge advantages is that therell be fewer other tourists making it easier to meet locals! Sounds like youre having an amazing trip! Or maybe youve just got a month free and you want to see the world! So any thoughts and suggestions are welcome. From what I understand, May is between dry and rainy season mostly. Thats why I usually plan every hostel at a specific date beforehand. Again, we were prioritizing culture over beaches and liked the idea of Vietnam being relatively less popular. Given 2 weeks, youll have some tough decisions to make. Research some places now but also ask people you meet for recommendations this is a sure-fire way of discovering lots of great stuff along the way. Thank you so much for your reply! I am travelling for 5 months from March 14th, wanting to go to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia. etc.) Maybe avoid bringing that stuff out at night. Got me really excited for my trip. Thanks!

as they dont take the scenic routes, especially between all these major cities or capitals. I actually visited Hoi An and Pakse on two separate trips, and then connected them in my suggested route after hearing others made the trip between these places. The most expensive part will probably be Phuket, but since youre keeping it last youll have a clear idea at that point of how much money is left, and then spend accordingly. I was thinking of doing a month in each but now am unsure if I should spend more time in Vietnam and less in Laos? There should be flights from Bangkok to Manila. Maybe I will go again to check out the rest of Vietnam and Laos later this year. It sounds like in your case the Farpoint Trek 55 will actually be better. In Japan, many travellers like to take the bullet trains. Keep in mind though that Im not writing this blog for people going to casinos or Koreans going on a Boracay holiday. There are fortunately lots of small travel agencies in Sihanouksville that would be able to help you with your onward transportation. Just a little unsure where to start in terms of planning things, or worried Ive left it too late. I prefer trains over buses whenever trains are an option because theyre more comfortable and more on schedule than buses. We will definitely give Koh Rong Sanloem and Cardamom Mountains a look at. Chiang Mai Take the train (or fly if you prefer) to Surat Thani or Krabi and head to the islands. I plan to start from Ho chi minh city. Im at tammy.salomon@gmail.com . All the information you have provided has really helped me in preparing for my upcoming SE Asia adventure. All I want to do is track my steps/activity and listen to music/books as I go on runs and hikes. . Youll have some great weather. Were keen to travel overland and have the time to take a couple of days to get there. Hey Aimee, glad youve found them useful! It made for a wonderful trip! Thanks for this very insightful article. Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks! Route would be:

Make sure to book your cruise before you arrive for the best price. Yeah I think that should give you sufficient time. Sorry for all the questions! See lush rice fields and karst landscapes around. I planned on travelling to thailand-vietnam-cambodia-laos, July 1st-october 1st. Now, Ive been told that SEA is very good for planning stuff a few days beforehand as there would be plenty of buses and hostels available all year. We will have a time frame of around 3 weeks, I am aware thats not ideal but thats as long as possible. Chiang Mai Some great beaches in Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia (outside of Bali) as well. If you continue to use this site, we will assume that you are happy with it. Any suggestions of your own? Im planning on going to South East Asia and Ill be spending 2 months there. Thanks a bunch, your blog is an inspiration and super useful. If that doesnt sound like your cup of tea, Langkawi is just a short boat ride from Penang too. thanks so much in advance. Many nationalities (especially Asian) do get free visa on arrival. Id recommend doing the Gibbon Experience first, then taking the boat. Keep an eye on current events to know if its a good time to go to Myanmar. This is just a quick reply before my next bus departs, but considering your interests I would maybe recommend Koh Rong Sanloem or some of the smaller islands around Sihanoukville. These days are 32 full days and exclude days travelling between them so in total about 6 weeks. I dont think you have to worry about the route being too ambitious at all. Ive done that exact trip and it wasnt hectic at all chilled out in Thailand for a week and spent the other week in Cambodia. Id still keep The Philippines in for consideration, especially given your interests (but thats just my 2 cents ). Its nice to see the landscape slowly change and to get a glimpse of the locals living along the river. Is this a good period, weather-wise? -Siem Reap Rest assured, its also entirely possible to have a fantastic experience lasting a couple of weeks or months.

Fewer tourist go to Philippines? Philippines 10 What would you suggest? Am I selling myself short by not going to any of the Thai Islands? I believe the monsoon is kicking in at this time of the year in most places. You can always keep the Philippines as an option if you find that you still have the time for it, you can book a cheap flight with AirAsia to Manila during your trip and tack this onto your route. Yeah definitely doable, as youve picked just a few spots in each country. Hey Koen! Im looking to do Thailand+Cambodia, but if I have But yes hiking is still possible. traveling solo, and I am a budget traveler (30y/o woman). Really looking forward to hearing from you and thank you so much in advance. I plan to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangkok for about 16 days. Hi Marek! We have al the time in the world to do this trip so the plan is to just take an outward flight and go with the flow. At this point my plan is: Hanoi (3d + trip to Ha Long Bay 1 day) Da Nang + Hoi An (2d) HCMC (3d + 1d excursion to the war tunnels) Phnom Penh (2d) Siem Reap (2d + 1d Angkor Wat)- Bangkok (4d) Vientiane (2d) (back thru Bangkok) Phuket area (2d) Penang (2d) Kuala Lumpur (3d) Singapore (3d + 1d to Batam). We are definitely going to go to the Yee Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai which falls towards the end of our trip, but we wanted to try and fit in some other cities as well. Perhaps a nice middle ground is to find local guesthouses or bungalow type places which have some of the comforts of a hotel but an atmosphere a bit closer to a hostel. Hey Lukas. For example, Thailand and Laos. Hanoi, the capital, is more compact and traditional than its high rise sister in the south. Maybe add a bit of Laos? We are backpacking newbies. are better sources for timetables, or local guesthouse owners can give you info. Very informative and has really helped me planning my trip in South-East Asia. Hey Breda. . I know there are Vietnamese minivans going directly from Gia Lai province to Pakse but doing it in 2 legs is probably better if you have the time . My husband and I are looking to go away for 3 weeks over the Xmas period next year. Think we can do all 3? thank you! But this is likely too much for our time. The book is designed to help you with planning your trip, though along the way youll also learn about some of the stupid, silly, and incredible things Ive experienced, so that you can know what to expect. There are many other solo travelers in Southeast Asia and hostels are very communal spaces, so put those two things together and inevitably people end up talking to each other. That buys you some time letting you spend at least 3 days in some places (and get the most out of them!). It feels like a detour, you have any other options? i would prefer to get the flight than the long bus but i wanna be able to be flexible when Im there and not worrying about getting to vientiane for a set date weeks in advance. Your email address will not be published.

I plan to do the mainland block, including the northern mountains, i also intend of visiting Borneo for some nature hikes, the Philippines, Indonesia etc I also plan on diving whilst im there (qualified instructor already). Think about it: do you want to see loads of stuff only very superficially (and tire yourself by continually moving from place to place in a hurry)? Siem Reap as a day-trip isnt that realistic as it takes at least 7 hours to get to from Bangkok overland (plus a border crossing with potentially long waits). Im not fussed how long we stay here or where we go so im open to ideas for WOW destinations here. If I did go for a larger pack, what are you experiences with checked luggage on Asian airlines like? We are hardy travelers (South America, Europe, Africa) and dont mind a bit of rain or sweat, but we also want to make the most of our trip, weather-wise.

Since it is our first visit in SEA and we want to see the culture as well as getting some beach time, we came up with the following: Weather wise, do you think its best to go to Australia first then travel SEA? Hey Joe. Best weather is different everywhere for example June is rainy season in Thailand, but dry season in Indonesia. Head over from Chiang Mai? Both plans are certainly doable but with plan 1 you will only be able to fit a limited number of stops (Vietnam is a big country!). Keep up the good work. Dont forget insect repellent. I have yet to go to China/Yunnan myself btw so I personally cant compare it directly to the other countries. If you want to explore Bangkok, check out these tours and experiences on Get Your Guide. Hi there! Or did you find yourself not needing it as much? Ill be visiting Australia in november to visit friends for two weeks. also how easy is it to withdraw money? Dec-Jan has great weather but is normally high season with more crowds at the tourist sites, though after this year I guess that may be less of a factor. Definitely book flights in advance if youre planning a one month travel itinerary in Southeast Asia Buses and trains you should be able to reserve on arrival from local travel agents or the stations. Laos is in shoulder season in May so still OK. Northern Vietnam might be quite rainy when you get there, so Ha Long Bay might be quite misty if youre unlucky, but things should improve again as you go south. Good luck! Two things I really want to do while we are there is rock climb and learn to surf (maybe spend a couple days surfing). (This does make some assumptions about your nationality by the way. Thats only 2 days per location, during which you have to travel between them as well. Speaking of jungle excursion, I actually got wounded on my heel trekking through the jungle in Thailand a week ago and the recovery has been slow with a minor bacteria infection. I was just wondering if you had any suggestions of where we should definitely go for the more adventurous things to do? I was speaking recently with someone who did Vietnam north to south, then Cambodia, then north into Laos along its spine and on to Luang Prabang, then into northern Thailand and ending on the Thai beaches in the south. clothing or not. Thank you Marek I am a planner by nature so am already starting on a 6 month trek in 3 years I have gone to many of your pages and all are so informative.

is there something Im missing here? Yes its definitely fine to just wing it! Ive heard Siem Reap can be done as a day trip from Bangkok so I wonder if we just keep it as Bangkok > Hanoi > Chiang Mai > Bangkok and do Siem Reap as a day trip, which might still be pushing it! Also, I like staying on a budget in a simple, yet safe way and never have really been into luxury and more into dissecting local culture. Hope to hear from you soon, many thanks! I love your route and would like to expand it down to Myanmar and Singapore then over to the Phillipeans. Im also doing a SE Asia exploration starting in the Philippines- ending??? Nice to put SEA first. -I am interested in being submerged into a culture rather than vacationing with other americans. For tropical beaches head to Langkawi or the Perhentian Islands, which offer those white sands and azure seas. Two weeks will allow you to do the essentials, but a month in Malaysia would allow you to really enjoy it.