southeast asia travel route 2 months

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Plan Your Trip

Southeast asia starts here.

Coming up with a 2 month Southeast Asia itinerary is hard, no matter how well you know the region. For starters, it’s as much about choosing where you don’t want to go as it is deciding the places you will visit. Then, there’s sequencing and timing, and all the rest of the practical matters that planning any trip entails.

Although I have nearly 15 years of experience traveling in Southeast Asia, I’ve decided not to construct a post that dictates or preaches to you. Rather than telling you where to go, for example, or how long (necessarily) you should spend there, I want to inform and inspire you to create the trip that’s right for you.

Even if you’re feeling anxious now—trust me, I’ve been there—you’ll soon have a plan your can easily execute. Can’t you almost smell the Pad Thai noodles sizzling through the streets?

Practical Matters

When to visit southeast asia.

In most of Southeast Asia, the dry season takes place between about December and March. As a general rule, this is when you should plan this trip, although there are a couple exceptions. First, if you plan to travel heavily or primarily in Indonesia (where the dry and rainy seasons are “flipped” compared to the rest of Southeast Asia), you’ll actually want to visit between about June and September. Secondly, you should be aware that northern parts of Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam can be relatively cold at this time of year, in spite of also being dry.

Where to stay in Southeast Asia

As you plan your Southeast Asia itinerary (2 months or longer), you’ll be delighted to learn that accommodation in most of the region is extremely affordable. There are some notable exceptions to this—Singapore is outrageously expensively; Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are not nearly as cheap as they used to be—but as a general rule, your money goes farther here than it will anywhere else in the world.

• Traveling in Thailand ? While no longer as cheap as it used to be, this is still an affordable place to get a fancy hotel, particularly in Bangkok with high-end properties like Sofitel SO/Bangkok and the Eastin Grande Sathorn . In the islands, accommodations run the gamut from luxurious Rayavadee in Krabi ‘s gorgeous Railay , to simpler digs such as Casa Blanca Boutique Hotel in Phuket Town . Headed up north? I absolutely love the Riverside Guest House in Lampang .
• In my opinion, Vietnam (at least when it comes to hotels) is how Thailand was 10-15 years ago. From Hotel des Arts in Saigon to Hanoi ‘s chic Meritel , and from resort-style properties like Sin Chai Ecolodge in Sapa and Ancient House Resort & Spa in Hoi An , your money goes farther in Vietnam than it does in almost any other Southeast Asian country, in spite of Vietnam’s rapidly increasing popularity.
• As you explore underrated Malaysia , make sure to avail this country’s impressive selection of impressive hotels. From the five-star Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur , to boutique properties like Cheong Fatt Tze in Penang and Ranee Boutique Suites in Kuching , Malaysia tends to be somewhere between Vietnam and Thailand in terms of price, although (if I’m honest) the subtler elegance of its hotels is often preferable, at least for me.
• I’ll be frank: Singapore is simply not a budget travel destination. You can make it into one— Atelier Chinatown is great if you don’t mind sharing your sleeping and bathing space; the Hotel 1888 Collection is bare-bones, but has private facilities—but you really need some cash to enjoy Singapore to the fullest. Not necessarily the sheer opulence of the Fullerton Hotel , mind you, but if you can splurge on (for example) the The Scarlet , your experience will be much more pleasant.

How to get around in Southeast Asia

Infrastructure in Southeast Asia has vastly improved over the time I’ve been traveling there, especially within cities. Still, the easiest (and often cheapest) way to navigate this region is by plane, usually (but not exclusively) using low-cost carriers such as AirAsia. If you’re unsure of how to get from place to place, I personally find that 12Go is a great tool for both research and booking.

Money, costs and communication

Another thing that’s vasty improved in Southeast Asia over the years? Money and payments. Specifically, being able to use credit cards (even though, as time passes, QR payments are definitely the most common ways to pay here). At the same time, you’ll likely need a bit of cash on you in most places—and unfortunately, every country uses different currency, which can complicate things. The good news is that airport exchange counters tend to offer competitive conversion rates, and low commissions, so you can change money either before you depart one place, or after you arrive in another.

Cost-wise, Southeast Asia is cheap, albeit not as cheap as it used to be. You can expect to pay around 50-100 USD per person, per day in most countries for modest private rooms, 2-3 meals per day and all your local transportation. While there’s technically no limit to how much you can spend, I find it difficult to go much beyond 200 USD per person, per day in most places, unless you’re simply trying to be extravagant.

Communication-wise, in a literal sense, English is all you need in most places, and certainly in countries like Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia, where it’s an official language. In terms of communicating figuratively, WiFi is plentiful in Southeast Asia, though I do recommend staying connected via your mobile—either buy buying local SIM cards, or using a global travel plan like Google Fi —to make your life easier.

Visas for Southeast Asia

If you’re reading this page in English, you probably come from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or somewhere in Europe. If this is the case, congratulations: You can access most of Southeast Asia visa-free! I say “most” because there are notable exceptions: Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia require e-visas or visas on arrival, while Vietnam still requires you to apply for a visa in advance. If you’re unsure as to whether you require a visa to enter any country, contact the embassy or consulate of that nation in your place of citizenship.

Where to Go With 2 Months in Southeast Asia

No matter how extensive your Southeast Asia travel route—2 months, or something much shorter—you absolutely have to visit Thailand . Bangkok , in addition to being the de-facto hub of Southeast Asia, is one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Beyond this, you can divide your time between the Kingdom’s lush north (focus on the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai , plus Lampang ) and the various islands and archipelagoes that define its south, from Samui , Tao and Pha Ngan islands in the Gulf of Thailand , to Phuket , Krabi and Trang in the Andaman Sea .

Another giant you can’t avoid during your 2 month Southeast Asia itinerary is Vietnam . I sort of consider Vietnam a wilder and more unruly Thailand, somewhat resembling an older version—maybe 10, 15 years—of the Kingdom. I usually like to go south-to-north, but you can reverse this order if you prefer. Begin in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City ) and the Mekong Delta , heading northward to Da Nang (via coastal Mui Ne or Nha Trang , or hilly Da Lat ). Explore ancient Hoi An and imperial Hue , before heading north to the capital of Hanoi , scenic Ha Long Bay and finally to Sa Pa , which is rich with waterfalls and rice terraces.

Malaysia might just be the most underrated country you visit during your 2 months in Southeast Asia. While I go back and forth on the capital city of Kuala Lumpur , it’s impossible to deny the charm of Penang and its historical shophouses, or of Kuching , which sits on the edge of the rainforest. Visit tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands , scale Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo ‘s Sabah state or visit crystal mosques and some of Asia’s best islands in Terengganu on the east coast.

I’ll admit: It’s been controversial even to discuss visiting Myanmar for a hot minute. At the same time, if you can look past the politics, this country is one of the most unique in Southeast Asia. While not as ramshackle as it was when I first visited in 2010, today’s Myanmar remains captivating. Start in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay , before expanding outward. Do you prefer getting lost amid the temples of Bagan , relaxing on Inle Lake or having your mind blown amid the perfect beauty of the Mergui Archipelago ?

The bad news? In my opinion, the island of Bali is one of the worst places you can visit during your Southeast Asia 2 month itinerary. The good news? Indonesia is home to literally thousands of other islands. From hectic Java (home to manic Jakarta , charming Yogyakarta and the otherworldly Kawah Ijen volcano), to lush Borneo and its wild orangutans, to the paradisiacal Kawah Ijen archipelago, Indonesia is so much more than Bali.

In the past, I mostly saw Singapore as serving a functional role within a 2 month Asia itinerary: A respite from the craziness of the rest of the region. However, as time has passed and “the rest” of Southeast Asia has become less manic, I’ve started to appreciate Singapore for what it is: A city that’s also a country that’s also a microcosm of a continent. Organize your time in Singapore (it will likely be just a few days) around its ethnic neighborhoods— Little India , Chinatown and Malay-Muslim Kampong Glam —as well as around both the natural Singapore Botanic Garden and the delightfully artificial Gardens by the Bay.

Another small country whose borders you may cross during 2 months Southeast Asia is Cambodia . For most travelers, Cambodia requires a week or even less. Many will split their time between the oft-overlooked capital of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (home of Angkor Wat ); others will also choose to overlook PP. If you have longer or are more curious, you might also opt to hit the beaches of Koh Rong in the Gulf of Thailand , or travel overland to Laos—more on that in a minute.

As I explained earlier during this post, Laos is not a must-see if you have a 2 month itinerary Southeast Asia—I usually recommend it or Cambodia, but not both. If you do spend time in Laos, however, context matters. If you can, for example, you might take the “slow boat” from Chiang Rai, Thailand to Laos’ charming Luang Prabang , via off-the-beaten path Pak Beng . Another exciting way is up from Cambodia, via Don Det and the 4,000 Islands . Alternatively, you can fly to Vientiane or Luang Prabang if you’re pressed for time or simply can’t be bothered to travel overland.

The Philippines, Brunei and East Timor

I’m not including The Philippines last on my Southeast Asia 2 month itinerary because I don’t like it—that’s far from the truth. Rather, I haven’t been back there in a while, and so I don’t feel as comfortable recommending destinations and experience as I do for other countries on this list. However, if you have a couple of weeks to spare, make sure to follow up a long weekend in underrated Manila with some time on the country’s award-winning beaches, whether in mainstream Boracay , lush Palawan or off-the-beaten-path Siargao .

As far as Brunei is concerned? Well, it’s unique, I’ll say that. It’s a place I’m glad I went , but don’t necessarily care to visit again. I haven’t yet been to East Timor , and as of this moment have no plans to visit.

Is 2 Months Enough for Southeast Asia?

As you browse Southeast Asia backpacking routes, 2 months is typically the minimum recommended amount of time—this is not a coincidence. The region is huge, and although the infrastructure has improved massively in the 15 years I’ve been exploring it, can still be a place where the going is pretty slow. If you’re a backpacker who plans to rely primarily on land transport, in fact, I might actually suggest you devote 3-4 months (or even longer!) to Southeast Asia!

Indeed, this 2 month Southeast Asia itinerary is really optimized toward travelers seeking a slightly elevated travel experience. Some overland travel—the slow boat between Thailand and Laos; a couple of trains in Vietnam—but is primarily getting around using places. Select rural areas—Indonesia’s Blue Fire Volcano; the Chocolate Hills of the Philippines—but mostly staying in cities and enjoying day trips from there.

Other FAQ About Spending 2 Months in Southeast Asia

How much do you need to travel southeast asia for 2 months.

I usually count on spending an average of about 100 USD per person, per day when traveling in Southeast Asia. That translates to about 700 USD per person, per week and about 2,800 USD per person per month. This means that you can plan to spend between 5,000-6,000 USD per person to travel in Southeast Asia for 2 months, not including international flights (but including all your internal transport).

How long do you need in Thailand and Vietnam?

Thailand and Vietnam are two of the largest and most interesting countries in Southeast Asia—I usually recommend spending a minimum of three weeks in each. With this being said, you could divide a month between Vietnam and Thailand, if you’re very judicious about where you visit in each country. Hiring me as your Travel Coach would be very advisable in this situation.

How long to spend in Laos and Cambodia?

Laos and Cambodia are beautiful countries, but it’s not a coincidence that they sit geographically between the titans of Thailand and Vietnam: They’re simply neither are large nor as interesting as their more famous neighbors. Often times, I recommend that people with a shorter amount of time choose one of these two; in any case, even if you’ve got two months to explore Southeast Asia, don’t split more than two weeks between Cambodia and Laos.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve made it this far, then congratulations: You’ve got all the information you need to assemble the perfect 2 month Southeast Asia itinerary! Some of you will take a straightforward path—a couple weeks in Thailand; one split between Laos and Cambodia; three weeks in Vietnam or Indonesia, and then two in either Malaysia, Myanmar or the Philippines. For others, things might be a bit less structured, if they’re even set in stone at all. You might even end up staying in the region for a lot longer than two months! Still feeling stressed out at the thought of planning your trip? Consider hiring me as your Travel Coach!

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2 Month Southeast Asia Itinerary

Southeast asia has a special place in my heart. as the first trip i ever backpacked, i have a special bias towards this region because it’s where i was introduced to backpacking culture, and i recommend it to anyone and everyone to this day. southeast asia is a beautiful mix of countries, cultures, cuisines, and landscapes that look like something straight out of a fantasy book. lush jungles, bioluminescent water, craggy limestone mountains & easily some of the best food on the planet -- southeast asia has pretty much everything for the adventure seeker, all wrapped up in a safe and affordable region of the world., please note, for this route, i’ll only be focusing on the southeast asian countries i visited on this trip: indonesia, thailand, laos, vietnam & cambodia., to see my two-week itinerary for thailand, click here., to see my two-week itinerary for the philippines, click here., southeast asia tutorial, why 2 months, i chose two months for my southeast asia tour for one major reason -- it’s simply too big to see in any less time. how could i possibly span all 5 countries in any time less than two months and frankly, that didn’t even let me cover the entirety of it (sorry malaysia, myanmar & the philippines -- i’ll be back for you). however, i loved this travel route because it made for an adventurous first trip filled with absolutely everything i wanted to do without feeling overly rushed or pressed for time., long story short: if you’re trying to hit up all 5 of these countries in anything less than two months, you’ll miss out big time on some of the amazing lesser-known sights in this region. , budgeting in southeast asia, one of the biggest draws to southeast asia for me was the price. notoriously affordable, the exchange rate from us dollars to every southeast asian currency is hugely in our favor here in the west. it’s not uncommon to spend $1-5 usd on a meal, $5-15 for a hostel bed, and $10 on a border-crossing bus trip. simply put, southeast asia is a great place to stretch your dollar, whether you’re a millennial just out of college or a late-twenties adventure seeker., the way i rationalized it was this: why would i spend half the time elsewhere when i could comfortably travel southeast asia for the same price the most expensive part of the trip is the flight, the price of which can be easily managed by booking way ahead of time., for more tips on how to make your trip more affordable, see my trip budgeting page., overall safety in southeast asia, another thing that makes southeast asia a perfect destination for a first-time traveler is the fact that overall, it’s quite a safe place to travel. thailand is easily one of the safest countries in all of asia, and incidence of tourism crimes are low in most of the countries in the region. however, it’s worth noting that most of the countries mentioned on this list have very strict and severe punishments for drug possession and trafficking (some of which include the death penalty), so leave the goods at home, folks. southeast asia is notorious for having some of the most intense drug-related punishments in the world, so don’t mess around with this. a wild night out is not worth your life., other than that, i personally didn’t feel threatened or unsafe at any point during my two months in southeast asia, and the women that i spoke to said they also ran into virtually no issues on their trips as well. as always, just be street smart, courteous to your host country, and abide by the cultural norms of the land. when in rome, right, visas in southeast asia, as with anywhere else, visas in this region vary by country. at the time of my trip, a free visa-upon-arrival was available in thailand, indonesia, cambodia, and laos, which required no additional work on my part. you just simply arrive and go through customs & immigration. vietnam, however, does require a pre-purchased e-visa. the process is relatively simple and can be done online. there are dozens of websites that will walk you through it for a fee. they will all look like spam sites, but don’t worry, they’re often pretty legitimate (i’d recommend this one) . you’ll also need to send in copies of your passport and a few passport-sized photos, which you’ll want to bring with you as well when you land. don’t forget these, because without them, there’s a chance you may be denied entry., don’t worry, though, i’ve got all the visa documents you’ll need covered in my packing checklist, so you shouldn’t have any issues., know your passport, also, it’s important to understand your immigration status based on where you’re coming from. most countries won’t give you an issue, but there are some countries (in particular indonesia & malaysia) who, for instance, won’t admit people with israeli passports because of political reasons. the last thing you want to do is plan a whole trip, fly there and be told at the gate that you can’t get in because of where you live. do the research to make sure you don’t waste your time and money., two month southeast asia itinerary, destination.

Country 1: Indonesia (Days 1-11)

Indonesian Rupiah

Exchange Rate

$1 USD = 15,659.50 Rupiah (as of November 2022)

Primary Language

GMT +8 hours (Central Indonesian Time)

GMT +9 hours (Eastern Indonesian Time)

Dry Season: June - September; Rainy Season: December - March

Indonesia is a fascinating country. Almost the entirety of it is Muslim, except for tiny, little Hindu-based Bali. An ecologically rich archipelago with more beaches and volcanoes than you can imagine, Indonesia is a fantastic introduction to Southeast Asia, as it’ll give you a mix of highly tourist-heavy spots and completely off-the-grid backroads. Beginning in the tourist haven of Bali, you’ll navigate west into the more untamed and authentic island of Java, seeing both sides of this marvelous and underexplored country.

Days 1-5: bali, bali has become somewhat of a traveler & digital nomad haven ever since eat, pray, love put it on the map back in 2010. it’s a tiny island off the east coast of java that is absolutely overflowing with beautiful rice terraces, lush jungles, white sand beaches and active volcanoes. it’s easy to make bali an entire trip of its own, and it's truly no wonder why so many nomads set up shop there and live remotely. however, you’re on a schedule, so let’s distill the best things to do on this paradise island into five days..

What to do in Bali:

Check out some Seaside Hindu Temples ( Uluwatu & Tanah Lot are Crowd pleasers)

Have a Beach Day at Padang Padang Beach

Check out the Tegalalang Rice Terraces in Ubud

Take a Dip in Ubud’s Tirta Empul Water Temple

Check out the Ubud Monkey Forest

Where to stay in Bali? I loved   Big Pineapple Backpackers Hostel

Days 6-7: banyuwangi, once you’ve had your fill of fun and sun, grab a bus to bali’s westernmost point to catch your ferry over to java. the bus ride should take a few hours (give or take), and the ferry over should be fairly quick. catch a cab from the port in java to your hostel in banyuwangi. if i’m honest, there’s not much to see in banyuwangi other than to be a jumping point for the ijen crater. you can spend your day walking around, but don’t be surprised if the locals ogle at a rare foreigner. my advice arrive in the evening, spend a day exploring and book your ijen tour, and then get an early night’s sleep because you’ll be up at midnight., kawa ijen (ijen crater) midnight hike.

Despite having gone on dozens of hikes since the Ijen Crater, it remains my favorite hike of all time. Maybe it’s because you start the hike in pitch black or because you get to watch the sunrise from inside the crater, but the Ijen Crater is a serious crowd pleaser. You’ll get picked up at your hostel at midnight and dropped off at basecamp around 2:00 AM where you’ll grab your headlamp and start your way up the mountain. By 5:00 AM you’ll not only have reached the crest of the volcano, but you’ll have walked down into it, reeking of sulfur, overlooking the acidic crater lake and watching the men who bravely carry valuable sulfur ore down the mountain. Be ready to get dirty and smelly. It took 6 washes to get the stink of sulfur out of my clothes and 6 years to get it out of my nose. 

Trek difficulty level: 2.5/5 (not easy, but not bad for novice/intermediate hikers), days 8-10: malang, once you’ve marinated in that pungent crater air, head back to banyuwangi and grab the train to malang. the ride can take up to 7 hours depending on which train you catch (there are only 3 trains a day), so be ready with a podcast or some music. when you arrive in malang, cozy up in your hostel, but get ready for another sulfur-packed day when you check out the world famous and very active mount bromo. arguably the most famous volcano in all of indonesia, mount bromo sits in the middle of what looks like a lunar landscape -- surrounded by sand, dirt and red-tinted dipping valleys.  get there early for some stunning sunrise views and head to the crest of the volcano to see it in all its glory. because it’s so active (it last erupted in 2016), it really makes for a fascinating up close and personal look at the workings of a volcano..

Other than Bromo, there isn’t very much else to see in the area. Take a day to recover, explore the city, and take in the last bit of delicious tempe before starting your journey over to Thailand.

Day 11: surabaya & flight to phuket, once you’ve had your recovery day in malang, catch an early bus from malang to surabaya (only a 1.5 hour trip) and head straight to the airport. check into your flight and wave goodbye to indonesia. bye, indonesia , country 2: thailand (days 11-29).

$1 USD = 36.79 Baht (as of November 2022)

GMT +7 hours (Indochina Time)

Dry Season: November - February; Rainy Season: June - October

Welcome to Thailand! Land of jungles, islands, elephant parks and drunken noodles. You’ll notice almost immediately that Thailand is an incredibly tourist-friendly country, with many signs translated to English, tourism centers on every corner, and western food galore. But don’t worry! Thailand may be a tourist haven, but it’s not lost an ounce of its local and deep cultural charm. You’ll get to immerse yourself in stunning Buddhist temples, delicious night markets and much more in the two weeks you’re here. So let’s begin.

Days 11-12: phuket.

You made it to Thailand -- congrats! Heavily developed and teeming with tourists, Phuket is a full-on tourist beach town, with food stands, surf shops and the whole nine yards. Is it beautiful? Definitely. Is it a great place to party? For sure. Is it quiet? Nope. Grab some friends, down a cocktail bucket from your hostel bar and enjoy a night out on the Patong strip. Long story short: Phuket is fun for its nightlife and eccentricities, but if you’re looking for a quiet white sand beach or some real Thai culture, bide your time. We’ll get there.

What to do in phuket:.

Have a legendary night out on the Bangla Walking Street

Nurse a hangover on Patong Beach

Catch a  Burlesque Show on the strip

Get your fill of Western food: it’s all they have here

Do NOT go shopping: everything here is way overpriced

Days 13-17: Krabi & Koh Phi Phi

Once you’ve had your fill of drinking and dancing, catch a van a few hours away to krabi -- a much quieter beach town on the opposite side of the phang nga bay. apart from being a port for the dozens of tropical islands all around, this sleepy town has much quieter beaches, far tastier thai food and the huge, sloping limestone cliffs that thailand is famous for. take a boat over to railay beach and spend the day relaxing in the sun and enjoying the quiet waters. sip a cocktail at a beachside bar and just laze around enjoying the views. and for sunset, be sure to make your way over the tiger cave temple for a climb up the 1,260 stairs to the top (it’s harder than it sounds). there are sneaky monkeys, so keep your valuables close and make way for the monks heading to the top at record speed. the view at the top of this unique temple is really mesmerizing, with the sunset poking through the limestone cliffs for miles and miles..

Where to stay in Krabi  I'm a big fan of   Ao Nang 88 Hostel

Koh phi phi, after a day or two in krabi, catch the two-hour ferry over to koh phi phi. an island known for partying and crystalline waters, koh phi phi is sort of a middle ground between phuket and krabi -- party-oriented for sure, but with a nice tropical getaway feel, populated by young backpackers looking for a good time. stay at a beachside hostel and lay in a hammock during the day and spend the evenings drinking and watching the fabulous beachside fire dancer shows. you definitely don’t need more than 3 days here. when you’re properly hungover and sunburnt to a crisp, catch the ferry back to krabi and head back towards phuket..

What to do in Koh Phi Phi:

Laze around on the beach, literally steps away from your hostel

Go diving or snorkeling! This is the perfect place for a beginner dive (I recommend Sea Frog Diving Center )

Climb up (more so walk up) to the island’s beautiful viewpoint

Get a massage...if you dare (a lot of massage parlors on the island are sketchy, so be selective and know what you’re getting ...or more importantly, what you’re not getting)

Catch a Muay Thai show

Days 18-19: Bangkok

To get to bangkok from phuket, you have 2 options. you can either take a 12 hour bus (i’d recommend a late one so you can sleep and save money on accommodation), or you can bite the bullet like me and fly. the flight is only an hour and generally pretty cheap, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank splurging on this expense that saves you 10.5 hours..

Once you arrive in Bangkok, you may be overwhelmed -- don’t panic. Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand, and as such, it’s truly a modern-day metropolis. Different from the islands in almost every way, Bangkok can have a tendency to overwhelm newcomers with sounds and smell, but once you get used to it, you’ll find plenty to do and see in this unique capital.

What to do in bangkok:.

Check out the huge reclining Buddha at Wat Pho

Tour the Grand Palace

Explore Lumpini Park

Party on Khao San Road (just in case you haven’t had enough of partying yet)

Buy a suit (we thought these would be scams, but our friend got a really great, cheap suit in Bangkok)

Pig out on street food (this is a great place to try street meat) 

Where to stay in Bangkok?  I recommend   Back Home Backpackers or  Dreamcatcher

Days 20-23: chiang mai, once you’ve had enough hustle and bustle, catch a night bus from bangkok to chiang mai. the ride takes about 12 hours, so it’s best to get some shut eye. when you arrive in chiang mai, you’ll fall in love immediately. also a large city, chiang mai is by no means a dirty or crowded metropolis. rather, it’s a quieter and more subdued cultural haven than both bangkok and phuket. tourists come here mostly for access to the nearby mountains and elephant parks in the area, but stay for the wildly delicious night market food and easygoing local vibe..

What to do in Chiang Mai:

Visit an Elephant Rescue Park (see below for a note on how to pick an ethical one)

Go cliff jumping at Chiang Mai’s Grand Canyon

Have fun with forced perspective at the Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum

Check out the fortress-like Wat Chedi Luang Varahivara Temple (& go temple hopping)

Pig out at Chiang Mai’s famous & cheap Night Market

Learn how to make classic Thai food in a Cooking Class (I recommend Mama Noi’s )

Where to stay in Chiang Mai?  Chiangmai Gate Capsule Hostel is clean, comfortable & has tons of activity-booking options

A note on elephant parks & tiger sanctuaries, when it comes to wildlife tourism, it’s very important to do your research. a lot of local businesses that cater to wildlife lovers have a really racy record of mistreating their animals in an effort to make the experience more enjoyable for you. in fact, a recent national geographic exposé showed that even elephant sanctuaries that boast humane conditions just shuttle them over daily from cruel ones in an effort to appeal to well-intentioned tourists. don’t fall for it and don’t be the type of tourist who takes advantage of the wildlife for an insta story or a selfie. tiger sanctuaries sedate their tigers to keep it safe for tourists to take pictures with them, which is wildly unhealthy and cruel to the animals. do your research so you wind up contributing to humane businesses and diverting money away from inhumane ones., as a general rule of thumb: if a sanctuary lets you ride an elephant in a basket, that’s not kosher. elephants are not meant to have that much weight on that part of their backs, and they’re often whipped with hooks to get them to move for you. avoid at all costs..

Days 24-26: Pai

Oh boy, are you in for a treat in pai...grab a local bus or van and head 3 hours northwest of chiang mai to arrive in this sleepy backpacking haven. potentially my favorite part of the whole country, pai is justifiably highly regarded as the type of town you can wind up in for much longer than intended. nestled in the lush jungles bordering myanmar, pai has it all for nature-lovers: beautiful hiking, refreshing waterfalls, steamy hot springs and mysterious caves. rent a scooter for a few days and tour the countryside. take in the beautiful views and zip along from spot to spot at your leisure..

What to do in Pai:

Rent a scooter and explore on your own (Pai is very open so there are far less things to bump into)

Go waterfall-hopping (I recommend Mor Paeng, Pambok, Hua Chang & Mae Yen )

Soak in the Sai Ngam Hot Springs (the ones outside of town)

Explore Tham Lod Cave on a guided riverboat (can combine this with the hot springs)

Check out Pai Canyon for sunset 

Go White-Water Rafting

Where to stay in Pai? Check out   Famous Pai Circus Hostel (if you’re looking for a wild night & some free circus lessons), Deejai Pai Backpackers (if you’re looking for a quiet spot with a social atmosphere)

Days 27-28: chiang rai, after you’ve lazed around at the hostel pool or got your fill of spelunking, head back to the bus station to grab a van back to chiang mai so you can make your transfer over to chiang rai. chiang rai is a city in the northeastern corner of thailand, and is the closest major entry point to loas. chiang rai is where you’ll wave a warm goodbye and head over to your next country, but before you do, make sure you take a day to check out the wat rung khun, or more famously known as the white temple., where to stay in chiang rai i liked   mercy hostel, wat rung khun (the white temple).

I know, I know...You’re all temple-ed out. By now, you’ve already seen so many...what could possibly be so special about this one? Well, friends...the pictures speak for themselves. The White Temple is unlike any other Buddhist temple in Thailand or in Southeast Asia for that matter. It was constructed much more recently than the ones you’re used to and has a uniquely modern aesthetic. The hanging heads of iconic characters like Maleficent or Iron Man should give that away. On the outside it’s fully white with en elephant graveyard feel, while on the inside there are murals with modern characters like minions and spiderman. It’s a seriously unique spot and worth seeing before you head over into Laos.

Country 3: laos (days 29-39).

$1 USD = 16,950 Kip (as of November 2022)

Dry Season: October - April; Rainy Season: May - September

Up next on our Southeast Asia tour is Laos. A beautifully cultural and historical country, Laos has had a really rough go of it in the 20th century. Colonized by the French in the late 19th century, Laos unfortunately got caught up in much of mess of the Vietnam War and still suffers today the consequences of a conflict it didn’t need to be involved in. You’ll notice as a result that Laos is far less developed than Thailand, and even its largest city is dwarfed in comparison to metropolises like Bangkok or Singapore. However, because Laos is landlocked, it’s perfectly located in a tropical savanna climate, and therefore has absolutely stunning natural sights and hidden gems that are not that difficult to find if you do a little looking. Let’s discuss what they are.

Days 29-32: huay xai & the gibbon experience, after catching the 2 hour bus from chiang rai and going through border control, you’ll arrive in huay xai. there’s no way around it -- this will likely be a bit of a culture shock. huay xai, other than a few hostels and restaurants, will seem a bit sparse and lacking compared to your recent destinations in thailand. however, you’re not here for the town. you’re here for the gibbon experience. so grab a hostel, stay overnight and book your tour., the gibbon experience, i first heard about the gibbon experience from a few canadian friends that i met in bali. i hadn’t planned on doing it and it was therefore not on my itinerary, but boy am i glad i left some wiggle room for it. simply put, the gibbon experience is a three-day trek into the laotian jungle where you’ll be zip-lining through the jungle canopy, sleeping in impressive treehouses, and hiking around the exotic and dense local forests. it’s a real once-in-a-lifetime experience, and even if you don’t see any gibbons (like i didn’t), it’s still worth the somewhat-hefty price tag. much of its earnings goes towards preserving the national park that it helped create as well, so you can feel good about booking with them..

Safety at the Gibbon Experience

A lot of people worry about safety when it comes to zip-lining, especially when you’re zip-lining higher than the tree canopy. the truth is that there has been one reported fatality at the gibbon experience that the company is very transparent about. my advice do your research and decide if it’s for you. i personally felt absolutely safe 100% of my  time there and so have hundreds of other guests, but i obviously understand the hesitancy. as always, just do what you’re comfortable with., days 33-35: luang prabang, when you’re back from your three-day trip to the laotian jungle, book a night bus from huay xai to luang prabang. now i’m not going to lie to you...this was the single worst experience of my entire two-month trip. the bus is rickety, the road is windy, there’s no bathroom & you have to share a small mat with a stranger. just buck up and accept it for what it is: a necessary means to get to your next spot. but when you arrive in luang prabang, you’ll be glad you did..

Luang Prabang is one of the main cities in Laos. It’s located smack in the center of the north portion of the country, and is surrounded by dense forests and sweeping limestone cliffs. It’s a relatively quiet city on the Mekong River where you can unwind and stretch your legs after having fit them on that bus. Stay a few days to eat some tasty French-inspired Laotian food and recuperate from your travels before moving onto Vang Vieng.

What to do in luang prabang:.

Walk through any of the city’s 34 temples (especially Wat Xieng Thong )

Take a day trip to Kuang Si Waterfall (arguably the most iconic spot in all of Laos)

Eat and shop your way through one of the best Night Markets in Southeast Asia

Enjoy the sunset from the top of Mount Phou Si (bring bug spray)

Have a beer or 6 at Utopia Bar

Days 36-38: Vang Vieng

Once you’ve recovered from your night bus experience in luang prabang, grab a 7 hour bus ride to vang vieng, an otherwise sleepy town somewhat overtaken by tourism. partying and nightlife are huge here, but that’s only because of the infamous river tubing that attracted so many travelers to town. now, the booze-fueled tubing romp is shut down (as a result of literal alcohol-induced deaths), but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun. vang vieng is a lovely place to relax with a smoothie or ride around the beautiful dirt roads that surround the city. explore the truly unique and remarkable natural sights around the town. it has something for both adventurers and loungers alike..

What to do in Vang Vieng:

Go (sober) tubing down the river (hey, it’s still super fun and beautiful)

Ride a scooter over to the Blue Lagoon for some seriously blue water

Explore the dozens of caves that are 30 minutes or less away from town

Indulge in both French-inspired & traditional Laotian food in town

Party at Sakura Bar (and buy one of the shirts you’ve seen travelers wearing all over Southeast Asia)

Watch Friends  at any of the dozens of restaurants that have it playing nonstop

Where to stay in Vang Vieng? I liked   Real Backpackers Hostel Vang Vieng

Days 39: vientiane; fly to hanoi, had enough of laos yet doesn’t matter you’re headed to vietnam next wake up early in vang vieng and catch the 3-hour bus to vientiane, where you’ll make a transfer to your flight to hanoi. i admittedly didn’t allot much time in vientiane because it doesn’t seem like it has very much there that makes it unique from other cities i visited or will visit. if you do choose to stay here, however, feel free to indulge in some delicious french-inspired bakeries and food, meander around town, and kick back with a beerlao. if you’re here for a flight, just make sure to arrive early (you know by now how unpredictable southeast asian buses are)., where to stay in vientiane i recommend   dream home hostel, country 4: vietnam (days 39-57).

Vietnamese Dong

$1 USD = 24,867 Dong (as of November 2022)

Dry Season: November - April; Rainy Season: May - October

Vietnam. A country with an historic reputation, and a country that blew all my expectations completely out of the water. Deeply affected by the war in the 1960’s, Vietnam’s culture is a unique amalgamation of its own pre-colonial practices and the modern vibe that’s evolved since wartime. Big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are booming, and the people are warm and welcoming to tourists. The sights don’t disappoint either. From beautifully symmetrical rice terraces in the north to caves and canyons in the south, Vietnam truly surprised me at every single stop on my tour. You’re going to love it.

Open bus tickets in vietnam, vietnam’s open bus ticket system is truly a lifesaver, and the only bus-booking system i’ve seen that’s so inclusive and easy-to-use. simply go to a travel agency in hanoi and ask for an open bus ticket that includes all the cities down the coast. you’ll likely pay around $50 usd for it and can use it however much you like within the one-month period. the buses are pretty clean sleeper-buses, perfect for overnight travel and complete with little mini beds (somewhat small beds, but beds nonetheless). they usually have a bathroom and they sometimes have wifi (though it probably won’t work). they’re a really fantastic and cost-saving way to explore the country, so i’d say well-worth the money. , days 39-42: hanoi, welcome to vietnam as you land in hanoi, you’ll notice that this starting point in the north is a skyscraper-laced metropolis comparable to bangkok or singapore. tall buildings tower over the sidewalks, scooters zip by without regard for traffic signals, markets fill with vendors selling their wares, entire streets devote themselves to very particular goods (i’m looking at you, textile street). it’s easy to get overwhelmed here, especially with the population of almost 8 million people swarming the streets. however, hanoi is a fantastic spot to get acquainted with vietnamese food, etiquette and history, and truly makes for a lovely city to visit..

What to do in Hanoi:

Try not to die crossing the street

Explore the park around Hoan Kiem Lake 

Catch up on what you missed at the National Museum of Vientnamese History & Military History Museum

Tour the grounds of the Imperial Citadel

Get a little macabre at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Catch a show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre (I didn’t do this but it sounds really cool) 

Eat, Eat, Eat. The best food I had in Vietnam was in Hanoi. It’s cheap, it’s tasty, & it’s easily found.

Where to stay in Hanoi? I liked   AZ Hanoi Hostel

Days 43-45: sa pa.

Sa Pa is a legitimately picturesque mountain town nestled within the rolling hills in the north of Vietnam. From Hanoi, use your open bus ticket to catch a sleeper bus 6 hours north to Sa Pa. I’d recommend doing an overnight to save a bit of cash on accommodation, but keep in mind, this will get you into Sa Pa around 4:00 AM, well before check-in at most hostels. Still, arrive in Sa Pa and prepare to be swarmed by the local hill tribe women who wait every morning for busfulls of tourists to arrive, ready to offer you the best deal on a homestay trek. Booking your homestay trek is up to you, but I’d recommend shopping around and seeing what each company has to offer so you get the best deal.

Where to stay in sa pa i liked   go sapa hostel, sa pa homestay trek, the sa pa homestay trek was an absolute highlight of my vietnam trip, and it’s well-worth whatever money you wind up spending on it. essentially you’ll be guided by local tribes women down into sa pa’s rolling hills and valleys, surrounded by the famous rice terraces you’ve probably seen in tourism agency posters. you’ll then spend a night at a local home, complete with a home-cooked dinner, and if you’re lucky, some homemade rice wine. the tour usually lasts 2 days (1 overnight), and is extensive, wet, and rough-and-tumble. you will get muddy; your feet will hurt, but you’ll be so glad you did it. also -- fair warning, the tribe women will ask you for an unexpected tip when you reach your destination. they may get mad if you don’t give one. whoops., trek difficulty level: 2/5 (not a walk in the park, but not majorly difficult).

Days 46-47: Ha Long Bay

Once you finish up your homestay trek and head back to town, grab the bus back to hanoi and transfer there for your 3-hour ride to ha long bay. now i’m not going to lie to you folks...i did not like ha long bay. was it because i had rainy weather probably. was it because my particular boat tour was so strictly regimented that it was planned down to the minute definitely. however, i’ve heard much better stories from other travelers who had better weather or who were a bit more selective with their tour agency. my recommendation do your homework and make sure you book a boat tour with people your age. some of them are geared more towards young partiers and some are geared more towards quiet retirees. this is possibly the most iconic spot in vietnam, so don’t be like me, and make sure your tour lives up to the hype., days 48-49: phong nha national park, once finished with your ha long bay tour, grab the bus back to hanoi and get ready to head down to phong nha national park. this will be a long one, folks -- about 10 hours -- so plug in a podcast and catch some sleep on your night bus. when you arrive, you’ll notice that the town in phong nha is approximately 15 buildings wide. it’s very small. however, this unesco world heritage site has earned a reputation for good reason. the surrounding limestone cliffs make for some once-in-a-lifetime cave exploring and the local cows make for some treacherous scootering around town. the best thing to do here is to explore the mud cave, so check into your hostel and enjoy what this undiscovered gem of a town has to offer..

What to do in Phong Nha:

Go cave exploring (I recommend Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave & Dark Cave )

Explore Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave (if you have a reservation & $3,000 to spend)

Check out the Botanic Gardens (which are more like a hike and swim than a garden)

Drive around the area on a scooter. This area has some of the prettiest views in all of Vietnam.

Where to stay in Phong Nha? I liked   Easy Tiger’s Original Hostel Phong Nha

Days 50-52: hoi an, no, this isn’t hanoi. hoi an, though just a word-scramble away from hanoi, is an entirely different city smack dab in the center of vietnam. quiet, scenic, and very walkable, hoi an is a lovely intermediary between the bustling and silent spots you’ve been to in vietnam so far. located on the thu bon river and yet another unesco world heritage site, this city is thought of as one of the prettiest cities in the country, and definitely boasts a more traditionally old-time-vietnam feeling to it. it’s easy to spend days at a time walking through town munching on a banh mi, so it’s really no wonder people wind up staying here longer than they thought they would..

What to do in Hoi An:

Tour the historic Old Town

Scoot 1 hour away to the historic My Son Sanctuary Ruins

Have a beach day on An Bang Beach

Buy a hand-tailored & cheap suit

While you’re at it, go shopping! (souvenirs are cheap here)

Hit up all the local Banh Mi stands (Anthony Bourdain said Hoi An has the best in the country)

Check out the very instagrammable Lantern Market

Where to stay in Hoi An?  Check out   Bed Station Hostel & Pool Bar Hoi An

Days 53-55: dalat, after enjoying a lovely few days in hoi an, get ready for some adventure. catch a night bus to dalat and enjoy some zzz’s (the trip is 14 hours), but when you arrive, check into your hostel and sign yourself up for a canyoning tour. dalat is famous for its canyoning tours, thanks to some impressive waterfalls and cliffs nearby. now i know what you’re thinking at this point. “i’ve never been canyoning. that sounds terrifying. no thanks.” trust me, i felt the same way (i have a huge fear of heights), but the tour guides here are top notch and ensure your safety every step of the way. canyoning for me was a really unique experience and a top 3 highlight of the entire 2 month trip, so i recommend bucking up and giving it a shot. but if you’re still skeptical, no worries there’s plenty of other things to do in dalat..

What to do in Dalat:

Go Canyoning. Seriously. Go canyoning.

Explore the Crazy House (google it; you’ll see why it's got that name)

Hike over to Elephant Falls (and check out Linh Phuoc Pagoda while you’re at it)

Check out the nearby Lake of Sighs (it has a fascinating backstory worth looking up)

Play hide and seek in the eccentric 100 Roofs Cafe (made better with $1 whiskey)

Where to stay in Dalat?  I loved   Wolfpack Hostel

Days 56-57: ho chi minh city, catch your 7-hour bus ride from dalat to ho chi minh city and arrive in the morning. ho chi minh city. formerly known as saigon, and formerly the capital of vietnam before its unification in 1975, ho chi minh city is steeped in cultural and political significance. it was the focal point during the conflict between northern and southern vietnamese during the war, but has since grown immensely. partially stuck in the past and partially modernizing at a breakneck speed, ho chi minh city has everything you could want from a historical center, ranging from museums and monuments to sleek restaurants and new-age nightlife..

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City:

Learn about the country’s troubled history at the War Remnants Museum

Immerse yourself in the historic Cu Chi Tunnels

Do a day trip to the famous Mekong Delta 

Walk through Tao Dan Park

Enjoy the nightlife on Pham Ngu Lao Street (this city’s version of a nightlife strip)

Try the food! It’s vastly different here than it is in the north

Day 57: Bus to Phnom Penh

Once you’ve had your brief stint in ho chi minh city, use your open bus pass one last time to cross the border into cambodia. the ride takes about 6-7 hours made a bit longer by border control, but is otherwise painless. listen to some tunes and say goodbye to this lovely country you’ve been exploring for two weeks., country 5: cambodia (days 57-65).

Cambodian Riel

$1 USD = 4,144 Riel (as of November 2022)

Finally, after a month and a half of travel you’ve arrived in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Similarly troubled with war and internal conflict, Cambodia shares a history of corruption and sorrow that transcends far beyond its neighboring countries. Despite all this, Cambodia has really developed its own specific sense of culture in the last half-century, making it a truly unique country to visit. Combine that with its stunning white sand beaches and archaic ruins, and you have a recipe for not only a fun and adventurous trip, but a sobering and reflective one as well.

Days 57-59: phnom penh, phnom penh is a developing city with a very somber past. as the country’s capital, it was the central point of the cambodian genocide in the 1970’s that separated families, imprisoned intellectuals and effectively wiped out a quarter (over 2 million) of the country’s population. it’s a solemn and reflective place that demands respect and attention., where to stay in phnom penh  i liked   envoy hostel, the killing fields, i won’t sugarcoat this: the killing fields is not a fun day. this tragic area is the site of over a million horrifying deaths back in the 20th century, for men, women and children who wouldn’t fall in line with pol pot’s khmer regime. it’s a highly emotional and sad tour, but a necessary one to fully grasp the magnitude of this historical atrocity. the tower in the center is filled stories-high with real-life skulls of victims, and when the grounds flood, bones and remnants of clothing rise out of the ground. this is really heavy stuff, made heavier by the informative and well-documented audio guide you’ll have while you visit., please keep in mind: this is not a place to fool around. this is not a place to wear a bar-themed tank top. be respectful and try to be reflective while you’re here..

S-21 Prison

S-21 prison is often combined in a day tour with the killing fields. this horrifying former high school was used during the genocide to imprison and torture dissidents. it housed over 14,000 prisoners in its 4-year operation and only released 7 survivors. it’s an eerie and uncanny visit to say the least, but like the killing fields, it’s important to learn about to keep the memory of those who perished alive. the audio guide helps out a lot, giving you a condensed history of what brutal atrocities took place here, and an old man sits outside (one of the only 7 survivors) selling his book and sharing his personal account of his experience behind bars..

Days 60-62: Koh Rong & Sihanoukville

Once you’ve learned about cambodian history in phnom penh, i think it’s time for some fun. grab a 5-hour bus from phnom penh to sihanoukville and grab a ticket to koh rong. i personally don’t think there’s much reason to stay in sihanoukville. since it’s been overrun with tourists, it’s sort of turned into a dirty cesspool of cheap partying on the same vein as the worst club on the jersey shore. get your ferry ticket and prepare yourself for a rickety ride over to koh rong., there’s a bit of controversy over koh rong. when i went in 2016, koh rong was a deveoping paradise island with some bars and hostels on one side and a picture-perfect white sand beach on the other, separated by a dense jungle. however, i’m told that since then it’s changed dramatically and, like sihanoukville, become an overpriced and dirty tourist trap. my advice is to do your research. it was a fundamentally incredible part of my trip, complete with instagrammable sunsets, late-night beach parties, an offbeat island vibe, and bioluminescent plankton, but i hear that may not be the case these days. look into it..

Koh Rong Samloem

If koh rong feels a bit too touristy for you, you do have another option. koh rong samloem is another island just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away, boasting a much more off-the-grid feel. i’m told it has very minimal wifi, no atm’s and as such, very few tourists. this seems like the better bet these days, but look into it yourself to see if it’s the destination you want for your island getaway., days 63-64: siem reap, after a few days on an island paradise, it’s time to wrap up your trip with cambodia’s crown jewel: siem reap. in the interest of time and sanity, i flew 45 minutes from sihanoukville to siem reap (much shorter than the 12-hour bus ride) for a pretty cheap price. this gave me the maximum amount of time to explore siem reap before heading home, and even so, i could have done with a little longer there., if there’s any monument that cambodia is associated with it’s the angkor wat (it’s even printed on the money). this impressive hindu archaeological site is the largest religious monument in the entire world, and arguably the best preserved and most beautiful. built in the early 12th century, this impressive display of construction could take weeks to fully explore, but there definitely are some highlights. my recommendation get there nice and early (i mean 5 am early) to see the iconic sunrise over the main entrance (there will be swarms of other tourists even that early). then, hire a driver to take you around to all the must-see temples, as they’re not walking distance apart. these include angkor wat, ta phrom, pre rup, prasat kravan, east mebon, ta som, neak poan, and preah khan..

It’s truly impressive how well-maintained and complete these structures are, even whilst being overgrown with vines, trees and ivys. I personally felt like a video game character meandering through the ruins, and in fact one of the temples is actually where Tomb Raider was filmed. Spend as much time as you can exploring these once-in-a-lifetime sights. And if you have time to do anything else in Siem Reap, check out the following.

What else to do in siem reap:.

Try a pedicure at a fish spa

Do a guided hike through the Kulen Nature Trails

Let loose at Siem Reap’s Pub Street

Where to stay in Siem Reap?  I loved   Funky Flashpacker Siem Reap

Days 65: fly home, and there you have it-- two months in southeast asia unfortunately, the time has come to pack up your stuff for the last time and catch the impossibly long flight home from cambodia. hopefully this itinerary covered most of what you wanted to see in this part of the world in an appropriate amount of time. hopefully you had the wiggle room to explore on your own and check out some spots recommended by other travelers. but most importantly, hopefully you gained a lot of cultural knowledge from your travels as well as adventurous experiences and stories from nights out., if you’re interested in seeing other parts of the world, you can always check out my other itineraries right here. happy travels, my friends.

Two Months Traveling in Southeast Asia: Our Itinerary

Ultimate two-month backpacking itinerary: thailand, vietnam, malaysia and singapore.

Sara Santos | April 4, 2024 December 27, 2023

We spent two full months traveling around Southeast Asia. Are you looking to go on a similar adventure and are searching for some inspiration? Look no further. In this article, we’ll share our exact itinerary and our honest opinions about each place, and if it’s worth adding to the itinerary or if it’s better to skip it. We’ll also share useful tips about the places we visited.

Two-Month Southeast Asia Itinerary

Here’s a summary of our itinerary. You can continue reading for a more detailed description of each place.

Day 1 -5: Bangkok, Thailand

Day 6: train from bangkok to kanchanaburi, day 7 – 8: kanchanaburi, thailand, day 9: kanchanaburi to chiang mai, day 10 – 14: chiang mai, thailand, day 15 – 16: chiang rai, thailand, day 17: driving back to chiang mai, day 18: flying from chiang mai to hanoi, vietnam, day 19: hanoi, vietnam, day 19-21: ninh binh, vietnam, day 22 – 23: ha long bay, day 24: hanoi, day 25: da nang, day 26 – 28: hoi an, day 29 – 31: ho chi minh city, vietnam, day 32 – 34: bangkok, thailand, day 35 – 38: krabi, thailand, day 39 – 41: phi phi islands, thailand, day 42 – 45: koh lanta, thailand, day 46 – 51: koh lipe, thailand, day 52: speedboat from koh lipe to langkawi, malaysia, day 53 – 55: langkawi, malaysia, day 56 – 59: kuala lumpur, malaysia, day 60: bus from kuala lumpur to singapore, day 61 – 63: singapore, day 64: flying back home.

Many people start their journey in Bangkok as it’s a major hub with plenty of international flights arriving at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport. It’s a fantastic entry point to Asia and a popular starting point for many travelers. Another major hub is the Changi Airport in Singapore .

We spent five full days in Bangkok and it was a good amount of time to have a good feel of the city. We visited some of the most popular temples, went to the famous railway market, explored a floating market , and we even did a day trip to the Ancient city of Ayutthaya . Everything you need to know to plan your time in Bangkok is described on the article below.

You may also like : Bangkok Ultimate Travel Guide for First-Timers .

There is so much to do and see in Bangkok that you can spend a whole month there and never get bored.

Take into account that if you’re traveling from another continent, like us, you’ll arrive quite tired. So, you’ll probably spend your first day resting at the hotel and adjusting to the new timezone.

After Bangkok, we caught a train to Kanchanaburi . There is also the option to go by bus or minivan, but I always prefer the train.

The journey from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is very scenic and if you don’t mind traveling on an old train without AC, it’s totally worth it. The journey takes around two and a half hours and it departs from Bangkok Thonburi Station.

Related article: How to Spend Two Days in Kanchanaburi : Itinerary and Tips

Kanchanaburi is a popular place to visit thanks to its proximity to the Erawan National Park. The National Park is famous for its seven-tiered waterfall on a lush tropical forest. The waterfalls are easily accessible from Kanchanaburi by public bus (approximately one hour and a half). Everything is explained in this Kanchanaburi Travel Guide .

There are also other interesting landmarks and temples in Kanchanaburi worth visiting. I liked coming to this place because it’s much quieter, with more nature and fewer crowds. It’s usually out of the most popular itineraries.

It’s also possible to visit Kanchanaburi as a day trip from Bangkok, but I think that will be too rushed. I recommend staying at least one night and also exploring the night market.

After Kanchanaburi, we took the train back to Bangkok and then we caught a flight to Chiang Mai. Another popular option is to take the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

You may also opt to go from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, spend the day there exploring, and catch the night train to Chiang Mai afterward. If you want to do this journey, you need to book your ticket quite in advance because it gets sold out quickly.

Related article: Ayutthaya Travel Guide: Visit on Your Own from Bangkok

Chiang Mai is renowned for its numerous temples and huge night markets. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the temples inside the old town anything special. During our trip, we saw much better temples in other places. All the details about our stay in Chiang Mai are described in this Chiang Mai Travel Guide .

The night markets are some of the best we’ve been to. There are many stalls selling food, clothes, and souvenirs. This is one of the best places if you want to buy some cheap clothes and souvenirs.

There are also many elephants sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. If you want to see the elephants, make sure you choose a real ethical place. This means little to no human interaction with the animals. We didn’t visit any sanctuary, so I can’t recommend a specific place.

What I liked most about Chiang Mai was hiking in Doi Suthep to the Wat Phra That temple and the Doi Inthanon National Park, which is where the highest point in Thailand is located.

I found Chiang Mai’s nearby places much more interesting than Chiang Mai City itself. We rented a car in Chiang Mai, which allowed us to explore a bit out of the usual itinerary and explore places like the Sticky Waterfalls and the Chiang Mai Hot Springs.

Related article: Chiang Mai Travel Guide for First-Timers

We rented a car in Chiang Mai and drove to Chiang Rai . There is also the option to go by bus or minivan for very reasonable prices.

Chiang Rai has some of the most amazing temples we saw during our trip, so it’s a place worth adding to your itinerary. If you are on a limited time, there are also organized day tours from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. This is an absolute must-go if you’re visiting Northern Thailand.

Related article: How to Spend one Day in Chiang Rai, Thailand: Things to Do and Tips

After our time in Chiang Rai, we went back to Chiang Mai to return the car. We also went to the Chiang Mai hot springs along the way, but it’s just too hot to properly enjoy them. So, that’s not something that I would recommend. Consider going to the Chiang Mai Canyon instead.

Some people continue their journey to Pai and then cross the border to Laos, stay a few days in Laos, and only then, do they go to Vietnam. Due to time constraints, we decided to skip Laos. But, we’ve heard very good feedback about the country. So, it sounds to be a good place to add to your itinerary.

We spent one full day exploring Hanoi before going to Ninh Binh and another day after coming from Ha Long Bay. In my opinion, most tourist spots in Hanoi are nothing out of this world, but we really enjoyed the city.

Hanoi is quite unique, and it’s still very authentic. Everything is so different from what we have back home, and we can easily spend hours just people-watching. The traffic is so chaotic that spending some time watching it is oddly satisfying. I think two full days in Hanoi is a good amount of time

Ninh Binh was my favorite place in Vietnam. Probably because I’m more a nature person than a city enthusiast. Ninh Binh is also called “Ha Long Bay on land”. You’ll see rice fields surrounded by limestone cliffs, amazing viewpoints, scenic boat rides, and great temples.

This is an awesome place to rent a motorbike in Vietnam because there is little traffic and the roads are in relatively good condition. It’s also a good place to explore by bike as the terrain is mainly flat.

Two to three full days in Ninh Binh is a good amount of time. Don’t skip Ninh Binh, it was one of the most beautiful places we’ve been to in Vietnam. Consider spending some time there, not just a day trip. The acommodation is very affordable and with great quality for the price you pay.

No Vietnam itinerary is complete without a cruise in Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is one of the new seven wonders of the natural world, and its landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The place is truly beautiful, but it is also one of the most popular tourist spots in Vietnam, so it’s usually very crowded. You’ll see dozens or even hundreds of cruises.

You can choose to spend a day, two, or three days in Ha Long Bay, and there are cruises available for all budgets. We opted for a “luxury cruise,” which was a great experience, but it also involved too much “mass tourism.” We did a bamboo boat ride and it was far from authentic. I liked the boat rides in Nih Binh much more.

After our Ha Long Bay cruise, we got back to Hanoi and spent another full day seeing other landmarks we hadn’t seen on our first day. We also needed some time to get some work done.

From Hanoi, we flew to Da Nang to explore Central Vietnam. We visited in November which is the worst time to visit central Vietnam, so we skipped a lot in this area.

Da Nang is a coastal city with several resorts next to the beach. Many people hate Da Nang, but I don’t see why. It has a relatively good beach and a great Saturday Night market. It is also home to the famous dragon bridge that spits fire. However, the city itself doesn’t have much charm because it’s made out of big hotels and skyscrapers.

Nonetheless, it’s a good base to explore attractions like the Lady Buddha, the Hai Van Pass, and the Marble Mountains. It’s also relatively close to Hue, the Imperial City.

Due to the weather conditions at the time, we didn’t visit other interesting locations in central Vietnam like Hue, Phong Nha, or Da Lat — make sure you take a look at those places because they definitely seem worth exploring.

Hoi An, also known as the city of lanterns is one of the most beautiful villages in Vietnam and it is a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s just 45 minutes away by car from Da Nang. For this reason, many people opt to stay exclusively in Hoi An and skip Da Nang.

In Hoi An, the whole place around the river is very charming and picturesque. It is even more spectacular at night when the river fills with little boats with lit lanterns. It’s so beautiful!

This is also one of the best places to get custom-made clothes or shoes. They have them ready in 24 hours. I bought two pairs of leather sandals. Don’t forget you always need to bargain the prices.

Hoi An is also a short distance from the popular coconut boat rides. Unfortunately, we got very bad weather on the day we planned to do this activity.

Another very popular place that is relatively close to Hoi An is the Instagram-famous Golden Hands Bridge. We opted to skip this place because the weather was bad and the entrance tickets and the ride to get there were a bit excessive,

From Da Nang, we caught a flight to the south, Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon. There are also bus and train routes from Central Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City is a more “modern” city, much less authentic than the other places in Vietnam. It has a lot of European influence, so if you’ve never been to Europe before, there is some architecture that you’ll like. Otherwise, it’s not much special.

If you like shopping and French-inspired Instagramable coffee shops, you’ll probably like it. That’s not much of my travel style, but I have to admit that the egg coffee and coconut coffee were quite good, and the French pastries were delicious for a fraction of the price you would find in France.

We spent three full days in Ho Chi Minh, which for me was too much. I didn’t like the feel of the city and the tourist attractions were not much interesting.

Ho Chi Minh City is a great starting point to explore the Mekong Delta. We went on an organized day tour of the Mekong Delta, but it was too mass tourism to be enjoyable. If you want to visit Mekong Delta, I recommend doing a little more research and trying to explore it on your own.

If it was today, I would have skipped Ho Chi Minh City and spent these days elsewhere.

After Ho Chi Minh City, we flew to Bangkok, a strategic place to stop for a few days before heading to our next destination: Krabi.

During a long trip, sometimes you feel you need to rest for a bit and spend a few days taking it more slowly.

During these days, we worked, tried new foods and restaurants, and planned the rest of the trip. I have to admit that I didn’t like Bangkok at first sight, but on this second visit, I don’t know what changed, but I loved the city and I can’t wait to get back. So, whenever you don’t like a place, give it a second chance.

Krabi was a disappointment in terms of “beach vacation”, but it surprised me with other things I wasn’t expecting. When in Krabi, you’ll want to stay near the Ao Nang beach and not in Krabi town.

Unfortunately, Ao Nang beach was very disappointing. The water had a grey color and didn’t seem clean. There was sewage coming into the water in several places. It’s not a place that I would choose for a beach vacation. This was our first impression of Thailand’s beaches. That was definitely not what we were expecting.

Related article: Ao Nang Travel Guide for First Timers (Krabi, Thailand)

Even though Ao Nang had some downsides, there are good reasons to include it in your plans, especially if you’re heading to an island afterwards—you can read everything about it in our Krabi Travel Guide . The scenery with limestone rocks is stunning, and you might even spot Dusky Leaf Monkeys (an endangered species) on the Monkey trail at the Ao Nang beach. There is a great fire show at the beach every day right after sunset. It was one of the best I’ve seen, I was quite surprised.

Krabi is also a good base for day tours to nearby beautiful islands. The most famous tours are the Hong Islands tour and the 4 Islands Tour . The nearby Railey beach, only accessible by boat, is also worth visiting for its beautiful scenery.

Related article: The 7-Island Tour in Ao Nang, Krabi – What to Expect

At this point in our trip, we had seen many temples so far, but one of the highlights was going to the Tiger Cave Temple and climbing the 1260 steps to the top.

The Phi Phi Islands are a group of six islands. The only inhabited island is Phi Phi Don. I was very unsure whether to spend some time in Phi Phi Don or just do a day tour from Krabi. We ended up staying three days in Phi Phi Don, and it was a great decision. I recommend staying there for at least a couple of days. You can read our Phi Phi Islands Travel Guide here .

The island is super small and there are no cars. The island is one hundred percent catered to tourists. There’s not much local culture here, the hotel prices are more expensive than in other places in Thailand and you’ll find many Western restaurants. Nonetheless, the island has a very good vibe, the landscape and beaches are beautiful, and the day trips to the nearby islands are truly worth it.

We did a full-day tour to the most beautiful places of the Phi Phi islands, including the famous Maya Bay, and it was one of the highlights of our whole trip. Maya Bay, despite being one of the most touristy places in Thailand, is aboslutely worth visiting. It is truly what paradise on earth should look like.

Related article: Koh Phi Phi: Things to Do and Tips for First-Timers

Koh Lanta is more of a local island, but still with good infrastructure for tourists without losing much of its authenticity. While it doesn’t have the most beautiful beaches, the island has many other things to offer and it has such a great laidback vibe that we loved our time there. You can read our Koh Lanta Travel Guide here .

One of the best things to do in Koh Lanta is to explore the island by motorbike from north to south. The roads are in good condition and there’s not much traffic.

There are also great snorkeling and day trips from Koh Lanta. We did a snorkeling trip to Koh Roh and Koh Ha and it was amazing. This snorkeling tour was one of the highlights of our entire trip. We saw a lot of healthy coral reefs and lots of marine life including Nemo, the clownfish.

You may also like : Koh Lanta Travel Guide: 3-Day Itinerary and 10 Best Things to Do .

I loved Koh Lanta, but if you’re expecting to enjoy the island’s beaches, you might be a bit disappointed. But, there are plenty of tours to nearby small islands with crystal clear blue water and white sand beaches.

Koh Lipe was our favorite place on the whole trip around Southeast Asia. The Island is super small, but the beaches, the color of the water, and the whole vibe are so good that you won’t want to leave. Our initial idea was to spend only two days in Koh Lipe, but we ended up spending almost one week.

Related article: Koh Lipe : Best Things to Do and Tips for First-Timers

There is a beautiful beach in the North of the island that simply looks like paradise. Additionally, there are great snorkeling opportunities swimming right from the beach. We ended up seeing Nemo almost every day during our time in Koh Lipe.

Additionally, there are so many good restaurants selling local food for a very reasonable price. The fish here is just delicious. We ate fresh fish almost every night during our time in Koh Lipe.

From Koh Lipe, we got the speedboat to Langkawi, an island in Malaysia. The trip is relatively short taking around two hours.

When we arrived in Langkawi, it was still early afternoon, but it started raining a lot, so we couldn’t explore much on our first day. We stayed near the Pantai Cenang beach, it’s close to the pier and to the airport.

Pantai Cenang is one of the most famous beaches in Langkawi, and it’s a popular place for water sports. If you would like to drive a jet ski, do parasailing, or other watersports, this is probably one of the cheapest places for that. However, if you’re looking for paradisiac beaches, this is not the place you’re looking for.

Langkawi is a popular holiday spot for locals, but it’s not yet on the radar of most international tourists. Despite the island’s beauty and stunning landscapes, there aren’t a ton of activities. Still, we spent three days there, finding something different to do each day.

A major highlight in Langkawi is the Sky Bridge, providing breathtaking views of the lush green forest and the entire archipelago. The Mangrove tour and island hopping are other popular and incredibly affordable activities that we found well worth the experience. Langkawi is rich in biodiversity, featuring various bird species, otters, dusky leaf monkeys, eagles, bats, monitor lizards, and more.

Despite its beauty, Langkawi might not fit the typical “beach destination” criteria we’re accustomed to in Europe. The beaches lack the familiar beach vibe. However, if you seek beautiful nature, affordable tours, and a less crowded atmosphere with fewer international tourists, Langkawi is an excellent choice.

Langkawi has its own airport, making it easy to move on to your next destination. Originally, we planned to start in Langkawi and explore Malaysia from north to south. However, realizing it would be rushed at this stage of the trip, we decided to catch a plane straight to Kuala Lumpur.

We spend two and a half days in Kuala Lumpur, which I think is a good amount of time to get a good feel of the city. Here, you can stay in a luxury suite for more or less 50$. How cool is that? We stayed in a luxury suite with a rooftop infinite pool overlooking the KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers, which were once the world’s tallest twin towers.

Kuala Lumpur is also home to other interesting and tall buildings like the KL Menara Tower, the TRX Tower, and the Merdeka 118 Tower.

Malaysia is a mix of cultures, allowing you to experience various cultural influences in one place. Mosques, Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, Chinese temples, and more contribute to this rich diversity. One of the most famous places is the Batu Caves, a Hindu temple, only twenty minutes away from the city center.

From Kuala Lumpur, we took a bus to Singapore. The bus should have taken four and a half hours, but it ended up taking more than six hours. This trip was quite exhausting and took almost all afternoon. You can also fly from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but the flight was much more expensive than the bus because we were booking last minute.

We spent three full days in Singapore and it was the right amount of time. This is one of the most expensive places in Southeast Asia, so if you’re on a budget, you won’t want to stay here for too long.

Singapore, like Malaysia, is a mix of several different cultures. You’ll find a church, a temple, and a mosque on the same road, it’s quite interesting.

In Singapore, the most famous area is Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay. The entire vicinity surrounding Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands is incredibly modern and beautiful. The supertrees and the cloud forest resemble scenes from the movie Avatar. This is also a fantastic place if you enjoy luxury shopping (not our case, but it’s always interesting to explore the different stores).

Singapore serves as a hub for numerous international destinations, making it likely that you’ll pass through here at least once during your Southeast Asia itinerary. In our case, this is where we caught our flight back home.

The airport itself is also a tourist attraction, particularly due to its mesmerizing vortex waterfall. There are a ton of things to keep you entertained at the airport (some free and some paid activities). We were quite tired, so we just went to see the most famous waterfall.

Wrapping Up

There are a million different ways to put together an itinerary to travel Southeast Asia. That will greatly depend on your budget, style of travel, and your overall interests. We took two full months to travel around this part of the world. Even though that’s a considerable amount of time, it’s still quite limited taking into account that there is so much to do and see and so many different amazing countries to explore.

Our initial idea was to explore the following countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore. We ended up skipping Cambodia because we felt it would be too rushed and the flights to go from Vietnam to Cambodia were very expensive at the time. We also didn’t explore Malaysia as in-depth as we wanted.

Other popular countries to add to your itinerary are Indonesia and the Philippines. If we had more time we would have included those countries.

We had an itinerary laid out before starting our trip and we followed it more or less as expected until the middle of the trip. Then, we completely changed our plans thereafter. It’s good to have an itinerary in mind, but it’s also good to have some flexibility to change your plans along the way. Our itinerary was quite diverse, including big cities, small villages, nature places, beaches, and mountains.

We hope this article has helped you plan your itinerary for your Southeast Asia adventure.

Finally, you can use our links to book accommodation and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more for it and you’ll be supporting our work.

Thanks for reading.

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Hana's Travel Journal

HANA'S TRAVEL JOURNAL

2 month itinerary for south east asia.

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Paths and trails throughout South-East Asia are well beaten. Backpackers, adventurers, food enthusiasts and high-end travelers are coming back year by year, season by season, because this region has something for everyone. It’s welcoming, warm and sunny, full of bright colors, unusual flavors and exotic smells. 2 months in south east asia

I was dying to go to Asia and experience it all on my own skin, see it with my own eyes and taste all the delicious authentic food with my own taste buds! I am also still confident enough to bring you some new information and points of view to help you plan your trip to this part of the world. 2 months in south east asia

Although I had been to SE Asia before, I haven’t explored ‘the land part’. Bali , Philippines and Singapore gave me a little taste of Asian delights and ever since then I’ve known I will be coming back for more. In this article I will present you some general information about this region plus our itinerary. We were travelling for almost two months through five countries and we tried to fill our days with different activities, spend some time with locals and get a little bit off-the-beaten-path experiences.

This is our rough itinerary for 2 months in south east Asia following all the places we visited. I wanted to see as much as possible and visit as many places as possible, but I also made sure that we stayed in each place long enough to really get to know it. You can see articles from each destination on the ASIA on my blog . 

KUALA LUMPUR | MALAYSIA

Duration: 2 Days

CHIANG MAI | THAILAND

Duration: 3 - 5 Days

MANDALAY | MYANMAR

Duration: 1 - 2 Days

BAGAN | MYANMAR

Duration: 3 Days

INLE LAKE | MYANMAR

Yangon | myanmar, hanoi | vietnam.

Duration: 1 - 3 Days

HALONG BAY | VIETNAM

Duration: 2 Night Cruise

NINH BINH | VIETNAM

Hue | vietnam, hoi an | vietnam.

Duration: 2 - 4 Days

HO CHI MINH CITY | VIETNAM

Phnom penh | cambodia.

Duration: 2 - 3 Days

SIEM REAP | CAMBODIA

Bangkok | thailand.

Duration: 4 Days

For me, a good planning is essential before every longer trip and this one wasn’t an exception. I started months before just to decide where to go and what to see there, plus some extra activities, places where to eat and what to eat etc. If you are going to Asia for a limited time, I would recommend doing your research properly beforehand. I was helping myself mostly with other travel blogs and these two I considered the most useful: Nomadic Matt , who backpacked around Asia many times and his blog is very detailed full of useful information, and The Blonde Abroad with some stylish places to visit and how to stay safe. 2 months in south east asia

Situated within the Tropics close to the Equator, South-East Asian region characterizes hot and humid weather with an average temperature of approximately 25 degrees Celsius all year round (depending on particular country). There are two main seasons during the year – the wet season, a.k.a. the monsoon season and the dry season. The “land part” of SE Asia (North Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar) suffers from the monsoon season from May/June till October. Even though during these months the monsoon rains are rather a temporary annoyance, you can also experience some tropical storms that can last for days which will have significant impact on your plans. During the dry season you can expect lower temperatures and humidity, but also bigger amounts of tourists everywhere.

Rainy season

We travelled to SE Asia at the beginning of the rain season – from the end of May until mid-July and we experienced all sorts of weather but it was mostly sunny and very hot. The storms were intense but only about 15-20 minutes short and after that the sky cleared again. We got the most rain in Kuala Lumpur, where it rained every night and occasionally during the day. In my opinion, this was a good time for travelling. Yes, it was very hot, but at many places we could significantly feel the smaller amount of people and in Myanmar in most of the places were the only foreigners.

If you decide to travel in wet season, I recommend you to carry your raincoat at all times, bring a good bug spray and save some buffer days in your itinerary for museums, galleries or nice cafes in case it rains. For more detailed info about weather in Asia head to this link.

South-East Asia is a big region but getting from one place to another is really not that difficult (even though it can be adventurous sometimes!). As I mentioned at the beginning, more and more tourists travel to this part of the world every year and so the transportation network is becoming more and more customer friendly. 2 months in south east asia

If I want to know estimated price and route options from A to B, I usually use Rome2Rio website which literally connects every part of the world. From there I plan my route and check available websites for transportation in each region.

When you see the map above, you can notice that we were flying a lot. I don’t have any special secrets to find the best flights – Skyscanner does the job for me! When I started to plan our trip, I always kept the dates open to see which day the airfare was the cheapest. Then I booked through the link directly on Skyscanner.

We had (almost) no problems with low cost Asian airlines. We were able to get the flights for under 100 AUD per person (approx. 62 EUR) with 20 kg luggage included even when we booked last minute, and there were also snacks and drinks on board! I said we had almost no problems because once it happened to us that Vietnam airlines changed our flight 4 hours earlier without letting us know, and so we obviously missed it, but on the other hand we got hotel for the night and access to the business lounge at the airport for the whole day so it wasn’t an absolute disaster.

Buses and Trains

Over-night long distance buses are very popular in SE Asia and from our experience I can say they are quite comfy. You can recline your seat very low and make it into a bed. The roads are bumpy though and our drivers liked to honk a lot but we were still able to get some sleep and saved one night on accommodation.

Over-night train was my favorite mean of transport when we were travelling through Vietnam . We were on the train for 12 hours, but each of us got a proper bed (bunk bed for a couple) with clean linen, coffee, tea, soda or beer and we were even served breakfast! To make your train ride a good experience, you have to purchase the first class ticket! In the 2 nd class you will get a wooden bench to sleep on (no pillow nor blanket) and in the 3 rd class, you will have to share the bench with other people. There’s quite a big difference in price but just imagine spending 12 hours like this.

I booked most of our bus and train connections through 12go.asia where you can see reviews from other travelers and price comparisons. Sometimes the transport was cheaper when booked through a hostel, but usually it was also worse. With shorter 3 – 5 hours long drives, it’s okay, but anything longer than that, I am choosing comfort over price.

City Transport

The easiest way to get around any bigger city in SE Asia is taking a Grab . Grab, similar to Uber, is cheap, fast, reliable, the price is set in advance so you’ll avoid scammers and you don’t have to pay with cash. We haven’t used any public transport during our travels, because there wasn’t a big difference in price for two people anyway. If there was no Grab available, we booked our first transport from the station with the hostel we were staying in and then we just hired a motorbike for a day or two.

If you are interested in more details about transportation in SE Asia, for example the price comparison, drivers license requirements etc., you can check out these two articles – here and here .

Get your visa in advance! Do not wait until you leave your country because you don’t know what unexpected requirement will occur. As EU citizens we didn’t need visa for Malaysia and Thailand if our stay wouldn’t extend 30 days. The rules, however, differ from country to country. Also some South-East Asian countries require your passport to be valid for 6 more months before its expiration date after the day you leave the country (and they can be very strict about this rule).

We were able to apply for all our visas online and they got approved within few days. I write more about the visa process for each country in separate articles. For more general info head to the Lonely Planet website here .

Currency Exchange

Exchanging a big amount of money in an exchange office in SE Asia can be a little bit tricky and the rates are usually not in favor of international travelers. Before our trip, we exchanged couple of hundreds AUD in Sydney for every currency we’d need just to have something at the beginning and then the rest we withdrew from an ATM. ATMs are rare but not impossible to find. From our experience, those at the airports or bus/train stations charge less for a withdrawal with foreign credit card.

You cannot rely on paying only by your card because most of the establishments and shops don’t have EFTPOS terminals. We even had problems in few hotels and hostels to pay with our card. I would also recommend having some US Dollars on side. US dollars are widely used in Cambodia but we were able to occasionally pay with them in Malaysia and Myanmar too.

You most probably know this already, but there is no drinking water on tap anywhere in SE Asia. You have to buy all your water in plastic bottles and I can tell you, you’ll drink a lot as it can get very hot. Excessive use of single-use plastic, poor garbage disposal and lack of recycling are a big problem in these countries. Personally, I don’t like buying bottled water. Although I knew I won’t be able to avoid it while travelling, I still managed to reduce our plastic waste by purchasing water cleaning tables.

These water purifying tablets will get rid of any germs and microorganisms in water and make it clean for drinking and brushing your teeth. I got mine from a friend from an outdoor store in Sydney, but you can also buy them on Amazon, for example here . They are easy to use – usually one tablet cleans one liter of tap water. We stored the water in the fridge and we always took 2l bottle to start our day. It will not save you much money, but if you care about the environment, it’s really the least you can do!

The tablets are 100% save, we didn’t have any health issues during our trip (I just got heat stroke once but about that later). 2 months in south east asia

Travel Scams

South East Asia is generally a safe place to travel around, but it’s also a poor region and people, even though they are nice, will sometimes want to take advantage of you and they will try to scam you. 

I’ll give you an example: we were walking on the street in Ho Chi Minh City when suddenly a man, sitting on the ground with a box full of glues and sewing accessories next to him, started to point at Tomas’ shoes yelling it’s broken. This is a pretty common “innocent” scam in Vietnam. If we stopped, he would have put a piece of tape or a bit of glue on his shoe and would demand money for fixing it. If we refused, some more men would have appeared from nowhere and they would make us pay. As scary as it sounds, we were aware of this scam and we didn’t stop to check the “broken” shoes.

A family that was walking behind us fell for it, but the scammer was, in this case, alone and the father of the family was a big guy so they just walked away. I heard from some travelers who we met along the way, that if you wear sandals or flip flops, they take your shoes and refuse to give it back until you buy them back. 2 months in south east asia

Of course, travel scams can happen anywhere in the world and unfortunately they are more and more common. For more information about how to avoid them and what to expect check out these websites here , here and here .

I hope you’ll find my travel tips useful and if have any additional questions, feel free to shoot me a message here

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South east asia backpacking route itinerary for 2 months.

October 17, 2019 by Joslyn 48 Comments

If you love adventure this might be just your thing. Backpacking Southeast Asia Route and Itinerary for 2 months. Including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and The Philippines (from $17 per day).

Read on below as Chantell shares with you her journey backpacking Southeast Asia. She includes an itinerary as well and maps.

Backpacking Southeast Asia

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links .

Backpacking Southeast Asia is an unforgettable experience that everyone should have at least once in their life. It is one of the cheapest and easiest regions to travel within the world, making it perfect for all kinds of travelers. Even if you have the money to enjoy a higher comfort level, I think you will be missing out on a great adventure if you skip backpacking.

For four months of travel in Southeast Asia, Max and I spent around $500-$600 USD each per month or $17 per day on average excluding flights. We were able to travel this long because we managed our money carefully. If you have a bigger budget or a shorter vacation time, then you might prefer to spend more on activities or nicer hotels. But overall, we had an amazing time and wouldn’t change anything (except to make it longer!).

In this article, you will find everything that you need to know about backpacking Southeast Asia including:

Backpacking Southeast Asia for four months – costs and route (2019 update)

Backpacking southeast asia for two months – costs and route (2018), what southeast asia on a budget means, how to reduce the cost of backpacking southeast asia.

• Our backpacking Southeast Asia budget (cost for each country)

Planning your Southeast Asia backpacking route

How to find cheap flights to southeast asia.

After traveling on a shoestring for four months in 2018, Max and I returned in 2019 but this time traveling more slowly. We also upgraded our comfort level but still managed to keep the budget below $27 USD per day.

Create your own travel map

Here are the countries that Max and I visited over ten weeks, as well as the average cost per day converted into USD excluding flights and insurance. There are some sections I left out where we stopped longer to study and work, such as in Nha Trang (Vietnam) and Nong Khai (Thailand).

• Indonesia (20 days from $19 per day)
• Singapore (2 days from $32 per day)
• Malaysia (6 days from $13 per day)
• Vietnam (10 days from $15 per day)
• Thailand (16 days from $11 per day)
• Laos (14 days from $14 per day)
• The Philippines (7 days $15 per day).

Average daily spend: $17 per day for 75 days . Below are the individual breakdowns for each country.

We all have a different definition of budget travel. To help you plan your Southeast Asia trip, this article will provide the actual costs from our recent travels to seven countries. For this post, “budget” means saving money on accommodation, food, transport, and activities while splurging on cheap beers and desserts.

As my boyfriend, Max, and I were traveling together we mainly rented private rooms in guesthouses (normally with a fan), looking for the cheapest option. Most of our lunches and dinners were from street food vendors. If our guesthouse didn’t provide breakfast, we would try to purchase some cookies or pastries. We also carried around a small jar of coffee and either powdered milk or a carton of soy milk to save money.

When traveling smaller distances, we walked as much as possible (sometimes even up to an hour) or rode bikes if they were provided by our guesthouse. We tried to minimize our plane travel on mainland Asia, only flying between Jakarta (Indonesia) to Nha Trang (Vietnam) then Hanoi (Vietnam) to Bangkok (Thailand). Otherwise, we would take trains or buses between destinations. There were only a few times that we rented a scooter for a day and we were extremely careful.

Generally, I prefer traveling to get to know a country and its culture rather than just going through a checklist. For this reason and also to keep our budget low, Max and I visited a select number of paid attractions.

I have traveled through Southeast as a solo traveler, with family, and in a couple. On the most recent trip, Max and I traveled slowly for four months, even renting an apartment in Vietnam for $300 USD for a month.  The destinations you choose and how quickly you travel will have a big impact on your budget.

Generally, the most expensive countries are Singapore, Myanmar, and the south of Thailand. On this trip, we skipped Myanmar because of the higher prices as well as the cost of the tourist visa  which is around $50 USD (we have Australian, Italian, and Argentinian passports). Laos was also more expensive than we expected with food approximately 50% more than the north of Thailand or Vietnam.

Even within each country, there may be some regions or cities that are more expensive than others. For example, we chose not to go to the south of Thailand where the prices can resemble those of the US or Western Europe, instead of spending more time in the north. The Philippines also can get pricey depending on where you travel, which is why we carefully planned our budget vacation to Palawan (from $15 per day) .

Backpacking Indonesia cost (from $19 per day)

Destinations we visited in Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia and where we stayed:

• Kuta for 2 days – Warung Coco ($15 per night)
• Canggu and Ubud for 4 days – The Kayuri Guest House ($16.45 per night)
• Banyuwangi for 2 days – Umah Isun BSD ($8.23 per night)
• Surabaya for 3 days – Krowi inn ($15 per night)
• Yogyakarta for 3 days – Yogyakarta BNB ($11.85 per night)
• Bandung for 3 days – Fabu Hotel ($15.40 per night)
• Jakarta for 3 days –    Ahira Backpackers ($11.52 per night).

Check out TripAdvisor for help with hotels worldwide. 

The average cost of food and drink:

• Bali – $14 per person, per day
• Java – $8.45 per person, per day.

The average daily cost in Indonesia including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $19 per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Indonesia trip:

• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 6 days in Bali
• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 14 days in Java .

Backpacking Singapore cost (from $32 per day)

Where we stayed in Singapore:

• Singapore for 2 days – Beary Best! by a beary good hostel (beds starting at $16.67).

The average daily cost in Singapore including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $32 per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Singapore trip:

• 5 things to do in Singapore for first-time visitors

Backpacking Malaysia cost (from $13 per day)

Destinations we visited in Malaysia and where we stayed:

• Malacca for 4 days – Victor’s Guesthouse ($9.50 per night)
• Kuala Lumpur for 2 days – Pudu Hotel 88 ($12.69 per night).

The average cost of food and drink: $6.76 per person, per day.

The average daily cost in Malaysia including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $13 per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Malaysia trip:

• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 6 days in Malaysia
• Budget travel guide for Penang written by a local.

Backpacking Vietnam cost (from $15 per day)

Destinations we visited in Vietnam and cost of accommodation:

• Da Nang and Hoi An for 3 days ($5 per night)
• Hue for 3 days – Daisy Hostel ($5.40 per night)
• Vinh for 1 day – Thanh Dat Guesthouse ($8.84 per night)
• Hanoi for 3 days – Airbnb ($11.42 per night).

The average cost of food and drink: $6.12 USD per person, per day.

The average daily cost in Vietnam including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $15 per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Vietnam trip:

• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 10 days in Vietnam
• Ex-pat guide to moving to Vietnam (from $12 per day)
• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) .

Backpacking Northern Thailand cost (from $11 per day)

Destinations we visited in Thailand and cost of accommodation:

• Bangkok for 4 days – TT Guesthouse ($12.12 per night)
• Chiang Mai for 5 days – The Dorm Chiang Mai ($9.70 per night)
• Pai for 3 days – PaiZen River Jam Hostel & Campground ($9 per night)
• Chiang Rai for 3 days – Baan Nukanong Guesthouse ($8.76 per night).

The average cost of food and drink: $4.76 per person, per day.

The average daily cost in Thailand including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $11 per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Thailand trip:

• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 16 days in Thailand
• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 2 days in Bangkok
• Choosing an ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand
• Finding affordable paradise at a spa resort in Chiang Mai .

Backpacking Laos cost (from $15 per day)

Destinations we visited in Laos and cost of accommodation:

• Huay Xai for 1 day –  Oudomsin Hotel ($11.71 per night)
• Pakbeng for 1 day – Hotel booked on arrival ($11.71 per night)
• Luang Prabang for 7 days – Vanvisa ($11.36 per night)
• Vang Vieng for 2 days – Outland Hostel ($8.78 per night)
• Vientiane for 2 days – Avalon B&B ($10.54 per night).

The average cost of food and drink: $4.76 USD per person, per day.

The average daily cost in Laos including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $15 per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Laos trip:

• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 14 days in Laos .

Backpacking The Philippines cost (from $15 per day)

Destinations we visited on the island of Palawan and cost of accommodation:

• Puerto Princessa for 3 days – Travelite Hostel ($8.57 per night)
• Port Barton for 4 days – El Busero ($11.23 per night).

The average cost of food and drink: $6.34 per person, per day.

The average daily cost in The Philippines including accommodation, food drink, activities, and transport: $15 USD per day.

Resources to help you plan your backpacking Philippines trip.

• Itinerary and budget breakdown for 7 days in Port Barton, The Philippines (from $15 per day) .

The route that you take through Southeast Asia will be influenced by your arrival city (see the next section). I highly recommend not booking too much in advance as you will likely change your mind once you are traveling. To begin with, Max and I bought a one-way flight to Bali. But when we arrived at Brisbane airport, Jetstar Airlines told us that we needed an outward flight. So at the last minute, we booked a ticket online from Jakarta to Singapore.

If you want to at least create an outline of your trip, then you can use 12Go Asia to check transportation and Booking for accommodation. Once you start planning, you will notice that there are well-worn backpacker trails. In some cases, you might be tempted to go in a direction less-traveled by tourists but could find that the transportation options could be more difficult or expensive. We found this when looking at traveling from Vietnam to Laos by land, or to the south of Laos.

Another thing to consider is if you need to apply for visas in advance. We needed a visa for Vietnam before arriving and a visa on arrival for Laos. However, your situation may be different so it is best to check directly with the official government website of that country.

I didn’t have any vaccinations or take any medication while traveling in Southeast Asia. The first time I traveled to Thailand and Cambodia , I took malaria tablets but found that they made me really sick. Therefore on this trip, I was just very careful to always use mosquito repellent.

The best flight for you will depend on your city of departure. As Max and I were leaving from Brisbane, Australia the cheapest was to Denpasar, Bali. For Americans or Europeans, your cheapest arrival city maybe Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok.

Once you have taken the lengthier international flight to Southeast Asia, it will be much cheaper to fly between countries with airlines like AirAsia and Scoot. When searching for your flights, you can use the Skyscanner  website to find cheap flights then book directly with the airline.

Have you visited South East Asia or planning to anytime soon? Tell us about it below!

And if you liked the post – share it with your friends on social media.

About Joslyn

Female Travel Blogger Sharing Travel Tips, Work and Travel Tips, Budget Travel Tips and general daily life from a travel chicks point of view!

Reader Interactions

Alexandra says

October 29, 2018 at 4:11 am

This just sounds like the most amazing experience! Wow, I didn’t know you could travel so much like this on a budget. Thank you for sharing 🙂

Chantell Collins says

November 1, 2018 at 10:12 pm

Thanks Alexandra! I hope it inspires you to go on a backpacking trip 🙂

Dayna Hoskin says

October 29, 2018 at 5:03 am

OMG! What a great holiday, and so affordable! You have just inspired me to look at travelling a whole new way!

November 1, 2018 at 10:11 pm

Wow that is awesome feedback! I am thrilled to hear that 🙂

Joanna says

October 29, 2018 at 10:17 am

I am going to Vietnam in a couple of months and I am glad to see that the prices have not changed since the last time I was there. I am looking forward to the amazing food Vietnam has to offer for so cheap

November 1, 2018 at 10:10 pm

Yes! Vietnam was one of my favorites! I really miss it and can’t wait to go back 🙂

Stacie says

October 29, 2018 at 10:57 am

I can’t even begin to imagine actually doing this myself. I’ve always wanted to explore Asia!

You can definitely do it! I encourage you 🙂

Yeah Lifestyle says

October 29, 2018 at 7:48 pm

I can’t believe you are able to travel to all these fabulous destinations at such a cheap cost! Totally a winner and following ur steps

November 1, 2018 at 10:09 pm

thank you! I hope you do and tell me all about it 🙂

October 29, 2018 at 8:17 pm

What a fabulous detailed itinerary! Thank you for sharing with us! I’ve never been to this part of the world!

you are welcome! Hope you make it there one day soon

Clare Low says

October 30, 2018 at 5:07 pm

Wow this seems awesome indeed. Travelling seems so freeing and adventurous. I would love to see more of the world myself when my children have grown.

November 1, 2018 at 9:51 pm

We saw a few family groups of backpackers in Thailand and Laos 😉

Kita Roberts says

October 30, 2018 at 9:11 am

Wow! You have really broken this down to make it recreatable. It sounds like you had an amazing trip. Low budget, cultural immersions are my favorite way to travel. You’ve given me some great ideas.

November 1, 2018 at 10:08 pm

That’s why I like to hear! We definitely appreciated the slow travel 🙂

Jasmine Hewitt says

October 30, 2018 at 9:48 am

wow, you thought of everything! appreciate the detail into this, what a great resource for travelers!

thank you for your comment! It makes me happy to hear that the article is useful 🙂

Elizabeth O says

October 30, 2018 at 10:53 am

What an awesome experienced there! Such a perfect place to visit and so affordable.

Exactly! I think it is one of the most affordable regions in the world.

Tonya Morris says

October 30, 2018 at 4:03 pm

This is incredible! I had no idea Southeast Asia was so affordable! What a fun trip to do on a budget!

Yes it is! I highly recommend it 🙂

October 30, 2018 at 7:48 pm

That’s what I miss most about South East Asia. Everything was so much more affordable there! Struggling in Europe right now haha

November 1, 2018 at 9:22 pm

I bet! I remember how I first felt buying a beer in Australia after 4 months in Asia ha ha.

Emily Leary says

October 30, 2018 at 8:50 pm

Wow, it’s incredible that Southeast Asia backpacking can come in so cheap. And what a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing your tips.

November 1, 2018 at 9:17 pm

You are welcome! Hope it inspires you to visit 🙂

October 30, 2018 at 11:44 pm

Wow, such a detailed post that would be so helpful to plan a great trip to Southeast Asia especially in the Philippines. Loving the pictures so much.

November 1, 2018 at 9:16 pm

That’s great! The Philippines is a lot of fun and a great vacation spot.

October 31, 2018 at 1:06 am

This is so informative! I like how you break everything down. You have really great tips.

November 1, 2018 at 9:15 pm

You are very welcome! I wanted to provide a useful resource to anyone traveling to SE Asia 🙂

Daphne D Adams says

October 31, 2018 at 2:11 pm

I am all for an affordable vacation. I think this is something I will add to my bucket list!

Yes! If you can save up the money for the flight, then you can have a very cheap holiday in SE Asia 🙂

Rikki Ridgeway says

November 1, 2018 at 7:57 am

Thank you for this post, my husband would love to go to Asia, and I think this would be perfect for us!

November 1, 2018 at 9:13 pm

That’s awesome to hear! I hope you have an amazing tip and let me know if you have any questions.

Courtney says

November 1, 2018 at 12:12 am

Omg how fun!!! I have always wanted to visit that part of Asia! Just beautiful

November 1, 2018 at 9:14 pm

SE Asia is great for first-time backpackers. I highly recommend it 🙂

Julie Verville says

November 1, 2018 at 10:45 am

These are wonderful travel tips! Thank you for sharing.

You are welcome!

June 22, 2019 at 5:09 pm

You seem to have some kind of magic going on, I always seem to spend a lot, and to much when I’m abroad. I’m saving this as a favorite, I’ll read it over and ove, and maybe your magic will rub off 🙂

June 22, 2019 at 6:56 pm

Thanks Ann! I love helping everyday people to make their travel dreams a reality through goal setting, budgeting, choosing cheaper destinations, saving money on travel bookings, and spending less while on the road. I hope you get plenty of insights from this post as well as others on the site!

June 22, 2019 at 7:14 pm

This is such a concise and thorough post. I absolutley love the breakdowns of costings. I’m always on the look out to save money while im travelling, and this has done all the leg work for me. You’re an absolut gem for putting this resource together.

June 22, 2019 at 8:34 pm

thanks so much Becki! I love sharing what I learned and experienced to help out other travelers. Appreciate the kind comment 🙂

Alizon Robertson says

June 22, 2019 at 9:35 pm

I’m hoping to do this so it was a great guide. I love detailed and broken down budget posts as they are so helpful. Thanks.

June 23, 2019 at 2:34 pm

thank you Alizon! I appreciate the great feedback

Marisa says

June 23, 2019 at 1:28 am

This is perfect timing as Ill be heading back to asia in a few months for some long term travel and will def be needing this advise!

June 23, 2019 at 2:35 pm

Yay! We’ll likely still be in Southeast Asia so feel free to hit me up with your questions

Claire D says

January 8, 2020 at 3:11 am

When (what month) did you start this trip?

January 8, 2020 at 1:03 pm

For the first trip – Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and The Philippines (from $17 per day) – I started in December, flying to Bali (it was rainy season but still doable).

For the second trip – Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia (from $27 per day) – I started in May.

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My South East Asia Backpacking Route when I was a Newbie Traveler (2 months itinerary)

I was planning to be a low-cost typical Asian backpacker but ended up spending way more than my budget since I’ve been hanging out with mostly Europeans who find Asia very cheap- but no regrets, I really had a great time and still having a blast! In, 01 July 2013, was my 11th day in Koh Pah Ngan, Southern Thailand, attending a 21-day yoga retreat and just chilling after almost two months of crossing borders, partying hard, socializing, visiting temples and museums, etc. Please also note that my younger brother and sister were traveling with me in my first 3 weeks – Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam! It was an incredible bonding time with my siblings and it was actually their first time traveling outside the Philippines!

If you’re heading on your first solo trip, I highly recommend this South East Asia Backpacking Route that I did when I was a newbie backpacker! It’s called the PANCAKE trail!

• Best Beers in South East Asia
• 20 Best Backpacker Hostels with Beautiful Swimming Pools in South East Asia
• Your Ultimate Backpacking Itinerary Route in South East Asia
• 10 Places to Get Stuck in South East Asia
• 11 Suggested Itinerary and Backpacking Route in South East Asia

Related Article : Looking for affordable accommodation? Check out our Ultimate List of Best Hostels around Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia Backpacking Route

April 26, 2013 – I left Iraq. Flight back to the Philippines April 27- Qatar Airport then Philippines!! April 27 to May 07 – Philippines May 07 to 09- Bangkok, Thailand May 09 to 13 – Chiang Mai (North Thailand) May 13- Crossed Thailand- Laos (Chiang Kong- Huay Xe Li Border) May 14- 17 – Luang Prabang, Laos May 17 – Crossed Laos- Vietnam (Here are the tips on how you can cross the Nam Can- Nam Khan Border) May 17-18- Hanoi, Vietnam May 19-21 – Ha Long Bay, Vietnam May 21- Hanoi, Vietnam May 22- 26- Hue, Hoi An, and Nha Trang May 27 to June 02- Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam June 03- Crossed Vietnam- Cambodia (Moc Bai- Bavet Border) June 03-05 – Phnom, Penh, Cambodia June 05- 07 – Siem Reap, Cambodia June 07-10 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia June 10-17- Sihanoukville and Koh Rong, Cambodia June 18 – Crossed Cambodia-Thailand (Aranyapathet and Poipet Border) June 18- 20 – Bangkok, Thailand June 21 to 28- Koh Pah Ngan, Thailand (Southern Thailand)

Since I love Vietnam dearly then I’ve decided to book a flight on the 30th of July to go to Hanoi, Vietnam. Stay there for a while and planning to enroll in a Pole dancing class course ( as a sport/ physical workout and not as a career! lol), meet friends, and explore Northern Vietnam ! Maybe apply for my Chinese Visa or until I figure out what I want to do in the next few months until I finally decide to go to South America .

I love Asia! I love the people I’ve met, and I love life! Positive vibes!

Transportation Tip: If you’re looking for the cheapest way to book the Trains, Buses, Ferries , and Transfers on this route, we use 12Go.Asia to compare the prices!

UPDATE 2017: I’M NOW MARRIED TO THE GUY I MET IN LUANG PRABANG, LAOS! WAH!

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48 thoughts on “ My South East Asia Backpacking Route when I was a Newbie Traveler (2 months itinerary) ”

Hi Kach! Happy holidays to you and the hub. Anyway, I’m planning a backpacking tour around Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos-Thailand for two-weeks. Any suggestions on how can I enjoy that short stay? Thanks and hope to hear from you soon! ?

Here you go Mary 🙂 https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/south-east-asia-backpacking-101/

Hello! I have the 2 months May and June to travel around. ( was rooting for south east Asia) But I’ve read and heard Asia is not a good option for a backpacking route since it will be the monsoon season. I saw you travelled around that time, would you recommend? And if not, any other options?

Thank you!!

here Karma bou Saab https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/south-east-asia-backpacking-101/

That’s awesome, Melissa! Where in Vietnam are you going to teach? Then are you planning to have a Southeast Asia Backpacking too?

Will be heading to Vietnam next week for a teaching job. This is just right on time. 🙂

That’s awesome, Melissa! Where in Vietnam are you going to teach? Then are you planning to have a Southeast Asia Backpacking too?

I am planning to explore more of Laos in South East Asia. Wishing to do it next year.

You can do it, Michael! How’s your Southeast Asia Backpacking route so far?

I had one month in Thailand and Cambodia and after returning to London, I never eat in a a restaurant again as a nigh of stay there could let me enjoy a week or more in other south east asian country.

When did you go to thailand and cambodia. Sally? Are you planning to continue the Southeast Asia Backpacking?

Oh, this is super fun! I always wanted to travel but I didn’t get a chance to before I had a son. Maybe I can still do this someday. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂

You can, Nina. Why not travel with your son? How old is he? Hehe. Southeast Asia Backpacking could really be cheap but some could be challenging for the kids.

Your blog post made me miss my single days when I used to travel a lot around Asia. 🙂 I used to frequent Thailand a lot because of my work before. One day, I will bring my family with me to go around Asia again. I’m sure it would be a more enjoyable and memorable for me this time.

That would be amazing, Teresa! Southeast Asia Backpacking with the family would be fun. 🙂 Keep us updated here when will you do it,

Thanks for the itinerary. Im planning to have a month long travel next year and still planning it. This is a good help 🙂 will be flying to hanoi too soon!

Safe travels to Hanoi, Cai! Which Southeast Asia Backpacking route will you do for your one month trip?

Waah! I really adore your blog because it is full of good travels around the world. Hope you could visit Philippines soon xo

We have lots of Philippines guides as well, Dorothy. 🙂 You can check it here https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/city-travel-guide/

It’s just for this Southeast Asia Backpacking route, Philippines is less highlghted. hopefully by next year, we can explore more the country. 🙂

There are so many places to visit in SE Asia! I’m dreaming of doing this tour one day 🙂 I really wanted to go to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. Cheers to that positive vibe! 😉

Fantastic choices, Arrianne. Sure these three must be part of a Southeast Asia Backpacking.

I too enjoyed my 2 months backpacking trip in Southeast Asia. It was definitely fun because this time I traveled slower and without a fixed itinerary in mind. It allowed me to have better and more memorable experience rather than fleeting from one destination to the other just to visit many countries. 🙂

What kind of Southeast Asia Backpacking route you did, Darlene? Mind to share with us? 🙂

Such an adventure. Being usually on the road has its limits (like updating your blog) but definitely has awesome returns too like enjoying and learning at the same time. Love to visit Cambodia soonest.

Hello Mummy Berlin! When do you plan to go to Cambodia? Sure you will love it. And hopefully you can do Southeast Asia Backpacking too. 🙂

This is one great adventure you have! I wonder if you’ll travel around Philippines as well!

We will, Maria! Philippines is getting more popular nowadays as part of a Southeast Asia Backpacking route. 🙂

What an amazing adventure! You managed to fit so many beautiful places into your 2 months too. My dad lives in the Philippines in Cebu and I would love to visit there one day.

Where in Cebu, Helen? There are plenty of stunning beaches in Cebu and it’s perfect to add in your Southeast Asia Backpacking.

This looks such an amazing trip – my eldest daughters boyfriend is visiting there for a few months in the summer, he is very excited! Kaz x

Where is he heading to, Ickle Pickle? Is he planning to do a Southeast Asia Backpacking?

This looks like a wonderful trip! I would be so excited to see the Grand Palace in Bangkok! I’ve never been to Southeast Asia at all. I would love to go to Thailand and Cambodia and the Philippines!

You should go, Stella! If ever you will be doing a Southeast Asia Backpacking, jdrop a comment here. 🙂

Still waiting for the day that I could do this. It must be really tiresome but readung at what you wrote, it seemed like you ha the best moments of your life. And man! Two months?!?! Wow! Xx

withkerr.wordpress.com

It’s really wow, Kerr! Southeast Asia Backpacking for two months could be tiring but definitely memorable.

Oh wow what an adventure – can’t believe all the things you packed into 2 months! Enjoy your next adventure in the Vietnam!

Thank you, Sarah! Two months for Southeast Asia Backpacking could not be enough for others. But whatever route it is, you will love each country of SEA.

I am a huge lover of traveling and I am traveling every weekend at least once a month but I am not sure I can do 2 months straight.

That’s fine Anosa! If ever you could find more time then Southeast Asia Backpacking would be a gread adventure for you. 🙂

That all sounds amazing. I wish I could go on a trip like that. With a toddler I don’t think it’ll happen for a while. Have a GREAT time 🙂

Yes, Ayse! Let him/her grow first. hehe. But there are also several destinations in Southeast Asia where you and your kid would enjoy and could easily visit.

Wow all that travelling must have been so tiring but I bet that it was worth the sleepless nights. I love the sound of a pole dancing course as well!

Definitely, Ana! The people you can meet in a Southeast Asia Backpacking would be enough to make worthy memories.

Looks like a fantastic way to travel. I’ve always wanted kids make this kind of thing difficult… maybe when I retire! 🙂

Elanor, you can make a route which could be easier for you and the kids to travel Southeast Asia. 🙂

Ahhhh you don’t see many Filipino traveler. Glad I came across your blog. I’m now backpacking through SE Asia. Currently in Chiang Rai to cross over into Laos.

Hi! I’m also a Filipino, and I know for a fact that before you leave the PH you’ve got to have a return ticket or else they wont allow you to fly. I have questions regarding crossing borders in Southeast Asia say, if you’re from Cambodia and flying to Bangkok, do you need to have a return or outward ticket?

Hello Arjay, yes the airport staff wont allow you to check in if you dont have the return flight ticket. based on my experience, their immigration wont require you but they might ask your for your itinerary.. you can also mention to them that you will leave the country in different modes of transportation.

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Founder of Two Monkeys Travel Group. Since 2013, Kach has visited all the 7 continents (including Antarctica) and 151 countries using her Philippines Passport. In 2016, she bought a sailboat and went on sailing adventures with her two cats - Captain Ahab & Little Zissou in the Caribbean for 2 years. She now lives in Herceg Novi, Montenegro where she's enjoying her expat life and living on a gorgeous Stonehouse. She writes about her experiences traveling as a Filipina traveler with a PHL Passport. Also tips on backpacking trips, luxury hotel experiences, product reviews, sailing & adventure travel.

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Two Months in Southeast Asia: Backpacking on a Tight Budget

Does the idea of travelling around Southeast Asia for two months sound a bit daunting? I felt the same when I came to plan my own itinerary, especially as I knew I would be backpacking on a shoestring budget . Two months in Southeast Asia sounds like a long time, but with so much to see and do, you need to make sure you’re not spreading yourself (or your budget!) too thinly.

Therefore, I have compiled this detailed post as a comprehensive travel guide to all the places I managed to squeeze into my two months in Southeast Asia, travelling solo and backpacking on a cheap shoestring budget, including:

• – Things to know before you go
• – How to plan a detailed itinerary on a budget
• – My personal budget travel hacks
• – Individual country guides that will help you choose where to go in Southeast Asia and inform how much things cost in each destination.

This is a long post because I wanted to provide as much information as possible (you can never do too much research!), so I advise you take it in in bite-size chunks, print it out or save it to return to when you need it. Also, if you’re more interested in general budget travelling advice, I have a separate post – The Ultimate Trip Planner: How to Make the Most of Your Backpacking Budget .

Southeast Asia Travel Guide: Before You Go

Before you set off on your Southeast Asia tour, there are a few things you need to know and get sorted before you go. Naturally, I left my planning to a few weeks before I went off backpacking Asia and then had to run around like a headless chicken sorting all of it out. So basically, don’t be an idiot like me.

Disclaimers: This post was written based on a trip taken in late 2016, therefore pricing has changed, but most of the information is still relevant, helpful, and up to date.

This post contains affiliate links, which means this blog receives a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps keep this blog alive and I never link to a service unless I personally use and recommend it.

1. Travel Visas for Backpacking around Southeast Asia

Make sure you know the visa requirements for your passport for every country you plan to visit while backpacking through Southeast Asia. Some countries require a visa in advance, for others you can get a visa on the border – but be warned that the rules can change, so double-check before you go.

I hold a British passport and the information on this blog is from my personal experience travelling around Asia, so be mindful that visas may vary for you. The best information for those who hold passports for the UK, the US and Canada (the main readership of this blog) are as follows:

• – United Kingdom – Foreign Travel Advice
• – United States – Travel.State.Gov
• – Canada – Travel.gc

2. Vaccinations for Southeast Asia Backpacking

This is one that I’m particularly bad at because I can never remember which vaccinations I’ve had (moving countries and doctors all the time will do that to you), and I always leave it until the last minute. You should ideally get your vaccinations four weeks before you leave for your Southeast Asia tour.

For Brits, the NHS website has recommendations, so you should call up your GP more than a month before your backpacking trip starts. The website also has malaria maps for each country, so you can see if you will be visiting zones where malaria is prevalent (or you can just skirt around them, like I did).

3. Travel Insurance for Backpacking Southeast Asia

This is a big one and always make sure you read the small print. If you have an Asia travel itinerary with dates decided (and don’t plan on coming home during that time), then you can shop around. However, things can be more complicated if you’re leaving your trip open-ended.

I personally use World Nomads Travel Insurance, the Explorer Plan and have done for years (and you’ll see many other travellers and travel bloggers do the same), mainly because they are the only company that will cover me once I’m already abroad, which as a serial expat, I mostly am. It’s also easy to extend a policy with them if you change your plans and decide to stay longer.

Once you’ve bought your policy, make a note of the policy number and the insurer’s emergency claims helpline on your phone, write them down in your diary (in case you lose your phone) and also give that information to a parent or reliable friend/family member back home, just in case.

4. What to Pack for a Trip to Southeast Asia

This is going to warrant another blog post in itself, so here are just my top 10 tips for packing for two months in Southeast Asia:

– Clothes you don’t mind ruining and sweating in. – More swimwear than underwear. – Lots of high-factor sun cream and aftersun. – A good mosquito spray and tiger balm (toothpaste also helps soothe bites). – A scarf and warm jumper (for air con more than anything else). – A first aid kit (including something that can disinfect). – Two multi-way travel adapters (no, one is not enough). – Long trousers and something to cover your shoulders for more conservative countries. – A backpack you can lift and doesn’t just open from the top (see below). – If you menstruate, a menstrual cup (saves space, money and the planet). – Padlocks (at least two). – Packing cubes .

Recommended Read: I’ve committed to making my bathroom and travel toiletry bag zero waste and plastic free . This is also a great solution for budget backpackers because the majority of zero waste toiletries are non-liquid (so they’re perfect for hand luggage as well as better for you and the planet).

Two Months in Southeast Asia on a Shoestring Budget

Now comes the most important part: how to travel Asia on a shoestring budget. And I wish I could give you a straightforward answer as to how much backpacking Asia costs, but I’m afraid it’s not that simple. However, there are some ways to ‘guesstimate’ what you will spend during your two month Southeast Asia itinerary.

Recommended Read: for general budget backpacking advice, I advise that you read The Ultimate Trip Planner: How to Get the Most Out of Your Backpacking Budget for all the budget travel secrets and hacks that I use to make sure I get the best deals on flights, accommodation and more.

1. Work out the cost of your flights to and from Asia, your vaccinations and your insurance first.

I know this sounds obvious, but leaving my vaccinations last minute and having to have them in Hong Kong, rather than via the NHS back in the UK, was a major cost for me. These three things will probably be the biggest expenses of your whole Southeast Asia trip, and may cost more than the rest of your backpacking budget (they did for me).

For finding the best deals on flights, I recommend  Skyscanner , as I find it’s more flexible to use (filter by destination, by month or simply choose ‘everywhere’ to find the cheapest options) and it gets me the cheapest flight for the cheapest price every time.

2. Research Your Budget By Country and By Average Spend Per Day

OK, what do I mean by this? Well, when I was planning my Asia travel itinerary, I heavily researched exactly what kind of budget was realistic for each individual country I was visiting because I was being super-cheap and trying to do as tight a shoestring budget as I could.

So, I worked out that I needed slightly more budget allocated for Myanmar and slightly less for Cambodia and Vietnam. However, Myanmar was the start of my trip and I was amazed at how under budget I was, so I spent more! Then I got to Cambodia and Vietnam and realised I had underestimated how much I needed and was out of pocket.

Lesson learnt: do your research to work out how much backpacking Asia costs in each country, but also have an ‘average spend per day’ for the whole Southeast Asia tour, to keep the budget in perspective and don’t be afraid to adjust the budget when and where necessary. Plus, always have a ‘rainy day stash’ just in case.

This Backpacking Budget for Southeast Asia by MyFunkyTravel does a great job of suggesting an overall budget as well as a breakdown of daily budgets per country, and I’ve also detailed my own spending and budgets in the country guides below.

Remember to take mine and others’ advice with a pinch of salt, as currency conversions change, inflation happens and the more popular a destination becomes, the quicker the prices rise.

3. How to get the cheapest accommodation deals in Southeast Asia

Accommodation is super-cheap in Southeast Asia by most western standards, with some hostel dorm rooms coming to just a few US dollars per night. I worked out that almost everywhere I stayed on my Southeast Asia travel route was cheaper than any rent I have ever paid in my life.

Here are 4 tips on how to get the best accommodation deals on hostels in Southeast Asia, for those looking to travel Asia on budget that is a serious shoestring budget:

a) Use price comparison websites to find the cheapest places

Don’t use your guidebook because by the time your guidebook has been researched, gone to print, been published, been bought and then been read by you, the information is likely out of date. Also, most guidebooks have rules about how long a place must be open before it’s accepted into the guidebook (often two years) and only recommend a handful of options.

I use and thoroughly recommend Booking.com because I always find the best places on there (see the country guides below for specific recommendations), the reviews are up-to-date, plentiful and reliable, and the deals are super cheap (we’ll come back to this on point d).

b) Don’t book online, just turn up

This is particularly true of hostels in Southeast Asia vs the rest of the world – many hostels charge a higher price for an online booking than for a walk-in , so you will most likely get the best price by researching beforehand, using a site like Booking.com , then turning up on their doorstep.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. Those exceptions are holidays, festivals and peak season. This has caught me out so many times, so always research, double-check and triple-check whether your destination is likely to be booked out or busy, as this can inflate the price or leave you homeless.

c) Haggle or ask for a discount

Yes, this is cheeky and I personally don’t do it because accommodation is already so cheap by western standards. Be aware that you need to be sensitive if you do choose to do this and that haggling is the art of finding a price both parties are happy with , not getting the cheapest deal.

A traveller I met from China swore by the system of asking for a discount at the point of check-in. He would research places using Booking.com , then if he was staying longer than a few nights or if he was part of a group, he would politely ask for a discount. The hostels almost always said yes.

d) Save and earn money through referral links and affiliate schemes

So, the second reason I use Booking.com is because they have two great ways to financially reward their customers:

Affiliate Scheme: If you have a blog or relevant business, you may be eligible to join the Booking.com affiliate scheme , where you can earn commission on bookings made through your personalised affiliate links.

The best thing about the Booking.com affiliate scheme is that you can use your own links to make bookings for yourself! Commission starts at 25% and though it takes a while to process, that still adds up to accommodation costs that you can save.

4. Plot a Southeast Asia Travel Route Over Land

Long bus journeys are not always the most comfortable, but they are often the most cost-effective way to travel from city to city, and country to country. To save money on air fares, choose a Southeast Asia travel route that goes overland. If you’re apprehensive, read How to Survive Long Bus Journeys in Southeast Asia .

My Two Month Southeast Asia Travel Itinerary

The following is a comprehensive Southeast Asia travel guide for my entire two month Southeast Asia travel itinerary, organised chronologically and by country, with details of how I travelled Asia on a budget, where I stayed and what I would recommend seeing.

Note that I did not have a particularly logical Southeast Asia backpacking route, as this was a ‘Farewell Asia’ trip for me, having spent five years living in Hong Kong. Therefore, I did not visit Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, as I had recently been on separate trips to those countries (see these summarised at the end for more details.)

10 Days in Myanmar (Burma) 

I started my two months Southeast Asia itinerary with Myanmar, also known by its old colonial name, Burma (this confused some of the Brits back home, so FYI). I was intrigued by its history and the tragic stories of the governing military regime and the colonial wars.

Update: At present, FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Myanmar (Burma) .

At the time of my backpacking trip in Asia, I did not realise the extent of the discrimination against Rohingha Muslims in Myanmar, which has been described as a genocide . Due to what I know now, I no longer recommend visiting Myanmar for the foreseeable future and I strongly advise that you do extensive research before you decide whether to spend your tourist dollars here.

Where to go:

• – Yangon , the largest city in Myanmar.
• – Mandalay , the second-largest city and last royal capital of Myanmar.
• – Bagan , one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites.
• – Inle Lake , famous for floating villages and gardens.

I personally found Burmese cities to be overwhelming, even for someone like me who had been living and travelling around Asia for half a decade. The traffic, the crowds, the business, the noise! It was chaotic, but beautiful. I really felt like I’d thrown myself into the deep end.

What to see:

• – The Shwedagon Paya in Yangon
• – Bagan temples at sunrise and sunset
• – The Moustache Brothers Show in Mandalay
• – U Bein Bridge in Amapura (a day trip from Mandalay)
• – The leg-rowing fishermen at Inle Lake

Where to stay:

These are the hostels I stayed at (and would recommend) along my Southeast Asia backpacking route:

• – Yangon: Traveller’s House or Backpacker Bed & Breakfast
• – Mandalay: Four Rivers B & B
• – Bagan: Royal Bagan Hotel

What to eat and drink:

• – Teashop meal and snacks
• – Street food
• – Indian food
• – Sugar cane juice
• – Myanmar beer

How much things cost:

• – Visas: many passports need visas in advance for visiting Myanmar, including British. I got mine at the Myanmar Consulate General in Hong Kong for around US$23.
• – Accommodation: US$10-15 per night
• – Transport: buses between destinations cost around US$10-15, taxis around town cost US$1-2 and bike rental for the day is also around US$1-2.
• – Food: most hostels provide breakfast, street food and teashop meals cost US$1-2, meals in restaurants around $5.
• – Other expenses: entry to the Bagan Archaeological Zone costs around US$20 and you pay it on the bus to Bagan.

Things to know:

• – As mentioned above, the treatment of Rohingha Muslims in Myanmar is a huge issue at the moment. Educate yourself on the subject before you make a decision to visit.
• – Due to Myanmar’s complicated history, the military still control a lot of the country. There are designated tourist zones and places where tourists can’t visit, so don’t expect to be able to just hire a scooter and drive around the country looking for places off the beaten track.
• – You can’t get Burmese kyat outside of Burma! Don’t exchange money at the airport, as the exchange rates are highly inflated (taxi drivers will accept US dollars to take you into the city). Instead, use the ‘black market’ and exchange at a hotel or booth. Yangon has the best rates. Notes in higher denominations have better exchange rates. ATMs do not accept foreign cards.
• – The easiest and cheapest way to get around the country is by bus. I booked buses (some overnight) between cities.

My personal highlight

The magic of Bagan really comes to life at sunrise and sunset. The shadows of the temples grow long, the landscape turns to gold and hot air balloons rise out of the haze. It’s spectacular. Give yourself more time here than you think you need – bad weather could limit your sunrise and sunset viewings.

For a detailed itinerary of my time in Myanmar, you can read Burma Budget and My Myanmar Travel Tips . To peruse my personal diary, lifted from the travel journal I wrote during my two months in Southeast Asia, read 10 Days in Myanmar | Travel Diary .

One Week in Laos

From Myanmar, I moved onto Laos, spending a week in this little landlocked country. Competition is fierce, but Laos is definitely one of my favourite places that I visited on my two month Southeast Asia backpacking route, and one week was definitely not enough time to fully explore it!

• – Luang Prabang , an ancient town in the north of Laos.
• – Vang Vieng , a small town surrounded by amazing natural wonders, but also has a reputation due to the ‘tubing’ crowd.
• – Vientiane , the capital city of Laos.
• – Huay Xai , a town near the Thai border, known for The Gibbon Experience .

Luang Prabang is Laos’ most prominent city in the north, but it has the atmosphere of a quiet town. Give yourself more time here. If you do venture to Vang Vieng (and the scenery is beautiful), try and stay outside of the city, away from the tubing and ‘happy shake’ crowd.

• – Kuang Si waterfalls, Luang Prabang
• – The Night Market, Luang Prabang
• – Sunset from Phu Si hill, Luang Prabang
• – Patuxai, Vientiane
• – Buddha Park, Vientiane
• – Caving, lagoons and mountains, Vang Vieng
• – Jungle, Huay Xai

• – Luang Prabang: Downtown Backpackers Hostel
• – Vientiane: Avalon B&B

I stayed at Nok et Mika Guesthouse in Vang Vieng and it was a bit of a nightmare, for reasons I go into in the posts linked below. To reiterate, if you do stay in Vang Vieng, spend a little more to get out of town.

• – French food
• – Buffet at the night market
• – Coconut pancakes
• – Laos coffee
• – Beerlao
• – Visas: you can get this on arrival and the price depends on your passport. My British passport meant I paid US$35. Also, if you don’t have a passport-sized photo to hand, this costs an additional US$1.
• – Accommodation: US$5.5-7 per night.
• – Transport: long bus journeys are around US$6-13, tuk-tuk journeys cost only a few dollars.
• – Food: street food is a bargain at US$1-2 for a meal and this only rises to around US$5 for restaurants.
• – Other expenses: activities and day excursions from Vang Vieng cost US$13-19 depending on the activity. Sometimes there’s a discount for a bigger party.
• – You can’t get Laos kip outside of Laos, but my card worked fine at ATMs in the country.
• – As you can probably tell from what I’ve said above, be aware that Vang Vieng is a bit seedy. No judgement if you want to try out tubing, but also be mindful that it can be dangerous.
• – A tourist died at The Gibbon Experience in 2017. Obviously, it was an accident, but it’s something to be aware of.
• – It’s worth noting that Laos is a more conservative country than others you may encounter on your Asia travel itinerary, so be sure to dress appropriately, especially when sightseeing.

Luang Prabang may be a city, but it has the atmosphere of a town or village. The gorgeous temples with their low-sloping roofs, the colonial Indochinese-style villas and the buzzing scene of the night market has cemented this place in my mind. I will be back one day for sure.

For a full itinerary of my trip to Laos, read Backpacking Around Laos | Budget and Travel Tips . For some context on how I absolutely fell in love with LP, read 24 Hours in Luang Prabang . Finally, for my narrative travel diary entries, read  One Week in Laos | Travel Diary .

Two Weeks in Cambodia

I have wanted to visit Cambodia ever since I arrived in Asia back in 2011 and the country didn’t disappoint. The ancient history is astounding and incredibly well-preserved. The modern history is heartbreaking and a little uncomfortable to learn about, though still important to visit.

Side note : although I had two full weeks in Cambodia on my two month Southeast Asia itinerary, I managed to mess up my timings pretty bad, so that I was always going back and forth from Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, back to Phnom Penh, then Kampot and Sihanoukville and then back to Phnom Penh! Not exactly my best travel planning.

• – Siem Reap , known for nightlife and the gateway to the ancient city of Angkor.
• – Phnom Penh , the capital city of Cambodia.
• – Battambang , a colonial riverside city.
• – Kampot , a sleepy riverside town.
• – Mondulkiri , home to elephant sanctuaries.
• – Sihanoukville or Kep , beach destinations.

• – The ancient city of Angkor
• – Nightlife in Siem Reap
• – The bamboo train in Battambang
• – Elephant sanctuaries in Mondulkiri
• – The heartbreaking Killing Fields and S-21 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, in Phnom Penh
• – Sunset over the river in Kampot
• – Relaxing on the beach in Kep

• – Phnom Penh: Billabong Hostel
• – Siem Reap: Oasis Capsules
• – Kampot: The Magic Sponge
• – Sihanoukville: One Stop Hostel (may have closed, as I can no longer find a link to it on Booking.com)

I stayed in Sihanoukville, but I did not enjoy it at all. I would advise going on to Kep, which was highly recommended by most travellers I met.

• – Fish amok
• – Khmer curry
• – Kampot pepper
• – Angkor beer
• – Visas: you can get this on arrival and the price depends on your passport. My British passport meant I paid US$35.
• – Accommodation: US$6-8 per night.
• – Transport: long bus journeys are around US$5-19 and can be bought in advance online with Giant Ibis , tuk-tuk journeys cost only a few dollars, but bike rental is often cheaper.
• – Food: street food is a bargain at US$1-2 for a meal, but start around US$6 for a meal in a restaurant.
• – Other expenses: your biggest expense will be your ticket to Angkor, which starts at US$37 for one day. Ask at your hostel for more information.
• – Cambodia has a really tragic modern history that’s worth reading up on before you visit, to give you some idea of context. The Killings Fields and S-21 Prison Museum are difficult places to visit, but I highly recommend that you do see them.
• – Confusingly, Cambodia accepts US dollars as well as Cambodian riel. Make sure you have low denominations because it can be difficult to break larger US notes.
• – Entry to Angkor requires you to go to the ticket office (the other side of town) and get a ticket pass with your photo printed on. I highly advise that you do this the evening before your visit, so that you can go straight to the site for sunrise.
• – Don’t go to Angkor Wat for sunrise. There are thousands upon thousands of people there every morning. Instead, choose a different temple for a view that is just as stunning, but not such a tourist trap.

Exploring Angkor was an other-worldly experience that I will always cherish. The history of the ancient civilisation and its city is mind-boggling, while the timelessness of the ancient temples really puts modern life into perspective.

For more information about my two weeks in Cambodia, read Cambodia Travel Advice: My Backpacker Budget and Travel Tips and for my travel journal entries read Two Weeks in Cambodia | Travel Diary .

I also wrote about exploring Angkor in Real Life Temple Run | How I Saw 10 Temples In Angkor In Just One Day (quite a feat when you see how huge the ancient city is) and I talked about how affecting Cambodia’s modern history is in So That History Does Not Repeat Itself | Phnom Penh, Cambodia .

A Few Days in Vietnam

I first visited Vietnam back in 2013, spending a week in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. However, I had promised myself I wouldn’t leave Southeast Asia until I had seen Ho Chi Minh City, also known by its previous name, Saigon. That’s right – I wasn’t going to ‘Miss Saigon’ (sorry).

So, although I only spent a few days in the country on my trip backpacking around Southeast Asia, I recommend that you have more time there.

• – Hanoi , the capital city of Vietnam.
• – Ha Long Bay , the limestone islands.
• – Da Nang , a coastal city with great beaches.
• – Nha Trang , a coastal resort and known for nightlife.
• – Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), a colonial city in the south.
• – Phu Quoc , an island known for amazing beaches.

• – A boat trip around Ha Long Bay
• – Water puppetry in Hanoi
• – Beaches and nightlife in Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc
• – The War Remnants Museum in Saigon
• – Cu Chi Tunnels in Saigon
• – A trip to the boat markets in the Mekong Delta

• – Ho Chi Minh City: Saigon Friends Hostel
• – Fresh spring rolls
• – Pho
• – Cold vermicelli
• – Vietnamese iced coffee
• – Salads
• – Banh mi
• – Saigon beer

• – Visas: for a British passport, there is a 30-day exemption visa on arrival (free). However, be aware that if you leave Vietnam, you can’t re-enter on that visa.
• – Accommodation: US$4 per night.
• – Food: street food is a bargain at US$1-2 for a meal and the most expensive meal I had at a restaurant was US$6.
• – The traffic in Vietnam is insane, even by Southeast Asian standards. The pavements are also used by scooters in Saigon, and crossing the road in Hanoi is notoriously stressful. Be super-careful as accidents are known to happen.
• – I took a tour to the Mekong Delta and it was awful. If you would like to do a tour, make sure that it leaves early in the morning and that you are guaranteed to see the floating markets.

All the food! Vietnamese food is highly underrated by the rest of the world, in my stomach’s opinion. Cold vermicelli and spring rolls are fantastic, and Vietnamese iced coffee (made with condensed milk) is delicious!

A full itinerary for my time in Saigon can be found at Ho Chi Minh City Travel Advice & Budget Planning . My travel diary is, of course, entitled Don’t Miss Saigon! | A Few Days in Ho Chi Minh City | Travel Diary . (Told you that pun was a winner).

Two Weeks in Bali, Indonesia

Before I started plotting out my Southeast Asia travel itinerary, I toyed with the idea of spending the full two months in Indonesia instead. Obviously, I ultimately decided on a multi-country trip so that I could see and experience the corners of Asia I had yet to see.

But, judging by how much I enjoyed my time in Bali, Indonesia would not have been a bad call either; there is so much to see and do just on this one island. Although there are certain areas of Bali that are certainly more touristy than others, it seemed to me that it had not yet been spoiled.

Note that this Southeast Asia travel guide focuses on Bali and the nearby Gili Islands, rather than Indonesia as a whole. Of course, there is more to see further afield, but as I didn’t visit anywhere else in the country, I haven’t included additional Indonesian destinations here.

• – Seminyak , upmarket beach resort.
• – Canggu , a surfer’s paradise.
• – Amed , known for snorkeling.
• – Lovina , known for dolphins.
• – Gili Islands (not on Bali), known for coral reefs and sandy beaches.
• – Ubud , inland and known for rice terraces, yoga and clean living.

What to see and do:

• – Surfing in Canggu
• – Snorkelling in Amed
• – Yoga, rice terraces and village living in Ubud
• – Dolphin watching in Lovina
• – Chilling on the beach in Seminyak
• – Uluwatu temple
• – Relaxing on the Gili Islands
• – Legian*: The Eco-Living Hostel
• – Lovina: Santhika Bed & Breakfast
• – Amed: Kelapa Cottage
• – Ubud: Kayuni Hostel
• – Canggu: Surfers House

*I stayed in Legian for the first few days of my time in Bali. Although the hostel was great, the location wasn’t and the whole Legian/Kuta/Denpasar area is a bit dirty and very touristy. Instead, you want to get out of the city and go as far north as you can.

• – Nasi Goreng
• – Health foods, smoothies and salads (especially in Ubud)
• – Bintang beer

I also highly recommend taking cooking classes. I took one in Ubud, where we bought fresh ingredients in the markets and cooked with them out on a farm in the countryside, which also brought in more income for the farmers there.

• – I found the cheapest way to get around the island was using Uber (they had just started up on the island and had discounts for users), but there is a lot of contention between Uber drivers and local taxi drivers, so be aware of that.
• – Nearly everyone hires a scooter to get around, but I met countless people who had the typical scooter burn on their leg from swinging their leg over the side, including myself. Be careful just being around those bloody things and if you’ve never used one before, then ask how to safely get on to save yourself losing a chunk of skin off your leg.
• – I heard of bag snatching and theft happening on the beaches around Kuta, so be careful not to fall asleep in the sun!

• – Visas: with my British passport, I entered Indonesia for up to 30 days ‘visa free’.
• – Accommodation: US$5-12 per night, depending on the area and quality.
• – Food: similar to above, street food is a bargain at US$1-2 for a meal, but start around US$6 for a meal in a restaurant. Again, this depends on the area you’re staying in, as prices vary all over the island.
• – Other expenses: a yoga class in Ubud costs around $10 for one class, but there are packages for more classes if you’re staying longer.

My whole time in Ubud was a highlight. Cooking classes, museums, rice terraces, white water rafting trips, incredible food and some of the best yoga classes I have ever experienced.

For more information about the different areas of Bali I visited, read  Guide to Bali: Planning and Travel Tips . My woeful travel diary entries lamenting my string of bad luck on the island can be found at  Two Weeks in Bali, A Series of Unfortunate Events | Travel Diary .

Other Countries in Southeast Asia

As mentioned above, I couldn’t fit every single country into my two month Southeast Asia trip itinerary, and I don’t recommend that you do either. But still, here are a few other suggestions of places you may want to swap in/out of your backpacking trip, depending on your travel route and schedule:

I visited a friend in Kuala Lumpur a few years ago, but have always meant to return to Malaysia to see more of this special country, especially a trip to beautiful Borneo.

• Where to go: capital city Kuala Lumpur, the island of Penang and lush Borneo.
• What to see and do: plenty of water sports and opportunities to see marine life, meeting orangutans in Borneo, climbing or admiring Mount Kinabalu, eating street food in Kuala Lumpur and gazing up at the iconic Petronas Towers.

I travelled to Thailand a few years ago, spending a (terrible) day in Bangkok, before heading down south, island hopping and drinking at the Full Moon Party on Ko Phangan (to be fair, I was 22). I have to admit, Thailand wasn’t quite the paradise I imagined, but I was impressed by the New Year festival of Songkran.

• Where to go: capital city Bangkok, city of culture Chiang Mai, Phuket and the islands off the east and west coasts.
• What to see and do: eating all the Thai food, partying in Bangkok or on Ko Phangan, relaxing on beautiful beach islands such as Ko Phi-Phi, learning to dive off Ko Tao, or soaking up Thai culture in Chiang Mai.

For more ideas, read this 10 day / two week itinerary for Thailand by Mona Corona.

Philippines

I’ve been to the Philippines three times and I have still only scratched the surface! Definitely the most underrated Southeast Asian country in my opinion, it has everything from hikes along rice terraces to swimming with whale sharks.

• Where to go: Northern Luzon (especially the village of Sagada), then choose your islands; Palawan, Cebu and Boracay are just some of the favourites.
• What to see and do: hike rice terraces, explore caves, relax on pristine beaches, swim with whale sharks, island-hop, and anything else you can think of!

Read A Two-Week Itinerary for The Philippines by Where in the World is Nina for more ideas.

I have not been quiet about my love for Singapore and how I hope to live there one day. Even just a layover in Changi Airport on this trip (FYI, the best airport in the world ) made me extremely happy.

• What to see and do: the Singapore Zoo or Night Safari, Little India, street food, treetop rainforest walks, the Merlion, the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Gardens by the Bay.

Brunei Darussalam

I’ve been intrigued by the tiny sultanate of Brunei since a colleague of mine told me it was the most amazing place she’s ever lived. However, I’ve yet to make it there. Here’s what I know:

• What to see and do: explore beautiful rainforests and mangroves, water villages, mosques, wild monkeys, museums and markets.

Timor-Leste

Similarly, I was tempted to hop over from Bali to nearby Timor-Leste on this trip, but didn’t quite make it in the end. Timor-Leste is Southeast Asia’s newest country and this is the little that I know about it:

• What to see and do: reef diving, snorkeling, coffee plantations and really good trivia nights!

Two Months in Southeast Asia: Final Thoughts

I packed so much into my two months in Southeast Asia that it was difficult to keep up with the pace! For anyone else travelling around Asia in a similar time frame, I would definitely advise that less is more; pick a few countries and explore them well.

With five years in Asia behind me as well as backpacking through Asia for two months solo, I’ve managed to see a lot… but it’s never enough! I would love to do it all again and fill in all the gaps I missed on my Asia trip itinerary.

However, next time I’ll plan for a bit more time and try to save for more than a cheap shoestring budget!

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14 thoughts on “ Two Months in Southeast Asia: Backpacking on a Tight Budget ”

Omg this trip just sounds amazing! Im looking to go there too with my brother or sister!

Oh wow, thank you! It was pretty cool, I have to admit. Let me know if and when you go and I’d love to give you some tips!

I admire you so much! I wish I could travel to these beautiful places! The pics are gorgeous!

Wow, thank you! And you can and totally should!

Wow! You really got to see a lot in 2 months! I’m incredibly jealous of your adventure.

Haha! I know, right? I really packed it in! South Africa is definitely on my radar for my next adventure, though!

Would love to go on a trip like this! Going to my bucket list! Great read

xoxo http://www.sarahicardenas.com/the-coffee-haunt/the-process-secrets-and-art-of-making-pour-over-coffee

You should! It was amazing. Thank you for reading. Glad you enjoyed it!

Hi your holiday sounds amazing I am going in October planning on Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar don’t knw if I would be able to do Cambodia as well seeing that it will be 28 days and doing it solo any tips will be appreciated….

Oh man, it was and so does yours! That’s a lot to fit into 28 days too! I have stuff about Bali (only place I went to in Indonesia), Cambodia and Myanmar, as per the links above if you need info. I’ve been to Thailand, Malaysia (well, Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore (hope to live there at some point) before, though nothing on this blog on them as of yet.

The best advice I can give is to say that sometimes less is more (see a place in detail rather than hop from one place to the next). Remember, you can always come back. For solo stuff, I advise that you go with an open mind to be flexible; things change last-minute and don’t go to plan, but in those challenging moments remind yourself that the most difficult of times make for the best travel stories! Oh, and as a solo female traveller, I always padlock my bag with a big padlock to deter thieves, then stash the key in my bra! Happy travels! Let me know if you want any more advise, info or recommendations – I would love to help!

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SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL ROUTE AND ITINERARIES: From 2 Weeks up to 6 Months

Masasa Beach, Philippines

Which countries are in Southeast Asia? The answer is  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Lester, and Vietnam . There are 11 countries in Southeast Asia. Now, if you decide to travel in this part of the world, you don’t have to go to all of them in one trip especially if you have limited time. Even they are neighbouring countries, they are very different from each other and honestly  takes so much to go around .

Some people will go for only two weeks  since that’s the only time off they get from work. While  others quit their jobs and start to travel the world . Either way, let me show you the best  Southeast Asia travel route , I will always suggest some itineraries per country for you

NOTE : All prices are in USD ($). You may also use the table of contents to navigate faster.

RELATED POSTS : To help you map out and prepare for your trip, check these pots:

• Travel budget for backpacking in Southeast Asia
• Best time to travel to Southeast Asia
• Backpacking in Southeast Asia travel guide and tips
• Surfing in Asia; where to surf in Asia

TIP : Use the table of contents to navigate faster

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia is massive, that’s not a secret. So, how much time do you need to explore the entire region? I personally travelled here for 8 months on my first trip then another 8 months on my second time. You can easily spend  2 weeks to a year depending on how much time you have . If you only have a few weeks, that’s no problem as well, have a taste of Southeast Asia and see if you want to come back later.

HOW MUCH IS A GOOD BUDGET FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA

You can easily spend  $1,000 in a month or  $2,000 for six months , like what I did. I know that’s not really hopeful. Let’s take a look at this ideal travel cost:

• Accommodation : $6 for a  dorm room , $10 for a private room – these are the average prices, I found some dorm room for $3 and a private room for $8
• Transportation over land : $8 for a 5-6 hour bus
• Flying : $25 for a domestic flight, $35 (is the lowest I’ve taken) for a flight to another Southeast Asia country – the price differs A LOT because of the distance
• Food : $3 per meal or $1 for a street food
• Tours : from FREE to $10 for a day trip (covers transportation and/or bottle of water)
• Visa : $35 and up; a lot of European and North American countries need to pay for a visa in some Southeast Asian countries

Depending on  WHERE  you are going and  HOW  you are going to travel or what they call, your travel style and  HOW LONG  you are going to travel for is how you can figure out your budget. 

WHERE TO START IN YOUR SOUTHEAST ASIA ROUTE

A lot of backpackers start in Bangkok, Thailand . This is mostly because there are  flights directly from Europe   (UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, Finland, and Poland. If your budget permits, fly to the country where you really want to start.

Another reason why backpackers start in Thailand is that,  there are thousands of travellers here  and they have been coming to Thailand for more than a decade now. This makes  Thailand a great hub ; meet travel companions, there are locals who speak English, there are parties everywhere, Thai food is almost everyone’s favourite, and it has beautiful and stunning beaches that even someone who doesn’t like the beach that much will say “wow!”.

Have you heard about the  Banana Pancake Trail ? This trail doesn’t really have a definite route, this is also known as the  Southeast Asia trail . But most travellers will describe Banana Pancake Trail starts in Thailand, then Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, then back to Thailand – from here, you can decide if you want to go to cross the land border to Myanmar or Malaysia, or fly to the Philippines or Indonesia or Singapore.

I personally started in Vietnam, then to Thailand, then Myanmar, back to Vietnam, then Laos, then Vietnam again – I don’t really have a trail as you see.

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 2 WEEKS OR LESS

Even   2 weeks is not a lot , you can  still enjoy Southeast Asia . What you need to remember is to not try to see 4 countries in a span of 2 weeks. Doing this will result in you spending ALL your time in the bus or airports instead of actually enjoying or experiencing each place.

With only 2 weeks on your trip,  focus on one country and 2 cities/towns/islands only. Having limited time, you may also want to consider the smaller countries or countries with fewer islands or else again, you will only spend time getting from point A to B.

If it’s your  first time in Southeast Asia , think about  which activity do you like most , is it going to the beach, history, party, or climbing mountains? Here are the countries I suggest you start and spend your 2 weeks:f

Sea Salt, Beaches, Sunnies

​​ If you are looking for a quick beach getaway, a lazy day on the beach, reading a book, drinking cold cocktails, and snorkelling or surfing your day away, Southeast Asia have something for you.

Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia

These three are the best options for this type of trip and holiday.

Thailand ‘s beaches are probably something you have seen on the movies or telly before, and those are not lying. Thailand is really a great place to do all the beach and water activities you want to do, not to mention the most interesting cuisine you’ll ever try.

While the  Philippines  have 7,000 islands – I think I don’t need to say more but if you want some information, the Philippines have the most diverse aquatic ecosystem in the world. You can snorkel, dive, surf, kayak, or simply go partying. One of the best features of this country is that more than 80% of the locals speak English.

If you want to get away from the crowd while still enjoying the beach,  Malaysia  is the place for you. Being a Muslim country, enjoying the beach shouldn’t be a big problem, however, you have to remember the dress code in most part of the country. Malaysia is popular to family travellers, so, if you have kids with you, you just found the right place for the next trip.

Mountain, Hiking, Sunrise

For some adventure, time with nature, and enjoying a sunrise over the mountain top, Southeast Asia will not disappoint.

Indonesia, Philippines, Borneo

Indonesia and the Philippines both have amazing and thousands of mountains to climb. One of the most known in  Indonesia  is Mount Bromo , Mount Rinjani, Semeru, Ijen to name a few.

In the Philippines mountain Apo, Sagada, Pulag, Pinatubo, Mayon, and Pinatubo. are the most beautiful you can see in this country. 

Borneo  is undeniably one of the richest forests in the world. It’s beautiful with many various species of animals, trees, and not to mention traditional societies have lived and also known for historic warfare and headhunting.

REMEMBER : Not all mountains in Indonesia and the Philippines can be hiked because a lot of them are still active and are off-limits to the tourists.

Cultural and Historical Trip

If you are a traveller who loves to learn the history and culture of a place, one of the most suitable places you can explore are Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam

Myanmar  only fully opened up to the tourist in 2010 (originally in 1992 but with very strict rules). Myanmar has been a mysterious destination and many people who travelled there have found the Burmese culture is very fascinating and raw, the locals are still getting used to tourists.

Cambodia had a very dark history; a genocide which happened in 1970s. Almost 2 million died which was carried by the Khmer Rouge. You can visit the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum to learn more about this dark chapter of Cambodia.

I’m sure you are familiar with the  Vietnam  War, and if not, you should know about it. The Vietnam war is one of the biggest and darkest wars in the history of Southeast Asia. Many people have died many locals until today are still suffering to the result of this war which happened in 1970. A war between north of Vietnam and the south of Vietnam (slash the US.).

Land Travel Only

If you prefer the over the land travel only, Vietnam and Cambodia or Thailand and Myanmar are two great destinations to check out.

Vietnam and Cambodia

You can easily fly to  Vietnam and cross the border to Cambodia  or the other way around. For only about $12 bus fare on a 5-6 hour bus ride, you can explore two countries in a short period of time. Both countries have fascinating history and culture, both have beaches that you can enjoy as well.

Thailand and Cambodia

Enjoy the beach of Thailand and then explore the mountain and the interesting culture of Cambodia, you can easily cross the border to Cambodia (about 6-hour bus ride, and $12 ticket). Both have great beaches, while both are pretty affordable destinations.

TIP : Here is a great travel guide and information about  travelling in Vietnam .

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 4 WEEKS OR 2 MONTH

One month of travel is a great length of time while 2 months is even better . You can  focus on one country  and check out its off-beaten track  or you can combine two countries  depending on how you will get from one place to another or how much you want to see in each country. Here are the countries I suggest you focus for one month:

If I have my favourite place in Southeast Asia, it would be Vietnam. It’s crazy (in a good way).  It’s super cheap , Vietnam is probably the most affordable in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, spending 4 weeks or 1 month will let you explore its popular destinations and the parts that are not very known to other backpackers.

• Motorbiking in Vietnam  – this is one of the best ways to travel around Vietnam, you can go everywhere at your own pace
• North to south or vice versa  – with 4 weeks in your hand, you can travel the entire country. Most backpackers will either go to the north or head down to the south. In this way, you know that you won’t miss anything along the way while you meet travellers who can give you their first-hand experience in the other locations that they have been. 

The top destinations in Vietnam are:

• North : Sa Pa, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Trang An, Phong Nha
• Central : Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Da Lat
• South : Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc Island

Malaysia is another favourite destination because of  its more quiet vibe ,  islands that are not full of tourist or parties , destinations that are cheaper and even a tax-free island like Langkawi.

A lot of travellers don’t spend a full month in Malaysia, which is great, this means there are places that are secluded and very relaxing. If you have a limited time, check this  2 weeks in Malaysia  itinerary. Here are the popular destinations in Malaysia:

• Kuala Lumpur  is a great capital city if you love skyscrapers. You can go around the city easily because they have such an amazing transportation system.
• Langkawi  which I mentioned a while ago is a tax-free island. You can rent a motorbike for $5 for 24-hours.
• Penang  is popular for the street arts that you cannot find anywhere else in Southeast Asia, you can also enjoy the beach from here if you head to Georgetown
• Peripheral Islands  is the place you want to go for a really relaxing beach holiday. The water is unbelievably clear and blue, there are fewer parties, it’s a perfect place to enjoy nature, read a book, and drink coconut water
• Malacca  is an old town that you won’t want to miss, from here you can head and   cross the border to Singapore

A month in Thailand will let you  hike its mountains and enjoy its beautiful islands . From here you can easily cross the border to Malaysia or Cambodia. Although Thailand  has become a little more expensive  than other Southeast Asian countries, it is still cheaper than a holiday in south Europe.  Here are the top places you want to explore in Thailand.

• Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta, Koh Chang, Koh Phangan, and Koh Phi Phi  are the places for the party and to enjoy water activities for such affordable price
• Chiang Mai  and  Chiang Rai  for mountain adventure
• While there are motorbike rentals in Thailand that will let you rent a bike, it is illegal to do it and will cost a lot of money if you get caught.

In my opinion,  you can spend 3 weeks in Cambodia  and you will basically be able to cover the “must-sees” spending more than that will give you the chance to discover other parts of the country that not many backpackers are able to see. Cambodia is a known destination for the following reasons:

• Cambodian Genocide  – if you like history, travelling in Cambodia will teach you about its genocide that is not very known. The dark history of Cambodia is a good way to educate yourself about this part of the world
• Angkor Wat  – head to Siem Reap and learn more about Cambodian history
• Islands  – there are islands in Cambodia that you can enjoy for such affordable price, I personally went on a 6-hour boat trip for $10 which includes food, boat fee, tour guides, snorkelling gears, and drinks
• Motorbiking in Cambodia  – is a less known way of travelling compared to Vietnam but it is possible

Laos,  the place you want to spend your 4 weeks if you want to get away from crazy parties  in Thailand or you prefer to go hike the mountains than diving on the ocean. Fewer people are travelling in Laos, you will meet mostly those who love to lie on the hammock, enjoy nature, and relax.  Laos is not known as a place to start a trip in Southeast Asia , which is a shame since you can reach 3 countries from here.  Top places you can visit in Laos:

• Vientiane  – is the capital of Laos which are not well-visited but still offers great atmosphere especially if you like to interact with the locals
• Luang Prabang – here, you can visit Kuang Si Falls
• Vang Vieng – is the party hub for Laos, not as wild as Vietnam, but indeed a must-visit place
• From any of these places, you can get to either Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand.

Another country that you can spend 3-4 weeks but not less than 2 weeks would be the Philippines. You can check this  3-week itinerary for the Philippines .

COUNTRIES TO COMBINE IF YOU HAVE 4 WEEKS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Like what I mentioned before, I would either  focus in one country if I have 4 weeks  but you can also  combine 2 countries as long as they are land bordered to each other  or there are flights that are direct flights that are not too expensive. Here are the countries you can combine together:

• Vietnam and Cambodia  – these two countries are land bordered in the south. You can get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is 6 hours on a bus.
• Vietnam and Laos  – if you love mountains, stay in the north of Vietnam and do a border crossing to Laos for more nature and mountains. Although the bus takes about 20-30 hours. Flying is also an option.
• Thailand and Cambodia –  This is already a popular choice and the bus journey is only less than 5 hours, not too long unless you get a hangover from partying in Bangkok like me when I crossed the border from  Bangkok to Siem Reap .
• Thailand and Malaysia  – crossing from the south of Thailand and entering Malaysia via Langkawi island is a great combination if you really love island hopping.

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 3 MONTHS OR MORE

Now,  3 months is a lot of time . However, after you travelled and have used up all your time, it will feel like it was not enough because there is just so much to see. Either you have 3 months, 6 months or more, there is always a place that not many have travelled yet.

Some backpackers who headed to Southeast Asia have a lot of time in their hands but  not enough budget to keep travelling  which lead them in stopping or  travelling slower  in some places and work or volunteer which is not a problem either. It’s a great way to learn more about the new place you just discovered.

While if you have the time and budget, this is the route I would love you to consider.

• Thailand  – land or arrive in Southeast Asia here, however, Bangkok is in the middle, therefore, you will be torn between the north and the south which is filled with islands, what I can suggest is, go up north and spend a month exploring the mountains like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and do volunteers. From here you can head to Myanmar.
• Myanmar  – you can enter the land border between Thailand and Myanmar. You can explore the beautiful Bagan, trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake, visit Mandalay and other small towns in the North and finish up in Yangon, from here, you can head back to the north of Thailand and cross the border to Laos.
• Laos – which you can enter via slow boat. You can buy a motorbike and drive around Laos if you are feeling adventurous. If not, you can easily travel by buses. Visiting Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Vientiane (the capital) and many more places. From here you can take your motorbike, fly or take a bus to the north of Vietnam.
• Vietnam  – If you are taking the bus, they will more likely to drop you off in Hanoi, if you have a motorbike, you can enter through the most north of Vietnam which is Lao Cai province near Sa Pa where you can hike the highest peak in Indochina called Fansipan. If you have a motorbike bike, you can head down south or take the best night buses in Southeast Asia. If you don’t have a motorbike or want to sell yours, you can do it in the popular cities in town throughout Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), it’s very easy to cross the border to Cambodia.
• Cambodia  – You can also bring your motorbike with you to Cambodia or buy or rent one once you get there, explore the dark history of Phnom Penh, and the lively city of Siem Reap and Battambang, don’t forget to swim and party at Koh Rong Island and Koh Rong Samloem. You will more likely to end in Siem Reap where you can take a bus to Thailand

• Thailand  – unfortunately, you cannot bring your motorbike here. From Bangkok, you can either fly down to the islands or take a bus. From Padang Besar, you can cross the border to Malaysia.
• Malaysia  – and head to Langkawi, the tax-free island, where everything is much cheaper than Thailand. Malaysia can be tricky, it has north to south and west to east. If you have more time, there is no reason to rush, but if you have a limited one, choose which part you’d rather see. By reaching the south of Malaysia, you will have an easy time crossing Singapore by land.
• Singapore  – an expensive but very fascinating country, make sure you know someone who lives in Singapore or have made enough Singaporean friends before you reach here. If you play your cards well, you can save money by couchsurfing or ask a friend if you can crash their place. One of the few affordable things in Singapore is flying out, Changi airport has many flights to everywhere in the world. The best is to fly to the Philippines or Indonesia.
• Philippines  – you can easily spend more than a month here, however, due to its large number of islands, you will be needing to spend a lot of time using the boat or taking a flight. You can take a bus to the north and enjoy Banaue Rice Terraces and Vigan, then fly to Boracay to party or swim in Palawan or go surfing in Siargao. Leaving the Philippines, you can either fly out of Cebu or Manila to Indonesia, Brunei, or Timor-Leste.

WHAT ARE THE LESS TRAVELLED COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore are the  top destinations in Southeast Asia . While Laos is also popular, this is mainly because along with the way, many backpackers would hear about Laos and it’s basically on the way between Thailand and Vietnam.

Those who have unlimited time to travel are the ones who normally would consider Laos, which is personally, I think should not be missed.  It’s less touristy and most backpackers are the ones who only go to Laos . It’s rich in beautiful nature than stunning cities, it’s a place where you want to go if you want to escape the loudspeakers on every street of a city, it’s a place where you want to spend more time on a hammock or hiking or simply just on a beach.

The Philippines is somehow popular , but because of the fact that  it’s not land bordered to any countries , many backpackers will either skip the Philippines or  visit it next time they are in Southeast Asia . If head here, you will notice that most couples on their honeymoon, retired Europeans and North Americans, South Koreans and Japanese, or backpackers in their late 20s are the ones travelling here.

If we will only talk about the “real”  less travelled in Southeast , it must be Timor-Leste, Brunei, and Myanmar. Although Myanmar is already gaining massive attention, it’s starting to be more and more popular among backpackers.

Timor-Leste and Brunei  are the two that are truly less popular. Many would argue because there is nothing very special in these two countries while others will say it’s because it’s too small or they are actually not budget-friendly, plus, like the Philippines, they are not really bordered to any other countries or areas that are touristy making the trip there will cost more money and time.

WHAT TO REMEMBER WHEN PLANNING YOUR SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL ROUTE AND ITINERARY

If you join backpacker and traveller’s forum on social media like Facebook or Reddit or forum sites like TripAdvisor, there are too many things that they will tell you what to remember and what is something that you should not be bothered about.

Let’s talk about all of them and you can  decide for yourself which one are worthy a wrinkle on your face .

Vaccinations and Pills 

Of course, it’s  always best to get them , but you are on a budget and want to keep things right at the margin. The thing is, accidents are unpredictable, I never expected or wished to get  bitten by a dog in Thailand , but man, it happened and it was scary.

MUST-READ:  Vaccinations for Southeast Asia  – an in-depth article

Now, if you know that you will spend time around dogs, rural areas, and forests – get that vaccine-like  rabies, tetanus, hepatitis A & B, and Yellow Fever . These are valid for a few years while others can last for life. I really think it’s worth the hassle.

If you are on a budget , head to Southeast Asia and get them here as soon as you can, they are super affordable and easy to get. Do the research and make a list of hospitals and clinics who can give these shots and can do the service in English.

I had my rabies shot in Thailand which was $12 per shot(total of 5 shots). Compared to Europe, North America, and Oceania, they are a lot cheaper here unless of course, you have public health in your country.

Malaria Pills are one of the most common concern , should you be taking them? I personally did not take any, but I spent most of my time in the city and only did a few very rural area travels.

However,  remember to consult your GP  as well to make sure which shots and pills you will be needing.

DISCLAIMER :  A Mary Road does not claim any expertise in the field of medication, these suggestions are based on my experience and should not be considered as professional advice.

Is it cheap in Southeast Asia

It is but it can only be cheap if you are willing to be one . Avoid staying in private rooms or taking an organised tour. Take buses, train, and boats instead of flying everywhere. Buy food in the grocery store or eat street food outside. You can also check this  Southeast Asia travel budget .

Free walking tours are getting more and more popular in Southeast Asia , however, this  does not mean that it is completely free . The tour guide will be spending his/her time, sharing knowledge, and taking you around,  a tip is encouraged and will be appreciated . Give a tip depending on the guide’s performance, length of the tour, and the information you received.

If you are having a hard time deciding how much you should give, count how many tour participants and do the Math, if everyone hands over $5 or $10 would it be enough? 

Hitchhiking in Southeast Asia

Many backpackers will not agree about this because Southeast is already affordable . Hitchhiking is also  not as popular  as in Europe, therefore, your chances to be picked up will be less.

The only place I hitchhike was in Myanmar and it was only about 300 kms of 2 rides and only did it for the experience.

Weather in Southeast Asia

This  region is composed of islands, mountains, and farms . Do your research in each country because all of them poses different weather throughout the year. Who would have known that Vietnam experience cold (drop to zero Celsius) during winter? I surely did not know.

Busking in Southeast Asia

Apart from Singapore, where  busking is illegal , I don’t know any other countries where you can actually be thrown in jail for doing this. However, many expats and travellers do  not accept having western foreigners busking from the locals  and I agree with it.

Many locals of Southeast Asia makes an average of $150 a month or even less , if one has the right to go busking, it’s the locals.

If you are in real trouble, get in touch with your Embassy or reach out to your friends and families.

Motorbiking in Southeast Asia

If you want to  travel on a motorbike , you should know that  not all Southeast Asian countries will allow this . Only Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is where motorbiking is a “thing”, even so, you will more or less be driving without a legal permit. Between these three countries, there is a big chance that you can bring your motorbike between borders.

Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai,  motorbiking is illegal  unless you have an international driver’s license that has been converted into a Thai driving license. Singapore is definitely a no go, while the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia, are sort of so-so.

Language Barrier in Southeast Asia

If you head to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, you don’t have to worry about the language barrier. These  four countries speak English  and most of the road signs, airports, restaurants, and other public places will be in English.

Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia  are all melting pots of ESL teachers, if you speak to young locals, there is a big chance that they speak English. You should also have an easy time communicating in English in Timor-Leste. While in Myanmar, young people are getting a grasp of English as well little by little.

SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL GEARS

Southeast Asia is actually very easy to travel , either by yourself or with friends or family. Getting  a sim card with data is cheap and fast  which basically will solve most of your mishaps on the road.

You will also meet tons of backpackers who will give you tips left and right, the locals are very warm and helpful. To make sure you will have a great time, here are some travel gears and  packing tips  for you:

• Maps.Me  – if you are travelling for a while, get the app maps.me and download the maps for the places you are heading to. This is great if you don’t have or run out of data.
• Cash  -always keep a stash of cash; US Dollars, British Pound, and Euro. Canadian and Australian Dollars can be hard to exchange especially in rural areas
• Translator  – download an offline translator, it can be really handy
• Scarf and long trousers  – bring a big but lightweight scarf, you will need it when visiting sacred places and can be used as a skirt or to cover your shoulders or you can also pack lightweight trousers or buy one of those elephant pants
• Photocopy of your passport  – you will be surprised how many accommodations in Southeast Asia will ask if they can keep your passport, hand them a photocopy instead

For packing, you many want to check these cool travel items:

• Best quick dry towels for backpacking
• Wheeled backpack or rucksack with wheels
• Travel jacket with hidden pockets
• Long-haul flight essentials
• Eco-friendly travel accessories and product

SOUTHEAST ASIA VISA GUIDE

Visa in Southeast Asia is pretty easy  actually. You either get a visa-free or have to apply beforehand but they are easy and quick to get unlike a  Schengen Visa  or other western countries .

You can find more information about visas in Southeast Asia here .

That’s all I have for this topic, I know it’s pretty long but I hope you found something useful. If you have any questions about Southeast Asia travel route, send me an email or message me on my social media platforms. You can also simply leave a comment below.

ARE YOU ON PINTEREST? SAVE THIS FOR LATER READ:

• 6 MONTHS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: How I Travelled And Lived With 2000 USD For Six Months In Southeast Asia
• Complete Guide to Backpacking in Southeast Asia: Cost, Routes, Safety, Visas, and Tips
• TRAVEL VISAS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA: Cost, Requirements, How To Apply
• BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO SOUTHEAST ASIA: When To Go To Southeast Asia
• VACCINATIONS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA: Travel Vaccines Costs, Where To Get

Mary is the founder of amaryroad and one of the experts when it comes to travelling in Southeast Asia. Mary has been travelling around the world since 2013, she have extensively travelled and lived in Southeast Asian countries. She also has been featured in popular publications in the Philippines such as GMA Network, When in Manila, and Tripzilla. Today, Mary continues her round-the-world trip with no final destination. She travels in her own terms and tries to build her own world whilst pushing herself into every corner of life, breaking limit beyond her capabilities.

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The Ultimate Southeast Asia Itinerary

06/17/2018 by Ashley Yap 14 Comments

The parallel universe called Southeast Asia draws me in over and over again. Coming to Southeast Asia feels like coming home. Each time I return, I find comfort in the ease of traveling there, the excitement of new discoveries, and the energy hanging in the sweet, sticky air.

I’ve traveled in Southeast Asia for over 2 cumulative years, going from popular spots to places that do not even have an English name yet. Whether you are a budget backpacker, solo traveler, a couple, family, or a group of friends, Southeast Asia’s bound to have something intriguing for you. This could make planning a trip to Southeast Asia overwhelming – there’s just so much to see and do!

So let’s make it easy. Here are a few amazing Southeast Asia itineraries, customized to different interests, ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months:

Table of Contents

2-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary

While two weeks is simply too short to attempt to see all of Southeast Asia, the good news is that you can still get a delicious taste of Southeast Asia all within 2 weeks.

My advice is to pick fewer places to see, and take travel time into account. Some countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam are easy to get around, whereas countries like Myanmar and the Philippines require much longer travel times to move from one place to another. Here are a few itinerary suggestions for 2 weeks in Southeast Asia that cover 2 countries:

Best of Both Worlds: Philippines + Singapore

Spend about 10 days in the Philippines and maximize your time in nature, be it the beautiful islands , the most stunning rice terraces, or the amazing waterfalls. You can narrow down the specifics by picking your favorites from this itinerary . Then fly over to Singapore and enjoy the metropolitan city, eat all the food, and have the country’s signature drink, Singapore Sling, at one of the many speakeasy cocktail bars before your flight home.

Hiking Adventures: Borneo + Indonesia

Spend about 4 days in Borneo and hike up to the country’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu , which requires a minimum of 2 days, then check out the orangutans of Sepilok. Next, fly over to East Java, Indonesia, to hike Mount Rinjani , or Mount Bromo . Spend your last few days relaxing in Bali or Lombok before flying home.

Sun, Sea, and Salt: Southern Thailand + Malaysia

Spend a week in each country. Both countries are home to some of the most gorgeous islands I’ve ever been to. Some of my favorite islands are Koh Chang , The Similan Islands, Koh Yao Noi , Langkawi , The Perhentian Islands, and Tioman Island.

A Cultural Experience: Myanmar + Cambodia

Spend about 10 days in Myanmar, not only because there’s  so much to see and do , but also because transportation can be pretty difficult. Expect to spend some nights on bumpy overnight buses. Bagan, Mandalay, and Yangon are awesome for anyone seeking a cultural experience thanks to the beautiful temples and the less touristy feel of Myanmar. Fly over to Cambodia and continue your journey with an awe-inspiring trip to the majestic Angkor Wat (you will need at least 2 full days for that, trust me!), and hang out with the locals before your flight home from Siem Reap.

Overland Travel: Southern Vietnam + Cambodia

Spend a week in each country. There’s a ton of things to do in both southern Vietnam and Cambodia, but it’s also easy to pick and choose based on your interests. My suggestion is to start your trip in Siem Reap and see as much as you can of Angkor Wat in 2 days, and take an overnight bus to Sihanoukville’s Otres Beach for some R&R time, before another bus ride to Ho Chi Minh City. Apart from eating all the food , there’s a lot of history to explore especially for those interested in visiting the Củ Chi tunnels and the War Remnants museum. From there, it’s another bus ride to Mui Ne for some sandboarding fun, and Da Lat to check out some beautiful waterfalls, before flying home from Ho Chi Minh City.

Slow-Paced Travel: Laos + Northern Thailand

Laos is incredibly slow paced and rustic, which is great for relaxation and discovery. Spend about 9 days in Laos and you will find yourself surrounded by the most incredible waterfalls in the northern city of Luang Prabang, floating down the river on a tube, or motorbiking the Bolaven Plateau down south. Then take a slow boat to northern Thailand, and spend the next few days exploring Pai , savoring delicious local food, and temple hopping  in Chiang Mai before flying home.

First Name:

1-Month Southeast Asia Itinerary

If you have a full month, I’d suggest picking 1 country and really doing it justice, or picking 2 countries and spending about 2 weeks each. You can refer to the itineraries above and combine 2 of them, or pick 3 countries and spend about 10 days each. Here are some more adventure possibilities:

Island Fever: Philippines + Indonesia

One could easily spend a full month just in Indonesia or the Philippines, and still feel rushed since both are island nations with so much distance to cover. The good news is both have tons of variety and each one has its own unique luster. The Philippines is known for friendly people and stunning beaches, whereas Indonesia is known for having great food, some of the best diving in the world, and unique culture on each island. The good news is both are pretty cheap to enjoy. I suggest either picking one to explore over the course of one month, or spending half of your time in each. Here’s a Philippines itinerary and an Indonesia itinerary to help you narrow down exactly where you wish to go.

If you’re into diving, after much exploration in all of the best spots in both the Philippines and Indonesia, I can confidently recommend Raja Ampat if traveling in October – April and Komodo if traveling in May-September. Both will blow your mind!

Food and Culture: Singapore + Northern Thailand + Myanmar

Myanmar is not the quickest to travel through, but it’s also one of the best places in Southeast Asia for cultural exploration, gorgeous temples, friendly locals, and an opportunity to head farther off the beaten path than one can find in places like Thailand these days. With three weeks in Myanmar, you should be able to complete this Myanmar itinerary .

Best of both worlds: Vietnam + Cambodia

One of the best trips in Southeast Asia is traveling from tip to tip of Vietnam, either beginning in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (but don’t forget to include  Sapa, Vietnam !). Give this Vietnam itinerary at least three weeks if you can, then head into Cambodia for Angkor Wat and if you have time, check out the smaller towns like  Kratie in Cambodia or head to the coast.

Off the beaten path: Laos + Myanmar

If you want to get away from the typical tourist route and are at peace with missing the Thai islands, focus on Laos and Myanmar, both of which are stunning countries that get fewer visitors. Either give two weeks to each country, picking your favorites from the Laos and Myanmar itineraries , or give one more weight and spend the bulk of your time in whichever calls to you more. Just make sure that at some point, you’re able to get to a major enough city to fly between the two to save time.

3-Month Southeast Asia Itinerary

You’ve got three months in Southeast Asia? Awesome! You can take your time more and enjoy each place you visit a bit more fully and feel less like you’re rushing around. While it may be tempting to try to blast through every country in Southeast Asia within these three months, as many travelers do, I highly advocate taking this time to more deeply immerse in the local culture and explore further than the well known destinations.

Since you have so much more time than the other itineraries, I’d leave a lot more room for serendipity and just pick a few must-sees to plan your trip around.

Here are the places that I recommend based on different interests to help you build a framework:

If You’re into Local Culture

For me, part of the allure of Southeast Asia is the various cultural sites and temples. Most countries have an interesting mix of different history, religions, and beliefs, resulting in different religious sites, styles of architecture, and cuisines. Here are the go-to places if you want to immerse yourself in the local culture:

Bagan, Myanmar: A UNESCO Heritage site and valley of more than 2,000+ ancient temples built during a golden era of Burma in the 12th century, this place is a must-see if you love temples. The best way to explore Bagan is to rent a bike and roam freely. Chances are you will end up in your own private little temple with no one else around to catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset.

Inle Lake, Myanmar: The floating villages, which are essentially neighborhoods on stilts, where locals live in huts built above a network of marsh and grass waterways, is a beautiful place to take a peek at the locals’ daily life. Take a boat and see what it’s like living on water.

Luang Prabang, Laos: Aside from the popular Kuang Si Waterfalls, Luang Prabang is also known for the early morning alms, where hundreds of monks walk along the streets to collect offerings from the locals. It is quite a sight that is worth setting your alarm for. Just make sure you watch it with distance and respect, and not be one of those tourists who shove their big cameras up in the monks’ faces.

Siam Reap, Cambodia: Angkor Wat is perhaps the most recognizable temple in Southeast Asia. Though the ticket prices have increased steeply over the years, you should still consider visiting it, especially if you are interested in temples and ruins.

Chiang Rai, Thailand:  The north of Thailand is home to some of the most creative temples I’ve seen, and there are hundreds of them. I promise you won’t get templed out if you pick the right ones to visit, though. My personal favorite is the White Temple , an architectural wonder that started in 1997, and is still undergoing construction until 2070.

Borneo: In Sarawak, the local tribes stay together in a longhouse. By together, I mean with the entire extended family. You can arrange a longhouse homestay with the local communities and experience what it’s like to live as a local tribe. Follow the family around as they go about their day, hang out with the children, and chat with the elders for a unique and unforgettable experience. Similar experiences are available in Sapa, northern Vietnam.

If You’re a Foodie

Bangkok, Thailand:  So. Much. Food! Whether it’s a local food market, street food stalls, or the restaurants galore in the giant shopping malls, Bangkok is guaranteed to satisfy your appetite. What’s really cool about Thai food is that you can try the same dish at drastically different price points. Pad Thai is a great example – I’ve had them straight from the wok at a night market for less than $1, at local restaurants for a bit more, and at luxury hotels for 5 times the price. To be honest, the street version is always my favorite! Needless to say, being a foodie in Bangkok is a lot of fun. Here are a few more of my suggestions on how to really fall in love with Bangkok.

Chiang Mai, Thailand : Aside from the delicious northern cuisine, Chiang Mai is also a great place to attend a cooking class and bring new skills home. In Chiang Mai, I went with Basil Cookery school which was pretty healthy and very well-run. You can see more about the cooking class and other Chiang Mai favorites here.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : The capital city of Malaysia is a foodie’s wonderland, thanks to the country’s multiracial profile. Spoil yourself and indulge in Chinese, Malay, Indian and international cuisine at a reasonable price range. Immerse in the local culture by checking out a mamak (Indian Muslim eatery) for some awesome supper at night. There is a popular mamak within walking distance from the Petronas Twin Towers, in case you are wondering which one to go to!

Hanoi, Vietnam : Vietnamese food is a powerhouse mix of influences from all over the world. French, Chinese, and Japanese flavors blend with Vietnam’s own unique approach to food to create an unforgettable culinary experience. In Hanoi, the best way to sample the food is through a street food tour. Just ask your hostel / hotel for recommendations! Also, don’t forget to try an egg coffee at Cafe Giang! It sounds strange but it’s probably the best coffee I’ve ever had in my life, and that’s coming from a friend.

Singapore : As it’s the most expensive country in Southeast Asia, one would think that eating in Singapore is an expensive affair. I was very pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to find cheap and delicious street food through the hawker stalls, as well as hippie cafes serving western and even vegan food when I felt the need for a change.

If You’re into Beaches

These are not the typical suggestions you probably see that feature Phuket and Koh Samui. I like the places that fly under the radar a bit more, just on the cusp of popularity. They’re amazing because of who they attract, the fact that they aren’t as crowded, but that they offer the same as, or even more than, their more-known counterparts.

El Nido, The Philippines : With beautiful white sand beaches and blue waters, El Nido has everything a beach lover wants. Don’t limit yourself to just the main island, as there are many small islands around it worth exploring. Just search around and book an island hopping tour , and you will find yourself swimming in the crystal clear water, with a chance to encounter whale sharks and manta rays. For a unique experience, you can also camp on the beach.

Siargao, The Philippines : An off the beaten path island that is becoming more popular, but is still a laid-back surf island. Locals will welcome you into their guesthouses with open arms for you to explore powdery, undeveloped nearby islands, local cafes, fish markets, and surf!

The Nusa Islands, Indonesia : You can easily hop from one island to another, which is what makes the Nusa Islands so appealing even for those that are short on time. Each island has a ton of beautiful beaches and things to do. Click here for an awesome Nusa Islands itinerary !

The Gili Islands, Indonesia : Another 3-in-1 package deal, you can hop from Gili Air, to Gili Meno, and to Gili Trawangan . Each island offers a slightly different vibe, but all three islands have one thing in common – gorgeous beaches.

Tonsai Beach, Thailand : Rock climbers, slack liners, and beach bums alike love this hippie paradise. Go there and enjoy, but don’t tell anyone about it, okay?

Koh Chang, Thailand : I love Koh Chang because it’s closer to Bangkok than the southern islands in Thailand, making it a great choice for those low on time, and it’s just as beautiful but less touristy. It’s also lovingly referred to as the ‘last cheap island’ in Thailand. Lonely Beach is the backpacker hangout, though the whole island is worth exploring. It is also, in my opinion, the best island in Thailand for solo backpackers.

Perhentian Islands, Malaysia : These two islands right next to each other are so darn beautiful, and there’s a nice backpacker vibe on the smaller island. Book ahead when heading here, as things fill up quickly. Internet is very limited on the island, which is perfect for those who are seeking for a break from social media and work emails. It’s also great for diving!

If You’re into Hiking

Mount Rinjani, Indonesia : This 3 day/2 night hike was a truly unforgettable experience for me. I recommend showing up on Lombok and booking directly with a tour operator there rather than organizing through a travel agent elsewhere in Indonesia or online. The first two days of the trek are not too challenging, though the last day gets tough, offering a sweeping view from the top of the volcano as a reward. Find the  full guide to hiking Mount Rinjani here . I also highly recommend staying in Lombok and exploring the many waterfalls and beaches. It’s one of my favorites in all of Southeast Asia.

Mount Bromo, Indonesia : Mount Bromo is probably Indonesia’s most famous volcano. It sits at the eastern end of Java between Surabaya and Yogyakarta and is quite often lumped in as part of a tour heading out of one of those two cities. There are tons of tour operators selling Jeep tours to Mount Bromo, which is fun to some, but I did it independently and preferred it that way.

Kawah Ijen, Indonesia : Slightly more off the beaten path compared to Mount Rinjani and Mount Bromo, Mount Ijen is perfect for those who want to see something different (note: blue flames!). The volcano itself  is beautiful but hiking in with the stars, getting up close to the blue flames and viewing the truly stunning sunrise are what makes Mount Ijen so unique and special.

Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia : Why not hike up to the highest mountain in Southeast Asia? I managed to hike to the top in one day , but since the earthquake, it is no longer permitted. Hikers are required to do a minimum of 2D1N compulsory climb these days. The hike is challenging, almost entirely straight up stairs, but the view on top is absolutely stunning. Given the weather conditions, hikers often make it close to the summit and have to turn back. If possible, leave some room for serendipity just in case you need to stay one more night for the bad weather to pass.

Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand : Doi Chiang Dao is Thailand’s third tallest peak, accessible via a fairly easy drive 1.5 hours north of Chiang Mai and surrounded by mountain after mountain in every direction. It’s a lovely hike worth including in your northern Thailand itinerary. Concrete information online was hard to find, so here’s my guide to hiking Doi Chiang Dao that has everything you need to know!

Kalaw, Myanmar : Many people visiting the popular Inle Lake choose to do a 3-day trek from Kalaw to get there. The trek takes you through valleys and small villages where you’ll stay each night, experiencing rural Myanmar life. The cost is cheap, the views are spectacular, and the trek is life-changing. There are no hot showers, no electricity, and no internet, just pure experiences with the nicest people on earth.

If You’re into Diving

Raja Ampat, Indonesia : The liveaboard diving trip I did in Raja Ampat was the hands down best diving trip I’ve ever done in my life, and this is coming from a girl who has done more than 150 dives! The area was largely uninhabited, where I spent afternoons pretending to be a mermaid, and the time spent under water was incredible, with tons of diversity and abundance of sea creatures. If you want to see Manta rays, turtles, Wobbegong sharks, Mobula rays, Spotted rays, Black-Tipped Reef sharks and Groupers, go to Raja Ampat. It’s worth going the distance for.

Sipadan Island, Borneo : It’s called one of the best diving sites in the world for a reason. I love that they limit the area to only 120 divers per day, which really helps sustain the ecosystem and keeps the site beautiful and safe for both the sea creatures and visitors. Make sure you book at least 2 weeks in advance.

Coron, Philippines : This was another liveaboard diving trip I did in the Philippines and enjoyed thoroughly. If you love wreck dives, Coron is the perfect choice for you. I remember clocking around 10 wreck dives in 6 days!

Tioman Island, Malaysia : So underrated, but so good! The island is dreamy and beautiful, yet you won’t have to share it with too many other people. My guess is that since the restaurant choices are very limited, alcohol isn’t widely available, and you can pretty much forget about getting on the Internet, it keeps the crowds away.

Komodo, Indonesia: If Raja Ampat and Sipadan take the #1 spot for the best diving I’ve done, then Komodo is a very, very close second. The soft corals are colorful and gorgeous and it’s full of sea turtles and the occasional Manta ray as well. Plus, most liveaboard trips combine an excursion to see the Komodo dragons as well.

If You’re Seeking Spirituality

Chaiya, Thailand : I did a 10-day silent meditation retreat at Wat Suan Mokkh, Chaiya district, located in Surat Thani province, close to the popular Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. The retreat takes place at a Buddhist monastery in the forest where the attendees don’t speak, use technology, or even read books. They just meditate. Held once a month (from the 1st – 10th), Wat Suan Mokkh is a beautiful place for those who are into spirituality and meditation.

New Life Foundation, Thailand : Though this is more of a place to live and volunteer for a month or longer, particularly for those who are stressed out and just need a little vacation from everyday life, they do hold retreats here from time to time. I attended a silent meditation retreat at the center and found it to be more comfortable and an overall easier experience than Wat Suan Mokkh, though the two are hard to compare as they’re so different. You can read more about New Life here .

Bali, Indonesia : If you’re looking for a yoga retreat, Bali is the epicenter of such things in Southeast Asia. Each month all over the island there are tons of retreats to choose from that focus on wholistic wellness, raw food diets, tantric yoga, and a wealth of other options. You can find them on this booking engine . If you want something a bit more relaxed and remote, look at the Nusa Islands , which are just a 30-minute ferry ride away from Bali.

Siquijor Island, Philippines : The mystical island is full of healers and witches. If you want this experience, the first thing to do is talk to a local if you can. See if you can get him or her to bring you to a legitimate shaman. I spoke with another traveler who did a smoke clearing ritual in the middle of the island with a folk healer, which he gave me a moderately excited review of. You can find them  here  if it interests you.

If You’re into Wildlife

Chiang Mai, Thailand : Elephants are one of the icons of Thailand. Many visitors are excited about interacting with them, but sadly, it has resulted in unethical businesses that involve torturing wild elephants to tame them for entertainment purposes. It’s our responsibility, as tourists, to make sure we’re putting our money into the hands of programs that make their lives better. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is a highly reputable sanctuary for rehabilitated elephants. If you want to play (feed & bathe only, no riding) with elephants ethically, I recommend checking it out.

Sabah, Borneo:  Borneo is a great place for some adventure time deep in the jungle. Danum Valley Conservation Area is a beautiful place known for its beautiful primary forest and wildlife experience. For an experience that will remind you of the Amazon in Peru , check out Lower Kinabatangan River. Finally, Deramakot Forest Reserve is wonderful for many reasons – it is in accordance with good forestry practices, you will have the opportunities to see Pygmy elephants, bearded pigs and orangutans.

Komodo National Park, Indonesia : I had a close encounter with dragons in Komodo . They are the world’s largest, bloodthirsty lizards that roam freely on Rinca Island. This is also the only place on Earth that you can see them, so if you find yourself in Indonesia, be sure to check them out. Other than the Komodo Dragons, you may also chance upon the manta rays, sharks, turtles, and dolphins if you dive!

Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia:  For an even more authentic orangutan experience, head to Sumatra. I just loved the little jungle town of Bukit Lawang, accessible via Medan, for hanging out, tubing down the river, and of course, jungle trekking to see the orangutans.

If You’re an Adrenaline Junkie

Cebu, Philippines : Many people rave about the Kawasan Falls tour, for a good reason! It’s a thrilling day trip around the area with canyoneering, cliff jumping, jungle trekking, and swimming on the docket. Your experience ends at Kawasan Falls, a picturesque waterfall that plummets into the turquoise lagoon below and has quickly become an instagram favorite. When you see it, you’ll understand why!

Vang Vieng, Laos : With strict rules and regulations imposed on the once deadly tubing that was notoriously popular among backpackers, the activity is now safer and just as fun as before. Other than tubing, kayaking and rock climbing are also popular in that area.

Gibbon Experience, Laos:  If trekking and ziplining through a lush jungle and staying in a treehouse is on your radar, check out the Gibbon Experience in Laos. Brochures can be found in almost all hostels, so you just have to ask! It’s also possible to book online .

Country Motorbiking in Vietnam or Laos:  If you are comfortable on a motorbike, take a road trip! You get all the freedom in the world, and it’s a great way to experience Vietnam from north to south  (or visa versa) or to explore Laos’ Bolaven Plateau, which is basically waterfall heaven.

If You’re into Off the Beaten Path Adventures

Myanmar:  Myanmar has only decided to open up its door to tourism a little 6 years ago. The locals are still getting used to seeing foreigners, and traveling around can be quite challenging and confusing. However, this is a paradise for those who are looking for a journey in Southeast Asia that’s off the beaten path. Just look further from the popular spots like Yangon and Inle Lake, talk to the locals (many young locals are receiving linguistic education from volunteers, and they are encouraged to practice their English with tourists! Just be friendly and respectful), who will be happy to show you around, rent a bike if you are comfortable on one and just ride away. Check this itinerary for the best spots .

Nong Khiaw, Laos : Though only a 4 hour bus ride away, Nong Khiaw is often hidden in the shadow of Luang Prabang’s popular waterfalls and backpacker area. It is a quiet, laid-back village with just a few guesthouses lying around. There are a few hills that make for amazing sunrise/sunset spots, and if you want to go even further, take a 2 hour walk to another village, Huay Bo, for a rustic, wholesome overnight stay with the locals. You’ll wake up to the sound of roosters, walk around a small village with kids running around, women making Laos liquor, and men working away in the fields.

Lampang, Thailand : Lampang is a northern province that is fairly popular among the locals, but not so much with the foreigners just yet. When I did a road trip there I found an emerald lake and had it to myself, until a small group of local cyclists came. I also hiked up to Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat, Thailand’s floating pagodas , and again, had the place mostly to myself except for a few local tourists. What’s keeping tourists away from these spots is the accessibility, but if you are considering renting a car, you will not have any problem getting there.

I gotta say it’s not easy putting this together, there’s just so much Southeast Asia has to offer! But I hope the itineraries are helpful to you, and if you need more information about each of the Southeast Asian countries, check out the destination page , where I’ve included the essential information, accommodation guides, transportation tips, top things to do, and all of the blog posts from each country. Enjoy the journey, and comment below if there’s any other places in Southeast Asia that you think I should visit next!

What to Pack for Backpacking in Southeast Asia

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06/17/2018 at 9:05 pm

Great overview of traveling in Southeast Asia! I have a questions for you. If you could ONLY go back to one country, which one would you choose?

Kristin says

06/19/2018 at 9:31 pm

In Southeast Asia? I’d pick Indonesia because it’s so huge and diverse.

Renuka Walter says

06/18/2018 at 7:30 am

I’m amazed! I’m always looking for a trip somewhere in Europe, but I think I should think about planning a trip in Southeast Asia. Lovely pictures!

06/18/2018 at 10:06 am

You have clearly put a ton of effort into this post, very impressive. You are to be commended and I will use this for any travel I do one day in SE Asia, I promise. The beauty of it is in my case I might be restricted to a few countries and limited time so this will help me immensely in planning a custom itinerary. You seem to really have covered your bases, tapped into years of past posts, videos and personal experiences. A beautiful, organized collage. The only thing I could possibly add to this for those who, in addition to outdoor, solo adventure, like shopping binges along the way is that Kuala Lumpur is ranked 4th in the world by CNN as the best city to shop :). Three of the 10 biggest malls in the world are there, they say at least. I’ve heard Bangkok is pretty good too. I don’t know if this is really an addition to this, but a side note :). As another interesting side note: There is a ski “resort” inside a megamall in Penang, Malaysia called “Snowland” or “Snowland at Megamall Penang”. It looks like fun. According to one site I found, it is fun for those who have never done it before and drops 46 meters and has 6 snow machines which keep it at -5 degrees C in the indoor arena, so it feels real too. Have you ever heard of it? There’s also “SnowTown Saigon” but I think that is more for kids and there is a small ski slope for training (it is warmer though, 10-15C). I found these when wondering about snow/skiing in SE Asia and found “snow” here :). Keep up the fine work you are doing!

06/19/2018 at 9:30 pm

There’s a ski resort in Malaysia?! Wow! Never heard of it until now!

09/23/2018 at 1:39 am

I love this post! I’m going to be in Southeast Asia with my boyfriend for 1,5 months this November and December. Though we’d be considered typical backpackers, being young, on a budget and traveling with a backpack (obviously), we are less into partying and more into exploring. We thought about following route:

Week 1 Starting in Hanoi and experience it for a few days Heading over to Chiang Mai, exploring Northern Thailand (including Wat Chaloem, Doi Inthanon, maybe Pai and the Elephant Nature Park)

Week 2 Traveling to Cambodia and taking a few days to visit Angkor Wat and maybe Sihanoukville Flying to Bangkok

Week 3 Exploring Bangkok Doing some island hopping in the south of Thailand

Week 4 Heading over to Kuala Lumpur for a few days Flying to Singapore and do some sightseeing

Week 5 (and half of Week 6) Bali Chill-Out (maybe exploring Nusa Penida)

I am afraid this could be to strict and fast-paced, but we don’t want to miss out on something. Would you recommend skipping Taiwan, which we want to visit before starting in Hanoi, to have one extra week in SEA (maybe for a whole 2 weeks in Bali and another few days in Northern Thailand)? Or skipping Kuala Lumpur for a few days extra on the islands in South Thailand?

Thanks and keep up the good work!

09/23/2018 at 5:49 pm

I would recommend spending more time in fewer countries and then having looser plans while you’re there. I tend to burn out when I’m moving so fast.

Rickey Masters says

12/04/2018 at 11:52 am

where can you go as a person with a hip disability. I am unable to backpack but can ride motorbikes. I understand my limitations but am eager to make 1 trip to as many countries as I can. time is not a limitation and money would be subject to a medium budget. Thank you for your knowledge and help

12/04/2018 at 11:48 pm

Anyone here have suggestions? I can’t answer from personal experience but I’d love to find out as well!

07/10/2019 at 2:31 am

George Town, Penang Island ‘s d food capital of Malaysia ! Kuala Lumpur pales in comparison..

Carlos says

11/27/2019 at 6:20 pm

Great article, the only thing I miss… where to go if you love to party!

11/28/2019 at 8:06 am

Pretty much everywhere! I’m not a party person but the Thai islands, Cambodian coast, most of the major cities and tourist towns will all have party options.

Siim Kuusik says

01/17/2020 at 12:41 pm

As for me and my girlfriend Malaysia so far has been the best country in Southeast Asia so far, because they have 50% Malaysians 30% Chinese and 20% Indians living there, which means they have the BEST foods there in ONE country. And it is cheap!

Ava Brown says

02/09/2020 at 8:26 pm

Nice blog you have here with unique and different thoughts!

• 2 Weeks for Couple
• 2 Weeks for Family
• Thailand Lantern Festival
• Indonesia(Bali)
• South Korea
• China (HK, Taiwan)
• Itinerary Ideas
• Asia Highlights Travel Reviews
• Thailand Travel Reviews
• Vietnam Travel Reviews
• Cambodia Travel Reviews
• Japan Travel Reviews
• Myanmar Travel Reviews
• China Travel Reviews

Southeast Asia Itineraries：How Long to Spend in 2024/2025

Southeast Asia is a great choice for honeymoons, anniversaries, relaxing holidays, family gatherings, and trips with friends due to its stunning scenery, exotic cultures, amazing food, and affordable prices.

But, how long do you need for your trip to Southeast Asia? From this article, you will get a general idea of the length of the Southeast Asia trip you want and how to plan it.

• How Long Should You Spend Southeast Asia?
• How to Make the Most of Your Time?

Southeast Asia Itineraries: 2 Weeks

• Southeast Asia Itineraries: 3 Weeks

Southeast Asia Itineraries: 1 Month

Southeast asia itineraries: 2 months or more, how long should you spend in southeast asia.

Based on our data from our over 10,000 customers, it appears that the ideal duration for exploring Southeast Asia varies among different traveler demographics. Couples tend to find a three-week itinerary most satisfying , allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the region's diverse attractions.

On the other hand, families with children often find a two-week timeframe more suitable , striking a balance between experiencing key destinations and accommodating the needs of younger travelers.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam are relatively big, so plan to spend about 10-12 days exploring each. For smaller countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar , a week is usually enough, especially if it's your first visit. This way, you can enjoy and experience the best of each place without feeling rushed.

• Thailand requires about 10 to 12 days. It is popular to visit two cities (Bangkok and Chiang Mai) and an island. If you want something different, like a forest park, you may need about 2 weeks.
• Vietnam needs about 10 days to 2 weeks to travel from Hanoi in the north to Hoi An in the middle and Ho Chi Minh in the south.
• Cambodia usually requires about a week for the main attractions, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
• Laos needs about 1 week. Luang Prabang is the main tourist city.
• For a trip to Myanmar , 7 days is enough to visit three of its best destinations — Mandalay, Bagan, and Yangon.
• In Indonesia , if you just go to Bali only, you may need about 7 to 10 days. If you want to extend to Java or other places, you may need a few more days.
• In Singapore, three days is enough to visit the highlights.
• Malaysia is good for a one-week trip. You are recommended to spend 2–3 days in Kuala Lumpur and 3–4 days in Penang.

>>>Further reading:

• How to Plan a Trip to Southeast Asia: A Beginner's Guide
• How to Plan a Family Trip to Southeast Asia
• How to Plan a Trip to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore

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How to Make the Most of Your Time in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia boasts over 10 diverse countries, and the key to an enriching experience is to mix destinations with unique features and vibes. For a standout adventure, consider combining countries that offer distinct flavors .

For example, Thailand stands out as a top destination, known for its diversity and excellent travel amenities. To complement your Thai experience, choose a country with a different vibe, like Vietnam. Vietnam offers stunning natural wonders like Halong Bay and the cultural richness of the Mekong Delta, providing a unique contrast to Thailand's temples, beaches, and rainforests.

One of the most popular travel combinations in Southeast Asia is Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. If you're unsure about your itinerary, we'll provide some inspiration to help you plan your trip.

• If your vacation is short and you're looking for good value, our 12-Day Essential Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour is recommended for you.
• If you seek a comfortable pace of travel, you can consider our 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour .
• If you prefer an in-depth trip in Southeast Asia, the 19-Day Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam In-Depth Tour is best for you.

Embarking on a 2-week journey in Southeast Asia presents a myriad of options.

1. Focused Exploration: Opt for a deep dive into one destination with specialized tours like the 2-Week Thailand Getaway Tour for Couples or the 13-Day Vietnam Family-with-Teenagers Holiday .

2. Two-Country Adventure: Perfect for those craving variety, a two-country trip is not only feasible but comfortable. Key combinations include:

• 14-Day Classic Thailand + Vietnam : Islands, Mekong River cruise, temples & buildings
• 11-Day Best of Thailand + Cambodia : Islands, elephants, temples, and Angkor Wat
• 12-Day Vietnam + Cambodia : Mekong River cruise, historical buildings, and Angkor Wat

3. Triple Delight: Visiting three countries in 2 weeks is also possible. The classic trio of Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia beckons, offering a blend of efficiency and value. Check out our thoughtfully crafted 12-Day Essential Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour for a time-smart itinerary. For a more leisurely pace, consider the 15-day option .

A Sample 2-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary:

• Days 1–7: Vietnam

Spend 2 days in Hanoi, the capital, then cruise overnight in Halong Bay. Plan 2 days in Hoi An to see Hoi An Ancient City with a basket-boat-ride experience. The last two days in Ho Chi Minh City are enough to see its historical attractions like the War Remnants Museum.

• Day 8–14: Thailand

Spend 2 days exploring Bangkok's highlights like the Grand Place and have a long-tail boat ride. Then fly to Phuket or Koh Samui to enjoy some beach time.

You could also check options for  2 weeks in Thailand and Vietnam , 2 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia & 2-Week Thailand-and-Cambodia Itineraries >>>

A Sample 15-Day Southeast Asia Itinerary Covering 3 Countries:

If you want to travel at a comfortable pace, you may need to add one or two days. The classic combo is Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia: spend 6 days in Thailand, 6 days in Vietnam, and 3 days in Cambodia.

• Days 1–5: Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai)

Spend two days in Bangkok. Explore the Highlights of Bangkok City like the Grand Palace and China Town. Chiang Mai takes 3 days to explore its famous temples and mountains with an elephant experience.

• Days 6–11: Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City)

Have a day tour to explore Hanoi's city highlights, then an overnight cruise on Halong Bay. Spend two days in Ho Chi Minh City to visit its top attractions like the Cu Chi Tunnels. Finally, take a one-day Mekong Delta trip by motorboat.

• Days 12–15: Cambodia (Siem Reap, Angkor Wat)

Spend 4 days exploring Cambodian spirituality — Angkor Wat and some cultural treasures like Banteay Srei, which is the jewel of Khmer art.

Suggested reading:

• Top 3 2-Week Itineraries in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam ;
• 2 Weeks in Southeast Asia: Top 5 Trip Itineraries

Southeast Asia Itineraries of 3 Weeks

2 weeks is a limited time, so if you want to explore more places and have a deeper experience, 3 weeks or more would be better.

Touring three countries in 3 weeks allows a comfortable pace . For most first-time visitors to Southeast Asia, it's best to choose destinations that are as multi-faceted as possible.

The most popular combination is Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia : 8 days in Vietnam, 3 days in Cambodia, and 8 days in Thailand.

A Sample 3-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary:

• Days 1–8: Vietnam

Spend two days to explore Hanoi's city highlights. Take an overnight cruise on Halong Bay and explore Sung Sot Cave. Take half a day to explore Hoi An Ancient Town. And finally, take three days to explore Ho Chi Minh City with a Mekong Delta trip.

• Days 9–11: Cambodia

Spend two days exploring Cambodia's national treasure — Angkor Wat — and some other attractions, like Tonle Sap Lake.

• Days 12–19: Thailand

Spend a day in Bangkok exploring the highlights of the city, like the Grand Palace.

Spend two days in Chiang Mai to explore its famous temples and mountains with an elephant experience. Spend the remaining 4 days at the beach in Phuket or Koh Samui.

If you want to explore more places , you could choose a combination of Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia plus Laos or Myanmar. Laos is more popular, because of its famous Luang Prabang cultural jungle and its current relaxed entry policy. Myanmar requires more entry documents.

If you want an in-depth discovery, learn more itineraries about 3 weeks in Thailand and Cambodia >>>

You could select your preferred destinations using our Create My Trip service, and then we will create your choice of itinerary based on your wishes.

Suggested reading: How to Plan a 3-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary

A month gives you some more days to explore and better achieve your SE Asia travel ambitions. 4 weeks is suitable for visiting about 5 countries. You can visit all countries of Indochina: Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Spend 8 days in Myanmar to visit its three best tourist cities — Mandalay, Yangon, and Bagan — with a lake tour, and 9 days in Vietnam to tour from south to north, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An to Hanoi.

Laos and Cambodia are smaller, so you can spend less time on them: 3 days in Laos' Luang Prabang and 2 days in Cambodia's Siem Reap. And finally take 7–9 days in Thailand to take in one or two cities and an island.

A Sample 1-Month Southeast Asia Itinerary:

• Days 1–8: Myanmar (Mandalay, Bagan, Yangon)
• Days 9–16: Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta)
• Days 17–19 : Laos (Luang Prabang)
• Days 20–21: Cambodia (Angkor Wat)
• Days 22–28: Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, an island)

While what we suggest is a more comprehensive option. The choice of destination varies from person to person. If you love the beaches, you could choose to spend a month in Thailand, Bali, Malaysia, and/or the Philippines. That could be the most wonderful option for you.

Just tell us your ideal destinations, how long you have to travel, group size, budget, and other requirements, and we will create a perfectly-fitting itinerary for you together.

Suggested reading: The Ultimate 4-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary for You!

If you are planning a Southeast Asia trip lasting 2 months, 3 months, or more, you could extend your travels to cover countries in Maritime Southeast Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines… (as well as the Indochina Peninsula).

Indonesia and the Philippines are great for beach fans, Singapore is an awesome city-state and a high-class hub for international flights, and Malaysia's beaches and food will not disappoint you.

Or you could enrich your Indochina time with more activities in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. There are still many little-known places that are well worth visiting: Mai Chao in Vietnam, home to the White Thai ethnic group, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, ruins of former kingdoms in Thailand, and so on.

• 5-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary: 3 Options
• Best Southeast Asia Tour Packages

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Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

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Southeast Asia Backpacking (2+ months)

2-3 months is a great amount of time to travel the backpacker crowd favourites: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, affectionately known as the 'Banana Pancake' trail. 

There are some truely incredible highlight destinations and attractions along this track, but if you're keen to also check out some less well known, off the beaten track places, that are harder to reach - the Stray route could be for you! 

If you're wanting to

• have freedom in your schedule
• be able to change your itinerary to stay longer in the places you love
• meet loads of different people
• connect with the locals
• learn more about the culture and country you're travelling in
• get local insights from a local Tour Leader
• be guaranteed a bed to sleep in each night
• travel on reliable transport
• feel safe while you're travelling 
• have a fun trip without extra travel stress
• and not travel on a traditional touring style product...

...then keep on reading. We think we could make great travel buddies! 

Working out where to go...

Most travellers want to see Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam so that's precisely where our route will take you, and we've been refining this travel route for years -  check out a map of the full route here.

The destinations on the route are a mixture of 'must see' places backpackers love, like Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap and Hoi An, and epic little  off the beaten track places  you won't find in the guidebooks, but may just be the most memorable places you visit. 

You can choose to travel the entire route, or just part of it. 

If you've got 2months or more, we recommend the  Lot Pass  - this is our entire Southeast Asia route. 

Find out more  

Sorting out how to get around...

Travelling around Southeast Asia on public transport is cheap, but it can take a lot of admin time working out timetables, which bus station to go to, which bus to catch, how to buy tickets etc. Not to mention public transport in Southeast Asia isn't the most reliable, safe or comfortable.

When you travel with Stray you don't have to worry about getting dropped at the wrong bus stop or whether the bus will show up or not because you're travelling on Stray's private transport network . This includes all buses, trains, boats, vans, even tuk-tuks - whatever means necessary to get around and get the full Southeast Asia experience without the hassle.

You have control over your trip and can manage your travel in Stray Mate , the online personalised Trip Manager tool which makes it super easy to book on and off buses. 

Minimise the travel anxiety and maximise the good times. 

And we don't just go from A to B, if there are cool things to see on the way, we'll stop off and check them out. We break up long travel sectors with short walks, waterfall swims, a visit to an important landmark, or a photo op from a gorgeous scenic look out. 

Who travels with Stray? 

Travelling on the Stray buses you'll find a bunch of like-minded travellers who crave adventure and want to see and do more than the average tourist.

You'll also find an awesome, local, English-speaking guide, who's job it is to ensure you're having a great time, are safe and teach you about the culture and country you're travelling in. Guides can also suggest great places to eat, help you order food (particularly useful if you have specific dietary requirements), book accommodation and activities and translate anything you're curious about. 

Deciding where to stay and what to do...

That's completely up to you! Accommodation and Activities are not included with a Freestyle Pass, which allows you the flexibility to choose where you want to stay (to suit your taste and budget) and only do the things you want to do.

Guides are always happy to offer recommendations and we guarantee that there will always be a bed reserved for you at the Stray preferred accommodation at each overnight stop - so you'll never get caught out without somewhere to stay. The guide will ask you on the day if you'd like to stay at the Stray accommodation, or if you've arranged something on your own. Either way - it's completely up to you. 

Figuring out how much time to spend in each place...

One of the most amazing things about travelling is the freedom!

Because your Stray Pass is flexible, you can decide how much time you want to spend in each place, as you go. If you arrive somewhere and want to stay longer, that's completely fine! 

The bus departs twice a week all year round. So when you hop off you can spend 3-4 days exploring, then jump back on the next bus with a new Guide and a new group of travellers. 

Passes are valid for 12 months so you can hop on and off the bus as much as you like for up to a year.

If you want to, you can also check out the Travel Guides and plan where you are going to hop off in advance. You can book the dates in Stray Mate Trip Manager - but if you change your mind you can clear your dates - no worries at all! 

Are we a good match? 

If you like things to go smoothly, with less stress and more fun, have the flexibility to go with the flow, and meet lots of other travellers, then you'll love travelling Southeast Asia the 'Stray way'! 

The convenience of hassle-free travel, safety, reliability and fun, social travel is what Stray is all about. 

If you're looking to travel Southeast Asia for 2-12 months we recommend checking out the Lot Pass

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Home » Southeast Asia » Backpacking Travel Guide

Backpacking Southeast Asia Travel Guide (Budget Tips • 2024)

For many travellers, backpacking Southeast Asia is the ultimate highlight of their backpacking adventures. If you are coming from Western civilisation, exploring these mystical countries is like being catapulted into an alternate reality.

Over my travel experiences, I’ve spent YEARS bouncing around this dazzling area of the world. And still – to this day – I am awe-struck by it, time and time again.  

From the moment you set foot on the continent, you can feel the electricity in the air. Your senses explode from stimulation as you head out into the hustle and bustle in search of the BEST street food and an ice-cold beer…

If you’re new to backpacking, this corner of the world is a great place to start your travels: it’s affordable, safe, diverse, friendly, and astonishingly beautiful. From the heart of Bangkok to the islands of Indonesia, legions of inspiration are found in every country throughout the region – and you’ll want to see it all. 

With enticing tales of adventure coming from generations of travellers, it can be hard to know where to start planning your visit to Southeast Asia. It’s not as straight forward as arriving in other continents in the world. Having some travel tips with do you a world of good. 

Never fear! This Southeast Asia travel guide details ALL the low-down with everything you need to know to embark on your epic journey. From the OG Banana Pancake Trail itinerary to my favourite cheap eats, this guide has it all.

Spoiler alert : banh mi is the best street food!

Fasten your seat belts and don’t forget your motorcycle helmet. This is the ultimate backpacker’s guide to travelling Southeast Asia!

Why Go Backpacking in Southeast Asia?

Backpacking Southeast Asia is wildly chaotic, punctuated by brief moments of reflection and utter calm. When I first landed in Vietnam and began my travels in the region, I got that wonderful thought of so this is what travelling is about .

The best thing about visiting Southeast Asia is that you can stick to the well-trodden path and still have a mind-blowing adventure that’s easy on logistics. There are cheap buses you can catch between countries, it’s easy to buy your own motorbike and explore yourself, plus internal flights are usually cheap too.

Conversely, it’s very easy to step off into the wilderness and have a raw, untamed adventure. Some of my best memories come from taking a side road through the jungle on the Vietnam-Laos border. I camped on the outskirts of small villages amongst unruly jungles that hadn’t seen tourists come through in 10 years. Of course, obligatory rice wine was shared each night!

Generally speaking, backpacking in Southeast Asia is very cheap compared to travelling to other parts of the world. You don’t have to count your pennies and hustle at every step of the way in order to enjoy a beer at the end of the day. I’d say this part of the world takes the cake when it comes to budget backpacking .

Because the region is so cheap, you can enjoy big-ticket experiences that you might not be able to afford in other regions of the world. This could include world-class SCUBA diving in Malaysia , or a freediving course in the Philippines.

Even the ‘everyday experiences’ of backpacking Southeast Asia are epic, though! Think about taking yoga classes in the morning and surf in the afternoons in Indonesia . What about hiking through dense jungles exploding with wildlife, raging rivers, and massive waterfalls in Laos ? And you can’t forget to explore Vietnam by motorbike .

There is a reason that, despite how touristy some parts of the region get, Southeast Asia remains an incredibly special place to both first time and veteran travellers!

It’s just that bloody good .

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Southeast Asia

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Let us be clear about one thing: Southeast Asia has so many things to do and see that it would be impossible to see it all in one lifetime let alone in just one backpacking trip. That said, you can sure pack in a whole lot no matter what your time frame is!

Also, remember that this is a region that lives, breathes, and thrives on a certain degree of chaos. Backpacking in Southeast Asia requires one to adapt to that chaos and embrace the wonderful spontaneity that can arise here.

I don’t think that you should attempt to plan your trip to the last tuk-tuk ride. That said, having a general Southeast Asia travel itinerary in mind will help you get the most out of your trip. You don’t want to spend your time scrambling for things to do – nor do you want to pack so much into your travels that you forget to enjoy yourself.

Do you have 2 weeks? 3 months? 6 months? No matter what your time frame is, the itineraries I have listed below have helpful travel routes for Southeast Asia to suit all schedules.

Note that each itinerary can be combined with another, done in reverse, and customized based on your interests. Sometimes it’s worth leaving off one or two sights in order to fully enjoy the others.

2 Weeks Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary: An Epic Getaway

When low on time, I advise sticking to smaller countries like Laos, Thailand, or Cambodia. That way the transportation distances won’t eat a big bite out of your precious backpacking time. You will certainly only be scratching the surface, but you will leave with an even more intense hunger to return!

You could start your 2 weeks by visiting Bangkok  and exploring the city for a few days. Thailand also has some spectacular temple ruins of its own at Ayathuya and  Sukhothai which are close to Bangkok and well worth checking out.

From Bangkok, it’s easy to travel to Chiang Mai  in Northern Thailand and from Chiang Mai onwards to the mountain town of Pai in just a few hours. If the north doesn’t quite do it for you, you can always go party on the epic Thai islands in the south.

Alternatively, you could go from Bangkok across the border into Cambodia . There you can go see Angkor Wat and go south to visit the tropical islands off Cambodia. While there is a party vibe on the Cambodian islands, they’re definitely more relaxed. Think swimming at night with bioluminescence and chilling all day in a hammock with just a splash of psytrance.

3 Months Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary: The Banana Pancake Trail

This backpacking itinerary takes you through the heart of what put Southeast Asia on the map. This is the juiciest of the banana pancake trail!

I would recommend flying into Bangkok and still kicking off your Southeast Asian travel with a bang. As you head north to the likes of Chiang Mai and the hippie village of Pai where there are lots of opportunities to creep off the beaten path.

Explore the best of what Thailand has to offer before heading to Laos. Take the slow boat from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang . If you have time,  climb Mount Phousi , because daaaaaaaamn , those views are insane! 

Laos receives a fair amount of backpackers, however far fewer than Thailand. The main attraction to Laos is its unmatched natural beauty, kind people, and rock-bottom prices. Vang Vieng is the main backpacker playground in Laos; this is the place where you can smoke a joint and eat banana pancakes all day.  Tad Lo Waterfall is definitely worth the visit as well.

Vietnam is another classic stop on this route. Soak in the majestic views and cooler temperatures of the mountains in the north before heading south. Hire a motorcycle, explore the cities, go scuba diving, or hop around the islands.

Vietnam has THE best street food in all of Southeast Asia, so prepare your belly for bliss. From backpacking Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi there are ample rice paddies, bustling metropolises, and banh mi glory to enjoy!

Finally, travel to Cambodia and Angkor Wat en route back to Thailand’s southern beaches. Learn about Cambodia’s sobering recent history whilst exploring some of the most impressive temples and beaches in all of Southeast Asia.

You can finish your 3-month extravaganza with a full moon party on one of Thailand’s best beaches. Bottoms up! You deserve it.

6+ Months Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary: The Longterm Backpacker

You will not be the first backpacker who loved backpacking Southeast Asia so much that you spent 6 months there followed by another 6 months followed by another cheeky 6 months. The longer you spend here, the more that the region opens up beyond parties on the beach.

Go trekking in Borneo! Get your ass to Indonesia and explore a few of the thousands of remote islands there! Hit up far-flung places in the Philippines! I will always vouch for travelling off the beaten path .

This itinerary would still have you flying into Bangkok AKA Asia’s Sin City. Backpacking Thailand is almost a rite of passage for those that backpack Southeast Asia. Now, while Thailand is crazy beautiful, you can experience a lot of Thailand’s best highlights  in a month or less. 

You can travel south to explore Cambodia and the Thai islands before crossing over into Northern Malaysia . Check out Langkawi Island before heading south. Staying in Penang is the best; it’s one of my favourite cities in Southeast Asia, with some great hikes and diving to be had around Penang National Park .

Alternatively, you can travel to Bali or Manila  from Bangkok and explore a totally new part of Southeast Asia. Philippine highlights include climbing Mt Pulag ,  Sagada’s Crystal Cave  and  Olahbinan ,  Kalinga Jungle ,  El Nido for some climbing and partying, and Coron for epic scuba diving.

If you want to dedicate a couple of months to Indonesia you won’t be disappointed. Alongside the Bali to Flores route, you can also catch a flight to Sumatra . Here, visit the orangutan sanctuary in Bukit Lawang  and the stunning Lake Toba .

Also on tap here is world-class diving at Pulau Weh . This tiny island is located at either the beginning or end of Indonesia, depending on which way you’re looking at the map. You’ll have to pass through the town of Banda Acehto  to reach here, which is the only place in Indonesia that has Sharia Law in place. This definitely isn’t the place to come party while backpacking Indonesia, but the juice is worth the squeeze if you get to Pulau Weh.

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Southeast Asia is truly massive .

There are 11 countries that comprise the Southeast Asian region; each one is special and also radically different in its own ways. You won’t even be eating the same food from country to country. Sure, it’s all mostly rice-based, but is it fried Nasi Goreng with an egg on top or is it laden with spicy green Thai curry?

The landscapes are even more varied with jungles, mountains, epic coastlines, and deserted islands all found in this region.

There’s something addictive to landing smack bang in the humid collection of markets, traffic, and skyrises that do crop up amongst all major Southeast Asian cities. Just visiting one or two of these countries will have you desperate to come back for more!

Backpacking Thailand

For many first timers, backpacking Thailand is the image at the forefront of their imaginations when it comes to destinations in Southeast Asia. Those white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and towering jungle peaks are sprinkled with a little hedonistic fun and low, low prices.

Finding a Thailand backpacking route is easy, as many routes are well-established and there are plenty of backpackers on the ground to grab tips from. You just never know who will suggest an epic street food vendor where you find spicy watermelon, or who will give you the heads up that certain roads have become notorious for police asking for bribes.

In addition to its natural splendour, Thailand boasts some of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic cities, especially if you are wanting to settle in somewhere as long term as a digital nomad. In fact, Thailand is rapidly becoming the digital nomad capital of the world. While being a digital nomad changes your travels , it can be incredibly rewarding – especially if you’re surrounded by a group of like-minded people.

Thailand receives more visitors annually than any other Southeast Asia nation by a long shot, so it’s not super easy to get off the beaten path. That being said, if you drive far enough north, you’ll stop seeing tourists and start seeing covert drug smuggling routes. I’m not suggesting that drug smuggling routes make the best adventure – especially for first-time backpackers – but if you happen to find work as a fresh-faced, aspiring journalist, then this country is definitely still full of stories.

There are also some lesser-known hikes nearby Chiang Pai – plus the motorbike riding around there is amazing . Just be aware of elephant experiences–the vast majority are unethical, so make sure you do your research and only visit TRUE sanctuaries like Elephant Nature Park.

What to Know Before Visiting Thailand

• Don’t miss out on… the North – this is the REAL Thailand! Sure, those Southern Islands are beautiful and full of some cheeky debauchery, but if you want to get off the beaten path then you need the jungle mountains of the north.
• You know what’s overrated… the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan – it’s pretty sloppy here, not to mention hectic. The Eden Party is way better.
• The coolest hostel is… Get Hi Hostel in Chiang Rai is a The Broke Backpacker favourite! Especially if you’re travelling solo through Thailand, it’s a perfect place to find your tribe.
• The best food is found in… Bangkok. If you find yourself craving a cheesy pasta or fat steak you won’t be disappointed in this city! But even better (in my opinion) are the endless side alleys and markets selling incredible street food. Spicy watermelon, pad thai style noodle salads, and soups so spicy you’ll sweat out your demons… YES, please!

Backpacking Vietnam

Over the last few decades, Vietnam has charged to the head of the line as a top destination for backpackers. Delicious cuisine, cheap places to stay, epic ancient temples, and mind-boggling motorbike routes are just a few of the draws that make up the charm in Vietnam.

If you are wanting to explore Southeast Asia by motorbike, then Vietnam is the best place to go. The country is long and thin, so it’s perfect for a road trip and bikes with Vietnamese plates can enter most other countries in Southeast Asia (this is pretty unique).

Vietnam has the feeling of a country that’s leapt into the future so quickly that its countryside is buffering to catch up. When exploring Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, or any of Vietnam’s big cities you’ll find skyscrapers and high-speed internet. There are underground music scenes and students who deal a little weed on the side to ex-pats. The streets are thick with motorbikes.

Then there’s the countryside: rolling green rice paddies, straw hats, and shacks. The mornings are long and slow, the evening is full of the sound of insects. Fields are thick with buffalo herds. And yet, both sides of Vietnam are united by their incredible food.

Pho might be the most famous noodle broth, but it’s far from the only tasty meal. Vietnam knows how to make a meal out of very little and they know how to make it taste good . Most backpackers will at some point indulge in a 3 am banh mi after a big night out and know what I mean!

What to Know Before Visiting Vietnam

• Don’t miss out on… the  Ha Giang Loop by motorbike . This one of the hidden gems of Vietnam that takes you through towering jungle covered mountains on windy, delicate roads. This is not for the faint hearted or ill prepared. This is a real adventure!
• Look out for… those bamboo pipes in the north – they’re used for smoking local tobacco and hit HARD. You might risk lung cancer, but all in the name of experiencing the local way of life, right?
• The coolest hostel is… Redhouse Dalat . It’s easily one of the most beautiful hostels I’ve ever stayed in and the owner, Linh, is an absolute gem!
• The best food is found in… Hue – it’s well known for its Central Vietnamese plates. I had quite possibly the best meal of my life here (definitely top 10, anyway). In a back alley, crammed into plastic chair far too small for me, I sampled the legendary Bun Bo Hue… I never knew noodles and broth would make me want to become a foodie.

Backpacking Laos

Laos is truly a special country in Southeast Asia and one that has managed to retain its easy-going identity in the era of mass tourism. Wild jungles, river deltas, smiling locals, and amazing treks make Laos the backpacking paradise that it is.

Places in northern Laos, like the areas in and around Luang Prabang , experience cooler temperatures in the mountains and rainforest. The south is more of the agricultural heart of the country.

Each area holds a lot to explore for backpackers. Laos is the perfect country for backpackers wanting to experience Southeast Asia within a short time frame as you can get in a bit of all climates, different cultures, and party vibes.

One can easily see the highlights and experience the country off the beaten path in 2 weeks to a month. Take it easy though. Laos is a country that is not to be rushed through. Plus, going slow means you might just end up on the 420-friendly river island– Don Det –just like I did!

You will see when you get your boots on the ground that nothing happens quickly in Laos anyway… This is a land of chill .

What to Know Before Visiting Laos

• Don’t miss out on… the mountains around Vang Vieng. Lots of people neglect exploring these in favor of tubing the river. The river party scene in Vang Vieng is diminishing anyways.
• You know what’s overrated… Luang Prabang. In recent years, it’s become very touristy and a bit disingenuous. The nearby waterfalls are still cool though.
• The coolest hostel is… Vang Vieng Chill House . It encompasses all the things I love most about hostels: chilling and good vibes. It gets a little noisy sometimes but it’s a great place to meet people.
• The best food is found… on the streets! The street food in Laos is absolutely top-notch.

Backpacking Cambodia

The temples at Angkor Wat are an obvious draw for those backpacking Cambodia and are truly impressive. Cambodia is a country rich in culture, beautiful beaches and islands, the Mekong River Delta, and bustling markets.

The nation of Cambodia is a country still pulling out of an extremely dark, recent past. A staggering 1.5 – 3 million people were killed by the Khmer Rouge, led by tyrant Pol Pot. It happened only 35 – 40 years ago and is still very fresh and raw to the Cambodian people.

Despite the tragic history, the local Khmer people are some of the kindest humans in the world. The country is still recuperating, rebuilding, and moving forward, however, corruption is hindering its rehabilitation.

There is a strange energy in the air in Phnom Penh sometimes. It can be quite tense and stifling amongst the humidity. It’s as if everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop and for chaos to return.

This is a country that makes you think about how lucky you were to be born into a country of peace. And I think that it’s important amongst the wild nights partying in Cambodia that you pause and really learn something from the lands you’re travelling in.

Cambodia is one of my favourite Southeast Asian destinations to travel to; I loved it so much that I ended up overstaying my visa. From the awesome hostels , cheap prices, and epic off-the-beaten-track travels, Cambodia seriously has it all. See it for yourself and you’ll fall in love too.

What to Know Before Visiting Cambodia

• Don’t miss out on… the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng. One of the most sobering places in Southeast Asia and a refreshing change of pace.
• Keep an eye out for… temples other than Angkor Wat. Cambodia is full of Khmer ruins, like Koh Ker. You can spend days getting lost in the ruins of an empire past.
• The coolest hostel is… Yellow Star Hostel . It’s the kind of place you extend your stay for as long as your Cambodia itinerary allows.
• The best food is found in… the outdoor food market in Siem Reap. Most of the backpacker accommodation is conveniently located around here so it’s simply a matter of walking down and gorging yourself silly!

Backpacking Myanmar

Oh, Myanmar. For a few years between roughly 2011 and 2019, backpacking in Myanmar really took off as the country instituted democratic reforms and started to open up to the world. There was even a fear that in opening up to the world too quickly, Myanmar would lose some of its authenticity and charm.

I want to stress that I love Myanmar. I love the country and I love the people. I travelled there through some of the remote Northern regions. I caught the dilapidated trains, hitchhiked with monks, and even publically pooped my pants on a public bus after some dodgy food.

The temples are second to none, the food is cheap and delicious, and the countryside is beautiful .

But, the seeds of what has happened to Myanmar had been sown many years before. You can trace the military take over and crackdown back to the consequences of British rule back in Imperial times. There was a lot of tension during the decolonial period too with the government shirking a lot of international aid and joining any international forums.

This isolationism was intensified with the first military coup of the 1960s. This was the same military that was loosening the reigns during the 2010s that allowed a few of us to explore what truly is one of my favourite countries on the planet.

The tensions with the various ethnic groups on the borders never went away though. And neither did the military. As of early 2021, Aung San Suu Kyi (the former democratic leader) has been imprisoned and political dissenters shot and jailed as the military clamps down on control again.

I couldn’t in good conscience advise anyone to go backpacking in Myanmar at this time. But I don’t want to strike this country off the map entirely. The people deserve better than that.

It’s probably not the place of a travel guide to tell you to support democratic movements – especially not ones that are as flawed as Aung San Suu Kyi’s – but I think it’s fair to say that the moment it’s safe. Go backpacking Myanmar!

February 2023 Update : In the past few months, Myanmar has reopened its e-visa program and is officially “open for tourism.” Many travellers have reported successful and problem free trips, BUT it’s still important to proceed with extreme caution. Though the political situation has stabilized, there is the chance of getting stuck in the country.

What to Know Before Visiting Myanmar

• Don’t miss out on… Bagan. There are touristy spots in Bagan, however, the scope of the area is immense. Riding an e-bike to a secret place and setting up for sunset is the way to go. There are so many side roads and off the beaten path ruins here that you’ll find something special.
• You know what’s overrated… Inle Lake. Super beautiful, super touristy, and super expensive. Visit, then shoot through for some of the mad trekking in the nearby regions.
• The coolest hostel is… Ostello Bello . These guys are a solidly run hostel chain that will have your back and provide a place of comfort while travelling Myanmar.
• The best food is found in… Mandalay. I actually love staying in Mandalay , and the aromas drifting from the nighttime street food market is a big reason why! It’s a big city so there’s a lot

Backpacking Malaysia

I absolutely LOVE backpacking in Malaysia. Somehow, Malaysia has managed to stay below the radar of many travellers on the Southeast Asia backpacking circuit. To write off Malaysia as uninteresting would be a mistake: Malaysia should be your next backpacking destination!

For one, I found Malaysia to have some of the lowest prices in all of Southeast Asia. The country is extremely clean, the roads are in great shape, and the people speak decent English. Malaysia is also a majority Muslim country, which I found to be an interesting contrast to the Buddhist majorities of the countries to the north.

Tioman Island is one of Southeast Asia’s best-kept secrets. Getting your PADI open water certificate is cheaper on Tioman than anywhere in Thailand. Also, diving is better – in my opinion. The coral reefs are not experiencing the same level of bleaching as they are in Thailand. I saw plenty of turtles, sharks, and more vibrant reef systems generally.

Malaysia is also home to one of the world’s oldest rainforests at Taman Negara . So alongside some of the most vibrant and developed cities in Asia are some of Asia’s most wild and unruly jungles! And, if that wasn’t enough, Malaysian food is seriously delicious.

Then there is Malaysian Borneo . Parts of Borneo are surprisingly well developed. That said, there are giant swaths of the island that are still wild and teaming with rhinoceros, orangutans, and other rare wildlife. The trekking here is of the old school, beat your way through the jungle variety! Malaysia has incredible adventure opportunities for those willing to get well off the beaten path!

What to Know Before Visiting Malaysia

• Don’t miss out on… Borneo. It’s such an overlooked destination but there’s so much cool stuff going on here. Get a tattoo in Kuching!
• Look out for… hidden speakeasies in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. They’re VERY well disguised, and absolutely worth it! Being an Islamic country, it’s harder to get alcohol here but where there’s a will there’s a way.
• The coolest hostel is… Best Attitude Hostel Cenang . This hostel has great social events running all the time – even if the karaoke makes me cringe!
• The best food is found in… Penang. Whilst ALL the food in Malaysia is good, Penang takes top honors. Seriously, those soups had me in a proper food coma.

Backpacking Singapore

Singapore is the smallest country to make our list. This tropical island city-state nation might be a blip on the map, but it is a regional economic and cultural powerhouse.

Backpacking Singapore has the reputation of being an expensive place to visit in Southeast Asia. Whilst Singapore is certainly more expensive when compared to its relatively cheap neighbours, there is still plenty to do for backpackers on a budget.

Some of the best street food in the world can be found amongst the food stalls of various markets. Singapore is a multi-cultural melting pot, so it is possible to taste the influences of many different cultures in a single dish. Rub elbows with locals and chow down on some epically delicious cheap eats.

Visit Chinatown , explore Arab Street , and be sure to grab a curry in Little India . Just based on the neighbourhood names alone, you can gather that many ethnic groups are represented across this city-country.

If you are visiting Singapore for longer, be sure to check out the nature reserves surrounding the city. Few people realize that just outside of Singapore’s urban centres there are some great day hikes to be had in the surrounding jungle. There’s also plenty of local life to be experienced beyond the neon landscape.

Singapore is a city that has something for every backpacker. Whether you are just passing through or coming specifically to backpack Singapore, you can be sure that there is always something awesome (and tasty) to get into here. It’s wildly different to other countries within the region, and yet there are glimmers of something similar. You’re sure to love it!

What to Know Before Visiting Singapore

• Don’t miss out on… the hawker centres (cafeterias). When you’re in Singapore, you EAT. The food is incredible.
• You know what’s overrated… Sentosa Island – it’s just Disney World with a fake beach. And you know what’s worse than hoardes of people? Paying to be around hoardes of people.
• The coolest hostel is… The Bohemian . This colourful little corner of Singapore makes my heart sing… apore.
• The best food is found in… Maxwell Food Centre. This is the most famous hawker centre in Singapore. In fact, the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant is here! But aside from that, there are countless delicious options. There’s little wonder I ended up a couple of kilos heavier after backpacking in Singapore!

Backpacking Indonesia

As a vast archipelago nation composed of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. The country is so big and so spread out that exploring it can feel overwhelming.

Backpacking Indonesia is an adventure like no other. For starters, you can climb active volcanoes, encounter orangutans in the jungle, visit ancient temples, and enjoy spectacular diving.

All along the way, you’ll be welcomed in by some of the most friendly people out there while you enjoy the varied and delicious cuisine. Best of all, you can easily backpack Indonesia on a budget.

Bali is definitely the backpacker magnet of Indonesia and for good reason. Along with a blossoming digital nomad scene and tons of epic places to see, Bali is also surf and party central. If you are wanting to become a yoga teacher, there are countless programs being offered all across the island.

It’s worth staying in Bali for some time, but be sure to visit some of the other islands as well. Though fun, I would argue that Bali is not at all what the rest of Indonesia feels like. The country is jam-packed with off the beaten path exploration potential.

17,000 islands bro! Get yourself out there and explore some of them and you will quickly fall in love with this massive island nation. Because the real Indonesia is well outside of Bali.

The streets of Jakarta are a hot mess of traffic and street food contrasted with towering skyscrapers. The outer islands are deserted. There are jungles and villages as much as there are modern cities.

What to Know Before Visiting Indonesia

• Don’t miss out on… island hopping. Backpacking Nusa Penida , Derawan, the Kai Islands, Wakatobi; these are some of the best, but there are many more to see.
• You know what’s overrated… Kuta, Bali. Avoid it like the plague. Drunk Australians and piles of garbage. Plus, the tourists have made many of the locals suspicious of travellers. Not a vibe.
• The coolest hostel is… Tribal Hostel . Super cool, open and tropical, you won’t find a better place to stay than Tribal. In the quiet area of Pererenan Bali, and with a huge coworking space, Tribal has it all!
• The best food is found in… Jakarta. This city takes satay to a whole new level. Be sure to try as many satay sticks as possible – and Nasi Goreng, of course.

Backpacking The Philippines

Cheap beer, beautiful beaches, adrenaline-pumping activities, and some of the most friendly, genuine, people in all of Asia; the Philippines truly captured my heart. I made some incredible friends in the Philippines and I have to say, it is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel around as the locals are so friendly.

Getting around the Philippines as a backpacker and finding a sweet and cheap place to stay (and a sweet and cheap thing to eat) is breezy.

There are thousands of islands to choose from. This translates into EPIC scuba diving, a great place to learn to snorkel and to go fishing. If you have never learned to spearfish , you should absolutely give it a go. Spearfishing doesn’t get much better than in the Philippines where the visibility is insanely good!

If you love trekking like me, then you will be pleased to find some epic hiking opportunities in the Philippines. Caves, rivers, mountains, you name it, one can find all the outdoor playgrounds here. There are heaps of adventure opportunities in The Philippines if you’re equipped for the job!

There are endless trekking options in the Philippines: remote hill hikes and active volcanoes, gentle strolls, and multi-day backpacking trips. Some popular treks include  Cordillera and its rice terraces and trekking Mt. Pulag .

Not too far from here you can reach Sagada (and my saucy Sagada travel guide ) and hike in the hills. Bohol and the Chocolate Hills are a great place to trek as well. The Philippines is home to 25 active volcanoes that can be climbed to the summit!

If you’re a fan of a party then you’re in the right place as festivals in The Philippines are some of the most lively events you can experience as a traveler, and a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the culture of such a diverse country.

What to Know Before Visiting the Philippines

• Don’t miss out on… El Nido. It’s utter paradise, the stuff of dreams and legends. Stay here forever if you can.
• Look out for… crowds at Baguio. It’s becoming one of the most popular places in The Philippines; let’s hope it doesn’t become TOO popular.
• The coolest hostel is… Mad Monkey Hostel Siargo . The MM chain is somewhat legendary – but this one is my favourite.
• The best food is found in …hard to say, really – there’s just so much diversity when it comes to Filipino food . Suckling pig in Cebu, empanadas in Ilocos, bulalo in Tagaytay; nothing really beats adobo  made by a local grandma though.

Getting Off the Beaten Path in Southeast Asia

Once you have your boots on the ground, the Southeast Asia backpackers circuit will be as obvious as the stars in the night sky. Backpackers generally don’t venture too far off of the so-called Banana Pancake trail.

That said, if you are a keen and adventurous type, there are many parts of Southeast Asia that are untouched by backpackers to this day. Many regions are very wild and make for endless exploration opportunities.

Additionally, there are islands in Southeast Asia (think Indonesia) that are so damned remote, few westerners have ever been to them. Have fun on the Banana Pancake Trail, but don’t forget to dip out once in a while to truly explore.

For starters, I’d suggest trekking in Borneo or taking a long motorbike excursion to the Vietnam-China border. These are two wildly different types of adventure, but they hint at the wild times you can forge for yourself if you avoid other tourists like the plague.

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so  damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

Southeast Asia is an adventure playground. It is a backpacker paradise and a place teeming with awesome budget adventures. There will certainly never be a day where you are bored for lack of things to do in Southeast Asia. Let’s dive in and take a look at some of the radical adventures that await you in Southeast Asia…

1. Jungle Trekking

There is some great jungle trekking in Northern Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam… Hell, in every country in Southeast Asia, really! If you choose to go trekking make sure to go on a multi-day hike. Personally, I prefer trekking in Laos, and I had an epic experience in Myanmar back when it was safe to travel through.

I would love to explore more of the remote corners of Indonesia and Borneo too – the options to go jungle trekking in Southeast Asia are really limitless!

2. Scuba Diving

Many backpackers fall in love with scuba diving whilst in Southeast Asia. Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia offer incredible diving opportunities in crystal clear waters with abundant marine life and plenty of wrecks for the underwater adventurer. The cheapest place to learn is the island of Kao Tao in Thailand and the islands in Malaysia.

If you’re not up to learning to dive, you can always learn to snorkel too. But with the affordable prices of Asia combined with the excellent visibility, you can’t really go wrong!

3. Motorcycle in Southeast Asia

Perhaps there is no better way to explore a country than by motorbike . You’re truly free to design your own itinerary and take every side alley that takes your fancy.

Plus, you become part of the landscape when you’re riding. There aren’t windows of a bus separating you from the buffalo or the mountain.

But there also isn’t much of anything to protect you if you fall off. So I’d suggest wearing proper riding gear and having insurance. That way, you’re free to enjoy the jungle roads, the epic peaks, and the offbeat camping destinations that Southeast Asia has to offer with some peace of mind.

4. Learn To Cook

Love the hell out of Southeast Asian cuisine? Me too!

Taking a cooking class whilst visiting a Southeast Asian country will supercharge your cooking skills. You will be preparing delicious meals for years down the line that remind you of the good ol’ days backpacking Southeast Asia.

Each country is full of such diverse dishes, too. You could pick up a nasi goreng recipe down in Indonesia which would stand completely apart from a classic Thai green curry, or a delectable set of Vietnamese rice paper rolls.

5. Chase Waterfalls

Don’t go chasing waterfalls… What nonsense! In every country in Southeast Asia, you will stumble upon waterfalls, epic waterfalls. Each will be more impressive than the last and will have you dreaming of turquoise waters for years to come.

6. Go Caving

Southeast Asia is home to some truly impressive cave systems. If you have the chance, you must explore some of them! There is the world’s largest cave in Vietnam, but many of the smaller caves throughout the region are equally as epic and more accessible. Over in the Phillippines, you can even try your hand at cave diving – that shit’s UNREAL!

7. It’s Street Food O’Clock

Love trying new things? There is something delicious, tasty, and bizarre to put in your mouth around every turn.

I hope the words “no, I don’t think I want to try that” never come out of your mouth. You will find food that makes you cry tears of joy. There will be times when your entire mouth becomes a burning pit of hell. And there will be magical moments where it’s a bit of both.

Each country brings something unique to the table for you to sink your teeth into – literally. So you’ve got no choice but to start munching your way through street carts!

(Exceptions are granted only if the food in question is an endangered or protected animal.)

8. Go climbing

Southeast Asia is full of karst mountains, which rise like pillars and towers from the ground. For the casual tourist, these spires make great photos. For climbers though, these are the stuff of dreams.

Visit Railay, Cat Ba, and Kuala Lumpur for some grade-A routes.

9. Island hopping

The Philippines has over 7,100 islands; Indonesia has 17,000. Combine these with all the other random islands scattered throughout Southeast Asia and you have a shit ton of islands to live out your Robinson Crusoe adventures. Better get started now – it’s going to take a while to visit them all.

If you get really addicted to island life, you may want to try boat life . That way you can perpetually traverse the best of Southeast Asia’s islands and beyond…

10. Stay in a Coworking Hostel

More and more backpackers are looking to turn their travels into a full time way of life… the best way to get inspired is to meet and brainstorm with other aspiring entrepreneurs and digital nomads, check out Tribal Hostel in Bali to find ideas, support and new friends 🙂

Psssst…. Searching for your Tribe?

Tribal Hostel – Bali’s first purpose-built co-working hostel and perhaps the greatest hostel in the world!

Come on down and enjoy amazing coffee, high-speed wifi and a game of pool 😉

The most common place to stay while backpacking Southeast Asia is, of course, hostels. They’re cheap, ubiquitous, and can be a helluva a lot of fun.

Never stayed in a hostel before? You’re in luck! Southeast Asia is the best place to learn how to live the hostel life .

Southeast Asia has some of the most well-known and well-regarded hostels in the world, which would impress even the most seasoned backpacker. There’s a real mix of cheap places to stay, too. There are the classic party hubs where to beer never stops flowing. But there are some really chill places where it’s more likely that everyone is sitting around smoking a joint while swapping travel stories.

If you’re going to be hitting the Banana Pancake Trail hard and for several months, you’ll want to pack the right stuff with you. We all know that guy who steals towels from hostels and takes them wherever he goes; don’t be that guy.

Whilst it’s easier to find hostels in the well-trafficked parts of Southeast Asia, there are some real gems just slightly off the beaten path. One of the best hostels I ever stayed in was in the middle of nowhere Northern Vietnam.

As is always the case, camping would be the ultimate way to save cash while backpacking. Just make sure you take a good tent with you and do your best to check your site – there are some really dangerous snakes and crazy, heavy rain out there in the remote, jungle areas.

There is really never a need to stay in a hotel while backpacking Southeast Asia. If you need a private space, book an airbnb or find a local guesthouse instead. Because it’s Asia, it won’t be very expensive and might be just what you need to recharge yourself.

• Where to Stay in Vietnam
• Where to Stay in Thailand
• Where to Stay in Malaysia
• Where to Stay in the Philippines
• Where to Stay in Singapore
• Where to Stay in Cambodia

Southeast Asia is the Mecca for cheap places to travel broke . Nowhere else on earth can you drink beer, find accommodation, and eat out every day easily for under $10 USD .

To give you an idea of the cost of backpacking Southeast Asia, here are some examples of shoestring travel budgets:

• $20 – $30 / day: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
• $25 – $35 / day: Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia
• $30 – $40 / day: Indonesia, Philippines

As you can see, some countries in Southeast Asia are more expensive than others. For example, the cost of a trip to Thailand  is not as dirt cheap as you might think, especially if you plan on just eating Western food.

Generally speaking, any of the islands you visit whilst backpacking Southeast Asia will be more expensive than the mainland. Also, Singapore kind of stands as its own thing – you can expect a much higher cost of travel there than the rest of Southeast Asia as it’s not catered to budget travellers.

Creating the right Southeast Asia budget for yourself is the key to a successful backpacking adventure. Travelling in Southeast Asia should never be super expensive. With a few budget travel hacks up your sleeve, you will save a ton of money and have the time of your life.

A Daily Budget in Southeast Asia

Here is a more in-depth breakdown of what you can expect to pay on a daily basis whilst backpacking Southeast Asia…

Budget Tips for Visiting Southeast Asia

To keep your spending to an absolute minimum whilst travelling in Southeast Asia, I recommend sticking to these basic rules of budget adventuring….

• Camp : With plenty of untouched beaches, forests, stunning countryside, and far-flung jungle, Southeast Asia can be a great place to pitch a tent for the night. A solid sleep system saves you money and can help you get off of the beaten path.
• Eat street food : Southeast Asia has the BEST street food in the world. You can easily load up on just a few dollars. Night markets are iconic places to start from.
• Couchsurf: Southeast Asian locals are awesome, so get to know some! Check out Couchsurfing to make some real friendships and see a country from the perspective of locals. When using Couchsurfing, be sure to send personalized messages to your potential host – make yourself stand out!
• Haggle: Barter, negotiate, sit down for a tea, and philander hedonistically if necessary. A good haggling game is going to go a long way towards backpacking Southeast Asia on a budget.
• Hitchhike: This is just your friendly neighborhood reminder that hitchhiking is the best, and it saves you cash! But more than that, it launches you right into the thick of it and entices adventures to come out of their hidey-holes.
• Leave “The Bubble”: Staying in the tourist bubbles always gets more expensive. Remember to leave the bubble and live the local life for truly cheap Southeast Asia travel.

Why Should You Travel to Southeast Asia with a Water Bottle?

Whilst there’s a lot that we can do when it comes to travelling responsibly , reducing your plastic consumption is one of the easiest and most impactful things you can do. Don’t buy one-use water bottles, don’t take plastic shopping bags, and forget straws. All of this just ends up in landfills or in the ocean.

One way you can minimise your plastic footprint is by investing in a premium filtered water bottle . That way, not only do you save money by not having to buy bottled water everywhere you go, but you aren’t contributing to the problem. You’re being part of the solution! And the turtles thank you!

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Due to the great distances involved when we are talking about ALL of Southeast Asia, the weather can really vary.

The peak tourist season in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam is from November to February when the weather is beautiful across the region, but there’s a high chance you’ll run into a ton of tourists. The really popular guesthouses fill up fast.

The local people are a really friendly bunch and keen to help so if you have any problems don’t be afraid to ask for directions from the locals. It is best to avoid northern areas of Thailand from February to April as the burning season starts and mountains will slowly be covered in smoke.

When we are talking about Indonesia for example, keep in mind that Indonesia is WAY farther south and nearer to the equator. The weather in Indonesia can be loosely applied to Malaysia as well.

Generally speaking, there are 2 seasons in Indonesia – the dry season and the rainy season. In most parts of the country, the dry season lasts from May to September . Of course, this is also the most popular time to visit.

Consider visiting in either May or September if you want to try and avoid the massive summer crowd, especially in Bali. This way you can find cheaper accommodation which is difficult to find during peak season.

Most of the rain in Indonesia falls from October to April , with some regional variations. Those looking to do some serious trekking or diving may want to try and plan a trip in the dry season. There’s no need to let a little rain spoil your trip, though. Rain usually comes in quick downpours so just take a solid rain jacket; you’ll still get to enjoy several hours of sunlight.

Best Time to Visit – Country Breakdown

Best Months to Travel: November-February, March-September (Southeast Coast)

What’s the climate in Thailand like? 

Most of Thailand is dry and comfortable to visit from November-February. In March and April, the temps start to rise until they become horrible in June. The rains start in May.

The exception to this is the southeastern coast of Thailand (Koh Samui, Hat Yai, etc). The rains come a bit later here.

Best Months to Travel: November-April (North & South), February-July (Center)

What’s the climate in Vietnam like? 

Vietnam is a weird one: the North and South have similar rainy seasons, but the center’s is a bit later in the year. The absolute perfect time to visit the whole country would be in February and March.

Best Months to Travel: October-April

What’s the climate in Cambodia and Laos like? 

Pretty straightforward with only two distinct seasons: a wet one and a dry one.

In the wet summer season, downpours can washout dirt roads, and the heat can be OPPRESSIVE. Be prepared for lots of lazy days of doing nothing if traveling to Cambodia or Laos during the summer season.

Best Months to Travel: October-March

What’s the climate in Myanmar like? 

Typical Southeast Asia. The dry season in Myanmar actually runs until May but the temperatures at the end of the month are just WAY too much. June is unbearable to visit.

Visiting during March or October (shoulder months) are great times.

Best Months to Travel: November-February (West Coast), March-September (East Coast)

What’s the climate in Malaysia like? 

Pretty hot and humid all year round but each coast has opposing rainy seasons. Stick to one coast depending on when you’re visiting Malaysia.

Note the Cameron Highlands are temperate all year-round with a rainy season from September-December.

Best Months to Travel: May-September

What’s the climate in Indonesia like? 

In most of the country, the wet, hot season runs from October to April. Around May, the rains start to subside, temps drop, and tourists return. Visit Indonesia in May before prices go up.

Northern parts of Indonesia, like Maluku and Raja Ampat, experience the wet season in OPPOSITE months. October-April is the best time to visit these.

Best Months to Travel:  November-May

What’s the climate in the Philippines like? 

Not quite as hot as continental Southeast Asia, which makes travel in April and May more viable. But June-August should definitely be avoided – this is typhoon season and storms can very dangerous. Most ferries and resorts shut down during this time.

What to Pack for Southeast Asia

An adventure backpacking in Southeast Asia means navigating a certain level of chaos. If this is your first backpacking trip, or even if you’re a veteran, you gotta make sure you’re equipped for the job!

Make sure that packing list is spot on. For every adventure, there are a few things I never go travelling without:

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

Is Southeast Asia Safe? This is easily one of the most common questions I’m asked.

Every country on earth has a certain degree of crime and the associated shitty people. Southeast Asia is no different. Though violent attacks on backpackers are extremely rare, they can happen.

A common problem in Southeast Asian cities is the motorcycle bag snatch. Two dudes roll up on a motorbike and grab your purse or day bag and they ride off into the night (or day). I have heard reports of this gig being particularly rampant in the touristic areas of Phnom Penh.

Keep an eye on your stuff, especially when you are in the big cities and crowded bus stations. Be smart hiding your valuables and money when travelling and things will be chill. In general, Southeast Asia is one of the safest places in the world to go backpacking, so fear not!

Wear a helmet when you hop on a motorbike in Asia . Despite being an experienced driver, I’ve had a total of 3 crashes in Southeast Asia over the last 10 years. On the one occasion, I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I split my head open and had to go to the hospital. Your mum doesn’t want to get the call about your insides being on the outside…

To stay safe, every backpacker should follow the common-sense rules of safe backpacking .  In general, being out late, drunk, and alone is a recipe for trouble anywhere in the world.

If ever you run into the very rare hold-up situation, give them what they want and don’t resist. Your iPhone and wallet are never worth dying over, ever!

• Is Thailand Safe to Visit?
• Is Vietnam Safe to Visit?
• Is Cambodia Safe to Visit?
• Is Myanmar Safe to Visit?
• Is Indonesia Safe to Visit?
• Is Malaysia Safe to Visit?

Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll in Southeast Asia

There’s a reason that those seeking something a little hedonistic oftentimes get stuck in Southeast Asia… You can buy ketamine from certain pharmacies and the acid seems to be ubiquitous amongst travellers. Many Southeast Asian countries have very harsh drug penalty laws though, and even without harsh laws, there are some truly crippling fines dished out.

Drugs on the road is pretty much a guaranteed experience – and in Southeast Asia more so than ever. There are the magic mushroom shakes popular in Thailand and Cambodia; there are the strong and freely available prescription meds too.

Plus, doobies are a staple of almost every hostel. So, if you’re gonna do the good stuff, then stay hydrated and watch out for ya mates!

What seems to go hand in hand with travelling even more so than drugs? Why, love and sex of course! But we don’t like to have frank and honest discussions about sex on the road out of fear we’ll be too judgemental – or not judgmental enough.

At the end of the day, love and sex will on the road is inevitable so we might as well have a conversation about it.

Remember that free love is about love as much as it is about sex. And I’d be dancing around the elephant in the room if I didn’t talk about how easy it is to engage with sex tourism in Asia.

Regardless of your beliefs and thoughts on prostitution, remember this is another person with thoughts, feelings, and a life outside of the sex industry too. You are not superior to these people; you just happen to be from a more privileged background.

Go to Asia and have the time of your life, do the things you’ve dreamed of – but be respectful along the way. Travelling the world makes you an ambassador for your country , which is awesome. We can make a positive impact on people when we travel and get rid of any ugly stereotypes that may be associated with our countries…

Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

As I said before Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are Southeast Asia’s two main international hubs. Most backpackers start their journeys visiting and staying in Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok for a spell. Budget flights throughout the region will almost certainly have you passing through one of those airports.

If you are looking to do the classic Southeast Asia Loop or the Banana Pancake Trail, then starting off by staying in Bangkok is the obvious choice. Flights into Vietnam through Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are getting increasingly less expensive as well, so keep an eye out if the prices keep falling.

Visas and Entry Requirements for Southeast Asian Countries

The biggest headache of travelling is getting a visa organised! The rules are subject to change at a moment’s notice and you never know what the land border will actually be like. All I can say is do your research, (politely) refuse to pay bribes that you don’t have to, and get organised in advance.

Luckily, most Southeast Asian countries have pretty straightforward visa requirements. Tourism is their bread and butter after all.

• Visa on arrival: Visa-free travel, 30 days for most countries.
• Extension: Yes, one-time, usually for 30 additional days, $60.
• Notes: Those arriving by land usually receive a 15-day visa-free waiver.
• Visa on arrival: Yes, but only for a small group of countries.
• Evisa: Yes, 30-day validity, $25, longer stays possible.
• Extension:  Yes, but you’ll need to leave the country and reapply for the evisa.
• Notes: Evisas are not valid at many border crossings.
• Visa on arrival: Yes, 30 days for most countries, $37.
• Evisa: Yes, same price and length as visa-on-arrival.
• Extension: Yes, one-time, usually for 30 additional days, $48.
• Notes: If crossing from Laos or Thailand, visas will cost more if you pay in baht or kip.
• Visa on arrival: Yes, 30-day validity, $35.
• Evisa: Yes, 30-days, price varies
• Extension: Yes, $2/day, filed in Vientiane .
• Notes:  The evisa is inconvenient, most travelers may opt for visa-on-arrivals.
• Visa on arrival: Yes, 90-day validity, no charge.
• Extension: Possible at embassy.
• Notes: Malaysia is very easy to enter but takes overstays very seriously.
• Visa on arrival: Yes, between 30-90 days, free.
• Extension: Possible to file online.
• Notes: Like Malaysia – easy to get in, just don’t overstay.
• Visa on arrival: Yes, 30-day validty for most nations, $35.
• Extension: Only available to those with visa-on-arrival or prearranged visa.
• Notes: Foerginers can enter Indonesia on a visa-waiver program for free but they will not be able to extend stay. Some ports of entry require prearranged visa.
• Visa on arrival: Visa-waiver (30-day validity) or visa-on-arrival (59-day validity) available.
• Extension: Possible for those with visa-on-arrival.
• Notes:  You will need proof of an outbound flight to enter the Philippines.

The most popular and rewarding way of independent travel in Southeast Asia is to rent or buy a motorbike. It also helps if you can rent for longer periods of time. Most shops in Bali charge around $5 a day for a motorbike, but I was able to rent one for only $50 a month!

With a full tank of gas costing only around $1, you can cover a lot of ground without burning a hole in your wallet if you’ve got a long-term motorbike rental. Pair this with a proper motorcycle tent , and you’ll hardly ever spend a dime!

Common Types of Transport in Southeast Asia

You can easily buy a bike in Thailand or Vietnam (or anywhere really) and then pass it on to a local or fellow traveller when your time backpacking Southeast Asia is through. Don’t buy the first piece of shit bike you come across!

If possible, try to get the bike checked out by someone who knows bikes. It would be a shame to buy a bike just to have it break down the next day. Again, always wear a fucking helmet!

Taking local buses and trains (when possible) is the most economical way of getting around. Sometimes, this will mean rocking up at the bus or train station and sussing out a ticket, but it’s getting easier than ever to sort your journeys in advance.

Bookaway is an epic online booking platform where you can book bus, train, and ferry tickets in advance for a nominal fee – this is way better than rocking up at the bus or train station and hoping you can get a ticket – because sometimes you can’t.

One can find budget flights in Southeast Asia, but these flights and taking ferry boats to the islands add up. So pick and choose where you want to go and budget accordingly.

For short distances,  tuk-tuks are your best bet just keep an eye on your shit and keep your wits about you when in a tuk-tuk . Luckily, Grab (similar to Uber) is now readily available in several countries in the region, including Thailand!

Grab is hands down the best way to get around cities, the price is locked in on the app so you can’t get ripped off, AND it will always work out cheaper than travelling by taxi or rickshaw.

Hitchhiking in Southeast Asia

Hitchhiking should not prove to be too difficult and in some countries, it is fairly easy to get picked up. You have to be persistent and make sure the locals understand where you need to go or you will end up getting dropped at a bus station.

Some locals decide to turn their car into a taxi cab the minute they spot a foreigner on the highway. I would never assume that the ride is free initially. Always ask to avoid having an awkward scenario in which the driver who picked you up is demanding an unexpected fee.

Due to the large number of backpackers riding motorbikes across Southeast Asia, it is possible to score a ride with some fellow travellers. Generally, hitchhiking in Southeast Asia is safe, though you still have to be smart and use good judgment.

Onwards Travel from Southeast Asia

Whether you are heading home or carrying on travelling, budget international flights are your best bet. Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur is where you will find the lowest prices.

India and South Asia may beckon the vagabond to continue their travels. Or, Australia and New Zealand might get the backpacker to settle down in a sense and get a backpacking job .

Many backpackers pop over to Australia or New Zealand for 6 months to a year on a working holiday visa, make some cash, and come right back to Southeast Asia for their second round of backpacking escapades.

• Backpacking Australia
• Backpacking New Zealand
• Backpacking Fiji
• Backpacking Oceania

Working in Southeast Asia is certainly popular – though not especially lucrative. Scoring a gig as an ex-pat of some kind is always great, but most backpackers won’t fall into that category. Since work visas are sometimes difficult to get, a lot of the work ends up being done under the table.

That’s not to say it’s all dodgy run businesses, of course. There are a surprising amount of opportunities for backpackers to find work in Asia, but don’t expect to make a lot of money. You’re here for the lifestyle and experience, not the cash.

Popular jobs include dive instructor, English teacher, or some kind of hospitality. How easy it is to get a job will depend on the country. But a more popular way of making money while on the road in Asia is to work as a freelancer or digital nomad – this is where Asia truly shines.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

The Digital Nomad Scene in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is THE most popular place for digital nomads to base themselves (based on recent digital nomad stats ). Places like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Bali are thriving nomad hubs that attract people from all over the world. Kuala Lumpur and many large Vietnamese cities are quickly following suit.

Southeast Asia is a paradise for remote workers for many reasons:

• The cost of living is very low.
• Internet is ubiquitous and reliable.
• Expat communities are strong.
• Local economies are booming.
• Visas relatively easy to organize.
• Conferences and events are frequently organized.
• There’s a lot to do in your free time.

If you’re a digital nomad or someone who wants to give the lifestyle a try, you can’t go wrong living in Southeast Asia.

Teaching English in Southeast Asia

For another way of living or extending your trip to Southeast Asia, people have been teaching English abroad for a long time. Though you won’t always need one, having a TEFL certificate will increase your chances of scoring a gig.

We suggest using MyTEFL to get accredited. Broke Backpacker readers get a 50% discount on TEFL courses with MyTEFL (simply enter the code PACK50 ).

I think that working as an English teacher does give you a deeper appreciation of the country that you’re travelling in. You spend time fostering connections to a place and you are, ultimately, teaching people a skill that will carry them far in life.

Volunteering in Southeast Asia

Volunteering abroad is an amazing way to experience a culture whilst helping your host community. There are plenty of different volunteer projects in Southeast Asia including teaching, construction, agriculture, and pretty much anything.

There are so many different volunteer opportunities in Southeast Asia to suit any skill set. You could support communities doing social work in Vietnam, help out on farms in Thailand, teach English in Cambodia, or volunteer in a hostel in Laos.

Other opportunities include bartending, doing community work, and web development. Short-term volunteers should apply for a tourist visa before arriving, but you’ll need the appropriate permits to stay longer depending on what country you’re in. 

Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers are great places to start looking for volunteer work – but it doesn’t cover you for everything . Always tread with extra caution, especially if you’re working with kids or animals.

Ask the average Joe what they know about the history of Southeast Asia and most will be able to think as far back as the Vietnam War, maybe the Japanese occupation of Thailand. Beyond that, Southeast Asia is kind of a mystery.

But the history of Southeast Asia is long, complex, varied, and extremely fascinating. Before the Europeans arrived – the French in Vietnam, English in Burma, and Dutch in Indonesia – there were great kingdoms: the Toungoo, Khmer, and Malaca Sultanate, to name a few. Through these channels, Buddhism, Islam, trade, and science all flowed.

It is quite difficult to talk about “Southeast Asian Culture” because it would be a generalization; there are just so many different aspects.

What travellers SHOULD know about Southeast Asia is that it is, in fact, way deeper than it seems. Thanks to a long history of colonization that dates back before the Europeans – Indians, Arabs, and the East Asians all settled in SE Asia – the region is enormously diverse. Food, religion, politics, customs, all of the things that SE Asia does so well, come in part from external sources.

Of course, the colours of people’s personalities also change from country to country. Thais are legendarily nice (and open to just about anything). Malaysians are incredibly diverse ethnically and thus incredibly tolerable. Cambodians are the most laidback people in Southeast Asia by far. All of these traits become more obvious as you spend time in each country.

Don’t stay on the established Southeast Asian backpacking route if you want to get to know the locals. Koh San Road, Hanoi’s Beer Street, Kuta, and all the other tourist hotspots are poor representations of the culture.

The real Southeast Asia is found at the plastic tables on the street, inside the bike repair shops, and in the dusty corners of the region.

There are people who go backpacking in Southeast Asia just for the food. And for good reason, too: it’s fantastic! More than just delicious, it’s also cheap and hugely varied depending on where you are.

You can definitely expect a lot of rice, noodles, and curry in Southeast Asia. Luckily though, no two of these are ever the same. For example, noodles in Vietnam are traditionally served in broth ( pho being the most famous). Thailand, on the other hand, usually prefers dry noodles.

This is just the tip of the gastronomic iceberg that is food in Southeast Asia. And honestly, it’s really difficult to lump everything into one category. I will simply say that countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand consistently rank among the most delicious in the world, every year.

Because of its tropical climate, the fruit in Southeast Asia is also ridiculously good. Borneo is practically the Garden of Eden where just about everything grows, and the local markets in all the major cities have incredible selections to choose from. Be prepared to eat lots of fruit on your backpacking trip, especially bananas when served with pancakes.

I definitely recommend eating at the local markets and street food stalls. The prices are super low and the food is just as good as anything you’d find in a restaurant. Just keep on an eye out for sanitation – make sure the food is fresh and things look clean (enough).

Food to Try in Southeast Asia

There are some dishes you simply HAVE to try when you go to Southeast Asia:

• Banh Mi Thit (Vietnam) – The best sandwich in Asia.
• Pho (Vietnam) – Noodles served in broth w/ extras.
• Pad Thai (Thailand) – Dry noodles w/ peanut sauce and chilis.
• Tom Yung Goong (Thailand) – Soup made with lemongrass, herbs, and shrimp.
• Satay (Malaysia, Indonesia) – Grilled meat skewers.
• Fish Amok (Cambodia) – Spicy fish coconut curry served in a banana leaf
• Burmese Curry (Myanmar) – Local take on the dish that is famously good.
• Shan-style noodles (Myanmar) – Thin-sliced, flat noodles.
• Nasi Goreng (Indonesia) – Fried rice.
• Chili crab (Singapore) – Singapore’s claim to fame.
• Larb/Laap (Laos, Cambodia) – Beef salad with lots of seasoning.
• Tam Mak Houng (Laos) – Spicy green papaya salad.

Southeast Asia is a fantastic budget destination that is great for your everyday travels, but it’s also amazing because it allows you to splurge on some truly unique experiences.

You can go surfing, sky diving, bungee jumping, or any number of exciting things! But there are two big-ticket items that grabbed my heart more than any other: trekking and SCUBA diving .

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

Trekking in Southeast Asia

Each country in Southeast Asia offers up trekking experiences that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Whether you prefer guided or independent trekking, there is ample hiking on hand for every backpacker to enjoy. Pack yourself the right adventure gear , and go do something crazy!

• Taman Negara, Malaysia : Explore the oldest rainforest in the world and spend the night in a bungalow in the jungle (for free).
• Kibungan Circuit, The Philippines: A 3-mountain circuit in the town of Kibungan in Benguet . The circuit, which takes anywhere from 2 to 3 days to complete, spans across the mountains of Tagpaya , Oten , and Tagpew .
• Shan State, Myanmar : Shan state is a popular place to go trekking and there are some great hikes around Kachin state as well. You will likely encounter no other travelers whilst trekking here.
• Phongsali, Laos : If you want to get off-the-grid and go trekking in Laos, I recommend making the long journey to the northern town of Phongsali . Though tough to reach, it’s equally rewarding for trekkers. While there isn’t much to do in the actual town, there are plenty of opportunities to visit remote hill tribes through the Provincial Tourism Office.
• Ring of Fire, Indonesia: While the beautiful beaches in Indonesia may be the major draw for tourists, there are also plenty of opportunities for adventures on land. Located in the Ring of Fire, Indonesia is home to well over 100 volcanoes. Trekking to the summit of some of these volcanoes is one experience you won’t want to miss when backpacking Indonesia. In addition to the aforementioned Mt. Bromo  and  Mt. Rinjani , you can also scale  Mt. Agung on Bali or  Mt. Egon on Flores .

Scuba Diving in Southeast Asia

If you have been paying attention, you should be aware now that Southeast Asia is fucking paradise when it comes to scuba diving. Without a doubt, Southeast Asia is the cheapest place in the world to become a certified diver. That fact coupled with some of the best dive sites in the world make scuba diving a no-brainer whilst you are backpacking Southeast Asia.

If you want to go diving in Thailand, go for it! Though I must reinforce how great diving is in Malaysia and Indonesia. The reef systems are in better shape and you won’t have to contend with quite so many tourists. Bali has loads of diving sites , and that’s just the start of the underwater sightseeing.

And if you aren’t up to learning to SCUBA, then you can always learn to freedive or snorkel. There is truly a whole other world waiting to be discovered once you leave the surface!

You’ve got questions about Southeast Asia and we’ve got answers!

Is backpacking in Southeast Asia safe?

Yes. Violent crime against tourists is very low in this part of the world – and even petty theft isn’t that common. That being said, you should still watch out for your valuables in very touristy areas. The thing to watch out for here is food/water bugs that can really knock your health back.

Where can I backpack in Southeast Asia?

Currently, all countries in Southeast Asia are open for backpackers, though Myanmar is still (sadly) risky to visit.

How long do you need to backpack Southeast Asia?

A backpacker could get a good idea of the region by spending 3 – 6 months there. Really, you could spend a lifetime exploring Southeast Asia and still have oodles left to explore. But this is enough time to explore a heap of places without feeling too rushed.

How much does it cost to backpack Southeast Asia for 6 months?

Southeast Asia is a blessing to broke backpackers. You can live comfortably here on $10 a day and splurge every so often on unique experiences. Including flights, insurance, and wiggle room within your budget, 6 months in Southeast Asia should cost between $5000 – $10 000.

What’s the best country to backpack in Southeast Asia?

This is a contentious question! My personal favourite is Vietnam simply because their food is my favourite. Aside from that, it’s cheap, full of epic motorbike adventures, and deadly rice wine!

Be good to Southeast Asia. It’s an incredible region that truly does have a little bit of something for everyone – all while being super cheap. We risk ruining a place when we don’t appreciate how special it is, and Asia is pretty freaking special.

Whether you stop by just one of its countries for a short SCUBA diving trip, or whether you get lost on the banana pancake trail for a year or so, you know you’re in for a good time. There are rice paddies, ancient temples, piles of spicy noodles, and some of the friendliest faces in the world waiting for you here.

Now, I hope I’ve been a source of inspiration in this guide but I also hope you’re ready to forge your own path through this great region. Because there are so many offbeat adventures and epic trekking to be done – you don’t need to get lost in the endless supply of cheap beer.

So off you go, you broke backpacker! I hope to see you deep in the Malaysian jungle or ordering your fifth banh mi of the week in Vietnam. Whatever you choose to do in Southeast Asia, it’s sure to be an adventure.

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Updated February 2023

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Will Hatton

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40 Comments

Hi! Me and a friend of mine are planning on backpacking in Asia from start of April to beginning of July. The only problem is, we are scared it is going to be too hot and humid. We are both from norway and not really used to super high temeratures, so my question is basically: what route can we take, without dying from the extreme heat? It does not have to be in the southeast of asia, but more asia in general. Love your website btw. Love from 20 year old adventurers and coldblooded girl.

Head to the islands, riversides and coastlines. If you are really struggling, follow the lead of locals and do things early morning and late evening to avoid the hottest part of the day. Dress appropriately in layers that you easily remove. Keeping properly hydrated will also help you acclimatise .

Hi there, anyone who has read this brilliant article should definitely try out south east Asia, there are so many amazing experiences on offer. Me and my partner took six months off work a few years back and decided to go travelling around southeast Asia. We visited Vietnam first, then Laos then we discovered our new home – Thailand which is where we spent most of our time as we fell in love with the people, the culture and just the country in whole. We loved it so much that we decided to take the leap and move to the island of Koh Samui. We hope to one day be as travelled as the owners of this amazing blog. 10 out of 10 read!

This was amazing…leaving in 3 days for a year to SE Asia and this post nearly brought me to tears of joy with the emotions it generated. So excited about what is to come!

Superb blog

Will, thank You for the effort and time You invested in writing this informative and useful article about backpacking around southeast Asia. Also, I really appreciate the fact that through this article You inspire other people to travel on a budget, which is something that I also encourage 🙂 Keep up the great work!

Hi Will, thanks for the info! Two questions: Can one easily get through customs when you enter a country and stay for thirty days without having a return ticket back to the US and not knowing what country you will visit next? I bought a one way ticket from San Francisco to Singapore and going to make up my trip as I go over 6 months. 2nd question: Is it safe to leave your MacBook or other valuables in a hostel while you are at the beach? How do you protect your belongings when you want to go swimming and your stuff is on the beach. Thank you for your answers!

Hi Jamie, great to hear from you!

Regarding return tickets and immigration, every country and airline has a different policy on return and onward tickets. Yes, even your airline can refuse to fly you if they feel it’s a risk immigration at the other end may not allow you entry based on a one way ticket. Your best bet is to research throughly on forums and travel sites to see the experiences of others. There are some destinations that are well known for NOT allowing entry without an onward ticket, such as The Philippines. Other destinations may allow you entry with none, some may allow you to say you are leaving overland on an approximate date. It’s a calculated risk, onward ticket companies, expensive full refundable tickets and cheap throw away tickets are also options if you find yourself if a pinch.

Unfortunately its a fact of long term travel, eventually you will probably have stuff stolen, lost or broken, no matter how careful or diligent you are. Following are my golden rules for reducing the bad feels of such an experience as much as possible.

1. Back up your shit, regularly! Ultimately the data inside the device will prove far more valuable to you than the device itself. 2. Lock up your shit, don’t leave your stuff unattended in dorms or on the beach, keep your valuables on you if possible when travelling and lock things away while in accommodation. 3. If you have a bad vibe about a place or person, follow your feeling and use your common sense. 4. If you have expensive gear, insure it correctly, make sure you know where the receipts are before your trip. 5. If something happens, get a police report. 6. Don’t take anything travelling with you that you aren’t willing to have lost, stolen or trashed. Leave it at home. 7. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Theft can happen anywhere, don’t spend too long dwelling on the event or let it be a singularly defining experience of a destination.

Have a great trip!

Great blog, really good and usefull info in it. Thanks a lot.

I would so recommend getting vaccinations in the country once you arrive – we got them at medconsult clinic ( a british doctor based in Bangkok), saved a fortune compared to the UK for the exact same vaccine – got typhoid, japanese encephalitis and a hep b booster done.

Excellent information! Thanks for sharing.

I am really appreciative of this blog post. My boyfriend and I had been dreaming of backpacking SE Asia on a shoestring budget for some time now. He is Norwegian, and I am from the USA, but have been living with him in Oslo for the last three months. My visa extension was just denied, and he cannot get a visa for the US until January, so, we decided to push up our dreams and go backpacking and not be split up! We are starting in Bali, May 16th and I had NO idea where to go after that. I want to be adventurous and go where the wind blows, but also have some sort of a plan as we are on the smallest of budgets and HAVE to figure out how to make some money online, or find volunteer locations to house us. Anyway, this has helped me so much, as we are planning a 6 month trip right now, and are leaving in less than a month!

Thanks for dropping by! We hope that your backpacking trip in SE Asia is amazing!

What a long list of South East Asian countries to visit. The photos you used here just enticed me to add some of these places that I haven’t visited in my bucket list! I can’t wait!

Such amazing post!!

Thanks man!

Great post! I cannot wait to visit Asia next summer, my friend and I are looking for volunteering opportunities in Asia, we would like to know if it is possible and easy to find as we tavel around. We will really appreciate any kind of information about that.

If you’d like to find work as you travel through Southeast Asia, then try asking around English schools. Otherwise, Worldpackers is an excellent way to find work exchanges as well.

Thanks for the informative travel guide! My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Thailand in June and were looking for something like this! We are planning on staying in Southeast Asia for a while, so we have plenty of time to do everything there is to do.

This may be the best travel article I have ever read and I have read a lot! Massive amount of useful information and I love that you added in the message about being respectful as a backpacker. I was actually warned in Japan by a young Belgian girl working at a hostel that drunk backpackers had a negative impact on her trip thru Vietnam. I’m on an 8 month trip thru Asia but do to some rookie mistakes will only have 3 weeks to get from Ha Tien, Vietnam to Singapore. Super disappointed not to have more time to explore Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia but your article gave me hope that I will at least see some amazing things along the mad dash. Thank you for all the time and effort!

Really glad you found this guide helpful and informative. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

I saw your Myanmar political situation post was made in February, do you know if there has been any change in government?

Just a little correction Will. Its “Lake Toba” not “Lake Tabo”. It`s in the 2nd paragraph below the Penang street art image. Anyway, if you guys planning on visiting West Sumatera, Sipora Island or Nias Island hit me up for some local tips.

Thanks for the correction, cheers!

Love his advice, thank you! Would you say it’s cheaper and better to do backpacking alone on a whim with rough idea of things to do rather than paying for a set tour prior to arriving? Some set tours are like 2500 excluding flights and I’m just wondering if it would be cheaper to get to Thailand, get a bike and then do any internal train bus journeys whenever I want.

Personally, I think paying for a tour in an ‘easy’ country like Thailand is a waste of money. Go with the flow, it’s probably the easiest region in the world to explore 🙂

Hi, Dig the site. Thanks for setting it up. My name is John. I’m from Texas. I’m currently in The Philippines. Looking for the best deal on a round trip ticket, from Manila to Cambodia, and back again . Any helpful hints?

Not a flight hacker or travel agent brother 😉

Wow @ Will – super extensive write up! Some of our friends just asked us for recommendations how to travel SE Asia. We send them your post together with our own experiences (which were much less exhaustive). 🙂

I see you mentioned that the hammock tent has been quite useful, though regards to safety, sleeping out in the open with your belongings. What exactly do you do with your pack and such? Also as a solo female traveler, would you still recommend this mode of accommodation?

Hammocking, and hammock tents, are an awesome way to sleep out as they don’t weigh as much as a traditional tent… However, I would not encourage sleeping out in a hammock EVERYWHERE – You need to pick your spot wisely, make sure it’s cool to camp there etc. I keep all my valuables in a daypack which acts as my pillow. My main pack I put under the hammock.

Truly an amazing post filled with so much information and more. Me and my boyfriend are planning to travel south east Asia for 7 weeks at the end of the year. You have given me so much information for us to digest and use. Thank you so much!

You are very welcome! Happy to be of service 🙂 Have an awesome time traveling in Southeast Asia!

Dude this was an epic write up and has gotten my partner and myself super excited to head off on our 6 month journey to South East Asia in October. Looks like Malaysia has now made the cut, and we are looking into adding The Philippines back on the agenda after getting some pretty mixed reviews. Wise words and sound advice, thanks again!

You are welcome! I’m glad you find it useful 😀

Great post!

I just came back from Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines, and I am 100% going back. Beautiful countries and each with their own unique cultures as well. I went for 40 days! Here’s a video of my travels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osXq2N6e5aA&t=4s

I hope it inspires everyone to travel to these same places I did! 🙂

What a RAD article…thank you 🙂 I am about to embark on my first backpacking adventure around SEA and this was really helpful!

Great Post! Could get some very good information for my own worldtravel. Which country is your favorite one?

Myanmar and Thailand are my favourites…

As a seasoned spearfisher, I really need to put Asia on my agenda. I actually have a trip planned for the end of this year for Thailand and will definitely look into some fishing whilst I am there. I am only afraid of one thing. That I won’t want to return home!

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Southeast Asia, my travel itinerary

Last update : 08/02/2021

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Even though I have returned from my tour of Southeast Asia at the end of 2013, 6 years ago as I’m writing these lines, I can’t help thinking about it. It’s like a song you love and can’t get out of your head. It does happen quite often to think to myself or to say “do you remember when we went to that little temple over there… and when we went to eat at that little place in the street… when we went to Cambodia …”. In short, my head is full of memories, it’s a fact and I realize having been able to make this 1-year tour of Asia was really one of the most beautiful experiences I had the opportunity to live.

In fact, I had started blogging in 2012/2013, mainly for allowing our family and friends to follow us during this trip. In the meantime, life had sort of caught up with me and I hadn’t been able to keep writing. I kind of picked up the torch by opening this travel blog in June 2017. I had already started to write about some Asian countries, but I thought it could be more interesting to talk about my itinerary in Southeast Asia and give an overview. I won’t explain here what you need to know to prepare a travel plan of Southeast Asia, as I plan to do it in another article. However: How did I choose my itinerary? Why did I choose it? What was my route in general? My favorites and disappointments of this long trip? Well, you’ll find all these answers here!

I know many of you are trying to prepare your vacations activities as best as possible. So, I advise you to take a look at this great site that compares prices for all the activities available in many places around the world, including Southeast Asia.

Small geography lesson

I’m sorry, but as a geographer, I often feel the need to write about geography in articles! Don’t be mad at me! Geographically speaking, the Southeast Asian region is considered to extend south of China/Japan, north of Australia and east of India. If we make a small list of autonomous countries, we have Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam – a total of 11 countries and tens of thousands of islands! I visited 8 out of the 11, it’s not too bad (even if, honestly…we don’t really care about how many countries we’ve visited, it’s not a run, isn’t it?).

Southeast Asia Map

Choose the length of the trip and the locations

Back when my wife and I were thinking of going to Asia, we were living on the island of Mayotte, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. We decided to save money for a year and a half and then left for a one-way trip to the farthest reaches of Asia, a region of the world still unknown. Before leaving, we agreed on two things:

• Staying in Southeast Asia : it was a personal will not to choose to go “around the world”. It was a little less common at that time than it is in 2019, when everyone is doing it and wants to “travel the more they can”… We really wanted to take our time and especially not to run from one tourist spot to another. And with hindsight now, I’m glad I made the choice to focus only on a small region of the world. I really feel like I do know the area very well although some countries would have deserved that we spent more than the classic Visa month there.
• Going one-way was also a really important point for us. Indeed, the main idea of this trip was to discover a region of the world while taking our time as much as possible. What could be better than leaving without return dates? Because when you think about it, leaving with your return ticket means you already have a deadline in your sight. Leaving with a one-way ticket to an unknown destination was for us the ideal way to leave with an empty head, without having to think about the return, etc… The only thing you need to take into account in this particular case is having enough money aside to stay there, and especially to come back home when you want to. I could also write an article (certainly very critical) on travelers (those famous “begbackers” who beg for money in poor countries to be able to pay for their return ticket…).

Organize your itinerary according to the weather forecast

This is a great debate we had at the beginning. Should we organize the itinerary of our trip or not at all? With more than 5 years of hindsight on my trip, I must confess that I was a little disappointed with the way we decided to travel. It is essentially my fault, I admit it, but I had decided to organize a kind of itinerary according to the weather – mainly to stay in the countries at the right time and to avoid the big monsoon periods, which can easily ruin a trip.

So, I relied on websites like Where and when to travel? which allow to visualize quite quickly which is the best season for each country. This is what we had planned before leaving, as an itinerary template.

December/January : Central/Western and Northern Thailand

February : Laos

March : Vietnam

April/May : Cambodia

May/June : Burma / Southern Thailand

June/July : Malaysia + Singapore

August : Indonesia Sumatra

September : Indonesia Sulawesi.

Except a few exceptions, that’s more or less the itinerary we followed. The only snag at the end of the trip was that we could not go to Sulawesi because we had to be evacuated by the travel insurance as we were sick in the middle of the jungle in Sumatra. But I’ll tell you more about it later on.

Anyway, if I had to do it again – and I hope I’ll do so that my little one could discover it – I wouldn’t plan that much, even on the weather side. At a pinch, to have a general idea of the countries I would like to visit, but nothing more. There are one-way flights from Paris to Bangkok for only 220/250€ and, once there, traveling in other countries costs almost nothing. That’s my plan! For Canadians planning a trip in the area, there are flights from Canada to Thailand, starting at 500$ if you are flexible.

My itinerary in Southeast Asia

Here is a small testimony of our trip in Southeast Asia. As I already said back in time, we should travel twice in Asia: a first time to visit the great tourist attractions (because, despite what we can say, we all go there!) and a second one to forget all these spots by getting off the beaten path. Basically, you take your Lonely Planet travel guidebook, and you don’t go to any place mentioned in the book. Cool idea, isn’t it? It might make you smile, but I’m not far from the truth. I travelled for a year, visiting all the touristic spots almost every time, and you may as well be prepared: you’re going to come across many (many!) tourists. We had a few moments where we pushed ourselves and deviated from the basic routes, and we keep such good memories of it! Because afterwards, it is not the city of Angkor, Ha Long Bay or Phuket we’ll remember from our trip in Asia. Well, at least not me!

Let’s go for a quick travel story in pictures, to make you want to discover the region.

Our beginnings in Western and Central Thailand

Our itinerary began as many others’ in Bangkok, Thailand, a few days before New Year’s Day. After enjoying the basic visits in Bangkok (The Royal Palace, Wat Pho and its lying Buddha, Wat Arun, floating markets, Khao San Road, Chinatown, etc.), we continue our route westward towards Kanchanaburi and the famous Kwai River Bridge. A nice stop on the riverside, but it is quite crowded. We keep going a little more towards the Burmese border to the city of Sangkhlaburi. This is a really nice area with only a few tourists. Here, you should rent a motorcycle for one or two days, and go for a walk at the border. Amazing experience off the beaten track. If you are wondering where to go to Thailand , here is an idea!

We then come back to Bangkok to keep following the classic route: Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. This is the cultural part, with many temple visits. We really appreciate, in particular the outside of the park of Sukhothai, the Si Satchanalai. A beautiful Indiana Jones atmosphere.

We follow the route towards Chiang Mai (way too many people for me) and Chiang Rai (already calmer). We rather quickly pass the area to arrive to a little village in the mountains: Mae Salong. We spend 4 days in these beautiful sceneries at altitude where it is good to live. Same advice again: rent motorcycles and get lost for a few days at the border of China. There are almost no tourists here, people don’t speak English and it’s perfect this way.

A very nice meeting with a French couple bilingual in Thai makes us change our route, and we go down along the Mekong towards the Nan region, at the Isan’s border. We spend a few days in this area, visiting traditional Thai villages and enjoying countryside life. Don’t look for tourists here: there are none. We even attend an unexpected funeral ceremony in a small village. A moment that will remain engraved in our memories.

The road still continues along the Mekong river towards Chang Khan (a famous village for Thai tourists) and Sangkhom (a small and quiet municipality on the riverside). If you have the opportunity, it is a very peaceful area but really worth to see. The initial idea being to go up to Laos (and then down to Vietnam), we cross the border walking to Mukdahan. Here we are in Laos!

Going on a trip to Laos, the continuation

The passage to Laos gives us a shock, but obviously in a good way. We roll back 50 years ago compared to Thailand, and it’s great to see. We go down towards the South in Paksé to do the Boloven plateau road. Superb experience in motorcycle during 3 days, even if there would apparently be much more people now? A few days spent at the 4000 islands, on the island of Don Det (the least polluted by tourists at that time) in a peaceful setting, we then cross the country in a night bus to the capital city Vientiane, which is honestly of no major interest.

We head towards the very beautiful (and very touristic) Luang Prabang, further north. We spend the week exploring the region while waiting for our visas for Vietnam. We did a really nice small day river cruise on the Mekong to Pakbeng. We go even further north, to the village of Nong Khiaw (a favorite during our Laos trip ) where we spend another week or so, exploring the area on foot, bike or motorcycle.

The journey keeps going by boat in the direction of Muang Ngoi. The Vietnamese border is not that far. Even if we meet some tourists here, this is a really beautiful region and you can even stay a few days to stroll and hike in the area. The boat trip ends in Muang Khua, from where we will cross the border to the very famous Vietnamese city of Dien Bien Phu.

Travel in Vietnam from North to South

The passage from Laos to Vietnam is superb and straight after we follow a splendid road towards Sapa, a small town in the North-West of the country. Even though it’s touristic, we still have a good time hanging out in town and around, enjoying the breathtaking views over the rice fields. 12 hours by train later, we arrive in Hanoi and spend a few days discovering this really nice city. A little bit of culture and gastronomy, we’re in for a treat!

Small necessary stopover by the famous Ha Long Bay. We spend 3 days accompanied by a very nice German couple and wander on a small boat through these majestic landscapes.

Back on dry land, we keep descending towards Ninh Binh, the bay of Ha Long land as it is nicknamed. A passage in Hué (by night sleeper train), then Hoi Han allows us to deeply discover the country.

We continue the road towards Dalat, inland. A small friendly stop in the middle of the countryside. Back into the city, Ho Chin Minh City is very nice and we take advantage of it to go sightseeing a bit. We make the most of the opportunity to go to Can Tho and visit the magnificent floating market. We finish our road at the Vietnamese border in Ha Tien, where we spend a few days resting (and eating mangoes as well as other local dishes). For fruit lovers, the Mekong Delta is a paradise.

Welcome to Cambodia

We cross the Vietnam-Cambodia border by motorcycle to the town of Kep, known for its green pepper crab. A quick stop on a small relaxing island, Ko Tonsay (Rabbit Island), does us good. On the program: liters of beer, all-you-can-eat crab shared with Cambodians and midnight bath! We continue on our way to Battambang where we meet Thomas and Pauline, a French couple with whom we sympathize. Fun fact: at the time of writing these few lines, we are back in touch and they just settled in Tahiti. What a small world, isn’t it?

We continue the trip towards the temples of Angkor , where we will spend 3 days discovering wonderful Cambodian World Heritage sites. We try our best to avoid the hordes of tourists and frankly, we are doing pretty well overall. Even if it’s very (very) touristic, I would recommend anyone to spend 3 days there to appreciate these places. A small visit of the city of Pnom Penh is nevertheless a must see for 1 or 2 days.

We end our trip in Cambodia with a week in the Mondolkiri region, in the North-East of the country. This is a cooler region, a little bit more mountainous and it was such a nice discovery!

First return to Thailand

We come back by the land border to Thailand, that we left a few months before. The main idea was to rest for a week getaway on an island on the Thai side. Following a beautiful encounter, we settle one week on the Koh Chang island, not far from the border. We spend an amazing week with several Thai families, discussing about local life, tasting typical dishes and sharing. We also take the opportunity to visit Koh Chang, which is very beautiful and way less touristic than some islands in the South of Thailand.

Back to the capital for a few days in Bangkok before flying to Burma for 2 weeks. At the time, we could only enter the country by air. For a few years now, land crossings in certain places seem to be authorized.

Discovery of Burma

We may set the tone directly: Burma will remain by far our favorite part of our Southeast Asia trip. The contrast with the other countries we just visited is huge, and you are really in something way different! You could even consider that Burma is a little bit “on the edge of Southeast Asia”.

In 2013, the tourism in Burma had just opened little by little, but there was not so much crowds yet. It seems to speed up a bit in the last years apparently. A large part of the country was not even open yet for travellers to visit.

So, we visited the places which were possible, that’s to say the city of Bago and its extraordinary market, the region of the Inle Lake (around Nyaungshwe) or the region around Hsipaw, further north in the mountains. We then went back down to the region of the famous Bagan temples ruins to end our stay with a visit of Yangoon.

The big difference with other South East Asian countries in 2013 was mainly the few people there. Tourism wasn’t really developed yet, and people were really curious to see you here, asked all kinds of questions to exchange, and it was a great experience! In our route, we were several times invited to eat and we made superb, authentic, real encounters. The notion of money related to tourism was frankly not very present at this time, and it’s the first country where we had real exchanges with locals.

We keep a superb memory of this country and I honestly would like to go back and see more of it before it becomes a real tourist factory like some other Asian countries.

Descent towards the South of Thailand

Our passage in the South of Thailand was the only thing not really adjusted to the climate when preparing our itinerary in South East Asia. Indeed, we arrived there theoretically in the middle of the rainy season and in the “off” tourism season (so much the better!).

A little tired after travelling already 6 months, we decide to settle down on a small unknown – or almost unknown – island on the west coast (Andaman Sea): Koh Phayam island. Here, nothing to do but enjoying the landscape, places, small local restaurants. We find a guesthouse closed for several months with a small note on the table: “it’s closed, but you can settle down and pay to this person in the village”. Something inconceivable in France…

We spend a great week in what I consider to be a small paradise: no tourists, heavenly beaches with coconut trees, very tasty Thai food and nothing else to do than reading, eating coconuts and clams that we pick up on the beach. Out of season, we are not far from the perfect island!

We keep going towards Malaysia and decide to stay on the famous island of Koh Lanta (yes, the same one than the TV show). We will spend there 10 days off-season. There is almost nobody, everything is closed, as well the hotels as the restaurants – a kind of ghost island during the rainy season, which is finally not so unpleasant!

We voluntarily avoid the islands way too touristic for us (Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Koh Samui etc.) and continue the road to Hat Hai for a passage by train in Malaysia.

Arrival in Malaysia

I must say that we were quite surprised as we arrive in the country, as it seems very “clean” compared to what we have known for these 6 past months. Visiting Kuala Lampur for a few days is nice.

We decide to go North in direction of the Cameron Highlands, especially famous for their tea plantations. It’s chilly up there and the landscapes are pretty different, which is nice to see. Then, we spend a few days on Penang island, a very nice island you can discover by scooter, between Chinese temples, waterfalls and beaches!

We cross then the Malaysian peninsula towards the Perenthian islands, and we now settle down on the supposed quietest island: Pulau Besar. We spend there some beautiful days of relaxation. We have a very good time, still without too many people.

The journey continues with the island of Tioman, where we stay a little week. We decided to go on the other side of the island, known once again as less touristic. We barely see nobody, that’s saying something! We spend excellent moments in this paradisiacal setting.

An lightning visit of a few days in Singapore to quickly feel like a European in this trip in Asia. It’s nice, but personally not what I prefer. We return then for the visit of the very beautiful city of Malacca. We were supposed to spend only a few days there, but it will finally be about ten days. Some visits but mainly some rest, well deserved after already 8 months of travel. We take advantage of it to work on the pictures too! We leave Malaysia for the last country of the trip: Indonesia, where we will stay for 2 months (yes, we’ve finally bought our return tickets!).

The discovery of Indonesia!

We had decided to voluntarily avoid the tourist islands like Bali and others, and decided to spend 2 months in the country: one on the island of Sumatra and the other one on Sulawesi island. So, we landed in Medan, capital of Sumatra, a big heaving and polluted city. Not the most charming one, for sure. After some health problems, we continue our road towards the famous place where you can see Orang-Outangs in the forest: Bukit Lawang.

Honestly, we do feel that tourism has arrived there, but I find the atmosphere still very good. We spend 3 days in this superb setting, in the middle of the tropical forest, to observe all these animals. Amazing!

We keep going in direction of Berastagi, where we were planning to go for a hike in the surroundings. 18 km of walk made a superb day at the edge of a volcano. The atmosphere is great, we cross a very few tourists around here, and we live at the locals’ rhythm. We have very good memories of it.

We leave this small sympathetic corner for the famous Lake Toba and the Tuk-Tuk small locality. We will have time, for a few days, to enjoy the area by scooter, and I really recommend to anyone to stop by here and enjoy the surroundings. There are plenty of things to see around the lake: typical house, waterfall, hiking, discovery of the rural area by motorcycle, etc. It will make your trip even more unforgettable!

Unfortunately for us, after an endemic parasite which does not disappear, 10 days of antibiotics, several round trips to the Medan hospital, we have no choice but to mourn over the end of our trip in Indonesia , and not to go to Sulawesi. We are in such a great disappointment, knowing that we had planned to stay 1 month in full-board in some superb diving spots of the country. We are repatriated by our insurance (somehow) to Paris, with a return flight Medan -> Kuala Lampur -> Hong-Kong -> Paris. That’s also part of the trip…

My favorites

On such a long and intense journey, it is difficult to love and appreciate everything. Here are a few favorites for each country, in no particular order.

Thailand : meetings with ethnic minorities in the region of Nan, a small village along the Mekong (Isan) and Koh Phayam

Laos : North of Laos with the discovery of superb landscapes north of Nong Khiaw and along the Mekong river. Visit of a typical village in the countryside with an expatriate (who spoke Laotian).

Vietnam : Motorbike ride north of Sapa, Ha Long Bay (such a beautiful place)

Cambodia : discovering the region of Mondolkiri

Burma : An endearing local population! The country is a favorite in itself. If you can get lost there now, just go.

Malaysia : Tioman Island and Malacca

Indonesia : A great love-at-first-sight with Sumatra, even if we didn’t see all the things we wanted to…

That’s it, I’ll stop here for this first article about Southeast Asia. I did not go into detail of all that we have done, seen and experienced – that was not the purpose here. Instead, it was to retrace our itinerary in Southeast Asia and to give you some trip ideas if you are planning to visit this part of the world.

As a bonus, I leave you via the following link (.kml to open with Google Earth) the complete trip itinerary and all the info about it. You’ll find all the routes (departure-arrival, duration, prices), the accommodations and the places of interest for these 10 months. Quite a job to do, believe me. When you’ll be around the world, I hope this sharing will be useful.

An article about budgeting for a trip to this part of the world will follow. It will mainly be based on our experience as backpackers. In the meantime, here is already a first article about budget for a trip to Thailand .

See you soon,

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My 5-Week Itinerary for Southeast Asia

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Table of Contents

Southeast Asia. A backpacker’s paradise, it has it all: pristine beaches, ancient temples, lush jungles, delicious food, and cheap prices. Furthermore, there are an abundance of countries to visit, from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar. So how do you decide the perfect itinerary for Southeast Asia?

It is definitely difficult planning a Southeast Asia itinerary. So, to help you out, I have outlined my own 5-week Southeast Asia travel route, that I traveled as a solo college student . Hopefully my travel experiences outlined below will inspire you as you plan your own Southeast Asia travel itineraries!

So, without further ado, here is my 5-week itinerary. Enjoy!

Itinerary for Southeast Asia: 2 Weeks in Vietnam

The first destination on my itinerary for Southeast Asia was Vietnam , and as a nature enthusiast, I utterly adored the stunning scenery of northern Vietnam. Here’s an outline of what I did for two weeks:

Hanoi: 4 Days

First, I stopped in the hectic city of Hanoi. Visiting Hanoi was my big introduction to Southeast Asia, and it was a big introduction, with its bustling streets surging with traffic.

But, there are a ton of amazing things to do in Hanoi, from circling the Hoan Kiem Lake, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, touring around the Old Quarter, and stopping by St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

The highlight from my time in Hanoi, however, was definitely the day trip I took to Trang An, Ninh Binh. Known as the Halong Bay on land, it was absolutely breathtaking.

If you have the time, I definitely recommend visiting Trang An and taking a boat tour to admire the towering limestone karst peaks, incredible caves, and tranquil waters up close; it is definitely one of the must see places in Vietnam. And at the same time, check out the magical Ninh Binh and Mua Caves !

Halong Bay: 2 Days

Next, I took a 2-day 1-night tour of Halong Bay. One of the biggest tourist attractions in Vietnam, Halong Bay lives up to the hype.

I booked one of the cheaper (but still reputable) tours, and I had a ton of fun. The other travelers on the tour were fellow budget backpackers like me, and together, we ate delicious food, swam and kayaked in the turquoise water, and hiked Cat Ba National Park.

While some travelers take a Halong Bay day trip from Hanoi, I recommend staying for at least two days; with its spectacular scenery and vivid emerald waters, you don’t want to rush your time in Halong Bay.

However, there are some drawbacks to Halong Bay. Namely, the immense number of tourists who visit, and (consequently) the amount of garbage floating around in the water. It was truly heartbreaking to see the pollution caused by tourism. So, if you visit, remember to travel responsibly!

Sapa: 3 Days

I then proceeded to go to another popular tourist destination in Vietnam: Sapa. Located in northern Vietnam, Sapa is the ultimate hiking Southeast Asia destination, offering beautiful treks, picturesque villages, soaring mountain peaks, and charming rice terraces.

The best times to travel to Vietnam, or specifically, the stunning rice terraces in Sapa, are September and October. Since I embarked on my trip in May, I unfortunately missed out on the phenomenal vivid colors of the rice terraces in Fall.

However, I still immensely enjoyed my time in Sapa. From exploring the towering summit of Mount Fansipan to discovering the hiking routes surrounding Sapa, I definitely don’t regret including Sapa on my Vietnam travel itinerary.

Da Nang: 4 Days

Next, I headed to Da Nang. Famously known for its Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills , Da Nang may be the best city to visit in Vietnam.

However, most of Da Nang’s allure comes from the number of phenomenal day trips you can take. While there are many places to visit in Da Nang, such as My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hills, and the Dragon Bridge, the best sights are those surrounding Da Nang.

From the My Son ruins, the Marble Mountains, Hoi An, and the Cham Islands, there are an abundance of incredible day trips from Da Nang. One of my biggest tips for Vietnam travel is to explore these exceptional destinations!

Ho Chi Minh City: 2 Days

My final destination in Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh City (i.e., Saigon). While I more-or-less viewed Ho Chi Minh City as a long layover as I made my way into Cambodia, I still enjoyed my time there. While I did not have time to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, I did stop by the Saigon Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon.

Conclusions for Vietnam: Itinerary for Southeast Asia

I utterly adored my two weeks in Vietnam. Some highlights include the day trips from Da Nang (including my stops in My Son, Hoi An, and the Marble Mountains), touring around Halong Bay, trekking in Sapa, and going on a boat tour in Trang An.

If I could go back and change one thing from my itinerary, I would stay in Ninh Binh (near Trang An) for a few days, and skip Ho Chi Minh City altogether. Not to say that Ho Chi Minh City is not an amazing city (sorry for the double-negative); I just simply love the scenery of northern Vietnam, and I wish I could have experienced it more.

Itinerary for Southeast Asia: 1 Week in Cambodia

After spending 2 weeks in Vietnam, I made my way into Cambodia . While I made a brief stop in Phnom Penh, my true destination was Angkor Wat. Here’s an outline of my Cambodia travel itinerary:

Siem Reap: 7 Days

One of the most celebrated Cambodia tourist spots and iconic Southeast Asia temples is Angkor Wat, and my true intention in visiting Cambodia was to explore the numerous ancient temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap.

After a bit of research, I devised my 3-day plan for touring Angkor Wat. My itinerary was as follows:

• Day 1 : Rent a bike for the day. Cycle to Angkor Wat, then complete the Small Circuit Tour (Phnom Bakheng, Baphuon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda, Ta Keo, and Banteay Kdei).
• Day 2 : Book an affordable tour, taking me to the biggest and most popular temples (Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, and Phnom Bakheng).
• Day 3 : Hire a tuk tuk, visit Angkor Wat at sunrise, and then complete the Grand Circuit Tour (Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, Pre Rup, and Srah Srang).

But things didn’t go as planned.

Day 1 came. I successfully rented my bike, bought my 3-day pass, and arrived at Angkor Wat. Things were going well… until they weren’t.

Shortly after I arrived, I started feeling extremely nauseous and ill. I told myself it was because I over-exerted myself, cycling to Angkor Wat (which took me about an hour) in the overbearing heat and humidity, and I hoped it would go away after a few minutes of rest.

One hour came and passed, and the spasms of pain did not end… and I knew it wasn’t simple exhaustion. It was traveler’s diarrhea. Then came the hard part: cycling back to my hostel while fighting the urge to jump off my bike and vomit in the bushes.

I spent the next two days bed-ridden and sick. But, I had spent $62 USD on a 3-day pass to Angkor Wat and had already booked a $12 USD tour, so on the third day (when I did feel a little better), I forced myself out of bed and returned to Angkor Wat.

While that first day in Angkor Wat was unpleasant, it is undeniable that Angkor Archaeological Park is one of the best places to visit in Cambodia, and a definite must for all Cambodia itineraries.

The history of the ancient temples is utterly captivating, the architecture outstanding, and the scenery breathtaking. It is definitely one of the best Cambodia tourist attractions!

However, there are other places to visit in Siem Reap. Some things I did (while not sick) include visiting the Old Market and exploring the Angkor National Museum. If you want to learn more about the amazing things to do in Siem Reap, click here !

Conclusions for Cambodia: Itinerary for Southeast Asia

While I unfortunately did not have a ton of time to determine the best places to go in Cambodia, Angkor Wat should be in everyone’s Southeast Asia trips. As one of the best Southeast Asia destinations , it is definitely worthy of the bucket list!

Itinerary for Southeast Asia: 2 Weeks in Thailand

The final country on my 5-week Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand itinerary was Thailand . I spent 2 weeks in Thailand, and it was the perfect way to end my trip: I trekked through the lush jungles up north, island hopped down south, and went sightseeing around Bangkok. Here’s an in-depth review of my travels:

Chiang Mai: 7 Days

The first stop on my Thailand odyssey was Chiang Mai. Unfortunately, I was still recovering from my illness from Cambodia, so I wasn’t able to do as much as I would have liked.

Nevertheless, Chiang Mai is one of the top places to visit in Thailand, with an abundance of activities to do and incredible Chiang Mai day trips to take. The things I did include exploring Doi Inthanon National Park and embarking on a trekking tour, where I swam underneath a waterfall, trekked through the jungle, and relaxed on a bamboo raft.

Other things to do include visiting Wat Phra Singh, exploring Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham, and hiking to the Huay Kaew Waterfall.

Overall, I definitely recommend visiting Chiang Mai; it’s one of the best destinations in Thailand!

Phuket: 4 Days

I then proceeded to fly to Phuket; one of the best destinations for some Thailand island hopping! There are an abundance of day trips from Phuket (I even wrote about it on Claire’s Itchy Feet), and I had an amazing time exploring the islands of southern Thailand.

However, the Phuket day trips don’t only include the islands. One of the most amazing experiences I had on my 1 month Southeast Asia itinerary was visiting the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project .

With its center housed in the lush jungles near Bang Pae Waterfall, the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project is an organization set on rehabilitating abused gibbons. Visiting the center is a huge reminder about the negative impacts of tourism, especially on animals, and what we can do to travel responsibly!

The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, and Phuket in general, is definitely one of the best places to go in Thailand.

Bangkok: 3 Days

Finally, I spent my last few days in Southeast Asia exploring Bangkok. While my first few days in Hanoi were hectic and stressful, I was now used to the hustle and bustle of the big Southeast Asian cities!

Despite the fact that Bangkok was overbearingly humid, I still had a great time. I embarked on an Ayutthaya day trip, toured around the Grand Palace, and explored Khaosan Road.

Conclusions for Thailand: Itinerary for Southeast Asia

Overall, I had a great time in Thailand, and I don’t think I would have changed anything about it. For those planning a trip to Thailand, I would definitely recommend doing the Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok, trekking around Chiang Mai, and island hopping near Phuket!

In Conclusion,

I hope you found my 5-week itinerary for Southeast Asia helpful and inspiring! The destinations outlined were utterly stunning, and perfect for luxury and budget travelers alike.

And hey, if you’re planning a trip to Southeast Asia, why not check out my ultimate Southeast Asia packing list for women ?

Thanks for reading the article! If you have any questions, feel free to comment down below, and if you want to see more travel and hike-related content, make sure to check out my other articles.

Photos by the author and Pixabay.

If you enjoyed this article on my 5-week Southeast Asia itinerary and want some additional inspiring travel content, check out my article on my 5-week Europe itinerary !

About to embark on a trip? Here are some helpful articles to make your trip as awesome and stress-free as possible:

• How to Travel Without Breaking the Bank
• 15 Things to Do Before a Trip

And here are some additional helpful links:

• Click here for my walking guides
• Click here for my hiking guides
• Click here for more posts on Asia
• Click here for more resources

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Mia is the founder of Walk a While with Me, a travel blog dedicated to sharing the best self-guided walking tours, travel itineraries, and hikes for destinations around the world. A keen traveler, she has visited more than 20 countries in the past six years. She is excited for you to follow along on her adventures!

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing your itinerary! Would you mind sharing how you traveled between the countries? Thanks again!

Hi Carol – thank you for the comment! I traveled between countries via bus. For Vietnam to Cambodia, I took a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, and for Cambodia to Thailand, I took a bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok. Both bus rides worked out well!

Hello Mia, We’ll put together itinerary and thanks for sharing. I will be in Bangkok for 7-10 days, took your idea and will do a tour at Ayutthaya. Any suggestions for Krabi, I’ll be there 8-10 days and want to do some island hopping. Then I’m off to Vietnam, I’ll be using a good part of your itinerary it is excellent. Thanks again for sharing. My trip is Jan 24,2023 to April 15, 2023.

All the Best, WendyLou

Hi WendyLou – Your trip sounds so exciting! Unfortunately I haven’t done a lot of island hopping in Thailand, so I don’t really have any good suggestions for Krabi. But Ayutthaya is definitely worth visiting, and I absolutely loved Vietnam (especially Da Nang and Hanoi) – I really hope your trip goes well!

Hey this was so detailed and well organized! Thanks for sharing

Thank you, I hope the article helps!

AMAZING post, thank you! It was so helpful and I’ll base much of my 5-week itinerary around this. We’re fairly well-traveled but out of our comfort zone in SE Asia. We like off-the-beaten path travel and local experiences. The Gibbon Rehab sounds like a must!

Based on your comments, I’m thinking of planning multiple day trips on motorcycle (we’re experienced riders) from Da Nang rather than Hanoi. Does that make sense? Thanks again, appreciate your efforts. 🙂

Thank you so much, I’m glad you found my itinerary helpful! And yes, the Gibbon Rehab is definitely a must-visit. I’m not a biker myself, but taking multiple day trips from Da Nang by motorcycle sounds like so much fun! Hoi An and My Son were definitely my favorite day trips. I hope you have an amazing time!

Hello MIA SOUND GOOG WAS PLANNING TO VISIT THAILAND WHATS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN CHIANG MAI HOT TO GET THERE

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