Travelling SE Asia - Recommandations required

The Kid 2008

Hi All,

I hope that you maybe able to help me with my travels. I am spending about 6 ½ weeks travelling SE Asia from the 4th Nov flying into Bangkok and flying out from Bangkok on the 20 Dec. Travelling by myself I don’t mind, but what I like to get is recommendation of where to vist, what to do and what is not worth visiting. I know I don’t have too long of a time there, but I would like to see a lot of things.

So the countries I would like to visit are:

Country

---

Where to visit

---

Days there

---

Activities & Attractions
Bangkok
Chang Mai
Laos
Cambodia
Vietnam
The Islands
Bangkok

So when I fly into Bangkok, ?

So what do you recommend ?

Also there is a full moon party on the 12 Dec so I plan to be there for that.

All recommendation are welcome.
Thanks
Niall

Spider_Baby

The Kid 2008 wrote: »

Hi All,

I hope that you maybe able to help me with my travels. I am spending about 6 ½ weeks travelling SE Asia from the 4th Nov flying into Bangkok and flying out from Bangkok on the 20 Dec. Travelling by myself I don’t mind, but what I like to get is recommendation of where to vist, what to do and what is not worth visiting. I know I don’t have too long of a time there, but I would like to see a lot of things.

So the countries I would like to visit are:

Country

---

Where to visit

---

Days there

---

Activities & Attractions
Bangkok
Chang Mai
Laos
Cambodia
Vietnam
The Islands
Bangkok

So when I fly into Bangkok, ?

So what do you recommend ?

Also there is a full moon party on the 12 Dec so I plan to be there for that.

All recommendation are welcome.
Thanks
Niall

Hmmm...6 weeks isn't that long at all really...I spent 6 weeks in SE Asia the first time I was there...
I did manage to get to see everywhere on your list though, but it was quite rushed though! But great all the same
My advice would be...
Arrive in Bangkok, spend 2 to 3 nights there. If you are there on a Sat head to the MASSIVE market. Any tuk tuk will take you there.
From bangkok...if money isn't too low...fly north to Chaing Mai. Actually, no...the train to Chaing Mai is fine, and its an overnight one, so technically you dont miss a day of sightseeing, once you sleep on the train.
So yeah, train to Chaing Mai. Spent about 4 or 5 nights there. Do a trek, or go see an elephant sanctuary...or do a jewellery course!
From Chaing Mai the next logical step would be to head to Laos.
About 5 years ago I took the slow boat...but this will take 2 days...which (in my opinion) would be better spent actually doing or seeing something elsewhere. So I'd recommend you fly from Chaing Mai to somewhere in Laos.

On my trip I then got a looooong bus from Vientianne all the way to Hanoi.
Hanoi is my fave place in all of SE Asia. I love it Then work your way down through Vietnam. The best places to stop off (in my opinion) would be Hoi An (get some clothes made), Na Trang (big beach town, very party orientated...but slightly dangerous), Dalat (absolutely amazing scenery!!! So much to see, coffee plantations, stunning mountains etc), and Ho Chi Min City (I love this place too! So much to do and see).
From here you should then head over towards Cambodia. Places to go here would be Sihanoukville (beaches and nightlife - really chilled out), Siem Riep and Phonm Penh. Make sure you go to the genocide museum, killing fields and S21 prison....intense stuff....but a must-see in my opinion.
Then head back towards Bangkok!
IfI were you I'd then fly down to Phuket...hopefully with enough time to get you to the full moon par-tay!

Shryke

I might as well ask in this thread; can a person get around SE Asia without knowing much of the local language? Would this be a difficult trip for somebody who only had english? I won't be travelling again until next year but it's going to be either a hell of a trip through Asia or a week or two in Japan depending on a few factors. Sorry for the derail, I figure I'm vaguely on topic.

breadmonkey

Sandor wrote: »

I might as well ask in this thread; can a person get around SE Asia without knowing much of the local language? Would this be a difficult trip for somebody who only had english? I won't be travelling again until next year but it's going to be either a hell of a trip through Asia or a week or two in Japan depending on a few factors. Sorry for the derail, I figure I'm vaguely on topic.

No problem whatsoever.

As for your route, if you can fly a lot then you can go to a lot of places. If no, I'd recommend spending a couple of days in Bangkok, heading to Chiang Mai and maybe a couple of places nearby like Pai. Into Laos (or Vietnam, from what I heard you'd be done with Cambodia in a week or so) for two or three weeks. Then back to Thailand, straight to the islands for the last couple of weeks. There's no need to rush around trying to see everything. Just take it easy. Picking two countries is the way to go imo.

Shryke

I hear you. I rushed through the early stages of my trip through europe only to regret it later. Vietnam and Thailand are both definites.

crisco10

Sandor wrote: »

I hear you. I rushed through the early stages of my trip through europe only to regret it later. Vietnam and Thailand are both definites.

I agree but Laos is also well worth a few days. Tubing etc but also Luang Prabang is the most hilarious town with its monks and curfew! But i think it is better to just pick and go with 2 countries, 6 weeks isnt a long time at all and will fly by. Although getting flights would help, for example you can fly from chang mai to Luang Prabang which would save the two days if you did it by bus & boat.

Shryke

I'd honestly prefer to travel on the ground as much as possible. I'd rather not be jetting over all the scenery and people! It's always possible to spare a handful of days to head over and get the flavour of the place but I'll probably only know if I have the time to do that when I'm over there. Much appreciated though!

Jugs82

Done a similar trip over a year ago

6.5 weeks is not long enough for all the places mentioned - in my opinion, you would be rushing everywhere without ever really getting a proper 'feel' for anywhere - also you wouldnt have much flexibility in terms of "this is a cool place, lets stay here for 2-3 more nights" type scenario.

It took us the whole month to get from HCMC to Hanoi while travel in Laos takes time

I would look at something like:

Bangkok - Islands (fly to Samui with Air Asia) - get local boat to Ko Phan Ngan - Bangkok (RTN Flight) - Chiang Mai (Overnight Bus) - Boat to Laos - Luang Prabang - Vang Vein (not my thing but some love it) - Vietianne - 4000 Islands (Don Det) - amazing place - Cambodia - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Bangkok

or (Including Vietnam)

Same Itenary up to Bangkok (RTN Flight) - Siem Reap (do not get bus ) - Phnom Penh - HCMC - Mekong Delta - Dalat - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Bangkok (Flight, Air Asia) - Chiang Mai - Bangkok

S.M.B.

Jugs82 wrote: »

Done a similar trip over a year ago

6.5 weeks is not long enough for all the places mentioned - in my opinion, you would be rushing everywhere without ever really getting a proper 'feel' for anywhere - also you wouldnt have much flexibility in terms of "this is a cool place, lets stay here for 2-3 more nights" type scenario.

It took us the whole month to get from HCMC to Hanoi while travel in Laos takes time

I would look at something like:

Bangkok - Islands (fly to Samui with Air Asia) - get local boat to Ko Phan Ngan - Bangkok (RTN Flight) - Chiang Mai (Overnight Bus) - Boat to Laos - Luang Prabang - Vang Vein (not my thing but some love it) - Vietianne - 4000 Islands (Don Det) - amazing place - Cambodia - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Bangkok

or (Including Vietnam)

Same Itenary up to Bangkok (RTN Flight) - Siem Reap (do not get bus ) - Phnom Penh - HCMC - Mekong Delta - Dalat - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Bangkok (Flight, Air Asia) - Chiang Mai - Bangkok

Air Asia don't fly to Samui.

Booking a flight to Chiang Mai can work out to be less expensive than the overnight train if you book well in advance. No need to get the train unless you're planning on getting off along the way imo.

briano13

This thread has great advice!

One question though... If you were to try and spend more than 6 weeks from Nov 4th then you may have to spend Chrimbo in SE Asia. Is there anywhere you would recommend for Chrimbo and New Years in SE Asia? Please some advice would be great. Thanks

crisco10

S.M.B. wrote: »

Air Asia don't fly to Samui.

Booking a flight to Chiang Mai can work out to be less expensive than the overnight train if you book well in advance. No need to get the train unless you're planning on getting off along the way imo.

Well the overnight train has the advantage of being a nights accomodation as well as your travel so you save a bit of money there. 2nd class sleeper on the train is comfy enough so you can actually get a nights sleep. I
n a way the train also saves you time, you leave bangkok at 7pm so you get a full day in bangkok then arrive in Chang Mai mid morning (regardless of when the ticket says you will arrive). This gives you a pretty full day in Chang mai too. If you were to fly, unless you got up real early or left real late, you could waste most of a day getting to the airport, sitting in the airport, flying to chang mai etc..
In essence, i think the train is better...:D

RyanAsh

Hey OP, im just finished a RTW trip which had SE Asia at the start so i can tell you what we did. It took us 3months but to be honest while loads of people are telling you its not long enough I think its doable & if thats all the time you have then you just have to see as much as you can. So here's what i'd do....

Bangkok - 3nights max, stay on Kho San Rd, D&D Inn is good
Overnight train or bus to Chang Mai - 4nights - do a 3 day 2night trek & do a cooking course.
You could spend a few nights in Pai (3 hour bus journey), such a cool laid back hippyville, loved it. might not have time tho
I would recommend flying to Luang Prabang if you can afford it, slow boat is good fun if you've a good gang but it takes a lot of time
2nights in luang prabang is plenty, go see the amazing waterfalls & go out & experience the fun of afterhours drinking in the bowling alley post curfew.
Bus down to Vang Viene then for 3/4 nights, its such a class place, do plenty of tubing, party loads, go see the lagoon, & chill watching friends/simpsons.
Bus to VIentiene & get out of there asap, didn't like it & noone i met did. Fly to Hanoi instead of getting the 24hour bus, its about 90eur & so worth it!
So thats about 2 weeks stuff now....
A few nights in Hanoi, go out on the boat trip to Halong Bay, 2days 1 night is enough. the 2nd night is usually on the Cat Ma island which is crap!
Then take about 2 wks to go down the coast, I really liked Hoi An, Nha Trang & Saigon so would recommend 3/4 nights in each of these, would skip the rest. You can get a bus down the coast, paid in advance, get the sleeper ticket & do the trips overnight to save yourself days travelling & nights accommodation
So thats 4weeks
Then cross over from Saigon to Phnom Penh, def do the killing fields & S21, chilling stuff but a must. then off to Siem Reap, spend 2/3 nights there & see the temples & enjoy the nightlife (Angkor What!) Sianoucksville is cool but its a bit of a bus journey & the beach & nightlife whilst good will be much better in the island of thailand so wouldn't be a big deal to skip.
Thats 5weeks....
A 10hr bus journey then will take you from Siem Reap to Bangkok where you should fly staight to Kho Samui in time to get a boat directly to Kho Phangan. Or check out if you can fly directly from Siem Reap to Kho Samui (not sure if you can, would so be worth it) Enjoy the full moon party & then head to Kho tao for a few days, its a big diving place & even if you dont get to do some the island has a great atmosphere. Dont think you'll have time to do the islands on the other side. Do you've accommodation for the FMP? Sometimes places tie you into a 5night contract which is a pain, get there 2/3 days in advance & get out the day after if you can. Boat back to Bangkok from either Kho Phangan or Kho Tao then for your flight home.

Might seem a bit rushed but flying will save you loads of time & while it might seem a bit expensive now you'll be spending buttons over there so is worth it in the long run in my opinion....
Enjoy SE Asia - its excellent..!

Jugs82

Air Asia don't fly to Samui.

They fly to Surat Thani where you get the ferry to Samui from, almost as cheap as the bus and much quicker

Air asia run a bus from the airport to the boat - easy peasy

spinandscribble

stay in spicythai backpackers in chiang mai. great crowd, nice house and they'll organise good value treks and help you out.

Glowing

You'll have a ball in SE Asia - don't however feel obliged to do an elephant trek, it's a horribly cruel industry. It may be advertised everywhere but it doesn't mean it's right.

irelandsown

spinandscribble wrote: »

stay in spicythai backpackers in chiang mai. great crowd, nice house and they'll organise good value treks and help you out.

Nice one. I'm going up to Chiang Mai this afternoon after a few days in Bangkok and am staying with these guys. I'm travelling on my own and have found Bangkok quite difficult to meet people. Hopefully Chiang Mai will be better.

spinandscribble

you'll have a ball they're very nice, chiang mai was great can't wait to go back, so much to do.

Trapattoni

Hi Niall hows things, Im in Cape Town at the minute having travelled down through Africa but heading to Bangkok on Wednesday or Thursday - Willing to meet up with ye for a pint if I'm still there by the time you arrive

Let us know mate , Later

mac123

OP, I think its doable in 6 weeks but imo thats not the best way to do it. Personally i took 3.5 months to do those countries. Vietnam needs a month to do it justice anyway. Cambodia and Laos can be done in 10 days to 2 weeks and i think Thailand deserves a month aswell.
Personally if i was you id pick Thailand for a month and either Laos or Cambodia for 2 weeks depending on what your into. I prefered Laos to Cambodia, its just more fun, particularly if your on your own! But that being said Cambodia is definatley worth a visit.
Anyway i dont think you should rush your trip...whats to stop you from going back again and seeing the rest of the places in the future??

dory

irelandsown wrote: »

Nice one. I'm going up to Chiang Mai this afternoon after a few days in Bangkok and am staying with these guys. I'm travelling on my own and have found Bangkok quite difficult to meet people. Hopefully Chiang Mai will be better.

I found that with Thailand as well. Lack of dorm rooms can make it hard. Also, a lot of package holiday types. There with their friends to get pissed, not really out to talk to randomers.
Malaysia I found was much easier. Hostels had common rooms and stuff so you could chat and watch a DVD.
I felt like an idiot alone in Thailand, especially down on Phi Phi - it's like going to Gran Canaria alone.

Trapattoni

Good advice - any recommendations for where to stay? I am travelling alone also looking to meet a lot of new people...What should I do in bangkok, I plan on only staying a couple of days

Cheers

dory

Where to stay in Bangkok?? I'm not even sure where I stayed. I just walked around til I found a cheap room, it was fine, but didn't get to talk to others. The only way I got talking to people in Thailand was through doing tours. Day trips or scuba diving. Other than that I'm not sure. Unless you're the kind of person who can walk into a bar and start a conversation.

Trapattoni

Id like to think Im that sort of person Dory yeah but to be honest I just spoke to my mate who says exactly the same re meeting people in bangkok - shame really cause I really was looking forward to a right piss up!!

mac123

you can still go out on the piss on your own, dont worry mate you should be able to meet a few people in a bar or whatever. i stayed in myhouse guest house on soi rambutri a few times and they sort of have a common room where ppl read watch movies etc. decent accom too and much better than the khao san rd, its about 5 mins from there.
besides that id agree that thailand is harder to meet ppl but not that hard. if your diving you should meet loads, that being said alot of the ppl i talked to in thailand were ppl id already met when in laos.
anyway enjoy it mate...im very very jealous.......

jimmypitt

Going to Thailand in a few weeks on my own and now i am very worried by some of the comments here! I though Thailand was backpackers paradise and especially for the single traveller?? By they way if you don't end up meeting people what the hell do you do with your time??? I am not sure i actually want the answer to this question! It is not like at home where you can watch tv for a few hours, chill with family, etc...

breadmonkey

Might I recommend Lamphu House as a place to stay in Bangkok. You'll need to book in advance,

Doc

Did many of you guys just turn up in Thailand without a real plan and just decide what to do out there?

I’m Planning my trip around SE Asia now and my brain is melting. If I just turn up do you recon I would struggle to find things to do or really miss out?

Would it be easy to just fly into Bangkok and decide what to do when there?

Planning this kind of thing is difficult for me because I would like to do everything but know that’s not possible, and as I’ve never done any of it find it hard to prioritise what I should do as I don’t know what is good and what isn’t.

crisco10

Doc,

in short yes. Me and my g/f rocked up with no real plan. We had a vague itinerary in our heads of where we wanted to see and the best order to do that in. Also roughly how long we would spend in each place, but that was pretty open ended as well.
Trains can be bought a day or two in advance, ditto flights. Accom is plentiful in most places. The only sort of organised thing we did was a 2 day 1 night trip out to Kanchana buri from Bangkok. But this we booked in Bangkok...

Full Moon Accom was booked before we left Ireland tho...

Trapattoni

Pretty much doc - Im flying back to Bangkok in a few days and will decide (for the 2nd time in bangkok) where to next !