So you’re planning on travelling South East Asia and you’re staring at a map trying to figure out where the hell to start? I get it. I was in the exact same position before my first trip here. There are like eleven countries in this region and they’re all supposed to be amazing and how are you supposed to pick a route that makes sense?
Here’s the thing though. There’s this well-worn path that backpackers have been following for decades. Some people call it the Banana Pancake Trail (because apparently hippies in the 70s really loved their banana pancakes), others call it the Golden Circle or just the backpacker route. Whatever you call it, it exists for a reason. It’s not some tourist trap thing, it’s literally just the most logical way to move through the region without backtracking or wasting money on unnecessary flights.
I’m going to break down the best travelling South East Asia routes based on how much time you actually have. Because planning a 2 week trip is completely different from planning a 3 month adventure, and I wish someone had laid this out for me before I left.
This is the first question you need to answer before you start mapping out your travelling around South East Asia route. And honestly? Most people underestimate how much time they need.
If you only have 2 weeks, stick to one or maybe two countries max. I know that sounds boring but trust me, you don’t want to spend half your trip on buses and in airports. Pick Thailand or Vietnam, go deep instead of wide, and save the rest for your next trip.
Got a month? Now we’re talking. You can comfortably do three countries, maybe four if you’re really moving. This is enough time to hit the highlights without feeling like you’re just checking boxes off a list.
Three months is like the sweet spot for travelling South East Asia. This gives you enough time to do the full classic route through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam without rushing. You can take a few days here and there to just chill, meet people, maybe stay somewhere longer than planned because you like the vibe.
And if you have six months or more? Lucky you. At that point you can add in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, maybe even Singapore. You can get off the beaten path, explore smaller towns, take your time. This is when Southeast Asia really opens up beyond just the tourist trail.
This is the route I ended up taking on my first long trip here, and it’s basically the blueprint that most backpackers follow. There’s a reason for that – it just works. You’re not backtracking, the transportation connections are solid, and you hit all the major highlights.
Start in Bangkok because it’s got the cheapest international flights and it’s a perfect introduction to Southeast Asia. The city is chaotic and overwhelming but in the best way possible. Spend like 3-4 days here exploring temples, eating street food, adjusting to the heat and the time change.
From Bangkok you head north to Chiang Mai. This is where things start getting really good. Chiang Mai has this perfect mix of city life and nature. You can take cooking classes, visit elephant sanctuaries (ethical ones, obviously), explore night markets, and just soak in the more laid back vibe compared to Bangkok. Give yourself at least a week here.
Then most people make their way to Pai which is this tiny hippie mountain town that’s become super popular with backpackers. It’s beautiful and chill but also very much on the backpacker trail now. I loved it but some people think it’s too touristy. Your call.
After northern Thailand, here’s where your travelling South East Asia route gets interesting. You take the slow boat from Chiang Rai (near the Thai border) to Luang Prabang in Laos. This is like a rite of passage for backpackers. It’s a two day journey down the Mekong River and yeah, it’s long and your butt will hurt, but the scenery is incredible and you’ll meet so many other travelers.
Luang Prabang is one of my favorite places in all of Southeast Asia. It’s this beautiful riverside town with French colonial architecture, tons of temples, and the most relaxed vibe ever. Don’t skip the early morning alms giving ceremony (but be respectful about it) and definitely go to Kuang Si Waterfalls.
From Luang Prabang you head south through Laos. You can stop in Vang Vieng which is known for its party scene and tubing down the river. It used to be way more out of control but they’ve tamed it down a bit. Still fun though.
Keep heading south to the Four Thousand Islands (Si Phan Don) on the border with Cambodia. This is where you just chill for a few days, rent a bike, watch the sunset, spot some freshwater dolphins if you’re lucky. It’s super low key and perfect after all the moving around.
One thing about Laos – the transportation is SLOW. Like slower than you think. The roads are rough, buses break down, things take forever. Just accept it and build in extra time. I learned this the hard way.
From southern Laos you cross into Cambodia. If you’re following the classic travelling South East Asia route, your first stop is Siem Reap for Angkor Wat. And yeah, Angkor Wat absolutely lives up to the hype. Wake up at like 4am to watch sunrise over the temples, spend a full day exploring (rent a bike or get a tuk tuk), and just be amazed by how massive and intricate everything is.
After Siem Reap, most people head to Phnom Penh. The capital is gritty and intense. You’ll want to visit the Killing Fields and S21 Prison Museum to learn about Cambodia’s recent history, but I’m warning you – it’s heavy stuff. Really important to understand, but emotionally draining.
From Phnom Penh you can either go to the southern beaches (Sihanoukville or the islands) or head east to the border with Vietnam. I went to Kampot which is this chill riverside town with great food and not too many tourists. Highly recommend.
Okay so Vietnam was probably my favorite country on the entire route. The food alone is worth the trip. I could eat pho and banh mi every single day and never get tired of it.
Most people enter Vietnam from Cambodia at the southern border and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by a lot of locals). It’s huge and busy and the traffic is absolutely insane. Give yourself a few days to explore the city, take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, eat everything.
From Ho Chi Minh you work your way up the coast. There are so many stops you could make but the main ones are:
Mui Ne for sand dunes and kitesurfing. Nha Trang for beaches and diving (it’s kind of party-ish). Da Lat for cool mountain weather and coffee plantations. Hoi An which is this adorable old town with lanterns everywhere and the best tailor shops (get some clothes made, it’s cheap and they do it in like a day). Hue for the Imperial City and history. Phong Nha for caves – some of the biggest caves in the world are here and it’s mind blowing.
Then you end in Hanoi up north. Hanoi is grittier than Ho Chi Minh, more authentically Vietnamese in a way. The Old Quarter is chaotic but amazing for street food. And from Hanoi you can do a trip to Ha Long Bay which is one of those bucket list things that actually lives up to expectations.
Vietnam is big and there’s a lot to see. I spent like 6 weeks there and could’ve easily stayed longer. Most people spend at least a month working their way from south to north.
The route I just described is the classic one, but it’s definitely not the only way to do it. Here are some other options depending on your priorities and how much time you have.
If you’re more into beaches than temples and cities, you can structure your travelling around South East Asia route totally differently. Start in southern Thailand (fly into Phuket or Krabi), spend a few weeks island hopping through Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui. Then fly to Indonesia and do Bali, Gili Islands, Lombok. Maybe add in the Philippines if you have time – Palawan, Siargao, Boracay.
This route is more expensive because you’re flying more and islands are generally pricier than mainland. But if beaches and diving are your thing, it’s worth it.
If you have serious time, you can do a complete loop that hits way more countries. Start in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), work your way up through southern Thailand, do the classic route through Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, then fly to northern Thailand and end in Indonesia. Or start in Indonesia and work backwards.
This loop lets you add in places like Penang, Langkawi, Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. The whole Indonesian archipelago if you have time. Maybe even Singapore for a few days to break up the budget travel with some luxury.
I met people doing this loop and they all said 6 months still wasn’t enough. There’s just so much to see.
Okay so beyond just picking destinations, there’s some practical stuff you need to know about actually executing your route.
This is huge. Do not book all your accommodation and transportation ahead of time. Book your first few nights in your first city so you have somewhere to go when you land, but after that, stay flexible.
You’re going to meet people and want to travel together. You’re going to love a place and want to stay longer. You’re going to hear about some random spot from other travelers and decide to go there instead. You’re going to get sick or tired and need to slow down. Build in flexibility.
The only things I book more than a few days ahead are flights between countries (if needed) and accommodation in really popular spots during peak season. Everything else I book like 2-3 days before, sometimes the day before.
People stress about border crossings but honestly they’re pretty straightforward. Most borders between these countries are well set up for tourists. You show your passport, maybe fill out a form, pay for visa on arrival if needed (Cambodia, Laos), and you’re through.
The one exception is if you’re doing a bus that crosses borders. Sometimes these can take forever because the bus company handles everyone’s passports at once and it’s slow. I prefer crossing independently when possible – you take a bus to the border, walk across, take another bus on the other side. Gives you more control.
When you’re plotting out your travelling around South East Asia route, everything looks close on the map. It’s not. Transportation here is slow.
A bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is like 10-12 hours. The slow boat to Laos is 2 full days. Going from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is like 36 hours by bus (most people fly that one). The Four Thousand Islands to Siem Reap is a whole day of travel.
Build in travel days and don’t pack your itinerary too tight. I tried doing too many places in my first few weeks and I was exhausted. You need rest days.
For longer distances, budget airlines can save you a ton of time without breaking the bank. AirAsia, VietJet, Scoot, they all have flights for like $30-50 if you book ahead and don’t check bags.
I used to be all about overland travel only, but after taking one too many brutal overnight buses, I started flying more. Sometimes paying $40 to do a 2 hour flight instead of a 12 hour bus is worth it. Your body will thank you.
Just watch out for baggage fees and book everything when you buy the ticket. It’s way more expensive at the airport.
I did some dumb stuff on my first trip travelling South East Asia and I want to save you from making the same mistakes.
First, I packed way too much. Like way too much. I had a 60L backpack stuffed to the max and by week two I was miserable lugging it around. Pack half of what you think you need. You can buy stuff there, and honestly you won’t wear most of what you bring.
Second, I tried to do too many places too fast. I had this list of like 30 places I wanted to see in 3 months and I was constantly moving. I barely remember half those places because I was just rushing through. Slow down. See less, experience more.
Third, I didn’t build in any buffer days. So when I got food poisoning in Thailand (which will probably happen to you at some point), my whole schedule got messed up and I missed stuff I’d already paid for. Build in rest days and buffer time.
Fourth, I was too rigid with my plan. I had everything mapped out and when opportunities came up to deviate, I stuck to my plan instead. Some of my best experiences came from being spontaneous and going with the flow.
Timing matters more than people think. Southeast Asia has basically two seasons – dry and wet – and they vary by country.
The most popular time for travelling South East Asia is November to March. This is dry season in most places, the weather is perfect, and everyone is here. It’s also more expensive and more crowded.
I actually prefer travelling in shoulder season (April-May or September-October). It’s hotter and you might get some rain, but it’s way less crowded and cheaper. Just avoid full rainy season (June-August) unless you don’t mind constant downpours.
Different countries have different patterns though. Northern Thailand is best November to February. Vietnam’s north is actually cold in December-January. Bali’s dry season is April to September. Do a bit of research on your specific route.
This is the question everyone wants to know. How much does it actually cost?
Budget backpackers can do Southeast Asia on $30-40 per day if you’re staying in hostel dorms, eating street food, taking buses, and not doing tons of paid activities. That’s like $900-1200 per month.
Mid-range is more like $50-70 per day. Private rooms, nicer restaurants sometimes, a few flights, doing activities and tours. That’s about $1500-2100 per month.
If you want to be comfortable with occasional splurges, budget $80-100 per day. That’s $2400-3000 per month.
I usually fell somewhere in the middle, probably averaging $60 per day. Some days I’d spend $30, other days $100 depending on what I was doing.
Singapore is the big exception – it’s expensive as hell compared to everywhere else. Budget more for your time there.
Look, at the end of the day, there’s no perfect route. The classic Thailand-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam loop is popular for a reason, but it’s not the only way to do it.
The best advice I can give you is to have a rough plan but stay flexible. Know generally which countries you want to hit and in what order, but don’t stress about booking every single thing in advance or following some rigid itinerary.
Some of my favorite experiences travelling around South East Asia happened because I was spontaneous. I extended my stay in places I loved, I went to random towns I’d never heard of because someone recommended them, I took detours and changed plans constantly.
The beauty of Southeast Asia is that it’s so easy and cheap to travel here that you can afford to be flexible. You can change your route, add places, skip places, stay longer, leave earlier. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you go.
My original plan was to spend a month backpacking through Thailand and Vietnam. I ended up staying 6 months and visiting 5 countries. And honestly? Not having everything planned out is what made it so amazing.
So pick your starting point, have a rough idea of the direction you want to go, pack light, and just go. You’ll figure the rest out as you travel. That’s kind of the whole point.
And if you need help figuring out what to actually pack for your trip, I put together this complete women’s packing list for backpacking Southeast Asia that covers everything you need (and nothing you don’t).
Now stop overthinking it and book that flight. Your Southeast Asia adventure is waiting and I’m soooo excited for you!
