This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase or sign up through any of the links on this website, at no extra cost to you. View disclaimer for more information.
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 southeast asia travel route that actually 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.
This post is about figuring out how much time you actually need and which route style fits you, whether that’s the classic backpacker loop, island hopping, or the full four to six month version. If you already know you’ve got exactly 3 months and want the full month by month breakdown with a real budget table, I’ve written that out in detail in my complete 3-month Southeast Asia travel route post. This post is for the step before that, working out how much time to give yourself and which style of trip actually fits.
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.
If three months is your number, I’ve written the classic route out in full, month by month, with a real budget table, in my complete 3-month Southeast Asia travel route post. But “the classic route” is really just one option among a few, and picking the right one matters more than picking the fastest one. Here’s a quick side by side, then the full breakdown of each.
| Route | Time Needed | Countries | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banana Pancake Trail (Classic Loop) | 3-4 weeks minimum | Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia | First SE Asia trip, proven backpacker infrastructure |
| The Full Loop | 4-6 months | Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia | Long-term travelers, going deep off the beaten path |
| Island Hopper | 3-6 weeks | Southern Thailand, Indonesia, optional Philippines | Beaches and diving over cities and temples |
| Northern Thailand + Laos Slow Loop | 1.5-3 weeks | Northern Thailand, Laos | Mountains, culture, slower pace, cooler weather |
| Vietnam Coastal Route | 2-4 weeks | Vietnam only | One country, done properly, north to south |
| Malaysia + Borneo Route | 2-4 weeks | Malaysia (KL, Langkawi, optional Penang/Borneo) | City and beach combo, less touristy pick |
This is the route I mentioned back at the start, the well-worn path through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia that backpackers have been doing for decades. If this is your first trip to the region, start here. It exists for a reason: the infrastructure is built for it. Hostels know what backpackers need, buses run constantly between the spots you’ll actually want to hit, and border crossings between these four countries are about as easy as border crossings get.
Three to four weeks is the minimum to do it without feeling rushed, though plenty of people stretch it to two months if they can. I’ve got the full route written out step by step, city by city, with real prices, in my Banana Pancake Trail guide, that’s the one to read once you’ve decided this is your route.
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.
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 temples and mountains sound better to you than beaches and bar crawls, this one’s worth a serious look. Start in Chiang Mai, genuinely one of my favorite cities in the world, and one of the best times of year to be there is November through February when it’s cool and dry. Spend a few days in Chiang Rai for the White Temple and the Golden Triangle, then head to Pai for a few slow days in the mountains. From there, cross into Laos and take the slow boat from Huay Xai down to Luang Prabang, two full days on the Mekong, which sounds tedious on paper and somehow ends up being one of those trips people talk about years later.
Give this one 1.5 to 3 weeks. It’s a much slower pace than the classic loop, less nightlife, more temples, hikes, and hill tribe villages, and it’s noticeably cheaper too since you’re mostly in smaller towns instead of backpacker hubs.
If you’d rather go deep on one country instead of crossing four borders, Vietnam end to end is one of the best single-country routes in the region. Start in Hanoi, work your way down through Halong Bay, Hoi An, Nha Trang or Mui Ne, and finish in Ho Chi Minh City. Some people do it by motorbike, the classic Vietnam road trip, some take the Reunification Express train in stages, and either way you get a country that changes completely from north to south, cold and misty up top, tropical and chaotic by the time you hit the Mekong Delta.
Two to four weeks covers it comfortably depending on how many stops you add. If you’re doing this route, my Vietnam packing list has the specifics for exactly this kind of trip.
This one’s underrated. Start in Kuala Lumpur, a couple of days is enough to get a feel for the city, hit the food scene, and see the sights, then head to Langkawi for genuinely beautiful beach time without the crowds you’d get in Thailand. From there you can go deeper if you want: Penang for more food and old colonial streets, or fly into Kota Kinabalu for jungle trekking and diving in Malaysian Borneo. Both of those are on my list for next time, so consider that part the research backed version rather than the “I’ve personally done this” version, unlike KL and Langkawi, which I can vouch for directly.
Two to four weeks gives you room to do KL, Langkawi, and one more stop without rushing. My Malaysia packing list covers what to bring for this exact route.
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?
For the full day-by-day budget on the classic 3-month route, the table in my complete 3-month Southeast Asia travel route post has the real numbers I’d stand behind.
As a rough per-day range across any of the routes here: budget backpacker style runs $30 to $40, mid-range $50 to $70, and comfortable with occasional splurges $80 to $100.
Budget scales with pace more than destination. Slower travel, more overnight buses, and street food keeps costs down. Moving fast, flying often, and nicer rooms pushes it up quickly, so match your budget to whichever route style you picked above, not just a flat number.
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 heck 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!
Check out some of my favorite tools and companies I actually use when I travel.
Need a Bank Account for Life Abroad? Wise is the best option for travelers, study abroad students and expats. I use it as my everyday checking account since it lets me hold and spend in multiple currencies without getting hit with a bad exchange rate every time I cross a border.
Want to Travel for Free & Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees? I put my spending on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card and let the points cover flights and hotels I'd otherwise be paying for out of pocket. I've been able to use the points I earn on this card to pay for flights, hotels and meals all around the world!
Please Don't Forget Travel Insurance! Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never go on a trip without it. My two favorites are:
Need a Flight? I personally love using Google Flights to track prices and compare dates before I commit, the flexible date view alone has saved me a lot of money. Skyscanner is another great search engine to find cheap flights because it searches sites and airlines around the globe, so you know no cheap deal is being left on the table.
Getting Around Southeast Asia? Book your buses, trains, and ferries with 12Go Asia. One search shows you every route and price, so you're not digging through ten different local booking sites.
Need a Place to Stay? Book your hotel with Expedia, where I start looking, especially when I want to bundle flights and stays together. Hotels.com is my backup when I want to compare prices or I'm chasing their rewards program for a free night.
On a Tighter Budget? Hostelworld is where I go for hostels. It has the largest inventory out there, and you can search for dorm beds or private rooms depending on what you're after!
Want a Free Way to Travel? Try TrustedHousesitters! You look after someone's home and pets while they're away, and in exchange you get free accommodation (minus the subscription fee). It's a great option if you're traveling long term and want to cut costs. I personally use this as a host and a sitter, and it's truly great!
Need Inspiration or Just Want to See What's Out There? Go Guides is a solid resource for destination guides, must-see landmarks, local markets, best beaches, and things to do, browsable by place or by theme. It's a good stop whether you already know where you're headed or you're still looking for your next destination.
Check out my full packing gear guide for everything I bring on international trips, or browse my favorite travel finds on Amazon for quick links to it all.
Check out my full resource page for every company I use when I travel. I list them all in one place so you can go from planning to booked without digging through old blog posts!
Hey there, I'm Angelique!
I'm a Filipina-American, Chicago native living abroad and running my online design agency from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Over a decade of traveling in, and yes, I still pinch myself. With family split between the US, UK, and SE Asia, travel has always been part of my story. This blog is where I share the honest side of living and traveling abroad, the places I explore, my best study abroad tips from personal experience, and the little hacks that make this life actually work. Glad you're here, friend!
Studying abroad soon?
everything to sort before you go, in one printable page.
I share what I'm actually doing, where I'm going, and the things I wish I'd known before I booked the flight. No spam, just the good stuff that you'll actually enjoy reading.