r/SouthEastAsia_Travel

I’m planning a 3 month backpacking trip and wanted to know if this route makes sense or if I’m going to be wasting time/money travelling back on myself.

Current idea is:

Bangkok → North Thailand → Laos → Vietnam → South Thailand → Australia

I’d probably spend most of the trip in Thailand/Laos/Vietnam, then finish with a couple of weeks in Australia.

Main things I’m trying to balance are:

•cheapest/most efficient route

•avoiding unnecessary flights

•still doing the popular backpacker route/social hostels

•Does this route make sense or would you change the order completely?

Flying from Yyz-KUL end of August for honeymoon

Booked hotel in KUL from Aug 28 - Sep 1

Flying from KUL to langkawi Sep 1 - 6

Thinking of flying from Langkawi to Penang then driving back to KUL from Penang on Sep 9

My only issue is baggage. The fees are absurd to include my 23kg back for my wife and I. ($600 CAD total)

What options do I have to deal with baggage?

I've seen baggage storage options but im not sure if it's worth it. Should I buy temporary suitcases since some flight options include 10kg checked bag and store my 2 big ones somewhere?

Please help I would really appreciate it

I (M20 from the US) am planning to travel to Indonesia (specifically Jakarta and Jogya) from the 10th to 13th of July. I will be arriving from Singapore to CGK at 11am and then take the 5pm train from Gambir train station to Yogyakarta and will stay there for the remainder. I have a rough itinerary planned out but I would love to hear what ya'll think about it - any suggestions, things I should do instead etc... I am open to doing anything except beaches (not my liking). My budget is tight but I am willing to spend a little more for an experience or a modest improvement in comfort.

Questions that I have:

• does gambir station have a storage locker that i can put my luggage in? or does Istiqlal mosque have a storage locker?
• what sort of transport should i take to the city from the airport in jakarta?
• anything else i should do in jakarta on Friday?
• is the jeep tour worth it (especially for solo)

Friday (Mostly in Jakarta):

• 11am: Land , take either bus or hire driver to city
• 12-1pm: Jummah at Istiqlal
• 1:15pm: Lunch + Kota Tua neighborhood
• 5pm: Train to Yogyakarta at Gambir station (arrives ~11pm)

Saturday: Temple day

• 7:30am: Breakfast
• 8:30am: Borobudur
• 11:30am: lunch near Borobudur
• 1:30pm: Prambanan
• 3:15pm: Plaosan Lor
• 4:30pm: Ratu Boko. Skip if tired
• 6:30pm: Malioboro + Kraton
• 8pm: South Square
• 8:30pm: Dinner

Sunday: Merapi + city

• 3am: Merapi Sunrise Jeep Tour
• 7:30am: breakfast
• 9am: Rest at hotel
• 12:30pm: Taman Sari Water Castle
• 2:30pm: Kota Gede Silver District
• 4:30pm: lunch
• 5:30pm: Alun-alun Selatan 
• 7pm: dinner + Malioboro by night

Monday:

• 8am: breakfast
• 9am: Beringharjo Market
• 10am: Situs Warangboto 
• 10:30am: Kraton
• 12pm: lunch
• 1:30pm: Souvenirs + check out of hotel
• 3:30pm: Depart for YIA

My friend and I (F, early 20s) will be traveling together to Vietnam and/or Thailand together for a week (12/26-1/1) and have no idea what to do! It'll be my first time traveling abroad in a while and we're very much into beautiful sights, fun activities, and delicious food! We specifically love picturesque spots, active things, and being adventurous with fruits and (safe) street food.

Does anyone have any fun stories, recommendations, or thoughts? We are mostly debating if we should go to just one country or split our time in both (depending on what would be cheaper and more fun). Thanks!

I’ll be traveling solo to Phong Nha next month and trying to decide whether I should pre-book tours or just figure things out when I arrive.

For those who’ve visited:

• Did you use Viator/Trip.com/GetYourGuide/etc.?
• Or did you just book directly through local tour operators or homestays?
• Are the cave tours there generally easy to organize independently?

I’m mainly interested in Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave, and Dark Cave.

Any tips or recommendations would be super helpful!

I’m a single 53y/o guy that’s looking at planning/taking a trip (solo) in June/July and trying to decide between Thailand (Bangkok and Koh Samui) or Vietnam (HCMC and Da Nang). Weather? Energy? and etc. looking for honest no YouTube or IG hype opinion/opinions on which is the better fit? any advice is appreciate!

Looking for booking a trip for this November with the use of Amex Points to convert, but I’m a little lost when it comes to conversion ratios. What should I look for when planning to book this trip?

First was looking with Air Canada (Aeroplan) and it was 1:1 but found a decently cheap round trip to Singapore, when I would then just find a cheap flight to Bali from there for around $150.

Another option I found was through Qatar airways, but I could not figure out what a conversion would look like for that airline.

I’m typically used to just booking through the Amex portal so that does all the work for me, and I’m not really sure what to look for here. Any input helps, and I appreciate the assistance in advance!

Finally booked tickets for my first proper solo international trip 😄

Plan right now:

28 May - Bangalore to Langkawi
29-30 May - Langkawi
31 May - Kuala Lumpur
1 June - KL + night flight back

Still figuring out stays and the overall flow of the trip.

I’m planning to keep Langkawi pretty chill with scooter rides, cafés, beaches, sunsets etc instead of trying to cover everything as I will be there for around 3 days and 3 nights.

I haven’t made any plan about KL yet, but I will be there for around 2 days and one night

Would really appreciate suggestions for:
\- best areas to stay in Langkawi and KL
\- hidden spots/cafés/viewpoints
\- things worth skipping
\- weather/packing advice for late May
\- anything I should know before travelling solo in Malaysia

Also would love connecting with fellow travellers if anyone’s around during similar dates ✌️

So me andnmy friends (all 17) are planning a trip, and wanna explore some beaches, goa is off the menu cause its monsoon and parents are denying, what are some other beaches with shallow water (to convince my parents) preferably on the east coast

Hi, I (19F, Australian) am planning the final four nights of my trip through Malaysia and Singapore where I will be splitting from my Dad and travelling alone.

I have travelled to Singapore previously so I am curious to explore Johor Bahru for something different. I am considering staying in the JB city centre for four nights and taking day trips to Mt Austin and Iskandar Puteri.

I am aware that JB is not very walkable so I will be relying on Grabs to get around.

With all that said, what are people's thoughts on a four night trip in JB? Is there enough to do, and is it a reliable base?

Is JB fairly safe for a solo female traveller? (Provided I take common sense precautions)

What is the border-crossing process between JB and Singapore like? I will have plenty of luggage (two suitcases and a backpack), so I'm wondering how manageable this is and if queues are usually an issue.

Thanks!

Hi Friends! I am gearing up to quit my job and backpack for 5 months, beginning in August 2026. I have some family trips to attend to in Scotland, Greece and Spain before heading to SEA in mid-late September; specifically Vietnam, thailand, indonesia, phillippines, and maybe Laos. I have the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L and will most likely bring a 18-22L personal backpack/ daypack. I am going as barebones as I can, and have been doing A LOT of research on best packing practices (what to bring, what to avoid, etc.). I have only ever done one solo trip before, but I was luxuriously living out of a suitcase in Italy.

Some general things I have learned so far:

• 2 pairs of shoes MAX - Teva sandals and Sneakers (and a very thin pair of flip flops for hostel showers)
• Modular wardrobe (~6 shirts, ~4 bottoms, ~7 undies, 2 bras, 3 socks, 1 dress etc.)
• microfiber towel
• basic medicines

So my question(s) to you all is what are some things I should absolutely know, clothing items I will need, things I should invest in/ purchase for my trip, types of fabrics to avoid, toiletries I won't need, etcetera? Are there any good fabrics that are quick drying I should look into? My saving goal is $10K and I only have two and a half paychecks before I am officially no longer employed/ getting paid so I can't be dropping too much $$$. Any tips help!

Hey everyone! 👋

I'm a student living in Singapore and I've been helping a few people plan their trips here recently and honestly I really enjoy doing it, so I want to keep going!

If you're visiting Singapore soon and want a proper insider's perspective (not just the same recycled "top 10" lists), DM me and I'll put together a personalised plan for you, best food spots, hidden gems, nature trails, sunset viewpoints, whatever you're into.

It's completely free. If you go on your trip and feel like my plan genuinely made it 10x better, a small tip is always appreciated but honestly no pressure at all I'm doing this because I love it.

Just drop me a message with your dates and what kind of trip you're after and I'll take care of the rest! 🇸🇬

WhatsApp: +65 8121 2507

Want to go from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong and onwards to Siam Reap. After that probably to Thailand like Ko Kood would be great. Heart that all land borders are closed right now so iam not quite sure how to do that without taking a flight cause that is gonna be pretty expansive🫠

Any tips ?

Hey Hey, so my gf and I are looking to marry in 2028 and we love the idea of taking an international cruise for our honeymoon. We found a few that go as the title says Singapore to Bali and vice versa all stopping overnight in Thailand. I question if its worth doing a 11-14 day cruise and just getting a taste of these places vs just doing one this time and another a different time to get the full experience. I searched the threads and couldn't find anyone that took this cruise but hoping to hear from anyone with experience doing any cruise with one of these stops.

Hey everyone! I’m currently a student here in Singapore and I’ve realized that most "top 10" lists for tourists are pretty outdated or just suggest the same three expensive spots.

I’m a huge fan of researching hidden gems, local food that won’t break the bank, and perfect photo spots (I’m a photographer too!). Since I love doing this, I want to offer a complete, custom trip plan for anyone visiting soon.

The Deal:

• I'll research your whole itinerary based on what you actually like (Nature? Food? Tech? Photography?).
• I'll find the best transport routes and budget-friendly stays.
• Cost: Totally free to start. If you finish your trip and feel like my plan made your holiday 10x better, you’re welcome to send a small tip. If not, no worries at all!

I just want to help people see the real Singapore. If you’re interested, feel free to reach out!

WhatsApp: +65 8121 2507

29 year old male looking for a group of boys to backpack Indonesia with, not the clubbing scene, but the volcanoes and waterfalls, the beaches and hikes. Wanting to travel and experience things for 6-7 weeks but going solo scares me