Itineraries
The Best of Southeast Asia
8 Weeks
This Southeast Asia sampler hits the highlights: cool cities, ancient kingdoms, beautiful beaches and smouldering volcanoes. Start in fun-filled Bangkok, then bus it to Siem Reap for Angkor’s magnificent temples. Continue to party HQ Phnom Penh, then to Vietnam’s bustling Ho Chi Minh City. Head north to adorable Hoi An, then hit the antique streets of Hanoi and dramatic karsts of Halong Bay.
Fly out of Vietnam to laid-back Luang Prabang, Laos’ world-heritage city; fly to chic Chiang Mai for hill-tribe adventures and Thai cooking courses.
Head south through Bangkok to Ko Tao and learn to dive before hitting the rock-climbing retreat of Krabi. Cross the border from Ko Lipe to Malaysia's Pulau Langkawi, then on to the food paradise of George Town (Penang) and overland to Malaysia’s multi-ethnic capital Kuala Lumpur, with a stop in the lush Cameron Highlands.
Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital; soak up Java's renowned culture in Yogyakarta. Bus it to active volcano Gunung Bromo, then leapfrog to Bali for sun, fun and the island's unique culture. Double back to bustling, multiculti Singapore for an onward flight anywhere.
Itineraries
Almost Everything
6 Months
If you're really going to do Southeast Asia, go big and cover the whole region with an extended expedition from top to toe. Starting in Bangkok, follow the coast to forested Ko Chang, cross the Hat Lek–Cham Yeam border bound for Sihanoukville’s sublime beaches and up-and-coming islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. Stop in Franco-influenced Kampot and the nearby Bokor Hill Station. Turn inland to Phnom Penh to pay your respects at its genocide museums then bus it to Siem Reap and the monumental splendour of Angkor.
Board a flight to Pakse, gateway to the river life of Si Phan Don. Bus to Vientiane and on to Vang Vieng then Luang Prabang; trundle to Nong Khiaw for tribal trekking. Follow the rugged revolutionaries’ trail through the Vieng Xai Caves and Na Meo border, a remote, adventurous crossing to Hanoi.
Work your way through Vietnam, sampling history, culture and beaches. Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok and travel down the Malay peninsula, swimming and diving around Ko Pha-Ngan and Krabi.
Slip into Malaysia for the street eats of Penang. Hit the peaceful beach retreat of Pulau Perhentian, then head for Taman Negara, a wilderness preserve. Detour to the mist-shrouded hills of the Cameron Highlands and alight in Kuala Lumpur.
Fly to Jakarta (Java) and immerse yourself in cultural Yogyakarta and the Unesco treasure of Borobudur. Bask on the beach in Bali or the Gili Islands, escape the crowds in Flores, and spot dragons on Komodo. Catch a flight from Bali to Dili in Timor-Leste, a fledgling tourist nation.
Or fly from Jakarta to Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) for a jungle excursion into Borneo. Fly to Pangkalan Bun for the orangutan research camps of Tanjung Puting National Park, then fly from Banjarmasin to Pontianak and bus to the border to reach Malaysia’s Kuching, a gateway to more Borneo nature reserves and former headhunting cultures.
Fly back to Kuala Lumpur and connect to Yangon (Myanmar) and the beautiful Buddhist temples of Bagan. Relax on the placid waters of Inle Lake or take a trek to Kalaw. Or turn things on their head by starting off in Myanmar.
Itineraries
Mainland to Borneo & the Philippines
10 Weeks
Cruise around mainland Southeast Asia, hitting the beaches and the highlands, and then bound over to Borneo and the Philippines to climb into the heavens and dive under the sea. From Bangkok, head to Ko Chang, then cross the border to Sihanoukville for lots of sand and suds. Scoot to shabby-chic Phnom Penh. Admire the architectural wonder of the Angkor temples from Siem Reap. Fly to full-throttle Ho Chi Minh City. Migrate to the beaches of Mui Ne or Nha Trang, the antique city of Hoi An, the imperial capital of Hue and the extensive caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Rest in mature capital Hanoi. Cruise karst-filled Halong Bay and detour to Sapa and its ethnic highland communities. Return to Hanoi.
Fly to Vientiane (Laos), bus to Vang Vieng and on to Luang Prabang, a sublime world-heritage town. Ride the Mekong River to the Laos–Thailand border at Huay Xai and the fabled Golden Triangle.
On to Chiang Mai; escape to the mountains of Pai or Mae Hong Son for stunning mountain vistas and intriguing border cultures. Descend to the lowlands for the ancient capitals at Sukhothai and Ayuthaya before returning to Bangkok.
Budget flight or bus it to Kuala Lumpur. Explore Taman Negara, an ancient wilderness. Cruise through colonial Melaka. Return to KL for a tour of Malaysian Borneo. Fly to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and ascend Mt Kinabalu, Borneo’s highest peak. Head east to Sepilok's orangutan sanctuary, then to Semporna, gateway to dive sites. Detour to oil-rich Brunei's unassuming capital, Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), surrounded by pristine rainforests and water villages.
Cheap flights link Kota Kinabalu with Manila (Philippines). Bus to the incredible Ifuagao rice terraces in the mountains of North Luzon, then return to Manila and hit up party isle Boracay via dive hotbed Puerto Galera (Mindoro). Spend a few days unwinding in Boracay, then fly to Cebu City – in easy range of several laid-back beach destinations, including Malapascua and Bohol. Fly from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, Palawan; work your way north to El Nido via the lonely beaches and pristine jungles of Palawan's west coast. Take the all-day boat trip to wreck-diving hotbed Coron before flying back to Manila.
Itineraries
Mainland Beaches to Indonesia
8 Weeks
Become a beach connoisseur by tracing the coastline of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In between grab some culture to keep things balanced. From Bangkok, make a beeline for the islands in the Gulf of Thailand: dive-crazy Ko Tao and hippy trippy Ko Pha-Ngan. Get certified on Tao, then follow the herd to the Andaman coast. Hat Khao Lak is the base for dive trips to the world-class Surin and Similan islands. Skip down to adrenaline-charged Krabi for rock climbing and cave exploring, then island-hop to rasta-vibed Ko Lipe. Cross the border at Pulau Langkawi for Penang's famous hawker centres.
From Penang, take a bus to Kota Bharu, jumping-off point for the fabulous jungle islands of Pulau Perhentian. Head south to Mersing, the mainland port for sleepy Pulau Tioman, before returning to Kuala Lumpur to pick up a flight to Indonesia.
From Indonesia’s tip in Medan, Sumatra, visit the orangutan reserve of Bukit Lawang and hike a volcano in Berastagi. From Medan fly to lovely Banda Aceh for dive-tastic Pulau Weh.
Say goodbye to rugged Sumatra and buzz over to Java, touching down in Jakarta, Indonesia's intense capital. Explore Yogyakarta and its culture trail; day-trip to the giant Buddhist stupa of Borobudur or the ancient Hindu temple of Prambanan. Continue eastwards to Gunung Bromo volcano for a sunrise spectacle over a lunar landscape.
Leapfrog to Denpasar, Bali, to nuzzle the sandy beaches of the Bukit Peninsula or get cultured in Ubud. Party in Gili Trawangan, spot dragons on Komodo and go rustic on the beaches of Flores.
Check your visa and apply for an extension back in Denpasar, then fly to Makassar, Sulawesi. Pay your respects in Tana Toraja, known for ancient funeral rites and effigies standing guard over cliffside burial sites. Travel to the remote and pristine Togean Islands and the northern diving destination of Pulau Bunaken; it might feel far away, but it's well worth it. Fly from Manado to Kuala Lumpur.
Alternatively, from Denpasar hop over to Timor-Leste’s capital of Dili to tour old colonial towns and uncrowded reefs.
Itineraries
Mekong River Meander
4 Weeks
This trip follows the famous river downstream from northern Laos all the way to its terminus in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. En route you'll encounter a wide range of landscapes and cultures as you slice through all four countries of the Mekong region. Leave behind bustling Bangkok and make a bee-line for Chiang Rai, near the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand converge. Crossing into Laos at Huay Xai is like stepping back in time. Take a slow boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang, stopping overnight in Pak Beng. Soak up the magic before leaving the river for some relaxation in Vang Vieng.
Continue to Vientiane and reunite with the mighty waterway. The sleepy Lao capital has some great cafes, restaurants and bars (which you won’t be encountering for a while after leaving). Board a bus and follow the river southeast, stopping off in Tha Khaek and Savannakhet before arriving in Pakse. Visit the imposing Khmer sanctuary of Wat Phu Champasak; explore the waterfalls and villages of the Bolaven Plateau; or enjoy the laid-back islands of Si Phan Don.
Cross into Cambodia. If you missed the Irrawaddy dolphins near Si Phan Don, you can see them further south in the laid-back riverside town of Kratie. From Kratie, consider a visit to the mountains of Mondulkiri Province, home to elephants, hill tribes and pristine nature.
Weeks in rural provinces will have you happy to see Phnom Penh, where the Mekong merges with another vital regional waterway, the Tonlé Sap. Take a sunset boat cruise and hit the bars for a well-deserved night on the town. Recharged, board a fast boat downstream to Chau Doc, Vietnam, gateway to the Mekong Delta; check out Can Tho, its commercial heart. Hotfoot it to Ho Chi Minh City for some fun; delve deeper into the delta with a homestay around Vinh Long, or make for the tropical retreat of Phu Quoc Island, a well-earned reward. If you still have time and stamina, the rest of Vietnam beckons.
Itineraries
Where the Wild Things Are
6 Weeks
Southeast Asia is home to diverse wildlife, including tigers, elephants, primates, whale sharks and the Komodo dragon. Start out in Bangkok; explore Khao Yai National Park to see wild elephants and Asian black bears. Heading south, explore Khao Sok National Park, home to gibbons and macaques. Explore the underwater wilds of the Similan Islands for the chance to see whale sharks.
Continue to Kualu Lumpur to hop a flight to Sarawak in Borneo. See rare proboscis monkeys in Bako National Park and the gentle orangutans of Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. Head to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to explore the Kinabatangan River and perhaps see wild orangutans and rare pygmy elephants. Wind down on the beaches and reefs of the Semporna Archipelago, one of Malaysia's top dive sites.
Head south into Kalimantan (Indonesia) and explore the jungle waterways of Tanjung Puting National Park. Stay overnight in a klotok (boat) and visit Camp Leakey, an orangutan research station. Fly south to Bali and head east to the rocky outcrops of Komodo and Flores, home to the Komodo dragon and some superb diving.
Itineraries
Temple Trails
6 Weeks
When it comes to spectacular temples, Southeast Asia is in a league of its own. Start out in Bangkok, home to the iconic Temple of the Dawn, before heading to the stupa-studded former capital Ayuthaya. Further north is the ancient Khmer capital of Sukothai.
Cross the Mekong River border at Huay Xai and cruise to Luang Prabang, a gilded city of active temples and saffron-clad monks. Travel to Laos' deep south to see the Khmer mountain temple of Wat Phu Champasak.
Continue into Cambodia, the region's temple heavyweight. Pass through Phnom Penh to the pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. Make an adventurous diversion north to the mountain temple of Prasat Preah Vihear before arriving at the Temples of Angkor – arguably the most inspired collection of temples on earth, including soaring Angkor Wat, enigmatic Bayon and jungle-clad Ta Prohm.
Hop a flight to Yangon, home to the shimmering Shwedagon Paya. Finish up this temple trail at Bagan, home to the greatest concentration of temples in the region, where hundreds of stupas stretch into the infinite horizon.
Itineraries
