Southeast Asia 3-months travel itinerary
February 26, 2024
Southeast Asia is more than just a destination, it is a sanctuary where time seems to slow down. Whether you are an experienced traveller or taking your first steps, there is something for everyone in this region. It is the perfect place to spend three months without breaking the bank. Whether you dream of exploring ancient temples, hit the streets of large metropolises, interact with elephants, relax on the beach, or indulge in the culinary delights of street food stalls, this region offers an experience like no other.
The idea of a longer journey through Southeast Asia developed after spending a fortnight in Vietnam just before the COVID-19 pandemic. As we had not been to Southeast Asia before, we were looking for the highlights. The itinerary was designed after many hours scanning through online recommendations, reading guidebooks and trawling through travel agency websites. This journey will take you through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Vietnam was included as we wanted to spend more time in some of the places we loved and discover further cities we had missed.
The best time to visit Southeast Asia is during the dry season from November till March. Although it can still be very hot and humid further south (above 30 degrees centigrade), the temperatures in the central and northern regions are more bearable.
Below you will find a list of the main stops across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam:
Thailand
Bangkok (5 nights), Kanchanaburi (2 nights), Ayutthaya (3 nights), Sukhothai (2 nights), Lampang (1 night), Chiang Rai (6 nights), Chiang Mai (7 nights)
Laos
Luang Prabang (4 nights), Vientiane (3 nights), Champassak and Bolaven Plateau (2 nights), Pakse (1 night)
Cambodia
Siem Reap (5 nights), Phnom Penh (4 nights), Kampot (4 nights)
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City (4 nights), Da Lat (3 nights), Hoi An (7 nights), Ninh Binh (2 nights), Hanoi (5 nights)
Thailand
Koh Samui (6 nights)
As we are not beach bums, we focused our journey more on the cultural, historical, and unique experiences that are only found in this part of the world. However, we did not forget about the more scenic and relaxing side of the sea, sun and sand. Having sufficient time to explore each country, we made sure that we had enough relaxation days planned in between the more strenuous organised stretches. And since our backpacking days are over we decided to travel in style, staying at 4-star hotels. The upcoming posts will be broken down by country and regions following the itinerary from day 1.
Since it was our first time in Southeast Asia for such a long journey, I contacted a travel agency called “asia pioneer travel” to review my intended itinerary and to advise me on the best plan of action. I was in contact with one the most helpful travel specialist I have ever known. Her name is Chloe Tran and she helped me finalise my programme and advised me on hotels. I would highly recommend working with her. She is very experienced and it made our journey so much more agreeable.
