Travelling in South East Asia
Asia is often first on any potential round the world travellers list – and for very good reason. It’s great value; the people are welcoming; the food is outstanding; the culture is intoxicating; a multitude of outdoor activities and adventures; the climate is superb and there are one or two nice beaches to be found!
India is any backpacker’s delight – a virtual playground; South East Asia is crammed full of stunning attractions and ensures good times; North Asia is only now truly becoming accessible to the budget traveller and offers a host of unexplored possibilities.
Many travellers return to Asia time and time again as there is so much to explore and flights are generally cheap. On your first visit you may decide to cover as much as possible (you could spend years doing it!) or you may choose to focus on one or two countries with the plan to return at some point in the future.
Some S.E Asian Highlights
• Trekking in Laos – trek overgrown trails and visit cities that give you a sense of ‘Asia of old’.
• Angkor Wat, Cambodia – outstanding, an absolute must see - one of the wonders of the world.
• Halong Bay, Vietnam – an outstandingly beautiful UNESCO world heritage site and a great place to spend a few days. Sail the emerald waters on a traditional junk.
• The Thai islands…there are plenty to choose from and each has its own character…go discover yours.
• Travelling through India by train….it’s slow, you almost always arrive late but there is no experience quite like it.
• Hanoi- the finest city in Asia right now…buzzing with potential and new found optimism, whilst retaining its colonial charm and imperial past.
Asia and round the world tickets
It’s easy to include Asia on almost any round the world ticket with so much of the region well served by round the world ‘friendly’ airlines. Bombay, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong are amongst the more established destinations but Beijing, Saigon, Phnom Penh and Vientiane are all also growing in accessibility.
The great thing with Asia is that it is very easy to make your own way (overland by bus, train etc) almost anywhere in the region and therefore it is a great idea to leave ‘surface sectors’ (what is this) within your round the world route.
See some great round the world options that take you via Asia - more
How best to get around
Local transport links throughout Asia are very good, although buses and boats can be rather old and battered; often resembling a well used 1970’s school coach…in fact it probably is just that! An alternative is to use a tourist coach or VIP express service which is generally far more comfortable and usually more reliable than the local bus option.
You can travel between many destinations in India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia by train and this is often the most favoured method as it is generally more comfortable and usually costs just a fraction more than taking a bus.
Low cost airlines have now also joined the list of options available, allowing you to cover large distances far quicker and in far more comfort than a few years ago…Luang Prabang to Hanoi – a mere 29 hours by bus just an hour by plane!
Tours and Passes
For details on some great tour options within Asia, take a look at our round the world travel essentials section - more
Money
In general it is very cheap to travel throughout most of Asia, with the notable exception of the well documented costs incurred with any visit to Japan. In places such as India and Nepal you can survive on a few dollars a day with ease and away from the ‘scene’ in South East Asia you won’t need more than about ten dollars a day.
The US dollar is still very much the recognised currency of choice and is often accepted in place of the local currency in countries such as Laos and Cambodia.
Top 3 activities
• Scrambling over the ruins of the magnificent Angkor Wat complex. Give yourself two or three days to ensure you get to see all the best temples.
• Head north for the best trekking in Thailand, Laos or Vietnam. Stay with minority hill tribe people and learn about life in the jungle.
• Elephant trekking in Laos – it’s not called the ‘land of a million white elephants ‘for nothing you know!
Top 3 overland routes
• Bangkok to Singapore is, justifiably, a very popular overland journey. Stop at the southern Thai and northern Malay islands, the Cameroon highlands and Kuala Lumpur before arriving at the bright lights of Singapore.
• The Reunification Express train runs almost the entire length of Vietnam; hugging the coastline for much of the journey. Take your time and stop at destinations such as Hoi An, Hue and Nha Trang. A tip is to be sure to book each section as far in advance as you can…it’s popular with locals and travellers alike.
• Agra to Manali, India. Start your journey at the wonderful Taj Mahal before heading north, stopping in Delhi and Daramasala, home to the Dalai Lama and Tibetans in exile, before reaching the hill station of Manali. You can even continue on to Ladakh, close to the Chinese border.
Top 3 nights out
• The famous full moon parties held at Haad Rin Beach on Thailand’s Koh Pha Ngan…if you want a less commercial experience think about the lesser known half-moon gatherings.
• Goa – southern India – party central almost every night of the week. For the quieter parties head to the southern beaches or further south to Kerala where things are a little calmer…but then who ever wanted to take it easy whilst backpacking!
• Head out for a night on the tiles in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. In parts of the city you’ll find entire streets consisting of nothing but bars….it’s a great scene.
Top 3 sunsets
• Look over Angkor Wat from the highest point of Phnom Bakheng which still holds a magical, sacred allure. For those with tired legs there is often an elephant or two willing to help you up the small hill!
• From one of the many roof top bars to be found in Bangkok – they can be expensive and you often have to wear long trousers but for just one drink it’s certainly worth it.
• Watching the sunset on Annurpurna from Pokhara, Nepal. From the lake you can see three of the top ten highest mountains in the world…they turn a beautiful orange and then it is dark…and cold!
Do’s and don’ts
Do
• Try and learn a few basic words in local dialect. Local people really appreciate the efforts you make and consider it respectful.
• Follow dress guidelines when visiting temples and official buildings. Shorts and a vest are not consider suitable attire by most Asian people.
• Get the correct visas - more
• Travel responsibly - more
Don’t
• Try and cram too much in to one visit …Asia is a big continent and should be enjoyed at a sedate pace…those beaches are hard to drag yourself away from once you’ve settled!
• Show public displays of anger or over affection if you can help it. Both are considered very rude by Asian people.
• Expect everything to run on time, Asia runs by its own clock!