5 month itinerary / pacing
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Sep 6, 2012 12:25 PM Last Post By: bumhucker
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5 month itinerary / pacing
Hi allI'm planning on a 5 month trip starting in November that takes me on land from Singapore to Ha Noi with as much in between as possible. At the moment this is my rough route: http://i.imgur.com/zTVMf.jpg
I want to keep it open as possible but I'm trying to get an idea of how long each stage should take? i.e. how long in each country according to the route? I've marked on some cities where I'll stay a little bit but obviously there will be stays in other places.
My dates are flexible apart from I want to go to the Full Moon Party on 28th November. What date should I start from Singapore, given the duration of my trip and what there is to see in between?
I'm hoping to volunteer in Cambodia, which explains the '4 weeks' thing. What date do you think would be suitable to book the volunteering? Beginning of January?
Any other comments on my route are very much appreciated
Thanks!
Oli
1
First, take me with you!Second, it looks like a lot of fun, but you are spending a lot of time on the beach. Especially, Vietnam's Pacific coast, which isn't that great.
Third, that weird bit from Huế to Luang Prabang. There are a lots of borders you seem to be crossing and I'm not sure you can really do it. Fun to try, though.
Fourth, take me with you!
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I would change the route a little and go north from Bangkok to Chiang Mai then cross over into Laos to see Luang Prabang etc then enter Cambodia in Southern Laos. Then you can carry on as planned up through Vietnam with out having to come back into Laos and re-enter Vietnam. Keeps your visas a bit more simple :)3
HiSorry for the late reply, been busy with work and exploring other options for my trip...
Why is Vietnam's pacific coast not so good? Is it just beach and nothing else? I'm more interested in culture/history/architecture.
I think I'll change my route to what JacobJames suggested. It does seem to make more sense.
Bearing that in mind, what return date should I put on my flight? I'll be flying back from Hong Kong and this date will have to stay the same once booked (have a mate joining me). Would a date in mid-April be about right? I should be able to meet a $30/day budget with my savings.
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Why is Vietnam's pacific coast not so good? Is it just beach and nothing else? I'm more interested in culture/history/architecture.
The beach on the Pacific coast isn't so great. The water's cold and choppy, and in the middle part of the country, the surrounding topology is uninteresting. (In the north, there are picturesque karst cliffs; further down, dramatic dunes.)
It's got culture/history/architecture coming out the wazoo.The Perfume River, near Huế, has dozens of pagodas and temples, there's My Son and the Cham ruins, Hoi An is Hoi An, of course.
But if you want water -- snorkeling, fish-watching -- you'll have a lot more fun further south: Phuket, Ko Samui, Phu Quoc.
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Thanks, that's good to hear actually. Sounds like there will be plenty to keep me busy around that coast line.Booked my flights yesterday evening so it's definitely on now :-)
Here's what my new route looks like. Do the estimated dates look reasonable? Not sure if I need to distribute more time to certain places and less to others. http://imgur.com/pVIjq
6
Timing looks comfortable from what I can make out on that map, you should be fine with the time you have and the places you want to see. I recently spent 28 days in Burma, 17 Days in Laos, 18 Days in Cambodia, 21 in Vietnam and also two months in Thailand but I wasn't travelling at that point. You look like you have a touch more time to spend in each country so you will be okay!7
Thank for that. Until I actually start travelling I don't think I'll have a good idea of how long it will take. Not just getting from A to B but also how long I might want to stay in a place. I've got a bit more confidence now. All I have to sort out now is VISAs, money, insurance, packing and a bit of accommodation...easy :-)
