Solo Backpacking South East Asia

So I'm going to go backpacking across South East Asia next year and I want to start planning it. I want to go to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

I'm planning on going for 3 months maybe a little longer depending on how the trip is going. At the moment I'm just googling places of interest but if you guys could suggest cool places to go and see I'd really appreciate it.

I'm trying to make up a rough route to follow but there's so much to see and do I don't know where to start, and I want to go to like stuff off the beaten track too. Let me know! Thanks guys x

Why don't you read a regional guidebook first ?
South East Asia on a shoestring or something like that.
You have plenty of itineraries and much more to see and to do for much more three months.

Michel

To be honest I don't really have the time to sit down and read through guidebooks. I'm just trying to make a list of places to see and I can make up my route then :) any suggestions?

Too much countries, too much places and everything depends of your interests.
I was thinking it was your trip and not ours...

Michel

Wow haha yeah it is my trip, I'm in the middle of planning it as I said, but I was hoping people who have been could suggest little gems that they found or really enjoyed that I may not discover myself. I dont have time to sit down for several hours and read through guidebooks, that's why I'm trying to do my research now online while I can. Thanks for the help though!

Where do you want to arrive and from where do you want to leave ?
Which countries do you want to visit ?
Is the budget an issue ?
Is it a trip "only" in SEA or can it be a trip in Indian Subcontinent or NEA like China ?

Michel

To be honest where I arrive and leave from will probably come down to cheapest flights and at the moment the main countries of interest are Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Budget is not strictly an issue because I can put off the trip for another month or two if I dont have enough saved. And it doesn't have to be SEA I'm open to anywhere really. It's my first ever major trip so I'm open to see anywhere. I'm really into the idea of seeing waterfalls and jungles and temples etc and just learning about the new cultures. If you know of any particular places please let me know and I'll add them to my list.

Do you want take your time or not ?
Islands ?
Mainland ?
Beaches ?
Culture ?
History ?
Cities ?
...

Michel

it will be more easy with more specific questions...
Is it a real travel or a virtual project ?

Michel

Book your tickets first and come back after.

Michel

At the moment I'm just googling places of interest but if you guys could suggest cool places to go and see I'd really appreciate it.

Southern Laos is a place you'd want to get to. The 4000 islands region there is a backpackers paradise, plus there's Champasak and there are scenic motorbike loops you can do starting from Pakse or from Tha Khaek. I mention this because it's not on every traveler's radar, and often they go from Cambodia directly to Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam, or they just make time for northern Laos, including Luang Prabang. You want time for northern Laos too.

I want to go to like stuff off the beaten track too. Let me know!

Then don't plan too much time for beach islands in Thailand, that track has been beaten to death. Go to the highlands in Vietnam and Cambodia; many places there see few tourists.

And yes buy a guidebook. You don't need to read most of it until you get to SE Asia, but you will need it.

Bangkok makes a good starting point. From there, you either head into Laos or Cambodia and keep going around the typical backpacker route. Some time spent reading posts similar to yours will bring up alternative ideas.

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Bangkok I suggest flying to, flights are quite cheap at the moment, I have just booked about £100 less than last year. From Bangkok you can easily go by plane or overland to Cambodia then into Mekong delta in Vietnam then head north, then across into Laos and then you have several options of getting back to Bangkok. Visas you may need to look into.
Budget you can get by on about $30 per day. Weather I would look to go between November and February.

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