Any SE Asia experts to help with an itinerary!?!
Any SE Asia experts to help with an itinerary!?!
Hi everyone!
Just a bit of advice needed. I'm currently saving to go on a round the world trip for Jan 2007.
The plan at the moment is to fly to Bangkok and spend about 6 weeks in & around Thailand/Cambodia/Laos/Vietnam. Then I want to fly to Perth and travel across Australia, go to Ayers Rock, back to Sydney (6 weeks) then fly to Auckland. I'm planning on spending a few months in NZ working & travelling, and then flying home via Fiji/Tahiti or possibly Hawaii, travelling across America for a couple of weeks, then home.
My main problem is Asia. I want to visit the 4 countries, like I stated above, but also want to bum around on a Thai Island for a week or so. I don't want to plan too much, but would like an idea of where/when I'm going to places, so I don't run out of time & money. This is the kind of itinerary I've got so far
Bangkok (3 days) - Angkor Wat (3 days) - Phnom Penh (2 days) -
Vientiane (2 days) - Vang Vieng (3 days) - Luang Prabang ( 3 days) - Mekong river trip (2 days) - Chiang Mai (4 days)
From Chiang Mai, I'm planning on visiting an elephant sanctuary for 1 week and volunteering, and then flying/catching the train to the South and lazing on an island for a week or so.
As you can see, the itinerary leaves out Vietnam. I would like to go, but don't think I've got enough time. My friend who I'm going with reckons we should just go to say that we've been, but I don't really see the point in that. If I'm going to spend the extra time/money I'd rather see as much of the country as I can - it's not just about getting the stamp in my passport.
Can anyone recommend any places on my itinerary to leave out? Or, my other option, is to spend another couple of weeks in Vietnam - so about 8 weeks in all. My budget for this part of the trip is going to be about £1000 which I don't think is enough for 8 weeks.
Help! I'm all stressed out! :rolleyes:
Answers:
This may not help, but having been to Vietnam, I wouldn't leave it out. You could see a lot in just a week, but I loved the place so much I could spend a lot longer there. It is cheaper than you think in South East Asia, and the extra couple of weeks wouldn't set you back much.
Answers:
Sounds like a cracking itinerary that.
Just be a wee bit careful about how you get to Angkor Wat, apparently some of the agencies on Khao San Road in Bangkok can be sharks.
I did consider going there but was fed up with all the travelling by that point (had been away for 8 months) and pretty broke.
Everyone I know who went had a wonderful time though and thought it was amazing.
I spent 3 months in Australia including Perth, Ayers Rock, Sydney and the rest and a month in NZ, so if you need any tips for places to stay give me a shout.
You'll have the time of your life honestly.
Answers:
Mrs Buster - if you only had a short time in Vietnam, where would you go?
Tonibuffs - I lived in Oz for a year a couple of years ago, but only did the East coast, Sydney & Melbourne. I kind of ran out of money myself, so that's why I didn't get to Ayers! When I've sorted my itinerary out though, I'll be back to you for advice of places to stay in Perth! Did you book a tour to Ayers? I'd quite like to drive from Perth to Ayers, but I know it's pretty dangerous.
Answers:
You lucky thing, living in Oz for a year I mean. :) And going back there too of course.
I did do a tour to Ayers. It was good one actually though perhaps a little rushed. A 2 day 1 night one including Kings Canyon, Uluru sunset and then getting up at the crack of dawn when it's really really really cold (make sure you take layers) and going for a walk around the base of Uluru.
They do give you the opportunity to climb up it but for a variety of reasons didn't entertain the idea and none of us did.
After that we did Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). All very spectacular. The best bit though was camping under the stars in our swags. Cracking laugh it was and made the trip.
I think I went with these guys but can't find the info. Would recommend them but perhaps an extra day'd be good if you've got the time. The guide was superb in the main though got in a right strop when the women needed to use the loo cos he was driving round like a lunatic and hitting every dent in the road. I booked it at a travel agent in Sydney.
Aussie Adventure tours
I actually went to Adelaide (from Melbourne on a Great Ocean Road tour) and caught the Ghan up to Alice Springs and then flew back to Sydney though I reckon your way would be fantastic if you've got the time, good reliable fun travelling companions and most importantly a really really good 4WD and heaps of water in case. The Ghan was ace though and really sociable.
I could go on forever, when you do need more info, just send me a PM.
Hi everyone!
Just a bit of advice needed. I'm currently saving to go on a round the world trip for Jan 2007.
The plan at the moment is to fly to Bangkok and spend about 6 weeks in & around Thailand/Cambodia/Laos/Vietnam. Then I want to fly to Perth and travel across Australia, go to Ayers Rock, back to Sydney (6 weeks) then fly to Auckland. I'm planning on spending a few months in NZ working & travelling, and then flying home via Fiji/Tahiti or possibly Hawaii, travelling across America for a couple of weeks, then home.
My main problem is Asia. I want to visit the 4 countries, like I stated above, but also want to bum around on a Thai Island for a week or so. I don't want to plan too much, but would like an idea of where/when I'm going to places, so I don't run out of time & money. This is the kind of itinerary I've got so far
Bangkok (3 days) - Angkor Wat (3 days) - Phnom Penh (2 days) -
Vientiane (2 days) - Vang Vieng (3 days) - Luang Prabang ( 3 days) - Mekong river trip (2 days) - Chiang Mai (4 days)
From Chiang Mai, I'm planning on visiting an elephant sanctuary for 1 week and volunteering, and then flying/catching the train to the South and lazing on an island for a week or so.
As you can see, the itinerary leaves out Vietnam. I would like to go, but don't think I've got enough time. My friend who I'm going with reckons we should just go to say that we've been, but I don't really see the point in that. If I'm going to spend the extra time/money I'd rather see as much of the country as I can - it's not just about getting the stamp in my passport.
Can anyone recommend any places on my itinerary to leave out? Or, my other option, is to spend another couple of weeks in Vietnam - so about 8 weeks in all. My budget for this part of the trip is going to be about £1000 which I don't think is enough for 8 weeks.
Help! I'm all stressed out! :rolleyes:
Answers:
This may not help, but having been to Vietnam, I wouldn't leave it out. You could see a lot in just a week, but I loved the place so much I could spend a lot longer there. It is cheaper than you think in South East Asia, and the extra couple of weeks wouldn't set you back much.
Answers:
Sounds like a cracking itinerary that.
Just be a wee bit careful about how you get to Angkor Wat, apparently some of the agencies on Khao San Road in Bangkok can be sharks.
I did consider going there but was fed up with all the travelling by that point (had been away for 8 months) and pretty broke.
Everyone I know who went had a wonderful time though and thought it was amazing.
I spent 3 months in Australia including Perth, Ayers Rock, Sydney and the rest and a month in NZ, so if you need any tips for places to stay give me a shout.
You'll have the time of your life honestly.
Answers:
Mrs Buster - if you only had a short time in Vietnam, where would you go?
Tonibuffs - I lived in Oz for a year a couple of years ago, but only did the East coast, Sydney & Melbourne. I kind of ran out of money myself, so that's why I didn't get to Ayers! When I've sorted my itinerary out though, I'll be back to you for advice of places to stay in Perth! Did you book a tour to Ayers? I'd quite like to drive from Perth to Ayers, but I know it's pretty dangerous.
Answers:
You lucky thing, living in Oz for a year I mean. :) And going back there too of course.
I did do a tour to Ayers. It was good one actually though perhaps a little rushed. A 2 day 1 night one including Kings Canyon, Uluru sunset and then getting up at the crack of dawn when it's really really really cold (make sure you take layers) and going for a walk around the base of Uluru.
They do give you the opportunity to climb up it but for a variety of reasons didn't entertain the idea and none of us did.
After that we did Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). All very spectacular. The best bit though was camping under the stars in our swags. Cracking laugh it was and made the trip.
I think I went with these guys but can't find the info. Would recommend them but perhaps an extra day'd be good if you've got the time. The guide was superb in the main though got in a right strop when the women needed to use the loo cos he was driving round like a lunatic and hitting every dent in the road. I booked it at a travel agent in Sydney.
Aussie Adventure tours
I actually went to Adelaide (from Melbourne on a Great Ocean Road tour) and caught the Ghan up to Alice Springs and then flew back to Sydney though I reckon your way would be fantastic if you've got the time, good reliable fun travelling companions and most importantly a really really good 4WD and heaps of water in case. The Ghan was ace though and really sociable.
I could go on forever, when you do need more info, just send me a PM.