Looking for feedback on Southeast Asia road trip itinerary

Hi,

How much time in total for Southeast Asia?

Hi Songsam,

We’ll be in Southeast Asia from mid-January to the end of March, so about two and a half months!

Are you really only planning to stop at the places marked with letters on a blue background, and all by car except when you take the plane?

No, there are other stops we’ll make along the way, but this is the main route. We’re planning to get around mostly by train.

What do you think of our two itinerary options?

Which one do you think offers the best overall experience?

None. Be less ambitious and limit yourself to visiting just 3 of these countries at most, and the horizon will open up.

Fewer countries with the goal of staying longer in each one?

Yes, so you can make the most of the countries you’ve chosen (and there’s plenty to do...) and not spend all your time on transport—which, while frequent, is mostly slow to very slow.

And in those cases, which ones do you prefer and in what order?

I’d skip southern Thailand and Malaysia to keep the trip geographically compact. I’d enter via Thailand (partly because among other reasons airfare is cheaper to get there) and wrap up in Vietnam since there are no direct flights from Laos or Cambodia to Japan, while Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer multiple connections to Japanese destinations. Now you just have to choose between Laos and Cambodia... - Starting from a theoretical average of 25 days per country, Cambodia is smaller than its neighbors, so you could explore it in about 20 days, freeing up a few extra days for Thailand and/or Vietnam. Or adjust the time for each of the three countries however you like—the only limits are 75 days total and the maximum allowed stay in each country. - Currently, it’s not possible to travel overland from Thailand to Cambodia (or vice versa). That’s the only border-crossing restriction in the region. - Both Laos and Cambodia are equally worth visiting. - If you arrive in Thailand without a visa, the maximum allowed stay is 60 days (59 nights), but you’re supposed to have a return or onward flight ticket (checked at CDG during check-in) proving you’ll leave Thailand within 60 days (for example, to Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Siem Reap, or Phnom Penh).

Thanks for the details—I didn’t know about the border between Thailand and Cambodia.

Is 25 days in Cambodia really worth it? I thought you could see the most interesting spots in about 12 days—that’s why I planned to visit more than 3 countries.

Thanks again for the tips! !

I had the impression that in 12 days, the most interesting places could be seen

You’re thinking like someone who prefers package tours: just the super-famous sites and a marathon pace. If that’s all you’re after, sure, 12 days will work—ask your works council if they’re planning a group trip to Cambodia. But if you’re traveling "normally," like most of us on this forum, you’ll do some research online or in a guidebook first to see what there is to explore in Cambodia. After reading up, you’ll realize that stops like Sen Monorom, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Kep, or Kampot should be on your list. You’ll see that Siem Reap deserves at least 5 nights, that Battambang is worth visiting—especially for the boat trip from Siem Reap—and that Phnom Penh needs at least 3 nights (plus maybe a transit night), since it’s not only interesting but also one of the friendliest capitals in Southeast Asia. In short, you’ll quickly conclude that 12 days won’t be nearly enough. And the same logic applies to any country.

But don’t get too greedy with the number of stops either—traveling in Southeast Asia is exhausting. While a fast pace might work for a 2-3 week trip, it’s a different story over 2.5 months. If you keep pushing without enough rest, eventually your body and mind will wear out: your sense of adventure fades, you get irritable and paranoid, convinced that every local is out to scam you. And if you’re traveling with someone, the strain (since they’re dealing with the same grind) can make things pretty miserable. Long trips are actually a great test for relationships or friendships… Take your 75 days, divide them by the number of stops you’re planning (including nights spent in transit), then subtract 1 from the result—that gives you the average number of full days per stop. If it’s less than 2, your pace is too fast.