je suis en train d'organiser notre fin de séjour au Cambodge, debut aout. Il nous reste une semaine dans notre planning chargé, et je recherche un endroit pour nous reposer (plage+hotel plutot confortable sans viser le grand luxe+un peu de vie le soir, plutot gili trawangan que gili air pour ceux qui connaissent) et faire une ou deux visites.
en gros j hesite entre sihanoukville, kep et kampot : laquelle des trois correspondrait le mieux à ce que nous souhaitons?
kampot n est pas sur la cote meme, kep ne semble pas avoir de vraie belle plage, et j ai lu ici des avis partagés sur Sihanoukville.
j ecarte a priori les iles, parce que je ne suis pas attiré par une semaine "à la robinson crusoe", mais les commentaires datent d 2008 je crois. mais je suis preneur d avis de visites plus recentes.
du cote des visites, nous comptons monter au Bokhor et sans doute passer à kampot et kep quoi qu il arrive.
Y a effectivement peu de choix pour la mer au Cambodge, Kampot n'étant quand même pas tout près de la mer.
A Kep, il n'y a pas de plage non plus. Il faut prendre un bateau pour aller passer la journée sur l'ile au lapin. Il y a quelques bungalows plutot sommaires sur place ; la plage est agréable; lorsque j'y étais en juillet, le vent était assez fort, et la mer n'était pas d'huile.
Sinon, la campagne autour de KEP est plutôt jolie; possibilité de louer des vélos dans un café tenu par un anglais au bord de la route principale; couvre feu à 21 heures et un superbe hotel super original tout en haut de la colline qui surplomble la mer: le veranda. En 2008, il était prévu la construction d'une piscine.
Sianoukville, la ville est moche; on trouve des petits hotels sympa à tous les prix près de la plage orchid. C'est classique; une plage assez étroite, avec des bars qui louent des transat et qui font resto le soir ; acheter des gambas entre 2 bains ou boire une bière fraiche au coucher du soleil n'a rien de désagréable. Possibilité aussi de faire une excursion à la journée sur des iles avec snorkling (rien de folichon à voir) Une semaine dans l'un ou l'autre endroit, personnellement, ca me parait peut-être un peu long. Mais c'est tout à fait possible de faire les 2, sans oublier Kampot qui est un régal au niveau de l'architecture des maisons;
En 2008, il n'était plus possible de monter en voiture au bokor pour cause de gros travaux d'infrastructures touristiques. La seule solution était de monter par des petits sentiers à travers la montagne et la foret pour rejoindre un pick up de gardes forestiers qui emmène au bokor à travers le brouillard. Même chose pour revenir, sauf que ca descends
merci bien, c est bien l idée que je commençais à m en faire. Je suis actuellement en train d essayer de trouver des infos sur bamboo island, mais celles que je lis sont vieilles de qq années déjà.
on s oriente en effet vers un mix des trois, d'autant que nous voulons absolument grimper au bokhor palace abandonné, pour y faire des photos. et voir kampot, que tu n es pas le seul à nous conseiller.
mais bon, on a vraiment envie de se poser qq jours au moins sur du sable. iles au large de sihanoukville? plages excentrées autour de cette ville?
je n ai pas encore trouvé assez d infos pour faire mon choix.
Vous devriez commencer votre voyage pour raison climatique par la partie litorrale...
on arrive le 27/07 et repartons le 17/08. on devrait etre là bas approximativement entre le 5 et le 12 aout. trop proche des pluies de septembre selon toi?
Je ne connais pas Bamboo island. Les iles en face de Sianoukville; il y en a une où je me souviens qu'on pouvait loger. Mais c'est plutot du style Robinson.
En fait, il parait que ces iles sont déjà achetés par des investisseurs étrangers (comme partout au cambodge) et appelée à devenir des resort de luxe. Mais la crise n'est pas favorable à ce genre de projets; heureusement. Sinon, une autre solution, ca dépend d'ou vous repartez, c'est de faire un saut à Ko chang en Thailande qui n' est pas très loin de la frontière.
Oui , à vos dates (peu d'incidences) j'imaginais un séjour plus long.
Mon conseil serait de voir sur place la météo, et si elle est bonne , Foncez!
Inutile de réserver à vos dates.
La seule "station" Balnéaire du Cambodge est Sihanoukville , il y a plusieurs plages, bien un drame de ne pas en trouver une à son goût.
Bamboo, pour une journée. Why not? Les îles plus lointaines sont sympa pour des robinsonades hors mousson.
D'accord sur l'idée Sihan-Kampot- Kep d'autant que si le temps n'est pas très bon, il y a des choses à voir, à vivre, à faire ...sans gros efforts.
merci bien! oui en effet pour cette semaine-là les "efforts" ne sont pas la priorité !
je viens de lire un site sur les plages de sihanoukville, elles sont nombreuses et ont l air différentes (construites ou moins). d où en effet, la possibilité de trouver qqch qui nous convient.
tu ne penses pas que reserver soit utile?
Ca dépend de ton budget.
Si tu recherches plutôt bas de gamme à moyenne gamme, ce n'est pas vraiment utile de réserver.
Par contre, les hotels genre le Sokha et l'Indépendence seront bien moins chers réservés par une centrale genre Agoda que sur place...
La photo a été prise sur la plage de l'indépendence.
Quant à l'indépendance, il est certain qu'il sera moins cher par réservation mais si tu es à 20 usd dans cette gamme de prix, réserve aussi une assurance soleil! 🙂
oui c est un peu cher comme hotels, et trop grand de toute façon. on s est trouvés une guesthouse pas mal à 30$. pour 4-5j, avec une virée sur bamboo, et nous passerons trois jours à kep-kampot.
Je ne connais pas Bamboo island. Les iles en face de Sianoukville; il y en a une où je me souviens qu'on pouvait loger. Mais c'est plutot du style Robinson.
En fait, il parait que ces iles sont déjà achetés par des investisseurs étrangers (comme partout au cambodge) et appelée à devenir des resort de luxe. Mais la crise n'est pas favorable à ce genre de projets; heureusement. Sinon, une autre solution, ca dépend d'ou vous repartez, c'est de faire un saut à Ko chang en Thailande qui n' est pas très loin de la frontière.
Sympa une journe sur Bamboo island ( voir le post sur Sinahoukville sur mon blog : http://www.asiasong.net/ )malgré beaucoup d'aprioris négatifs sur sinahouk..., tu peux trouver des endroits trés sympas ! et pour te reposer tranquillement , tu trouveras es endroits assez cools!
Bon voyage !
J'ai passé une semaine à Sihanoukville avec mon frère et mon cousin, et on s'est bien amusé mais surtout reposé. Si tu veux bon hôtel pas trop cher et quand même bien confortable, tu peux aller au Beach Road hotel, en venant du centre, quand tu arrives au rond-point des lions d'or, tu continue tout droit et l'hôtel se trouve a +- 100 mètres sur la gauche. Il y a une piscine, assez belle avec un bar, et moyen de manger sur les transat de la piscine, et en plus, ça se trouve a 500m à peine de la plage de serendipity beach. En novembre 2009, on payait 15$ pour un chambre avec ventilateur, salle de bain privée avec eau chaude, tv.
Je suis en train de fignoler mon plan de visite pour le Delta du Mékong et je me demande, en partant de HCMC s'il y a un intérêt à passer quelque temps à Vinh…
Je pars au Cambodge en Juin, et poursuivrai mon chemin par le Laos. D'après les informations que j'ai pu trouver, il n'y a qu'un seul poste frontière terrestre…
Je voudrai un conseil pour passer la frontière du cambodge en partant de don khone au laos pour aller à Phnom Penh. J ai lu beaucoup de choses qui m effraient…
Nous arrivons à Bangkok le 22 février à 9H00 (GulAir) et reprenons un vol pour Siem Reap à 13H30 (Bangkok Airways. Nous restons à Siem Reap jusqu'au 1er mars…
Actuellement en moto au Vietnam, ma compagne et moi souhaitons continuer l'aventure au Laos et peut-être au Cambodge avec notre cher Honda win 107cc qui tient…
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for addresses for guesthouses or, even better, houseboats or rafting houses on the River Kwai, between Kanchanaburi and Sangkhlaburi, to spend a few weeks contemplating this beautiful river.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Premaria
Hi there,
we’re currently in Mai Chau and tomorrow we’re hitting the road back to Hanoi to head up toward Bac Ha and Sapa.
We haven’t really had a set plan since we arrived—we’ve already done the Halong Bay on land and by sea.
I’ve got 2 free days before heading to Bac Ha and Sapa.
Any tips?
Thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi fellow travelers,
First trip to Vietnam.
We’ll be arriving in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet.
Is it complicated to find accommodation and get around during this period?
Any tips would be welcome.
Thanks for your replies.
Silly question—backpack or hard-shell suitcase for the Sepilok, Kinabatangan, Tioman, KL trip?
I’m struggling to fit all my son’s and my stuff into the 70L backpack... and I’m thinking a suitcase would be easier, but I’m not sure if it’ll work for getting around.
Hi there,
I didn’t plan to return to Thailand this year, but my health conditions mean it’ll be the best place for me to stay between two trips to India. The tourism setup there is so well-organized that it’s the most "comfortable" country for a short visit. Thailand feels too sanitized for my taste, and there’s too much religion, Buddha, and the King, but it’s still the best option given how my health has been evolving. I’d considered two weeks in ThaTon for hiking, but I got too sick from the burn-offs during my trips to the mountains around Chiang Rai. So I’m not sure where to go this year. Definitely not the sea, touristy spots, or the mountains with burn-offs...
Hello.
In 1996, we crossed Vietnam from Saigon to Hanoi by motorbike—Minsk bikes we bought in Saigon. I haven’t been back since, and it seems like a lot has changed.
- We’re heading to the south (well, the north and center) with the family in July-August (3 people).
- Is the road network more developed now? Back then, there was only National Route 1 from south to north. I’m thinking of renting a car this time (no motorbike with the family—though in ’96, they had a Jawa sidecar for sale, and we hesitated… maybe it’s for the best).
- Is Halong Bay really something to avoid because of overtourism? Even back then, it was pretty crowded. Is there a less touristy alternative?
- We’ll be traveling from Hanoi down to Danang (the only city we didn’t stop in back in ’96). Even though it’s a bit overhyped in a Chinese-tourist kind of way (from what I’ve read), we’re only going for the beach—pure relaxation for 7 days. The beaches are stunning, and I know the South China Sea is warm like coffee.
- Then, we’ll visit Hoi An, where I stopped in ’96. It was already popular with backpackers back then, but no glowing boats or all the touristy fuss!
- After that, Hue, where I have great memories—it’s a beautiful city.
- And also the nature around Ninh Binh, followed by 2-3 days in Hanoi.
That’s the plan. I’d love to hear any tips to avoid mass tourism, and if anyone’s done this before:
- Is it possible to rent a car in Danang and drop it off in Hanoi?
Hey everyone,
I’m over in East Borneo in mid-July.
I’m struggling to wrap up the end of my itinerary, even though it’s pretty straightforward (long but simple).
Last year, we did Malaysia (KL and the mainland + around Kuching).
Day 1 – Arrive in Kota Kinabalu early, stroll around town and hit the must-sees.
Day 2 – Excursion to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, snorkeling at 3 islands.
Day 3 – Hike around Mount Kinabalu without summiting (450 per person, no way).
Day 4 – Poring Hot Springs + evening flight to Sandakan.
Day 5-6-7 – Kinabatangan River (still looking for the right guide).
Day 8 – Sepilok for the orangutans, the Sun Bear Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Day 9 – Selingan, turtle island.
Day 10 – Head to Semporna.
Day 11-12-13-14 – Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai.
Day 15 – Bohey Dulang.
Day 16 to Day 25: I’M STUCK.
I looked into Danum Valley, but for 3 days/2 nights, they’re quoting 650 € per person—come on, that’s ridiculous.
I checked out a detour into Indonesia (still East Borneo), but I’m having trouble deciding what would be amazing.
I read about Sangalaki + Kakaban (2 islands, 1 base) / Mahakam Delta - Kutai (orangutans and river) / Sungai Boh (Dayak Kayan) – jungle & culture.
But honestly, I’m struggling to finalize this itinerary.
If we venture that way, we’d head back to KK from Balikpapan.
For a 4-month stay in Egypt, I had ENORMOUS problems. The regulations are very bureaucratic and extremely nitpicky there. For a 4-month stay in the Philippines, I was wondering if the procedures are just as complicated? I’m bringing my cell phone with an eSIM. Should I choose a plan from Canada for use in the Philippines, or should I get a plan only once I arrive? After 30 days, do I renew with the Canadian provider I chose before leaving, or do I switch to a local company? Do I need to register my phone with the authorities in the Philippines? (That was the case in Egypt.) For the 3rd and 4th months, will it be just as simple—renewing with a Canadian or local provider—or should I expect problems?
Hello,
I’ll be in Malaysia with my wife, mainly in Langkawi and Penang for Christmas and New Year’s at the end of 2026.
If you’ve had the experience—and since I’ve read (though it’s not very clear) that these two islands get quite crowded during this period—would you recommend booking accommodation well in advance, or is it easy to find something on the spot?
Hotels or Airbnb?
Do you have any great tips for accommodation or any practical info to share?
We’ll be staying 5 to 7 days on each island.
Thanks in advance for your replies
Hi there. To make the most of Lake Toba, is it better to find accommodation on the lake’s shores (which one?) or on Samosir Island? Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
We’re heading to Vietnam as a family on July 8th for a little over 3 weeks (north and center). We’ve only booked the first 3 nights in Hanoi, and nothing else after that. We like to decide things on the spot and go with the flow, without rushing everywhere. But I’m still a bit unsure: when heading down to the center (Hue), is it better to book the overnight trains in advance? We don’t want to take any flights while we’re there—just use the overnight train for the long trips. But I’m worried we won’t get seats if we buy the tickets on the spot, say, 2 days before. What do the experts here think? And which website can we use to book the tickets? Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone!
I’m heading back to Thailand in July 2026 with a stopover in Cambodia to visit the Angkor site.
After Angkor, I’ve booked a stay on Ko Chang island. Does anyone know if there are direct transport options from Cambodia to Ko Chang without having to go back through Bangkok? That would be amazing!!
I think there are, but I’d need more details!!
I went to Thailand in February 2025 and don’t remember having to apply for a visa—is that still the case now? And for Cambodia too?
Thanks so much!!!
Laurence from Bayonne
I’d love to get some feedback on our itinerary—it’s probably pretty basic! This is our second trip to Asia and our first to Indonesia. We have three kids aged 20, 18, and 12. We land in Jakarta at 4 PM, spend 3 nights/2 days there, then take the train to Yogyakarta for 3 nights/2 days, followed by the train to Surabaya for 2 nights/1 day, then the train to Bromo for 1 day/1 night, a private driver to Ijen for 2 nights/2 days, then on to Bali (Ubud) for 4 nights/3 days, followed by Gili Air for 3 nights/2 days, Senggigi (Lombok) for 2 nights, and finally 5 nights in Kuta. I’m considering cutting the 2 nights in Senggigi to just keep Kuta and extend it to 7 nights. In Lombok, I’m not sure how to get around since I’m not comfortable with scooters... Your thoughts on all of this, and any advice, are more than welcome—don’t hesitate!
For those wondering why cities like Jakarta and Surabaya: we don’t often get the chance to visit big Asian cities, so we wanted to include that discovery in our trip. The trains between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Probolinggo are booked. The return flight from Lombok to Jakarta is also set. Accommodations are booked but flexible (same for the trains).
Hi,
After our trip to China, we want to spend a week in the Philippines for some beach time and snorkeling.
We're looking for the best spot to settle in—nice beaches, great marine life, and short transfer times.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Does anyone know of a private transfer or taxi company that organizes transfers from the Sukhothai area to Chiang Mai?
Our routes are Sukhothai-Lampang, Lampang-Chom Thong, and Chom Thong-Chiang Mai.
My searches on Google Maps, 12Go, and others haven’t turned up much...
For our Bangkok-Sukhothai trips, I use a company I’ve already tried, but they don’t have a fleet available from Sukhothai and have to go through third-party companies—which, understandably, take their commission. This nearly doubles the prices...
There are four of us, and we’re not traveling light, so a minibus isn’t an option. ;-)
Hello,
While traveling in Thailand, I’m looking for a Buddhist kumlai reed bracelet.
Does anyone know where I can find one?
In Bangkok, I visited a few temples but didn’t see any in the nearby shops.
If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them! Have a great day! :-)
My trip’s coming up, and I’m having a bit of trouble with three bus/minivan routes. Usually, I find everything at this time of year, but this time—yikes!
Sandakan → Sepilok:
No app for this one—you just hop on bus #14 at the local terminal (pay cash on board). But where do I catch it, and where’s the stop??
Sandakan → Semporna:
From what I’ve heard, it’s the Sida Express company (great name, right? 😄).
Can’t book online, but apparently, you *have* to because there’s only one bus at 8 AM.
Where do I board, and where does it drop me off?
Semporna → Tawau:
Found this via AI—is it legit?
No online booking, as far as I can tell.
Minivans leave from a stop in the Jalan Hospital area, near the Milimewa supermarket, supposedly????
And when you arrive, does it drop you at **Sabindo Square** in Tawau?????
Hi there,
we’ll be in Mai Chau in June and we’re thinking of heading to Sapa, but first spending a few days in Bac Ha to do some hiking and explore the area.
Is this a good idea for those who’ve been there?
How do you get there?
Thanks for your feedback.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hi everyone. As I’m planning my trip for next winter, I’m looking for hotel suggestions in Camotes, Bantayan, Malapascua, Bohol, and Siquijor. The ones I had in mind seem to be fully booked (unless it’s too early?). For those familiar with the area, is it easy to find accommodations on the spot in January/February? I’m specifically looking for hotels with a pool, beachfront, air conditioning, and easy scooter rental nearby. Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
I’m planning an itinerary and would love some feedback on whether it’s doable and if the number of days per destination is enough—or too much. I was also debating whether to add an extra night on an island or spend an extra night in Kampot to visit Kep or Battambang.
March 23: Arrival in Phnom Penh in the morning
March 24: Phnom Penh
March 25: Phnom Penh
March 26: Depart for Kampot
March 27: Kampot
March 28: Depart for Battambang
March 29: Battambang
March 30: Tonlé SAP to Siem Reap
March 31: Siem Reap
April 1: Siem Reap
April 2: Siem Reap
April 3: Siem Reap
April 4: Siem Reap
April 5: Departure
Hi there,
Yesterday in the Thailand section, 100% of the new threads were just about beach destinations 😕...
So here’s the counterattack in the form of this photo thread, dedicated solely to the countryside: the locals, their livestock, fields, farms, rice paddies, small rivers, and agricultural machinery. If you’ve got any pictures that fit these categories, feel free to add them!
Comments welcome.
For each photo, I’ll (or you can) indicate the area where it was taken.
Hope you're all doing well! It's been a while since I last traveled, but I'm finally heading out again soon!
For those familiar with SOUTHEAST ASIA, I'm planning to leave in mid-June (with the trip ending at the latest in November), and I don’t have a precise idea of exact places or itineraries yet. The thing is, this period is usually the rainy season...
Any advice? I was thinking of Malaysia or Indonesia, like Sulawesi, for example (all countries and islands in Southeast Asia interest me except Bali).
Any recommendations? I’m doing my research online, but if anyone here has the time and knowledge, I’d love to hear from you.
My partner and I are planning a trip to Indonesia in September-October 2026. It’ll be our first time in Asia, and we’re thinking of hitting the classic spots in East Java and Bali, then wrapping up with a cruise around Komodo for some snorkeling/diving. Here’s a rough draft of our itinerary—I’m wondering if it’s doable.
20/09: Flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, arrive around noon, afternoon/evening and overnight in Yogyakarta.
21/09: Borobudur
22/09: Prambanan
23/09: Travel to Bromo (Cemoro Lawang)
24/09: Bromo
25/09: Kawa Ijen
26/09: Travel to Bali, overnight in Pemuteran
27/09: Excursion to Pulau Melujan, overnight in Pemuteran
28/09: Travel to Munduk, overnight in Munduk
29/09: Explore Munduk and surroundings, overnight in Munduk
30/09: Explore Munduk and surroundings, overnight in Munduk
01/10: Route to Ubud (via Pura Ulu Danau Bratan, Jatiluwih?), overnight in Ubud
02/10: Explore Ubud and surroundings, overnight in Ubud
03/10: Explore Ubud and surroundings, overnight in Ubud
04/10: Travel to Denpasar, flight to Labuan Bajo, overnight in Labuan Bajo
05/10: Komodo cruise
06/10: Komodo cruise
07/10: Komodo cruise, flight to Denpasar in the late afternoon/evening or overnight in Labuan Bajo.
08/10: Flight to Denpasar (if not taken the day before), afternoon in Jimbaran, overnight near Denpasar
09/10: 10:00 AM flight Denpasar - SIN, overnight in Singapore
10/10: Flight SIN-YQB
Hi everyone,
My girlfriend and I booked our tickets with Saudia Airlines for a trip to Thailand this summer, from July 5th to August 3rd. Given the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, we’re keeping a close eye on the news.
I was wondering if anyone here is in the same situation as us?
• Have you heard anything about possible mass cancellations or if the airline is still maintaining its routes to Asia?
• Are there any travelers who’ve recently returned who could tell us if air corridors have been changed (longer flight times)?
The idea is to know what to expect so we can prepare as best as possible. Thanks for your replies! !
Thanks for all your contributions on the forum—they’ve really helped me plan my trip. There are four of us friends heading to Sulawesi for 20 days. Based on all your advice, I’ve put together the following itinerary:
July 30: Makassar – sightseeing
July 31: Makassar – sightseeing + overnight bus to Rantepao
August 1–7: Tana Toraja with a guide
August 7: Tana Toraja to Tentena + visit Tentena
August 8: Early departure with a private driver to Ampana, then ferry to the Togian Islands
August 9–15: Togian Islands (2 different resorts)
August 15: Depart Togian Islands for Luwuk
August 16: Flight Luwuk to Makassar
August 17: Rammang Rammang
August 18: Stroll in Makassar, then return home
Overall, what do you think?
I also have a question about the connection between Tentena and the Togian Islands: Is it doable to leave early in the morning as planned and still be sure not to miss the ferry?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently working on a 30-day itinerary for May/June 2027.
10 days in eastern Java (Malang, Bromo, waterfalls, Meru Beriti Park, Banyuwangi, and Ijen), a short transit in Ubud for a few days, then Flores before heading back to Jakarta.
We’ll spend 15 days in Flores (the classic route: Moni, Bajawa, Riung, Ruteng, ending in Labuan Bajo).
I’d love some firsthand feedback on flights to Maumere or Ende from Bali Denpasar. I know there are no direct routes and that you have to connect through Labuan Bajo or Timor (I think), which isn’t an issue in itself.
But I’ve read here and there that flights to these destinations can be delayed—or worse, canceled—and that it’s better to fly in and out of Labuan Bajo, which isn’t exactly ideal...
Thanks for any tips or experiences you can share!
