Water activities · Southeast Asia

Hi everyone, We’re planning a one-month trip to the Philippines for two of us, spanning April/May 2027, and we’d love your valuable advice to tell us if our itinerary is realistic or not :) Just so you know, we’re divers and want to take the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course at the start of our trip (which will take up 2 full days) so we can fully enjoy the different dive sites afterward. We also want to limit internal flights as much as possible. Here’s our itinerary: Arrive directly in Cebu Take the ferry to Bohol, head to Panglao Island Diving in Panglao (& PADI training) + visit Bohol Island for 4/5 days We’re wondering about this part of the trip because Panglao Island seems very touristy—what do you think? Would the Camotes Islands, for example, be more interesting? Take the ferry to Siquijor, stay there for 3/4 days (combined with a visit to Apo Island) From Siquijor, return to Cebu to head to Malapascua, stay there for 2/3 days Again, return to Cebu to take a flight to El Nido → So about 12 days in the Visayas Do the El Nido→Coron 3-day/2-night cruise Stay 2/3 days in Coron (combined with Apo Reef) Head to Luzon Island from Coron (by plane or ferry) Visit the Banaue Rice Terraces (if possible) for 3/4 days Return to France from Manila Thanks for your help :)

Hello,

We’re planning a trip to Thailand for next summer. It’s the rainy season, but that’ll let us explore forest parks (Khao Yai and Khao Sok, most likely) in full bloom and teeming with wildlife. We’d also like to spend a few days on beaches with nearby coral reefs during this trip. That’s where we’re hitting a snag—I’m struggling to find an island or region with favorable weather. I’ve gone through quite a few threads on this forum, but most are pretty old and mention a few names (Tao, Phaluai, Ma, or Phang Nga), though with doubts about visibility or overall appeal. Crowds also seemed like a bit of an issue. Just to clarify, our family has mixed interests when it comes to fish-related activities—some are Level 1 divers, while others are snorkelers only.

Are there any good options in July-August for great experiences in the area? Thanks for your tips!

Hi,

For my trip to Thailand with two teens aged 13 and 16, do you have any info or tips to share? I’d like to go jet skiing, either in Phuket or Koh Samui, but I’d need at least two jet skis since there are three of us. Can my 16-year-old ride alone? Is it better to rent on-site or book an all-inclusive excursion online or in person?

Thanks

Our Bali-Lombok trip is taking shape, but we’d love to wrap up the stay with at least a solid week of snorkeling somewhere the coral is still in great condition. In your opinion, are the Gili Secrets in southern Lombok better than Flores Island, where there are supposedly amazing underwater landscapes?

Hey everyone!! I’m planning a 3-month trip to the Philippines for May 2026. As a diving enthusiast, I’d love to hear about must-visit diving spots. I’m traveling with a buddy, and we don’t really want to spend all our time moving around, so if you have recommendations for one area that’s better than others for diving, that’d be great! What do you think are the best diving sites? (I’d appreciate an overview of the country so I can decide based on that.) Compared to my buddy, I love macro photography (nudibranchs, etc.), so I’d also love any tips on that. And completely unrelated to diving, but I’d also like info on places to visit (national parks, reserves, etc.) to see the local wildlife. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply! Safe travels, everyone!

Hello everyone! So glad to be back on this forum to swap some great tips. I’m heading to Malaysia from mid-May to mid-August 2025 for nearly 3 months. With my advanced certification in hand for a few years now, I’m on the lookout for the best dive spots in Malaysia. I’ve obviously heard about the Perhentians and Sipadan. Someone mentioned Tioman too, but not necessarily for diving. Do you have any feedback on these places for diving? (visibility, marine life diversity, etc.) Any idea about the rates for fun dives? Dive centers you’d recommend? Any help would be super valuable for planning the trip, so thanks a million in advance to those who take the time to reply. Safe travels, everyone!!

Hi there. For taking photos while snorkeling, is it better to go with a disposable camera or a waterproof pouch? If a pouch, which brand is reliable? Thanks for your feedback!

Hi there, I’m looking for a destination in Vietnam for January to spend a week and go snorkeling. Anyone have any suggestions? I know Thailand well, and with my Thai friend, we’d like to try a different country.

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone! I’ve been in Malaysia for a month now and still have two more to go. I started traveling with friends, but I’ll be solo for the next month and a half. We did a pretty classic route: Perhentians, Cameron Highlands (which I found pointless), Tioman, and Kinabatangan in Borneo. Now I’m thinking of heading to Redang Island—Langkawi is also an option, but it doesn’t appeal to me as much. Any feedback on these two spots? Especially Redang? Any thoughts on the diving there? So far, I haven’t had much luck with diving—at the Perhentians, it was pretty disastrous with water at 31°C 😵😫 I’d love to find a nice island where I can meet people (locals and travelers) because going from a group of six to solo at the end is going to feel weird. So I’m open to all tips and opinions. Also, I’d love to hear about Langkawi, and if anyone knows of an island that’s a bit more off the beaten path, that’d be amazing. Thanks in advance, and happy travels to you all!

hi everyone we’d love to visit Borneo and I’m not finding much info on it yet (just starting my research) so I’m reaching out to you, like I do for every trip—it’s worked out great for us so far 😎 we’re a family of 4 with two teens, 14 and 18, and we’re going for 3 weeks. what’s the weather like in August—too much rain? any political issues to be aware of? which little beach paradises should we not miss? we love discovering animals and diving… any top spots? as for airfare—any budget-friendly airlines or easy routes? (Singapore, Denpasar, etc.) I’ve got so many questions! All of this on a reasonable budget… thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to take the time to reply

Hi, I’d like to do several boat trips to go snorkeling during my stay in Florès: Islands departing from Riung, Maumere, and Labuan Bajo (Seraya). - WHO?: Do you have any contacts to organize these boat trips? - HOW MUCH?: What’s the cost for a full-day trip, including boat rental and possibly meals (picnic, barbecue, etc.)?

Hello, I’d like to go on a 5-day kayaking trip with snorkeling, island visits, and village tours in the Philippines. I don’t have a specific island in mind, but I’d love something off the beaten path. I’m traveling solo but can join a small group. This would be around March 20th. Thanks so much for your suggestions! I’m looking for a 5-day kayaking and snorkeling trip with a few village visits and no mass tourism. I’m alone but open to joining a small group. Any recommendations for around March 20th? Thanks a bunch for your feedback!