Hi there,

I’d love to get your thoughts and advice/tips for my trip to Malaysia.

I’m heading to Malaysia for 20 days starting in mid-August with three other people.

My plan was to go straight to Kota Kinabalu. I’d like to go rafting (if you have any agencies to recommend, I’m all ears), climb Mount Kota Kinabalu (is it worth it? And again, if you have an agency in mind), and check out the night market (I’m not entirely sure what it’s like).

After that, I’d head to Sandakan (not sure how yet) and do a little 3-day, 2-night safari.

Then from Sandakan (still not sure how), go to Tawau to visit Sipadan for some diving.

And then head back home.

Nothing’s set in stone yet—I’m open to tons of suggestions. I feel like I could do more. I’d seen Taman Negara jungle, but it’s way off the route, so I’m not sure if it’s doable. I’d also love to find other interesting diving spots.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi everyone, I’m starting to plan my next trip to Southeast Asia this winter (2.5 months, leaving in early December), and here’s a rough outline of my route—I’d love to share it with you and hear your thoughts and tips.

- I’ll start in Bangkok and already have three spots I’ve marked: Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, and Uthai Thani (I haven’t been to any of these places yet). - Next, I’d like to cross the country from west to east to reach the Laos border. I’d love suggestions for any interesting stops along this route—I don’t know this part of Thailand at all... - Then I’ll head into Laos, probably at Savannakhet (you can usually get a visa at the border). - > I’m tempted to spend a week in Hoi An, Vietnam, since I loved that city and the area when I visited two years ago. No visa needed for Vietnam now, so it could be a nice little detour. On the map, it doesn’t look too far, but I know you’ve got to be careful with these things, and I’m not sure if it’s a good idea. Any opinions on this? - Back to Laos (maybe via Dakta), and I’ll head south along the Mekong, probably doing the Bolaven Plateau loop that I missed last time. Then Paksé, the 4,000 Islands... I’ve been before, but I’d happily go back. - Crossing into Cambodia, I’ll follow the Mekong down to Phnom Penh (I know this area and love how untouristy it is). From there, I’ll probably spend a few days in Kep (quieter than Kampot). Still undecided, though. - Then back to Thailand (BKK), likely by plane from Phnom Penh since the borders between the two countries are currently closed (plus, let’s be honest, Cambodian roads... ;-). We’ll see how things look when the time comes. - After that, I’d like to explore southern Thailand, taking it slow with short hops. I’ve got my eye on Khao Sok National Park, and I’ve heard good things about Krabi... Again, I don’t know this region well, so any info or tips would be great.

So, I think this should be doable in 2.5 months, especially since I prefer short hops of 300 km max to avoid getting too tired, and I like staying 2-3 days in each place to explore. Plus, I’ll take a week off to relax if I find a spot I love—maybe by the sea for some real downtime.

Thanks for your feedback and for sharing your favorite spots! Pascal

Hi everyone, We’re planning a trip to Malaysia from March 16 to 31, 2026, and we’d love to hear your advice and experiences. There are three of us girls, and we’d like to visit a few islands, but we’re not sure which ones to choose yet. Could you recommend:

The most beautiful islands to visit at this time of year (is it the right season?)

How to get there easily

Mistakes to avoid and essential info

Must-do activities and sights

Useful things to bring back

The budget to plan for

How long to stay in Kuala Lumpur and the city’s must-sees

Any tips you have—whether you’ve traveled in March or another time—will be super helpful for planning our trip. Thanks so much in advance! 🌴✈️

Hi everyone, My 16-year-old son, my partner, and I are planning a trip to Malaysia in August.

Here’s what I’m thinking so far:

- KL (4 nights): The first day is a write-off, so that leaves 3 full days. - Cameron Highlands (2 nights): 1 full day for Mossy Forest, etc.

Now, the big question. I’m planning to go to Penang—either 3 or 4 nights. If I do 4 nights, I’ll have 3 full days to explore. If I do 3 nights, I’m thinking of spending 1 night in Ipoh.

Is Ipoh worth it for a day? Is 3 full days in Penang too much? - Perhentians (4 nights).

To finish, back to KL and a visit to Malacca, or maybe Singapore—but if it’s just for a day, it might not be worth it.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Hello, We’re a family of four with two teens aged 16 and 18. We’re heading to Thailand this summer. We’ll arrive in Bangkok and plan to take a flight to Luang Prabang. I’ve seen there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and maybe even venture a bit north to places like Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay. But I’ve also heard about the Bokeo region with the Gibbon Experience. Since we won’t be able to do everything, I’d love to hear about your experiences, impressions, and advice on the two options I’m considering, especially since we’ll be meeting family in Chiang Mai, Thailand, afterward.

Option 1: A loop from Luang Prabang heading slightly north, then a flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

Option 2: A few days in Luang Prabang, exploring within a few dozen kilometers around, then heading to Bokeo province for the 2-day/1-night Gibbon Experience. For this option, I saw on Rome2Rio that it’s possible to book a ferry trip on the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Huay Xay—they mention about 8 hours. But is that realistic? What type of boat is it? Then, to get to Chiang Mai, there aren’t many options—bus or minivan—but how does crossing the border work?

Finally, for those of you who’ve been to Laos in August, what was the weather like? We’ve already visited Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia during the same period over the past four years and weren’t really bothered by bad weather.

Thanks for your feedback! Best regards, Aurélien

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Laos in November 2025. I’m not really sure what to visit. I’ve heard there are local festivals around that time. Open to any suggestions for planning my trip. There’ll be 4 or 5 of us. Best,

Hi there! We’ll be in Singapore for a few days and have 9 days off from there. We’d love to visit Borneo, obviously not everything since we only have 9 days. Ideally, we’d like to spend the last 2 days near the sea in Sabah. Of course, we know we’ll only be able to see a small part of Borneo, but the logistics seem a bit tricky in such a short time.

There’s so much to do that I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. Any feedback from people who know the area (I imagine not many have been there for such a short trip...) would be great! Thanks!

Hi there, I’m so glad the VoyageForum is back up. Reading 'Montagnard74’s' Laos trip report (which I read yesterday) made me want to share my own (which I already posted a year ago on another forum). Here’s a little recap of our 3 weeks in northern Laos, plus a few days in Vientiane. By the way, we could easily go back to the north—there’s so much to see and do; probably in a few years.

This was our 3rd trip to Laos after having already done:

1st trip in 2012 (3 weeks), a quick overview: Vientiane Vang Vieng Luang Prabang Plain of Jars

2nd trip in 2017 (1 month): Vientiane all the way to the 4,000 Islands via Thakhek, Kong Lor, the Bolaven Plateau, Savannakhet, Pakse...

Our 2023 itinerary (1 month): Vientiane Luang Prabang Muang Ngoi Nong Khiew Luang Namtha Muang Sing Boten Vang Vieng Vientiane

Some general info (2023): For those who’ve already been to Laos: everything has gone up a lot—I think prices have almost doubled for transport, accommodation, meals... everything. But Laos is still a budget-friendly country for us. As a couple, we spent 1,100 € for a month, all included (and we definitely didn’t skimp on massages :)).

Don’t trust the transport signs posted everywhere—at travel agencies, bus terminals, hotels... THEY’RE ALL WRONG (especially the schedules). They haven’t been updated since before Covid.

There are hardly any bikes for rent anymore, but scooters are easy to find everywhere. We switched our mode of transport toward the end of our stay: from bikes to scooters, which let us go farther. In Vientiane, we only saw one bike rental place, near Ong Teu Pagoda.

BCEL bank doesn’t charge a commission on foreign currency exchanges. Using ATMs is expensive due to fees. Outside Laos, Lao kip are basically worthless. There’s so much inflation that I couldn’t find a single bank or exchange office willing to swap the kip we had left. So, don’t exchange too much toward the end of your trip.

Some little tips from our experience (2023): The Muang Koua to Muang Ngoi boat still runs daily. At the dam, you have to get off and take a bus, then get back on the boat.

The boat from Muang Ngoi to Nong Khiew only leaves at 9:30 AM (don’t miss it or you’ll pay a lot for a private boat). From Nong Khiew to Muang Ngoi, there are at least two boats a day.

From Luang Namtha to Muang Sing: 4 to 5 buses a day, the last one leaves around 3:30 PM.

From Luang Namtha or Muang Sing to Nateuy or Boten (to catch the new train): 3 to 5 buses a day.

The new train is really hard to book—it’s often fully booked 48 hours in advance, even the local train (5 hours from Boten to Vientiane instead of 3 hours on the high-speed train). (That makes it tough to travel day by day, which we love... too bad.) For baggage checks: don’t bring anything flammable (sprays...) or sharp. My mosquito repellent (flammable but in a small plastic bottle) got through. Water bottles and a tiny pocketknife are okay. But it seems to depend on the station.

Some guesthouses prefer to be paid in dollars, otherwise the price is much higher.

If you’re entering Laos from Vietnam via Dien Bien Phu, you have to get your visa at the embassy in Hanoi—otherwise, you’ll be refused at the border (no e-visa or visa on arrival).

Apart from Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Muang Ngoi/Nong Khiew, there are very few tourists.

Some bus prices (in addition to those mentioned in my trip report) (with pick-up) 2023: Luang Prabang to Luang Namtha: 320,000 kip per person, 9h LP to Phonesavan: 250,000 kip per person, 7h LP to Phongsaly: 450,000 kip per person, 13h LP to Huay Xai: 420,000 kip per person, 14h Train Nateuy to Vientiane: 400,000 kip per person LP to Chiang Rai: 780,000 kip per person, 18h LP to Hanoi: 900,000 kip per person, 24h LP to train station: 50,000 kip per person LP to airport: 100,000 kip per person Vientiane from train station: 180,000 kip by taxi

Boats: LP to Pak Beng: 300,000 kip per person, 1 day LP to Houay Xai: 500,000 kip per person, 2 days LP to Pak Ou: 180,000 kip per person, 5h

Hi everyone, I’m thinking of taking a 20-day trip to Laos in January 2026. I’m currently looking at itineraries, hotels, excursions, transport, etc. For the route, nothing’s set in stone yet, but we’d do: Vientiane - Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang - Champassak - Pakse. What do you think? Anyone have any tips? Thanks, Alain

Hi there,

I need some expert advice on these two destinations for a 15-day trip. We land in KL and plan to stay for 2 days before heading to Borneo and finishing with an island for snorkeling. For those who’ve been, what are your must-sees? We were thinking of spending the last 3 days on the Perhentian Islands, unless you’ve got another island to recommend near Borneo. Thanks for your tips and help!

Hi everyone! Here’s a rough draft of my itinerary: I’d like to rent a car in KL and return it in Penang. Is there an overnight bus from Langkawi to the Perhentians? Another option: skip one of the two islands to drive back down to KL and stop at Pulau Redang?

Day 1: Arrival at 10 AM, car rental for 7 days, Putrajaya, night in KL Day 2: Batu Caves, Taman Negara, night in TN Day 3: Taman Negara, night in TN Day 4: Drive to Cameron Highlands, night in CH Day 5: Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, night in Penang Day 6: Penang, George Town Day 7: Return rental car in Penang and flight to Langkawi. Night in Langkawi (4 nights) Day 8: Langkawi Day 9: Langkawi Day 10: Langkawi Day 11: Overnight bus? Langkawi to Perhentians (5 nights) Day 12: Perhentians Day 13: Perhentians Day 14: Perhentians Day 15: Perhentians -> KL (flight) Day 17: KL Day 18: KL Day 19: Return flight at 1 PM

Thanks for your expert advice! !

Hi there,

We’re arriving in Singapore for 3 days before heading to Malaysia. We wanted to start with the south of the east coast and make our way north, but transfers from Singapore are complicated. Has anyone been to Tioman Island? How did you get there? I saw a route involving a bus and car. Has anyone taken a Grab for this trip to avoid switching transport modes, especially since we have luggage and kids? 🙂 Thanks—I’m open to all your tips, since we don’t want to rent a car and we’d like to head up to the Perhentians afterward.

Thanks so much!

Chris

Hi there, I’d like to go to the Perhentian Islands from Kuala Lumpur. I’ve seen that I need to take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu, but what’s next? Is it reasonable to stay on the island and catch my return flight—my flight from Kuala Lumpur is at 3:30 PM? Thanks so much for your helpful tips!

We're a family with two kids aged 15 and 12 planning to visit Malaysia and Borneo. We'd like to travel from 23/07/2025 to 20/08/2025, which is almost 4 full weeks on the ground. We've made good progress but would love some advice. We're planning a flight from Paris to Singapore.

Singapore – 2 days Malaysia: Malacca Kuala Lumpur Cameron Highlands Pulau Pangkor Taman Negara National Park Georgetown and Penang Island Perhentian Islands Other islands on the west coast Tioman

Borneo: Semporna Archipelago Turtle Island National Park Traditional village in Sarawak Gunung Mulu National Park Borneo jungles to see orangutans

Do you think this is doable or not?

Thanks in advance for your replies

Hi there

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?????

Thanks for any tips—I’m stuck!

Hi there, We’re heading to Malaysia for 10 days (landing in Singapore). We’ll spend 4 or 5 days on Tioman, but what after? I’m really struggling to find an itinerary or a second spot to settle in—any suggestions?

Hi there,

My partner and I are heading to Malaysia in early July. We arrive in KL on 03/07 in the late afternoon and leave from KL on 18/07 in the evening.

We’ve planned: Day 1: KL Day 2: Cameron Highlands day trip from KL Day 3: KL → Taman Negara (bus) Day 4 & 5: Trek in Taman Negara Day 6: Taman Negara → Perhentians (bus + boat) Day 7 & 8: Perhentians Day 9: Perhentians → Pulau Redang (boat + bus + boat) Day 10 & 11: Pulau Redang Day 12: Pulau Redang → George Town (flight) Day 13: George Town Day 14: George Town → KL (flight) Day 15: KL + return flight at 23:45

I feel like this might not be the most efficient route. Any tips on how to optimize the order of things (even though I’d prefer to start with Taman Negara)? How’s the best way to travel between places?

Should we book everything (transport, accommodation, activities) in advance, or can we figure it out day by day? I prefer spontaneous travel to keep things flexible, but will there be availability, or will we be struggling constantly?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

Hi, I’d like to visit northern Laos by car with a driver from Luang Prabang. Anyone able to share their experience and give me the contact details for a private driver? Thanks for your replies!

I just planned my itinerary, but I feel like it's too rushed. I’ll have to make some choices, but I don’t know how—everything looks interesting.

Oct 24: Arrival in Bangkok, flight to Chiang Rai (overnight) Oct 25: Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong (overnight) Oct 26: Chiang Khong to Houei Sai (overnight) Oct 27: Houei Sai (Shampoo Cruise boat) to Pakbeng (overnight) Oct 28: Pakbeng (2nd day of cruise) to Luang Prabang Oct 29–30–31, Nov 1–2: Luang Prabang (5 nights) Nov 2: Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train Nov 3–4–5: Vientiane (That Luang) (4 nights) Nov 6: Vientiane to Vang Vieng Nov 7–8: Vang Vieng (3 nights) Nov 9: Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Nov 10: Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw Nov 11: Nong Khiaw Nov 12: Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi Nov 13–14: Muang Ngoi Nov 15: Muang Ngoi to Nong Khiaw to Oudomxai Nov 16: Oudomxai to Luang Namtha Nov 17–18: Luang Namtha Nov 19: Luang Namtha to Muang Sing Nov 20–21: Muang Sing Nov 22: Muang Sing to Luang Namtha to Houeisai Nov 23: Houeisai to Chiang Rai Nov 24: Chiang Rai flight at 18:55 to Bangkok Nov 25: Bangkok flight at 01:15 to Barcelona

Thanks for your suggestions!

Hi, I'm looking for the best snorkeling destination from Singapore for August. Any thoughts on Tioman? Is it easy to get there by bus or taxi?

2 nights there or more? Thanks for your help

Hi. Is it possible to take the train from Malacca to Ipoh? Thanks for your feedback.

We’re a retired couple planning a trip to Laos in December 2025, and we’d love to make some contacts now to help us plan our journey. We’re also interested in accommodations and/or local guides who could show us around the country.

hi there we’ll arrive in Luang Prabang on November 8th from Bangkok and plan to leave from Vientiane on November 19th. Little question—we’d love to visit northern Laos, but I can’t do mountain walks or climbing. My partner can, though. What do you recommend for us? Thanks for your tips! Best, Monique

hi, we’re heading to Malaysia in July and I’ve booked the hotel in Langkawi for the five of us. I can’t seem to reserve the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi? Can I buy the tickets on the spot before boarding the ferry? Thanks for your tips!

Hi there, We’re in Laos in March 2025, does anyone know if it’s possible to travel down the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Vientiane? Can you find a private boat? How long does it take? Thanks for your replies_

Hi there,

Does anyone know when I should buy flight tickets to Laos in July and return in August to get the best price?

Can you exchange euros in Laos?

Is it easy to get around Laos using public transportation?

Do I need to book accommodation in advance?

Can you go hiking without a guide?

Thanks in advance for your tips to help me prepare for my trip! Nolwenn

Hi everyone, We’re heading to Malaysia in June 2026 and will be making a short trip to Sarawak. After reading various reports and blogs online about the Iban communities and others, we’d love to visit a longhouse and spend 3 days and 2 nights there. I’ve found some options online, but always through an agency. So, I’d love to hear if any of you have had this kind of experience and could give us some advice. Thanks

Hi there, we’re planning a trip of just over a month on the dates mentioned above (we haven’t booked our tickets yet). We’re backpacking globe-trotters as long as our energy holds out. We’re pretty familiar with several Asian countries. Do you think that at this time of year and with the time we have, it’s realistic to visit both the west and east coasts? Thanks in advance for your replies. Best regards.

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, I’m planning a trip to Southeast Asia and would love to do a cruise on the Mekong. The thing is, I’m finding surprisingly little info on the topic—way less than I expected. Especially when it comes to prices, the few times I’ve managed to get a quote without doing a full booking simulation (and even then, I didn’t succeed), the costs seem way too high for me (500 €/night is way out of my budget).

Ideally, I’d love to travel the river cruise by cruise, country by country. 😇

But I’ve heard that even with an unlimited budget, it wouldn’t be possible—if only because of the dams in certain areas. And well, my budget is far from unlimited... 🤪

Cambodia? Yes, please. Laos? Yes, please. 🙂 500 €/day? No way. 🏴‍☠️

Has anyone here cruised the Mekong on a modest budget but with decent comfort (so you’re not counting the minutes until you dock...)? If so, which part of the river? 😐