Travelling through Southeast Asia is an exciting journey perfect for travellers of all styles and interests. Planning your own route makes it easier to tailor your adventure to your particular tastes, from pace of travel to style of accommodation and transport mode. Abundant with culture and stunning scenery, Southeast Asia is a destination beloved by many for its welcoming populations and mouth-watering food, too. This guide is intended to give you a glimpse into what the region has to offer and to help you to plan your own trip. You’ll find tips on when to visit and what to see, advice on what to pack and guidance on vaccinations and health whilst travelling. We wish you an exciting and productive planning process and a wonderful adventure!
When to visit Southeast Asia
At the start of the year, Cambodia and Laos are stunning – temperatures of around 26 degrees, blue skies and little rain make for perfect conditions to explore towns and temples and to take in the atmosphere of the countryside and rural villages. To get the best of both arrive in Cambodia in January and travel to Laos the following month. Vietnam is also lovely at this time of year and, adjacent to Cambodia and accessible by train, plane and boat, as well as by car, it makes a great addition to any holiday in the area. Sri Lanka’s blue whales appear around March, drawing excited visitors to boat trips and seaside resorts. Visitors to the country looking to see other wildlife in its natural habitat should visit between October and April. In contrast, the country’s typhoon season, in November and December, is best avoided.
Rainy season
Southeast Asia’s rainy season is typically between May and late October, with typhoons hitting the region, and fewer visitors journey there between those months. Either end of the season is a great time to enjoy quieter roads, provided you take precautions against the weather. Before the rainy season, the atmosphere is humid, with temperatures up to 40 degrees. Those not comfortable in such heat should look to visit earlier in the year. If your holiday falls during Monsoon season, consider Borneo. The country is outside the main Monsoon belt and as such is more consistent during the Western summer.
Best countries for first-time visitors
Thailand
Although somewhat touristy, Thailand has some wonderful attractions and is a great place to visit as a first-time traveller to the region. Visitors will find many luxury and budget hotels, particularly in the capital, Bangkok. Stimulating all of the senses, Bangkok is an exciting place to start your trip and is well connected to many cities around the world. The Thai are friendly and hospitable, and logistics are straightforward, making Thailand a somewhat easier adventure than less developed nations. The beaches in the south of the country are incredibly popular with tourists. While those looking for a more authentic experience should seek sun elsewhere, many visitors will enjoy the familiarity of the resorts here and a short beach break can be a welcome respite for a few days between more strenuous stops. Thailand is a great place to add to your list when putting together travel itineraries in Asia.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a must-see for first-time visitors to the region. The vibrant culture is unlike anything found in the west, with cities buzzing with motorcycles carrying up to four people at any one time. The country’s museums are fascinating, telling stories of the recent war at a national and local level. The women’s museum in Hanoi is a marvellous insight into the cultural history of the country, too. Ha Long Bay is one of a number of breath-taking natural sights to be found in the country, too. As Vietnam can be a bit of a culture shock, particularly in the Northern regions, first-time visitors may wish to combine it with a more leisurely tour of Cambodia or Thailand, or to travel South to North; the Southern cities show more of a Western influence. Vietnam has an excellent train network, making touring by sleeper train very easy.
What to see and do in Southeast Asia
Cambodia and Laos
The temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, famous for their role in the Tomb Raider films, are a must-see. Their sheer scale and complexity is fascinating, and can be explored over multiple days. Viewing the temples at sunrise is breath-taking; although crowded, the view is worth the early start. Elsewhere in Cambodia the Killing Fields are a harrowing memorial to the country’s genocide, an important reminder of a bloodshed so recent that survivors speak to visitors at the Toul Sleng Prison Museum.
Laos offers remote rural scenery and jungle landscapes and the chance to be immersed in nature through river journeys along the Mekong Delta, which connects to Cambodia. Adventurous activities abound in Laos, with zip-lining, caving, rock-climbing, hiking and kayaking among the activities on offer.
Vietnam at Tet
To enjoy an authentic Southeast Asian celebration, head to Vietnam around Tet, or Vietnamese New Year. At this time of year Vietnamese families exchange money in red envelopes, and display red paper lanterns. On the full moon they celebrate noisily with firecrackers and music. Another full moon festival not to be missed is Loi Krathong in Thailand in November; people release paper lanterns on this day to send their worries away.
Southeast Asian Cuisine
Southeast Asia is well known for its sumptuous cuisine. From roadside coconut rice on offer in Cambodia to roasted insects in Thailand and fresh summer rolls in Vietnam, you won’t go hungry. Seek out recommendations from other travellers when looking to eat locally, a practice recommended for sustainable travellers. Blogs are also helpful when planning meals out. Street food is delicious but exercise caution – it’s best to avoid raw or uncooked foods, which can be host to bugs and bacteria that isn’t tolerated by all but local immune systems.
What to take to Southeast Asia
Travellers braving the rainy season should ensure they have appropriate waterproof clothing, but a rain mac is advised for travellers year-round, too, in case of showers. A hat and light clothing are advisable in the summer heat, but be sure to pack something to cover legs and shoulders when visiting temples. Backpacking Southeast Asia is made easy by the fact that small to medium sizes in many clothing types can be picked up quite easily around the region, including the travelling pants favoured by many visitors as a comfortable and cool item of clothing perfect for exploring. Light shoes are advisable; a comfortable pair of flip flops is perfect for most occasions. Bug spray is a must for warding away mosquitos and other critters, particularly when near open water.
Documents to keep handy
Travel with spare copies of passport photos for visa applications. A colour photocopy of important travel documents, such as your passport and driving licence, is also a sensible addition to your case.
Staying safe and healthy
- A hygiene kit with antibacterial gel or wipes and a selection of medicines is a must to avoid translation difficulties when in need.
- Avoid drinking tap water except in Singapore, where tap water is safe to drink.
- Bottled water is readily available in most places, but those venturing to more rural locations may wish to carry purification tablets.
- Along with traveller’s diarrhoea, the biggest risk in Southeast Asia comes when renting a vehicle, particularly a motorbike. Take care when travelling by road.
- Keep your valuables locked away and hidden when travelling and keep an eye on local news for political activity that might put you in danger.
Vaccines for Southeast Asia
Before you travel be sure to book for vaccines, many of which need to be administered at least six weeks before your trip. Diseases you’ll need to be protected against include hepatitis A and B, cholera, and yellow fever. Send us a message or call our clinic for more information about vaccines for Southeast Asia that you might wish to have before you go.