Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar - Itinerary Recommendations
Jun 6th, 2014, 11:06 AM
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Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar - Itinerary Recommendations
My friends and I are planning a trip to SE in August. Our current flight arrives in Siem Reap Aug 5 and returns home from Bangkok August 26 leaving us 3 full weeks. This is our current tentative itinerary:
Siem Reap, Cambodia (3 days) - Angkor Wat
Hanoi, Vietnam (3 days) - Halong Bay
Chang Mai, Thailand (3 days) - Trekking, Elephants, Tigers
Myanmar (5 days) - Bagan, Inle Lake
Phuket, Thailand (5 days) - Island Hopping
The additional days are to account for travel days, etc.
We need to book flights between the different countries as soon as possible and need recommendations on best and cheapest routes. We realize this is an aggressive itinerary, we are VERY used to traveling fast and hard. We are more concerned about budget. With these sites in mind, is this the best order to do it in? Any other recommendations and advice? From what I have heard, Vietnam is very expensive so would it maybe best for us to just cut it out and use the three days elsewhere? Any critique is much appreciated.
Any additional tips on itinerary/ideas are welcome as well
Siem Reap, Cambodia (3 days) - Angkor Wat
Hanoi, Vietnam (3 days) - Halong Bay
Chang Mai, Thailand (3 days) - Trekking, Elephants, Tigers
Myanmar (5 days) - Bagan, Inle Lake
Phuket, Thailand (5 days) - Island Hopping
The additional days are to account for travel days, etc.
We need to book flights between the different countries as soon as possible and need recommendations on best and cheapest routes. We realize this is an aggressive itinerary, we are VERY used to traveling fast and hard. We are more concerned about budget. With these sites in mind, is this the best order to do it in? Any other recommendations and advice? From what I have heard, Vietnam is very expensive so would it maybe best for us to just cut it out and use the three days elsewhere? Any critique is much appreciated.
Any additional tips on itinerary/ideas are welcome as well
Jun 6th, 2014, 11:59 AM
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You are moving way too fast!
It takes a minimum of three full days just to see the so-called major temples. That means 4 nights in SR. Do you have a copy of Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor: A Guide to Cambodia's Wondrous Temples?
You think you are going to do both Hanoi and Halong Bay in three days? You will spend all of your time getting to/from Halong Bay and an overnight and never get to see Hanoi at all.
Chiang Mai - please don't visit the abused tigers - you just encourage companies to capture more of them. Do your research on the various elephant places - only a couple are worth recommending. And you think you are going to trek as well in a mere 3 days?
5 days just isn't enough for Myanmar. I know you are limiting it to two places, but I expect you want to be in Yangon the day before you fly to Thailand. Myanmar is a special place - a brief trip like this and you will miss the entire experience.
You will be in Phuket at the rainy season, which may be a good thing as prices will be lower.
With three weeks, confine yourselves to a max of three countries. Plan a minimum of four nights (three full days) in each place you want to visit. You could actually make this into an interesting trip by cutting out VN and adding those days to Myanmar.
This will be an expensive trip as you are moving around so much. Also, you would three visas to purchase, two must be done in advance (Myanmar and VN).
It takes a minimum of three full days just to see the so-called major temples. That means 4 nights in SR. Do you have a copy of Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor: A Guide to Cambodia's Wondrous Temples?
You think you are going to do both Hanoi and Halong Bay in three days? You will spend all of your time getting to/from Halong Bay and an overnight and never get to see Hanoi at all.
Chiang Mai - please don't visit the abused tigers - you just encourage companies to capture more of them. Do your research on the various elephant places - only a couple are worth recommending. And you think you are going to trek as well in a mere 3 days?
5 days just isn't enough for Myanmar. I know you are limiting it to two places, but I expect you want to be in Yangon the day before you fly to Thailand. Myanmar is a special place - a brief trip like this and you will miss the entire experience.
You will be in Phuket at the rainy season, which may be a good thing as prices will be lower.
With three weeks, confine yourselves to a max of three countries. Plan a minimum of four nights (three full days) in each place you want to visit. You could actually make this into an interesting trip by cutting out VN and adding those days to Myanmar.
This will be an expensive trip as you are moving around so much. Also, you would three visas to purchase, two must be done in advance (Myanmar and VN).
Jun 6th, 2014, 03:26 PM
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You need 5 days if you want to be trekking out of CM.
4 countries in 3 weeks is not realistic. Even with flights you lose half a day travelling.
Have you never been overseas before? Fast and hard lol sounds like something else.
Pick 2 countries max.
4 countries in 3 weeks is not realistic. Even with flights you lose half a day travelling.
Have you never been overseas before? Fast and hard lol sounds like something else.
Pick 2 countries max.
Jun 6th, 2014, 05:18 PM
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Sarajo,
As the others have said, it looks like you're moving pretty quick and will miss out on a lot along the way. However, as long as you know that and are willing to do that anyway then go for it if you like it. I have not yet been to this area (I get to go in November) so please take my 'advice' with a grain of salt.
Flying isn't cheap so the more you travel around the more your costs are going to jump. I'd suggest at least cutting out Vietnam and using those days to give yourselves a bit more time in your other destinations. From Hanoi to Halong Bay is about half a day travel and that's not even giving you any time to see the bay, that's just getting there.
Dawn Rooney's book is fantastic and has an amazing amount of information in it. However, it can also be a bit dry depending on your interest in the temples. I've found another book that was highly recommended and I really like it, it really reminds me of the style of the DK Eyewitness guidebooks... lots of photos, lots of info but in smaller blurbs rather than full chapters. It's "Focusing on the Angkor Temples" by Michel Petrotchenko and I found it on Amazon. I have both books and really like both.
You might find more posters who like the fast and budget style that you describe on the Lonely Planet forums. The style here tends towards slower travel and really getting to see places a bit rather than just skimming over the very top.
As the others have said, it looks like you're moving pretty quick and will miss out on a lot along the way. However, as long as you know that and are willing to do that anyway then go for it if you like it. I have not yet been to this area (I get to go in November) so please take my 'advice' with a grain of salt.
Flying isn't cheap so the more you travel around the more your costs are going to jump. I'd suggest at least cutting out Vietnam and using those days to give yourselves a bit more time in your other destinations. From Hanoi to Halong Bay is about half a day travel and that's not even giving you any time to see the bay, that's just getting there.
Dawn Rooney's book is fantastic and has an amazing amount of information in it. However, it can also be a bit dry depending on your interest in the temples. I've found another book that was highly recommended and I really like it, it really reminds me of the style of the DK Eyewitness guidebooks... lots of photos, lots of info but in smaller blurbs rather than full chapters. It's "Focusing on the Angkor Temples" by Michel Petrotchenko and I found it on Amazon. I have both books and really like both.
You might find more posters who like the fast and budget style that you describe on the Lonely Planet forums. The style here tends towards slower travel and really getting to see places a bit rather than just skimming over the very top.
Jun 6th, 2014, 06:14 PM
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LP forum caters more to people staying 2 mths on a budget.
Hardly anyone would be doing 4 countries in 3 weeks. That is a contiki like europe thing.
Phang Nga in Thailand is better than Halong Bay. Halong Bay is rather dirty. Google dirty halong bay.
Hardly anyone would be doing 4 countries in 3 weeks. That is a contiki like europe thing.
Phang Nga in Thailand is better than Halong Bay. Halong Bay is rather dirty. Google dirty halong bay.
