1st Trip, Questions on logical path and locations
 

I'm trying to develop a travel plan for Mid January - late February timeframe. I will be traveling solo (I've traveled solo a lot, but have never been to Asia). I am looking at 4 to 5 weeks and will be traveling from the east coast of the US. I don't want to overload my trip with too many places. My main focus will be on the sights and temples. Beaches and nightlife are not a priority.

Myanmar is definite for about 10 days (I have relatives who are posted there). I want to spend about 10 days in Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Siem Reap for Angkor Wat and maybe Battamberg. Next on my list is Thailand - a few days in Bangkok and then Chiang Mai.

I'm debating a fourth destination - either Hong Kong, which would be a first stop or possibly Bhutan. My concern with Bhutan is the weather in winter. I know that Hong Kong would be more easily incorporated into another trip while Bhutan would be more difficult.

Any suggestions on the following:
Itinerary 1 - Hong Kong - Myanmar - Cambodia - Thailand

Itinerary 2 - Myanmar (Bhutan in the middle of the this time) - Cambodia - Thailand

What a wonderful first trip to Asia!

I have lots of info for you on Myanmar, having traveled there in 2009, 2011 and 2015. I have trip reports here on all of those trips. The report from 2009 has lots of logistical info that is (fortunately) no longer relevant. Take a look at those reports and at our photos at www.marlandc.com and come back and ask any questions you have.

I've chosen not to go to Bhutan, even though logically, it seems like a place we'd love, there are factors (like being escorted by a guide all of the time) that have discouraged us form going there. We are independent travelers and find having a guide (other than now and then) detracts from our experience rather than adds to it. But that a may not be your experience. Let me say, though, that your idea of visiting Bhutan in the middle of your time in Myanmar makes no sense. One can fly to Bhutan only from Bangkok, Delhi, and perhaps one other place, so if you want to go to Bhutan, go there from Thailand. Overland travel out of Myanmar is fairly restricted (though nor as much in the past) and likewise, overland travel into Bhutan is restricted. It doesn't mean you can't do it, but it would make your trip significantly more complicated logistically.

I've spent a lot of time in Thailand and have spent time in Cambodia as well. Another place you might consider instead of Bhutan is Laos. We loved Luang Prabang when we were there many years ago (2002).

If you want another place that is off the tourist trail and has Buddhist temples and monasteries, I'd highly recommend Sikkim, India. I have a trip report here on that trip as well and there are photos on our website. I did a lot of reading before our Sikkim trip, and found that there are interesting historical and cultural connections among Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet. Sikkim is logistically compacted to get to, as you'll see form my trip report.

Happy planning!

Thank you for your reply - I've just started to look at the wealth of information in your trip reports and photos. I'll be back to ask questions when I've digested all the info.

If you go to bangkok then I would recommend making a day trip to ayutthaya as well. There's a lot of great things to see there. And i would recommend renting a tuk tuk for a couple hours. I think my partner and i rented ours for about 4 hours for a good price and were able to see enough and get back to bangkok in the afternoon.

I don't recommend hiring a tuk-tuk. They are always more expensive than a taxi, and you are exposed to the exhaust and dust of the streets. Use a taxi where there isn't public transport, and make sure the taxi driver uses the meter. If he refuses, get out and take another taxi.

I will strongly suggest you itinerary 1 because it has Hong Kong in it and i will strongly suggest you about Hong Kong as it is one of the finest place to visit with all things for a visitor in a small packet. So again i will suggest your for it.

Cheers

Kathie...,,I don't think that there are any taxis in Ayutthaya, and I 'm pretty sure that the tuks tuks there are a lot more weather protective than the usual ones we see. They look like mice, big mice.

Although it's very hot in Ayutthaya it's quite a clean place with few high rise, and the area is quite spread out with relatively little traffic, so traffic pollution shouldn't be a problem. I'd still take a face mask just in case though.

The best place to hire a tuk tuk is just by Ayutthaya train station. All the drivers will have picture cards of their routes, and their prices will probably be displayed.

A tuk tuk is therefore ideal imo.

I think Ayutthaya is underrated as a place to stop over. Quite nice after dark, several low key places to eat and drink.