30-Day Southeast Asia Backpacker Itinerary
The classic Banana Pancake Trail: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia. A month covers the essentials at backpacker pace.
Build this tripAt a glance
- Duration
- 30 days
- Cities
- 7
- Flight legs
- 3
- Budget/day
- $45
Cities
- Bangkok
- Chiang Mai
- Luang Prabang
- Hanoi
- Hoi An
- Siem Reap
- Phnom Penh
The plan
Fly Bangkok, 4 days for Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chatuchak weekend market, Khao San Road. Night train Bangkok-Chiang Mai 13h, 4 days elephant sanctuary, cooking class, Doi Suthep. Slow boat or flight to Luang Prabang Laos, 3 days monk procession at dawn and the Kuang Si waterfalls. Flight to Hanoi, 3 days Old Quarter + Ha Long Bay overnight cruise. Overnight train Hanoi-Danang, taxi to Hoi An 3 days for the lanterns and custom tailoring. Bus to Ho Chi Minh City 2 days. Flight to Siem Reap, 3 days covering Angkor Wat sunrise, Bayon, Ta Prohm. Bus to Phnom Penh 2 days for Tuol Sleng and the riverfront. Fly home from PNH. Hostels $10-15/night, street food $2-4, huge value.
When to go
November-February (cool/dry season); monsoons June-October.