The Classic
SE Asia Loop

Dive straight in. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are obligatory, but the real Bangkok is in the street food — Chinatown's Yaowarat Road at night is sensory overload in the best way. Pad thai from a street cart: ฿40–60. Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (฿15) over taxis. Khao San Road is the backpacker hub — loud, chaotic, and good for meeting people, but don't eat there. Chatuchak Weekend Market has 15,000 stalls. Visit a rooftop bar at sunset — Octave at the Marriott has a ฿400 happy hour with skyline views.

Overnight sleeper train from Bangkok (฿800–1,200, book 2nd class fan for budget or AC for comfort). Chiang Mai is the digital nomad capital of SE Asia and a backpacker favourite. Explore the Old City temples on foot — Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh are stunning and free/donation-based. The Sunday Walking Street market stretches 1km through the old city. Take a cooking class (฿800–1,200 for a full day including market tour). Day trip to Doi Suthep temple (฿30 entry + songthaew ฿60 return). Side trip to Chiang Rai for the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun, ฿100) and Blue Temple.

The minivan from Chiang Mai takes 3 hours through 762 mountain curves — sit up front if you get motion sick. Pai is a laid-back mountain town that backpackers fall in love with (many extend their stay). Rent a scooter (฿150–200/day) to explore Pai Canyon at sunset, Pam Bok Waterfall, and the hot springs. The night market has incredible food for ฿30–50 per dish. Live music bars line the Walking Street. Stay at a bamboo bungalow for ฿200–400/night.

Fly from Chiang Mai to Surat Thani (฿800–1,500 on AirAsia, book early). The Gulf Islands are the backpacker trail: Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party (฿300 entry, held monthly — plan your dates around it), Koh Tao for diving (Open Water certification ฿9,000–10,000 over 3–4 days, among the cheapest globally). Then cross to the Andaman side — Krabi/Ao Nang as a base for Railay Beach (only accessible by longtail boat, ฿100). Island-hop to Koh Lanta for a quieter vibe. Ferries between islands: ฿200–600.

Bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes 8–10 hours via Poipet border crossing ($10–15). Buy a 3-day Angkor Pass ($62) — it covers the entire Angkor Archaeological Park. Day 1: Angkor Wat at sunrise (arrive by 5am), then Angkor Thom and Bayon. Day 2: Ta Prohm (the "Tomb Raider temple" with trees growing through ruins), Preah Khan, and the smaller temples. Day 3: Explore further sites like Banteay Srei (the "pink temple", 30km out). Pub Street in town has $0.50 draft beers and $2–3 meals.

Bus from Siem Reap ($8–12, 6 hours). The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields ($6 each with audio guide) are essential visits — sobering and heavy, but you can't understand Cambodia without them. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda ($10) are beautiful. The riverside promenade at sunset is where the city comes alive. Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung) has the best souvenirs. Street food is incredible — try fish amok (Cambodia's national dish) for $2–3. Budget guesthouses in Lakeside area from $5–8/night.

Bus to Kampot ($6–8, 3–4 hours). This riverside town is Cambodia's hidden gem — famous for its pepper plantations, colonial architecture, and the most chilled-out backpacker scene in the country. Kayak on the river at sunset, visit Bokor Hill Station (abandoned French resort with ghost-town vibes), and eat pepper crab at the night market ($5–7). From Kampot, bus to Sihanoukville ($5, 2 hours), then speedboat to Koh Rong Sanloem ($12, 40 mins) — white sand, bioluminescent plankton at night, and $8–12 beach bungalows.

Cross from Cambodia at the Stung Treng/Dong Kralor border. The 4000 Islands are where the Mekong widens into a maze of islands and waterfalls in southern Laos. Base yourself on Don Det — hammock-swinging, tubing down the Mekong, and $3 guesthouses. Bike across the bridge to Don Khon ($1 entry) to see Khone Phapheng Falls (the largest waterfall in SE Asia by volume) and spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Rent a bike for the day ($1–2). Sunset from a river-facing bungalow with a Beer Lao (₭10,000/$0.50) is peak backpacker bliss.

Sleeper bus from 4000 Islands (12–14 hours, $15–20 — brutal but saves a night's accommodation). Vientiane is the world's most laid-back capital city. Walk along the Mekong promenade at sunset, visit Patuxai (Laos's Arc de Triomphe, ₭3,000 to climb for views), and Pha That Luang (the golden stupa, Laos's national symbol). The night market along the riverfront has Lao food for ₭15,000–25,000 ($0.75–1.25). COPE Visitor Centre is a free, powerful exhibition about UXO (unexploded ordnance) from the Secret War — Laos is the most bombed country in history per capita.

Minivan from Vientiane (3–4 hours, $7–10). Vang Vieng has reinvented itself — once infamous for dangerous tubing parties, it's now an adventure sports hub surrounded by stunning limestone karst scenery. Tubing on the Nam Song River is still the signature activity but much safer now ($10 for tube + tuk-tuk). Kayaking ($10–15), rock climbing ($25–30), and the Blue Lagoons (Lagoon 1 is closest, ₭10,000 entry — jump off the tree into the turquoise water). Explore Tham Chang cave ($15,000). The sunrise hot-air balloon ride ($90) is unforgettable if you can splurge.

Minivan from Vang Vieng (5–6 hours of mountain switchbacks, $10–12). Luang Prabang is the jewel of Laos — a UNESCO World Heritage town at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Wake at 5:30am to watch the daily alms-giving ceremony (observe respectfully from a distance, don't participate as a tourist). Climb Mount Phousi for sunset (₭20,000, 328 steps). Kuang Si Waterfalls are a must — turquoise pools in the jungle, 30km out ($3 tuk-tuk share + ₭20,000 entry). The night market has beautiful textiles and crafts. End your SE Asia journey with a 2-day slow boat down the Mekong to the Thai border ($25–30) — a fitting, meditative finale.