The Southeast Asian It is the mecca of backpackers from each side of the world. The reasons are obvious: it is a destination with a lot of history, interesting culture, good food, wonderful landscapes, great people and most importantly ... it is cheap, very cheap!
We personally are in love with Asia and whenever we can we return, since 2010 we have not missed any year! So with our experience we have prepared thisSoutheast Asian backpackers guide With different articles that we have been writing throughout these years, we touch on topics such as food, countries, transportation, expenses and various tips. Hopefully it can be useful!
1. COUNTRIES
// If you want to see all the useful information of our passage each country (expenses, accommodation, food, transport) you just have to click on the photo //
The country that hosts Angkor Wat, the most amazing ruins in Asia, near the city of Siem Reap. In Phnon Phen you can also discover that a horrible past has not been able to erase the smile of its people. Further south you can enjoy a beautiful island, cheap beer and crab sack!
If you are looking for dream beaches and a snorkeling snorkel, the Philippines is your paradise. You can also discover a town full of history and fun ... do not miss the karaokes and the bemos.
Without a doubt Indonesia is one of the most interesting countries in Southeast Asia. We explored only two of its 17,000 islands (Java and Bali), but we could do many things: climb a volcano, get lost in the most chaotic city of Asia, eat as if there was no tomorrow, make friends with monkeys, tour Bali in motorcycle and much more!
A surprise on our trip: from the green mountains of the north to the 4,000 islands of the south. It was great to discover this country so authentic and different.
A super complete country: beaches, jungles, cities and a lot of culture. Definitely Malaysia is much more than the Petronas Towers. We have returned several times in these years, and those that remain!
If you visit Myanmar get ready to leave a little piece of your heart between the temples of Bagan, the waters of Inle Lake, the colors of Yangon and the smiles of the locals. We fell in love: it is 100% authentic Asia.
A city where Asian luxury, ancient cultures and gastronomy coexist that you cannot easily forget. Although the development of this small country impacts a little coming from other parts of Asia, we recognize that it hooks!
Many criticize her, but almost everyone returns ... for us, Thailand is cool. If you travel north do not miss a few days in Bangkok and then visit Ayutthaya, Sukkothai, Chiang Mai, Pai and Chian Rai. But a visit to Thailand is not the same without knowing its beach side! Waves, sand, blue waters and relax: the perfect cocktail for a holiday 10.
A country rich in history, culture and tradition. The great Asian dragon will leave you speechless when you get to Halong Bay. A must on a trip to Southeast Asia.
2. HOW TO ORGANIZE THE TRIP?
Surely you have a million doubts before embarking on a trip through Southeast Asia, we will try to solve them with the following articles:
If you are in the travel preparation phase do not miss our PREPARATIONS section, where we tell you how to organize all the procedures of HEALTH (first aid kit, vaccines, medical insurance), of MONEY (bank, budget, money management), and the LUGGAGE (how to assemble the backpack, what to carry). And finally some FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
How to know which travel insurance to choose? That is a question that usually comes out whenever a long trip is prepared. In this article we tell you the keys to not shit it when choosing travel insurance, which must be taken into account and which one we have.
It is a key point when preparing the trip: you need to know what are the legal requirements to enter each country. You will find some that just have a passport with more than 6 months in force ahead and others where it is essential that you get a visa in advance. In this article we tell you everything.
Bus, train, ship, plane? You would hallucinate knowing how many means of transport there are: tuk tuk, rickshaw, jeepney, canoe, World War II motorcycle, horse carriage, unidentified flying object, no matter, the important thing is that it is as economical as possible! And remember that the most ecofriendly and FREE means of transportation are your feet!
To give you an idea, it is normal to pay around $ 1 for each hour of travel. Remember that in each of the country summaries you find a section with the best way to move.
The food in Asia is tasty, healthy and cheap ... although you have to know a few things: here is the guide to eat cheap (without screwing your leg down). And remember that in the countries guide we talk about local cuisine 😉
Learn this acronym: GH. Guest Houses are hostels that offer cheap rooms or dorms. Another option is to stay in Homestay, private houses that rent beds at convenient prices. And if you do not want to spend anything but do not want to sleep under a bridge is the couchsurfing: an online community where you can search / offer a sofa / bed / floor to sleep. And it is best not to save the hostel money if you do not come into direct contact with the local people!
To search for accommodation there are basically two methods:
- Get to the site with nothing reserved and look there. Pros: be able to negotiate the price and see the conditions of the room on the spot. Cons: It is exhausting if you have to do it every two or three days, you risk getting the best accommodations full.
- Book online. We always do it through the booking.com website, it is the most flexible and with good prices. Look especially at the comments and the location of the site. Oh, and don't forget Airbnb, you have € 25 off if you make an account with this link.
In Asia you have to learn the old art of bargaining. If you think your ability to haggle needs a little push, take a look around the post we wrote on how to haggle.
In Asia, scammers have a lot of creativity ... and there are many types of scams: here we tell you the most common scams in Asia. You know, if you know them you can avoid them!
Finally, we are going to tell you what our ranking of the top 10 places we visited on our great trip through Southeast Asia. We will not advance anything, just place your bets!
3. BUDGET
“Traveling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer…” Yes, of course, but how much does it cost? The answer is only one: it depends! If you want to travel in Southeast Asia with a backpacking budget, perhaps our TRAVEL EXPENSES can help you and give you an idea of the cost of living.
In this article we have broken down the expenses of our 9-month trip through Southeast Asia, divided by countries and concept, so you can see all the details 😉
Money? You don't need it: if you want to travel with all your strength you can travel without (almost) money. Do you know how? Discover a thousand ways to self-finance a trip.
Have you had any more questions about how to travel in Asia low cost? Contact us! And if you liked our Southeast Asian backpackers guide, share it with your friends 🙂
