Planning a Two-Month Backpacking Route Through Southeast Asia
Focus on the 'Banana Pancake Trail' loop, starting and ending in Bangkok to leverage cheap flights. Spend 10 days in Thailand, 14 days in Vietnam, 14 days in Indonesia, 10 days in the Philippines, and 12 days split between Cambodia and Laos.
- Book your arrival and departure flights. Book a round-trip ticket to Bangkok (BKK). It is the regional transit hub with the most competitive pricing, which allows you to start your loop easily and return for your flight home.
- Map out your visa requirements. Check the visa status for every country on your list. Vietnam requires an E-visa applied for at least 7 days in advance. Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia usually offer visa-exempt entry for many nationalities, but verify current policies for your passport.
- Prioritize overland travel for shorter legs. Use night buses or trains between neighboring countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos to save on one night of accommodation costs and maximize daylight hours for sightseeing.
- Limit regional flights to 'leapfrogging'. Only fly when crossing large bodies of water, such as getting from Vietnam to Indonesia or the Philippines. Use budget airlines like AirAsia, VietJet, or Scoot, but book at least 3 weeks in advance to keep costs under $80 per flight.
- Build in 'cushion' days. Do not schedule every day. Leave 2 days of 'nothing' every 14 days to account for travel fatigue, missed connections, or finding a location you want to stay in longer than expected.
- Should I book all my hostels in advance?
- Book your first 3 nights in each major hub. After that, use apps like Hostelworld to book 24-48 hours in advance to keep your route flexible.
- Is it safe to drink the tap water?
- No. Never drink tap water. Use a filtered water bottle or buy bottled water to avoid severe illness that could cost you days of your trip.