Hey everyone. So I will finally be able to go on my dream trip and have been able to take a sabbatical from work to go solo backpacking through SE Asia. I have around 3 months to travel as I need to be back starting April. The original plan was just to do SE Asia, but I found really cheap flights to Seoul and thought it would be a cool idea to add Korea to the trip.
Round trip tickets to Seoul arriving on Dec 29th and leaving the night of Mar 27. I have exactly 90 days.
I generally have planned out already Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. As for Thailand and Indonesia (which are the other countries I'd like to visit) I have nothing planned. Other than Korea I'm not really sure on the order in which to visit each county either. I'd like to spend Tet in Vietnam and avoid Ramadan in Java as well as burning season in North Thailand and Laos.
I'll be starting out my trip with 3 days in Seoul
In Vietnam I'll be spending around 22 days
Hanoi (2/3 days) - Ha Long Bay (2/3) - Sapa (2/3) - Ninh Binh (2) - Hue (1/2) - Hoi An (3) - Da Lat (2/3) - Mui Ne (1/2) - Ho Chi Minh (2/3) - Can Tho (1). I have Phong Nha Caves, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Chau Doc and Phu Quoc Island as secondary options that didn't make the final cut as well and I'm not fully convinced on going to Sapa as it's a pretty big detour.
Around 7 in Cambodia
Phnom Penh (2) - Battambang (1/2) - Siem Reap (3). I have Kampot/Kep and Kou Rong as secondary options as well that didn´t make the cut. I'd have to choose between Kou Rong in Cambodia or Phu Quoc in Vietnam, or most likely neither as I don't think I'll have the time, but definitely not both. I know Sihanoukville is a pretty popular destination in Cambodia as well, but I´ve read a few blogs and videos and it doesn´t seem like a great place to visit anymore.
Around 8 in Laos
Slow boat from Thailand to Luang Prabang (with 1 night in Pak Beng) - Luang Prabang (2/3) - Vang Vieng (2) - Vientiane (2). In this case Nong Khiaw was a secondary option that didn't make the cut as well as the Kong Lor Caves and Plain of Jars. Another option was to fly down to Pakse from Vientiane spend a day there, go to Wat Phou and then Don Det/4k Islands, but this would probably require at least an additional 3/4 days.
I'll end back in Korea for 9 days
Busan (2) - Gyeongju (1) - Golgulsa (1) - Jeju (2/3) - Seoul (2). Maybe add Jeonju?
As for Thailand and Indonesia I have left over a total of aproximately 41 days. I was thinking of distributing around 19 to Indonesia (just Bali and Java) and 22 to Thailand.
Anybody have any recomendations for itineraries, places to visit or things to do in Thailand and Indonesia? Any opinions on the distribution?
I'd love any feedback as well on my plans for Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia!! Maybe I'm being a bit to ambitious?
Just to give you guys (and gals obviously!) some context on myself, I'm a 24 year old geography major. I am quite a bit overweight, but I am very active as well (I do intensive physical training 4/5 times a week) and love outdoor activities. I love cultural and historical tourism and my focus on travelling is mainly around absorbing local culture. A few days of beach is ok, but I get bored easily. As for hiking, I really love it, but being from Colorado I feel that spending too many days hiking is kind of a waste of travel time. I'd rather spend more time on adventure activities like jungle trekking or rafting and scuba diving. Also, this won't be my first semi long trip and I have backpacked through the majority of Latin America. Not really a fancy person, I usually choose to go to cheaper hostels, eat street food and don't mind a night bus/train or having to travel a lot as long as it's worth it.
Also any recomendations on any travel apps or translators? I don't speak any asian language and am a bit nervious on travelling solo to countries without knowing the languages at all.