A first time visitors guide to Thailand including specific travel tips on when to go, what to do & city tips for Bangkok, Chiang Mai & the islands
Southeast Asia
Travel blogs, travel photos and features from Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the coolest things to do and see when traveling in Southeast Asia – only from Travels of Adam
Consisting of Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, Southeast Asia is a hugely diverse and historically rich region of the world.
Known for its secluded beaches, excellent food, Buddhist temples and generally low prices, it’s a popular place with budget backpackers, but also has a lot to offer those seeking a bit of luxury as well. Start here with my basic Southeast Asia travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Southeast Asia travel blogs.
Top Southeast Asia Travel Guides
Popular Southeast Asia Travel Blogs
• Visiting Thailand: A First Time Visitors’ Guide
• Photos from Ta Prohm temple at Angkor Wat
• On the beach in Cambodia: Bamboo Island
• Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai
When to Visit
Deciding when to visit Southeast Asia depends a lot on which parts of the region you’re going to. Being close to the equator, temperatures are always pretty high, and being surrounded by ocean means there’s a lot of variation in rainfall around the region.
In Thailand, generally May to October is the rainy season, so times outside of this window are a good time to visit. In much of Indonesia, the rainy season is exactly opposite: between December and February, meaning that northern hemisphere summer months are usually a better bet for that country. On the other hand, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines are best visited in the first few months of the year.
Cultural and religious celebrations are also worth keeping in mind. The Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) in late January or early February will be a busy time to travel, but it can be very rewarding to witness the celebrations. Songkran in April in Thailand is a great time to visit if you enjoy water fights on the streets with strangers, but perhaps give it a miss if you don’t enjoy big crowds.
Two Weeks in Southeast Asia
Planning a dream trip to Southeast Asia? There are so many ways to plan a trip, but the first step is choosing a starting point and an ending point—usually dictated by your flights. Once you know your starting city and final destination, you can connect the dots pretty easily. Here are few suggested two-week itineraries for Southeast Asia.
Bangkok – Chaing Mai – Vientiane – Hanoi – Saigon – Angkor Wat: This typical backpacker route (also known as the banana pancake trail) will give you a good taste of the region and highlights many of its most important historical sights. Stay longest in Bangkok for the nightlife, but leave space for the amazing food in Saigon and temples in Angkor Wat.
Bangkok – Koh Samui – Koh Lanta – Langkawi – Penang – Kuala Lumpur: For the beach bums, this route with stops on both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea lets you experience the best of Southeast Asia’s beach life as well as two of its biggest cities (Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur) and the historical gem of Penang.
Manila – Cebu – Palawan – Jakarta – Bali: Both known for their extensive coastline and laid-back attitude to life, the Philippines and Indonesia are culturally very distinct and this route through their highlights will give you a good insight into their respective histories. Stay in Manila and Jakarta for a taste of the big city life, while in between lounge on the beaches of Cebu and Bali and explore the untouched wilderness of Palawan.
Southeast Asia for Expats
Southeast Asia offers a vibrant and dynamic environment for expats, particularly entrepreneurs aspiring to kickstart their ventures. One of the region’s standout attributes is its burgeoning economy and rapid development, presenting a myriad of opportunities across various industries.
With a diverse and rapidly growing consumer base, Southeast Asia provides a fertile ground for startups to flourish, fueled by increasing disposable incomes and a burgeoning middle class hungry for innovative products and services.
Moreover, the relatively low cost of living in many Southeast Asian countries, coupled with favorable tax regimes and business-friendly regulations, makes it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs seeking to start new businesses to further maximize their business potential.
Beyond economic factors, the region’s cultural diversity and openness contribute significantly to its appeal for expats. Southeast Asia boasts a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and cuisines, offering expats an enriching and immersive experience.
The warm hospitality of the locals fosters a welcoming atmosphere conducive to building networks and forging partnerships. Additionally, the strategic geographical location of Southeast Asia serves as a gateway to the broader Asia-Pacific region, providing entrepreneurs with access to vast markets and invaluable networking opportunities.
Whether it’s the bustling streets of Bangkok, the tech-savvy hubs of Singapore, or the serene beaches of Bali, Southeast Asia offers expats a vibrant and dynamic environment to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams while immersing themselves in a rich tapestry of cultures and experiences.
LGBTQ – Gay Southeast Asia Guide
In general, Buddhist countries are quite gay-friendly, and since the main religion of most of the countries in Southeast Asia is Buddhist (with the notable exceptions of the Philippines which is Catholic and Indonesia which is largely Muslim), it’s a pretty easy part of the world to travel as a queer person. That said, it’s not always easy finding place to hang out with other gays, but here are some things to know.
Bangkok is the gayest city in Southeast Asia – As one of the largest cities in the region, it is perhaps not surprising that Bangkok would be Southeast Asia’s gay capital. Silom Soi 4 is perhaps the most obviously gay neighborhood with a handful of gay bars and clubs as well as saunas. And Thailand is famous for its ladyboy culture.
In Laos and Cambodia ladyboys are also commonplace – You might think of ladyboys as only existing in Thailand, but indeed they are an accepted part of society in its two small neighboring countries too. The Thai word for ladyboy, khatoey, is actually of Khmer origin and has been part of this subregion’s culture for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Indonesia is probably the least gay-friendly country in the region – Recently, Indonesia has become much more extreme in its attitude toward LGBTQ people, gay men in particular with arrests and even floggings for men engaged in consensual sex.
Southeast Asia Hotel Deals
In much of Southeast Asia you can live like a king for very little money compared to North America or Europe, and especially for accommodation, you don’t have to pay a lot to get something quite special. If you are traveling on a budget though, Thailand is the place for you too!
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Southeast Asia Travel Blogs
I love mangosteens. LOVE. Here’s the inside scoop on this delicious, tropical fruit popular in Southeast Asia…
One of the world’s most vibrant cities, Bangkok might seem overwhelming at first, but there are easy and simple ways to make the most out of a Bangkok trip. Use my guide on the best things to do in Bangkok for a fun, safe and unforgettable Bangkok trip. Golden Buddhist temples, glitzy bars, world-class cuisine, …
Sofitel So Hotel in the Silom area of Bangkok impressed me from the moment I entered the building.
A round-up of some of Europe’s (and the world’s) best gay destinations for holidays and other adventures
Crazy travel stories from around the world – 4 short, funny & adventurous tales of sex, drugs, and disaster from around the world
I’ve secretly been trying something new—making short videos! I used to avoid the camera because I was camera shy (and I hate my voice), but really, who cares? So, without further ado, I present a video of me. It’s from about a month back, when I was tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos. “Tubing in Laos” …
Battambang’s biggest tourist attraction is the bamboo train. Basically, its story is this: it’s a train made out of bamboo. Why? So that it’s ultra-light. Which means that when the bigger, faster & more expensive trains come barreling down the train tracks, the bamboo train can be disassembled and put to the side (with enough …
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