The No. 1 Trusted Resource for Travellers to Southeast Asia Since 2008
By Backpackers For Backpackers
Experts in Southeast Asia Travel 🌏
With over 15 years’ experience planning adventure travel in the region, we can help you to organise the trip of a lifetime! Get in touch for help with itinerary planning, unique tour packages and insider advice you won’t find anywhere else. With so much noise and travel scams online, we can help you to avoid the common mistakes people make when planning a trip to Southeast Asia.
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Recent Testimonials 🙏
Unique Personalised Advice
I contacted Nikki to help me find a Muay Thai Camp in Thailand. There’s so much choice online and it’s difficult to figure out which camp is right for you! With Nikki’s help, I booked Battle Conquer Gym in an amazing off the beaten track location in Thailand. I had a terrific experience and everything from the training to the social vibe was really special. If you want expert guidance in finding unique experiences in Asia, I’d recommend getting in touch with these guys!
Pieter van Tienan
A Life Saver!
I messaged Nikki on WhatsApp looking for help with sustainable accommodation and jungle trekking in Bukit Lawang. She helped me find lovely last minute accommodation and put me in touch with the owners so I could organise my trek. She was an absolute gem and calmed my nerves about my solo backpacking trip in Indonesia. Nikki also suggested I join their Facebook group which was super helpful having a community of people sharing advice from their travels.
Nicole Fleury
The Legendary Story of the Magazine
South East Asia Backpacker started life as a printed magazine that was distributed by bus, boat and tuk-tuk across the region. Since the first publication, thousands of travellers have sent in their stories and travel tips to create a unique ‘travel diary for everyone’.
Southeast Asia First-Time Questions
- What are the Southeast Asia entry requirements?
- Do I really need an onward flight?
- What size backpack should I take?
- What vaccines do I need?
- Do I need travel insurance?
- How do I choose my backpack?
- What things do I need to pack?
- Is it okay to travel during the rainy season?
- What should I do about SIM cards?
- Do I need a special bank card for travel?
- What’s the best route to travel Southeast Asia?
- Can I travel with prescription medication?
- Do I need a water bottle with a filter?
- Don’t see your question? More FAQs here…
Latest Articles 👩🏽💻
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Lombok to Flores Boat Trip – A Swashbuckling Sailing Adventure!
How to Get to Khao Sok, Thailand 🏞️
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Southeast Asia Backpacking Route: The CLASSIC Itinerary
Find unique travel experiences
Brand New Adventures 🌏
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Surf Camp @ DHM | LOMBOK, INDONESIA
From $531.00 -
Surf and Yoga Camp @ Surf & Yoga | LOMBOK, INDONESIA
From $600.00 -
Surf Lessons @ Happiness Lombok | LOMBOK, INDONESIA
From $35.00 -
Training Packages @ Khao Lak Muay Thai & Muay Boran | KHAO LAK, THAILAND
From $255.00 -
Muay Thai Training Packages @ Dang Muay Thai | CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
From $120.00 -
Full Day Wildlife Adventure | from SANDAKAN OR SEPILOK, MALAYSIA
$140.00
Most Popular Adventures ❤️
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Halong Hideaway Tour | 2 or 3 Days | from HANOI, VIETNAM
From $117.65 -
Real Sapa Trek & Homestay by Sleeper Train | 2 Days | from HANOI, VIETNAM
$185.00 -
Khao Sok Floating Bungalow Trip (Budget Accommodation) | 2 Days, 1 Night | KHAO SOK, THAILAND
$89.00 -
Muay Thai Training & Accommodation @ Sitjemam | PAI, THAILAND
From $94.00 -
Doi Inthanon Trek Adventure | 1 – 2 Days | from CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
From $57.00 -
Mekong Slow Boat Cruise | 2 Days | from HUAY XAI to LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
From $140.00
Recent Reviews ⭐️
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Full disclaimer – I work at South East Asia Backpacker website but I paid full price for this activity.
The How Are You Really? Yoga retreat at Yoga Barn was a breath of fresh air on my travels. Classes were varied and challenging (the FlyHigh was a definite highlight)! Meals were also very tasty and gave the guests a great chance to get to know each other. I stayed in the private room with my partner which offered our own space. The room was clean and comfortable. This retreat felt like a wonderful escape from the stresses of long term travel and gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my body. Definitely recommended!
Definitely recommend! I really enjoyed my one week Muay Thai training at Sitjemam. Its located in a beautiful, quiet village. I was given accommodation in an old timey bungalow, it was basic but lovely and spacious! As a complete beginner to Muay Thai, I received all the help I needed throughout. It’s intense but fun! The corrections may sound/feel a bit harsh for some at the beginning but you’ll find it all in good spirit and humour once you settle in. Mam is a fantastic trainer and she really made sure I was well taken care of, even at the accommodation. The entire team of thai and non-thai trainers were great, especially Harry, who’s really patient and kind. Would surely visit again when I’m in Thailand.
Nice gym the staff is great. If you stay for a short term the accommodations are ok but better stay in a hotel.
They do the best they can.
The tour is overall nice, but not a must-do. How much you enjoy it largely depends on the weather, so it’s important to take that into account when planning.
On the first day, you cruise along stunning limestone jungle landscapes, visit a cave, and take a short walk through the jungle. However, the advertised “hiking” is nothing more than a brief stroll in nature—no trekking experience needed. The accommodation is decent, and swimming in the lake is definitely a highlight that adds value to the experience.
The second half-day is rather skippable and could easily have been left out. All in all, the tour has its charming moments, but it doesn’t live up to the overly exaggerated descriptions typical for southeast asia. If you keep your expectations low and are looking for a little adventure in a beautiful setting, you won’t be disappointed—but it’s certainly not an unmissable experience.
The outing was great. We had 4 people and the two guides, so we were able to do quite a few climbs in a short period of time. Apple and Mik were fantastic guides. They were both very helpful and fun to spend the day with. I feel safe the entire time. For climbers new and experienced, this is a highly recommended activity in Vang Vieng. There is so much amazing limestone to climb on!
And thanks to South East Asia Backpacker. Nikki was very responsive and was able to get in touch with Adam for me when I had connection problems on my end.