We asked 100+ of our readers to tell us which is the best backpack (brand, model & size) for travelling Southeast Asia – and here are the results! So, if you’re looking for a backpack yourself… Sit back, relax, and read some words of wisdom from fellow travellers in Southeast Asia – so that you can find the perfect backpack for you!
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus in Dec 2019, tourist numbers to Southeast Asia have dropped. So is it still possible to backpack Southeast Asia now?
106 of the most helpful words and phrases in Bahasa Indonesian. These can all that can be used in daily life to make interactions easier.
Sleeping bag liners are available in a range of materials and come in different shapes and styles. Whether you’re looking for an extra layer between you and that grotty hostel bed or want some extra protection, these liners have got you covered (literally!).
With peanuts being a common ingredient in Southeast Asian food, travelling through the region with a severe peanut allergy can be a challenge!
99 of the most useful Thai words and phrases that I picked up whilst living in Thailand that can be used in daily life to make interactions easier.
Face masks continue to be essential for use when traveling and flying. This is what you need to know when choosing a mask.
Made by travellers for travellers, Salkan’s Backpacker could be a game changer for travellers. Find out more in this dedicated review!
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of 1st July 2021, Thailand is no longer processing Special Tourist Visas. International visitors to Thailand are …
Thailand Special Tourist Visa – How Do I Get Me One? Read More »
SafetyWin Nomad Insurance works just like a subscription service (think Netflix), which you can simply pause whenever you stop travelling!
Desperate to get your hands on the Special Tourist Visa to Thailand? Here are the 10 cheapest quarantine packages offered by hotels in Bangkok.
The Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 claims to be a hybrid bag designed to suit hikers and city travellers alike – but does it live up to both tasks!?
Travel no longer has to be crazy expensive but sadly, it still costs money. Maximise your travel savings by following these 10 actionable tips!
With over 17,500 islands, there’s no end to exploring the intriguing country of Indonesia! But if you’ve only got one …
30-Day Indonesia Itinerary – The Best Route for Backpackers! Read More »
For many newbie backpackers, Southeast Asia is the perfect first-time destination. With beer from 25 cents, meals for a dollar and accommodation for just a few bucks, if you know what your doing you could travel for years on just a few thousand dollars! Read our tips here!
Looking for a water purifier to take on your travels? The Grayl Geopress is often ranked as one of the best! Read our full review…
We compare the top travel yoga mats to find the best one to take on your adventures! Which is the the most durable, lightest, easiest to carry & cheapest?
Are you looking for an expandable travel backpack that can be used every day? We examine the Tortuga Setout Divide piece by piece!
This Borneo itinerary has everything you need to fill a three epic weeks in eastern Malaysia. Including everything from Orangutans to turtles, prepare to be wowed by nature!
Also called the butt-blaster, butt bomber and ass hose, this hand-held bidet faithfully sits beside the toilets of Asia, freaking out westerners and causing them to stockpile tissue like the world is ending. Introducing the Bum Gun! Your new best friend.
Being English, one thing that I really miss on the road is a good cup of tea! When you’re staying …
Mini Kettle For Travel: Making a Cuppa On the Road! Read More »
When the news was announced by WHO that Coronavirus had become a global pandemic, an important question was raised: Should you travel at all right now?
Looking for your next backpack? Osprey’s Farpoint/Fairview 40 are often hailed as the best backpacks around – but are they really as good as everyone claims?
Explore the best bits with this Philippines itinerary! Cebu, Bohol, El Nido, Coron… There is something for every kind of traveller in this 30 day itinerary!
With mobile banking becoming ever easier and accessible, more travellers are switching to online banks. Our travel expert Tim reviews Starling bank. What does he make of it?
A travel daypack is your best friend, with you at all times. Our readers tell us their to recommendations for the best day packs for travelling Southeast Asia.
A waterproof backpack is a hugely useful item to take travelling. They protect your valuables and electronics from water damage and can be particularly useful if you are doing lots of outdoor activities during your trip! Find out if you need to invest in a waterproof backpack and discover which ones are our favourites!
Deciding which shoes to take on your trip can be overwhelming. How many pairs do you need and what type of travel shoes will suit you best? Our gear guide expert Tim comes to your rescue, armed with the recommendations of our community. Wonder no more, here is the ultimate list of the best shoes for travel!
Packing cubes are the latest ‘must-have’ accessory for travellers! We find out why everyone loves them & check out the best options for backpackers!
If you are a backpacker looking for the best travel laptop, you’ll need to think about weight, size, battery life, storage capacity & COST! Deciding whether you need a laptop for your backpacking trip is a personal decision and if you conclude that you do, choosing the best travel laptop can be downright confusing! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Looking for a backpacker app to make your trip easier? Our community recommended some super helpful options! Check out our list of the best backpacker apps and get downloading today!
Looking for backpacking gifts? Buy the traveller you love something they will actually value rather than just weigh them down! We delve into the best gifts for backpackers to inspire wanderlust!
A microfibre travel towel is an essential item to add to your packing list for Southeast Asia! We look at the benefits of this quick-dry material and the top 10 choices!
Bangkok is one of Southeast Asia’s craziest cities. With so much to do in the Thai capital and many backpackers debating how long to spend there, planning your visit can be confusing. Never fear, we are here to help you with out with our ultimate Bangkok itinerary for backpackers! Plan your trip today!
This 30-day backpacking itinerary for Laos covers the highlights and the hidden gems in this underrated Southeast Asian country! Can be shortened to 1, 2 or 3 weeks!
There is a lot of debate surrounding the use of antimalarials in South East Asia. They nearly all come with horrible side-effects and many travellers say that the risk of catching malaria is so low that the pills aren’t worth the effort. What is the truth though? Do you need to take anti-malaria tablets in South East Asia?
Many travellers will hop on a motorbike at some point during their travels in Southeast Asia. Some may even decide …
International Driving Permit for Cars & Motorbikes | Southeast Asia Read More »
Backpacking on a budget? Learn how to make your dollar stretch a long way with this Do’s and Don’ts guide to haggling in South East Asia. From tuk tuk rides to trips to the market you need to be armed with your skills everywhere you go.
A filtered water bottle is an essential item for the responsible traveller in Southeast Asia. Not only will it ensure that you can drink purified water from any water source, but it also means that you will be protecting the environment from unnecessary plastic waste. Read our pick of the best options for filtered travel bottles for your journey!
How many days do you need to truly explore Myanmar? The intrepid traveller will tell you that it takes weeks, months, even years to truly get under the skin of a country. Yet, most of us, particularly these days, are strapped for time – and short on money! We reckon the absolute minimum time that you need to explore the highlights of Myanmar is 12 days. Here’s what you can fit in during that time!
Can You Avoid ATM Fees While Travelling? Which Banks Give the Best Exchange Rates? We Look at the Best Mobile Banks & Travel Cards 2019 + Money Saving Tips!
Mention the words ‘wet season’ to most people and visions of great sheets of water endlessly pouring from the sky spring to mind. Not only is that a big misconception when it comes to South East Asia’s wet season, but it deters travellers from even considering the major benefits of travelling during the off-peak time of year. Rather than avoiding the wet season that falls between June and September, you’re better off embracing the low season when the positives far outweigh the negatives…
There’s a standard backpacker route that most people follow when they explore Java. The journey starts in Yogyakarta where travellers come to see the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites Borobudur and Prambanan. Then, the trail leads east, to watch the sun rise over Bromo and Ijen volcanoes. It’s an amazing route that combines the cultural highlights of central Java with the striking beauty of the landscapes of East Java. This journey through Java takes a minimum of seven days…
Looking for the perfect Cambodia Itinerary? Unsure how much time to spend in each location, which places are not to …
Cambodia Itinerary – Plan Your Backpacking Trip! Read More »
Your 4 day guide to experiencing the best views, eats, and activities in the Garden City of Southeast Asia!
Swapping your current day to day life for travelling can seem pretty intimidating! This year, Katie Finch and her boyfriend, …
Want to Quit Your Job to Travel? 10 Tips on Making The Move! Read More »
If you’re bamboozled by the camera jargon then keep calm and read our beginners’ guide on how to buy a budget-friendly, top quality camera for your travels!
One of the Best Things About Travelling is Trying a Variety of Weird Fruits! Discover the Tastiest, Smelliest, Biggest, Healthiest & Most Disgusting Here!
Why is a Travel Medical Kit Important? When we talk about backpackers’ skills that one should learn before hitting the …
Backpacking First Aid Kit – Travel Health Essentials Read More »
How does the Standard Luggage Co. Carry-On Backpack stand up to our review process? Read all about the bag and its pros and cons here!
A Bali Itinerary to suit every traveller, from the Beach Bum to the Adventure Junkie. 2-week, 10-day, 7-day and 4-day Bali itineraries for the perfect trip!
Planning a Vietnam Backpacking Route? This jam-packed Vietnam Itinerary takes in the highlights (and some secret spots!) and suggests how much time to spend…
Whether you’re looking for a beach holiday, a spiritual retreat, to go trekking in the jungle, to get up in …
Thailand Itinerary 2 Weeks – To Suit All Your Personalities! Read More »
This is the Most Popular Southeast Asia Backpacking Route! See the Highlights, Meet Travel Buddies & Save Money on Transport Costs.
Getting vaccinations for Southeast Asia is something you should do at least a month, perhaps even several months before setting off on your travels as it will take time for the vaccine to kick in and for your body to be fully protected. We look at the essential & recommended vaccinations for Southeast Asia Travel.
While it would be much less stressful if all the countries in the world could come together and agree on a universal plug system, we’re not there yet! So, in the meantime, the invention of the universal travel adaptor has taken over…
Looking for advice on your Southeast Asia packing list? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve all heard the quote: …
Packing List Southeast Asia: Your Ultimate Travel Checklist! Read More »
A Rechargeable Head Torch for Travelling, Camping or Running will be one of the most useful Items You Buy! We Review 9 of the Best Head Torches Around!
It’s a question that we get asked on a weekly basis here at South East Asia Backpacker. So, it true? Do you *really* need an onward flight ticket when flying into an airport in Southeast Asia? Will a bus or a train ticket suffice as proof of onward journey? And will you be asked for proof of onward travel when crossing land borders throughout your travels? Don’t panic! All your questions answered!
One of the best parts of travelling is the sense of adventure that comes with never knowing quite what’s in …
Reviewed: The Best Travel Hammocks for Backpacking Read More »
Was travel BETTER and MORE ADVENTUROUS before the days of Mobile Phones? Does constant connection to the Internet in almost every corner of the globe enhance, or diminish our travel experience? What do YOU think?
While not dangerous health-wise, bed bugs whilst backpacking can be extremely annoying! Check out our advice on how to avoid having an encounter with bed bugs while you’re travelling in Southeast Asia & what to do if you suspect you already have them!
What makes the ukulele such a good instrument for travel? How do you decide on the perfect model for the road? This guide will help you choose the very best instrument to take with you on your travels. A musician, after all, has to keep playing, no matter where they are…
Have you done the 24+ hour bus journey from Hanoi, Vietnam to Luang Prabang, Laos? Or Vice Versa? Feared by backpackers all across Southeast Asia – is this journey as bad as they say it is? Read this and decide whether you want to book a flight instead!
Over all, Hong Kong cost us around HKD$3,500 for two people for three nights. Solo travellers might find themselves spending a little less than this. It’s a beautiful city with so much to offer, and its often overlooked by backpackers. We wholeheartedly believe that anyone who doesn’t visit here is missing the opportunity to see a different side to China, unlike anywhere else.
It’s no secret that the drive from Chiang Mai to Pai is a daunting one. It’s a steep and winding road that will make you feel every single one of its 762 turns along the notorious Route 1095. I just didn’t think I would lose my sanity over it!
As a backpacker in South East Asia crossing borders becomes a regular undertaking. Each country has a different rule of entry and some countries will require you to apply for a visa before you travel. As visa requirements often change, for travellers it can be difficult to plan things like budget and duration of travel. Here, we’ve done our best to compile the latest visa information in South East Asia to make it easier to plan your trip!
These days, no longer do you have to decide between having a backpack or taking a wheelie suitcase. You can have everything in one! In our recent Readers Poll about the best luggage to take to Southeast Asia, we were given some excellent recommendations for the best roller backpacks out there. Here are your top recommendations!
Following the popularity (and controversy!) of our first readers poll – “Where is the worst place you’ve ever travelled to in Southeast Asia?”, we decided to ask you another simple question:
“Where is the cheapest place you’ve ever travelled to in Southeast Asia?”
Skyscanner or Expedia? KAYAK or Momondo? TripAdvisor or Hipmunk? Or does lastminute.com still have the cheapest deals? Aaaaahhhh! Too many travel comparison sites to choose between, all of them telling you that they’ll get you the best price! But who is telling the truth?
It’s your last job – cramming everything into a bag you must carry without doing yourself a mischief nor embarrassing yourself at the luggage carousel. Our rough guide, specifically geared toward the climate and activities common to a South East Asia backpacking trip, will start you off:
You’ll begin your long distance bus journey in Sumatra with an optimistic attitude. It won’t last. Read Clare Absolon’s witty take on the five emotional stages of bus travel on the Indonesian Isle and prepare yourself for your character-building adventure!
When over 50 years of conflict that made the country a no-go zone for travellers came to an end, Southeast Asia suddenly had a new and amazing country for intrepid travellers to explore! Now backpackers are hitting Myanmar’s shores in droves. So what does the country have to offer them in terms of adventure? And will the country’s under-developed infrastructure be able to handle the newfound popularity?
Recently we discovered an amazing new flight search engine which allows you to add stopovers into your flight journey to turn any direct flight into a multi-city adventure! Not only do you get to add unplanned destinations into your travel itinerary, you get to save tons of money as stopover flights are often so much cheaper! Find out more here…
Chicken buses, tuk tuks, songthaews… Whether you’re on the so-called “VIP’ nightbus in Thailand, the public jeepney in Manila, or just learning to handle a scooter, being in transit in South East Asia provides just as many stories as the destinations themselves. Will you ever get there? Here are 10 essential tips on how to cope with the weird and wonderful transport options of South East Asia…
An overnight bus journey can easily save you 90% of what a flight would cost, but of course a flight would take only a couple of hours, whereas you’re on that bus for the long haul There are, however, some simple steps you can take to make sure your 36 hours trapped in a bumpy steel can are as comfortable as possible, Travel Experts, Two Monkeys Travel give us some important tips…
Sometimes, booking transport can be a hassle. There are so many different companies, so many options and so many eager salespeople urging you to buy their ticket! So how do you avoid getting scammed? Despite the fact that the guy in the travel agent is very friendly – how do you know that this is a safe, official company that you are booking with? Here’s an insider tip!
Jet Lag is literally a lagging behind of one’s energy as our body moves at a rate that is faster than we’re naturally designed to move. Jet lag comes with symptoms the commonly include; fatigue, insomnia / disturbed sleep patterns, dizziness, co-ordination problems, headache and dehydration. These symptoms do gradually fade over time. However, Soul Seekers’ Ambassador Melanie Swan, is here to give us tips on how to quicken the whole process and have us enjoying our new destination from Day One!
“Help! My visa is about to run out and I’m not ready to leave Thailand!” Have no fear. Backpacker and travel writer, Camelia Gendreau, gives you the lowdown on how to quickly and correctly extend your visa and make sure you extend your days on the beach!
The decision is made. You are going to follow your dreams and travel to an exciting new part of the world. Hurrah! But before you pack your bags and wave goodbye to the familiar, have a read of my tips to make sure you get the very most out of your trip…..
It’s an incomprehensible dream: live on a sailboat touring the world. Something you’ve perhaps dreamed of, but never thought possible. Meet Greg and Tiffany an American couple who are making it happen, from Tahiti to New Zealand to San Diego, they travel the world- for free! Here they share their experiences and help you realize that living from the boat deck could easily become your reality too!
You always hear about the trekking, the night markets, the cooking courses and the street stalls of Chiang Mai, but take a second look and you’ll see so much more in this northern Thai town. Want to get away from the crowd at the Sunday Walking Street or blaring reggae and hip hop beats of Babylon Bar? Guest writer, Alana Morgan, takes a very different look at one of Thailand’s most popular cities…
As conversations between backpackers begin to include Ayurvedic buzzwords such as “dosha”, “five elements” and – heaven forbid – “fasting”, we catch up with an Ayurvedic practitioner, to unscramble the mystery of this ancient Eastern tradition of medicine…
Perceived as an economic concrete jungle, Singapore is recognised for being a worldwide financial center powerhouse. For this reason, many travellers on a budget visiting South East Asia fail to consider Singapore as a travel destination. However, there is more to Singapore than just banks! The city exudes with diverse and countless points of interest, stunning parks and gardens and a fascinating mix cultures representing many other areas of Asia. Even on a tight budget, it is nice to know these Top 10 will not put a dent in the pocketbook…
Although not everyone is trying to con you in South East Asia, there are more than a few backpackers over the years that have fallen prey to ingenious (and not so ingenious) travel scams. Perhaps it is getting ripped off for a few rupee in a taxi or perhaps an elaborate role-play which aims to empty your bank account! Read these tales of pesky tricks, double deals, hoaxes and swindles and learn the signs to look out for to make sure you’re not the next victim…
Some involve arduous days on a hot, cramped bus, some consist of a five minute breezy ride on the turquoise sea… no matter how long or short, there are some journeys from your backpacking adventure that you will never forget! We spoke to backpackers to find out the most memorable trips in South East Asia. From the famous 27 hour Laos-Vietnam bus, to the infamous tuk tuks of Bangkok, how many journeys can you tick off?