Touring South East Asia: Places to Visit

Prior to the pandemic, South East Asia was the most popular of all global holiday destinations, with 30-million tourists visiting Thailand in 2018, which is one of many top tourism destinations in this part of the world. Assuming you have at least 3 months, a tour of South East Asia should include all of the following.

• Exploring Thailand – Allow at least one month for the Land of Smiles, an enchanted country with a colourful Buddhist culture; experience the golden tropical beaches of Phuket and Samui Island, the jewels of South Thailand, then head off for a week or wonder in Bangkok, a city like no other. Finally, you simply must trek in the north of the country and spend time with the Hilltribe people; if you work out your visas correctly, you can overland from Thailand into Cambodia, which is another must-see nation. You could do it the other way round, starting in Laos or Cambodia and travelling down through Thailand, then overland into Malaysia and finally Singapore. There are online tour operators and you could rent a big bike in Chiang Mai and ride it all the way to the Malaysian border, which is a couple of thousand kilometres.
• Singapore – We think hiring a private yacht in Singapore is the best way to experience Singapore and with a Google search, you can plan your route and visit some well-known and not to well-known locations. The yacht charter company has an impressive fleet of luxury yachts that can be chartered by the day, week or month, plus they know of all the best locations, which include snorkelling on coral reefs and observing a wide range or marine species.
• Vietnam – If you are going to include Vietnam in your plan, take at least one week, which is enough time to experience Hoh Chi Minh, while also spending time at Ha Long Bay, one of the best beach areas in the world. You can fly from Vietnam to any of the other South East Asian counties to continue your tour; search online for cheap flights, plus you can obtain all the visas you need online. Here are a few safety tips for travellers, which we should all know.
• Cambodia – If you prefer pristine nature, Cambodia offers the tourist many things; not least Ankor Wat, which must be seen to be believed. Close to Seam Reap, Angkor Wat is the largest temple complex in the world, which was built in the 12^th century by King Suryavarman II. There are several beach towns that offer a relaxing few days before you head off for yet another country, which is also a good entry point for Thailand.

The great thing about planning a tour of South East Asia, is you can use the Internet to plan your trip, obtain visa, rent boats and book your accommodation. Whatever your plans, do check with the World Health Organization regarding the current Covid-19 status of any country you are planning to visit.