6-Month Southeast Asia Itinerary: An Adventure Along the Banana Pancake Trail

If you're planning a long trip across Southeast Asia, you can't miss the iconic "Banana Pancake Trail." This legendary route will lead you through some of the most vibrant cities, filled with fascinating cultures and breathtaking landscapes.

We spent six months immersed in the wonders of this region, starting in Thailand and traveling through Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. In this post, we’ll share a summary of our incredible journey, including tips and unforgettable moments you won’t want to miss!

Thailand: The Adventure Begins

We started our journey in Bangkok, where we first encountered a culture very different from our own. To be honest, we adapted quite well to Thai culture, but what we found most challenging was the humid and scorching heat, unlike anything we had ever felt before.

Busy streets, majestic temples, and street markets made us fall in love with the vibrancy of Bangkok right away. However, since we had a long journey ahead, we never stayed more than 3-4 days in each place.

Next, we headed to Chiang Mai, where we participated in the Songkran Festival, one of the most famous festivals in Thailand. We spent about three days in authentic water battles in the streets. It was an unforgettable experience, and if you plan to visit Thailand in April, we highly recommend joining in this celebration.

Next, we headed to Pai, a small mountain town with a very laid-back vibe. We couldn't miss visiting Chiang Rai, home to the famous White and Blue Temples.

It was time to change countries, and we decided to embark on an adventure by taking the famous "slow boat." This journey began in Chiang Khong, where the border is located in Thailand, and then we headed to Huay Xai, where we started our boat journey towards Luang Prabang, Laos.

Laos: The Most Underrated Country in Southeast Asia

After two days on the boat, we finally arrived in Luang Prabang. We spent a few days exploring its waterfalls, temples, and the famous night market.

Next, we headed to Vang Vieng, one of our favorite places throughout the trip! It has a super laid-back and youthful atmosphere, where you can really feel the spirit of being a “backpacker.” There are countless activities to do, such as tubing, breathtaking viewpoints, and various lagoons to discover.

Continuing our journey, we arrived in Vientiane, the capital, but only as a strategic stop to catch the bus to our next destination: Vietnam. We researched this Laos-Vietnam crossing online and found an article describing it as "the hell bus." So, we prepared for the worst… In the end, the trip went surprisingly well; it lasted over 24 hours, but it was an experience that gave us plenty of laughs and some stories to tell.

Vietnam: From North to South

We spent a month exploring Vietnam. We started in Hanoi, the capital. Then we went to Sapa, where we did a trekking tour through the rice fields. One of the highlights of our stay in Vietnam was the two-night cruise we took in Halong Bay, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. After that, we headed to Ninh Binh, a beautiful region surrounded by mountains and filled with rice fields, which we absolutely loved; it’s a must-visit when traveling to the country.

Next, we headed to the central part of the country, where we visited Hue and its imperial city. We also really enjoyed Da Nang, where we hit the beach for the first time during our trip. And of course, the most romantic city in Vietnam, Hoi An, with its streets illuminated by colorful lanterns, is a must-stop on any itinerary in the country.

On our way south, we made a stop in Da Lat, a mountain town that we loved. Finally, we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, the former capital of the country, where there are many interesting places to visit and learn more about the Vietnam War.

It was time to change countries and cross another border by bus. This time, we decided to go for a more comfortable option and bought tickets from Giant Ibis. Although a bit more expensive, we had received feedback from others that the border crossing was smooth and that they took care of everything.

Cambodia: Land of Temples and Smiles

We crossed the border into Cambodia, with our first stop in Phnom Penh. While we didn’t fall in love with the city, we decided to continue on to Kampot, a charming riverside town.

Next, we headed to the Koh Rong islands, an underexplored destination with stunning beaches. Unfortunately, we didn’t experience great weather during our stay on the island; instead, we were attacked by sandflies that were everywhere, and we ended up completely covered in bites!

We then made our way to Siem Reap, where we were in awe of the Angkor Wat temples. The atmosphere in the city was also very pleasant, and the locals welcomed us warmly, genuinely happy to have us visiting their country.

After another bus journey, we found ourselves back in Bangkok.

Thailand: The South and the Islands Paradise

Since we enjoyed Bangkok so much during our first visit, we decided to spend a few more days exploring the city. However, our goal now was to head to the beach regions, so we set off south.

We began our journey in the Gulf of Thailand, exploring the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. The latter is one of the cheapest places in the world to get your PADI diving certification, so don’t miss the opportunity! Plus, the water is warm, and the marine life is incredibly diverse.

We continued on to Krabi, where we explored Ao Nang and Railay Beach. The landscapes here are stunning, featuring impressive rock formations.

We also spent a few days on the Phi Phi Islands, a small island with no vehicles, where we loved the laid-back atmosphere. Here, you can't miss taking a tour of the main attractions in the area, such as Monkey Beach, Maya Bay, and Pileh Lagoon.

Our stay in Thailand ended in Phuket. After four months of traveling through Asia, we caught our first flight heading to...

Malaysia: Discovering the Multicultural Kuala Lumpur

We arrived in Malaysia, where the initial plan was to explore the entire country, starting from the north to the south. However, during the first months of the trip, we considered and ultimately decided to visit only the capital so that we could explore Indonesia for a longer time. We were in Kuala Lumpur, where we spent 12 days. We managed to explore the city at a leisurely pace and get some rest.

There are many things to do in the city, such as visiting the famous Petronas Towers, the Batu Caves, the local markets that contrast with the modern shopping malls, and many mosques.

The city is undoubtedly multicultural, and it was here that we had an unforgettable experience: during our visit to a mosque, we were invited to have a snack at the home of a Muslim family. We were warmly welcomed, and it was a moment of sharing experiences and cultures.

Indonesia: Discovering New Horizons

It was time to change countries again, this time to the one that would be our home for the next two months.

We started our stay in Indonesia in Bali. Initially, we didn't have high expectations and weren’t particularly curious about getting to know the island; in fact, we were somewhat bored to be there. But just one day was enough to completely change our minds and fall in love. The friendliness of the people, the culture, the unforgettable landscapes, and the delicious food made us understand why the island is so well-known.

We visited Bali at a leisurely pace, stopping in Canggu, Ubud, Sekumpul, Amed, Uluwatu, and Seminyak. We also went to Nusa Penida to see the famous Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach. After Bali, we headed to the Gili Islands, which belong to Lombok, and we loved them. These islands are still relatively unexplored, and like the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, there are no vehicles— you can only explore them by bicycle or on foot. Here, we had the opportunity to swim with turtles.

We also visited the main island of Lombok, where we explored Senggigi and Kuta. Then, we took a flight to Sumatra, where we went on a two-night jungle trek to see orangutans. It was an incredible experience that we highly recommend.

We also took a quick trip to Lake Toba, a region in central Sumatra, and finished our journey in the Mentawai Islands, known for surfing. However, since we don’t surf, we didn’t enjoy it as much.

Singapore: The Final Stretch

And we arrived in Singapore, where we would finish our trip. It's a super modern city, completely different from the other places we visited throughout our journey. There are many cultures, and the city is organized and extremely clean.

We absolutely loved the city; it's undoubtedly a place where we could imagine living.

The plan was to end our six months of travel here, but since we were enjoying it so much and hadn’t exceeded our budget, we decided to extend the adventure. We went to East Timor to volunteer with children, where we spent five weeks at a convent. To wrap up the trip, we returned to Bali, where we mostly relaxed before heading back to Portugal.

Conclusion

This was our six-month itinerary through Southeast Asia. We can say that it was an experience we still can’t fully describe in words – everything we experienced there was simply unforgettable.

It was a journey of discovery, learning, and connection with different cultures. Each destination left a unique mark on us, and every experience turned into a story to tell.

If you're thinking of embarking on a similar adventure, don’t hesitate: Southeast Asia is waiting for you to explore!

How to stay connected

If you plan to visit Southeast Asia, don't forget that mobile data does not work outside the European Union!

The best solution to stay connected to the Internet is to buy an eSIM or a local SIM. This time we bought an eSIM at Holafly, and it always worked well. Just have a phone compatible with eSIM and buy the card through the Holafly app. It's very easy!

Get Travel Insurance

It is essential to be prepared for any trip you take, especially outside of Europe. Unexpected events happen, and no one wants to come back from vacation with a huge hospital bill to pay. That's where travel insurance comes in, an indispensable ally to ensure tranquility and safety for your holidays.

IATI offers numerous types of travel insurance depending on your type of trip and various coverages. Moreover, by purchasing insurance through our link, you get a special 5% discount.

Don't let unforeseen events ruin your adventure!

Click here to get your discount.