23 Day Itinerary in Southeast Asia

Day 1: Overnight Flight From Seattle to Singapore on Singapore Airlines.

• It is a 16-hour flight from Seattle to Singapore. We booked two aisle seats in order to give us both the ability to get up without bothering anyone. Singapore Air was wonderful except for not providing enough water. Bring on a huge bottle of water for a flight this long! 

Day 2: Night In Singapore

• We landed in Singapore and had roughly 14 hours. We Stayed at the Ibis Hotel in the Boat Quarry Neighborhood, as this was the cheapest hotel. All of Singapore is clean, safe and friendly.

• We went to the Marina Sands Bay Bar for a drink on the rooftop. The price per drink was around $14 USD. 

• After that we walked Gardens by the Bay. Just an FYI, the lights do turn off at 10pm so plan wisely. 

Day 3: Fly to Bangkok

• We flew Singapore Air from Singapore to Bangkok. We Stayed at Lamphu Treehouse Hotel which is walking distance to Old Town and Khao San Road. 

• We spent the day with some friends of a friend walking around Old Town, getting street food and generally exploring.

• Khao San Road is an experience, one that I don’t really recommend unless you are in a partying mood. Think Las Vegas Strip + Bourbon Street + literally cocaine. 

Day 4: Bangkok and Sleeper Cabin

• The next morning we made a mistake as we decide walked around old town Bangkok and walk to the Palace. The issue was the heat. We were there when it was a record high for the country. We physically could not deal with the heat. 

• We ended up at a Thai Massage Palor that had AC just to cool down. Mind you the massage was amazing and only $6 USD for an hour. 

• Went to Train Station after the massage even though it was 4 hours till our train due to the heat and lack of AC. 

• We took the 8:05 pm first class sleeper cabin up to Chiang Mai. You can read about that here. 

Day 5: Chiang Mai

• We arrived in Chiang Mai at 8am we went to our hotel to check in. Our Hotel was the Baan Ratchiangsaen and they were kind enough to know we could come back at noon to get into our room and not 2pm. 

• After that we Walked around the old town and Ate at Thai Chef kitchen, which is the first place we had Khao Soa and it was AMAZING.

• After that, we walked back to the hotel, swam and took a nap

• We spent the night walking the night markets and getting lost in the streets of Chiang Mai. 

Day 6: Chiang Mai

• The next morning we woke up early and hiked the Pilgrims Trail to a temple on the side of the mountain

• Afterward we grabbed lunch at Airnervsary restaurant in old town. They had the BEST MOST AMAZING MANGO STICKY RICE that has ever existed. 

• Afterward, we swam at the pool.  

• At 2 pm we got picked up by Organic Smile Thai Cooking Class. We spent 6 hours at a local market, on a farm and were able to pick 5 things we wanted to learn to cook. It was the most amazing time. 

• We got back late and went to bed. 

Day 7: Chiang Mai

• The next morning we work up and got Breakfast in the old town on the street market. 

• At 11 am we were picked up by the Jungle Elephant Sanctuary and spent the day taking care of elephants. 

• That night we went and got dinner on the street market.

Day 8: Bus to Chiang Rai

• The next morning we went to a lovely “Western coffee shop” with eggs and bacon. 

• We then took the VIP bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

• Stayed at Villas a little outside of the city center. 

• The night market was wonderful and full of live music and dancing

Day 9: Chiang Rai

• We booked a group tour but it ended up being a private tour around Chiang Rai and northern Thailand. 

Day 10: Fly to Cambodia

• We left Chiang Rai at 6am to fly Air Asia to Siem Reap with a layover in Bangkok

• It was a long day of travel, but our wonderful hotel sent a tuk tuk to pick us up

• We walked to Pub Street and the markets at night. 

Day 11: Siem Reap

• We woke up to a monsoon storm but after it cleared we biked around Angkor wat to several amazing.

• Swam at our hotel after spending several hours biking around in the hot sun. 

• We ate dinner on Pub Street again. 

Day 12: Siem Reap

• Angkor Wat Morning tuktuk tour to two temples we missed the day before!

• We then went and had lunch

• In the afternoon evening we went and visited a Floating Village an hour outside of Siem Reap. 

Day 13: Fly to Hoi An

• Since our flight was in the afternoon we had the same TukTuk driver take us toAngkor Wat one last time.

• Flew out of Siem Reap to Da Nang on Cambodia Air

• Da Nang to Hoi An by a hotel taxi. 

• That night we did a Lantern Festival in old town Hoi An 

Day 14: Hoi An

• We woke up and had Breakfast in Hoi An Old Town

• Then we took the hotel bikes and rode to the beach where we spent most of the day.

• We had Dinner in Old town with views of the water. 

• We did Lantern Boat ride on river for only $5 USD total. 

Day 15: fly to Hanoi-taxi to Tam Coc

• Breakfast in Old Town and had plenty of egg coffee

• Then we went to a Lantern Making Class which was such a great time! You can read about it here. 

• We then flew from Da Nang to Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines. 

• We had a transfer from Hanoi to Tam Coc

Day 15: Tam Coc

• Woke up at 4 am in Tam Coc to beat the heat

• We took the hotel bikes to bike around and Hike the Mua Cave Lookout Point

• We biked and Rode a boat to Trang An UNESCO world heritage site, this took 3 hours and was totally worth it. 

• Biked back and had lunch

• After that it was too hot to much till Dinner time

• Went out to dinner and had a fabulous time eating

Day 16 Tam Coc

• Boat ride from Tam Coc this was about 2 hours and we did it right when they opened at 8am. 

• Chilled the rest of the day cause it was so hot, we hung out at the Banana Tree Hostel. 

• We ate Dinner then I got a pedicure

Day 17 Bus to Hanoi

• Woke up for a lazy morning at the hotel 

• Had breakfast at the hotel 

• Got a bus to Hanoi that took 2 hours from Tam Coc. 

• Walked around Hanoi and had a great dinner

• Got caught in a monsoon 

Day 18: Bus to Ha long Bay

• Bus picked us up at 8 am sharp from our hotel to Ha Long Bay

• Two Hour drive to Ha long Bay in a rain storm

• Transfer boat from the dock to our cruise ship, Peony Cruise

• Lunch once we got onboard

• Kayaking in the bay after lunch in the emerald ocean. 

• Dinner on the boat

Day 19: Ha Long Bay cruise

• Breakfast on boat

• Then we Transferred to Day Boat

• Cat Ba Island Biking Adventure, went to a small community on the island and it was beautiful 

• Lunch on Day boat that was 5 courses!!

• Kayaking and swimming on a beach which was so beautiful

• Transfer Back to cruise ship

• Dinner on the ship

Day 20 Bus back to Hanoi

• Breakfast on the ship

• Then we had one last tour of Cat Ba Island Caves which was incredible1

• Transfer back to dock

• Then we had a Two hour drive back

• We did a Food Tour in Hanoi this night which was the absolute best. Highly recommend! Read our review here!

Day 21 Fly to Bangkok

• Woke up in Hanoi

• Went to the military museum in Hanoi which was fascinating 

• Flew to Bangkok on Vietnam Airlines

• Landed and immediately fall asleep 

Day 22: Fly to Singapore

• Woke up at our wonderful hotel 

• Long Boat Tour of Bangkok of the river. We got to see so much in only 3 hours!

• Fly to Singapore with Singapore air

• Sleep on ground in Singapore airport…cause travel!

Day 23: Singapore to Home

• One last flight from Singapore Home! This time we did not prebook our seats and it was rough.