Guide to backpacking Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is certainly one of the world’s most exciting and approachable regions to go backpacking. With its alluring fusion of rainforests, beaches, coral reefs, volcanoes, and rice fields, Southeast Asia offers everything that is enough to keep you hooked for months. No wonder so many travelers from around the globe come to explore this amazing region sitting within the tropics every year. Since Southeast Asia is a wide region and there are an immense array of choices you have before you including finding suitable accommodation and choosing the best travel route, it’s important to do a little homework. To ensure that your backpacking experience does not get daunting, here are five tips that will go a long way.

Pack light

First-time backpackers often over-pack for their trip. A lighter bag is not just easy to carry but will also save you some cost on airline baggage allowance. Just pack clothes for ten days plus the bare basics. Avoid packing unnecessary bulky items, sleeping bags, pillows or excess clothing. You don’t need them.

Things to see

There are so many things to do and see in Southeast Asia that it’s difficult if not downright impossible to explore everything in just one trip. However, there are certain things you would not want to miss out on including jungle trekking in northern Thailand, Malaysia Borneo and western Laos, full moon party on Koh Phangan island, Thailand, diving in Ko Tao, Sipidan, Phillippines and Indonesia. For food lovers, the hawkers stalls of Singapore are must to visit, and the pristine beaches of Bali will make you fall in love with this tropical paradise.

The temples of Chiang Mai, Hoi An, Bagan, crazy environment of the Ho Chi Minh City and the challenging hikes of the Khao Sok national park are some of the great things to see when in Southeast Asia.

Stay in hostels

Save some money on your travel accommodations especially if you’re traveling on a budget or backpacking. Since you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors and won’t have enough time to make the most of the lavish facilities of a five-star hotel, it’s best to stay in hostels. For backpackers, there are plenty of recommended hostels that are not just safe but also a bang for your buck. Check various hostels online and choose the one with the best reviews. See this as an opportunity to make new friends, share stories and create memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Avoid getting scammed

The last thing you would want while traveling Southeast Asia is to pay triple the price for a place that has been overhyped and misrepresented online. First-time backpackers usually fall for these gimmicks easily, so it’s important to do thorough research of all the places you’re planning to visit before embarking on your journey. Always keep an eye on the taximeter, take pictures of any rented equipment and stay smart so that nothing comes in between you and your amazing Southeast Asian experience.

Plan ahead for uncertainties

Even after you’ve planned everything and budgeted accordingly for your Southeast Asia backpacking, uncertain events or expenses can catch you by surprise. What if you run short of cash, get mugged or have to extend your stay? In such scenarios, you might need to ask your family or friends for some help. Money transfer is a great option when situations like these arise, and one such fantastic money transfer service is the Ria money transfer that allows your loved ones to send money to the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia or wherever in the Southeast Asia you’re stuck. Not just this, they offer very affordable rates and remain at your service 24*7. Isn’t this something we all wish for while traveling?

When you’re backpacking Southeast Asia, there is always a possibility of things going wrong. It’s good that you’ve planned out everything but stay prepared for the plans to change when you actually get there. However, this shouldn’t hold you back from embarking on this beautiful journey where you’ll make friends and do things that you would have never imagined yourself doing. And, for uncertain situations, you know Ria money transfer always have your back. So, take the plunge and enjoy traveling the captivating Southeast Asia.

About the Author

Sharon Kalipai is a is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency in Denver, CO. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, dance and read books.