2 Months in Southeast Asia: A Complete Budget-Friendly Itinerary
Backpacking Southeast Asia is a rite of passage for a traveler, especially to those on a budget!
I always highly recommend Southeast Asia to beginners, & I have so many reasons for this: it’s affordable, the locals are generally very friendly, there’s great travel infrastructure, the culture is fascinating, there’s beautiful nature & beaches, the food is incredible, and it’s safe. Oh, and you’ll meet tons of fellow travelers!
Southeast Asia has something for everyone: gorgeous beaches, beautiful temples, an exciting nightlife, yoga & spirituality, and so many incredible experiences for so many different budgets.
In Spring of 2023, I spent 2 months backpacking through Southeast Asia, and I think my itinerary is solid! There is only one downside: I skipped Vietnam. I have a trip planned there, so I will have plenty of Vietnam content soon, but for now, here is the exact 2 month trip I took!
This trip really meant a lot to me. I decided to move out of my apartment and leave my job so I could travel full-time for awhile. My longest trip to date, it’s really indescribable just how different, yet comfortable Southeast Asia is. There are countless cultural differences from America, but I felt a sense of peace in every place I visited.
If you’re looking to take a long-term trip and explore this incredible region, this itinerary is for you:
Singapore: 4 Nights
Singapore is a great place to start because 1. English is the official language (well, one of them). 2. It has a lot of western influence, but is still obviously Asia, so it’s an easy adjustment without sacrificing the cultural experience. 3. It’s more expensive than most of Southeast Asia, so you’ll feel very relieved when you’re spending less $$ in other countries.
Singapore is misunderstood. People assume it’s snooty, authoritarian and overly expensive, and that was honestly not my experience. It’s easy to worry about their strict rules about gum and jaywalking.. but just like.. don’t bring gum and don’t jaywalk. It’s really not that complicated. I don’t recall seeing a lot of police officers around, so it’s really not as strict as you may think. Also, while the people are not as warm as those in Thailand or Cambodia, nobody was rude in the slightest.
Now, in terms of Singapore being expensive, that can be true… but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, accommodation isn’t cheap. I’ll agree with that. However, the food and transportation really isn’t that bad at all, especially if you take the MRT and eat at Hawker centres (more on those below). It’s very possible to make Singapore budget friendly and still have a great experience. There is also more to Singapore than Marina Bay Sands. I expected to spend a lot more than I actually did.
Getting Around
It’s easy to get around Singapore since Grab is widely available and they have an EXCELLENT MRT. It’s the only country I’ve visited where you just tap your credit card to ride the MRT. No ticket needed! I wish other places made it so simple.
Singapore is also very walkable, but it’s also VERY hot and VERY humid, so keep that in mind.
Accommodation
I stayed at Bohemian hostel in China town. I wish I could recommend it, but I can’t. The quality just wasn’t there. I spent around $30/night and there was hardly any AC. The lockers were tiny and impractical. I just didn’t think it was worth it. Next visit, I would be willing to spend more on a higher quality hotel.
Best Things to do
Visit Gardens by the Bay: Sometimes, touristy things are worth it. Going on the sky walkway at Gardens by the Bay is definitely one of them!
Is the Cloud Forest & Flower garden worth it? To be honest, not really… Unless you REALLY like that sort of thing. I thought it was overpriced for what you actually get. While we’re at it, so is Future World at Marina Bay.
Singapore Botanical Gardens: Something I absolutely love about Singapore is how lush & green it is! The botanical gardens feel like Singapore’s Central Park. It’s beautiful for an early walk.
Explore Haji Lane: This is the place to be if you love trendy cafes and shopping
Visit Singapore’s many malls: Malls in Asia are incredible and Singapore has some of the best! Some great ones are ION Orchard, VivoCity, and the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Hawker Centres
Remember when I said that food in Singapore can be really affordable? That’s true if you visit a Hawker Centre. Before visiting, someone recommended that I simply find a line at a Hawker Centre and trust that the food is good and YES. Singapore has some of the best food you can find, and there are countless Hawker Centre to choose from. Here are the ones I visited:
Lau Pa Sat: They say Lau Pa Sat has the best satay (specifically stall #8). I didn’t try any others, but I also didn’t feel the need to because the satay I ordered was just that good!
Newton Food Centre: This is the center shown in Crazy Rich Asians, by the way!
Tekka Centre: Located in Little India, if you love Indian food, this is some of the best you’ll find! The mango lassi & biryani were incredible!
Maxwell Hawker Centre: Most definitely my favorite I visited. The $1 milk tea I ordered is an underrated highlight. Maxwell is especially famous for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Anthony Bourdain spoke very highly of it, and it’s honestly very worth the hype. It’s so simple yet exploding with flavor.
Siem Reap, Cambodia: 3 Nights
Cambodia is a beautiful country with a tragic past. The genocide orchestrated by the Khmer Rouge in the 70s resulted in the death of 1/4 of the population. Remarkably, the people of Cambodia are some of the warmest, kindest souls I’ve come across. It seems that the people are moving past the tragedies and are focusing on the good in life- and that energy shines all over Siem Reap. I was met with a smile everywhere I went.
Getting Around
Tuktuks are everywhere & Grab is also available! Once you’re in the main area, I found Siem Reap to be pretty walkable.
Accommodation
I stayed at Mad Monkey Siem Reap for about $5/night. It’s a great hostel! Clean, social, and in a great location. There’s also a beautiful pool.
Best Things to Do
Visit Angkor Wat at sunrise! It’s truly breathtaking.
Something to Note:
Cambodia uses US currency in combination with Cambodian riels. I recommend just using Cambodian currency because they are VERY picky about the quality of US bills. Any slight rip or defined bend and it likely will not be accepted. However, the quality of their local currency is far less strict. Just use that.
Bangkok, Thailand: 3 Nights
Bangkok is one of those cities that I appreciate in hindsight. While there, I thought it was OK.. very affordable, good food, plenty to do.., still, I wasn’t blown away. Many months after visiting, I look back on my time in Bangkok and can better appreciate the city for what it offers. It’s MASSIVE and every neighborhood has a different personality. There is so much to do in Bangkok and there’s something for absolutely everyone. There’s countless temples, incredible malls, markets, restaurants, etc. Bangkok is often treated as a quick stopover en route to Chiang Mai or the islands… but don’t skip out on this lively city!
Getting Around
Grab is widely available for either a car or motorbike ride. Both are VERY affordable. There is also an MRT and skytrain. Bangkok is walkable in terms of navigating neighborhoods, but because the city is huge and spread out, you’ll definitely need to rely on Grab or public transportation to get around. Taxis are available too, but Grab always offers the best prices.
Accommodation
I stayed at Mad Monkey Bangkok. It’s near Khao San Road, a major tourist spot. It’s a great hostel if you like socializing! Despite having an employee snap at me over something silly, I enjoyed my stay.
Best Things to Do:
Visit one of Bangkok’s many temples. My favorite was Wat Pho- the home of the world’s largest reclining Buddha.
Visit one of Bangkok’s amazing malls. My favorite is Icon Siam.
Take a river cruise
Eat tom yum noodle soup at Jeh-O Chula. Get here right when they open- it’s a long queue. It’s well worth it!
Enjoy Bangkok’s incredible nightlife.
Chiang Mai: 4 Nights
I strongly recommend taking the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. You can book your ticket here, and it’s a really fun experience! I paid a little more for a shared room- it was just me and another lady. The beds were comfortable and I actually slept pretty well (and I’m not someone who can sleep just anywhere).
Chiang Mai is one of my favorite places I visited in Southeast Asia- it’s easily in my top 2! It’s both lively and & laid back. The food is incredible (Khao soi might just become your favorite dish on earth), there’s a lot of cool things to do, and it’s the one stop on this trip where I continuously thought, “I could live here.”
Getting Around
If you’re experienced with riding a motorbike, renting one would be an excellent way to get around. Otherwise, Grab is available. I also found most parts of Chiang Mai to be pretty walkable!
Accommodation
I stayed at Hidden Garden Hostel. The location is flawless! Old Town is a great place to say because it’s close to a lot of cafes, bars, and temples. There’s also a really excellent night market!
Best Things to Do
Take a cooking class: Thai food is some of the best on earth, so why not learn how to make classic dishes like curry and pad thai? I booked through this company & had a great experience
Bua Tong Waterfalls: It’s not everyday you can climb a waterfall!
Day trip to Chiang Rai: The White Temple is worth the long drive!
Krabi: Ao Nang: 3 Nights
Ao Nang beach is beautiful! While there isn’t a ton to do, it’s perfect if you love chilling at the beach and exploring markets!
Getting Around
Ao Nang is very walkable, but if you need to get around, taxis and tuk-tuks are everywhere.
Accommodation
Tan Hostel is clean, in a great location, and has friendly staff. There’s also a nice cafe connected to it. I enjoyed my stay!
Best Things to Do
Besides chill at Ao Nang beach, taking a long tail boat to Railay Beach was a major highlight! Some may say it’s overrated, but I disagree. I think it’s stunning! If you get there early, it’s not super busy and it’s a perfect way to spend a half day! You can also stay overnight at Railay Beach, but it’s recommended to book ahead of time. The long tail boats don’t have a set schedule. They wait until enough people are ready to head to/leave Railay. They usually stop running at around 6pm, so keep that in mind.
Ko Lanta: 3 Nights
If you’re looking for a laidback, local experience, Ko Lanta is the place for you! There were very few tourists and tons of stunning beaches! It’s very underrated!
Getting Around
Motorbike rental or hiring a driver is really the only way to get around. I got to Ko Lanta by taking a shared minivan from Ao Nang.
Accommodation
I stayed at the gorgeous Wooda House. If you are lucky enough to be able to stay at this Airbnb, I strongly recommend it. The owners are VERY friendly. It’s in a quiet, local neighborhood, but is walking distance to a handful of restaurants. After an almost full month of staying in hostels and moving around a lot, Wooda House was a wonderful place to rest and reset.
Phuket: 5 Nights
The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is arguably the most popular beach destination in the country. I highly recommend Phuket, but I do want to point out 1 big mistake I made: I only stayed at Patong Beach. In hindsight, I wish I had stayed just 2 nights at Patong, and the other 3 nights somewhere else on the island. Patong is fine, but it’s VERY touristy. It’s busy, loaded with street sellers, and has a big nightlife scene. If that’s not for you, look to stay elsewhere in Phuket. I enjoyed Patong, but it didn’t give me a well-rounded viewpoint of everything Phuket has to offer.
Getting Around
Taxis and Tuktuks are EVERYWHERE. Seriously, everywhere.
Accommodation
LubD Patong is a wonderful hostel. The rooms are great quality, the pool is huge, and they have events every night.
Things to do
Go parasailing: You can try parasailing at Patong Beach for a reasonable price. It’s kinda a funny experience because a guy comes up with you & just kinda free hangs while he steers you.
Go out on Bangla Road: The nightlife is amazing, and all the bars and clubs worth your time will be on Bangla Road!
Beach Hop! There’s a dozen beaches that are just a taxi ride away!
Visit Night Markets: I enjoyed mango sticky rice on the daily.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 3 Nights
Kuala Lumpur reminds me of Singapore in that it’s very diverse and developed, but it’s much less expensive. After 3 weeks in Thailand, it felt good to be back in a big city. I love skyscrapers and malls, and KL has plenty of each!
Getting Around
KL has a few transportation options:
- Grab is available and is very affordable
- There is a metro that you can take from the airport to the city center, with plenty of stops
- Most of the neighborhoods are walkable. Besides calling a few Grabs for longer car rides, I walked everywhere.
Accommodation
If you want an unbelievable view AND an infinity pool, look no further than Penthouse on 34. While it is a little ways away from the main area, you get to enjoy this incredible view! The building is right next to a large mall, which was convenient for grabbing dinner or hanging out with the friends I made at the hostel.
Things To Do
Visit the Batu Caves: Containing many Hindu temples, The Batu Caves is the most significant Hindu sanctuary outside of India. It’s obviously very beautiful with the colorful steps. Warning: it’s a tiring climb, but well worth it!
Shop at Bukit Bintang: Think of this as KL’s Time Square of Shibuya 109 area. It’s an amazing place to shop and enjoy great cafes & food!
Eat at one of the many markets: KL is very diverse, and so are the food options! Indulge in all the delicious, affordable meals you can find!
Visit KL Tower: This is an amazing way to get a bird’s eye view of the city! Look out for the Petronas Towers (the twin towers) and Merdeka 118, which is actually the 2nd largest building in the world!
Ubud, Bali Indonesia: 9 nights
I wanted to spend the most time in Ubud, and I’m happy I did. The lush greenery, cute cafes, and access to amazing day trips made it one of my favorites stops of the entire trip. 9 nights may seem like too much time, but I was BUSY just about every day. I chose a longer stay so I could have some time to chill.
Getting Around
THIS APPLIES TO EVERY PART OF BALI I VISITED:
Grab & Gojek (Ań Indonesian version of Grab) are widely available. I usually used their motorbike transpiration option since bikes move WAY faster than cars. There are plenty of taxis and motorbike rentals available as well.
Accommodation
Puri Garden is a gorgeous boutique hostel with excellent amenities: Complimentary yoga, mani/pedis, & massages. They also offer a free breakfast at their cafe (definitely the best free breakfast I’ve had at a hostel). Also, the beds are huge! The location is right in the heart of the main town so it’s fantastic! I couldn’t recommend it enough.
For my birthday, I treated myself to 3 nights at a private villa I found on AirBnB. It’s a gorgeous villa with a private pool, and they also offer the equivalent of room service: For $25, I enjoyed a floating breakfast, and was also able to order food or drinks at any point. They also offer a driver for a reasonable price. It’s in the Tegallalang area, so it’s a ways away from the main town, but I found that Grab & Gojek offered great rates for getting into town and back.
Things To Do
Visit the Monkey Forest: It’s a must-visit while in Bali. Definitely touristy, but fun! WARNING: the monkeys will take any food or drinks if they see it. Zip up your belongings & keep an eye on your phone. They’re ruthless (but won’t hurt you if you don’t threaten them).
Take a yoga class: There’s countless studios to choose from, but the Yoga Barn is the most famous.
Try a Balinese cooking class: I loved THIS class- Balinese food is very underrated!
Sunrise Mt. Batur hike: It’s not every day you wake up at 1am to hike up an active volcano. It’s not fun getting up that early and it’s definitely a challenge hike, but seeing the sunrise with everyone makes it well worth it!
Day trip to Sekumpul Waterfalls: This should be mandatory! One of the most amazing travel days I’ve had. The falls are unbelievable!
Walk the Campuhan Ridge: It’s a great walk either early in the morning or right before sunset! The lush greenery is gorgeous. It’s not too long a walk so it’s easy to fit into one of your days.
Visit Tegallalang rice terrace: Probably the most famous rice terrace in Bali. If you’ve never seen one before, you’ll be wowed!
Try the jungle swing: Tourist trap-y? A little. Really fun to try once? Yes. I enjoyed this, not gonna lie. And don’t worry, you’re very secure in the swing.
Uluwatu: 3 nights
If you want beautiful white sand beaches, look no further than Uluwatu. To my understanding, it’s gotten a lot busier in recent years, but it’s for good reason. If you’re interested in surfing, you’ll find that in here. If you’re into beach hopping and beach clubs, you’ll definitely love Uluwatu. I originally wasn’t going to come here, but I’m happy I changed my mind.
Accommodation
I stayed at Surfer’s Green Bowl hostel. It’s definitely dated, but the staff is friendly and they offer a free dinner every night!
Things to do
Take a surfing class: I was too scared to do this, but if you’re braver than me, you should try it!
Beach hop: That’s pretty much all I did! Favorites include Pedang Pedang beach and Melasti Beach
Visit Uluwatu Temple: It’s a temple on a massive cliff! I haven’t seen a more beautiful cliffside view since The Algarve in Portugal.
Canggu: 6 nights
By this point, I was a little tired. I decided to spend time somewhere I could easily live a “normal” life in. Don’t get me wrong, I had some cool experiences while in Canggu, but it’s less touristy and filled with digital nomads. Therefore, you’ll find excellent cafes, incredible gyms, and great nightlife. There’s also beaches that are great for surfing. If you’re in Vali only for a short time, you should skip Canggu and prioritize Ubud and Uluwatu. If you have enough time to visit Canggu in, you should!
Accommodation
Nyaman Hostel is excellent! Friendly staff, clean rooms, a great pool, ad filled with friendly backpackers! I made a lot of cool friends here!
Things to do
Surf: Personally, I don’t think Canggu’s beaches are the prettiest, but they’re perfect for surfing.
Take a snorkeling trip: OK, not in Canggu, but I did do this while in Canggu. There are several places to snorkel on the island, and I went through this company. Amazing experience- I saw my first sea turtles (though nothing may ever top my sighting in Oman).
Try the amazing cafes: If you like coffee, brunch, and pastries, you’ll love Canggu!
Favorites include: Milk & Madu, Baked, Copenhagen, Sensorium Cafe, Crate Cafe & Brunch Club.
Go to Body Factory Bali: If you’re into gyms, you gotta check this one out! It’s on the pricier side, but well worth it!
Kuta: 2 nights
I actually only stayed in Kuta because it’s close to the airport… but it did serve as a good base for my Nusa Penida day trip!
Accomodation
Lokal Bali Hostel is clean and has friendly staff! I didn’t spend a lot of time there, but I’m certain I would’ve really enjoyed it.
Nusa Penida Day Trip
While staying in Kuta, I booked a Nusa Penida day trip tour. I chose a tour because staying on the island is only worth it if you’re comfortable on a motorbike (I am not). It’s a quick ferry from Bali and you can see all the main sights in 1 day.
The day trip was worth it overall. It was helpful having a guide for transportation and for learning more about the island. While Nusa Penida is very touristy and a bit crowded in some areas, I still think it’s worth visiting. Keelingking beach really is one of the most beautiful sights. I remember me & another girl on my tour gasped as we first saw the cliff.
Other Options
If you have extra time or want to alter the itinerary, here are my suggestions:
Cambodia
Phenom Penh
Koh Rong
Thailand
Koh Tao
Koh Samui
Chiang Rai
Pai
Koh Phangan
Koh Lipe
Slow boat to Laos (I still really want to do this)
Malaysia:
Penang
Cameron Highlands
Vietnam
I made the mistake of skipping Vietnam on this trip. You could cut time in Indonesia and spend more time in Vietnam instead.
Go where you feel called!
If you ask for suggestions for your Southeast Asia backpacking trip, you’ll be met with a lot of differing opinions. Some people will tell you to spend as little time in Bangkok as possible, whereas others will tell you to spend at least a week. Some will say to skip Singapore, others will say the 3 days I spend there aren’t enough (I mean, I didn’t even go to Sentosa Island so maybe they have a point).
You can’t please everyone and you definitely can’t go everywhere people recommend. I always recommend quality of quantity. Go to the places you’re the most excited about! Don’t go somewhere just because you feel obligated. Go because you want to and it makes logistical sense. This is YOUR trip. Do what you want!
So, copy my itinerary to the T or roll your eyes at it. Either way, I hope you have an incredible time in Southeast Asia. It’s a popular region for a reason.
