Thailand, Cambodia, Laos - Will we have enough time?

joxer05

Hi, I know there are a lot of SE Asia threads. Read through a good few of them. Basically myself and a few friends are thinking of a whirlwind tour of Cambodia and Laos, with more time spent in Thailand. This is what we're thinking of:

3 weeks:

Day 1 - Arrive Bangkok, head straight to Pnom Phen
Day 2 - Pnom Phen
Day 3 - Angor Wat
Day 4 - Angor Wat
Day 5 - Vientiane
Day 6 - Travelling to Chang Mai
Day 7 - Chang Mai
Day 8 - Meet other people arriving in Bangkok
Day 8-20 - Koh Phangan/Koh Phi Phi
Day 21 - Back to Bangkok and Home

Any suggestions? Unrealistic?:D

breadmonkey

Madness imo. I'm not sure where to start really.

There's no point in going to Laos purely to see Vientiane and why bother staying in Bangkok for only one day if you're heading to Phnom Penh straight away (or are you just transferring there?)? If you only have three weeks then I think you should just go to Thailand. Laos (and probably Cambodia; haven't been there) would also be a great experience but given that you don't have much time I think you'll get the most out of Thailand (better transport infrastructure). Your present itinerary looks extremely stressful and unenjoyable!

RATM

Craziness ! Unless you are one of these travellers who likes to collect passport stamps then in no way attempt this. Why bother going all the way to Chaing Mai for one day? What would be the point to travel all that distance, be tired after it and then come all the way back?Sounds like punishment to me and thats not what you go on holidays for.

I'd say knock Laos on the head, travel there can be very slow and will eat up days and days. If you are only going to Phnom Penh to get to Angkor then why not consider flying BKK to Siem Reap return, plenty of low cost airlines plying this route.

Better to have more time in Thailand where getting from A to B is easier and more efficient.

jank

Knock off either Loas or Cambodia.

IMO go Bangkok Fly-> Angor wat.
Fly to Chang mai and stay a day or 2.
Then go south to the beaches.

Fly all the legs. You will kill yourself on the bus if you try that list above

S.M.B.

jank wrote: »

Knock off either Loas or Cambodia.

IMO go Bangkok Fly-> Angor wat.
Fly to Chang mai and stay a day or 2.
Then go south to the beaches.

Fly all the legs. You will kill yourself on the bus if you try that list above

This sounds about right. You're going to have to fly to all your destinations even if you leave out Vientiane (which I would anyway) or maybe just stick to either the eastern islands (phi phi, phuket, lanta) or the western ones (samui, pha ngan, tao).

Also, imo it's a travesty to fly the whole way to Thailand and only spend a few hours in Bangkok. :eek:

Larianne

jank wrote: »

Knock off either Loas or Cambodia.

IMO go Bangkok Fly-> Angor wat.
Fly to Chang mai and stay a day or 2.
Then go south to the beaches.

Fly all the legs. You will kill yourself on the bus if you try that list above

Yes, defo make the trip to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. get in and get out. 3/4 days is enough. Spend a 3/4 days in Chang Mai and then do what you like on the islands.

spinandscribble

doable but tiring. just did, chiang mai, siem reap, koh phangan and hong kong in 3 wks. looking back would defo spend more time on the islands, i was only there like 6 days and would skip hong kong, not my idea of a holiday. chiang mai was great, could easily spend weeks there again. siem reap was cool but after a few days the temples got boring (i know but it just became a blur).