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The dream destinations in Southeast Asia have always attracted countless vacationers every year. No wonder that many beautiful places in Southeast Asia spark wanderlust, because most people think of exotic countries and cultures like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia when they hear the term. Whether you’re traveling on a package tour or as a backpacker, Southeast Asia has something truly special.
Pure Inspiration: 11 Beautiful Travel Destinations in Southeast Asia
However, since the selection of travel destinations in Southeast Asia can be overwhelming and you may not yet know exactly where you want to go, we’ve summarized a few interesting places here. These 11 destinations include great options for both beach vacations and cultural trips. Get inspired!
Finding Affordable Flights to Southeast Asia
When you think of long-haul travel, you probably picture high airfare costs right away. But it doesn’t have to be that way, because there are many ways to score affordable flights to Southeast Asia. Sure, during peak season, especially around Christmas and New Year’s, flights can cost a lot of money. But if you plan well and travel a bit outside of peak season, you can snag some real bargains.
While you may pay up to €1,000 for a flight to Southeast Asia during peak season, sometimes in the off-season you can get one for half the price. It’s also often cheaper to choose a flight with a layover instead of a direct flight.
Sure, you can search for flights on the websites of the individual airlines and compare Emirates, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, and many others. It’s easier with well-known flight search engines like Skyscanner. In Southeast Asia there is also another good option called 12go.asia. There, you can even set up a price alert that tracks your desired route and notifies you as soon as a good deal is available online.
Tip: Sometimes you don’t have to plan your vacation months in advance. If you’re very flexible, it can be worth packing your bags spontaneously and traveling. You can often find cheap last-minute deals to dream destinations, including flights and hotels. This can save you a lot of money and help you see as much of the world as possible.
Finding the Right Hotel
After you’ve found a flight, the next important thing is the hotel. This will be your home during your Southeast Asia vacation, and of course you should feel comfortable there. While many backpackers stay in hostels with dorm rooms, we personally always prefer good hotels so we have a cozy place to retreat. In hostels, you can meet lots of people quickly, but you have little privacy. On the plus side, you can find beds there for under €5 per night.
So think about what you expect from your hotel. Should it have a swimming pool, offer breakfast, be centrally located, or be right on the beach? Do you want to stay in a building complex or have a private bungalow? You can also set all of this as filters in the popular hotel search engines, so you’ll immediately see a suitable selection. We always use Booking.com for this. Plus, you can read reviews from guests who have already stayed at the property.
You can also filter your accommodation there by price. The overview can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. We know the problem. But with the filters and your preferences, the selection is usually reduced significantly and becomes easier to choose from. As an alternative, you can also check Agoda’s search engine or use it to compare prices.
Budget for a Southeast Asia Trip
The question of a budget for your Southeast Asia trip isn’t so easy to answer. Many factors play a role, especially the level of comfort you want. Starting with the flight, in a best-case scenario it might cost only €500, or in a more expensive option, up to €1,000 (also depending on the time of year). So you should budget a middle ground of around €700 for the round-trip flight. This is often a realistic price for a flight with a good airline.
It’s similar with hotels. Even in Southeast Asia, there are expensive hotels where you can spend €200-300 per night. But on the other hand, there are also dorm rooms you can find for under €5 per night. For an upscale mid-range hotel (3 to 4 stars), so you feel comfortable on vacation, we would estimate about €50-100 per night per room. With two people, that’s still half per person.
On top of that, of course, there are expenses for eating out every day, drinks, shopping, activities and tours, or for example, renting a scooter. These costs are completely variable and depend entirely on you. Eating out can range from just a few euros at street food stalls to high prices at touristy or upscale restaurants. Alcohol generally always puts a bit more strain on your travel budget, as do tours or activities. So you don’t have to watch your money too closely on vacation, I would budget at least €50 per day. If you spend less, even better.
In summary, I would budget about €2,000-2,500 per person for a two-week trip to Southeast Asia, including flights, good hotels, and all other expenses. That way, you’re on the safe side and should be able to have a wonderful time in Southeast Asia without having to restrict yourself. It can definitely be cheaper too if, for example, you spend only €20 per night on a hotel, skip a few tours, etc. As I said, in the end it all comes down to your own comfort level.
Choosing Destinations in Southeast Asia
As briefly mentioned in the introduction, travel destinations in Southeast Asia can be incredibly diverse, which is why many people find it hard to choose. Dreamy landscapes with rice fields, fascinating metropolises with impressive skylines, ancient temple ruins, dense green jungles, or paradise-like white sand beaches. Southeast Asia has all of that to offer.
So first, you should think about what you’d like. Are you a beach fan, or do you prefer big cities? Do you want a good mix of beaches and temples, or do you love the underwater world? Do you maybe want to sample Thai cuisine? Once you know that, it’s time to search for the destination.
Tastes obviously differ, but with this huge selection, you’re sure to find the right fit for you. Many travelers and vacationers also combine these destinations, so you can, for example, pair a city trip in Bangkok with a beach vacation on Koh Phangan. To help you out a bit, in the next section we’ve put together 11 dream destinations in Southeast Asia for you.
Wanderlust Destinations in Southeast Asia – A Few Ideas
We’ve already visited all of the following destinations during our years in Southeast Asia. Of course, they’re only a very small selection of travel destinations, but hopefully they’ll help you narrow down your choices a bit.
1. Koh Phangan, Thailand
Koh Phangan is located in the southeast of the country in the Gulf of Thailand. It’s often mentioned mainly because of the monthly Full Moon Party, but it has so much more to offer. Beautiful beaches in secluded bays, such as Bottle Beach, as well as stunning viewpoints, like after a hike to the island’s highest mountain, Khao Ra.
If you come to Koh Phangan, you should definitely explore the island and not just stay for the party. It’s absolutely worth it, and it’s not without reason that we’ve called Koh Phangan our home for several years. The small island is truly diverse and offers everything you could imagine for a trip to Thailand.
2. Lombok, Indonesia
Lombok is a destination in Indonesia that’s becoming increasingly popular with independent travelers. While Bali is swarming with package tourists and Instagram influencers, Lombok still offers many untouched places. On top of that, Lombok also has plenty to offer for adventurers and active travelers. Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, Mount Rinjani, is just one example.
Lombok’s small Gili Islands are also especially popular, and there are far more than just the three well-known ones: Trawangan, Air, and Meno. A great island for those seeking peace and quiet is Gili Asahan, for example.
3. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Southeast Asia doesn’t only offer great destinations for beach lovers. Culture and history fans also get their money’s worth here. Of course, the world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia has to be mentioned, and it could hardly be more impressive. Besides Angkor Wat, the vast area also offers a number of other must-see temples, which we’ve listed for you.
The city of Siem Reap, which is located near the Angkor temples, is the central hub for your trip to Angkor. Here you’ll find plenty of hotels, restaurants, markets, and especially in the evening there’s a lot going on in Siem Reap.
4. Palawan, Philippines
Palawan is repeatedly mentioned in lists of the most beautiful islands in the world. And absolutely for good reason! Palawan in the Philippines is a true paradise that’s best known for El Nido. El Nido’s archipelago offers countless dreamlike settings, including secluded paradise beaches and lagoons with water that couldn’t be any clearer.
Another noteworthy destination on Palawan is Port Barton, which has retained its charm as a small, idyllic fishing village. Here you’ll also find a few paradise islands that are far less visited than the ones off El Nido.
5. Krabi, Thailand
Krabi is one of the most beautiful regions in southern Thailand. It includes many well-known places, such as Ao Nang, Railay, Koh Lanta, and Koh Phi Phi. Here you’ll find every facet of Thailand’s nature. Towering limestone cliffs that invite you to climb, jungle areas you can hike through, excellent viewpoints, white sand beaches, and turquoise water. You definitely won’t get bored.
6. Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
The two islands, Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil, are among Malaysia’s most popular vacation islands. However, you don’t necessarily have to expect mass tourism here, because the larger island, Perhentian Besar, in particular, still offers many quiet beaches and plenty of relaxation. The islands are also a true paradise for snorkelers and divers.
On the smaller island (Perhentian Kecil), on the other hand, you’ll find a few more tourists. The small island is especially attractive for backpackers because prices are lower and there’s also more going on at the beach in the evenings. But for us, the much more beautiful island is clearly Perhentian Besar!
7. Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang is often described as the most beautiful city in Southeast Asia, nestled among mountains. Along the Mekong, the old town offers a great atmosphere, and you shouldn’t miss the view from Mount Phou Si, especially at sunset.
A trip to the Tat Kuang Si Waterfall is also on every visitor’s itinerary. Temples, a night market, a charming old town, and beautiful landscapes in the surrounding area make Luang Prabang an interesting travel destination in Southeast Asia. Is it the most beautiful city in Southeast Asia? You’ll have to see for yourself.
8. Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand’s capital hardly needs any more introduction. Everyone has heard of Bangkok, so it’s no surprise that it has been one of the most visited cities in the world for years. The metropolis is loud, chaotic, intense, diverse, vibrant, and simply striking. You either love or hate Bangkok. There’s hardly any middle ground.
9. Boracay, Philippines
Boracay is the flagship of tourism in the Philippines. You definitely can’t describe Boracay as a secluded paradise anymore, because mass tourism is the norm. But the beaches on Boracay are so beautiful that you can absolutely accept that. The nice thing is that not all beaches on the island are as crowded as the world-famous White Beach. During our visit, we even discovered a small selection of almost secluded dream beaches.
10. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
If you travel to Vietnam, you definitely can’t avoid the country’s largest city. Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is chaotic, loud, and hot. But on the other hand, it’s also a paradise for foodies and history fans, and as befits a true big city, it also offers skyscrapers and skybars. You simply have to see Ho Chi Minh City!
11. Langkawi, Malaysia
Langkawi is also a popular vacation island in Malaysia, and compared to the Perhentian Islands, there’s noticeably more going on here. That’s also because Langkawi has its own airport, and there are even direct connections from places like Thailand.
The nice thing is that most tourists stay around Cenang Beach. That’s where you’ll find most hotels, restaurants, bars, and so on. Outside of Cenang, there’s still very little going on in Langkawi, at least from a tourism perspective. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island is Tanjung Rhu Beach, where you’ll also find a dream resort with the Four Seasons. If you’re looking for absolute peace and seclusion, this is exactly the right place. But the public part of Tanjung Rhu is also definitely worth a visit.
Bonus Tip: Maldives
Even though the Maldives aren’t part of Southeast Asia, did you know that you can easily reach them from places like Thailand? And you can even do it on your own? A flight from Bangkok to the Maldives takes only about 4 hours, so a Maldives vacation can be perfectly combined with a Southeast Asia trip. You can find more info in our Maldives travel report.
Have you ever taken a long-distance trip to Southeast Asia? What is your perfect Southeast Asia travel destination? We look forward to hearing your opinion.
