It has been some time since we returned home, and our trip to Asia still feels like a dream. Perhaps it feels this way because it was one of our biggest and boldest dreams, a desire that grew for two years, and then for another two years was put on hold.
And as it usually happens, our dream trip took shape in a form we could not have imagined. It came unexpectedly, while we were planning a trip of just as many days to the opposite side of the globe, and when the day came to decide where to go, we let fate decide by flipping a coin.
And fate wanted us to go to Asia for 40 days, to live an experience that challenged and changed us, a journey that we still flip through in our minds and will surely never forget. It was the dream come true, in its most beautiful form, as it was meant to be.
What we started planning in the spring of 2021 was thought and rethought, organized and reorganized, planned and canceled and planned again, until we reached these 40 days which involved a complex itinerary, 13 flights, 2 bus journeys through Cambodia, sunrises caught in airports, a Christmas celebrated in Phnom Penh, walks through the most beautiful places in Southeast Asia, a layover in India, dozens of soups and plates full of rice, moments of peace and disconnection. It was the adventure of our lives, lived at the highest intensity!
It is almost impossible to highlight in just a few words, even 10,000 words, everything we experienced on this journey, but I wish to start the story from "once upon a time" and tell you how we planned this trip, what itinerary we chose for the 40 days in Asia and how much the entire adventure cost.
I suppose that, if you clicked on this article, you are already wanting to get on your own adventure through Southeast Asia (so I don’t need to tell you that it will be the coolest trip you’ve ever done) and that you need some tips. Well, this article I think will shed some light.
40 Days in Asia – Organization, Itinerary, and Budget
I begin by saying that I intentionally chose the word "Asia" because we did not embark on that "standard" Southeast Asia tour, but thought that these 40 days should be about the journey and not just the destination. Our destination, Vietnam, was only reached after two weeks of wandering through the Middle East and a layover in India. Once in Vietnam, we stuck to the plan we had outlined years ago, and then the journey home took another 15 days, with the necessary stops.
I try to structure this article as well as possible so that I can offer you all the information you need when you start planning a longer vacation in Asia. The first thing you need to do is make a list of the steps you need to follow. I have an Excel sheet for every major trip I plan, and there I note everything.
Planning a Trip in 7 Steps
- Determine the duration and period of the trip.
- Calculate a budget (estimate).
- Sketch an itinerary (on paper).
- Check the travel conditions in each country (question: "Do I need a visa for country X?").
- Purchase plane tickets.
- Book accommodations.
- Apply for visas if necessary.
Set the Duration and Period of the Trip
The first thing you need to do is to set the period and duration of the trip. As for the period, it is recommended to visit Asia between November and March. The temperatures are more pleasant, the rainy season is over, and the weather is perfect for exploring. Keep in mind that December and January are peak tourism months in Southeast Asia, and prices may be a bit higher than in other months.
When it comes to the duration of the trip, those who do not have remote jobs (like us) need to consider several factors. It all starts by checking how many vacation days you have left, as well as what public holidays fall within the chosen period (December and January are rich in holidays).
We always take advantage of these days to extend our vacation. It is very important to establish from the beginning how much time you have available, because based on that you will decide when to leave, where you will go, and how long you will stay in each country.
In our case, we had 45 days available, from December 1 to January 13. After much research, we managed to establish an itinerary for 40 days and an estimated budget.
Calculate an Estimated Budget
After some online research, we establish an estimated budget. We decide on an amount we are willing to spend—the "Travel Budget"—then we do some simulations on Skyscanner and Booking.com to see what the prices for flights and accommodations are. After that, based on our research, we divide the budget into categories. I mentioned that we never budget by day because some days we spend more, others less. The budget division looks like this:
- Transport
- Accommodation
- Tourist Attractions
- Visas
- Other expenses (food, medical insurance, internet SIM card, etc.)
Also, in an Excel sheet, we allocate a sum for each category. In the end, it turned out that the budget for tourist attractions was higher than we anticipated, and the one for accommodation much less than we thought. All things considered, when we draw the line, it turns out that our estimates were good and that we did not exceed the set budget.
Our Budget
Flights: For flights, we estimated a higher budget than what we actually spent. We had a total of 13 flights, averaging 80 euros per flight per person (we had estimated 100 euros per person). The fact that we flew only low-cost on short distances helped. The longest flight was Abu Dhabi-Budapest (5 hours), and the shortest was Jeddah-Riyadh (55 minutes). We booked the plane tickets well in advance, with the first tickets from Milan to Istanbul to Jeddah purchased in August 2022. All flights cost us around 2000 euros.
Accommodation: We saved the most money on accommodation. Initially, we estimated a budget of 40 euros per night for 2 people, but most accommodations cost us between 6 and 20 euros per night. The most expensive accommodations were in Abu Dhabi Airport (110 euros per night), Saudi Arabia (between 30 and 50 euros per night), in Dubai (60 euros per night), and in Kuala Lumpur (50 euros per night). On the opposite end, the cheapest accommodation was in India (6 euros per night for a double room), followed by Cambodia (10 euros per night) and Vietnam (between 7 and 20 euros per night). In the end, the average was 27 euros per night for at least 3-star hotels and good apartments. In total, 40 nights of accommodation cost us 1080 euros.
Tourist Attractions: Here we estimated 500 euros, but in the end, we realized that all activities cost us 688 euros for two people. During our 2-day layover in New Delhi, we opted for a private tour to the Taj Mahal (80 euros) and a tour in New Delhi (37 euros). The day trip to Ha Long Bay cost us 83 euros, while the tour in the Mekong Delta cost 45 euros. In addition to these tours, we also considered entry fees to various tourist attractions and museums.
Other Expenses: This category includes UBER transportation in Saudi Arabia, public transport in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai, food, SIM cards, essential travel insurance, tips, and shopping. Since we traveled with just one backpack per person, we had to visit laundries in Vietnam and Cambodia. Generally, we paid 1 USD for each kilogram of clothes.
All costs mentioned are for 2 people.
As I said, it's extremely important to establish a budget as soon as the idea of a longer trip arises. You are the one who knows best how to plan your budget, and everything we write here are just reference points. Costs vary from one traveler to another and are based on both the budget and individual preferences.
When planning your budget, try to read as many travel blogs and specialist websites as possible. It's good to put everything on paper and even allocate a sum of money for unforeseen expenses (I'm not just referring to medical ones here).
The budget is also influenced by the countries you wish to visit:
- Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates are more expensive*
- Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia are more budget-friendly destinations*
*I made this classification based on the costs we had in these countries. I considered accommodation, transport, and food expenses.
Sketch an Itinerary (on paper)
The most challenging part is establishing an itinerary. If you're visiting any part of the world for the first time, it's normal to want to see as many places as possible from as many countries as possible. And Asia is very tempting in this respect. We knew we had 40 days and that the furthest destination in Asia would be Vietnam.
On the initial list, from three years ago, we had Laos, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines, in addition to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. However, this time, our plan looked completely different. Although we wanted to visit all the countries mentioned above, we had to leave something for future vacations.
Our itinerary was based on three things: 1) We wanted to reach Vietnam; 2) We had a limited budget (if we went directly to Vietnam, the price of a one-way ticket exceeded 800 euros per person); 3) Saudi Arabia was our obsession.
Thus, we found some good-priced plane tickets to Jeddah, and from there, the destination was decided based on "the cheapest available plane ticket to East Asia." From Saudi Arabia, we flew to Dubai, and from Dubai, we went to India. After two days in India, we flew to Da Nang.
And our journey looked like this:
- 8 days – Saudi Arabia
- 4 days – Dubai
- 2 days - India
- 10 days – Vietnam
- 6 days – Cambodia
- 10 days – Kuala Lumpur
- 1 day – layover in Abu Dhabi
Saudi Arabia - Although I wanted us to stay a bit longer in Saudi Arabia to reach Al Ula, the flights did not align, and after 8 days exploring the two major cities of Arabia, we flew to Dubai. I have written a complete guide for Saudi Arabia, which you can read here.
Dubai - is the place we fell in love with and plan to visit again soon. We first arrived in Dubai during a layover, and then we promised we would return and stay for 2-3 days. We spent four days in Dubai and it was one of the few destinations where we did not want to be tourists. In Dubai, we did not chase tourist attractions, did not go on a desert safari or yacht rides, we did nothing of what we would normally do. We enjoyed Dubai differently...and it was extraordinary.
India - I have always said that I am not ready to visit India and that we would postpone a possible vacation there as long as we can. Well, the cheapest way to get from Dubai to Vietnam was through New Delhi or Mumbai. And we thought it would be a shame to just have a few hours layover and not leave the airport. With this crazy idea, we took two separate plane tickets (with Air India Express and VietJet) and stayed in New Delhi for 2 days. The goal? To reach the Taj Mahal. At one point, we had the idea to go further, to Mumbai and Kolkata, but the Universe conspired and did not let us turn our madness into a harsh reality. We spent 48 hours in New Delhi, visited a small part of the city, and made it to the Taj Mahal.
Vietnam - we had 6 places to visit in Vietnam, and to carry out our plan we chose to stay for 10 days. We flew from New Delhi to Da Nang with Vietjet (the ticket cost us quite little - $100/person). We spent a few days in Da Nang, visited Hoi An and the Golden Bridge. Then we took a domestic flight to Hanoi, went on a trip to Ha Long Bay, and later flew to Saigon.
Cambodia - to get to Cambodia we chose the cheap option: the bus. There are plenty of transport companies that operate the route from Saigon to Phnom Penh, and prices start at 20 euros/person. Since we were in SE Asia, we wanted to try the VIP bus option (something we've only seen in Asia), and the 8-hour journey was easier than we imagined. We spent Christmas in Phnom Penh, and on December 26 we left for Siem Ream, to see the famous Angkor Wat. Another 5-hour journey by minibus where we sat like sardines and three days exploring Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. The two bus trips cost us 45 euros/person.
Kuala Lumpur - we are still surprised that we spent 10 days in Kuala Lumpur and believe we are the only non-full-time traveling tourists who have stayed in Kuala Lumpur for so long. Our plan was to stay for 3 days, over New Year's, and then go either to Bali or Singapore. We had decided to go to Singapore by bus, but after a month of backpacking, we caught a nasty cold with sleepless nights. It was already January 3, and we had been on the road for 34 days at a fast pace (every three days we were in an airport or on a bus), and the cold was the way our bodies switched to "vacation" mode. So, we spent 10 days in Kuala Lumpur, a place where we truly rested. We chose a tourist attraction or a place to visit each day, stayed by the pool, ate, and watched TV. The crazy traveler in me would say we should have gone somewhere, to Bali or Singapore, but reason taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that we are not robots.
Abu Dhabi - a short stop on our way back to Europe.
How to Set a Perfect Itinerary for a Long Vacation in Asia
When you start sketching an itinerary, make a list of all the places (not just countries) you want to visit. Depending on your travel pace, allocate a time interval for each country. It's good to do a bit of research beforehand, but you will see that opinions vary.
Some recommend spending 20 days in Vietnam, while we say we managed well with just 10 days; others suggest staying 15 days in Cambodia, but I think 5 are enough; some advise against rushing through your travels, saying "it's not good," but I tell you that you have the right to travel how you want.
You know your own limits and have your own pace, so use this information as a reference point and choose only what you think fits you best.
Itinerary Ideas for 40 Days in Asia
- Dubai (3 days); Thailand (12 days); Vietnam (12 days); Singapore (3 days); Kuala Lumpur (4 days); Cambodia (6 days)
- Vietnam (12 days); Cambodia (6 days); Kuala Lumpur (4 days); Singapore (3 days); Indonesia-Bali (8 days) + Hong Kong/Sri Lanka/Laos
- Thailand (15 days); Vietnam (15 days); Cambodia (6 days); Dubai (4 days)
The options are numerous, and you can mix and match them. If time allows, take advantage of every layover you have and try the multi-city flight option.
| Spirituality and History | Culinary Journey | Beaches |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Thailand | Sri Lanka |
| Cambodia | Singapore | Indonesia |
| Vietnam | Vietnam | Thailand |
| India | India | Philippines |
| Indonesia | Japan |
Check Travel Conditions for Each Country
Most health restrictions have been lifted, but before moving on to the next step, take a look at the travel conditions for each country on your list.
In short, we tell you where you need a visa, how much it costs, and how to obtain it.
- Saudi Arabia – visa on arrival (VOA) / e-visa = between 480 and 550 SAR
- India – e-visa = between 10 and 25 USD (depending on the duration of the trip)
- Vietnam – VOA / e-visa = 25 USD (for e-visa)
- Cambodia – VOA / e-visa = 35 and 37 USD respectively
- Malaysia – no visa required
- Singapore – no visa required
- United Arab Emirates – no visa required
Buy Plane Tickets
Skyscanner is our reliable helper when planning vacations. On this site, you can compare prices and find the fastest or cheapest options. When you have decided on a flight, I recommend buying the tickets from the official website of the airline operating that flight. Under no circumstances do we recommend buying tickets from intermediary agencies (Go to Gate, cheaptrip, etc.).
How to get to Southeast Asia cheaply?
Direct flights to major cities in Asia are quite expensive, and if you don't want to take a step-by-step approach like we did, the most convenient option is a flight with a layover in Dubai, Qatar, or even Athens. In short:
- Emirates – flight with a layover in Dubai (there's a multi-city option if you want to stay more than 1 day in Dubai)
- Qatar Airways – flight with a layover in Doha
- Scoot – direct flights from Athens to Singapore. We've heard that prices are quite good, but you should know that Scoot is a low-cost airline
- If you want to start your journey in the Maldives or Sri Lanka, Wizz Air is a good option for those on a smaller budget.
For flights within Asia, I recommend the following airlines:
- Air Asia – for flights between Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia
- VietJet and Vietnam Airlines – for domestic flights in Vietnam
- Thai Lion Air – for domestic flights in Thailand
- IndiGo, Air India Express, and SpiceJet – for flights to/from and within India
- Fly Nas – for flights in the Middle East
- Wizz Air – Maldives, Sri Lanka, Middle East
The cheapest plane tickets come with baggage restrictions. Most airlines allow cabin baggage (trolley) with a maximum weight of 8 kg + a personal item (laptop bag/handbag/backpack).
A few things you need to know if you're going to Asia for the first time
- Download the Grab app – it works just like Uber and Bolt, and in some countries, you can even order a tuk-tuk (e.g., in Cambodia, we went to the airport by tuk-tuk).
- Currency exchange – most places only accept cash payments (especially at food stalls and markets). Cambodia officially uses both the US dollar and the riel (it's good to have some dollars on you); in Vietnam, currency exchanges can be found in travel agencies (you get a better exchange rate if you have 100-dollar bills); in Dubai, there is an exchange fee ranging from 3 to 13 dirhams.
- A "type G" plug adapter (the one from the UK) will be useful in the United Arab Emirates, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
- Pack some essential medicines (we had Acetaminophen, Furazolidone, Claritin, Ibuprofen, and Faringosept), as well as a mosquito repellent lotion (Dengue fever is quite common in Indonesia). Don't forget SPF cream either.
- If you stay more than 4 days, I recommend buying a SIM card.
- Read a bit about "tourist scams" so you know how to avoid them.
- If you visit temples, you should know that there is a dress code (long pants/long skirt + a shirt or blouse that covers the shoulders and neckline).
- For a low-cost budget, I recommend using public transport where possible (in Hanoi and Saigon we used public transport to get from the airport to the city center and managed to save 40 euros!).
- Rent a scooter in less crowded areas (Da Nang/Hoi An, Bali, Chiang Mai). I wouldn't ride a scooter in Hanoi or Saigon, but in Da Nang, it was quite pleasant and extremely easy.
- Avoid restaurants with European or American cuisine. Asians don't know how to make pasta, pizza, or burgers, and these restaurants are generally very expensive.
Although we have visited a good part of Southeast Asia and spent a few weeks in this part of the world, we do not consider ourselves experts. I just hope that I have managed to shed some light online and that the information we gathered during our two trips through Asia will truly be useful to you.
We wish you a beautiful adventure in this corner of the world, to enjoy good weather, delicious food, smiles, and unique experiences.
