Greatest Adventures Series: Backpacking through Southeast Asia

The Greatest Adventures is where we talk about some of our favorite outdoor destinations. Destinations that take tourism to the next level. While we believe that adventure can be found even when walking in your own city, this series is particularly focused on adventures found in the great outdoors. 

Backpacking around the world is some of the most daunting adventures. Chances are, you would be visiting countries with languages you do not speak. You might be even traveling with a very limited budget. The great thing about backpacking is that all those are part of the fun. There is something so adventurous in letting some things out of your control. It is incredibly liberating, feeling like you are going just where the wind takes you. Now, if you are looking for some ideas for backpacking, look no further than Southeast Asia. 

What you need to know about the Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a cluster of countries South of China. Not to be confused with South Asia or East Asia as those two are two completely regions within Asia. While Southeast Asian countries, namely: Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, East Timor, Brunei and Singapore, are often blanketed as one region, each of these nations have their own unique culture. They have different languages, norms, superstitions, history, and qualities.  

Southeast Asian countries are also mostly categorized as Developing Countries, except, perhaps, for Singapore. This is largely brought by hundreds of years of colonization, war, conflict, and natural disasters. A lot of these countries, however, developed and capitalized on the natural beauty of their nations to attract tourists. This makes tourism a vital part of their economies. 

Due to the geolocation of these nations, some of these countries lie in incredibly vulnerable areas on the planet. The Philippines and Indonesia, for instance, are within the Pacific Ring of Fire. This means that there are lots of active volcanoes in the area. These areas are also prone to tectonic movements underground. This geological activity is primarily what makes these nations archipelagic. 

While this comes with a lot of disadvantages, this ‘vulnerability’ also allowed the Philippines and Indonesia to have more islands. More islands also means more coastlines. The sight of the volcanoes in these areas can be pretty spectacular as well. 

Now, where to go? 

Obviously, the Southeast Asian region is big and there are a lot of countries within it. Typically, backpackers would only visit Southeast Asian countries that are on the mainland. These are Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, etc. These countries are connected to each other by land. You, therefore, can travel through buses and trains. This also makes it cost efficient as opposed to traveling by plane all the time. 

However, some would argue that Southeast Asian backpacking would not be complete without Indonesia or the Philippines. Now, the Philippines and Indonesia are considered Southeast Asia in terms of maritime distance. They are not connected by land so you would have to specifically ride a plane to visit them. This can take away some of that rustic ‘backpacking’ experience. 

We would, however, argue that it is worth it. The Philippines and Indonesia offer some of the most spectacular coasts. Shorelines you would simply not find in other parts of Southeast Asia. 

What to do?

Depending on what you are into, there are many ways around Southeast Asia. For instance, if you are specifically looking for the best tropical beaches, you may want to focus more on Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. If you are looking for a more historical-cultural experience, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand would be your ideal destinations. It really depends on what you want to do and what you want to see. Like we said, these destinations offer unique features that you just have to plan around on. 

Just don’t assume that seeing one Southeast Asian country is equivalent to seeing them all. Southeast Asia is a spectacular region. We really believe backpacking at least once around it should be on everyone’s bucket list.