Southeast Asia Uncovered — Self-Launched (Singapore to Chiang Mai)

Land at Changi and take the MRT (East-West Line to Bugis, then Downtown Line) for around £1.20 — or a Grab/taxi at ~£10. Base yourself in a Bugis/Little India hostel dorm to be close to food and transport. Spend the evening at a hawker centre (Maxwell or Tekka) — a full dinner is £3–4.

🚌MRT from Changi ~£1.20

🛏Hostel dorm, Bugis/Little India (£12–18)

• →Changi MRT into town
• →Maxwell or Tekka hawker centre dinner
• →Evening walk around Marina Bay / Merlion

Cross the border overland: take the MRT to Queen Street or a local bus to Woodlands, then the Causeway Link/170 bus into Johor Bahru (about £1.50 including the border formalities). From JB Sentral take an express coach or the local T33/MyBas to Melaka Sentral — roughly 3.5 hours, £6–8. In Melaka, hire a trishaw (RM30/hr, ~£5) with its LED lights and plastic flowers for the Jonker Street loop, and take the short Melaka River cruise (RM25, ~£4.20) at dusk.

🚌Border buses + express coach, ~£8–10

🛏Guesthouse in Chinatown (£9–14)

• →Public 170/Causeway Link bus to Johor Bahru
• →Express coach JB Sentral → Melaka Sentral
• →Melaka trishaw ride
• →Melaka River cruise

Morning exploring Dutch Square, St Paul's Hill and the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum (RM20, ~£3.40). Then take the Delima or KKKL express from Melaka Sentral to KL's TBS terminal — 2 hours, £3–4. Metro into Chinatown or Bukit Bintang. Join a free/cheap walking tour (GetYourGuide has 2-hour city walks from £8) or simply walk the Merdeka Square–Masjid Jamek–Petaling Street loop yourself.

🚌Express bus ~£4 plus LRT ~£1

🛏Hostel dorm, Chinatown/Bukit Bintang (£8–14)

• →Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
• →Melaka Sentral → KL TBS express bus
• →Self-guided colonial/Chinatown walk

Book Petronas Towers observation deck tickets online in advance (RM98, ~£17) for the morning slot, then the Islamic Arts Museum (RM20) — one of the best in Asia. Afternoon at Batu Caves on the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral (RM2.60 each way, free entry). Dinner of nasi lemak and roti canai in Jalan Alor for under £5.

🚌KTM Komuter + LRT ~£2

🛏Hostel dorm, Chinatown/Bukit Bintang (£8–14)

• →Petronas Towers observation deck (pre-book)
• →Islamic Arts Museum
• →Batu Caves via KTM Komuter
• →Jalan Alor street food

Unititi Express or CS Travel run direct KL (TBS) to Tanah Rata coaches, about 4.5 hours for RM35–45 (~£7). The road climbs through jungle and tea estates — sit on the left for views. Settle into a Tanah Rata guesthouse, walk the short Trail 10 loop through mossy forest, and warm up over steamboat dinner (£5).

🚌KL TBS → Tanah Rata coach ~£7

🛏Guesthouse, Tanah Rata (£10–15)

• →Scenic coach climb into the highlands
• →Trail 10 short jungle walk
• →Steamboat dinner in Tanah Rata

Local operators run half-day Mossy Forest + BOH Tea Estate tours from Tanah Rata for RM80–100 (~£15); book through your guesthouse the night before. You get the boardwalk through cloud forest, the Sungai Palas tea factory and a cuppa over the plantation. Add a butterfly/insect farm (RM10) in the afternoon. Alternatively self-drive the loop by scooter (RM50/day) if you're licensed.

🚌Shared tour van

🛏Guesthouse, Tanah Rata (£10–15)

• →Mossy Forest boardwalk
• →BOH Sungai Palas tea estate
• →Butterfly & insect farm

Coach from Tanah Rata to Butterworth (4–5 hours, ~£8), then the free Penang ferry or the 10-minute crossing (RM1.20) to George Town. Check into a heritage shophouse hostel on Lebuh Chulia. Evening: hawker feast at Gurney Drive or Chulia Street — char kway teow, asam laksa, cendol for £4–5.

🚌Coach + ferry, ~£9

🛏Heritage hostel, George Town (£10–16)

• →Tanah Rata → Butterworth coach
• →Penang ferry crossing
• →Chulia Street / Gurney Drive hawker dinner

Do the street-art and clan-house circuit on foot: Khoo Kongsi (RM10), Pinang Peranakan Museum (RM20), Chew Jetty and the Kek Lok Si temple (Grab ~£1.70). For Penang Hill, take public bus 204 to the funicular base and the return train up (RM30). A GetYourGuide food walk (3 hours, £20–25) is the best-value way to eat your way through Little India and Armenian Street.

🚌Bus 204 + Grab ~£4

🛏Heritage hostel, George Town (£10–16)

• →Khoo Kongsi clan house
• →Pinang Peranakan Museum
• →Chew Jetty
• →Penang Hill funicular
• →Optional street-food walking tour

Long travel day done independently: public bus or Grab to Butterworth, then the KTM Komuter to Padang Besar (RM11) where you clear Thai immigration, and a local train or bus on to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai take a minibus/bus to Krabi (5 hours, ~£9). Then a songthaew to Chao Fah pier and a longtail boat across to Koh Klang (return ~£6). Homestays on the island (book direct via Homestay.com/Agoda, £12–18 with dinner) include meals and can arrange the boat.

🚌Komuter + bus/minibus + longtail, ~£18

🛏Koh Klang community homestay (£12–18 incl. dinner)

• →KTM Komuter to Padang Besar border
• →Local bus Hat Yai → Krabi
• →Longtail boat to Koh Klang
• →Village walk and home-cooked dinner

Morning kayak through Koh Klang's mangrove channels with a village guide (RM/THB 400, ~£9) or take a bicycle around the island. Then longtail back to Krabi town and a songthaew/white bus to Ao Nang (£1.20). Base yourself a few minutes off the beach road for cheaper rooms. Afternoon swim at Nopparat Thara, evening beach-bar sunset.

🚌Longtail + songthaew ~£11

🛏Guesthouse, Ao Nang (£12–20)

• →Mangrove kayaking
• →Boat to Krabi town
• →Nopparat Thara beach swim

Book a Klook/GetYourGuide four-island longtail tour (Phra Nang, Tup, Chicken Island, Poda) for £22–28 including lunch and snorkel gear — cheaper if you negotiate a shared longtail at the beach for £15. Or a half-day beginner rock-climbing course at Railay with Real Rocks/Krabi Rock (from £30). Finish with a Thai massage on Ao Nang beach road (£6).

🚌Longtail boat included in tour

🛏Guesthouse, Ao Nang (£12–20)

• →Four-island longtail tour
• →Optional Railay rock-climbing course
• →Thai massage

Beach morning, then a minibus or local bus from Ao Nang to Surat Thani (3 hours, £6–8). Take the evening sleeper from Surat Thani to Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat — second-class aircon sleeper roughly £22–28 booked on the Thai Railways (SRT) app or 12Go Asia a week or two ahead. Bring snacks; the dining car is basic but fun.

🚌Minibus + SRT sleeper ~£30

🛏2nd-class sleeper train (booked separately)

• →Beach morning in Ao Nang
• →Minibus to Surat Thani
• →Overnight sleeper train to Bangkok

Arrive early, drop bags at a Banglamphu/Khao San guesthouse, then walk to Wat Pho (THB 300, ~£6.60) for the Reclining Buddha and a £7 massage at the temple's own school. In the afternoon take a public Chao Phraya Express boat (£0.80) up to Nonthaburi and back, then hire a longtail through the quiet Thonburi khlongs from Tha Chang pier — negotiate THB 1,200 for an hour's private boat (£26) or join a Klook shared khlong tour at £15.

🚌Airport-style bus / boat ~£3

🛏Guesthouse, Banglamphu (£10–16)

• →Wat Pho & Reclining Buddha
• →Chao Phraya Express boat
• →Thonburi khlong longtail boat
• →Traditional massage at Wat Pho school

Grand Palace (THB 500, ~£11) early to beat the heat, then the Museum of Siam or Jim Thompson House (THB 200). Lunch at Or Tor Kor market, afternoon browsing Chatuchak (weekends) or Talad Noi, and a street-food crawl on Yaowarat after dark for under £6. Skip the gem shops entirely.

🚌BTS/MRT/boat ~£3

🛏Guesthouse, Banglamphu (£10–16)

• →Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha
• →Jim Thompson House
• →Yaowarat Chinatown food crawl

Take the public bus from Sai Tai Mai or Mo Chit terminal to Kanchanaburi (2.5–3 hours, £2.50). Rent a bicycle (£2/day) to reach the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Thai–Burma Railway Centre (THB 150) and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Late afternoon, head to a floating rafthouse on the Kwai Noi river (book direct, £12–16 per person including dinner and breakfast) and swim off your veranda.

🚌Public bus ~£2.50

🛏Floating rafthouse on the Kwai Noi (£12–16)

• →Bridge on the River Kwai
• →Thai–Burma Railway Centre
• →War Cemetery
• →Swim from rafthouse

Take the early public bus to Erawan National Park (1.5 hours, THB 60; entry THB 300) and climb the seven tiers of turquoise pools — go early before tour groups. Return to Nam Tok and ride the ordinary Thai railway train back across the Wang Po viaduct and the Bridge (THB 100, ~£2.20), a local commuter train rather than a private charter. Evening back at the rafthouse.

🚌Public bus + SRT local train ~£5

🛏Floating rafthouse on the Kwai Noi (£12–16)

• →Erawan Falls seven tiers
• →Death Railway train over Wang Po viaduct
• →Riverside evening

Bus back to Bangkok's Mo Chit, then a minibus or train north to Ayutthaya (total ~£5). Rent a bicycle (£2) and loop the ruins: Wat Mahathat (the Buddha head in the tree roots), Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset (combined tickets ~THB 250). Sleep in a small guesthouse on the old-city island for £10–14.

🚌Bus + minibus ~£5

🛏Guesthouse, Ayutthaya old city (£10–14)

• →Wat Mahathat
• →Wat Phra Si Sanphet
• →Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset
• →Bicycle loop of the ruins

Morning at the Ayutthaya historical study centre or a longtail boat loop of the island (THB 300). Afternoon train or bus back to Bangkok, then the SRT overnight sleeper north to Chiang Mai (2nd-class aircon, £25–32, booked ahead on the SRT app). Second-class lower berths are the comfortable, sociable choice.

🚌Bus + sleeper train ~£30

🛏SRT sleeper train (booked separately)

• →Longtail loop of Ayutthaya island
• →Transfer to Bangkok
• →Overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai

Arrive early and check into a guesthouse inside the old-city moat (£10–15). Take a red songthaew up to Doi Suthep (THB 60 each way, temple entry THB 30) and walk the 306-step naga staircase. Afternoon Thai cooking class £18–22 (Klook or Mama Noi/Thai Farm — market visit included). Evening: the Sunday Walking Street or Night Bazaar, plus a street-food walk for £5.

🚌Songthaew ~£3

🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Mai old city (£10–15)

• →Doi Suthep temple
• →Thai cooking class with market visit
• →Sunday Walking Street / Night Bazaar

Book a 2-night/3-day trek with a small licensed local operator or via GetYourGuide (£70–95 including guide, meals, homestay nights and bamboo rafting) — this replaces the group's included 3-day trek. Day one: drive north, hike 4–5 hours through forest and farmland, sleep in a Karen village homestay.

🚌Operator songthaew transfer (included)

🛏Karen village homestay (included in trek)

• →Full-day hilltribe trek
• →Karen village homestay
• →Village dinner with host family

Second trekking day, 5–6 hours between villages with a local Karen guide, waterfall stops and lunch in a village. Second night in a different homestay or jungle camp. Bring a headtorch, light long sleeves and cash for village handicrafts.

🚌On foot

🛏Village homestay / jungle camp (included in trek)

• →Village-to-village trekking
• →Waterfall swim stop
• →Village handicraft shopping

Short morning walk to the river, then bamboo rafting downstream (included in the trek package) and a songthaew back to Chiang Mai by mid-afternoon. Shower, then a £6 massage and dinner in the Nimman or old-city lanes.

🚌Included transfer back

🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Mai old city (£10–15)

• →Bamboo rafting
• →Return to Chiang Mai
• →Thai massage

Options: a half-day ethical elephant sanctuary visit (£45–60, book direct with Elephant Nature Park for the best welfare standards — expect to pay more for genuine no-riding ethics), a Thai cooking class, or ziplining. Cheaper alternative: rent a scooter (£5) and ride the Samoeng loop or visit Wat Umong forest temple and Baan Kang Wat artisan village. Last-night dinner at the Night Bazaar.

🚌Scooter or songthaew ~£5

🛏Guesthouse, Chiang Mai old city (£10–15)

• →Optional ethical elephant sanctuary
• →Wat Umong forest temple
• →Baan Kang Wat artisan village
• →Night Bazaar dinner

Songthaew or Grab to the airport (£2–4) for onward flights, or continue north to Pai/Chiang Rai by public minibus if you're extending. International flights home are not included.

🚌Songthaew/Grab to airport ~£3

🛏None (departure day)

• →Departure