10 unmissable things to do in Southeast Asia
and then some
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After spending three months biking, swimming, and eating my way through Southeast Asia, I thought I’d round up all the activities that made me feel most alive, joyful, and excited to BE HERE. The things that made my heart sing! I present to you: 10 itinerary ideas for this sparkly, turquoise corner of the world.
1. The Gibbon Experience, Laos
When I was younger, I used to dream about living in the jungle, befriending tigers and swinging from vines like Mogli. Nestled in the heart of Northern Laos, The Gibbon Experience comes pretty close.
On this multi-day ecotourism experience, we slept in treetops and zip-lined over green valleys, surrounded by sounds of the jungle: crickets and birdsong and a million different animal calls that seemed to say, “We’re here! We’re alive!” Each morning, we ate breakfast as the sun rose above the trees; at night, we watched the sunset yield to twinkling stars. Possibly the best part is that proceeds from ticket sales help fund conservation efforts, so your Jungle Book dreams benefit, well, the jungle!
2. Sa Sa Sunset Dinner Cruise, Laos
Laos captured my heart for a billion reasons. Reason One: for $20, you can enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Mekong River, complete with a seven-course sampling menu of local cuisine. Lit with the soft glow of paper lanterns, the boat allowed us to savor views of sunset behind the mountains. For dinner, we ate fish steamed in banana leaves, crispy pork wrapped in lemongrass, deep-fried river weed (tastier than it sounds!), and of course, because it’s Laos…sticky rice.
3. Thai Farm Cooking School, Thailand
At Chiang Mai’s Thai Farm Cooking School, students are whisked away to learn the secrets of Thai cuisine. On a humid afternoon, our group piled into a minivan, stopping briefly at a local market where our instructor introduced us to key ingredients in the Thai flavor palette: fish sauce, palm sugar, coconut milk. At the farm, we gathered Kaffir lime leaves, red peppers, lemongrass…and then we tied our aprons and cooked.
As night fell, we simmered, chopped, and coaxed our dishes to life: green curry, tom kha, pad thai, mango with sticky rice…the meal of my dreams, basically. We left with full bellies, but more importantly, more wildly in love with Thai food than ever.
4. Baan Kang Wat Craft Market, Thailand
When I stumbled upon this artisan craft market, I fell in love. Here, you might find misshapen ceramics, hand-sewn linen shirts, small-batch soaps, iced chai tea, watercolors, handcrafted jewelry…every piece is unique, and you can usually meet the maker behind their desk or arranging items on the shelves. They offer workshops and D.I.Y. sessions, so everyone can join in the creating!
5. Karsa Spa, Bali
I love spas. Add in some rice fields, lily ponds, a flower bath, the peaceful sticky heat of the tropics…could it get any better?! Probs not.
Ubud’s Karsa Spa offers a luxurious menu of massages and spa treatments; we opted for a couples massage and flower bath, and were greeted with cucumber water and hot towels. We emerged feeling the most relaxed, pampered, and squeaky-clean we’ve ever been…anddd covered head-to-toe in petals.
6. Garden of Eden Jewelry, Laos
A haven for hand-made crafts, Luang Prabang offers workshops in bamboo weaving, knife making, wood carving…and for us, jewelry making. Garden of Eden is an artisan jewelry shop popular for its unique necklaces, bracelets, and rings, but even more so for its free jewelry making classes that run each hour. Paying only for the cost of materials, students can create their own custom pieces, sitting beneath treetops along the riverbank.
7. Renting motorbikes, Bali
Given the lack of street lights and traffic signs, learning to drive a motorbike in Bali was *slightly* intimidating — not to mention that they drive on the opposite side of the road — but if I can emerge unscathed, you absolutely can too! It’s so worth it: riding a motorbike is your ticket to off-the-beaten path adventures all over Southeast Asia. We rode our bike through rice paddies, under paper lanterns, to waterfalls, down secret alleyways…when jet lag woke us up at 5:00am, we snuck out to ride in the cool morning air and watch the sky fade from pink to blue. Embrace the bike!
8. Renting bicycles, Vietnam
For a slower-paced adventure? Bicycles. In Vietnam, we cycled amid the bluest of skies and greenest of fields, marveling at puffy white clouds and sprays of teeny white flowers that covered the countryside. We peddled out to grazing cows, rivers, rice farms…peaceful quiet punctuated by the occasional students waving hello! (If you rent bikes in Hội An, make sure to treat yourself to lunch at Quán Ben Xua, a floating bamboo restaurant.)
9. Tailor-made clothes, Vietnam
Hội An is famous for its inexpensive, high-quality tailor shops, where you can let your fashion dreams run wild: dresses, suits, jumpers, skirts, made of linen, silk, satin, cashmere…the sky is truly the limit. I ordered two skirt-top sets and a pair of linen shorts; the ladies at 41 Tailor took my measurements and delivered the made-to-order pieces 24 hours later. They were gorgeous. And cost less than $100 all together. I’d go back and overhaul my whole entire wardrobe if I could. Sigh.
10. Scuba diving, Thailand
Before giving it a try, I was hesitant about diving: as much as I like the water, I did not like the thought of being sixty feet below, harnessed to an air tank, looking like a tasty snack to certain marine animals with fins.
But I’m so glad I took the plunge (ha-ha) because it was *magical*!!! When you dive, you’re suddenly eye-to-eye with an underwater rainbow of shimmering scales and pearly corals. The only sounds you hear are the swish of the water, your breath in and out. You are weightless. The whole experience is profoundly peaceful and relaxing.
Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places in the world to get a scuba license. I did mine with Aphrodive, a local Thai-owned scuba school with a cozy, laid back, family feel, but there are more than 70 dive schools on the island suited to any and all needs!
plus some runner-ups
adventures that deserve a spotlight too!
Above Laos Hot Air Balloon Adventure, Laos
I’ve always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon; this tour was incredible! We spent an hour floating in the sky, peering over the sides of our basket at green mountains jutting out of flat farmland. Unfortunately, we ballooned in March, which is burning season in Laos and Northern Thailand; the smoky skies slightly clouded our views of sunrise. It was still awesome, but probably best at a different time of year.
Into The Wild Elephant Camp, Thailand
Elephants are majestic creatures. Hanging out with them in Thailand was so special. Into The Wild is run by a team of vets and animal lovers who created the camp as a refuge for rescued elephants that can roam free in acres of forest, swim in the natural lakes, and are fed lots (lots!!!!!) of bananas, rice, and other treats by visiting tourists. I’m not the hugest fan of group tours, but this was so, so worth it.
The Ha Giang Loop, Vietnam
Northern Vietnam’s famous motorbike loop winds through stunning scenery: emerald mountains, turquoise rivers, miles and miles of sky.
Driving the steep, curvy roads alone can be sketchy, so most people opt to join a tour; I drove with Jasmine Hostel, one of the most popular operators. There were almost one hundred people in our group, though, and with so many people to coordinate, there was little room for spontaneity. (For me, that’s half the fun of road trips!) If you want to party and ride the loop with minimal effort, book with Jasmine! Otherwise, I’d choose a smaller hostel or go it alone.
...plus some more travel tips
Some of my favorite places to bicycle in Vietnam: Hue, Hội An, Cat Ba, and Ninh Binh (stunning scenery, gentle slopes)
Generally, I spent more time in the North than the South of Vietnam, where there are more outdoor adventures to be had. Go hiking in SaPa if you can!
My favorite islands in Thailand: Koh Tao and Koh Lanta (I skipped the more popular ones…many Thai islands have a reputation for tourists and crowds, so if you’d like to avoid them, check out these two chilled-out beauties)
If you’re in Laos, spend a few days in Nong Khiaw; I’ve heard it’s got amazing hiking and kayaking. Also, the Thakhek motorbike loop!
We really enjoyed Nusa Penida, a peaceful island close to Bali. The scramble down to Kelingking Beach is not for the faint of heart, but veryyy worth it.
Places I’m saving for next time: Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore…always so much more to explore!
The time I spent in Asia, and the people I met, take up a special place in my heart. More than anything, these travels reminded me that life’s most beautiful moments can’t really be planned; they prefer to bubble up spontaneously, magically. We just have to pay attention.
Xoxo,
Eden
Great stories. Sounds like a wonderful time.