Asia Backpacking Route (23 Destinations For The Best Asia Itinerary)

Last Updated: July 26 2021

Travelling around Asia is something else, and we would go back in a heartbeat. We spent 3 years saving up for the trip of a lifetime and it was probably one of the best decisions we ever made. After years of researching the destinations we wanted to visit, we came up with the perfect Asia backpacking route.

In this blog post, we are going to go through 23 destinations that you need to include on your Asia itinerary. This saves you a tonne of research, and will also give you an idea of where you want to visit. These are the places that we would return to first, and are the ones you don’t want to miss!

Backpacking through Asia is an incredible experience. Every country has something different to offer, and there are so many unique experiences out there for you. We hope this list gives you some travel inspiration and makes you want to visit this incredible part of the world.

The Ultimate Asia Backpacking Route

We started our journey in Singapore and travelled to 8 different countries throughout Asia. There are so many different Asia backpacking routes out there, so you have to find the one that’s right for you!

The Top Destinations For Your Asia Backpacking Route

There are so many incredible destinations to choose from when visiting Asia. We have compiled a list of the places we think you just have to visit!

If you are looking for cheap places to visit in Asia, then every one of these places will fit your budget! We travelled through Asia on a tight budget, so we know its important to keep the costs down. Having said that there is an opportunity to stay in luxury in all of these places.

Here are the destinations you should add to your Asia backpacking route, in no particular order.

Canggu, Bali

Canggu is a gorgeous seaside resort town located in Bali, Indonesia. It is famous for its amazing beaches, chilled out vibes and plenty of cool places to eat. The surrounding area is made up of lush rice paddies so there is plenty to explore.

Canggu was our favourite place on this beautiful island and is a must for any Bali itinerary! There is something special about sitting on a beach at night watching the beautiful sunset, with a drink in hand and local bands playing in the background.

It is because of these relaxing vibes that we fell in love with the place. There are also plenty of restaurants, markets and shops to keep you busy. Surfing is also really popular here, however, we were useless at it haha!

Things to do in Canggu

• Have a go at surfing
• Relax at The Lawn beach lounge
• Get a Bintang or coconut at the beach and watch the sunset
• Take a look around the shops and markets
• Eat at Old Man’s bar & restaurant

Where to stay in Canggu

June Guest House- We paid £11 a night for a double room.

Manali, India

Manali is a town in Northern India, found high up within the Indian Himalayas. It is the perfect place to avoid the chaos of the big cities such as Delhi and Agra. This town is beautiful, and we felt completely at peace here.

We travelled to Manali in April, and there were snow-capped mountains as far as the eye could see. There are plenty of walks to do including visiting the nearby waterfalls and national parks.

If you hike through the Manali wildlife sanctuary, you have a chance of seeing leopards, bears and hyenas. For that reason, it is best to hire a guide haha!

It’s crazy to say that we have hiked in the Himalayas now! In our opinion, Manali is a must for any Asia backpacking route. It is one of the best places we visited in Asia, and we wouldn’t hesitate to go back!

Click HERE to read our ‘The best places to visit in Manali (the Indian Himalayas)’ blog post.

Things to do in Manali

• Hike in the animal sanctuary
• Jogini Falls
• Watch the sunrise over the mountains from your balcony
• Head to Nehru Kund to see Shanag Bridge
• Hike along the Beas river
• Go paragliding or skiing

Where to stay in Manali

Manali Top Inn & Cafe- We paid £10 a night for a double room, breakfast and a balcony.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Ninh Binh is known for its world-famous limestone caves. There are plenty of spots to visit in Ninh Binh, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

Mua Caves is one of the main places and is surrounded by lush rice paddies. If you walk up to the top you can get an incredible view of all the surrounding limestone caves. They are as far as the eye can see. There is also a famous dragon statue found at the top of Mua Caves.

Tam Coc is also very impressive, and we would recommend visiting here too. You can take a boat trip through the limestone caves, and get to see them up close.

Click HERE to read our ‘Visiting Ninh Binh – a must-see destination in Vietnam’ blog post.

Things to do in Ninh Binh

• Take a boat trip in Tam Coc
• Hike to the top of the Mua Caves
• Explore the surrounding rice paddies

Where to stay in Ninh Binh 

Phuong Thao Homestay- We paid £8.50 a night for a double room and breakfast.

Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Mirissa is a seaside town located in Southern Sri Lanka. It is perfect for relaxing, whale watching and exploring.

The Instagram famous ‘Coconut Hill’ is found here, just off the main beach. It is a beautiful hill perched on the Indian ocean with endless palm trees. It overlooks Mirissa Bay and you can see sea turtles swimming in the ocean from here.

Mirissa is well known for its whale watching tours and is one of the best places in the world to see Blue whales. We were out on the ocean for several hours and were super lucky! We saw two blue whales, a pod of pilot whales and lots of dolphins. If you want more information on whale watching in Mirissa, you can read our blog post HERE.

Parrot rock is also a popular spot and is found on Mirissa beach. You can see the whole of Mirissa from the top and we saw baby blacktip reef sharks swimming in the reef below.

Click HERE to read our ’11 great things to do in Mirissa (a must for any Sri Lanka itinerary)’ blog post here.

Things to do in Mirissa

• Go on a whale-watching tour
• Climb up Parrot Rock
• Relax at the beach
• Visit Coconut Hill
• Snorkel with turtles

Where to stay in Mirissa 

Sun Hopes- We paid £8 a night for a double room near the beach.

Kinabatangan River, Borneo

Kinabatangan River is located within the state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. It is one of the most incredible places in the world to see wildlife.  So, of course, it was a must for our Asia backpacking route!

This river is home to lots of endangered species including the Borneon Orangutan, Pygmy elephants and the unique Proboscis monkeys! If you want to go on the river cruises here, then you will be staying in Sukau.

Whilst staying in Sukau we went on multiple cruises and had the most amazing experiences. We saw a huge male Orangutan on our first cruise, and he was beautiful! We also saw langurs, pig-tailed macaques and crocodiles during our stay here. Going on a Kinabatangan River cruise is one of the best things to do in Borneo!

Click HERE for our ‘Kinabatangan River cruise on a backpacker’s budget’ blog post.

Things to do in Sukau

• River cruises in the morning, afternoon and nighttime.
• Jungle walks
• Go on a midnight walk

Where To Stay In Sukau

Sukau Backpackers B&B-  We paid £13 a night for a double room and breakfast.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is a very special city. There are plenty of things to do here including the Perdana Botanical Gardens, KL Forest Eco Park and the street art locating near Bukit Bintang.

One of the most popular things to do in Kuala Lumpur is, of course, the famous Petronas Towers. You can get a great view of them from KLCC Park and there is a shopping mall located here too.

Another great place to visit is Batu Caves, which is a Hindu religious site located just outside the city centre. Here you will see the 3rd largest Murugan statue in the world, which is painted in gold. There is also a multicoloured staircase which leads up to a large cave temple.

Another great thing to do here is to take a day trip to the nearby city Melaka. The beautiful Melaka Straits Mosque is found here and is definitely a sight to put on your list.

Click HERE for our ‘Epic Kuala Lumpur itinerary (the places you need to visit)’ blog post.

Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

• Batu Caves
• The Petronas Towers
• KL Forest Eco Park.
• Bukit Bintang street art
• Eat plenty of street food
• Go on a day trip to Melaka

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur

Amethyst Love Guesthouse-  We paid £12 a night for a double room and shared bathroom on the art street.

Pai, Thailand

Pai is a beautiful town located high in the mountain region of Northern Thailand. The scenery up in this part of Thailand is beautiful, and Pai is no exception.

This little town is very unique and peaceful, and the place to visit if you want to relax. Most of the places to stay in Pai are unique small wooden huts which have hammocks outside. They are perfect to unwind, and a great touch.

We hired a bicycle so we could explore as there is plenty to see. Some of the best locations include the Bamboo bridge, Pai Land split and Phra That Mae Yen (the White Buddha).

Click HERE for our ‘9 best things to do in Pai, Thailand (Where you need to visit)’ blog post.

Things to do in Pai

• Bamboo Bridge
• The Pai Land Split
• Check out the dragon bridge
• Eat at Booms Burgers
• Phra That Mae Yen – the White Buddha

Where to stay in Pai

KK Hut- We paid £6 a night for a unique hut for two.

Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia

Koh Rong Sanloem is a small island off the coast of Cambodia. The larger and more popular island of Koh Rong is nearby too if you wanted to visit both. We stayed on this island as it is known to be quieter and more relaxed.

When we think of paradise, we think of Koh Rong Sanloem. If you are dreaming of palm trees, coral reefs and beautiful beaches then this island is for you! It is most certainly one of the best places in Cambodia.

The accommodation here is mostly located on the beach. This means you can wake up to the sound of waves and only have a short walk to jump into the sea. If you are looking for a blissful escape, then Koh Rong Sanloem has to be on your Asia backpacking route!

Whilst travelling, we stayed here for Christmas and it was the perfect way to celebrate. We spent the days around Christmas snorkelling, sea kayaking and soaking up the sun; total bliss!

Click HERE for our ‘Visiting Koh Rong Sanloem – the tropical paradise of Cambodia’ blog post.

Things to do in Koh Rong Sanloem

• Snorkel in the coral reefs
• Kayak around the nearby islands
• Hike to Clear Water Bay
• Relax on the beach

Where to stay in Koh Rong Sanloem

My Way- This accommodation is amazing and the host Alex was incredible. We booked it on Airbnb but can’t find it now. The link will take you to HostelWorld, but the photos are old and she has since renovated so it looks fantastic. It cost us £15 a night for a double room.

Taman Negara Rainforest, Malaysia

Taman Negara is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world at over 130 million years old. This vast rainforest is home to 1000’s of species including the Malayan tapir, sun bear, gibbons, elephants and tigers. If you love wildlife, it is a must for any Malaysia itinerary!

If you are looking to encounter some of the rarer animals, you will need to trek into the jungle for several days. We didn’t do this but there are tour options if you want to do to trek further into the jungle.

Taman Negara was the first rainforest we had ever been to and it was an incredible experience! We spent the day hiking through the jungle and then spent the evenings looking out for wildlife from the hides. We saw plenty of wild boar, monkeys and snakes during our visit.

If you want a wild experience, then Taman Negara is definitely for you! The best place to stay when visiting this rainforest is Kuala Tahan. It is just across the river and is where we stayed.

Click HERE for our ’10 things you need to know before going to Taman Negara’ blog post.

Things to do in Taman Negara

• Spend the day in a hide looking for wildlife
• Take a walk along the canopy walkway
• Check out Teresek Hill
• Get a riverboat to or from Kuala Tahan
• Go on a guided tour
• Stay a night in the national park

Where to stay in Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan)

Tahan Guest House- We paid £9 a night for a double room with a fan.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) is a bustling city found in Southern Vietnam. The city is rich in history and has a colonial presence with a lot of French architecture being found here. Make sure you visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Saigon post office.

Ho Chi Minh was one of our favourite cities in Asia. There is just so much to see and do in this city! The Cafe apartments are a must-see and are a popular attraction. It was an old apartment block and now each apartment has been turned into a different cafe which is pretty cool.

The city was also known as a pivotal place during the Vietnam War. As a result of this, there are great museums in the city that you should check out. One of these is the Vietnam war museum.

Click HERE for our ‘things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’ blog post.

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Cafe Apartments
• The Vietnam War Museum
• Saigon Post Office
• Nhà thờ Tân Định church

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City               

Thuy Huong Homestay- We paid £10 a night for a double room.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and is rich in history; a very sad history. Sitting on the Mekong River, Phnom Penh was once the centre of the horrific Cambodian genocide.

The Khmer Rouge was responsible for killing nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s population at the time. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 – 2 million people were killed in this genocide.

As a result of this, there are a couple of heartwrenching locations in and around Phnom Penh that you need to visit. These include the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which was a school used to imprison and execute people.

These places may sound horrific which they are, however, they are a key part of history. It is something you need to see and learn about to understand.

Click HERE for our ‘All you need to know about S21 prison & the killing fields of Phnom Penh’ blog post.

Things to do in Phnom Penh

• The Killing Fields
• Tuol Sleng Genocide museum
• The Mekong river
• The Royal Palace
• Silver Pagoda

Where to stay in Phnom Penh

B52 Hostel- We paid £9 a night for a double room.

Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Trincomalee is a port city found in the Northeast of Sri Lanka. The main reason we headed to this city was that we wanted to swim with sharks!

Trincomalee has some amazing coral reefs, and one of its inhabitants is the blacktip reef shark. We went on a great boat trip where we got to swim with sharks and sea turtles. We saw around 6 sharks, one of which was around 2m long!

Things to do in Trincomalee

• Go on a boat trip to swim with sharks
• Fort Frederick
• Uppuveli beach
• Koneswaram temple

Where to stay in Trincomalee

Blue Blu Resort- We paid £22 a night for a very nice double room.

Booking.com

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is found in Northern Thailand and was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom until 1558. This city has some pretty incredible temples to explore, including Wat Chedi Luang.

Every November in Chiang Mai the Yee Peng festival (also known as Yi Peng) takes place. It is known as the lantern festival and marks the start of the full moon. To celebrate, the locals light thousands of Chinese lanterns and let them off into the sky.

The locals also make lotus-shaped baskets, which are decorated with candles and flowers and are then placed into the river. Chiang Mai is also popular for the famous Elephant Jungle Sanctuary which is an ethical project to care for elephants.

Click HERE for our ‘Ultimate 3 day Chiang Mai itinerary (backpacking in Chiang Mai)’ blog post.

Things to do in Chiang Mai

• Spend a day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
• Check out Chiang Mai’s Old City
• Wat Chedi Luang
• See the Yee Peng Festival
• Try Khao Soi

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

OYO 391 Pat’s Klangviang Guesthouse- We paid £11 a night for a double room.

Ubud, Bali

Ubud is found in the centre of Bali and is known for its traditional dances and crafts. The town is surrounded by beautiful rice paddies such as the famous Tegalalang rice terrace.

One of the most popular things to do in Ubud is to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. It is home to over 700 macaques and is an experience not to be missed.

We went on a tour of Ubud with a private driver. It cost us £25 for the day to go on a tour of Ubud, and it was worth the money! We visited the local rice terraces, Goa Gajah, and Tegenungan waterfall to name a few.

Click HERE for our ‘Ultimate Ubud itinerary (the 8 best things to do in Ubud, Bali)’ blog post.

Things to do in Ubud

• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
• Tegalalang Rice Terraces
• Tegenungan Waterfall
• Mount Batur viewpoint
• Goa Gajah
• Taman Saraswati Water Temple
• A tour of Pura Lempuyang
• Campuhan Ridgewalk

Where to stay in Ubud

Merthayasa Bungalows- We paid £11 a night for a gorgeous double room, pool and breakfast.

Berastagi, Sumatra

Berastagi is found 1300m above sea level in Northern Sumatra. It is a must-see destination and has two active volcanoes nearby.

Mount Sibayak is an active volcano located in the centre of Berastagi and you can hike up to the crater. There is plenty of sulphur still coming out the vents at the top so it can be pretty smelly!

Mount Sinabung is the other active volcano in the area. This volcano is still very active and since 2010 has erupted multiple times. The government has now moved all the villages within a 5k radius of the volcano to keep people safe.

These villages are known as the abandoned ‘ghost villages’ and can be visited from Berastagi. They look as if they are completely frozen in time and are definitely worth a visit! We visited Sukanalu ‘ghost town’.

Click HERE for our ‘7 best things to do in Berastagi, Sumatra’ blog post.

Things to do in Berastagi

• Hike Mount Sibayak
• Explore an abandoned ‘ghost village’
• Sipiso Piso Waterfall
• Gundaling Hill

Where to stay in Berastagi

Kaesa Homestay- We paid £9 a night for a double room and breakfast.

Sawai Madhopur, India

Sawai Madhopur is where you will find Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambore is one of the best places in India to see Royal Bengal tigers, so it is very popular with nationals and tourists alike.

Although known for its tigers, Ranthambore is home to plenty of other wildlife. This includes sloth bears, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles, monkeys and plenty of deer.

We did two safaris here and were lucky enough to see two wild tigers. The experience was magical, so make sure this place is on your Asia backpacking route.

Click HERE for our ‘Ranthambore safari – seeing wild tigers in India (bucket list experience)’ blog post.

Things to do in Sawai Madhopur 

• Tours of Ranthambore National Park
• Explore Ranthambore Fort

Where to stay in Sawai Madhopur

Travel Soul Bed & Breakfast- We paid £14 a night for a great double room.

Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi is a beautiful island located just off the West coast of Malaysia near Penang. This island is truly paradise, and we would go back again and again.

Langkawi has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you are dreaming of palm tree-lined beaches, clear water and beautiful white sands then this is your place! Pantai Cenang beach and Tanjung Rhur are two of the most beautiful beaches on the island so make sure you visit them!

Apart from beach hopping there are plenty of other sites to see. Make sure you pay a visit to the top of Seven Wells waterfall and have a relax in the pools. The views of Langkawi are insane from here, and we were able to just chill out and watch the eagles fly by.

Click HERE for our ‘Visiting Langkawi – the tropical paradise of Malaysia’ blog post.

Things to do in Langkawi

• Pantai Cenang Beach
• Tanjung Rhu Beach
• The Skybridge
• The Skybridge Cable Car
• Seven wells waterfall

Where to stay in Langkawi

Vila Thai- We paid £10 a night for a double room near the beach.

Hue, Vietnam

Hue is located in central Vietnam and is a city of great importance. It was once the national capital and the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty Emperors.

The city is very popular, and one of the main reasons is the Imperial city. This ancient city is fascinating and has the most amazing architecture. We spent hours exploring as there was so much to see.

The other main attraction in Hue is Ho Thuy Tien. It is an abandoned waterpark that has a dragon aquarium at its centre. If you have Instagram you have probably seen this incredible place already. You often have to ‘bribe’ a security guard to let you in but it’s so worth it!

Click HERE for our ‘Visiting Ho Thuy Tien – Vietnam’s abandoned water park’ blog post.

Things to do in Hue

• The Imperial City
• Ho Thuy Tien
• Thien Mu Pagoda

Where to stay in Hue

Nice Hue Hotel- We paid £10 a night for a stunning double room.

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Sigiriya is an incredible place and one that you must visit. The ancient city of Sigiriya is a UNESCO world heritage site and is very popular with tourists. Here you can find Sigiriya Rock which was formed from the magma of an active volcano.

There is another huge rock here that you can climb called Pidurangala Rock. Sigiriya Rock is the more popular of the two but it is also the most expensive. We hiked up Pidurangala Rock because we were travelling cheap and we got an amazing view of Sigirya Rock at sunrise.

Things to do in Sigiriya

• Sigiriya Rock
• Pidurangala Rock

Where to stay in Sigiriya

Pidurangala View Home Stay- We paid £16 a night for a double room right near Pidurangala Rock.

Lake Toba, Sumatra

Lake Toba is found in Sumatra and is the largest supervolcano in the world. The lake is found within the crater of the supervolcano and has an island the size of Singapore located in the middle. You can stay on the island in the middle which is pretty cool!

It last erupted over 70,000 years ago and it is believed to have caused a global ice age. This lake is a popular destination and has incredible views all around.

The area surrounding Lake Toba is very green, due to the effects of the volcanic ash over time. This makes Lake Toba the perfect place to relax, admire the views and have a swim.

Things to do in Lake Toba

• Hire a scooter to explore
• Swim in the lake
• Eat plenty of good food

Where to stay in Lake Toba

Tuk Tuk Timbul Bungalows- We paid £13 a night for a double room.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and one of the busiest, fast-paced places we have ever visited. The best thing to do in Bangkok is to explore all the magical temples this city has to offer.

Our favourite temple, and probably the most popular one is the Wat Arun complex. The complex is made up of many temples and they are all incredible! Another beautiful temple is Wat Benchamabophit

Bangkok also has plenty of parks, shopping malls and unique spots to explore so give yourself at least a couple of days. Visiting Bangkok is one of the top things to do in Asia when it comes to backpacking, so don’t miss out!

Click HERE for our ‘epic 3 day Bangkok itinerary (the best places to visit)’ blog post.

Things to do in Bangkok

• The Grand Palace
• The Reclining Buddha
• Wat Arun
• Temple of The Emerald Buddha
• Wat Saket
• Wat Benchamabophit

Where to stay in Bangkok

The Rooftop Residence- We paid £12 a night for a double room and breakfast.

Ella, Sri Lanka

Ella is a beautiful town located in the mountain region of Sri Lanka. There are many reasons that Ella should be on your Asia backpacking route. One of these is the incredible hiking options available here. Two of these are Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak, as the views are insane.

The famous Nine Arches bridge is also found here, as well as the Ella to Kandy train. The Ella to Kandy train journey is known as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.  The train ride takes about 7 hours and takes you through tea plantations, forests and villages.

The town itself is very cute and there are plenty of funky shops and places to eat. Ella was one of our favourite places in Sri Lanka and you should definitely pay it a visit.

Click HERE for our ’10 amazing things to do in Ella (the ultimate guide)’ blog post.

Things to do in Ella

• Nine Arch Bridge
• Ella Rock
• Little Adams Peak
• Kandy to Ella train
• Cooking classes

Where to stay in Ella

Ella Green Stay- We paid £12 a night for an excellent double room.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a temple complex found just outside of Siem Reap. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts nearly 2.6 million people every year. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Asia.

Throughout the complex, there are over 1000 temples to explore, so this spot is a bucket list destination for many. Make sure you visit the main temples such as Angkor Wat itself, Ta Phrom and Bayon temple to name a few.

There are 1 day, 3 day or 7 day passes available depending on how long you are staying in Siem Reap. Angkor is one of the best places to visit in Cambodia and a must for any Asia backpacking route.

Things to do in Angkor Wat 

• Angkor Wat
• Ta Phrom
• Bayon temple
• Pre Rup temple
• Victory Gate
• The elephant terrace

Where to stay in Angkor Wat

The ’84 Hotel Siem Reap – £9 a night for a double room.

Booking.com

We hope you have enjoyed this list, and it has given you some travel inspiration for the future. If like us you are travelling on a budget, then there are plenty of cheap places to travel in Asia. Likewise, if you aren’t on a budget there are some really beautiful options for you if you are staying in these destinations.

We had the most incredible trip through Asia, and we would love to go back one day! We hope this post has given you inspiration for your future Asia backpacking route!

Have you been to any of these places? If you have we’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,
Jack & Abbie.

P.S. We post photos of our travels regularly on Instagram which you can find by clicking here!

MORE ASIA BLOG POSTS

Ultimate 2 Week Bali Itinerary (The Best Places To See In Bali)

3 Week Vietnam Itinerary (Ho Chi Minh To Hanoi – The Complete Guide)

Borneo Backpacking Itinerary (Best Things To Do In Malaysian Borneo)

North India Trip Itinerary (The Best Places To Visit In North India)

Backpacking in Sri Lanka (The Ultimate 4 Week Sri Lanka Itinerary)

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Sign up to our mailing list and have the latest tips and newsletters regarding the world of travel sent directly to your inbox.