This is how a 14-day backpacking trip with kids to 8 Southeast Asian cities looks like
Let’s go fly away
Planning a 14-day backpacking trip with the family can be tricky. It’s not just about deciding where to go and how much time to spend in each place. The toughest part? Timing your transportation plans and booking them ahead of time. Here’s a quick look at our two-week itinerary that covered four countries (Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Singapore) and eight cities (Kuala Lumpur, Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Bangkok, Malacca, Johor Bahru and Singapore):
Day 1
Journey Begins
Cebu to Kuala Lumpur
3:05 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. (AirAsia)
KLIA2 to KL Sentral
7:10 p.m. to 9 p.m.
(Private car)
KL city tour
Check out Petronas Towers at night
Overnight Kuala Lumpur
Easy Hotel KL Sentral (Agoda)
110, Jalan Tun Sambanthan
Day 2
Kuala Lumpur Stop
(Story here)
Explore Kuala Lumpur
Hop on Go KL City Bus
Walk along KL’s tourism belt
Visit Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Overnight Kuala Lumpur
Easy Hotel KL Sentral
Day 3
Start of Laos Leg
Vientiane and Vang Vieng
(Click here: Why Laos)
Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane
7:25 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. (AirAsia)
Vientiane to Vang Vieng
12:40 p.m. to 4:20 (Private van)
Explore Vang Vieng
Walk around neighborhood
Watch Karst Mountains at Nam Song River
Overnight Vang Vieng
Abby Boutique Guesthouse (Agoda)
Sengsavang, Viengkeo
Day 4
Vang Vieng
Explore Vang Vieng
Climb Tham Chang Cave
Caving and bathing at Tham Phu Kham Blue Lagoon
Overnight Vang Vieng
Abby Boutique Guesthouse
Day 5
Luang Prabang
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
(Private van)
Explore Luang Prabang
Sightseeing by bike
Night market
Overnight Luang Prabang
Villa Ban Phanluang (Agoda)
Old Bridge, Nam Khan River
Day 6
Tour Luang Prabang
Explore Luang Prabang
Temple and museum hopping
Climbing Mount Phou Si
Mekong River cruise
Overnight Luang Prabang
Villa Ban Phanluang
Day 7
Luang Prabang
Explore Luang Prabang
Witness Alms Giving Ceremony
Elephant bathing
Bathing in Kuang Si Waterfalls
Overnight Luang Prabang
Day 8
Luang Prabang
Explore Luang Prabang
Walk around neighborhood
Luang Prabang to Bangkok
4:45 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.
(AirAsia)
Overnight Bangkok
(Airbnb)
Day 9
Bangkok Leg
Explore Bangkok
Temple hopping
Chatuchak Market on a weekday
Ferry ride on Chao Phraya River
Overnight Bangkok
(Airbnb)
Day 10
Start of Malaysia Leg
Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur
10 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.
(AirAsia)
KLIA2 to Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal
1:20 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. (KTB Citiliner Bus)
Explore Melaka at night
St. Paul’s Church and Cemetery
Christ Church Melaka
Overnight Melaka
(Airbnb)
Day 11
Melaka
Explore Melaka
Malacca River Quayside Square
Jonker Walk
Melaka Sentral to JB Sentral Bus Terminal
3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Bus)
JB Sentral to Bandar Medini
7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Taxicab)
Overnight Johor Bahru
Afiniti Residences (Airbnb)
Bandar Medini
(Airbnb)
Day 12
Johor Bahru
Whole day in Legoland Malaysia
Overnight Johor Bahru
Afiniti Residences
Day 13
Singapore Leg
Mall of Medini to JB Sentral
7:20 a.m. to 8 a.m. (Causeway Link Bus)
Explore Singapore
Gardens by the Bay
Marina Bay
Overnight Singapore
Champion Hotel (Agoda)
60 Joo Chiat Road, East Coast
Day 14
Singapore
Singapore to Cebu
8:20 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. (TigerAir)
Home!
(Keep posted for more itineraries and stories of this two-week, four country backpacking journey with the family…)
