Beyond the Brochure 📝🤫 A Tropical Tell-All…
Free independent travel is rapidly becoming the preferred way to arrange trips for many adventure-seeking holidaymakers. The abundance of enticing destinations makes the prospect of going it alone even more tempting.
Most of the time though you’ll need something more tangible to work with than glossy photos and armchair observations: Information on real costings, unbiased guesthouse reviews, realistic route planning and detailed local maps. Plan your travel well, and you’ll reduce your costs.
Here are some comprehensive itineraries for extended trips to the tropics. We personally visited every location and establishment mentioned, and offer frank and honest reviews of our experiences. You’ll find its easier than ever to make your travel dreams a reality – as long as you keep an open mind 😉
Cambodia 🌾 A 10-Day Itinerary
Planning a short escape to Cambodia?
Get ready for a journey packed with ancient wonders, dynamic cities, and flavors that will make your taste buds dance. From marveling at the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat to uncovering the history in Phnom Penh and blasting out full metal jacket rounds in the countryside, this itinerary combines culture, adventure, and relaxation in the perfect balance.
Prepare to uncover Cambodia’s treasures one day at a time, but be sure to first check out our Plan, Maps & Budget.
Indonesia 🏝️ Central Java & Karimunjawa
Trade Jakarta’s relentless energy for Central Java’s captivating blend of history and island tranquility, a journey conveniently initiated through Semarang and a boat trip from Jepara.
This Indonesian adventure offers an insight into culture before your feet even touch the soft sands of the Karimunjawa archipelago, a collection of serene islands where the loudest sounds are the gentle lapping of turquoise waves.
Forget the tourist clichés; this is about authentic connections with local life and landscapes that enrich your soul and your photo library – no filters needed.
See our Karimunjawa Travel Plan…
East Malaysia & Borneo 🌅 Islands, Rivers, Jungle
Prepare to lose yourself in the wild heart of East Malaysia and Borneo—a land where ancient rainforests harbor untamed wildlife, rivers wind through misty horizons, and islands boast sandy shores brimming with adventure.
Whether it’s tracking orangutans through the jungle, white-water rafting through the Bornean mountainside, or soaking in the beauty of untouched nature, this corner of the world is a spellbinding escape for those seeking something truly extraordinary.
Let your curiosity lead the way – but be sure to first check out our Plan, Maps and Budget for this 21-day trip.
West India 👳 Kerala to Goa by Plane, Train & Car
This India West Kerala to Goa itinerary spans 31 days, primarily in India, but including 3 short city stays in Rome, Istanbul and Edinburgh. Not bad for just €457 per ticket… and flying with one of the top airlines in the world. Be sure to first check out our Plan, Maps and Budget for this 4½-week round trip.
Island Hopping 🏝️ Phuket to Penang via Langkawi
From Thai Sands to Malaysian Charms: A Whimsical Island Hop
So, you’ve landed in the vibrant chaos of Southeast Asia, specifically Phuket, and you’re contemplating your next move.
What better way to soak up the region’s diverse vibes than by island hopping? Our own four-week Malaysian adventure kicked off with a delightful (and occasionally bewildering) journey from Phuket to Penang, with a crucial pit stop in Langkawi.
Now, you might glance at a map and think, “Oh, they’re practically neighbours!” And you’d be right, geographically speaking. But these three islands are about as similar as chalk and cheese.
Beyond the Brochure 🗺️ Travelling Around Laos
We arrived in Laos armed with a 7-day itinerary that was, in hindsight, a tad optimistic. Our plan involved a whirlwind tour of Vientiane, a jaunt to the spiritual serenity of Luang Prabang, and a pilgrimage to the adventure-laden landscape of Vang Vieng.
We’d envisioned a seamless journey, a tranquil exploration of a country where the only thing you have to worry about is whether to have another iced coffee. What we discovered was that our carefully curated list of ‘must-sees’ was more of a loose suggestion than a firm command.
It was, without a doubt, the most enjoyable sort of organised mess we could have experienced.
Langkawi Long-Term Stay ☀️ 3 Months in Malaysia
Spending several months in Langkawi, Malaysia sounds idyllic—until you realise that paradise comes with its own quirks. Between dodging territorial macaques with a grudge, mastering the art of avoiding beach-going jellyfish, and resigning yourself to the fact that humidity will win every battle against your hair, it’s an experience that’s far from dull.
But if you’re willing to trade predictability for adventure, swap concrete for coconut trees, and let chaotic island life work its strange magic, then Langkawi might just be the absurdly beautiful, occasionally baffling place you never knew you needed.
Philippines Visayas 🗺️🏝️ Cebu & Bohol
The Philippines is a nation of some 7,641 islands. That’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. A truly dreadful fact, if you’re trying to plan a holiday. The sheer scale of the place is less an opportunity and more a logistical nightmare, a tropical torment of endless possibilities.
You can spend weeks poring over maps, trying to chart a course through the archipelago, only to discover that the ferry you need runs once a fortnight, or the one flight is at 3 a.m., requiring a five-hour bus journey to get to the airport.
It’s enough to make you give up and just go to Spain again.
After a few days of staring blankly at Google Maps and muttering to ourselves, we finally landed on an itinerary that felt more like a coherent plan and less like an elaborate obstacle course.
We settled on the Central Visayas, focusing on two of its gems: Cebu and Bohol. It seemed to tick all the boxes: a decent mix of beaches, a bit of jungle, and enough local culture to make it feel like a proper trip, not just a sunbathing marathon.
See our Philippines Travel Plan…
Roundtrip Panama City to Bocas Del Toro
Apparently, Panama is among the top 5 best-rated countries in the world in which to retire. Facts like this, together with the attractions of a tropical climate and the buzz of a Latin American country are hard to ignore. Throw into the mix really cheap flights with Lufthansa from Europe and we were ready to start researching our journey.
Be sure to first check out our Plan, Maps and Budget for this 26-day roundtrip Panama City to Bocas Del Toro.
Tenerife & Gran Canaria with Stopovers in Spain
We put together a 2-week multi-destination itinerary which includes Tenerife & Gran Canaria with stopovers in Spain – the medieval city of Girona and the capital Madrid. It’s quite a lot of travelling for a 14-day trip, but well enriched with a wide variety of locations and potential activities.
Be sure to first check out our Plan, Maps and Budget.
The Ultimate Sri Lanka 🏝️ Central & South Itinerary
Sri Lanka is a land where ancient cities, tea-strewn highlands, and beaches straight out of a postcard all conspire to make you wonder why we ever settled for a soggy weekend in Brighton.
We arrived here thinking we had it all figured out, but the island had other plans. It’s a country that holds history behind every temple wall and where the food possesses enough spice to remind you exactly how fragile human resilience can be. We thought we were prepared; the country, it seemed, was prepared for us.
This guide is your starting point, a comprehensive resource designed to provide an overview of everything this beautiful country has to offer. We’ve compiled all the essential information to help you plan your journey, and we have linked to our more detailed articles for when you’re ready to dive deeper.
See our Sri Lanka Travel Plan…
Bali-Lembongan Combo: A 2-Isle Itinerary 🌊
Dreaming of an island escape but tired of the same old Bali itinerary? Try pairing it with Lembongan—because one paradise clearly isn’t enough.
Bali offers its classic mix of beaches, temples, and yes, tourist crowds, while Lembongan, just a short boat ride away, delivers surf, snorkel spots, and that “wish-you-knew-about-this-earlier” feel. It’s the perfect duo for travelers who crave variety without needing a passport stamp in between.
Just don’t expect luxury resorts on Lembongan—the island prefers its barefoot charm over five-star fuss.
Vietnam & Thailand 🗺️ Travel Itineraries
Vietnam and Thailand are countries characterized by a mix of historical, cultural, economic, and political ties. These countries – despite their distinct identities – share cultural aspects of religion, cuisine, and traditions. Buddhism notably plays a significant role in the culture of both nations.
If you’re visiting South-East Asia, it’s well worth your time to research and include one or more of these destinations in your overall travel plan.
See our Vietnam & Thailand Itineraries…
Plan Your Travel: Travel Your Plan
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