Backpacking Southeast Asia: 10 Days in 5 Countries with Just ₱25k (All-In)

Contributed by Lakwatserang Hampaslupa

Planning this entire trip is totally overwhelming. The excitement intensifies once you discover new places to go in the course of your planning. Imagine… 5 countries in 10 days, a total of 6,970 miles. You have to list all the places you want to go, taking into consideration the time allocated in each destination. What you need in this kind of trip is intense research and well of course — a budget, minimal but a conservative one.

People tell me that this trip is impossible. With just 25k? But what can I say? It’s one hell of a budget trip! We really made the most of our resources to fully cram most of the cities’ key highlights. So in this post, I will share with you an overview of our itinerary, breakdown of expenses and some snapshots of our trip. Ready? Here it goes…

Also read: Backpacking Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos & Thailand: 11-Day Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Day 1: Cebu > Manila > Kuala Lumpur

• Flight to Manila (There are direct flights from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur. We opted this setting because the direct flights don’t fall on our desired travel dates. So I bet you can still save further if you’re from Manila or you choose the direct flights.)
• Flight to Kuala Lumpur
• Slept in KL airport (Slept in the airport since we arrived in KL at around 1 am. So, we just have to wait ’til morning to officially start our adventure.)

Day 2: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Bus from KL airport to KL Sentral
• Shower and breakfast in KL Sentral (plus locker for baggage)
• Batu Caves
• Lunch
• National Mosque, Merdeka Square, KL City Gallery, Petronas Towers
• Dinner, shopping
• Back to KL Sentral to get things, then to airport

Inside Batu Caves

National Mosque of Malaysia

Batu Caves

KL City Gallery

Petronas Towers

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

• Flight to Ho Chi Minh (early morning)
• Check-in hostel (Vintage Hostel Saigon- they allowed us to take a shower even if our check-in time is still 1 pm)
• Breakfast/Lunch
• Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, Saigon Opera House
• Dinner, shopping

Notre Dame Cathedral

Saigon Opera House

Day 4: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

• Breakfast
• Bus to Phnom Penh (approximately 6 to 7 hours)
• Lunch
• National Museum of Cambodia, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
• Dinner
• Sleeper bus to Siem Reap

Royal Palace of Cambodia

National Museum of Cambodia

Also read: Perfect Southeast Asia Backpacking Routes for Filipino Couples

Day 5: Siem Reap, Cambodia

• Check-in hotel
• Breakfast/Lunch
• Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Phrom (I really wished to explore more temples and experience the beautiful sunrise but we lacked time. So, better allot 2 or more days in Siem Reap in your future travels)
• Dinner

The Crew

Ta Phrom

Angkor Wat

Bliss Villa

Day 6: Bangkok, Thailand

*Not part of our destination but just a connecting city to our next stop— PHUKET!

• Bus to Bangkok, approximately 7 to 8 hours (some of my friends took a flight to Bangkok; bus is cheaper though)
• Breakfast/Lunch
• Khao San Road (chilling time while waiting for our flight)
• Dinner at Don Muang airport
• Flight to Phuket
• Check-in hotel

Khao San Road

Pad Thai Street Vendor

Day 7: Phuket, Thailand

• Breakfast
• Wat Chalong, Big Buddha
• Lunch
• Patong Beach
• Dinner

Wat Chalong

Patong Beach

Big Buddha

Day 8: Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

• Breakfast
• Khai Nai Island, Monkey Beach
• Buffet lunch at Ton Sai Bay, Phi Phi Don (included in the package)
• Viking Cave, Loh Samah Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay
• Dinner
• Bangla Walking Street

One hell of a ride

Ton Sai Bay, Phi Phi Don

Pileh Lagoon

Maya Bay

Day 9: Singapore

Since it’s already my second time in SG, I opted to go to places that I wasn’t able to visit before. Note that you’ll spend more if it’s your first time, assuming you’ll spend time in Universal Studios and other attractions in Singapore.

• Breakfast
• Early morning flight to Singapore
• Check-in hostel
• Lunch
• Haji Lane, Chinese Gardens
• Dinner

Haji Lane

Japanese Gardens

Chinese Gardens

Day 10: Singapore

My friends went to Universal Studios but I took a trip to Pulau Ubin with my sister.

• Pulau Ubin tour
• Stayed in airport; waiting for the 3 am flight bound to Cebu

Cycling in Pulau Ubin

Hazy Pulau Ubin

So now, let’s talk about the damage done to my wallet. Summarised below is the breakdown of expenses.