If that’s all correct, worth updating the article?

Alex

Thank you for the validation,
I have just purchased a Grayl Ultrapress.

Hi James! Lots of travellers report using both Revolut and Wise for spending and ATM withdrawals without major issues. Have you had some problems? Please let us know!

Thanks for your question… Even if the retreat has filtered water, it’s good to be cautious if you’re 60 and want to avoid getting sick. We’d recommend bringing a filtered water bottle with a purifier (not just a regular filter). The Grayl GeoPress is a great option – it removes 99.99% viruses, bacteria, and other nasties! You can purify the water first, then add electrolytes after – no problem! Wishing you safe travels and enjoy the retreat!

Hi Martin,

I booked my trip through River Junkie and stayed at their Hornbill Lodge. It was a fantastic experience!

I hope this helps with your planning!

Cheers,
Tim

Regards Martin

some photos of my trainers at Pat Fight Night

TIger and San Mig. are indeed brewed in Thailand now.

Wow, burning season has started early this year! It seems to be stretching out longer every single year… Thank you for your comment and advice to other travellers!

Hi Liz,
Sounds awesome! So, Nov-March is generally rainy season in most of Indonesia… Sumatra is actually the Westernmost island of Indonesia and the rainfall there is less compared with Java and Borneo, but it’s still technically rainy season. However, the rain doesn’t necessarily deter the wildlife, i.e. orangutans and actually the rain can make it easier to see the animals… (due to fewer crowds, more plant life etc.) Also, the rain tends to fall in big downpours and generally doesn’t last all day so you can still do treks in the jungle. In Sumatra, the best places to see orangutans in the wild are Gunung Leuser National Park (near Bukit Lawang) and Taman Nasional Gunung Singgalang. If I were you, I’d aim for these places mid-February and you’ve a great chance of spotting orangutans in the wild!

Thanks
Liz

There is more clinching in Kun Khmer. Clinching is where the elbows and knees are used. Muay Thai is phasing clinching out. ONE Lumpinee is phasing it out. They always stop the clinch fighting from continuing.

The How Are You Really? Yoga retreat at Yoga Barn was a breath of fresh air on my travels. Classes were varied and challenging (the FlyHigh was a definite highlight)! Meals were also very tasty and gave the guests a great chance to get to know each other. I stayed in the private room with my partner which offered our own space. The room was clean and comfortable. This retreat felt like a wonderful escape from the stresses of long term travel and gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my body. Definitely recommended!

See above.

Hi Ben, you can get to Khao Lak from Bangkok in various ways. The quickest way is to fly to Phuket (which is the nearest airport – 2 hours away) or Krabi Airport (2.5 hours away) or Surat Thani Airport (3 hours). As Khao Lak is on the mainland, the easiest way to get there from either airport is by minibus. If you prefer not to fly, then you can get the bus or train from Bangkok to Surat Thani (10-13 hours) and then the minibus to Khao Lak.

On the first day, you cruise along stunning limestone jungle landscapes, visit a cave, and take a short walk through the jungle. However, the advertised “hiking” is nothing more than a brief stroll in nature—no trekking experience needed. The accommodation is decent, and swimming in the lake is definitely a highlight that adds value to the experience.

The second half-day is rather skippable and could easily have been left out. All in all, the tour has its charming moments, but it doesn’t live up to the overly exaggerated descriptions typical for southeast asia. If you keep your expectations low and are looking for a little adventure in a beautiful setting, you won’t be disappointed—but it’s certainly not an unmissable experience.

Hi Kate! Yes, children above the age of 5 are able to go on these jungle treks. If you let us know the ages of your children when you book, the trek can be customised to be a little easier if you prefer. We advise that if you have children that are 6 or 7 years old, there will be an additional guide for added support. If you have children below 5, we can help you to arrange a more suitable trek in the local area. Please Whatsapp for more info!

Hi RH, we actually recommend that you stay only 1 night on the lake as the most popular tour is 2 days, 1 night. The cost for 2-day, 1-night tour is $120 US per person and you will stay in either The Laguna Chiew Larn Floating Resort or Keeree Warin Chiew Larn Resort (superior accommodation), depending on availability. It is possible to do a 3-day, 2-night tour but the tour would be private and cost more (around $320 US). If you have any questions or need any further information, just let me know.

And thanks to South East Asia Backpacker. Nikki was very responsive and was able to get in touch with Adam for me when I had connection problems on my end.

Hi Senne, you would only lose your deposit if you cancelled less than 72 hours before the activity starts. (To book you need to pay a deposit which is fully refundable up until 72 hours before the start of your tour.) For this particular slow boat tour, you only need to pay the operator the remaining amount on the actual day of the tour, so you would not lose the remaining money by cancelling. It’s important to note that other tours on this platform have different rules regarding when the operator needs to receive the remaining payment. If you need to cancel for any reason, just email or Whatsapp us and we can refund you, no questions asked.

Hi Eva, so at the luxury accommodation (Le Grande Pak Beng), you would have to get 2 separate rooms for 4 people. Price per room (2 people) is $390 USD so X 2 would be $780 USD. This price includes the cruise and the room. Any more questions just let me know!

Hi Georgia, see prices below.
2 people, cruise, no accommodation = $280 USD
2 people, cruise, standard accommodation (private double room) = $320 USD
Hope that helps!
All the best, Nikki

I’ve toured that coast twice . the first time was when the “Asian Economic Crisis ”
hit , might have been early 2000s . Went with 3 other guys , we arrived in Medan
and proceeded to hire a van & driver to take us . I think I changed $100aud into
a massive pile of rupia , and still had money left over when I left 12 days later !
Anyway , a great trip south along the coast from Banda Aceh all the way down to
Tapaktuan , where the coast road ended. We surfed anything that looked OK , just
told the driver ; BAPA , stop here , and we all piled out and surfed spots that would
never have been surfed. Great surf , great food and a great adventure.
The next time I went , however , the Aceh rebels were at war with the Govt. . My
mate & I convinced a driver to take us down from Banda Aceh , he nervously agreed
as we bid up the price . Our first stop down the coast past Loknga was a nice little
reef break , we were having a time until we noticed armed militia pointing guns
at our driver & waving for us to come in. We did that , they weren’t very friendly , they
didn’t shoot us or him and that was as far as we got . Went back to Locknga with
our tail between our legs. Had some nice surfs there but would have liked to have
travelled onwards.

Can you please quote how much currently it would be to get this above package for 2 people including standard accommodation (for 2 people) please?
And the Price without accommodation for 2 People?

Thank You
Georgia

Hi David, which visa you apply for depends on how long you would like to spend training Muay Thai. Romanian citizens can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days. You can extend this once for a further 30 days at an immigration centre (cost 1900 THB) taking your total stay to 90 days. You can read about the different visa options for Muay Thai students here: https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/muay-thai-visa/
Any specific questions feel free to Whatsapp me!

Hi Alex, yes this tour is still operating and you can book it now for January 2025. Any questions about the trip feel free to Whatsapp me!

Hi there! Thanks for your question. The boat arrives at the pier in Luang Prabang at around 17:00 and you should be at your hotel (depending on the location) by 17:30 – 17:45.

Thank you

Hi there! The minibus leaves approx. 4pm and you’ll arrive back in Hanoi in the evening around 10pm. Will get back to you regarding the time that the activities finish on day 3.

Hi Marion, the departure dates from March 2025 onwards have not yet been released by the boat company. Departure dates will be confirmed nearer the time. I can let you know when it’s available to book by email or Whatsapp if you send me your details. All the best!

Hey there! Good question! So, I’ve been in touch with both SafetyWing and True Traveller and neither of those will cover 3rd party liability. I’m waiting to hear back from Genki and will let you know what they say!

Hi there! Yes, pick-up and drop-off in Hanoi is included in the price.

Hi there! You won’t receive a certificate after the half day or full day course. There is a lead climbing course coming soon, after the monsoon season. Please check back in October and we will have more details for you!

Hi John,

Are you looking for a set up that has a total volume of 40 litres between the two bags, or a 40-litre bag with a detachable daypack?

For the latter, I would recommend the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview 55. This is a 40-litre main pack with a detachable 15-litre daypack. When separated, you can carry the main bag as hand luggage and the daypack as your personal item on most flights.

If you’re looking for a set up with a combined volume of 40 litres, it’s going to be a little harder to find. You could opt for a smaller Osprey bag that has attachment points for the Osprey Daylite daypack. You’d have to buy the two bags separately though.

I hope this helps with your planning! Let us know what set up you opt for!

Cheers,
Tim

It’s slow travel but the scenery is perfect to spend time looking around. Our guide has been great, with answers for a lot of specific knowledge about this part of Asia.

Also, the hotel selected for the mid-journey has been great, with a swimming pool and a nice view for sunset.

I would recommend this tour to family and friends who want to travel in this region.

Hi Lisanne,

1) Standard accommodation will be at either BKC Villa, Monsavanh Guesthouse or Villa Mekong Guesthouse depending on availability. These are basic AC rooms (breakfast included).

2) Premium Accommodation will be at Sanctuary Pak Beng Lodge. These are AC rooms in a premium hotel with swimming pool (breakfast included).

3) Luxury Accommodation will be at Le Grande Pak Beng. An AC room in a premium hotel with swimming pool (breakfast included).

I will ask the hotels and add some photos to the description!

Hi there! Yes, it is very easy. There are also porters to help with luggage, so you don’t need to worry about having a wheeled suitcase.

Hi Martin, there are no electricity outlets on the boat, but you can charge your phone/laptop at the hotel in Pak Beng.

I love your attitude Margaret! If you can accept the ‘rustic’ nature of the trip, it is sure to be a highlight. Hope you enjoy 🙂

Hey Felipe! Thanks for letting us know about the struggles you’ve had with the Water-to-Go bottle. And thanks for the hack for fixing the issue!
I’m curious, did you contact Water-to-Go about this issue? I’d love to hear what they said!

Cheers,
Tim

Hi Nicki, yes, pick up from Sapa is included in the price! Any other questions, just let me know.

Hi Arjun! The price is per person. Any other questions let me know 😊

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for your lovely comment! As for homestays on Tonlé Sap, they are not that easy to find, however, they do exist. Prek Toal Moving Ahead is one organisation that accepts volunteers. They used to do homestays but I am not sure whether they do now. I’d recommend emailing them as they should be able to put you in touch with somebody.

As for the boat to Battambang, I did this in November last year and it really wasn’t too bad in terms of comfort. An amazing experience which I’d do again in a heartbeat. The boat route definitely still exists (though I believe the Phnom Penh-Battambang boat route is being phased out), however, during dry season, the route may be postponed for a few weeks depending on water levels. Unfortunately, it is hard to get up to date information about transport links in Cambodia online. Your best bet is to enquire at your accommodation once you arrive in Siem Reap.

Hope that helps! 🙂

What a fabulous find whilst searching for ethical boat trips/home stays. Thank you!

Can anyone recommend a way to organise an overnight stay at a floating village please?
We will be in Siem Reap in January 2025. Two.people.

Boat to Battambang.

Is this really an uncomfortable journey ? I’ve veen told not to do it. Also been told it doesn’t exist now.

Thank you.

Dear Marte. We received this reply from Austin at Khao Sok Lake:

“We are truly sorry to hear about your experience. At Khao sok Lake we are always trying to improve our services. Sometimes that means helping our local providers (the raft houses, which we do not own) improve their service which is why we have made sure that the raft house in question have updated their kitchen facilities (In this particular case, we believe that there was a malfunctioning piece of refrigeration equipment that the raft house has replaced… we believe this should prevent any further food contamination.) We appreciate your feedback and hope that the rest of your journey was free from incident.”

Hi Adam, single room at resort for 1 month would be a total of $2,880 US (prices as of May 2024). You can choose your options above and pay a deposit to reserve your place. Any more questions, just let me know! You can also Whatsapp me: +34 623 00 33 91 (Nikki)

Thanks for the comment Alastair! I’ve been known to use boiled water when in a pinch in Southeast Asia – although I always boil it twice to ensure most bacteria and viruses are destroyed!