Planning a trip to Southeast Asia this summer? We’ve got you covered with our epic 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary!
After our time in Delhi and Agra, India, my friend, Candace, and I visited Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Bai Tu Long Bay, Khao Sok National Park, and Phuket over the course of two weeks and had an amazing time.
Although there are a ton of options when visiting Southeast Asia, we felt that this 2-week summer itinerary was perfect for us—and an awesome way to celebrate my 30th birthday!—and I really hope you’ll enjoy it too.
Of course, you can always use this itinerary as a starting point and replace some of these destinations to better suit your schedule and interests.
But, for now, let’s dive into our incredible 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary and learn more about all of the places we visited!
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Planning Your 2-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary
Where should you start and end your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary?
I took an overnight flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA), then an afternoon flight from FRA to Delhi Airport (DEL), and arrived in Delhi around 1:00 am. Note that a lot of international flights in and out of Delhi arrive and depart early in the morning, so be prepared for this!
Since Candace had been working in India for six weeks at the time, she was already in Delhi (more specifically, Gurgaon) and was able to coordinate a pre-arranged pick-up for me with her hotel, the Trident Gurgaon. And once I arrived, I was able to head straight to the hotel and get some shuteye.
After spending a few days together in India, Candace and I flew from DEL to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to kick off our two weeks in Southeast Asia!
If you plan to start your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary in Chiang Mai too, this is likely the airport you’ll fly into.
Our 2-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary
We visited Southeast Asia in July, which is technically considered the off-season for this region. This means that accommodations were a bit cheaper and attractions were less crowded—who doesn’t love the sound of that?
However, this also means that there was a higher chance of rain, though this was only really a problem for us one time, and the downpour only lasted about 45 minutes.
Here’s the itinerary we researched and followed during our two weeks in Southeast Asia in July.
- Day 1: Overnight flight from New Delhi to Chiang Mai
- Day 2: Chiang Mai
- Day 3: Day trip from Chiang Mai to the Elephant Nature Park
- Day 4: Chiang Mai
- Day 5: Afternoon flight from Chiang Mai to Hanoi
- Day 6: Overnight cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay
- Day 7: Bai Tu Long Bay & Hanoi
- Day 8: Hanoi & overnight flight to Surat Thani
- Day 9: Overnight stay in Khao Sok National Park
- Day 10: Khao Sok National Park & Phuket
- Day 11: Phuket
- Day 12: Phuket
- Day 13: Fly from Phuket to New Delhi
- Day 14: Fly from New Delhi to Houston
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, which translates to “new city” in Thai, is located in a mountainous region of Thailand called the Thai highlands. It’s Thailand’s second largest city, one of the best places to visit in Thailand, and a great place to start your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary.
Chiang Mai has a rich culture and fascinating history and is home to hundreds of stunning temples, lush greenery, traditional markets, and more.
I recommend spending at least three days here during your 2-week Southeast Asia trip. Here’s how we spent our three days in Chiang Mai.
Day 1 in Chiang Mai:
- Arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning
- Stop by your hotel to store your luggage
- Stop at Wat Chetlin
- Stop at Wat Fon Soi
- Lunch at B Samcook Home16
- Check-in to Rinn Boutique House
- Explore Wat Chedi Luang
- Explore Wat Chiang Man
- Pass by Tha Phae Gate
- Dinner at The Good View
- Take a tuk-tuk ride
- Stroll the Sunday Night Walking Street Market
- Foot massages at Thai Hexi SPA
Day 2 in Chiang Mai:
Day 3 in Chiang Mai:
- Hike Monk’s Trail
- Explore Wat Pha Lat
- Explore Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Lunch at Norn-Nanta House
- Massages at Thai Hexi SPA
Where to stay: Rinn Boutique House
Chiang Mai is one of my favorite places in the whole world, and I’d love to visit again some day. If you have more time in Chiang Mai, consider adding one or more of these to your Chiang Mai itinerary:
- Explore the beautiful gardens and canopy walks at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
- Take an authentic Thai cooking class and learn to make Thai dishes from scratch
- Visit the Bo Sang Handicraft Village, which is famous for its colorful, handmade paper umbrellas; soak in the natural mineral pools at the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs; and tour the traditional wooden homes of Mae Kampong Village all in one day trip from Chiang Mai
- Rent paddle boats and chill at Huay Tung Tao Lake, or even stay overnight in a floating bungalow with views of Doi Suthep (~30 minute drive)
- Explore the historic towns of Lamphun and Lampang, and visit the ancient ruins of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai (~45 minutes drive)
- Do a half-day tour to Bua Thong and climb up the “Sticky Waterfall,” which is made of grippy limestone (~1.5 hours drive)
- Take a day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park and see Thailand’s highest mountain, the “twin royal pagodas,” incredible waterfalls, and more (~1.5–2 hours drive)
- Visit the incredible Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple), and Baan Dam (Black House Museum) on a day trip to Chiang Rai (~3 hours drive)—though I listed this one last, it’s actually high up on my bucket list!
As you can tell, there are tons of things to do in Chiang Mai, and the more time you can spend here, the better. You definitely won’t be bored!
Hanoi
Located in northern Vietnam, on the western bank of the Red River, Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and second-largest city and the next stop on our 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary.
Hanoi is a vibrant and bustling city with lots of history—it’s more than 1,000 years old! With ancient temples and beautiful French colonial buildings scattered across its Old Quarter, Hanoi offers lots of interesting and unique experiences. Plus, it’s also a food lover’s paradise.
I recommend spending at least three days in Hanoi to see some of the city’s highlights and to give yourself enough time to visit the iconic Hạ Long Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay. Here’s our 3-day Hanoi itinerary, plus a bonus evening after our travel day from Chiang Mai.
Day 1 in Hanoi:
- Fly from Chiang Mai to Hanoi on an afternoon flight
- Check-in to Hanoi Morning Hotel
- Dinner at the Essence Restaurant at the AIRA Boutique Hanoi Hotel & Spa
- Drinks at the Old Hanoi Restaurant
Day 2 in Hanoi:
- Drive to Bai Tu Long Bay (included with your excursion)
- Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise
Day 3 in Hanoi:
- Drive back from Bai Tu Long Bay
- Stop at St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- Dinner at Highway 4
- Drinks at Always Café
- Walk around the Hanoi Weekend Night Market
Day 4 in Hanoi:
- Breakfast at the Hanoi Morning Hotel
- Tour Hoa Lo Prison
- Admire the 360° views from the Sky Lotte Observation Deck
- Evening flight from Hanoi to Surat Thani
Where to stay: Hanoi Morning Hotel
If you have more time in Hanoi, be sure to add some of these to your Hanoi itinerary:
- Enjoy a thrilling experience at Hanoi Train Street, where a train passes by just inches from homes and cafés—I’m so sad we missed this!
- Explore the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, which was once the political center of Vietnam and features ancient palaces, gates, and archaeological ruins from the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties
- Take a stroll at Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) and stop at Ngọc Sơn Temple
- Visit Hang Ma Street, another popular street that’s famous for colorful paper goods, lanterns, and festival decorations
You may also consider trying one or more of these day trips from Hanoi:
- Hạ Long Bay – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning limestone islands
- Ba Vi National Park – a beautiful mountain escape with awesome hiking trails
- Sapa – a mountain town that’s known for its rice terraces and ethnic minority villages
- Ninh Binh – home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trang An Landscape Complex, stunning landscapes, ancient temples, rice paddies, caves, and more
Similar to Chiang Mai, there are tons of things to do in Hanoi, and the more time you can spend here, the more of this incredible city you’ll be able to explore!
Bai Tu Long Bay
Just a 4-hour drive from Hanoi, Bai Tu Long Bay is located in the Quang Ninh Province of Vietnam and stretches from the eastern edge of Hạ Long Bay to the Chinese border.
Despite its proximity to the popular (and more crowded) Hạ Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay remains somewhat of a hidden gem and is the perfect retreat for those looking for a more peaceful experience.
A Bai Tu Long Bay cruise is one of the best ways to explore the area, so we did the Bai Tu Long Bay Off-The-Beaten-Track on Renea Cruise 2 Day/1 Night and had an amazing time! Here’s the itinerary we followed during our overnight cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay:
Day 1 on Bai Tu Long Bay:
- Pick-up from your hotel in Hanoi
- Arrive at the Renea Cruises office at the Halong International Cruise Port
- Embark on your Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise
- Vietnamese lunch
- Kayaking at Cap La Island
- Dinner on the boat
- Sunset party with music & drinks
- Vietnamese dinner
- Relax on the boat (Vietnamese puzzles, board games, squid fishing, etc.)
Day 2 on Bai Tu Long Bay:
- Tai Chi class
- Buffet breakfast
- Explore Thien Canh Son Cave
- Head back to the boat to get ready for departure
- Vietnamese cooking class
- Vietnamese lunch
- Return to the Halong International Cruise Port
- Drop-off back at your hotel in Hanoi
Where to stay: N/A, since you’ll be staying overnight on the boat (note that we didn’t check out from Hanoi Morning Hotel, so we could leave our luggage there)
Our Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise was an unforgettable experience with the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, and I can’t recommend it enough!
Khao Sok National Park
After our three days in Hanoi and an overnight layover at the Bangkok Airport, we made our way to Khao Sok National Park, the next stop on our 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary.
Khao Sok National Park is one of Thailand’s most impressive natural treasures and a must-see for nature lovers. It’s sometimes referred to as Thailand’s Jurassic Park, and for good reason!
Khao Sok National Park is part of the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world—yes, even older than the Amazon!—and offers tons of outdoor activities like jungle trekking, kayaking, swimming, wildlife spotting boat safaris, cave visits, and more.
One of the coolest ways to experience Khao Sok National Park is by staying overnight on a floating bungalow, which is exactly what we did! We visited Khao Sok National Park via a Khao Sok Lake Overnight Superior Group Tour, which followed the itinerary below.
Day 1 in Khao Sok National Park:
- Arrive at the Khao Sok Lake office in Ban Ta Khun by 10:15 am
- Take a quick ride to Rajjaprabha pier, passing by the scenic Cheow Larn Dam
- Board your longtail boat
- Traditional Thai lunch at your floating bungalow
- Easy hike through the jungle to a cave or nature trail
- Free time for swimming & kayaking
- Traditional Thai dinner at your floating bungalow
Day 2 in Khao Sok National Park:
- Morning mist wildlife-spotting boat safari
- Breakfast at your floating bungalow
- Free time for one last swim or kayak
- Check out at 9:00 am & return to the pier
- Return to the Khao Sok Lake office by 12:00 pm
- Enjoy a free packed lunch
- Drive from Khao Sok National Park to Phuket
Where to stay: N/A, since you’ll be staying overnight in a floating bungalow
Khao Sok National Park is located in Surat Thani Province in Southern Thailand and is easily accessible from Phuket, the next stop on our Southeast Asia itinerary.
Phuket
The last leg of our 2-week Southeast Asia trip was spent on Karon Beach in Phuket, Thailand’s largest island and one of the best places to vacation in Thailand.
We chose Phuket as our last stop, since we were looking to end our trip with lots of beach time and Thai massages before flying back to Delhi, then all the way back to the U.S. And, we felt that this was the perfect way to wrap up our two weeks in Southeast Asia!
Here’s how we spent a relaxing two days on Karon Beach in Phuket, plus a bonus evening in Phuket after our drive from Khao Sok National Park.
Day 1 on Karon Beach:
- An evening dip in the Indian Ocean
- Souvenir shopping
- Dinner at Deepavali
- Drinks at The Garage OG
Day 2 on Karon Beach:
- Morning on Karon Beach
- Lunch at Mama Restaurant
- Afternoon swim at the Karon Whale Resort
- Dinner at Two Chefs Bar & Grill
Day 3 on Karon Beach:
- Morning on Karon Beach
- Afternoon swim at the Karon Whale Resort
- Dinner at Two Chefs Bar & Grill
- Thai Massages
- Ice Cream from Tutti Frutti
Where to stay: Karon Cafe Inn
Though, we researched lots of things to do in Phuket, we decide to take it easy here after so many travel days. Here are some other things you may want to look into if you have more time in Phuket.
- Visit the Big Buddha, a giant, white, marble statue that sits atop a high hill with beautiful views of Chalong Bay and is one of Phuket’s most popular landmarks
- Explore Wat Chalong, the largest and most well-known temple in Phuket
- Take in the stunning views from Karon Viewpoint, which is located in Kata
- Hike to Bang Pae Waterfall, swim, and admire the gorgeous scenery
- Take a day trip to Phi Phi Island, one of the most scenic islands in Thailand, and maybe even try out some snorkeling while you’re there
Well, there you have it! I hope you found our 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary helpful and are ready to plan your very own Southeast Asia trip.
2-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary Add-Ons
But wait, there’s more! If you have more time, you might want to add one or more of these destinations to your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary and turn it into a 3-week Asia itinerary!
Delhi
Located in the northern part of India, Delhi is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with lots of history, cultural diversity, and charm. It’s the largest metropolitan area in India and the second-largest in the world after Tokyo—wow!
As the capital of India, New Delhi serves as the political center of the country and is home to the Parliament of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s Residence), and various government offices.
But Delhi’s history dates back thousands of years, meaning the city is also loaded with historical monuments, like Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort, India Gate, and more.
We flew in and out of New Delhi for our Southeast Asia trip, as Candace was working in India for six weeks, and I was lucky enough to tag along for part of her trip.
While she was working, I spent two action-packed days in Delhi exploring on my own and loved it so much that I’ve visited again since!
No matter how long you decide to stay, Delhi is a great addition to your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary.
Agra
Also located in northern India, just southwest of Delhi, Agra is known as the “City of Love” and is another great addition to your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary.
A visit to Agra is a must if you’d like to see the Taj Mahal. But, there are lots of other things to do in Agra, like exploring the incredible Agra Fort and Jama Masjid, visiting the Tombs of Itimad-ud-Daulah, Akbar, and Mariam-uz-Zamani, strolling along the Taj Nature Walk and through the Moonlight Garden, taking a Yamuna River Boat Ride, and more.
Since Agra is just a 3-hour drive from Delhi, it can easily be done as a day trip from Delhi if you have the time.
I highly recommend adding Agra to your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary, especially if seeing the Taj Mahal is on your bucket list!
Jaipur
A visit to Jaipur is another great choice when adding to your 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary and one of my favorite cities!
Candace was able see some of the best spots to visit in Jaipur during her 6-week stay in India, and I was able to visit years later as part of a 4-day luxury Golden Triangle tour, which included visits to Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur all in one go!
Jaipur was one of the earliest planned cities of modern India and is nicknamed the “Pink City” for its unique, rose-colored buildings.
Situated among lush green hills, this incredible city is home to numerous ancient forts and royal palaces and is renowned for its rich heritage, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture. It’s also a hub for traditional Rajasthani crafts such as block printing, pottery, jewelry making, and textiles.
Though each of us only spent a full day in Jaipur during our visits, I’d recommend staying longer if you can. In my opinion, Jaipur is truly a must-see during any trip to India!
Tips for Your Southeast Asia Trip
If you’ve never been to Southeast Asia, these Thailand travel tips and Vietnam travel tips may come in handy when planning your trip.
Here, I’ve included important information about how to prepare for your visit, what to pack, what to carry with you each day, how to tip, and lots of other useful tips.
I’m excited to hear where your travels will take you! Leave me a comment below if you’ve found this 2-week Southeast Asia itinerary helpful and let me know where you plan to head first.
XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads
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