South East Asia

Hey everyone,
Holiday time approaching and as usual i'm turning to TP for advice!! As part of my trip I'm planning to do a loop from Bangkok, up to Laos, down through Cambodia and then back to meet a friend in Bangkok. I'll have about 18 days to complete this trip, is that a realistic time limit?? Could anyone please advise me on a possible itinerary for this route? (places to go/not to miss, things to do, etc.) I can't wait for this 'tubing' Ive heard so much about!!
Thanks,
Ian

Hi Ian,

If by "tubing", you mean the activity described on Wikipeida, I haven't heard of it in Thailand: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubing_(recreation)
The nearest thing to it would be para-gliding whereby you dangle at the end of a parachute towed by a speedboat, but watching a tubing video (link at the foot of the Wikipedia page), that might seem a bit tame in comparison.

But here's a site which lists all the festivals due to take place in Thailand which you might want to incorporate into your itinerary:
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=location&loc_id=131131

The Cambodian/Thailand border crossing at Aranyaprathet would enable you to take a train to Bangkok via the shortest route. Alternatively, you can compare the Thai rail network map @ http://www.railway.co.th/English/network.asp with other border crossings here: http://www.canbypublications.com/cambodia/overland.htm

But there have been some tensions between Thailand and Cambodia just recently due to a dispute of concerning a Hindu temple, see: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1850442,00.html so it will probably be wise to check in advance before you decide where to cross the border.

Blinq thanks a million for the info and useful links! Could anyone give me an itinerary for the trip I have planned?!

I'm guessing your talking about the tubing in Vang Vieng Laos. As far a as an itinerary. Sorry I can't really help. I'm terrible at trying to plan in a short space of time. And since I have no idea what you like, how you like to travel, how much money you want to spend, its difficult to even know where to begin.