One month in Southeast Asia: The ultimate itinerary

Time to leave the ‘Little Red Dot’ and take the short hop across the causeway to Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s southernmost city. It still has a border town vibe with excellent (and cheaper compared to Singapore) shopping. Check out the vibrant buzz of the Pasar Karat night market and dive into a smorgasbord of ethnic Chinese-Malay flavours at Johor Jaya food street. Explore JB’s colourful colonial history on a Heritage Walk – a short walkable downtown circuit exploring Chinese temples and the Chinese Heritage Museum, pastel-hued shophouses and the iconic Sultan Ibrahim Building.

Next, escape the urban sprawl for a couple of days’ beachside R n R on the Desaru Coast. It’s a heady mix of luxe wellness resorts and beach activities like parasailing, wakeboarding and jet skiing amid untouched nature. Here, you can check out the shimmering fireflies and Malaysia’s largest ostrich farm after dark.   

A short flight from JB to Penang unlocks the oldest British settlement in Southeast Asia. Capital George Town is a rich cornucopia of old colonial and Straits Chinese culture, mixed with one of the most vibrant food scenes in the region. Take a city tour to see the pastel-coloured shophouses and extravagant temples – Kek Lok Si temple and the striking Chinese clan houses are a must. Fort Cornwallis, which still has cannons pointing out at sea, was built by the British to fend off marauding 18th-century pirates. It will quickly become evident that George Town is a veritable open-air gallery of quirky street art. You’ll encounter a cool, colourful mural virtually around every corner.

For a night to remember, head north to the Gurney Drive esplanade, a long waterfront strip filled with sassy bars and restaurants. Continue further along the coast for a chilled day by the beach at Batu Ferringhi. Syok at Chulia is an excellent, affordable Penang flashpacker hotel option.

After a short ferry ride to the mainland, hop on a train for the scenic journey back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s bustling capital. Start the day with a signature kaya toast and teh tarik (tea), and browse for bargains in boisterous street markets like Chow Kit and Chinatown. Then, explore the grand colonial buildings around Merdeka Square. Escape the urban sprawl for a day at Batu Caves, housing Malaysia’s most sacred Hindu shrine complex. It is guarded by a towering 140-foot-high golden statue of the Hindu god of war. 

Take a flight from KL to Phuket, Thailand’s beach holiday playground. Based in Kata, you have easy access to a host of pristine beaches, chilled beachfront dining and luxe beach clubs. For families, the two-bed suites at Centara Kata Resort Phuket are hard to beat for the price.

Start the day early and head into the Kata hills before the midday sun beats down. A short trek reaches the Kata-Karon viewpoint for sweeping views, while a walk to the iconic Big Buddha statue unlocks epic 360-degree views of much of the island. Come evening, catch a real, no-holds-barred Muay Thai match at Patong Stadium, which is always packed with boisterous locals.

After some much-needed beach chill time, take a full day out to explore the real Thai vibe in the island capital, Phuket Old Town. Take in the pastel-coloured shophouses, the night market and the elaborate Thai and Chinese temples such as the Shrine of the Serene Light.

A flight to the North highlights Thailand’s immense cultural and natural contrasts. The old city of Chiang Mai is the gateway to the region’s varied indigenous hill tribes. A trek through the Doi Inthanon National Park is a must, where you can explore the lush landscape of waterfalls, birdwatch, and discover remote villages. Chiang Mai itself has ancient origins as the home to the medieval Lanna Kingdom. The old ramparts and gates are still standing. Stay at Tamarind Village, which exudes an old Lanna heritage-style ambience. 

The city is a cultural and artistic hub with several atmospheric street markets, antique stores and curiosity shops to browse. It has a very blissed-out pace of life too, perfect for exploring on foot. Within its ancient walls, there are seemingly hundreds of temples, and despite its laid-back feel, there is a vibrant live music and bar scene to dive into.

Finish off the Thai adventure with a quick flight to capital Bangkok. It’s an overwhelming, often chaotic metropolis, so meticulous planning is needed to get the most out of a few days. Spend your first day delving into Thai royal history. Take in the elaborate Grand Palace and the old town of Ko Rattanakosin. Head to the gilded Wat Pho temple to see the iconic Reclining Buddha. Feeling a little weary already? The temple’s on-site massage school offers traditional Thai massage. 

Bangkok neighbourhoods not to miss include the Khao San Road backpacker district. It has a fun, youthful exuberance with cheap eats and drinking. Then, head to Chinatown, which remains mostly untouched by the sweeping skyscraper modernisation taking place all around. Dip into legendary eatery Hua Seng Hong for dim sum and explore Bangkok’s Chinese immigrant story at the enlightening Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Museum.

Bid farewell to continental Southeast Asia and jet into Bali, the gateway to Indonesia’s vast archipelago and, in the case of Bali itself, the region's only functioning Hindu society. This is an island of epic rolling waves, unlocking world-class surfing and luxe beach clubs. The quintessential tropical beach ambience is only half the story.  Bali has two very distinct sides. Central Bali’s cultural hub, Ubud, is a must and deserves several days to be explored fully. Base yourself at boutique chic Sebali Resort in Desa Kenderan, Ubud, for outstanding rainforest and mountain views.

See the Ubud Royal Palace and browse the Ubud market. There are literally hundreds of galleries and art museums to browse, and Ubud is one of Asia’s top destinations to get creative. So, how about learning ceramic design, batik cloth printing, traditional Balinese dance or wood carving?  For sweeping rice field and rainforest views, visit the mischievous primates at Ubud Monkey Forest and take the scenic Campuhan Ridge Walk.

A two-to-three-hour speed boat takes you to the famed Gili Islands of Lombok. This trio of tiny tropical islands are the epitome of chilled-out beach life, delightfully free of cars or motorbikes. The Gilis are one of Indonesia’s turtle-spotting capitals and offer top-quality scuba diving. Each of the islands has its distinctive ambience; Gili Trawangan is the so-called ‘party island’ with a long beach strip of bars and restaurants, while nearby Gili Meno is literally a castaway experience (great for honeymoons) with pristine white sand beaches. The third, Gili Air, has a happy balance between both these extremes and has the most authentically local atmosphere.

Nearby on the Lombok mainland lies the brooding presence of Mount Rinjani. At almost 4,000 metres it is one of Indonesia’s highest climbable volcanoes. It’s an epic yet arduous three-four day climb only for relatively fit people with a real sense of adventure. 

A more relaxed alternative to climbing the summit is an easy two-hour trek up nearby Pergasingan Hill, which unlocks sweeping views of the incredibly photogenic Sembalun Valley. It can also be combined with a jungle trek through the Rinjani foothills to Lombok’s iconic Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls. For a window into Lombok’s culture and history, visit the traditional village of Sade, which showcases architecture, customs and handicrafts unique to this small ‘Sasak’ community. From here, it is an easy drive to the rugged south Lombok coastline with dozens of pristine beaches and top surf spots.