Contents
TL;DR:
- 7 days: Focus on one region or a particular experience rather than rushing through several countries.
- 12–14 days: Allow more room for contrasting landscapes and destinations within one country.
- Budget: Our advertised ALL IN starting prices range from $310 to $850 USD across the five listed itineraries.
- Where to go: Vietnam brings mountain scenery and road journeys; Cambodia combines ancient temples and islands; Indonesia offers island hopping and surf.
- Prefer a planned route? Meet Mad Monkey ALL IN. Three countries and different ways to explore.
How Long Should You Spend in Southeast Asia?
A week can be enough for a focused adventure. Two weeks gives you more room to connect destinations. What matters is how much of that time you want to spend exploring rather than getting from one place to the next.
Seven days in northern Vietnam, for example, gives you time to explore Hanoi before heading into the mountains of the Ha Giang Loop. In Indonesia, a shorter itinerary centred on Gili Trawangan and Lombok puts island time and surfing at the heart of the trip.
With 12 to 14 days, you can build in more variety. Vietnam’s longer route connects northern highlights with Ninh Binh and Hoi An, while Cambodia’s itinerary combines Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the coast.
| Time available | Route | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Hanoi and the Ha Giang Loop | Mountain roads, village stays and northern Vietnam |
| 7 days | Gili Trawangan and Kuta Lombok | Island life, snorkeling and surf |
| 12 days, as advertised | Indonesia Island Hopping | Bali and surrounding islands, including Nusa Lembongan, Gili Trawangan and Lombok |
| 14 days | Hanoi to Hoi An | Northern and central Vietnam |
| 14 days | Phnom Penh to Koh Sdach via Siem Reap and Koh Rong | City culture, temples and island time |
Traveler tip: Every extra destination costs you time, even if it looks close on the map. Build your route around the places you care about most, then leave enough room to enjoy them.
How Much Does a Southeast Asia Trip Cost?
Your budget depends on how you travel. Booking transport and accommodation independently gives you control over individual expenses, but it also means researching connections and arranging each stay yourself.
A planned group itinerary brings several of those costs together, making it easier to understand what you’re paying for before you leave.
Here’s a rough idea of what you could spend, depending on the route and how long you want to travel:
| Itinerary | Duration | Price in USD | Daily Cost in USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam: Hanoi to Ha Giang | 7 days | $310 | $44 |
| Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Koh Sdach | 14 days | $650 | $46 |
| Indonesia Island Hopping | 12 days | $700 | $58 |
| Vietnam: Hanoi to Hoi An | 14 days | $850 | $61 |
| Indonesia: Gili Trawangan and Lombok | 7 days | $450 | $64 |
*Prices are per person, in USD, and may vary by departure date. Daily costs are estimates based on the starting price and trip length. Check the booking page for current prices.
Can You Book an All-Inclusive Trip Around Southeast Asia?
Absolutely! All-in group trips in Southeast Asia bundle accommodation, transport, selected meals and activities into one package, with the price set before you travel.
Mad Monkey offers ALL IN trips in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, ranging from 7 to 14 days. Routes include the Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam, a journey through Cambodia from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and the islands, and an Indonesia trip covering Gili Trawangan and Lombok.
Our ALL IN packages bring the main travel arrangements together, including:
- Dorm accommodation at Mad Monkey properties along the route
- Scheduled transfers and island boats
- Meals and activities listed in the trip itinerary
- One free pre-trip night
- 24/7 support from our local crew
Explore our Mad Monkey ALL IN trips to compare routes, inclusions and current starting prices.
Which Southeast Asia Route Should You Take First?
Start with the kind of experience you want, then choose the destination that fits. Mountain roads, ancient temples and island coastlines offer very different ways to spend two weeks.
Vietnam: From Hanoi’s Street Food to the Ha Giang Loop
Start in Hanoi with street-side phở and late-night cafés, then head north to the Ha Giang Loop, where the roads wind through limestone mountains and small villages. With more time, you can continue south to Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh and Hoi An
In Hanoi’s Old Quarter, evenings mean plastic stools, bowls of phở, sizzling bún chả and cafés tucked into narrow streets. If you’re searching for the best hostel in Vietnam, consider what matters most to your trip: location, opportunities to meet other travellers, and a convenient base for exploring. Mad Monkey Hanoi gives travellers a starting point for experiencing the city’s street-food scene and connecting with fellow backpackers before heading north.
Our 7-day Vietnam trip centres on Hanoi and the Ha Giang Loop, giving you more time in the north. The 14-day route adds an overnight cruise through Lan Ha Bay, the limestone scenery of Ninh Binh and the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An.
Cambodia: Temple Sunrises, City Nights and Island Escapes
Start in Phnom Penh, where riverside evenings, street-food stops and the city’s café scene give you a feel for modern Cambodia. Then head to Siem Reap for Angkor Wat. Get there early for the sunrise, but stay longer to explore the temple complex beyond the famous viewpoint. The carved galleries, towering stone faces, and tree-covered ruins are worth more than a quick photo before breakfast.
From there, the route shifts south. Koh Rong brings beach days and boat trips, while Koh Sdach offers a closer look at Cambodia’s quieter island communities. After temple mornings and busy city streets, the coast gives you room to slow down, swim and spend time with the people you meet along the way.
Our 14-day Cambodia ALL IN trip connects Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Koh Rong and Koh Sdach, with accommodation and transport arranged along the route. It’s a way to experience Cambodia beyond Angkor Wat, moving from the capital to the temples and out to the islands without piecing together every connection yourself.
Indonesia: Volcano Sunrises, Reef Days and Surf Sessions
Indonesia gives you plenty of reasons to get out of bed early. Catch sunrise from Mount Batur, snorkel in the waters around Nusa Penida, or trade the mainland for the laid-back pace of Gili Trawangan. Over in Lombok, surf sessions and time around Kuta bring a different rhythm to the trip.
Our 7-day Gili Trawangan and Lombok itinerary keeps the focus on two island destinations, with time for the water, surf, and coastal life. The longer Indonesia Island Hopping trip covers more ground, connecting destinations including Uluwatu and Nusa Lembongan with other island experiences.
- Explore our 7-day Gili Trawangan and Lombok itinerary
- Explore our Indonesia Island Hopping itinerary
Thailand: Coming Soon to ALL IN
Think Bangkok’s late-night food stalls, Chiang Mai’s temple-lined streets, Pai’s mountain roads and Phuket’s island-hopping scene, all in one country. Thailand brings together the kind of experiences that make every stop feel different, from navigating a city on foot to getting out into the mountains or onto the water
Keep an eye on our ALL IN trips page for confirmed details as they become available.
Start Planning Your Southeast Asia Trip
Picture the trip you want to come home talking about. Maybe it’s taking on Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop, watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat before heading to Cambodia’s islands, or spending your days between the surf breaks and snorkeling spots of Indonesia.
Rather spend less time sorting transfers and accommodation and more time exploring? Mad Monkey ALL IN trips bring together routes, stays and experiences across Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Find your route, meet new people along the way, and leave some room for the moments you couldn’t have planned.
FAQs: Mad Monkey ALL IN
Allow at least 7–14 days to explore one country at a comfortable pace. A multi-country backpacking trip needs more time for transport between destinations, border crossings, and overnight stays.
Your budget depends on the countries you visit, accommodation, transport, and activities. Compare daily spending costs with the starting prices of planned trips, and keep extra money for meals, personal expenses, and unexpected detours.
A group trip can suit you if you’d rather have accommodation and major transport arrangements organized before arrival. Independent backpacking offers more flexibility to change plans or stay longer. As Kyle Kenny, Commercial Director at Mad Monkey, put it in an ALL IN launch article, travellers want local experiences without losing the freedom of independent travel.
Mad Monkey ALL IN currently offers trips in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, with itineraries ranging from 7 to 14 days. Thailand is planned as a future addition but is not yet available to book. See the ALL IN trips page for current routes and starting prices.
Yes. Bring your own crew through our Squad Leader program, and you could qualify for a discounted or free trip, depending on the number of friends you bring. Check our current Squad Leader terms for the requirements and rewards.
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