Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most popular cycle touring destinations.
It’s got a warm climate, friendly people and cheap living.
If you like your home comforts, there are plenty of places with a well developed tourist infrastructure and everything from budget bungalows to luxury hotels.
› Which country should I choose?
› Should I bring a tent?
› Should I bring a water filter?
› Should I bring cooking gear?
› Do I need to take anti-malaria medication?
› What about rabies injections?
› What should I wear?
› Can I put my bike on a bus or train?
› What’s it like during the rainy season?
› Can I find bike shops there?
› What’s the traffic like on the roads?
On your bike you can explore everything from ancient treasures like Angkor Wat in Cambodia to beautiful beaches in the south of Thailand and the mountains of northern Laos. Everything from bustling cities to tea plantations are yours to discover in Malaysia.
For the independent cyclist, Southeast Asia is one of the cheapest spots to ride. You can get a freshly cooked meal from a street vendor across the region for $1 U.S. or less. Budget hotel rooms come in at $5-10 U.S. a night or just pennies for a bungalow in some backpacker favourites like Don Det in Laos.
What makes a bike so great in Southeast Asia is that it lets you get off the beaten path to experience Southeast Asia away from the well trodden tourist trail.
Instead of just seeing the main towns of Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang in Laos, you will ride over the mountains through barely visited H’mong villages, with incredible vistas of the surrounding countryside. In Cambodia, you’ll be well received in the farming and fishing communities that line the Mekong River and get a fascinating insight into rural life.
There are yet more reasons why so many cyclists flock here. Traffic is generally light and very courteous. In Thailand and Malaysia, the roads are in near perfect condition but even in Cambodia and Laos the main routes are paved. And unlike many countries, visas are available on arrival or easy to obtain once you’re in the region.
More information on individual countries can be found on the pages for Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
