Restricted by annual leave in our respective jobs, the itinerary for this trip is spread out over 30 days. Some things had to be left out, most notably, Singapore and the Bridge on the River Kwai.
We decided that the trip had to include Bangkok, Angkhor Wat, Terendak, The Taman Negara, The Jungle line railway, Ko Lanta, Ko Phangan, Ko Tao and Hua Hin. The itinerary lent itself to a clockwise circular tour of the South-East Asian countries of Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia.
When we can, we will use the railway and local buses and ferries.
Bangkok is the cheapest place in South-East Asia to fly to from the UK so we begin and end our journey there.
After a couple of nights in the Thai capital we will venture by rail to the Cambodian border. Onward by coach to the town of Siem Reap for Angkhor. Our plan is to take the Tonle Sap boat trip to Phnom Penn before flying to Kuala Lumpur.
From KL we plan to get a coach to Melaka on the straits coast. Visit my wife's birthplace at Terendak. Return to KL for two nights prior to a three day trek in the Taman Negara.
Taking the Jungle line railway up to Kota Bharu, we plan to cross back into Thailand and continue up the Isthmus of Kra to Phattalung.
Crossing from the east to the west coast, we will take a ferry to Ko Lanta before exploring the islands of the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao before returning to the mainland.
Two train journeys via Hua Hin will complete our trip back to Bangkok followed by a return flight.
That's the plan !
