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This is the route I took through Guatemala. I stuck to the ‘touristy’ areas which were all completely safe. Also, we travelled around on tourist shuttles which were heavily advised to do. It was more expensive but a lot safer than the chicken buses. Again, have a read of where I went and choose a route that suits your interests.
Flores Island – 2 Nights
Tikal National Park
This small island sits on a lake and is so small you can walk around it within an hour. The island itself is cute and worth stopping by to catch a good sunset and maybe have some fun over on the rope swing. I was here to visit Tikal National Park. This place was amazing. The entrance fee is Q150, the tourist bus there and back Q15 or Q100 with a guide. I opted for no guide but I would recommend going with the guide. This way you won’t get lost and you will be provided with information about the ruins you are looking at. The wildlife here is insane so don’t forget to look out for monkeys!!
Lanquin – 2 Nights
Semuc Champey Pools
Getting to Lanquin is a bit of a nightmare. It is a very long bus ride around 10-12 hours. Also, it isn’t a very pleasant journey. The road winds around mountain range after mountain range. Also, there is another long journey to leave for the next destination too. So, if you are pressed for time maybe this stop is not worth it for you.
Semuc Champey is beautiful and enchanting; however, in my opinion, I am not sure the long journey is worth it. I have seen better. The entrance is only Q50 just for the hike and access to the pools. There is also a tour option that includes tubing and exploring caves by candlelight. This costs around Q170. You get from your accommodation in Lanquin to the pools in a pick-up ride for Q20 each way. This again is a rough 4×4 journey up narrow bumpy roads stood in the back of the truck. So I would give it some thought to see if it is worth it for you!
Lake Atitlan – 4 Nights
This massive lake is not to be missed. It is a common backpacker stop with each lake-side village offering something different from one another. I stayed in the party village of San Pedro but it is easy to visit each village by boat. The journeys cost between Q5-Q20 depending on how far you are going. I visited the hippie village of San Martin and the cool San Juan.
Also, the other activity here is to hike the Indian Nose at sunrise. You have to book this through a tour as it makes it safer. The tour can cost between Q85-Q100 depending on how much of a hard bargain you can drive.
Antigua – 5 Nights
Chocolate Making
This town has a great charm and I really enjoyed spending a bit of time here. There is a cool viewpoint that has a volcano as a backdrop so make sure before you climb there is no cloud in the sky that could possibly ruin the view.
In Antigua, I did a chocolate-making class which I recommend as well as staying at Somos Hostel. The chocolate class was with Ek Chumel for Q100 or Q90 if you stay at Somos. This town is just simply nice to walk around and see all the different buildings.
Volcan Fuego at Sunrise
The main attraction for backpackers is the Volcan Ancatengo Hike. This is a 24-hour hike straight up a volcano to see the neighbouring Volcan Fuego erupting long into the night. I went with Soy Tours which cost Q450 for the trip. Optional extras were a bag carrier Q200 (which I would recommend as you have to carry all your water) and Q200 to hike extra to Volcan Fuego. Soy Tours is one of the two companies that camp on the sunset side. Ultimately this is what helped me make my decision on who to go with because of the better camping spot.
This is the ultimate month in Mexico route that I followed. However, I chose these places based on other blogs I had read. Then I selected what I would find interesting. Therefore my advice would be for you to do the same. Use this guide to help you make the perfect itinerary for yourself.
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All prices are correct as of May 2022
Mexico City – 3 Nights
Teotihuacan Ruins
I started this trip in Mexico City and the first thing I did was a free walking tour. This is a great way to see the highlights and learn about the city. I just found one online from a basic Google search and went along to the meeting point. These do work on a tip basis so make sure you bring some cash with you.
Teotihuacan Ruins is a day trip from Mexico City. It is pretty easy to get there with local transport or a tour. First, you get the metro to Autobus del Norte metro station (MXN5 per trip). For females there is a women’s and children-only section, I would advise you to use this. My trip was hassle-free but not all are. Next leave the metro station and the bus station is directly in front of you. At the bus station look for the ticket office labelled ‘Piramides’ and the bus leaves through gate 8. This costs MXN 52 for each way. The bus does take a while (roughly an hour) as it stops many times to pick people up however it drops you by the entrance gate 2. The ticket price for the ruins is MXN 75. To get back to Mexico City you do the route in reverse.
The Colourful Puebla City – 1 Night
Puebla City
Here we ended up just walking around the streets. These were so pretty and colourful. I would add this to your trip as it is a simple 2-hour bus ride from Mexico City. I caught the ADO buses throughout Mexico. It was simple to book through their App and they cover the majority of the country. Unfortunately, we were here on a public holiday therefore everything was shut. Hence just walking around was the only activity I did.
Beautiful Oaxaca City – 3 Nights
This walking tour was very good and the guide spoke very good English. Again, I would always recommend a free walking tour as it is a great way to get your bearings in a new place. Remember, these work on a tip basis.
Hierve el Agua
Hierve el Agua is a beautiful waterfall 45km from Oaxaca City. It was simple enough to get to using local transport. First, you can catch a bus (MXN20) from the second-class bus terminal to San Pedro de Mitla. The company for this bus is ‘Goma’. The information online says it comes every 15 minutes but we ended up waiting nearly 2 hours that morning. Crazy. Next was the pick-up truck up the mountain. I should warn you that they cram in as many people as possible. I paid MXN75 each way and we were a total of 11.
Along the way, you have to pay the ‘town tax’ of MXN10-15. Yes, really, the locals have made this up but you can’t get around it and finally the entrance fee of MXN50. Again, to get back follow the same route but in reserve. Also if you are a solo traveller a tour would be a great way to meet people.
Monte Alban ruins is a perfect morning out as it is only 10 km from the centre. I got the tourist mini-bus at 8 in the morning costing MXN100 for both ways. It was worth it as I arrived before the crowds and enjoyed Monte Alban in peace for a short while. The entrance costs MXN70. After exploring for a couple of hours I got the mini-bus back at 12pm. That was plenty of time to wander around and explore.
Amazing Puerto Escondido – 3 Nights
Turtle Release on Puerto Escondido
After exploring three cities I was ready to explore the beaches of Puerto Escondido on this ultimate month in Mexico adventure. I did just that by foot. I explored the coastline simply by walking to a different beach each day sometimes two in one day. The only activity I did was the realising of a turtle. This cost MXN100. I had read good reviews about the company online however once there it did feel that they cared more about the money than the turtles. In future, I would skip this experience.
San Cristobal – 2 Nights
El Chiflon Waterfall was the reason we stopped by San Cristobal. The waterfall was still 3 hours away by local transport. The journey there included a straightforward ADO bus to Comitan then a colectivo to El Chiflon (MXN35 each way). The entrance was MXN50. This place is incredible and definitely worth the trip on the local transport or guided tour. Again, reserve the route back to San Cristobal.
Beautiful Isla Mujeres – 4 Nights
Sunset on Isla Mujeres
This island felt very touristy and it was more appealing as a 2-week holiday destination rather than a backpacking experience. To get over to the island I got the ferry with Ultramar costing MXN362 for a roundtrip. Once, on the island, we explored the beaches and the southern point of the island. This place does have some good snorkel sites you can access through tours.
Cozumel – 3 Nights
I did a shore scuba dive here to see if I like scuba diving still. The answer is yes. I didn’t see much marine life on this dive but people who went out on the boat saw lots. So, even if you want to try scuba diving for the first time I recommend going out on the boat. Also, I cycled to the beaches on the far side of the island as they aren’t lined with beach clubs; however, they were full of seaweed but still so beautiful. If you like beach clubs then you will find a great spot with good snorkelling and free of seaweed.
Vibrant Valladolid – 2 Nights
Chichen Itza
This was a last-minute change to the ultimate month in Mexico as once I researched Chichen Itza, I felt it was best to go from Valladolid. The town is very cute and colourful much like Puebla.
Chichen Itza is a world wonder therefore it was a must-stop for me. To get there I took the 7am colectivo from a car park opposite the ADO bus station. The entrance fee was expensive at MXN571, MXN80 has to be paid in cash and the rest was either cash or card. If you plan well you can visit a nearby cenote before heading back to Valladolid.
Also, I visited Cenote Oxman whilst here. I got a taxi both ways for a good price and an even better price on the way back. I did get lucky as a taxi was dropping more people off as I left. This is a cool underground cenote with a nice pool area to chill out in after.
Touristy Tulum – 3 Nights
The second to last stop on an ultimate month in Mexico adventure was the very overrated touristy Tulum. Yet, if you don’t mind paying for beach access through many wonderful beach clubs then you will enjoy this place more than I did. I rented a scooter (MXN500) for the day. I visited Akumal Bay to see the turtles that feed there. However, this experience was very unpleasant. You have to pay to even access the beach. Also, they try and stop you from swimming in a certain area of the sea where they run the snorkel tours. It is possible to see turtles for free with great patience and ignoring the locals telling you where you can swim.
Incredible Laguna Bacalar – 2 Nights
Lake Bacalar
The last stop on an ultimate month in Mexico was this gorgeous lake. The lake was beautiful and there are two free spots to sit on a deck and enjoy. The water here is known for having 7 different shades of blue. The town itself isn’t much but it getting more discovered by tourists. So, get there quickly before it is overrun just like Tulum.
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Thailand was our first stop when hitting South East Asia. In the first part, we travelled North from Bangkok to Pai. However, in this blog, I cover 3 amazing islands in South Thailand. The beautiful people and beaches made the trip worthwhile.
Our first Thailand Island – Koh Tao
We had about a week planned here as my friend was off to do her PADI diving certificate. It is famous for its scuba diving. The name Koh Tao literally translates into ‘turtle island’. How cool because who doesn’t love turtles? The 21 km hilly island is surrounded by gorgeous white sandy beaches. With insane coral reefs come an abundance of fish to see.
The Gorgeous Beach in Koh Tao
Exploring the Beaches around the Thailand Island…
I didn’t mind being on this little paradise island for the week. The beaches here are amazing. Our hostel was right on the beach and came with a swimming pool too. It was perfect. The beach that stretches along the back of our hostel gave us the best sunsets. The colours were bright and bold. Watching the sun go down most nights was picturesque.
Hiring a Scooter to Explore…
Like all places across Asia, it is really easy to hire a scooter to explore different places. So, with my friend settled in scuba diving lessons, I rented one. I explored the island with someone from the hostel. When you travel it is that easy to make friends. There are lots of people with the same mindset as you. As this was a hilly island there were hills to go up.
One of Many Picturesque Sunsets
As we were driving up to a viewpoint a bike was coming down. The road was basically one way, so you would have thought they would have stopped. No, they didn’t. I had to stop whilst going uphill. Coupled with the fact I can just about hold the weight of the bike, let alone two people on it. I so nearly dropped the guy on the back of the floor. Luckily, he jumped off in time. Phew. Close call. There are lots of travellers walking around Asia covered in bandages. So, when hiring be confident you can drive and take it easy.
We reached a couple of different beaches. We reached a viewpoint overlooking Koh Nangyuan beach. It was beautiful. The water is crystal-clear, the white sandbars joining three mini islands together.
What is Koh Tao Like After Dark…
When the sun goes down the drink flows more. The scene is fun. Everyone is having a good time. No one is really out of control. The place on the beach by us played music for everyone to enjoy. The drinks are cheap. The food is too. Koh Tao was my favourite out of the three islands in Thailand we visited.
Our next Thai Island – Koh Phangan
So, this island is where the famous ‘Full Moon’ rave happens. Unfortunately, there was no full moon during our time there. People plan their time here around it. I must admit from the pictures I’ve seen it does like insane. This island for us was about yet more amazing street food and markets.
Swinging into the Weekend
We did go to the beach in the North called Mauhi beach… apparently the best on the island. It has my vote. The sand was white, the sea clear and warm. Great food and a swing to top it off. It is definitely worth spending a day relaxing here. Topping up the tan. After, a nice day, we headed to one of the famous sunset spots, Amsterdam Bar. Just like all other sunsets in the South of Thailand another corker. The sky was light in colours as the sun disappeared. Perfection.
Our Final Thai Island – Koh Phi Phi
Admiring the View of This Gorgeous Beach
This island took a little travel time to reach. First was a ferry, then from that port a bus to Krabi. The last leg was a ferry from Krabi. Then, finally, we reached Koh Phi Phi. Our hostel was the furthest one away. We were staying in a bamboo hut. Again, being a budget traveller, you have to sometimes pick the cheapest. However, yes it was basic but we didn’t need more than that. There was yet another amazing sea to swim in. Koh Phi Phi was still getting over the devastation. They had only just started to rebuild. Yet, even after something so bad the people were still so happy and kind. A common trait in Asia.
Summary of the South of Thailand
Well, you can see why these 3 amazing islands in South Thailand are so popular. Paradise is the word I would use, to sum up, all the places we explored. The sun is hot, the water warm and the people are very welcoming. Plus, the food is cheap and very tasty!!! Definitely worth a trip!!
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My first adventure in Thailand was starting in Bangkok and travelling North. The second part was exploring the Islands in the South of Thailand. The north is different from the south. Well… for one we didn’t see a beach. However, it was still so beautiful.
Exploring Bangkok By Day and Night
Once refreshed from the flight we started the next adventure with a cruise on down the river. now, we were hitting the heat in Asia whereas India was slightly cooler. I didn’t mind I loved the heat. Also, here you can wear shorts!
The Grand Palace
Our first stop was the grand palace and with all our hast for adventure, we forgot appropriate clothing. Luckily here they have spares that you can borrow. Looking like I was in a school uniform we explored the grounds. Looking like a schoolgirl didn’t stop people from wanting our pictures, just like in India. We happily obliged. It did us no harm. Yet, made them so happy.
The Grand Palace was home to the Emerald Buddha. The architecture was insane. Every bit was covered in coloured tiles or stones. The time and patience that has gone into making the temple were astounding. This place left an impression. My first Asian temple. And what a treat it was.
Walking Along the Bangkok Riverbank…
The Reclining Buddha, Wat Po
We came across a massive flower market in Bangkok. The flowers smelt amazing as we made our way past. Also, a fish market… the smell did not the same effect as the flowers! And a normal market. I had never really been to markets before Asia. Let’s say I miss them. The bartering of the price. The wonderful colours and smells throughout.
Finally, we made it to our next Bangkok temple. Wat Po. The home of the only reclining Buddha. All gold and laying across a whopping 42 metres and 15 metres in height. This was cool to see. To learn about their history and religion from both temples was a great start.
What night entertainment is there in Bangkok?
You have the famous Bangkok road; Koh Son Road. Famous for partying and buckets of alcohol. Cheap street food is just like everywhere. This was my first experience with Thai food. I had been really missing out on amazing flavours. Everything was tasty. No complaints. Pad Thai is still my favourite to this day. Also, I love using chopsticks.
The other must-do when speaking with people is the famous ‘Ping Pong Show’ when in Bangkok. So, diving into the culture we did that. However, I would say if you want to experience this, pick a mid-range priced show. Ours cost us 150, a beer. It was okay. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I found it disgusting. Never again. Once is enough just to say you ticked it off.
Heading up to the North of Thailand…
The View From the Train Carriage, Death Railway
As we caught buses North our first stop was Nom Tok Train Station. We only got here after our taxi driver took us to the wrong place. He took us to a train station instead of the river. For, Nom Tok station we needed to cross the river. It was early before 6 am. I was tired. Luckily, we left a lot of time and didn’t miss the boat. As well as driving us to where we didn’t want to go. He tried to say I gave him the wrong money. We agreed on a price upfront. I gave him that. Another scam. This time it didn’t work. I just left the taxi.
A Ride Along The Death Railway
Playing with Local Children
I really wanted to ride this train there and back. Just because. It was built in World War 2 and at the time we rode it. No work had ever been carried out. Hence its name. The Death Railway (Burma Railway).
Also, it runs alongside a cliff with only sleepers drilled into the cliff with no vertical support at one point. It was meant to take 5 hours but took 8. 5 on the way back. The scenery was beautiful. On the way back a group of school children were on the train. My friend and I were playing ‘dobble’… a snap game.
The school kids joined in. This is why I wanted to travel to mix with people from all over the world. Experience what they experience. This is one of my favourite times. Irrigating with the locals.
Next on Our Adventure North…
We visited a less popular touristy place. Erawan National Park. this beautiful bit of nature was incredible. A seven-level waterfall. Truly amazing at each level. We set off slowly climbing making our way past each stage. Barefoot. I love being barefoot and as it was mainly mud underfoot it was possible. It was a tough hike in the heat. We pushed on to level seven. A place we ate lunch and had a swim.
A Waterfall Stage at Erawan
You did have to keep moving as those fish that eat your skin call this level home. After some time relaxing and recovering, we then made our way back. Stopping by a couple more levels for a swim. Level 4 was fun. One of the rocks covered in algae acts as a natural slide and with the water deep enough we slid in. it was quick but so much fun!
This place was truly magnificent and picturesque, I would recommend stopping by.
Exploring Ancient Ruins in Sukhothai
Free Sukhothai Ruins
This town broke up the bus journeys. We spent a day exploring the ruins. We rented our first scooter and drove around to find the ruins that weren’t in the historical park. There are plenty you can find for free. Our first time on scooters was going great until we stopped. I was still sitting on the bike after about 5 minutes I fancied some water. Yep. You guessed it. The bike fell on my ankle. Luckily, I got away with a cut. Remember to be careful and take it easy on the roads. All in all, a fun day exploring.
The Popular Chaing Mai
Arranging late at night with nowhere booked never had been a problem until we hit Chaing Mai. The only place in Thailand not to have 24-hour reception. We wandered the streets for hours. Yes. All our belongings. Then we found a place that would take us. ‘The White Horse’. We had planned to arrive in light, however, like every it of transport in Asia, we were delayed for whatever reason. You just roll with it.
A Stop by a Waterfall
After, minimal sleep, my friend set off to find a cheaper place. We were lucky to get the last bed in a place closer to everything. This is one town where booking accommodation in advance is a must. Perfect. All moved in we explored.
The markets here were insane. They were massive. New flip-flops check. Bartered to the correct exchange. Oooo… very nice rings. We bartered. The woman was happy. We were thinking… why they cost us £5 for two. Turns out were worked out the cost on the wrong exchange. We switched back to the Indian currency rate. Silly mistake. I guess a few travellers may be able to relate to this. Still cheaper than home though.
Choosing the Right Elephants…
We didn’t. we made a mistake. So, when doing a very popular tourist attraction make sure you research the company more. Something we failed to do. Pick a good place. A good place will not let you ride them along with other things. Please, learn from my mistake and many others before me. I wish I knew what I know no back then.
The Last Stop in Thailand…
A View in Pai
Pai. A relaxing, chilled place. We stayed at a hippie hostel. These were bamboo huts in a field with a restaurant and a swimming pool. A great place with night entertainment. Our second scooter of the trip. Again, please be careful as we drove around visiting sites, we noticed our brakes weren’t as sharp as they should be. We took it easy and slowed on our approach.
It is worth getting a scooter to see the spread-out sites. The first stop is a Pom Bok waterfall. Beautiful. Another stop was a canyon. I had to hold my breath as I approached the thin strip joining two mountain tops together. My fear of heights got the better of me. Plus, it is so thin it was dangerous too.
A fun day exploring! Pai, I would definitely recommend it.
People travel to Thailand for the Islands but sometimes forget the North. I liked both as they were both so different from one another.
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Next on the great South East Asia backpacking trip was Laos. This was similar having just come from the Thailand Northern region. Laos is a landed-locked country meaning no beaches to explore. This was okay. I’m here to explore the culture. From first impressions, everyone was happy and very welcoming. A common theme throughout Asia. The first impressions didn’t change.
Luang Namtha – The Laos Town Next to the Thai Border Crossing
This northern Laos province was full of jungle and peaceful. It was located on the Nam Tha River. This town wasn’t covered by tourists. The quiet streets were a welcome relief. Here, you can opt to zipline through the jungle. If you chose. We went for a more relaxing kayaking experience.
The Nam Tha River
The guides were two early-20s boys and a small group of 6 tourists including us. The first stop was the market to pick up some fresh fish, rice, and vegetables for lunch. The peaceful kayak down the Nam Tha River was very enjoyable. The banks were lined with booming green trees and plants.
Where to Eat Lunch Along This Laos River? Spoilt for Choice…
For lunch, we stopped along the river. a swimming spot too. That was a blessing as the sun was out in full force. Nice to cool off. The fish was cooked on an open fire. Don’t ask me what fish we had. I couldn’t tell you. However, it was so tasty and just flaked straight off the bone. Perfect views and perfect lunch!
A Delicious Lunch
The second part of kayaking was a little trickier in places as the water shallowed. However, that meant we did get stuck. Luckily, for us, it was only twice on some rocks. Easy. No problem.
The Second Stop… Luang Prabang!
Luang Prabang is a very popular stop along the backpackers’ route through Asia. To reach here from Namtha was the most unpleasant bus ride to date. The journey was non-stop bumpy. We choose cheap to mid-range buses depending on the length of the journey. This one was a mini-bus. But still not comfortable.
The Mekong River is normally a popular way to travel from Thailand to Laos. It takes something like three days on a wooden plank to sit upon. We didn’t have the time to do this route but apparently, it is amazing.
Witnessing the Alms Giving Ceremony…
Luang Prabang was home to the easiest to witness the Giving of the Alms ceremony. The Alms ceremony is a long-standing tradition in Laos Buddhist religion. People line the streets to give offerings of food to the monks. It takes place at dawn as the sun starts to rise. A must-do to experience their culture.
Witnessing an Alms Giving Ceremony
Also, we took a tuk-tuk bus to explore some waterfalls. These tuk-tuk style buses leave when they are full. So, the more people you can gather the quicker you leave. These are a must in Luang Prabang and when staying at hostels it won’t take you long to get a crowd. They are a truly magnificent part of nature.
A Bus Ride to Vang Vieng
A View from a Pit Stop on Our Way to Vang Vieng
The favourite town among backpackers. Once there you will see why. This town is 4 hours north of the capital Vientiane. The Nam Song River runs one side of town. This river is popular for tubing. Basically, floating down the river in a rubber inner tire tube. You can rent them there. Also, with the rental, a bus will pick you up and take you back in time.
This is a dangerous thing to do. Fun though. When we went they had stricter rules. Only four bars per day are open. There were too many drunk people making bad decisions. You can rope swing or jump into the river, however, the water is shallow. Therefore, accidents were happening. I am not sure if any of the bars are there now. We went back in 2015.
The Night Life in Vang Vieng…
The other reason backpackers flock to this otherwise sleepy town. Laos has an 11 pm curfew. Everything closes down. Yet, if you time your night you can hop from bar to bar for happy hour. Free Laos Whiskey. Again, a dangerous game. Alcohol is cheap across Asia. This place is fun and when you get to know people there is always an unground party happening. We spent about three nights dancing the night away. Good times.
Hiking to Explore Some Caves in Vang Vieng
It was hard not to say no. remember, to stay with people you know and not take drinks from strangers. Yes, in Thailand I got drugged. Lucky for me, I was with my friend. The drugs were meant for her. We switched drinks. She is a lightweight. I drank a little then I couldn’t tell you what happened. So please be aware.
Summary of Wonderful Laos
I didn’t know much going in. This is one of the poorer countries in Asia but they are so happy. You can’t help but be happy and relaxed. Laos is definitely up there as one of my favourites. So many temples to explore, waterfalls, jungle, and rivers. The time here can be well spent getting to know the local culture just as we did when we weren’t drinking and dancing the nights away.
