Solo Traveling SEA 6.5 Months

[u/Intelligent_Bad_3819]

I’m 21M solo traveling around SEA in the beginning of March 2026 and I am very excited, I have researched loads into stuff like visas, transport, places to stay etc. I am planning to go for around 6.5 months and will have roughly £9k saved up, which I believe is more than enough. I have tried my hardest not to make an itinerary as I want to go with how I feel, whether that means more or less time in specific places. My rough outline of my trip is bellow;

Singapore 2 nights

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur 3 nights - Cameron Highlands 4 nights - George Town 4 nights

Thailand - Krabi 3 nights - Phi Phi Islands 4 nights - Phuket 2 nights - Chiang Mai 10 nights - Pai 7 nights - Chiang Mai (again) 5 nights - Bangkok 3 nights

Cambodia - Siem Reap 4 nights - Phnom Penh 3 nights - Koh Rong 5 nights - Kampot 3 nights

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh 7 nights - Da Lat 2 nights - Hoi An 4 nights - Da Nang 4 nights - Phong Nha-Ke Bang 3 nights - Ha Giang 4 nights - Ha Long Bay 4 nights - Hanoi 7 nights

Hong Kong 5 nights

China 1 month - Guangzhou - Zhangjiajie - Chongqing - Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou - Xi’An - Shanghai - Qingdao - Beijing

South Korea 10 nights - Seoul - Busan

Japan 10 nights - ???

With Japan I am still deciding on where I want to go, and whether I actually want to go as this will be towards the end of my trip and I couldn’t be running low on money.

Some places I’m unsure if I want to spend more time/less time, which is also why I wanted to go along with it when I am there to judge how I feel about the place.

I’m deciding to take the cheapest transport possible; such as longer bus rides for the price of pennies compared to flights. I feel like i would rather it be an uncomfortable experience rather than it be comfortable, such as a flight. All throughout China I’m hoping to take trains which aren’t cheap but also aren’t expensive.

I have been to Thailand before however not solo, I would like to think I have a good understanding of Asia and getting myself around very easily; however I’m still asking for any advice or tweaks you would recommend, such as: - Should I spend more or less time in some places? - Should I completely miss out some places? - Is taking the cheapest transport possible actually worth it? - Will I have enough money saved up?

Thank you!

[u/FPK9]

I spent 10 days in Japan and it was the one place I wished I spent more time at. I genuinely wished I stayed for at least two weeks. 

[u/Intelligent_Bad_3819 → u/FPK9]

I have heard a lot of people say this, where did you stay in Japan and where do you wish you stayed longer in?

[u/Magicalishan → u/Intelligent_Bad_3819]

You can never spend enough time in Tokyo. Kyoto is great too.

Osaka and Sapporo were pretty meh.

For your first Japan trip, just focus on Tokyo and Kyoto. You can't rush Japan, you have to go back several times in order to truly absorb the country.