Banana Pancake Trail

65 stops through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar. Follow them in order, or choose a shorter stretch.

Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai → Pai → … (+61 stops)

Dots follow the stops below. The dotted line shows travel order, not roads.

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

Bangkok
Thailand · Daily budget ~$48
Bangkok combines temples, street food and nightlife in a busy tropical city. Explore Wat Pho and Wat Arun, then make time for markets, museums or a trip along the Chao Phraya River.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Transport details are not recorded.
Plate 1239 · Chiang Mai · 18.80°N 99.00°E · 310 mPhoto: Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Chiang Mai
Thailand · Daily budget ~$41
Chiang Mai is a northern Thai base for temples, night markets and mountain excursions. Explore the walled city, try khao soi and follow the Monk’s Trail toward forest temples.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Bus~3 h 30 min~$10
Chiang Rai
Thailand · Daily budget ~$41
Chiang Rai offers an approachable base for northern temples and borderland excursions. Its striking colour-themed landmarks contrast with hill-country trips beyond town.
Chiang Rai to Pai
Transport details are not recorded.
Pai
Thailand · Daily budget ~$40
Pai mixes a busy backpacker centre with red-ridge walks and waterfalls. Explore the surrounding countryside for Yunnanese village culture and distinctive viewpoints.
Pai to Sukhothai
Transport details are not recorded.
Sukhothai
Thailand · Daily budget ~$43
Sukhothai's old capital survives in a landscape of stupas, statues and moated temples. Cycling between the scattered monuments offers an approachable way to explore.
Sukhothai to Ayutthaya
Transport details are not recorded.
Ayutthaya
Thailand · Daily budget ~$42
Ayutthaya preserves the temple and palace ruins of a former Siamese capital. Cycle or walk between the ruins and look for local sweets and small bowls of boat noodles.
Ayutthaya to Kanchanaburi
Train~$10
Kanchanaburi
Thailand · Daily budget ~$43
Kanchanaburi combines wartime railway history with a riverside setting. Excursions reach tiered waterfalls, memorial walks and limestone national parks.
Kanchanaburi to Khao Sok National Park
Transport details are not recorded.
Khao Sok National Park
Thailand · Daily budget ~$72
Khao Sok National Park combines rainforest with the limestone scenery of Cheow Lan Lake. Canoeing, cave trips and raft-house stays give several ways to experience the landscape.
Khao Sok National Park to Krabi Town
Bus~3 h 30 min~$14
Krabi Town
Thailand · Daily budget ~$39
Krabi Town is a practical riverside base between coastal excursions. Its early market and distinctive temples offer reasons to linger beyond a transfer stop.
Krabi Town to Ao Nang
Drive~40 min~$9.33
Ao Nang
Thailand · Daily budget ~$43
Ao Nang is a busy coastal base for limestone scenery and island boat trips. Nearby coves and hill trails add quieter outings beyond the main beach.
Ao Nang to Rai Leh
Ferry~15 min~$5.24
Rai Leh
Thailand · Daily budget ~$56
Rai Leh is a limestone peninsula reached through a network of beach paths and boats. Climbing, caves and a steep lagoon trail make it more than a beach stop.
Rai Leh to Ko Phi Phi
Ferry~1 h 45 min~$23
Ko Phi Phi
Thailand · Daily budget ~$60
Ko Phi Phi's limestone islands combine busy nightlife with sheltered bays and caves. Longtail trips reach cliff-ringed pools and beaches beyond the main village.
Ko Phi Phi to Ko Lanta
Ferry~1 h 30 min~$19
Ko Lanta
Thailand · Daily budget ~$44
Ko Lanta combines long beaches with an old trading settlement and forest excursions. Its food and cultural traditions reflect several communities along the Andaman coast.
Ko Lanta to Ko Tao
Transport details are not recorded.
Ko Tao
Thailand · Daily budget ~$56
Ko Tao is strongly geared to diving, with schools and boat trips around the island. Snorkelling at Shark Bay and the named hill viewpoints give non-divers options too.
Ko Tao to Ko Pha-ngan
Ferry~1 h 15 min~$20
Ko Pha-ngan
Thailand · Daily budget ~$42
Ko Pha-ngan pairs its party scene with forest walks and diving trips. Beyond the main beaches, routes lead to Bottle Beach and a temple herbal sauna.
Ko Pha-ngan to Ko Samui
Ferry~1 h~$14
Ko Samui
Thailand · Daily budget ~$43
Ko Samui combines developed beaches with unusual rock formations and inland waterfalls. Temple stops and coastal walks offer alternatives to resort activities.
Ko Samui to Phuket
Transport details are not recorded.
Phuket
Thailand · Daily budget ~$51
Phuket combines Andaman beaches with a town of Sino-Portuguese buildings. Boat trips into Phang Nga Bay add cave and grotto exploration to time on the coast.
Phuket to Luang Prabang
Transport details are not recorded.
Plate 1232 · Luang Prabang · 19.88°N 102.13°E · 305 mPhoto: Shelly Zohar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Luang Prabang
Laos · Daily budget ~$37
Luang Prabang sits where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers meet, with wooden houses and Buddhist temples. Explore the town before taking a trip to Kuang Si Falls or trying Lao dishes at the night market.
Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng
Train~1 h~$23
Vang Vieng
Laos · Daily budget ~$39
Vang Vieng sits on the Nam Song River among limestone formations. The town is a base for kayaking, cave visits and walks to viewpoints and lagoons.
Vang Vieng to Vientiane
Train~1 h~$18
Vientiane
Laos · Daily budget ~$35
Vientiane offers Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and a riverside promenade. Explore Pha That Luang and Wat Si Saket, then spend the evening at the night markets or riverfront.
Vientiane to Nong Khiaw
Transport details are not recorded.
Nong Khiaw
Laos · Daily budget ~$37
Nong Khiaw sits between limestone mountains beside the Nam Ou. Viewpoint hikes and wartime caves give it a varied outdoor and historical circuit.
Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi Neua
Boat~1 h~$7
Muang Ngoi Neua
Laos · Daily budget ~$34
Muang Ngoi Neua is a small base for caves, village walks and steep valley viewpoints. The surrounding settlements offer day hikes and overnight stays reached along rural paths.
Muang Ngoi Neua to Luang Namtha
Transport details are not recorded.
Luang Namtha
Laos · Daily budget ~$50
Luang Namtha is a northern Lao base for trekking, kayaking and village visits. Guesthouses and tour companies cluster in the new town, with Lao food available at the night market.
Luang Namtha to Huay Xai
Bus~5 h~$19
Huay Xai
Laos · Daily budget ~$34
Huay Xai is a Mekong-side town across the river from Chiang Khong in Thailand. It is a starting point for the slow boat to Luang Prabang and forest stays with the Gibbon Experience.
Huay Xai to Phonsavan
Transport details are not recorded.
Phonsavan
Laos · Daily budget ~$54
Phonsavan is a highland town and gateway to the Plain of Jars. Combine archaeological visits with war-history exhibits and local markets, allowing extra time for travel into the countryside.
Phonsavan to Thakhek
Transport details are not recorded.
Thakhek
Laos · Daily budget ~$37
Thakhek is a working riverside town and a base for a limestone-country motorbike circuit. Riverfront food stalls and nearby climbing give reasons to pause between excursions.
Thakhek to Siem Reap
Transport details are not recorded.
Siem Reap
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$65
Siem Reap is a base for the temples of Angkor, with hostels, restaurants and bars in town. Between temple visits, explore Buddhist temples, Khmer food and the Cambodian circus.
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Bus~6 h~$14
Phnom Penh
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$59
Phnom Penh sits at the meeting of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, with a palace, museums and riverside cafes. Its Khmer Rouge memorial sites offer a sobering part of a visit alongside markets and Khmer food.
Phnom Penh to Battambang
Transport details are not recorded.
Battambang
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$41
Battambang offers colonial streets and a lively food culture at a calmer pace than the major tourist centres. Trips outside town reach hill shrines, caves and the bamboo train.
Battambang to Kampot
Transport details are not recorded.
Kampot
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$44
Kampot is a riverside town with colonial buildings, pepper farms and access to Bokor Mountain. Spend time on the water, explore nearby farms and try local pepper with your meals.
Kampot to Kep
Drive~1 h 45 min~$11
Kep
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$41
Kep combines a seaside setting, a crab market and forest trails in the national park. Explore the hills or take a boat to Rabbit Island, then return for seafood with pepper.
Kep to Koh Rong
Transport details are not recorded.
Koh Rong
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$47
Koh Rong is an island base for beaches, jungle walks and snorkelling. Choose a beach and accommodation area to suit the balance of quiet time and nightlife you want.
Koh Rong to Koh Rung Sanloem
Ferry~$6.15
Koh Rung Sanloem
Cambodia · Daily budget ~$58
Koh Rung Sanloem combines jungle paths with quieter beaches and a small diving scene. Village stays and walking routes offer a slower island rhythm.
Koh Rung Sanloem to Hanoi
Transport details are not recorded.
Hanoi
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$36
Hanoi brings together pagodas, French colonial buildings and street markets. Explore the Old Quarter on foot, stopping for pho or bun cha and a water puppet performance.
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Transport details are not recorded.
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$36
Ho Chi Minh City combines French colonial buildings, skyscrapers and museums of the war years. Phạm Ngũ Lão offers a base for hostels, street food, nightlife and trips toward the Mekong Delta.
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
Transport details are not recorded.
Plate 1234 · Hoi An · 15.88°N 108.33°E · 13 mPhoto: Steffen Schmitz (more photos) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Hoi An
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$37
Hoi An is a former trading port with shophouses, lantern-lit lanes and historic assembly halls. Walk through the Old Town, sample cao lau and explore the surrounding countryside by bicycle.
Hoi An to Hue
Bus~4 h~$12
Hue
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$38
Hue is a former imperial capital with a citadel, royal tombs and pagodas along the Perfume River. Leave time for the historic sites and local dishes such as spicy beef noodle soup and lemongrass pork.
Hue to Da Nang
Train~3 h~$8
Da Nang
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$34
Da Nang is a central-coast city with beaches, Cham sculpture and access to Hoi An and Hue. Combine My Khe Beach with the Marble Mountains and the riverside Dragon Bridge.
Da Nang to Da Lat
Transport details are not recorded.
Da Lat
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$39
Da Lat sits in the Central Highlands among pine forests, lakes and waterfalls. Its cooler setting is a base for hiking and cycling as well as visits to pagodas and colonial buildings.
Da Lat to Nha Trang
Bus~4 h~$13
Nha Trang
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$38
Nha Trang is a coastal city with an urban beach, diving trips and mud baths. Combine time by the sea with the Po Nagar Cham Towers or an inland waterfall trip.
Nha Trang to Mui Ne
Bus~5 h~$15
Mui Ne
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$40
Mui Ne stretches along the coast with fishing settlements, resorts and red and white sand dunes. Visit the dunes and Fairy Stream, or budget extra for kite-surfing lessons when the wind suits.
Mui Ne to Ninh Binh
Transport details are not recorded.
Ninh Binh
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$41
Ninh Binh’s surrounding countryside combines limestone peaks, waterways and historic temples. Base yourself around Tam Coc or Trang An for boat trips, cave passages and hilltop views.
Ninh Binh to Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Transport details are not recorded.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$55
Phong Nha-Ke Bang combines caves, underground rivers and forested karst mountains. Phong Nha town offers hostels and tour operators for trips ranging from tourist caves to longer expeditions.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba
Transport details are not recorded.
Cat Ba
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$38
Cat Ba combines a national park with limestone bays and climbing trips. The island is a base for exploring Lan Ha Bay and its surrounding coast.
Cat Ba to Halong
Transport details are not recorded.
Halong
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$43
Halong is a practical base for cruises into the limestone bay. Its city beaches, museum and seafood market offer options before or after a boat trip.
Halong to Sa Pa
Transport details are not recorded.
Sa Pa
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$50
Sa Pa is a mountain town overlooking terraced countryside in northwest Vietnam. Use it as a base for village walks, homestays and trips into the Hoang Lien range.
Sa Pa to Ha Giang
Transport details are not recorded.
Ha Giang
Vietnam · Daily budget ~$39
Ha Giang is a northern gateway to limestone plateaus and mountain roads. Tea-growing hills and minority villages add cultural interest around the route.
Ha Giang to Kuala Lumpur
Transport details are not recorded.
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$52
Kuala Lumpur combines colonial-era buildings, modern towers and shopping districts. Explore its hawker streets and the food traditions of Chinatown, Brickfields and the city’s Malay neighbourhoods.
Kuala Lumpur to George Town
Transport details are not recorded.
George Town
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$45
George Town combines colonial buildings, street art and hawker food in Penang. Explore the historic streets and Little India, then consider the funicular up Penang Hill.
George Town to Malacca
Transport details are not recorded.
Malacca
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$45
Malacca's compact heritage core combines several layers of colonial and local architecture. Walk between churches, Chinese temples and Peranakan houses before exploring the food scene.
Malacca to Ipoh
Transport details are not recorded.
Ipoh
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$45
Ipoh combines a former tin-mining city’s colonial buildings with a strong hawker-food tradition. Explore the old streets, try white coffee and chicken with beansprouts, then visit limestone cave temples.
Ipoh to Cameron Highlands
Bus~2 h 30 min~$9
Cameron Highlands
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$46
Hill-station visitor area includes the Tanah Rata backpacker base.
Cameron Highlands to Taman Negara
Transport details are not recorded.
Taman Negara
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$67
Taman Negara offers rainforest trails and river-based stays in the peninsula's interior. Canopy walks, wildlife outings and longer mountain routes provide a range of experiences.
Taman Negara to Perhentian Islands
Transport details are not recorded.
Perhentian Islands
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$49
The Perhentian Islands combine coral reefs with jungle-backed beaches. Kecil and Besar have different accommodation scenes, but both offer snorkelling and diving.
Perhentian Islands to Tioman
Transport details are not recorded.
Tioman
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$49
Tioman is a forested island with reefs and scattered coastal settlements. Diving and waterfall walks offer different ways to explore beyond the beach.
Tioman to Langkawi
Transport details are not recorded.
Langkawi
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$52
Langkawi is an Andaman archipelago with waterfalls, island viewpoints and duty-free shopping. Cable-car excursions and the pools of Telaga Tujuh offer alternatives to beach time.
Langkawi to Kuching
Transport details are not recorded.
Kuching
Malaysia · Daily budget ~$50
Kuching brings together riverfront heritage, Chinese temples and Sarawak's cultural institutions. Nearby excursions include rainforest music events and the Rafflesia habitat at Gunung Gading.
Kuching to Singapore
Transport details are not recorded.
Singapore
Singapore · Daily budget ~$88
Singapore mixes a dense city skyline with hawker dining and riverfront nightlife. Its gardens and wildlife attractions provide quieter breaks between neighbourhood walks.
Singapore to Yangon
Transport details are not recorded.
Yangon
Myanmar · Daily budget ~$55
Yangon combines Buddhist pagodas, British colonial architecture and a varied food scene. Shwedagon, downtown streets and dishes from Bamar, Indian, Chinese and Shan traditions frame a cultural visit.
Yangon to Mandalay
Train~$38
Mandalay
Myanmar · Daily budget ~$52
Mandalay's royal and religious heritage is expressed in monasteries, pagodas and traditional crafts. Nearby former capitals extend the historical landscape beyond the city.
Mandalay to Bagan
Bus~5 h~$14
Bagan
Myanmar · Daily budget ~$57
Bagan preserves an extensive Buddhist archaeological landscape. Temple visits and village crafts connect its monumental history with everyday life.
Bagan to Inle Lake
Bus~9 h~$21
Inle Lake
Myanmar · Daily budget ~$55
Lake visitor destination served by the Nyaung Shwe base.
Inle Lake to Kalaw
Train~5 h~$10
Kalaw
Myanmar · Daily budget ~$53
Kalaw is a compact hill station with markets and a cooler climate. Routes through Shan and Pa-O villages connect it with the wider highland landscape.
Kalaw to Don Det
Transport details are not recorded.
Don Det
Laos · Daily budget ~$34
Don Det is a small Mekong island known for riverside guesthouses and slow-paced days. Cross the old French bridge to explore neighbouring Don Khon's temple and waterfall.
Don Det to Pakse
Bus~4 h~$17
Pakse
Laos · Daily budget ~$39
Pakse sits where the Xe Don meets the Mekong and serves as a transport base in southern Laos. Use it for trips toward the Bolaven Plateau, waterfalls and the temple complex at Wat Phou.

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