Little Itineraries: The Perfect 2-Week Southeast Asia Vacation
After spending over 3 months in Southeast Asia, it’s pretty fun to dream up how we would spend two weeks in this amazing region of the world. Sure, it doesn’t feel like enough time at all. There are so many places to see! But I would easily take two weeks in Southeast Asia over none at all. That’s 336 hours, 42 potential meals, and countless amazing memories to be made.
Imagine that I could jump in a time machine and re-visit Southeast Asia for the first time but with what I know now. This is how I would spend my first visit to the region. There’s a major SEA city (Bangkok), a not quite off the beaten path destination (Siem Reap), time to relax (Thai Islands), and the lure of a one of a kind city (Singapore). 14 days brimming with incredible food to eat and activities to enjoy with enough downtime to actually feel like a vacation from life back at home.
14 Days in Southeast Asia:
Siem Reap (4 Days)
Bangkok (2 Days)
Thai Islands (4 Days)
Singapore (3 Days)
To find out more about each destination, check out our Destination Guides: Singapore, Siem Reap, and restaurants of Siem Reap.
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (4 DAYS)
Day 1 - Arrival
Head into town from the airport via tuk tuk for a true welcome to Southeast Asia! We recommend a stay at either Banana Resort, a tiny, 6 villa accommodation or Villa Wat Damnak, a hotel walking distance into town.
Day 2
The best way to beat jet-lag is to get moving and sightseeing! Hire a tuk tuk driver/guide and head out to Angkor Wat. Purchase 3 days passes (or 2 day passes if they begin to sell those again) and make your first visit to the complex the main temple, Angkor Wat. Don’t forget to pack some snacks and waters. Or pick up a coconut water along the way. Before heading back into town, have your drive stop at one or two smaller, less crowded temples near Angkor Wat.
Stop for lunch at Sister Srey Cafe and fill your bodies with veggies, a smoothie, and plenty of water. Another jet-lay fighter! Take a swim in the pool during the heat of the day and maybe a short (45 minute) nap. Only if you need it to get you through the rest of the day. Take an evening stroll through Psar Chaa, Old Market, chat with the vendors, and buy some souvenirs. Head across the street to the Night Market and do the same. Taste some street food and take in how beautiful the city is at night. Then set out to find great Khmer food. We love the food at Villa Wat Damnak, the hotel that we first stayed in because it feels like your eating in someone’s home. The food is truly so good.
Day 3
You still have a lot of trip ahead of you, so take the day to relax. Walk around town and maybe take a yoga class at Navutu Resort or a lotus flower arrangement class (this flower arrangement is so popular in Siem Reap and beautiful!). Maybe have lunch at Little Red Fox Cafe or seek out new places to enjoy Khmer food. Relax by the pool and, if you have kids in tow, treat them to a trip to Kid’s Park, the indoor playground at The Heritage Walk. Then treat yourself to a delicious dinner at Siem Reap Brewpub.
Day 4
This is your main Angkor Wat complex adventure day! Many visitors take in Angkor Wat at sunrise. You’ll be well-rested if this is on your list. Two must-see temples for the day: Ta Phrom (a temple overtaken by trees) and Bayon (the “face temple”). Have your guide take you to other smaller temples that are their favorite. Then head back into town for lunch. Schedule time for a massage, a dip by the pool, dinner, and a early bedtime.
(If you have an extra day in Siem Reap, take a day trip to Phnom Kulen to see some historical sights and a swim under a waterfall.)
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BANGKOK, THAILAND (2 DAYS)
Day 5 - Siem Reap to Bangkok
(Full disclosure we never made it to Bangkok though we did visit the airport three times! These are recommendations from friends of ours and other travelers!)
Stay at The Pattern Boutique Hotel or if you want to spend those hotel points, stay at Riva Surya Hotel. If you arrive early enough, visit a few of Bangkok’s sights like Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew) before they close in the afternoon. Eat dinner at Rot Fai Market Ratchada (only open Thursday-Sunday), a large night market with many street vendors to choose from.
Day 6
Your one full day in Bangkok, make it count! Head out on a tour of the floating markets. You can find amazing, well priced tours on Airbnb. (This is my one and only must-see item on my future trip to Bangkok!) In the afternoon, squeeze in visit to the temples on Day 5 if you didn’t make it yesterday. Visit Wat Arun for a massage and JJ Market, to take in the largest market in Thailand.
(If you need to cut out any leg of this itinerary, I would pass on Bangkok. You will get the big city experience from Singapore. Although Singapore and Bangkok are wildly different.)
THAI ISLANDS (4 DAYS)
Day 7 - Bangkok to Thai Islands
The Thai Islands! A dream destination for so many people. Deciding where to stay is all about your travel style. So I’m giving you two choices. First, is staying in Krabi and using it as a home base. Sure, Phuket is so popular. But Krabi is less expensive, more family friendly, and it still gives you the accessibility to take day trips to nearby islands. We loved our stay at Krabi Resort. There’s also Koh Lanta, which many people visit on a day trip. It’s the perfect island to stay on if your main goal is to relax and spend long days on the beach. Our stay at Green Pepper Boutique Hotel was perfect and truly embodied the spirit of the island.
Either way, after two flights in 3 days and a whirlwind trip to Bangkok, you’re going to want to take your arrival day easy. Enjoy the beach or the pool, get a massage, and have dinner at or near your accommodation.
Day 8
Beach day to do whatever your heart desires. Snorkel, kayak around limestone formations, drink delicious beverages by the pool. Oh, maybe even a swim up bar. Extra points if your accommodation has a kid’s club so that you can enjoy some quiet time.
Day 9
You’re well rested enough and have drifted into island time. Today is adventure day! Hire a boat out to the islands for the day. Visit the Phi Phi islands or Phang Nga Bay. Don’t forget to pack snacks and take some dramamine. The waters can be very rough!
Day 10
Tackle a morning activity like rock climbing in Krabi or a hike around the island. Then relish in an afternoon of nothing to do by the pool or beach. Eat your weight in pad see ew, papaya salad, satay, and tom yum.
SINGAPORE (3 DAYS)
Day 11 - Thai Islands to Singapore
A two hours flight and you’re in a whole other world! Stay in Little India or Tiong Bahru. Both areas are less expensive than other areas in the city yet close to the main sights. Drop off your bags and head to the nearest hawker center for lunch. (Want a beginner’s guide to Hawker Centers? Read our post!) With a belly full of prawn noodle or duck rice, you will officially feel like you’re in Singapore! Head over to Gardens by the Bay to walk through the botanical gardens, play at the Children’s Garden, and let the fresh air rejuvenate you. Visit the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. End the evening in Chinatown, take in your surroundings, visit the Buddha Tooth Relic temple and Sri Mariamman, a Hindu temple, and end with dinner at Maxwell Food Centre, a famous hawker center with over 100 stalls.
Day 12
Start the morning with an easy hike through MacRitchie Trail and the Tree Top Walk. Head over for lunch at Adam Road hawker center to fill up on roti prata and other Indian dishes. Then spend the early afternoon in the Botanical Gardens. Go back to your accommodations, take a swim (Singapore is notoriously hot and humid!), and then head to the Marina for the evening. Take in the giant, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the Merlion, the ArtScience Museum building, and the Esplanade building, which curiously looks a lot like a durian fruit. The skyline is truly unique here. Then head back to Gardens by the Bay to watch the Supertree Grove light show (shows are free and at 7:45 and 8:45 PM). There’s also a light and water show at the Marina Bay Sands at 8 and 9:30 PM. Then head over to Din Tai Fung for their famous soup dumplings.
Day 13
Explore Little India, visit the Sultan Mosque, head out to see the Peranakan Houses and visit East Coast Park. Or maybe take a trip over to the beaches on Sentosa. Enjoy your last full day in Southeast Asia and, of course, end it with a great hawker center meal.
Day 14 - Singapore to Home
Head home! Don’t forget to leave extra time to explore Changi Airport. The movie theater, cactus garden, swimming pools. It’s a one-a-kind airport! At a minimum don’t miss taking an extra 10 minutes to see the RainVortex, the famous indoor waterfall just outside of the terminals at the Jewel shopping mall.
You’re time is done and you have that feeling only a vacation can give you. So, so tired and yet so, so full of life. Memories have been made. Delicious meals will haunt you with cravings for years to come. It was all worth it!
