The document provides sample itineraries for 15-day and 30-day trips to various Asian countries, including Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia. For each country, the itineraries suggest the number of nights to spend in different cities and regions to enjoy the major attractions over the allotted time period. The itineraries are meant to serve as a starting point that can be adjusted based on individual interests and transportation plans. The last section advertises a travel memoir by Carlos Peñalba about quitting his job in New York City at age 40 to spend a year traveling through Asia, with the goal of becoming a writer and photographer. His journey ultimately

1. ASIAN ITINERARIES

2. Some guidebooks don’t help much when calculating how many days are necessary to enjoy a place. The aim of
this short guide is to help those planning a trip to Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos or
Western Indonesia to put together a basic itinerary.
ITINERARY IDEAS
I’ve created 15 and 30-day itineraries for each country (couple of times because of their small extension I’ve
joined two areas of different countries). The numbers refer to the nights I recommend staying in each place to
enjoy all they offer.
Obviously, each itinerary is just one of the many possible. Use them as a starting point when you plan your trip.
Once you are there, be flexible and adjust your itinerary according to your own interests and how you will be
moving around.

3. - 2-3 days in Kathmandu
- 5 to 7-day trek from Kathmandu or Pokhara
- 1-3 days rafting from Kathmandu or Pokhara
- 2-3 days in Chitwan National Park
- 2-3 days in Kathmandu
- 15 to 20-day trek in the Annapurna Circuit
- 3 to 6 days rafting: Sun Kosi is a good option
- 2-3 days in Chitwan National Park
- 2 days in Lumbini
- 2 days in Bandipur
30-Day Itinerary15-Day Itinerary
NEPAL

4. 15-Day Itinerary - South15-Day Itinerary - North
- 2 days in New Delhi
- 2 days in Agra
- 1-2 days in Jaipur, Pushkar or Bundi
- 1-2 days in Jodhpur, Udaipur or Jaisalmer
- 2 days in Khajuraho
- 2 days in Bandavgarth National Park
- 2-3 days in Varanasi
- 2 days in Mumbai
- 2 days in Ellora & Ajanta Caves
- 3 days in Goa
- 2 days in Hampi
- 1-2 days in Puducherry
- 1-2 days in Kochi & Munnar
- 1-2 day in Varkala
INDIA

5. 30-Day Itinerary
- 2 days in New Delhi
- 1 day in Amritsar
- 2 days in Agra
- 1 day in Jaipur
- 1 day in Pushkar
- 1 day in Jodhpur or Udaipur
- 2 days in Jaisalmer
- 1-2 days in Khajuraho
- 2 days in Bandavgarth Park
- 2 days in Varanasi
- 2 days in Kolkata
- 2 days in Mumbai
- 2 days in Ellora & Ajanta
- 3 days in Goa
- 2 days in Hampi
- 1-2 days in Puducherry
- 2 days in Kochi & Munnar

6. 30-Day Itinerary15-Day Itinerary
- 2 days in Yangon
- 1 day in Bago
- 2-3 days in Inle Lake
- 4 days in Mandalay, Amarapura & Sagaing
- 2-3 days in Bagan
- 2-3 days in Ngwe Saung Beach
- 2 days in Yangon
- 2 days in Kyaiktiyo & Bago
- 3-day trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake
- 2-3 days in Inle Lake
- 4-5 days in Mandalay, Amarapura & Sagaing
- 3 days in Bagan
- 3-5 days in Pathein & Ngwe Saung Beach
MYANMAR

7. 30-Day Itinerary15-Day Itinerary
THAILAND
- 2 days in Bangkok
- 2-3 days in Ayuthaya & Sukhothai
- 2-3 days in Chiang Mai
- 1-2 days in one National Park
- 1 day in Phuket
- 3-5 days in the Islands
- 3-4 days in Bangkok
- 2-3 days in Ayuthaya & Sukhotai
- 2-3 days Khao Yai National Park
- 3-4 days Chiang Mai
- 2-3 days around Pai Mae Hong
- 7 days in Phuket & the Islands

8. 30-Day Itinerary with Southern Vietnam15-Day Itinerary
- 2-3 days in Phnom Penh
- 3-5 days in Siem Reap
- 2 days in Battambang
- 3 days in Sihanoukville
- 2 days in Kampot & Kep
- 2 days in Phnom Penh
- 3-5 days in Siem Reap
- 2 days in Battambang
- 2-3 days in Sihanoukville
- 2 days in Kampot & Kep
- 2-3 days in Phu Quoc Island
- 3 days in the Mekong Delta
- 3-5 days in Ho Chi Minh City
- 1-2 days in Mui Ne
- 2-3 days in the Highlands
CAMBODIA

9. 15-Day Itinerary - South15-Day Itinerary - North 15-Day Itinerary - Both
- 3 days in Hanoi
- 2-3 days in Halong Bay
- 3-5 days hike in Sapa
- 3-4 days in Hue & Hoi An
- 2-3 days in Ho Chi Minh City
- 2-3 days in the Mekong Delta
- 2-3 days in Phu Quoc or Mui Ne
- 2-3 days in the Highlands
- 2-3 days in Hue & Hoi An
- 3 days in Hanoi
- 2 days in Halong Bay
- 2-3 days in Hue & Hoi An
- 2-3 days in Ho Chi Minh City
- 2 days in the Mekong Delta
- 2-3 days in Phu Quoc
VIETNAM

10. 30-Day Itinerary
- 3 days in Hanoi
- 3-5 days in Sapa
- 2 days in Halong Bay
- 1 day in Hue
- 2 days in Hoi An
- 3-5 days in the Highlands
- 2 days in Mui Ne or Nha Trang
- 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City
- 2-3 days in the Mekong Delta
- 2-3 days in Phu Quoc

11. 30-Day Itinerary with Southern Vietnam15-Day Itinerary
- 2 days in Vientiane
- 2-3 days in Luang Prabang
- 1 day in Vang Vieng
- 2 days in Luang Nam Tha
- 2-3 days in Muang Ngoi Neua
- 2-3 days in Phonsavan
- 2 days in Vientiane
- 2 days in Luang Prabang
- 2-3 days Muang Ngoi Neua
- 1-2 days Phonsavan
- 1-2 days Savannakhet
- 1-2 days Pakse
- 2-4 days Si Phan Don
- 2-3 days in Hue & Hoi An
- 2-3 days in the Highlands
- 2-3 days in Ho Chi Minh City
- 2 days in the Mekong Delta
- 2-3 days in Phu Quoc
LAOS

12. Java & BaliSumatra & Java Bali & Lombok
- 2 days in Medan & Bukit Lawang
- 3-4 days in Berastagi & Lake Toba
- 2-3 days in Bukittinggi & Danau Maninjau
- 2 days in Jakarta
- 2-3 days in Yogyakarta
- 2 days in Mt Bromo
- 2 days in Jakarta
- 2-3 days in Yogyakarta
- 2 days in Mt Bromo
- 2 days in Lovina
- 3 days in Ubud
- 2 days in Seminyak
- 2 days in Lovina
- 3 days in Ubud
- 2 days in Seminyak
- 1-2 days in Senggigi
- 3-day trek in Mt Rinjani
- 3-5 days in the Gili Islands
INDONESIA

13. 30-Day Itinerary Sumatra, Java, Bali & Lombok
- 1 day in Medan
- 1 days in Bukit Lawang
- 3 days in Berastagi & Lake Toba
- 2 days in Bukittinggi & Danau Maninjau
- 3-5 days in Mentawai
- 2 days in Jakarta
- 2-3 days in Yogyakarta
- 2 days in Mt Bromo
- 3-5 days in Ubud
- 2 days in Seminyak
- 3-day trek Mt Rinjani
- 2-3 days in the Gili Islands

14. A TRAVEL MEMOIR
"Out of Office... For Good"
About to turn forty, Carlos Peñalba quits his senior position at a
financial software firm in New York City to travel through Asia
for a year. Although his main objective is to explore a continent
almost unknown to him, he also intends to use his journey to
fulfill his dream of becoming a writer and a photographer.
Carlos’s original plan would take him from Nepal to Japan, but
unexpected circumstances force him to alter his route and
extend his adventure to eighteen months. After trekking high
peaks, reaching remote cultures, having some interesting
encounters and taking up vipassana meditation, the end of his
long journey would bring him (where he less expects it)
something much more important than a new career.
Find more details about the book on:
www.carlospenalba.com
All images © Carlos Peñalba Photography
www.carlospenalbaphotography.com