Pack your backpack and let's travel Thailand and Malaysia together. Our journey starts in Thailand's mega-metropolis Bangkok and ends 1500km away in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Along the way, we'll turn night into day in the capital cities, laze in a hammock on tropical islands, eat our way through the best street food cuisines next to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and hike through tea plantations in the mountains. Our route: Bangkok 🏙️ -> Koh Tao 🤿 -> Koh Phangan (Full moon party) 🏝️ -> Krabi 🥑🍨 -> Penang 🇲🇾🏛️ -> Cameron Highlands ⛰️ -> Ipoh 🕍 -> Kuala Lumpur 🍜 ⬇️⬇️⬇️ More information ⬇️⬇️⬇️ ________________________________________ ℹ️ TRAVEL GROUP: Timo 🙋🏼♂️ 🇩🇪 - Tripleader Selina 🙋♀️ 🇦🇹 - Tripmate (Malaysia only) Andreas 🙋🏼♂️ 🇦🇹 - Tripmate (Malaysia only) Connor 🙋🏼♂️ 🇺🇸 - Tripmate Manuel 🙋🏼♂️ 🇦🇹 - Tripmate ℹ️ OVERVIEW: Day 1-2: Bangkok - The golden city 🛕 Our journey begins on the most famous backpacker street in the world with a traditional street food meal and an ice-cold Thai beer. The next day, I'll show you some of the most important highlights of the Thai capital (temples, China Town, markets). But we also like to visit the less touristy corners of my adopted hometown (modern Bangkok, remote temples, secret night markets). 🍻 🏯 Day 3-5: Koh Tao - the diving paradise 🤿 From Bangkok, the journey continues in the evening by night bus (or night train) and ferry to the tropical island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand. Our first island is a comparatively small island and offers a relaxed start to our Thailand round trip. Koh Tao is particularly famous for its underwater world. There is a really wide range of diving schools and prices are low due to the high level of competition. If you're planning to do a diving course, this is the place for you (costs: €250-300, ❌ not included). You can decide spontaneously on the island, but please let us talk about it in advance, as we may have to change the schedule. Day 5-8: Koh Phangan - The biggest beach party in Asia 🎵🍻🏝️ Koh Phangan used to be an insider tip many years ago, when backpackers and hippies from all over the world celebrated a big party once a month on the white sandy beach of Haad Rin. Nowadays, the Fullmoon Party attracts thousands of international guests every month to drink cocktails from beach buckets in colorful neon shirts and dance in the sand to electronic music. We're really lucky, because the moon is full on December 5th and we're there! But the island has a lot more to offer than just this one party night, let us surprise you! Day 8-9: Krabi - between mangroves and dream beaches 🌅 Krabi is our last stop in Thailand. The gateway to the islands of Koh Lanta, Koh PhiPhi and Phuket, it serves as a transit point for many travelers. However, with its great night markets and relaxed atmosphere, the provincial town invites you to linger. We will arrive here in the late afternoon and may still have time for a. We will arrive here late in the afternoon and perhaps have time for a walk through the mangrove forests before we can enjoy the Thai night markets for the last time. Day 9-11: Penang - street food meets street art🎨 From Krabi, the next day we either fly or take the bus to Malaysia (depending on when you book). The island of Penang is considered a cultural melting pot and the capital George Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. There is plenty of street art to discover here between old colonial buildings (Malaysia's answer to Banksy) before the street food stalls are set up everywhere in the evening. Those who have had enough of the hustle and bustle of the old town can also retreat to one of the beautiful beaches and recharge their batteries. Day 11-13: Cameron Highlands - cooling off in the mountains ⛰️ From the coast we now head into the mountains. The Cameron Highlands were already a popular retreat to escape the tropical climate in British colonial times. We will also enjoy the pleasant coolness and can discover tea plantations and strawberry fields on short or long hikes or enjoy the view in an old traditional guesthouse. Day 13-14: Ipoh - street art away from the mainstream 🏛 In direct comparison with Penang's capital, Ipoh may not be quite as impressive, but the "little sister" of Georgetown is developing into a real insider tip. There is still street art here, without large crowds and the colonial flair of the old tin town invites you to linger and relax. Ipoh is therefore an ideal stopover on our way to the mega-metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. Day 14-16: Kuala Lumpur - a skyline to fall in love with🕌 We will spend the last few days of our backpacking trip in Kuala Lumpur (KL). For me personally, KL is one of the most diverse and interesting cities in the world. The melting pot of cultures offers a huge culinary selection. The prices are as cheap as in Bangkok, but the city's skyline is reminiscent of glittering Singapore. KL also offers ideal conditions for a final shopping tour, as clothes can hardly be found cheaper in Asia than here in Chinatown. ________________________________________ What can you expect on this trip? ➕ Discover 2 top travel destinations in Southeast Asia by land 🎒🛤️ ➕ Perfect mix of party, beach, nature, culture and city break. 🥳 ➕ A cool international travel group, with a maximum of 6 people 🤗🇩🇪🇦🇹🇺🇸 ➕ Explore Malaysia's colonial past in Penang & KL🏛️ ➕ Celebrate the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan with other backpackers from all over the world 🌕🍺🌏 ➕ Marvel at the colorful skyline of Kuala Lumpur at night 🌃 ➕ Enjoy the best street food cuisines in the world🍜 What is included in the tour price? ✅ All transfers (bus, train, cab, minivan, ferry) Accommodation (15 nights in shared twin bed rooms) ✅ Entrance fee temple Wat Saket - Bangkok ✅ Full day snorkeling trip - Koh tao ✅ 2 days scooter rental - Koh Phangan ✅ Walking tour UNESCO old town - Penang ✅ Visit a tea plantation - Cameron Highlands ✅ Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur ✅ Walking tour China Town, Little India & CC - Kuala Lumpur ✅ Free eSIM 4G/5G Thailand & Malaysia (1GB per day) ✅ 24/7 Customer Service and Support by joinmytrip.com What is not included in the trip price? ❌ (International) Flights to/from Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur ❌ Daily Meals, Snacks & Drinks (approx. 7€-15€ per day) ❌ Optional: Full moon party transportation + entrance fee (6€) ❌ Optional: Entrance fees for additional activities & tours ❌ Everything else which is not listed or marked with ❌ ________________________________________ ℹ️ TIME OF TRAVEL: Best time to travel ☀️🌺 We are traveling at the beginning of the high season in Southeast Asia. The rainy season is as good as over, the temperatures are now bearable almost everywhere and the landscape is still in full bloom and green. However, the big influx of tourists doesn't start until a week before Christmas. Most of the sights and beaches are therefore not yet overcrowded. ________________________________________
ℹ️ About me 🙋♂️: I have been living in Bangkok since mid-2024 and regularly travel to different parts of Southeast Asia from here. I have traveled a lot on my own but appreciate the company of other travelers with similar interests. That's why I've started sharing my travel plans on JoinMyTrip and look forward to meeting new people :) ________________________________________
ℹ️ Accommodation 🛏️: Our accommodation will be simple but clean and well-kept rooms in well-located small hotels, hostels or guesthouses. If required, you can also book a single room for an extra charge. Although I am traveling as a backpacker and always try to get the best value for money, this does not mean that we will stay in the cheapest and last descents. Nevertheless, this is not a relaxed luxury vacation and on some days of the trip we will spend more than half the day on local buses, trains and ferries. _____________________________________________ ℹ️ Travel safely as a woman ♀ and LGBTQ 🏳️🌈: I am aware that it can be a big hurdle to embark on a travel adventure with unknown male travel partners from different cultural backgrounds. However, to take away as many worries as possible right from the start and create more security, you can rely on the following measures: 1) Separate rooms 🚪 If no other woman is taking part in this trip alongside you, I will book you your own single room or bed in a dormitory of the same sex at your request. This means you always have a place to retreat to and a safe space, at no extra cost! 2) Woman to woman 🙋🏻♀️ On all my trips that start in Bangkok, there is the possibility that you can get to know my partner Hannah personally at our first dinner together. Should a situation arise during the trip in which you feel uncomfortable and would prefer to have a woman as your contact person, you can get in touch with her or with my co-tripleader Lama from JMT. 3) You always have the choice ⛔ If you realize during the first few days that the chemistry just isn't right or you feel uncomfortable in the presence of other tripmates and we can't improve the situation through a confidential conversation, you can cancel the trip as a last resort even after the trip has started. And without having to pay the full cost of the trip. I will refund you the full amount of your trip price in the local currency, minus - Costs already incurred for activities, accommodation and transportation - JoinMyTrip commission (10-15% of the trip price, JMT may refund you the fees afterwards) - Costs for future bookings that can no longer be canceled (e.g. flights, train/bus or accommodation) As a rule, you should receive at least 60-70% of your travel price back. Money should therefore not be a motive that prevents you from listening to your gut feeling! ________________________________________
What's included?
ALL transports: Bus, Train, Taxi, Ferry
Accommodation (15 nights in 2 bed rooms)
Scooter Rentals
Entrance fees BKK & KL sights
Streetart tour Penang
Tea plantation Cameron Highlands
StreetWalking tour KL
Fullday Snorkeling trip Koh Tao
Free eSIM Thailand & Malaysia (1 GB/day)
Complete planning & advance support
Your Booking includes free protection from Trip cancellations. Learn More
Hi! I’m Timo 👋 I travel a lot and I'm always happy to meet new people. I am a passionate frugalist and try to live a sustainable life. 🫶🌏
4.92 based on 12 reviews
Anja
5/5
Absolutely heartfelt recommendation (also for women!) I went on a 3-week trip to Thailand with Timo and some tripmates via JoinMyTrip - a mix of city trip, island hopping and a wonderful finale in northern Thailand - and it was really great! It was my first backpacking trip and my first trip via JoinMyTrip, so I was a bit apprehensive at first. Especially because I was supposed to be the only woman in the group for the second part of the trip. But that turned out to be completely unfounded: the group was super friendly, fun and relaxed, and I felt totally at ease right from the start. Timo is an incredibly likeable and empathetic organizer. Even before the trip, he provided us with all the important information, a packing list and lots of tips on entering the country, vaccinations, money, etc., which made preparation much easier. During the trip, everything was perfectly organized - accommodation, transport, activities - and at the same time there was always enough flexibility for spontaneous activities. I found it particularly thoughtful that Timo booked me single rooms on the last part of the trip, where I was the only woman, as a matter of course. So to all women who might still be thinking: Dare! I felt safe the whole time, made lots of unforgettable memories and made new friends. I can recommend Timo's trips without reservation - you really couldn't have done it any better! ❤️
On our first day, we will explore Bangkok and visit the two magnificent temples Wat Saket and Wat Suthat. These historical sites are not quite as well known as Wat Arun, for example, but they are also less crowded. Don't forget to wear appropriate clothing (shoulders and knees must be covered). Afterwards, you will walk through the bustling Chinatown. To relax in the afternoon, we visit the "green lungs" of Bangkok, Lumphini Park and Benjakitti Park. Here you can observe turtles and giant monitor lizards that have found a new home in the lakes and ponds of these huge city parks. In the evening, a visit to one of the many night markets awaits, where you can experience a huge selection of street food. Of course, we won't miss out on Bangkok's famous nightlife and roam the legendary Khao San Road in the late evening.
2
Ko Tao
Day 2-5
To recover from the long journey by night bus from Bangkok, it's time to relax on the beach. If you are interested in a diving course (or a trial dive), we will be happy to look for a suitable diving school together. It is important to pay attention to criteria such as course language, PADI/SSI certification, diving instructor, group size, pool and condition of the equipment. As an experienced diver, I am happy to help you choose the right diving school. In the evening, we get in the mood for the coming days at a pub crawl or in one of the beach bars (❌ drinks not included). The next day, a snorkeling trip to various bays around the island awaits those who don't want to dive (✅ included in the tour price). If you want to experience even more action, there are numerous other activities that can be booked spontaneously on site (❌ not included in the tour price). The most popular activities include - Island exploration by scooter - (Trial) diving - Muai Thai boxing - Thai cooking class etc.
3
Ko Pha Ngan
Day 5-8
After a few relaxing days on Koh Tao, we move on to the larger neighboring island of Koh Phangan. The biggest beach party in Southeast Asia takes place here every month. We are lucky and the moon is in a favorable position so that we can experience the legendary Full Moon Party live and dance in the sand to electronic music until sunrise! 🌕🎵 On the other days, we will rent a scooter (✅ included) to discover the various beaches, waterfalls, view points, coconut plantations and hidden spots scattered all over the island. If you don't feel confident enough to drive a scooter yourself, I can also give you a lift.
4
Krabi
Day 8-9
After just under a week on the islands, we will leave the Gulf of Thailand and travel by ferry and bus to the west coast. The journey will take at least half a day. Once we arrive in Krabi, we will use the late afternoon and evening to explore the relaxed city and eat together at the local street food night market. The next morning is the longest leg of our journey and part 2 of our trip through Thailand and Malaysia begins.
5
Penang
Day 9-11
From Krabi, we're making our way to Malaysia tomorrow. After so much beach, partying and food, it's time for some culture! Our destination for today is the island of Penang with the UNESCO old town of Georgetown. We will either travel to Butterworth by train or minivan and then take the ferry, or fly to Penang via Kuala Lumpur (depending on your booking date and the size of your group). Penang is less of a tropical island (although it does have some good beaches) as you might imagine, and more of an old port city with a rich cultural heritage. We will spend two days exploring the "capital" Georgetown and the island. The highlights here are definitely the unique cuisine and the street art and art scene.
6
Cameron Highlands
Day 11-13
Off to the Malaysian highlands! At 1300m, there is always a pleasant breeze and we can escape the hustle and bustle of the big city for a few days. We can immerse ourselves in the scent of the eucalyptus trees and drink a cup of freshly brewed tea before going on a hike through the tea plantations or visiting Chinese temples.
7
Ipoh
Day 13-14
Our next stop is Ipoh. The old colonial town became incredibly rich thanks to tin mining and was therefore also known as the city of millionaires. But not forever. Since the end of tin mining, Ipoh has also had to reinvent itself and is doing so quite successfully. The historic old town and some street art corners are a little reminiscent of Georgtown, except that it is nowhere near as well-known and crowded. Perfect for a stopover on the way to the mountains!
8
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Day 14-16
As our trip draws to a close, there is almost no better conclusion to the grand finale than Kuala Lumpur (KL for short). The dazzling capital of Malaysia is a true melting pot of cultures and in its own way unites all the cities that make up Southeast Asia. KL offers a unique blend of ancient tradition, super modern city life and yet retains the charm of a chaotic Asian megacity with excellent street food and cheap night markets. Even though KL is much smaller than Bangkok or Singapore, it still plays in the top league of must-see cities. We will be staying at our hotel near the historic old town of Kuala Lumpur. In this area we will find a fascinating mixture of colonial and Asian influences. Of course, the Petrona Twin Towers, the landmark of Kuala Lumpur, should not be missed. The 452-metre-high twin towers made of steel and glass are an impressive architectural masterpiece and were once the tallest building in the world (❌ viewing platform not included). Merdeka 118 is now the tallest building in the city at over 670 meters, making it the second tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. There is a unique recreational park around the Petrona Towers with a colorful evening water show that is not to be outdone by the water games in Singapore. In the evening, the lively Chinatown district awaits us, which is known for its diverse and authentic cuisine. We sample our way through the street kitchens and food courts and let the tempting aromas cast a spell over us. To round off our city trip, we visit the impressive Hindu Batu Cave Temple on the outskirts of the city, which now also provides a refuge for monkeys that once lived in the wild in this large metropolis. After 2 weeks and over 1500km, our journey from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur comes to an end. The next morning, I take the plane home.
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Hotel & Hostel & Bed & Breakfast
16 days trip
Bangkok, Ko Tao & 6 more
Transportation
Train, Boat, Car
Questions and Answers
Hey Timo. an amazing plan! Is there still an available spot?
Hi Lior, Well, it's a little complicated, because the 2nd part (Malaysia) of my journey is almost fully booked 😌 If you save my trip to your favorites, I can open a private chat and we can discuss ... Read More
Hi Timo! I'm strongly considering reserving a spot for this trip with you but was curious as to when... Read More
Hi Connor, Thanks for your message and your interest in my trip 😊 Normally, at least two Tripmates are needed to confirm the trip. Luckily Selina from Austria booked the second part of this trip (Mal... Read More
What's excluded?
International Flights to/from BKK/KL
Personal expenses (Meals, Drinks, Party)
Additional tours & fees (if needed)
Visa (if needed)
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South-eastern Asia
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South-eastern Asia
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