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[The Pope]

Towards the end of this year I will embark on, with a friend, on a year long journey around the world. I have even sold all my consoles and collection of games to fund part of the trip. I am very safety conscious and have done long distance travel before. I will start in South Africa (the best country in the world) and head to Nepal. I plan to do both Everest Base Camp and trek in the Annapurna Region in Nepal.

If any of you can answer any questions it would be great or tell me why I really need you to visit your country.

My Questions for Nepal
- Is a budget of $40 dollars a day (I can up it to 50$) enough on the trekking routes between the two of us. I want to spend as little as possible. We will purify our own water and am happy to eat the basic local meals.
-Which is the best trek in the Annapurna Region of Nepal? Mardi Himmal, Annapurna Sanctuary or Poonhill. Looking to spend 15 days in the region. Then a further 15 in the Everest Region.

Then we head to Singapore from Kathmandu. I have already been in Singapore. Done Universal Studios, Marina Bay ( that garden thing was under construction when I was last there.) Been to the Zoo and the night market in the CBD. Eaten from Yee-kee Duck specialist etc. Singapore GAF are there any really cool things to do, try or eat?
My accommodation is covered in Singapore. I plan to be there for a week to ten days. Considering going to KL (been before but did not do much) - not sure if worth it? Malaysia GAF why shouldnt I miss your country?

Then its on to Hong Kong - still deliberating whether to head into mainland China. How hospitable is Guangzhou for an English speaker? Is the LI river worth visiting in late January or February? What else is a must in South Eastern China or China in general? Then onto the Phillipines to El Nido - I have heard it has the best beaches in South East Asia, is this true? Should I go somewhere else instead?

My friend really wants to go to Japan. I have heard that Japan is quiet costly. Also it isn't cherry blossom season yet and Mt Fuji is closed. If I can spend a week in Japan on $400 I would do it. Is it possible? Is it really worth going? Surely Hong Kong and Singapore are cities enough. Is Seoul a better option then Tokyo or Osaka?

From there I head to Australia (Gold Coast). Accommodation sorted. Oz Gaf any advice, recommendations as I have never been to Oz before. How much does a trip to the Great Barrier Reef cost?

Then I head to New Zealand (South Island). Accommodation sorted. Any musts? I am going to visit Mount Cook National Park and Fiordland. I am going to do the Milford track. I am going to be in New Zealand for March, April and May and will be mainly based on the South Island. Any must do stuff?
'
Then I head to Hawaai for 10 days. Accommodation recommendations for Hawaai? What are the costs between islands? Things to do? Any good (+safe treks- I watched a movie once about a murder on one of those treks) Best Island to visit?

In June I will be taking up a job offer for two months in the American Summer. I may also write SAT's out of interest. I haven't got my J1 Visa yet, I am going through a verified Agency though. I then have August to travel the continental US. Is $2300 enough for a months worth of travel? Really do not mind in staying in not very luxurious (but safe) places? I have heard California is the best State, so I will mainly be there. I then plan to visit Grand Canyon National Park, then Florida, then New York.

From New York I am undecided. Not sure if Canada is worth a visit? Vancouver is like B grade Cape Town

Spoiler

joke

and I would have already seen enough glaciated areas on my travels.

I will probably then depending on budget head across to Europe. I will then visit Ireland(I am Irish but have never been there before), England, France, Switzerland, Germany and then finally Italy( I love it there). If I have saved up enough money however I would rather go to South America. Torres Del Paine, Fitz Roy Massif, Rio and the Amazon all sound fascinating. I cant do it all though.
Lastly how safe is it to travel in the Amazon, Argentina and South America in general?

My interests include trekking, non-technical hiking, zip-lining, and fishing. I plan to do treks in Nepal, Fiordland, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and the Sierra Nevada, maybe even Mt Zion. I will do a zip line in El Nido. I also plan to go fishing in New Zealand. Any other places where I can fulfill these interests?
Lastly I really want to see Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto's being performed.
Thanks GAF, I will post a blog when I go.

 

[Greatest Ever]

Subscribed. Can't answer much there but I want to hear about this trip.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

From there I head to Australia (Gold Coast). Accommodation sorted. Oz Gaf any advice, recommendations as I have never been to Oz before. How much does a trip to the Great Barrier Reef cost?

Coolangatta beach is nice, as is Rainbow Bay. Not too crowded and you can surf at the latter or at Kirra beach a bit further north. Head to Surfers Paradise only if you want the Gold Coast experience in all its touristy, tacky glory.

You're going to need to catch a flight north to get to the reef. Unfortunately there has been a record breaking bleaching incident this year and there may not be anything to see. A return trip out of the Gold Coast airport will cost you several hundred dollars in flights, so look for bargains if you can.

 

[bosseye]

I spent a few months travelling in Australia years ago, amazing country. Can't go far wrong wherever you go there is awesome stuff to see and do everywhere and if you hostel it (and some are really good) it's cheap too.

 

[The Pope]

Coolangatta beach is nice, as is Rainbow Bay. Not too crowded and you can surf at the latter or at Kirra beach a bit further north. Head to Surfers Paradise only if you want the Gold Coast experience in all its touristy, tacky glory.

You're going to need to catch a flight north to get to the reef. Unfortunately there has been a record breaking bleaching incident this year and there may not be anything to see. A return trip out of the Gold Coast airport will cost you several hundred dollars in flights, so look for bargains if you can.

I don't think I will be able visit the reef then, unfortunately. I think we will just laze around on the beaches there. I have added Rainbow Bay and Coolangatta bay to my "to visit list". How expensive are youth hostels in Australia. You see I have family in the Gold Coast but if I could, if accommodation prices are reasonable enough, visit other cities in Australia.

 

[The Pope]

I spent a few months travelling in Australia years ago, amazing country. Can't go far wrong wherever you go there is awesome stuff to see and do everywhere and if you hostel it (and some are really good) it's cheap too.

I need advice about youth hostels in Australia. Also how about getting around the place affordably. Also I do not want to miss the entire New Zealand Summer. I could hypothetically go to New Zealand first, so I maximize the summer and then head up to Australia which is a bit more pleasant then New Zealand in winter. The reason I initially only planned to spend 10 days in Oz was so that I do not miss the New Zealand Summer.

 

[bosseye]

I don't think I will be able visit the reef then, unfortunately. I think we will just laze around on the beaches there. I have added Rainbow Bay and Coolangatta bay to my "to visit list". How expensive are youth hostels in Australia. You see I have family in the Gold Coast but if I could, if accommodation prices are reasonable enough, visit other cities in Australia.

They were very cheap when I was there, like $10 a night, but it was back in 2004 so as an old man my memory ain't what it was. I started in Darwin, headed down to Alice Springs then took a plane to Cairns, headed north for a few days then down the coast to Sydney, hostels all the way. Some were more like hotels.

I rented a cheap camper van at one point, Wicked Campers, cheap and classless but fine for my purposes. They all had bad spray paint graphics all over them, mine had a gigantic Marge Simpson giving Homer a graphic blowjob on the roof. As I say, pure class.

 

[formasymphonic]

I don't have much to add except to make sure that you have a way to check in frequently so friends and family will be able to find you if anything goes wrong.

share lodging/ contact details with a close member of family from all the places you stay at and leave a photocopy of your passport with them incase they need to provide details to police etc.

I know its grim to think about, but the worst thing about someone you care about going missing is having a long period of time of not knowing whats going on or if they can be found. Pls prepare + follow the above to help just in case.

That said — good luck, all the best and i hope you have the time of your life.

 

[The Pope]

They were very cheap when I was there, like $10 a night, but it was back in 2004 so as an old man my memory ain't what it was. I started in Darwin, headed down to Alice Springs then took a plane to Cairns, headed north for a few days then down the coast to Sydney, hostels all the way. Some were more like hotels.

I rented a cheap camper van at one point, Wicked Campers, cheap and classless but fine for my purposes. They all had bad spray paint graphics all over them, mine had a gigantic Marge Simpson giving Homer a graphic blowjob on the roof. As I say, pure class.

Sounds amazing. Thanks man. Maybe I will try extend my time in Australia.

 

[The Pope]

I don't have much to add except to make sure that you have a way to check in frequently so friends and family will be able to find you if anything goes wrong.

share lodging/ contact details with a close member of family from all the places you stay at and leave a photocopy of your passport with them incase they need to provide details to police etc.

I know its grim to think about, but the worst thing about someone you care about going missing is having a long period of time of not knowing whats going on or if they can be found. Pls prepare follow the above to help just in case.

That said — good luck, all the best and i hope you have the time of your life.

By far my biggest concern. I will try my very best to make sure I always have contact. I am glad I am not travelling alone though. Thanks for the advice though. Living in SA has made me an extremely weary person. There are dangerous people out there, hence why I did not even give out specific details here on GAF.

 

[vern]

I've been to a lot of the places you've said and I'm sure others can answer more in depth, but 2 people trekking in nepal for 40$ per day will be tough. I haven't done Everest base camp but the guest houses on Anna Purna trail can be 15-20$ per person from my recollection so there goes your budget already. Food is pretty cheap in towns but some more remote places they know you don't have many options and even momos can start to be a few dollars as opposed to ~1$ for a plate that you can get in Kathmandu for example. Kathmandu to pokhara by bus can be anywhere from a few dollars in a jam packed clusterfuck of a bus to about 15$ for a comfortable coach with proper seats and AC and all that. Again, just going from recollection but this was last year. A lot of the variation on costs can also come down to your negotiating skills plus high vs low business season of the year.

Usa 2 (editops you said one month, much more doable) months for $2300... expect to couch surf a lot. If you stay in even shitty motels at 30-40$ per day most of your budget is gone.

Great Barrier Reef I have been to a few times I remember it being around AU $150 for a day trip with snorkeling, but it's been 7-8 years since I last did it. Should be easy enough to google the costs these days.

Keep us updated on your journey and keep a spreadsheet with total costs. Interested to see how you do. I spent most of 2016 and last 1/4 of 2015 mainly traveling. Spent around 15-20k but didn't pay extreme attention to it. I kind of did what I wanted and said screw the cost. I didn't do anything extravagant though. Just flew around a few places. Hung out and chilled.

 

[The Pope]

I've been to a lot of the places you've said and I'm sure others can answer more in depth, but 2 people trekking in nepal for 40$ per day will be tough. I haven't done Everest base camp but the guest houses on Anna Purna trail can be 15-20$ per person from my recollection so there goes your budget already. Food is pretty cheap in towns but some more remote places they know you don't have many options and even momos can start to be a few dollars as opposed to ~1$ for a plate that you can get in Kathmandu for example. Kathmandu to pokhara by bus can be anywhere from a few dollars in a jam packed clusterfuck of a bus to about 15$ for a comfortable coach with proper seats and AC and all that. Again, just going from recollection but this was last year. A lot of the variation on costs can also come down to your negotiating skills plus high vs low business season of the year.

Usa 2 (editops you said one month, much more doable) months for $2300... expect to couch surf a lot. If you stay in even shitty motels at 30-40$ per day most of your budget is gone.

Great Barrier Reef I have been to a few times I remember it being around AU $150 for a day trip with snorkeling, but it's been 7-8 years since I last did it. Should be easy enough to google the costs these days.

Keep us updated on your journey and keep a spreadsheet with total costs. Interested to see how you do. I spent most of 2016 and last 1/4 of 2015 mainly traveling. Spent around 15-20k but didn't pay extreme attention to it. I kind of did what I wanted and said screw the cost. I didn't do anything extravagant though. Just flew around a few places. Hung out and chilled.

Yup, my first two months in the US are covered. Would 60$ a day be enough, roughly 30$ each? I would then shorten the trip by a week and only do Poon Hill or Mardi Himmal and EBC.

 

[vern]

Yup, my first two months in the US are covered. Would 60$ a day be enough, roughly 30$ each? I would then shorten the trip by a week and only do Poon Hill or Mardi Himmal and EBC.

I think 30$ is enough for sure, but again I haven't done EBC. Maybe others can chime in.


Also my favorite parts of Australia are Queensland and the Northern Territory. Lots of beautiful scenery and amazing hikes. Uluru is incredible. Australia is so vast though you could spend a year just there driving around and exploring. Amazing country.

 

[Booser]

First off - this will be the best experience of your life (if all goes well!) so enjoy it. I did a RTW trip for 18 months starting in 2014 and I'm always jealous of people who still have it all ahead of them.

Nepal is very cheap, but I haven't done the base camp trek so I can't comment on it. I arrived at EBC on the Tibet side which is an overland bus route so a bit different.

The Philippines is just as beautiful as people say. The mountain province north of Manila is also just as beautiful, but in a different way to the beaches. The rice terraces here are breathtaking.

Japan isn't as expensive as people like to make out. It is the most expensive place I stayed in Asia definitely, but if you are used to European prices (and you are going to europe later in your trip) it won't be shocking. You can stay cheaply in hostels in Kyoto and near Fuji, and try the capsule hotels on Tokyo which aren't expensive either. There are also cheap places to eat if you keep your eyes open. And Japan is great! Lots of people have a fascination with the place and it doesn't disappoint. If your friend really wants to go there it would be unfair to deny them

One last comment - I found solo travel around South America safe, but each person will have their own experience. I'm assuming you are two guys? You will have no problem. South America is a very popular backpacking destination. Lots of hostels, lots of buses that go everywhere. No worries. Plus it's probably my favourite continent, so many diverse landscapes. Torres del Paine can be very weather dependent though. It's extremely changeable down there. When I was there the weather was terrible, but normally it's a stunning place! I'd love to go back one day and trek around Fitz Roy and take the boat to Antarctica.

Shameless plug I know but my blog has about half of the trip up on it at this stage. I'm just too fricking lazy to update it regularly. You might find something useful on there, although I don't really go into a lot of detail regards pricing, logistics etc when is actually the most helpful thing when planning a trip!

https://thewanderingboo.com/

Oh I'd echo the thoughts of those saying Queensland and NT are the coolest parts of Oz. Snorkeling on the Barrier Reef was one of the best things I did.

 

[maomaoIYP]

China is huge. Even just south China is enormous. Guangzhou is not much like Hong Kong, Hong Kong is quite westernized. It's impossible to break it down into just a few lines of what you must do or see in China.

I wouldn't spend so much time here in Singapore. We're just a city, and a very expensive one at that. The Gardens by the Bay is completed, and I love it.

Seoul, is absolutely no replacement for Tokyo. But if you don't like cities that much, it's fine to skip it. Depending on your exact month in Japan, I would say see Kyoto instead of Tokyo. Autumn leaf season is gorgeous.

 

[Pedrito]

I will probably then depending on budget head across to Europe. I will then visit Ireland(I am Irish but have never been there before), England, France, Switzerland, Germany and then finally Italy( I love it there). If I have saved up enough money however I would rather go to South America. Torres Del Paine, Fitz Roy Massif, Rio and the Amazon all sound fascinating. I cant do it all though.
Lastly how safe is it to travel in the Amazon, Argentina and South America in general?

Do you mean you'd rather go to South America than Europe? Obviously South America is much cheaper, though Patagonia and Brazil are the expensive parts, but still doable on a budget. If you're short on money, head to Peru and Bolivia instead. it's cheap and offers an amazing variety of landscapes and the "Andean vibe".

As for safety, Patagonia is as safe as it gets. Elsehwhere, you can cut the risks by 99% if you avoid sketchy neighbourhoods and night-time travel. Just like in South Africa I assume. The main issues are petty theft and scams. It's unavoidable so keep an eye on your stuff at all time.

 

[Booser]

Forgot to add that the Li River / Guilin is absolutely worth it for the scenery, especially if you haven't seen that kind of karst scenery before in Thailand / Vietnam. Even then.......

 

[Kyleripman]

Looking forward to your Nepal pics, I'm headed there in a few months.

You mention an interest in ziplining - plenty of that to do in New Zealand. I know there is something in Queenstown.

What are you doing in South Africa? That's also one of my favorite places I've been.

 

[HawksWinStanley]

So I googled the Poon Hill trek in Nepal.

It was disappointing.

 

[vern]

With regards to china, I've been nearly everywhere (except Guilin and that area lol)... Guangzhou isn't really that exciting, it's just a city. Has some cool spots but I'd say it's better for living in than making a quick visit. If you are gonna come to china as always I'll recommend Yunnan province if at all possible. Or sichuan. Or get wacky and make a trip into xinjiang and Qinghai. The Li river and Guilin is probably pretty cool though, definitely had there instead of Guangzhou if there is a choice between the two. If this thread is alive tomorrow I'll share some photos of various places you've mentioned. Cant get into Flickr right now. Alternatively check out my Instagram @crossingchina

 

[Stasis]

I don't have much to add except to make sure that you have a way to check in frequently so friends and family will be able to find you if anything goes wrong.

share lodging/ contact details with a close member of family from all the places you stay at and leave a photocopy of your passport with them incase they need to provide details to police etc.

I know its grim to think about, but the worst thing about someone you care about going missing is having a long period of time of not knowing whats going on or if they can be found. Pls prepare follow the above to help just in case.

That said — good luck, all the best and i hope you have the time of your life.

Very sound advice. We always give our close friends and family our full itinerary and hotel/accommodation contact numbers, with regular check ins (when possible) as we arrive at each new destination. At least a quick sms. We also leave photocopies of all important documents and reservations, tickets etc. with them in case we lose everything. They can be sent easily and save Ron's of hassle. In many places a simple photo of said items won't suffice, hence the hard copies. So that's another good piece of advice. We carry our own copies in a separate location from the originals, along with some small monetary bills well hidden. Sounds overly paranoid but it's easy to do and handy. Plus, peace of mind.

That said, we're pretty adventurous and willing to go off the beaten path. I can't help with the places you're visiting yet, sadly! Some are on our list for the next few years. Have a blast! And do post pics and a small journal if you can. It's always fun to read about people's experiences.

 

[Helensmith]

First off - this will be the best experience of your life (if all goes well!) so enjoy it. I did a RTW trip for 18 months starting in 2014 and I'm always jealous of people who still have it all ahead of them.

Nepal is very cheap, but I haven't done the base camp trek so I can't comment on it. I arrived at EBC on the Tibet side which is an overland bus route so a bit different.

The Philippines is just as beautiful as people say. The mountain province north of Manila is also just as beautiful, but in a different way to the beaches. The rice terraces here are breathtaking.

Japan isn't as expensive as people like to make out. It is the most expensive place I stayed in Asia definitely, but if you are used to European prices (and you are going to europe later in your trip) it won't be shocking. You can stay cheaply in hostels in Kyoto and near Fuji, and try the capsule hotels on Tokyo which aren't expensive either. There are also cheap places to eat if you keep your eyes open. And Japan is great! Lots of people have a fascination with the place and it doesn't disappoint. If your friend really wants to go there it would be unfair to deny them

One last comment - I found solo travel around South America safe, but each person will have their own experience. I'm assuming you are two guys? You will have no problem. South America is a very popular backpacking destination. Lots of hostels, lots of buses that go everywhere. No worries. Plus it's probably my favourite continent, so many diverse landscapes. Torres del Paine can be very weather dependent though. It's extremely changeable down there. When I was there the weather was terrible, but normally it's a stunning place! I'd love to go back one day and trek around Fitz Roy and take the boat to Antarctica.

Shameless plug I know but my blog has about half of the trip up on it at this stage. I'm just too fricking lazy to update it regularly. You might find something useful on there, although I don't really go into a lot of detail regards pricing, logistics etc when is actually the most helpful thing when planning a trip!

https://thewanderingboo.com/

Oh I'd echo the thoughts of those saying Queensland and NT are the coolest parts of Oz. Snorkeling on the Barrier Reef was one of the best things I did.

Hey, I read some of your blog entries and they're very funny, brilliant writing.

OP, may I suggest Sichuan in China? I'm probably a little biased as that's my hometown, but it has some pretty cool sights and there is a direct flight from Xian in peak season.

 

[The Pope]

First off - this will be the best experience of your life (if all goes well!) so enjoy it. I did a RTW trip for 18 months starting in 2014 and I'm always jealous of people who still have it all ahead of them.

Nepal is very cheap, but I haven't done the base camp trek so I can't comment on it. I arrived at EBC on the Tibet side which is an overland bus route so a bit different.

The Philippines is just as beautiful as people say. The mountain province north of Manila is also just as beautiful, but in a different way to the beaches. The rice terraces here are breathtaking.

Japan isn't as expensive as people like to make out. It is the most expensive place I stayed in Asia definitely, but if you are used to European prices (and you are going to europe later in your trip) it won't be shocking. You can stay cheaply in hostels in Kyoto and near Fuji, and try the capsule hotels on Tokyo which aren't expensive either. There are also cheap places to eat if you keep your eyes open. And Japan is great! Lots of people have a fascination with the place and it doesn't disappoint. If your friend really wants to go there it would be unfair to deny them
Edit: Your blog is absolutely amazing. What camera did you use?

One last comment - I found solo travel around South America safe, but each person will have their own experience. I'm assuming you are two guys? You will have no problem. South America is a very popular backpacking destination. Lots of hostels, lots of buses that go everywhere. No worries. Plus it's probably my favourite continent, so many diverse landscapes. Torres del Paine can be very weather dependent though. It's extremely changeable down there. When I was there the weather was terrible, but normally it's a stunning place! I'd love to go back one day and trek around Fitz Roy and take the boat to Antarctica.

Shameless plug I know but my blog has about half of the trip up on it at this stage. I'm just too fricking lazy to update it regularly. You might find something useful on there, although I don't really go into a lot of detail regards pricing, logistics etc when is actually the most helpful thing when planning a trip!

https://thewanderingboo.com/

Oh I'd echo the thoughts of those saying Queensland and NT are the coolest parts of Oz. Snorkeling on the Barrier Reef was one of the best things I did.

Thank so much for the advice man and I would most certainly look at your blog. I will try rearrange my plans to accommodate a trip to Japan and to the Northern Territories. I am going to have to make a plan to visit South America after my US trip. Thinking of skipping over Peru and just going to Argentina and Brazil.

 

[Saya]

Sounds like an awesome trip! You're skipping lots of cool countries and areas around Southeast Asia? Seems like you could see and do a lot there on a relatively low budget.

 

[Two Words]

Don't go onto planes wearing leggings.

 

[The Pope]

Hey, I read some of your blog entries and they're very funny, brilliant writing.

OP, may I suggest Sichuan in China? I'm probably a little biased as that's my hometown, but it has some pretty cool sights and there is a direct flight from Xian in peak season.

It looks beautiful. You are very lucky to have been born in such a place!

 

[The Pope]

Sounds like an awesome trip! You're skipping lots of cool countries and areas around Southeast Asia? Seems like you could see and do a lot there on a relatively low budget.

I know, its just I do not want to miss Summer in New Zealand. If there was one place in SEA that is worth changing my itinerary for - please tell me.

 

[Saya]

I know, its just I do not want to miss Summer in New Zealand. If there was one place in SEA that is worth changing my itinerary for - please tell me.

Maybe I'm biased haha, but I love travelling through Indonesia. The country has a lot to offer. Mountains, jungles and many national parks where you can observe wild and semi-wild orangutans and other animals, white-sand tropical beaches, and if you dive there are some amazing coral reefs to discover (Raja Ampat, Togean Islands, Derawan, and there's even good diving around Bali).

 

[Joelstinton14]

Will sub this thread, as i'm thinking taking the plunge on doing a around the world trip. Might not be till next year, but just need to save for expenses and research on places to go.

I'm seriously considering taking a year break from work. I'm fed up with pretty much all aspects of my life,and feeling a bit lost. Last couple of years i haven't felt like myself at all and don't quite know who i am anymore. As a teenager (31 now) all i wanted to do was travel but for one reason or another that has always been pushed to one side (Adult life!). There are several great reasons to do it - A because its obvious b) i do a fair bit of photography on the side and it give me a great chance to solidly shoot for a year. c) I can't constantly live in a state of self doubt and it will give something else to think about and d) i just need to get away from everything in my life for a while, and come back and look at it differently/start again.

Not sure whether to do a Rtw trip, or spend 6 months or something in a couple of locations. Getting the year of work wouldn't be an issue, and to be honest they probably be really happy for me. Money wouldn't be an issue as well. I was semi saving for a house, but also thinking of re-training/career change too. So money isn't too much of an issue.

I've been playing around on trip planner and it seems that flight costs will come to approx £3000 for either a RTW ticket or slightly more (but not as much as i was expecting for one way tickets between the same places - seems the main cost is cross contintent trips). I already got the money for that so!

My first off the top of my head itineray is: Leaving from London > Mumbai>Colombo> Ho chi minh city, Tokyo > Seattle> Lima>Santiago>Bueno Aires> Reykjavik> Home.

But that is just top of my head, and going to properly research this over the coming weeks but I think Iceland, Japan and Yellowstone park are my main draws, but kind of conscious of western prices and that maybe i could go to them in separate holidays (i.e west coast america trip)

So any tips, be it planning, location, general stuff etc would be really helpful for me, but also the OP as well!

 

[JCtheMC]

I've been to a number of the places you've posted OP, the only real budget advice i can give you is to 1.) buy a recent travel guide 2.) read recent trip reports.

Budgets can quickly change year-to-year, Nepal is an example of this. The 2015 earthquake has seriously set back visitor numbers in the Annapurna Region. You can probably pass through there for a lower price than someone who was there not even 3 years ago. You also have to consider personal preferences. I know people who can travel in Asia for half the money i can - but if i don't take care of my needs well enough (and thus spend more than the die hard penny pinchers) i'm not enjoying myself.

Good luck. I could probably talk about traveling for hours but i've found that posting walls of text of advice is a waste of time.

 

[daffy]

I can't even afford to go to the grocery store. What's your secret op? In all seriousness good luck on your travels and enjoy those hostels, always a fun time

 

[massoluk]

I know, its just I do not want to miss Summer in New Zealand. If there was one place in SEA that is worth changing my itinerary for - please tell me.

/Wave from Thailand. But I digress, don't want to get in a fight with the neighbors