Sometimes choosing the ideal travel destination feels as difficult as choosing between Mum and Dad. There is no definitive answer: each has its strengths and weaknesses. The decision is even harder in Southeast Asia, where several countries share similarities in climate, culture and landscapes. So which is the perfect Southeast Asian country to explore?
Vietnam is extensive and has a very diverse topography. The South Vietnam lies in the tropical monsoon climate zone, where seasons differ only in rainfall and wind direction. There are two seasons: relatively dry (November–April) and rainy (May–October). Temperatures do not change significantly throughout the year. The Northern regions have a tropical climate with slightly more marked seasonal climate changes. Summer is hot and humid, while winter is cold and rainy.
All things come in time. The remote province of Ratanakiri in the country’s northeast has finally opened to visitors. Some of Southeast Asia’s least-known ethnic minorities await us, along with virtually unexplored natural areas. Spectacular landscapes with huge rivers, lakes and waterfalls, diamond mines and villages whose way of life would delight any anthropologist.
Dani S., our man in Cambodia, shares his reasons for travelling there.
Vietnam It is a fascinating destination at any time of year, but the summer months, its low season, offer a chance to explore more peacefully. Fewer tourists and a more relaxed atmosphere make it an ideal time to discover its landscapes and culture.
From the northern mountains to the Mekong Delta, through the temples of Angkor in Cambodia
Each Southeast Asian destination has its own charm and offers a unique experience, especially at Christmas, when the weather is ideal and local festivities add a special touch. Prepare for a different kind of Christmas, full of unforgettable moments in one of the world’s most fascinating regions.
The best time to travel to Thailand depends on your preferences and the activities you plan to do during your trip.
Thailand has a diverse tropical climate throughout the year, with significant variations. It is important to consider events, festivals, crowds and prices when planning your trip. Select the dates that best suit your preferences.
If you are thinking of travelling to Southeast Asia and want to know what weather to expect, the best time to visit each country and what the seasons are like, this post will help. Drawing on our experience in Southeast Asia, we share notes and travel tips to help you choose the right time and destination.
With turquoise waters, stunning rock formations and a rich history, this natural wonder alone is worth a trip to Vietnam.
The Halong Bay It is so beautiful that everyone who visits is impressed. You probably know it lies in the north of the country, in Quang Ninh province, on the Gulf of Tonkin. A little further north, China begins.
Running fast into the future. In Vietnam, the 21st century coexists with traditional rice fields, the junks of Halong Bay and vegetation ready to fill any empty space.
A strip of land washed by the South China Sea stretching 2,400 km between the Mekong Delta and the mountains on the Chinese border.
Our range of trips to Vietnam this summer 2023, brings together everything travellers imagine about Southeast Asia: a true postcard from the other side of the world. But Vietnam also means cutting-edge technology and bustling activity 24 hours a day: a world far removed from rural areas.
One of the new developments in Southeast Asia is the redesigned trekking route in northern Thailand, a highlight of our 15-day trip, Bangkok, ethnic minority trekking and southern beaches. Our new trek allows more time in villages deep in the jungle to discover the daily lives of different ethnic groups, followed by a 2-day rafting descent to finish in Baan Sob Kai, where we will visit Elephant Rescue Park.
Christmas is, for many, the best time of year to set off on an adventure. Better weather in some destinations, better prices in others: more and more people decide travel during the Christmas holidays.
At Tuareg, we always prepare a special programme for them, opening new routes and adapting our best itineraries for those who decide travel at Christmas can make the most of these days.
Travelling as a family is a post our blog could not do without. Those of us who regularly organise trips with children know how difficult it can be to choose the right destination for them. As our colleague Yolanda has just returned from Thailand, we asked her to tell us what it was like to travel to this Southeast Asian country with children.
My first trip to Thailand It was many, many years ago… and I remember it particularly well because it was one of the first long-haul trips of my life!
This year I was planning to take my daughter on her first big trip. She is 12 years old and, by the way… beautiful!!!
I had fond memories of my first trip, and when it came to choosing a destination, I knew: Thailand was chosen for their first experience in this fantastic world!
Once we decided Thailand as our family travel destination, the questions begin…
I can tell you that Thailand is ideal for travelling with children, with something for almost everyone. The varied itinerary combines two major cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, a great adventure in the northern mountains, where we will enjoy various activities and spend time with local ethnic minorities, followed by a well-earned finale… days of relaxation on the beach!!!!
We know that travelling with children slows the pace. This trip lets you enjoy the destination at leisure, without feeling that precious time is slipping away: there is time for everything. It is as if the clock would stop so we could make much more of the day. Explaining what lies ahead and involving children in the experience helps them engage and feel excited about each new adventure. It helps us parents relax and enjoy watching them have fun.
Luggage is one concern when travelling as a family. You need very little for this trip!!!
Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are the most important things. Toys can stay at home!!! And for shopping lovers… Thailand is an ideal destination!
A very well-balanced trip and, let’s be honest… AFFORDABLE!!! We know that, when travelling with children, the daily budget can multiply by the number of family members, without increasing the number of people paying the bills, right? Travelling with children to Thailand is within your budget.
I encourage you to try this adventure and I assure you that it is possible travelling with children and having a wonderful holiday.
If you enjoy travelling to little-known places or experiencing different cultures and now have children, keep pursuing your passion and take them with you.
All our Organised tours of Thailand are designed for travel in a small group of 4 to 12 people, making it an ideal destination for families, large or small.
When children are older, an active and varied trip often works extraordinarily well, and Thailand offers adventure, comfort and safety.
Thailand is a wonderful destination for travelling with children and introducing them to the world of travel.
If you are still not convinced that Thailand is an ideal destination for travelling with children, we want to offer more reasons to go. As a picture is worth a thousand words, here is Paula Tel’s video, filmed in Thailand, which won our 2016 competition. It perfectly captures the spirit of family travel in a destination as special as Thailand.
Some wonderful holiday full of special moments in Thailand. A video showing a very active family in this Asian country. The closing motto, “We are the sum of all the moments in our lives» could not have been a better choice.
Thailand with the family with Viajes Tuareg -> Video winner of the video contest 2016
The Trekking among Thailand’s ethnic minorities It runs through the far northwest, on the Myanmar border, in one of the most unexplored areas of the country.
Starting from Chiang Mai, during the trek we will walk through a mountainous region, with hills covered in dense tropical vegetation and a network of jungle trails connecting the villages of different ethnic groups (Karen, Lahu, Akha).
A combination of walks along trails connecting remote villages, bamboo raft journeys and elephant rides.
We offer a trek in Thailand with no fixed route; adapts to different times of the year. We walk on the first two days. On the third, the walk is followed by a stretch riding an elephant through the densest jungle, and on the fourth day we we travel downriver on bamboo rafts.
In our summer, during July and August, the rains transform the landscape. Everything is greener and the jungle denser, but roads and bridges may be closed, and rivers sometimes flood force them to cancel the rafting descent.
We head further afield in local huts where we eat and sleep during the trek have a space for travellers to stay, separate from the hut where the owners live.
They have raised floors and are usually made of bamboo and wood, with corrugated fibre-cement or palm roofs. The huts have a room with mattresses, pillows, blankets or duvets, and mosquito nets. Sheets are not provided, so we recommend bringing a sleeping bag liner.
The toilets are in an outbuilding outside the main dwelling so a good torch or head torch is essential at night to find your way safely: the generator runs only until a certain time, after which there is no electricity.
The villages we come across along this trekking in Thailand are semi-permanent, built in a particular spot and remaining there for only a few years. Moving the village every several years is part of the culture and tradition of Thailand.
Life in the villages is very peaceful. Sometimes everyone belongs to the same family, making it ideal for getting to know local people if we plan to go family trekking in Thailand.
The trekking guides are local people who have adapted to the arrival of tourism in their villages. They know the area well and take good care of visitors.
They are responsible for choosing the most suitable route depending on the condition of the trails, the weather and the presence or absence of other groups that may also have chosen to go Four-day trekking in northern Thailand.
Full board is included during the trek. Drinks are paid for separately and can usually be purchased at the house where we stay.
An assistant cook prepares meals with help from the women of the villages where we stay overnight.
They are based on the local dishes with fewer spices and less chilli. Rice, noodles, vegetable soups. They are simple and well prepared dishes with fresh fruit.
Luggage is left at the hotel, and you take only what you need for 3 nights.
It's very important. Wear good trekking shoes, a rain poncho and a daypack to carry our belongings. Here is our suggested packing list:
In the rainy season it is hotter, so focus on lightweight clothing and waterproofs.
During the dry season, nights can be cool, so it is particularly important to bring warm clothing.
If you want to discover more interesting facts about Thailand, come and travel with us. We still have places available (check the date of this post, as there are only a few left) for the trekking in Thailand in July and August. An ideal option for a family holiday, a solo trip within a group, or a holiday with your partner or friends.
Ideas for a Trip to Thailand15-day trip to Thailand: Bangkok, trekking among ethnic minorities and southern beaches 15-day trip to Thailand: Bangkok, a safari in Khao Sok, and Krabi or Yao Noi Island Ideas and excursions for days off We give you 11 reasons to travel to Thailand, alone or with your family. We give you 11 reasons to travel to Thailand TREKKING IN THAILAND: NEW ROUTE One new feature for 2019 is the redesigned trekking route in northern Thailand, a highlight of our 15-day trip: Bangkok, ethnic minority trekking and southern beaches. |
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, at first glance, seem very different from one another, much as Spain, Italy and France might to a traveller planning a trip to Mediterranean Europe. This post offers an overview of each destination: what you can do, what people do and how they do it, to help you make your choice at leisure.