Southeast Asia is a dreamy destination for a romantic couple's trip, especially for a romantic celebration or big birthday. Southeast Asia can fulfill all of your romantic oriental fantasies: incredible islands, immersive exotic cultural experiences, characteristic boutique hotels...
In this article, you'll get tips on the best places to go, how long to spend there, hand-picked itineraries, selecting couple-friendly hotels, and costs.
Where to Go for a Romantic Trip in Southeast Asia
To embrace the diversity of Southeast Asia, we have carefully selected its six best countries for your romantic trip: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia (Bali), and Laos.
Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia are the core nations of (mainland) Southeast Asia and are its top must-visit destinations for first-timers. Myanmar ideally should not be missed for its photogenic sunset balloon rides over 2,000+ pagodas. Indonesia (mainly Bali) is known for bespoke art fashions, beaches, and yoga. And Laos offers a tranquil and romantic vibe.
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Sirin is the BEST!
My recent trip to Chiang Mai was nothing short of magical, and our tour guide played a huge part in making it so memorable. From the moment we met, Sirin welcomed us with warm hospitality and an infectious passion for sharing the beauty, history, and culture of northern Thailand. More
Jenny Tse, Oct 2024
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Excellent Trip Planning by Alisa Liu at Asia Highlights
Alisa did a wonderful job! She was very detail oriented, extremely responsive and answered my questions very promptly. She incorporated all of the places we wanted to visit and was able to book hotels, airline tickets and special event tickets (to the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival which was sold out when I tried booking on my own.) Alisa was great to work with and I recommend that others use her for their trip planning. More
Effie, Sep 2024
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Excellent experience in Bangkok
Ying was our guide in Bangkok. She was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She knew exactly how to move us through crowds quickly so that we could see all we wanted to say and made good recommendations for other things we were interested in. I would not hesitate to recommend Ying or anyone that helped us at Asia highlights More
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1. Thailand
If you have limited time, Thailand is the top romantic choice as the epitome of Southeast Asia. A couple's trip typically includes Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui. If you're seeking some unspoiled spots, you could extend your trip to Chiang Rai and Kanchanaburi.
To create once-in-a-lifetime experiences, don't miss Chiang Mai. You'll take care of an elephant in a jungle sanctuary together. Most impressively, you'll release sky lanterns with your partner and take Instagram-worthy pictures with thousands of sky lanterns during the Yi Peng Lantern Festival.
2. Vietnam
Vietnam offers a mix of adventure, relaxation, and romance. When traveling to Vietnam, first-timers usually visit Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City.
For the most romantic Halong Bay cruise, you're recommended to take our carefully-selected smaller, or even private, boats for 3 days for a more exclusive experience, rather than traveling with the big 1- or 2-day group cruises.
Hoi An adds more enchanting fun to your Vietnam trip. You can stroll hand in hand in the laid-back ancient town and take some memorable pictures in Vietnam's traditional ao dai clothing.
3. Myanmar
Myanmar is a hidden treasure for people who want to delve deep into exploring Southeast Asia.
Known for its mysterious pagodas and serene landscapes, Myanmar offers a touch of adventure and tranquility. Inle Lake presents you with authentic floating village life and traditional floating markets.
Bagan is home to iconic-and-unique sunrise and sunset balloon rides over 2,000+ pagodas, which are considered a memory-making treasure, especially for romantic milestone celebrations.
4. Cambodia
Cambodia is smaller than Thailand or Vietnam, but it offers its own unique allure. The temple complexes of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap make Cambodia a captivating destination for romance.
You could attend a blessing ceremony, marvel at Angkor Wat during our exclusive walking tour, then take a sunset quad bike ride to enjoy an adventurous time together in the dreamy countryside!
If you want a deeper understanding of Cambodia, you could consider visiting its capital, Phnom Penh.
5. Laos
Like Cambodia, Laos showcases the serene side of Southeast Asia to its fullest. If you desire a peaceful atmosphere, Luang Prabang is your best destination.
After a week-long trip in Southeast Asia, you and your partner could unwind at a distinctive resort, reveling in intimate moments together.
To immerse yourself in the magic of Luang Prabang, participating in its morning alms-giving ceremony would offer you a closer connection with its local traditions and the harmony and compassion of the country's culture.
6. Bali, Indonesia
Romance is the trademark of Bali. It's a hot spot for honeymoons, weddings, and big anniversaries.
If you're beach-lovers, Bali is a paradise for you whether you are kayaking into hidden caves, going on a private boat ride to secret beaches, or enjoying an intimate private sunset dinner by the beach.
Beyond the stunning beaches, Ubud is a bonus reason to visit Bali for its exotic Indonesian temples, peaceful jungles, active volcanoes, and world-class yoga experiences.
>>>Read about how to plan a trip to Thailand, Singapore and Bali
How Long to Spend in Southeast Asia
Most couples, particularly retired couples, prefer to spend 3 weeks discovering SE Asia's top three destinations (Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam) at a leisurely and fulfilling pace.
If you have more time, you could explore the multiple facets of Southeast Asia for 4+ weeks. A grand Indochina tour would fulfill your travel and time-together ambitions, covering Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos.
For a time-smart choice, 2 weeks would allow you to have a quick-but-satisfying taste of Southeast Asia. You could enjoy the best aspects of two neighboring countries, such as Vietnam-Cambodia or Singapore-Bali. Alternatively, you could focus on a single country for an in-depth tour, such as Thailand or Vietnam.
If you have your own schedule to keep to or specific requirements, we are always ready to tailor-make a fulfilling tour for you from your dream trip ideas.
Hand-Picked Itineraries for a Couple's Trip to Southeast Asia
We have specially crafted the following two itineraries for couples' consideration: our most chosen 3-week tour to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and a time-smart 2-week trip to Singapore and Bali. As experts in designing personalized private tours, we'd be thrilled to customize your itinerary based on your preferences.
Thousands of lanterns rising into the night's sky in ThailandA 3-Week Romantic Itinerary Covering Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam (Most Chosen)
This well-received trip plan is ideal for first-timers. To ensure a comfortable pace and promote a romantic vibe, we suggest a winding-down tour sequence for couples. What could be more romantic than concluding your sweet trip on a stunning island?
We also customize exclusive romantic moments along the way, whether you want a private Halong Bay cruise, a sunset balloon ride over Angkor Wat, or high-end resorts in Koh Samui with private couple massages.
Here is the itinerary outline: 9 days in Vietnam, 3 days in Cambodia, and 9 days in Thailand…
- Days 1–2 in Hanoi (1-hour cyclo tour around the Old Quarter, water puppet show)
- Days 3–5 in Halong Bay (Trung Trang Cave, sunset cocktails, squid fishing, a cooking class, biking around a rustic village near Halong Bay)
- Days 6–7 in Hoi An (biking around the countryside, basket-boat tour, sunset riverside dinner)
- Days 8–9 in Ho Chi Minh City (city tour with coffee experience, the Cu Chi tunnels)
- Days 10–12 in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat walking tour with a Khmer scholar, 1-hour sunset quad bike ride, Tonle Sap Lake)
- Days 13–14 in Bangkok (city tour with iconic temples, long-tail boat ride, railway market, foodie tour)
- Days 15–17 in Chiang Mai (elephant sanctuary, morning flower market visit, Doi Suthep walking tour, floating-lantern making)
- Days 18–21 in Koh Samui (your choice of beach time activities)
If you have more time to spend in Southeast Asia, you could extend your trip with an extra week to visit Myanmar and Laos. You could get inspired by our 28-day Grand Indochina tour. We also offer more itinerary ideas for 5 weeks and 6 weeks in Southeast Asia.
A 2-Week Singapore-and-Bali Couple's Itinerary (Time-Smart)
Singapore and Bali are excellent destinations for couples seeking a leisurely beach vacation and the Southeast-Asia vibe.
Since Singapore is smaller than Bali, more travel time is suggested in Bali: 4 days in Singapore and 10 days in Bali is a good balance.
Here is a well-organized romantic itinerary for your reference:
- Days 1–4: Singapore (multicultural city sightseeing, awesome skylines, food hunting tour, Pulau Ubin cycling, Sentosa Island)
- Days 5–8: Ubud, Bali (Balinese temples, art galleries, markets, jungle adventure with romantic fine dining, rice terraces, yoga class, royal high tea)
- Days 9–14: Beach time on Bali (water sports, island-hopping tour, romantic sunset cruise, private couples' massages or a spa with an ocean view)
For any other interests, contact us to tailor-make your dream trip! Or you could discover more Southeast Asia tours for 2 weeks, such as Thailand-Vietnam, Vietnam-Cambodia, and Vietnam-Bali.
How Much Does It Cost for a Couple's Trip to Southeast Asia?
Typically, a private tour costs approximately US$200–250 per day per person, which includes airfares within Southeast Asia, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, private guides, and private transfers.
For example, you can expect to pay US$8,000–10,000 for a 3-week couple's trip, excluding the international airfares to and from your home country. Traveling in a bigger group with other couples you know or going during a shoulder season are ways to a lower cost.
How to Select a Couple-Friendly Hotel in Southeast Asia
For romantic trips in Southeast Asia, you can expect unparalleled surprises with excellent hotel experiences that are especially suited to milestone trips.
You can enjoy some quality private time in SE Asia, whether you prefer to stay in top-end luxury hotels or stylish boutique hotels. Thailand and Bali often lead the way in hotel fashions. You would have the chance to experience tree houses in Khao Sok, floating houses in Kanchanaburi, jungle hotels in Ubud, and cliff hotels with infinity pools in Uluwatu.
Traveling with us, all of the hotels we select would perfectly balance tranquility and unique experiences for a romantic escape. Besides, we arrange adult-only hotels and hotels with swim-up pool rooms for more-intimate romantic trips. Due to the high demand, early booking at least 6 months in advance is usually necessary.
Best Times to Visit Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is a year-round destination. No matter when you visit, you'll always find plenty of delightful and sunny places to explore.
The best time to go is from November to April (dry season) in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. If you're sensitive to the heat, November to February would be your best time.
Alongside the Christmas and New Year holidays, you'd better prepare for higher costs and crowds in this peak travel season. Traveling just before or after the dry season is beneficial to save some costs and have less-crowded attractions.
Contrastingly, Malaysia, Indonesia (Bali), and Singapore enjoy most rain-free days between May and October. If you'd like to combine them with a mainland SE Asia, China, or Japan trip, then May, September, and October are the best times to go.
How to Get Around Southeast Asia
American travelers usually need a stopover when flying from the USA to Southeast Asia. You could consider flying in via Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Seoul. European and Australasian travelers can easily find direct flights to top destinations in Southeast Asia, such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore.
When traveling in Southeast Asia, flights are the most convenient choices, and most of them just take 1–2 hours between the popular cities.
For a one-of-a-kind experience, you could take a luxury Mekong cruise from Vietnam to Cambodia. You'd explore the Mekong Delta in depth and at a slow pace with plenty of opportunities to enjoy private, leisurely hours on board.
Contact Us for Booking
You are warmly welcomed to have us customize your own trip based on your group size, interests, and other needs. Sit back and use our Create My Trip service.
In addition to the above itineraries, we also have other itineraries you may be interested in:
Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.
