5 Cool Towns To Chillout in South East Asia

Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by Dan in Travel Tips

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I love the masses of people, markets, nightlife and all those things you find in Asian cities but stopping for a while in quieter small towns and regions gives you the much needed to relax, take in your surroundings and process all the madness and excitement of your travels. Here are a few places I have visited or plan to visit in the future.

Samosir, Indonesia

I’d never heard of it until recently, it is one of those places that isn’t quite on the tourist trail. With the tourist downturn in Indonesia it has become even more off the map and extremely good value, in fact possibly the best you will find anywhere in Asia. What’s so special about it? Just take a look at the photos. Samosir is surrounded by Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, yep volcanic, Samosir is the caldera of a super-volcano that about 74,000 years ago erupted almost wiping humans from the face of the planet and caused worldwide climate change, thankfully we are still here and can enjoy what is surely one of the most beautiful regions on earth. Check out this post and NomadicNotes for first hand accounts.

Kampot, Cambodia

Kampot is a small town on Cambodia’s south coast, its claim to fame is Kampot Pepper, widely regarded by chefs as the worlds best. With Kampot River and the Elephant Mountains as a backdrop it makes for a cool place to relax. Kep is also just a short motorbike ride away and Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh just a couple of hours by bus or taxi. The locals and expats in Kampot are all pretty casual. While I stayed with a Khmer friend in their beautiful 2 storey home, adjacent and owned by our friends parents was a beautiful wooden house on the water, it was being rented out to an English teacher for $70 a month.

Railay, Thailand

Ao Nang/Railay, Thailand

As beaches go in Thailand you can’t go much better than Krabi, Ao Nang and Railay are known backpacker chill out spots with great access to Phang Nga Bay, stunning scenery and a generally relaxed vibe. Krabi is probably so popular because there is so much more to do than just relax, there is pretty much every activity you could hope to do in Thailand within an hour or two, and when you are up for a bigger party you have Phuket to the south or Koh Phangan to the north.

Ubud, Indonesia

I wrote a while ago about how much I disliked Bali, more specifically Kuta. If you are familiar with the Australian slang “Bogan”, Kuta is what I imagine a resort town just for them would be like. I also noted how much I want to go back and see the rest of the island outside of the cesspit that is Kuta. I can’t really imagine spending a long time there though, I don’t know what it is about Bali but despite knowing about the beautiful side I didn’t see, there is also something else telling me to move along. Ubud will provide the escape from the crazy Aussies on scooters looking to take you out with their surfboard hanging off the side.

Don Det, Laos

Don Det is an island in the 4000 islands region of the Mekong River in southern Laos. You can do many of the same things here as in Vang Vieng but without the crowds of backpackers. The largest waterfall in Southeast Asia is just a short excursion from here and you can try to spot an endangered Mekong River Dolphin too. Don Det is perfect for just laying in your hammock and watching the sunset over the Mekong.

Have a suggestion I can add to my list?

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14 Responses to “5 Cool Towns To Chillout in South East Asia”

Stuart

29. Oct, 2009

Great pick of Don Dhet. You asked for some more suggestions, here’s a handful:

Sangkhom in Thailand
Sen Monorom in Cambodia
Muang Long in Laos
Little Perhentian in Malaysia
Hoa’s place, China Beach, Vietnam
Dave

29. Oct, 2009

Don Det is also a great spot for your first Beer Lao if you’re heading there across the southern Laos/northern Cambodia border.

Great photos!
Filipina on Flip Flops

29. Oct, 2009

Lovely photos! I really love Cambodia, and I want to go back!

I’m from the Philippines and there are quite a number of great places that are just perfect for chilling out here, like Coron and El Nido in Palawan, as well as Batanes!
Filipina on Flip Flops

29. Oct, 2009

Also, Hoi An in Vietnam!
The Backpack Foodie

29. Oct, 2009

If you want my opinion, don’t go to Ubud. Go somewhere else in Bali, such as the northwest, which is a lot less touristy and equally as beautiful.

Ubud might be better than Kuta, but it’s still packed with tourists, and your interactions with locals will extend to offers of taxi rides and shop visits.
Cody McKibben

30. Oct, 2009

Railay is my favorite place on earth!
Migration Mark

30. Oct, 2009

There are so many chillout spots in Southeast Asia.
I highly agree with Samosir, Indonesia. Lake Toba was one of the most relaxing places I have ever been in this world.
I would also suggest some spots in the Philippines, especially the mountainous town of Sagada and Coron, as mentioned above.
Great list and fantastic pics!
Diggy - Upgradereality.com

30. Oct, 2009

You always come up with the most interesting places and beautiful photos!

Maybe consider compiling these kinds of posts into a downloadable ebook?

Thanks for sharing!
Cheers
D
NomadicNeil

30. Oct, 2009

I’ve only been to Ao Nang/Railay from this list. Sadly missed out on Don Det when I was in Laos… maybe this year I’ll make it.
kro

30. Oct, 2009

Full Ack for Samosir, (and thanks for choosing my picture btw

Ubud may be quite dependent on seasonal fluctuation – just don’t go there in full season. While you can still have nice walks in the paddies around Ubud, the town itself is crammed with tourists of all ages, accomodation prices grow high (if you manage to find a free place) and you hear a “taxi, mister?” every 2 seconds…
Dan

31. Oct, 2009

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys, maybe I will have to swap Ubud for somewhere else when I make my return to Bali.

@Diggy You’ve given me a great idea for something to do in the future.

@Mark I’m really interested in the Philippines but I haven’t done a lot of research into places there, nor Vietnam so much too.
Frugal Expat

14. Nov, 2009

Wow! Great pix..

I recommend Bukidnon in Philippines as a place to chill out.. It is close to nature, beautiful mountainous area and laid back lifestyle with the locals..

Lastly, fantastic weather!
Casey

26. Nov, 2009

Great pics! I loved Don Det. Such a chill place with $1-2 rooms with unreal views. Cheers!
Matt

21. Jan, 2010

Great list. As far as Bali goes, Ubud us great to chill out for a day or two. I agree with the comment about travelling NE in Bali. Away from the tourist-ridden hellholes like Kuta. Best place I have been is little coastal town called Balian. About a 1 hour bike ride up from Kuta. Amazing, laid back vibe and naturally beautiful. Great surf also, if you’re into that.