Asia - Long Trip - Backpackers Budget - best accessible diving?

[drbill]

The Air Brokers web site lists their standard trips and fares, but you can also ask for quotes based on an itinerary you choose.

 

[hallboy]

Could uou indicate me wich air company, dive op and resort could be used to go from Cairns to Madang? at the end of March, what kind of temeprature ( air and water ) and visibility can i expect?

 

[marinediva]

Hi Hallboy

Best check out Air Nuigini, they have both International Cairns to Port Morseby and Domestic Port Morseby to Madang.

They are join carriers with Qantas (aussie airlines) so quiet often you are on a Qantas jet.

You can book on line for the International side, but the domestic is quiet often cheaper by phone, this is strange but true.

The resort I work at is called Madang Resort Hotel and has a web site. We have a number of different dive companies but the diving is mentioned and addressed on the site.

At the end of March things should be less steamy here.
The visability is 10 to 20m at the moment, and this morning I was diving in cold 26degree water.
It was overcast so tends to be a little colder. Normally March 27 to 28 degree temp water.

March April starting to get into Autumn so visability will be better.
It looks like snowing underwater at the moment as the King Tides just recently have messed everything up. The area gets surging which really makes a mess of things but that will not be around March, or shouldnt be.

Here is the Madang Resort Link Madang Resort Papua New Guinea - Hotel

Here is a web site for the Madang Divers madangdivers

Here is the dive company at the resort
Papua New Guinea Diving

hOPE ALL THIS HELPS....
I will be in australia on the 6th March and should be returning from a week off mid March.
ta

 

[Scuba Scotty]

Okay, I've done some more research and this is what it looks like we'll do.

1. Fly to Asia (Singapore or BKK) somewhere between mid-Sept & Oct 2009
2. Head for Borneo dive the Semporna area extensively
3. Head for Tawua get an Indonesian visa ferry to Tarakan > Pelni to Sulawesi
4. Dive Manado etc. try to get to Bunaken
5. Fly to Bali... dive dive dive.

I figure this will take us 5 - 9 weeks to this point so we're somewhere around November - December now. Go West or go East form Bali? I haven't researched going East so...

6. Work our way back up Indonesia > Malaysia > Thailand
7. Land adventure Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
8. Head back to BKK or Singapore > fly home

THOUGHTS????????

I'd love to throw in Australia but it adds a lot of expense, so unless we could find jobs there (easy since we're the only ones that have such ideas right? ) it looks less and less likely.

Bring gear?????

Thank you!!!

-Scotty

 

[technobro]

Hi Scott

I am also planning on a long trip to asia, and i find out its cheaper to fly to Hong kong from america than anywhere else in asia

I can get a return ticket to HKG for 650 USD once you are in asia ticket are cheap

Also have you consider Philippines ... its cheap and fun


Edit: concerning the gear , i bring my gear to ph this year and got a little discount everywhere i dove. it an negociating argument ... but since you plan to travel i lot you might consider reg and mask only...

 

[Bora_Horza]

I'd suggest looking into moving east from Bali (as long as you have the time - 60 day tourist visa for Indonesia and all that) and do some diving from Labuanbajo in the Komodo National Park - well worth a week or 2! If you go west from Bali through Java > Sumatra (a massive distance overland BTW, without flights) consider diving at Pulau Weh off the north tip of Sumatra - very chilled there..

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[kathydee]

Ok, I've done 4 budget trips in the area.

1st trip, (2months) LA - NZ, Australia, Bali - Australia-LA

2nd Trip: (2months) Bali-thailand-Laos-Bali

3rd Trip: 7months) Singapore-So India, No India, Nepal, BKK, Chang Mai - Laos (all the way through Laos) - Cambodia - Bali

4th Trip: (7weeks) Singapore - Malaysia Borneo - Bali - Sulewesi - Singapore

Another to come shortly!

I usually travel on $10-$15 per day. (it's pretty basic - but pretty clean & safe)

Tips: Don't book anything ahead of time! Except dive reservations in Malaysia Borneo & Julies guest house in Chang Mai.
Visit the "Lonley Planet - Thorntree fourm" for much better budget travel info Thorn Tree Travel Forum - Lonely Planet

Here some of my favorite highlights - you can link them.

Chang Mai Thailand is a great place to get orientated Check out Julie's Guest House- Skip trekking here it's impacted. For some relaxing fun- head west to the little mountain town of Pai where you can guide your own hikes & explore the countryside if you rent a motorscooters. It's cheap. I stayed at a little hippy dive on the river called Golden Huts for $7 a night.

You can catch a bus directly to Chang Kong & the Laos Border (get a visa there) - BUT DON'T GO SOUTH TOWARDS LUANGPRABANG with all the other tourists. The north has the most colorful culture!!!! Don't miss out!!

Take a boat or bus up to Luang Nam Tha - from here you can get to some of the best ethnic jungle trekking. For easier access & more amenities head N to Muang Sing (everything can be organized there) - for more remote and creative adventure head through Udomaxai to Phongasali (trekking agency here) Very cool stuff & probably little to no tourists. If you make it to Phongasali - then you can travel 2-3 days down the river towards Luang Prabang & meet "civilization" again where you'll probably spend 4-7 days dusting off.

In the south of Laos I've heard Savannakeht is nice, Vang Vien is a party spot but the 4000 islands on the southern border are a nicer chill/party spot - there is one island with a remote home stay think it was called Don Kho - you will find info in the gvt travelers info shop in Pakse - if you make it that far down. I can recomend Kiet Ngong (near Pakse) if you want an authentic traditional village homestay. Try to arrange a full day elephant jungle trip - it should run $20 for 2 people ;-)!

Now you have a problem - the amazing rock climbing is in the south of Thailand near Krabi and you have to go to Anchor Wat in Cambodia!

Work it out ! Airasia.com should help. But best to get to Rai Leh beach before late October as it gets very busy over christmas! Also it's less expensive to stay in bunaglows in Hat Ton Sai! If you like sport climbing - you'll over this place! It's very hard to leave & there's plenty to do for your non-climbing partner.

To keep Anchor Wat inexpensive, find a guest house for $6-$7 per night, Pay for a 3-5 day pass, find a self-guide book - Maybe $20 per day OUCH! and rent a bicycle & do the tour yourself (18+ mile ride feels great!)

Ok so now that you've treked through remote jungles, lived with about 3 different tribes of indiginous people, floated on rivers for days, probably explored a cave or two, done tons of shopping, soaked in the hotsprings in Pai, had an elephant safari, checked out one of the biggest ruins in the world, probably ate a few insects, wandered amazing temples of Luang Prabang, indulged in Thai food and spent a few weeks in the south of Thailand cranking it up limestone cliffs & enjoying the amazing scenery - time to get busy diving if you haven't already!

So do not miss Malaysia Borno - Semporna (bring your own reg) and dive with scuba junkies (homestay on Mabul is $18 per night - 12 person dorm room hell is $3)http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/malaysia-singapore/270713-whats-word-scuba-junkies.html#post4199553 I started researching traveling down through Indonesian Borneo and taking a boat to Sulewesi - then traveling overland to Manado (I didn't do it, but it looks cool)

In Manado - dive your heart out at Bunakan/Lembeh
Bunakan - Stay at Lorenzo II on Bunakan for about $18 including food - book ahead & dive where you like - lots of shops and prices are good. In Lembeh Straights (a do not miss) there are a few on land inexpensive resorts - check LP or PM me if you want details.

Also hit Bali, here are details - http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge.../272244-inexpensive-diving-2.html#post4220941

I've heard lombogen is amazing (I'll probably head there this summer) & also to the philipines (looking forward to detailed info for both on this post) - also hope to travel into Burma one of these days soon ;-).

Another really cool option is to fly into Singapore & take a shuttle to the south of India for a month. I caught a $120 flight on air india express! Once you are in india - book inexpensive flights on Yatra.com.

I heard there are inexpensive flights from Bali to Australia? Maybe try jetstar? It's only a few hour flight.

Of course you could reverse this entire plan to take advantage of weather but there will be more tourists. Have tons of fun!

K


Ps: Keep in mind that airasia.com is a great resource. Book online with your credit card and use the flights as shuttle buses all around SE Asia. Very inexpensive!

 

[kathydee]

Okay, I've done some more research and this is what it looks like we'll do.

1. Fly to Asia (Singapore or BKK) somewhere between mid-Sept & Oct 2009
2. Head for Borneo dive the Semporna area extensively
3. Head for Tawua get an Indonesian visa ferry to Tarakan > Pelni to Sulawesi
4. Dive Manado etc. try to get to Bunaken
5. Fly to Bali... dive dive dive.

I did almost this same trip last year. Flew to Singapore - took a taxi to Johor Bahru (cheaper flights to Borneo) - took a flight to KK, bus to Semporna

Then I bused back to KK, flew to Bali, then flew to Manado. (Bunakan is fun but don't miss Lembeh)

And then back to Singapore --- I took about 7 weeks but could have deffinately filled 9.


6. Work our way back up Indonesia > Malaysia > Thailand
7. Land adventure Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
8. Head back to BKK or Singapore > fly home

More time in Laos than other places if you like authentic traditional non-western culture.

Bring gear?????

If you're diving at inexpensive backpacker shops - deffinately bring a reg (not DIN), a mask and a computer! Also bring your climbing shoes/chalk bag ;-) for the south of Thailand.

 

[ilookold]

Kathy,

on your seven month trip, how much do that run you if you dont mind me asking?

thanks,

Brian

 

[DevonDiver]

Most of the backpacker crowd go to Koh Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand. Extremely cheap diving courses and accommodation there. You can combine it with the infamous 'Full Moon Party' on neighbouring Koh Phangan. It is easy to get there from anywhere in Thailand. Elsewhere in Thailand, you can do the usual tribe/jungle tours in Chang Mai....with easy access over the border to Ankor Wat in Cambodia or Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng in Laos..... and then onwards to explore Vietnam.

The Thailand backpacker scene is very well organized, very convenient and logistics are very good. It has lost some of it's 'untrod paths' magic though. Start any exploration of Thailand in the famous Kho Shan Road, Bangkok. You can book travel and tours (and diving) for anywhere in the region from here. Be aware that if you use the agents, then you will pay extra.

There is a very good, backpacker orientated, dive operation in Borneo, Malaysia - if you want to get your dives done on Sipidan and Mabul (some of the best diving in the world). Scuba Junkies. Again, it would be well withing your forecast budget, if you are in that area. Other attractions in Borneo are the Jungle Tours, White Water Jungle Rafting, Orangutang Sanctuary and climbing Mount Kinabalu. You can spend some very exciting weeks there.

Philippines is an amazing place to visit, with excellent diving and land-based activities. The prices are comparable with Thailand, but the backpacker infrastructure is not as complete. Contrary to uninformed opinions, it is a safe and extremely friendly place to visit. The diving here is better than Thailand and there are a host of varied diving locations to visit. You can snorkel with Whalesharks in Donsol, Wreck dive in Subic or Coron or visit the amazing reefs in Cebu, Bohol or Palawan. Out of the water, a visit to the Banaue Rice Terraces, Bohol Chocolate Hills and Palawan Underground River are monumental. All of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites.