Step 4 of 5 · On the spot or a day ahead
What you do is what you remember
A backpacking trip is not about the places on your list, it is about what you do there. Sunrise at Angkor Wat, a cooking class in Hoi An, snorkelling off El Nido or a jungle trek you are still thinking about that night. For tours, tickets and excursions we work with GetYourGuide, and on top of that our own picks sit on every destination page.
- Thousands of tours across Southeast Asia
- 24 hours before often free to cancel
- Real reviews from people who did it
- Our own picks per destination, offline too
From temple tour to time slot
You search on your destination and see what there is to do, what it costs and what other people thought of it. This is what you come across most.
- Temple and culture tours Angkor Wat at sunrise, the imperial city of Hue, the temples of Chiang Mai. With a guide who explains what you are looking at, which is the difference between pretty and jaw-dropping.
- Boat trips and island hopping El Nido, Koh Phi Phi, Ha Long Bay. Nearly always with lunch and snorkel gear included; check the group size, because that decides how packed your boat is.
- Snorkel and dive trips From a day of snorkelling to a full dive course. Check whether the gear, the boat and the marine park fee are included.
- Cooking classes and food tours Often the most fun thing to do in a place, and one of the cheapest too. You start at the market and finish by eating the curry you made yourself.
- Nature and adventure Day trips to national parks, jungle treks, waterfalls, canyoning and bike tours. For treks, always check the level first.
- Entry tickets For the busy sights that run on time slots. You walk past the ticket office instead of standing in the sun for an hour.
Book ahead or sort it on the spot?
Both work, and each is sometimes the smarter call. It comes down to how busy it gets and whether there is a time slot involved.
- Book ahead online, from home or from your hostel
Do this for the big names and time slots
For the famous sights where it gets busy, for anything with a time slot and for tours that leave only once a day. You know what you pay, you read the reviews first and on most tours you can still cancel for free up to 24 hours before.
- Sunrise tours and anything with a fixed time slot
- Popular day trips in high season
- When you only have one day somewhere
- You see up front what is included: transport, entry, lunch and guide
- Sort it on the spot at your hostel or a local agency
Do this when the weather could still turn
In a lot of places we work with local businesses, or name activities you just sort when you are there. That regularly gets you a better price, and sometimes an experience nobody else offers. On top of that you see what the weather is doing.
- For anything that depends on the weather, like boat trips
- When you stay somewhere longer and have the time
- Often cheaper, especially in a bigger group
- Our own picks are on the destination page for each place
Our rhythm: the famous ones we lock in ahead, the rest we sort in the evening at the hostel once we know what the weather is doing.
147 tours we picked out
Searching a platform gets you thousands of results, and that is exactly the problem. For each country we lined up the tours we would book ourselves, grouped by place and with the reviews alongside.
Six things that make or break a tour
Two tours that look like they cost the same can be tens of euros and a whole day apart. This is where that difference hides.
- Read what is included Transport, entry, lunch and a guide: one tour has it all in, with the next you pay for it separately. Add it up before you compare.
- Look at the group size A small group costs more and often gives you a lot more. On a bus with fifty people you spend half the day waiting.
- Start early Sunrise tours are popular for a reason. You get the place fairly quiet and you are not walking around in the hottest hours of the day.
- Mind the animals Elephants you ride, tigers you pose with: give those a miss. Pick a sanctuary where you see the animals from a distance, and read reviews from travellers who know what to look for.
- Keep an eye on the weather A boat trip in the rain is not a boat trip. In the wet season, book a day ahead rather than a week, and check whether you can still cancel.
- Bring cash Entry to small temples, a drink on the way or the tip for your guide: on a tour you can hardly pay by card anywhere. Carry some small notes.
One more thing
Why book through GetYourGuide?
The range is big and the reviews come from travellers who actually did the tour. You see exactly what is included and what it costs up front, you pay safely online and on plenty of activities you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before. Handy when you are on the road and your plans can still shift.
Should I book tours ahead or on the spot?
Most tours you can book a day ahead, even from your hostel. Booking early pays off for the big names where it gets busy, like sunrise at Angkor Wat, and for anything with a time slot. Plenty of tours on GetYourGuide cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can lock it in without being locked in.
Is it cheaper to book on the spot?
Sometimes, mostly for simple day tours and when you are in a group. The difference is usually a few euros, and you give up the reviews and the free cancellation for it. For anything busy or popular, a guaranteed spot is worth more than those few euros.
What if a tour is called off because of the weather?
In bad weather the operator itself regularly calls off a boat trip or a trek. Then you get your money back or you can move to another day. That is exactly why in the wet season it is smart to book a day or two ahead, not weeks.
How many activities should I plan per destination?
Fewer than you think. One solid activity every two days is a good rhythm; the rest of your time goes on travelling, sleeping in, eating and whatever you stumble across. A fully booked week starts to feel like work.
Can I book a tour without a credit card?
Yes, GetYourGuide also takes PayPal and debit cards. Handy, because not every backpacker carries a credit card. With local operators on the spot the old rule still applies: cash is king.
Sort the next step right away
Route first, bookings second
Booking is a lot easier once you know which way you are heading. Our destination pages have the route through each country, how long to stay and roughly what it costs.
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