I’m probably posting this in the wrong section, so advice needed there. I’ve joined this forum today and I’m a complete novice to bike packing. I’ve got a surly disc trucker which I love. I have to leave my house by June 1st after my father’s death. I’ve got a little bit of inheritance and I’m going to have an adventure. My plan is to get a 6 month ticket to Bangkok and cycle around the general area. From Thailand through Cambodia into Vietnam. I want advice on everything. What to take with me. Routes. Visas. Everything and anything. I’m not the fittest person and I’m 52 years old. I need to leave my house by June 1st. I’m thinking about electronic maps, insurance, gadgets, routes and ANYTHING ELSE. Also; taking a bike on the plane? Any advice greatly appreciated. Plus if anyone is there when I am it would be great to meet. Please comment with ANY advice. Even if you think it’s blatantly obvious I might not have thought of it.

Join cycling UK, loads of people who tours like this live there

I've no advice to offer, other than go for it and enjoy the experience

Sounds like it'll be a great trip. Good luck. I'd be keen to hear how you get on, so post back with progress when you're out there. It'd make interesting reading.

If you haven't already, search YouTube for others that have done it. Try the Wheels To Wander channel as they did a trip in Asia and they're pretty good at posting tutorials about what kit to take, packing, routes and that sort of thing.

At 52...your in your prime.

I’m a complete novice to bike packing

Get practising as everyone takes too much stuff first few trips and kit is a very personal thing. Some like tents, some like bivvies, some like bags, some like quilts etc
.
Better to find this out and gain some experience in the UK rather than during your trip. You cannot buy experience, only earn it.

TLS ( take less stuff) but remember its 6 months so some luxuries will probably be needed ( or buy over there eg tablet etc

I would buy quality well known brands, known to last , for a multi month trip abroad.

No info on area

I'm sorry for the loss of your father: a big trip sounds like the ideal tonic .

You may find the Rough Stuff Fellowship, Adventure Cycling Association and Bikepacking (as well as 'Boners, of course) of help .

https://www.rsf.org.uk/
https://www.adventurecycling.org/
https://bikepacking.com/

I will definitely be telling you all how I got on/am getting on. Thanks for the encouragement. I’m not camping.I’ve chosen the area in part because of the cheap accommodation. I was there for my 30th birthday and staying in guest houses for £3 a night so even if it’s gone up 10 fold (which I hope it hasn’t) it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I wasn’t on a bike, so one bit of advice which I’m assuming you could all help with is security. I’ve got a D lock with a “10” security rating. I wouldn’t leave my bike anywhere or for any unnecessary length of time that I didn’t have to. I’m also thinking of bike insurance: worth it or not? And yes I am definitely in my prime at 52(). And when I say in my prime I mean almost ready for the knackers yard. But only almost , which will do for now

I'm sure that lock would be ok. Heavy though, no doubt. As others have said, get out and about cycling and raising fitness levels, especially with a loaded bike. I'd go as light as possible. You can always buy over there.

No idea on insurance, especially how it'd work over there.

I travelled Bangkok to Singapore in '94 and the visited again in 2000. The beach chalet in Samui cost £2.50 a night in '94 but had ballooned to £5 in 2000. I was astonished how prices had gone up. Yes, inevitable prices have gone up but still cheap in the grand scheme of things. I'd think Cambodia/Vietnam might be cheaper.

Regarding insurance, Bikmo and Laka are two that get advertised on some cycling podcasts I listen to. Both seem to offer insurance for cycling outside of the UK, so might be worth a look to see what they cover. Getting your bike and stuff nicked on the first week of the trip would be a bit of a downer if you weren't insured to some degree.

Cycling UK membership comes with some level of Third-party liability insurance for cycling in the UK; it's currently provided by Bikmo. You can also get a 10% discount off Bikmo travel insurance as a member, which might influence any decision. Martin Lewis strongly recommends that you get some generic travel insurance to cover you from before you book anything like flights or what not, as you want to be covered if anything goes wrong before you go; see details here - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insur ... insurance/

Here's a link to the Cycling UK forums that were mentioned further up, you may find more info there - https://forum.cyclinguk.org/

Good luck!

Sorry to hear about your dad.

My only advice would be: don't overthink it.
You'll be fine.
You'll learn a lot.
Fitness will come during the ride.

Try to ride as much as you can now, to have a good setup (bike/saddle/fit) that you're comfortable with.

If your bike has any odd/rare bits replace them with standard ones that could be found while travelling.

Regarding the lock....I wouldnt rely on it and therefore I wouldnt bother taking it tbh.(I would take a lock, but a lighter smaller one)

I've used Laka insurance twice now for a theft in the UK and for one abroad. Both times they were great.
If you decide to use it, use this code for a discount:
https://my.laka.co/LKAWI

Pick your kit based on:
Versatility
Reliability
Packability
Weight

Remember to take time to enjoy it.

Get a couple of practice trips in before June.

Check here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration for visas etc - don't believe internet forums

You'll be (nearly) living on your bike. If, as you mentioned, you plan to stay in places with a roof, ask if you can pt your bike in a locked room or take your bike to your room.

I've done this in many, many countries and there's always a place to put it, giving me the feeling it's safer there with a tiny lock (or none) then somewhere else with a big lock. Especially if there's stuff on the bike you don't need for a night or two.

I'd bring along a small lock only (but don't know the area, I only ever went as far East as Sikkim). Eg this one:
https://www.velofactory.ch/Kryptonite-K ... gLPZfD_BwE

This (lock topic) is only one of many things to think about, but as others have mentioned before and given the nature of your trip, you could just grab your stuff, leave and go with whatever comes up on your way. Otherwise there must be an abundance of tips searching for cycling

Jamie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:20 pm From Thailand through Cambodia into Vietnam

sounds like an amazing trip, hope you have a great time, might be worth a browse of crazyguyonabike ('A place for bicycle tourists and their journals')

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/

lots of traveller experiences etc

There's also this, again lots of reports and useful intel

https://www.cycleblaze.com/

cheers,

Keith

What's your fitness and cycling background? Part of me would be tempted to just fly out with luggage and buy a bike out there.

Have you started with any vaccines etc you might need?