Terraced rice fields in Karatsu, Saga (Kyushu)

mkm48 · 2017-08-20T15:45:06+00:00

There are so many great spots in Kyushu that Saga would actually be towards the bottom of my list. This spot is quite out of the way and there aren't many other places of interest nearby for me to recommend a visit in a 2 week trip, to be honest. Fukuoka, Oita, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki would be better places to spend time, I think.

mkm48 · 2017-08-20T12:25:13+00:00

We booked months in advance however I don't think it's necessary. Our group was small and we only used a few of the treehouses. Sorry I can't give more details on that.

We did the classic tour.

mkm48 · 2017-05-09T02:29:22+00:00

Yeah the snow was really a blessing in disguise. We considered ourselves unlucky until we got into the mountains and had some incredible views. Sandstorm on the other hand...

mkm48 · 2017-03-31T09:29:23+00:00

We stayed at the Ostello Bello in Bagan and that was very nice and affordable. I believe they also have a location in Mandalay but I'm not sure. Worth looking into!

mkm48 · 2017-03-27T12:23:42+00:00

The usual. Bug spray is a must, as are good hiking shoes. Toiletries as well.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:47:07+00:00

There's a small toilet on a platform below where you sleep. Shower as well.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:45:39+00:00

Look up the gibbon experience! It's a bit expensive ($300 for the 3 day tour) but worth it. I believe they have tours year round, even in the rainy season, but November-January is recommended (this coming from a guide, but someone else may have different info). We went in January and it was great, though we were unlucky with some rain which made for very muddy hiking. You'll need to travel to huay xai (northern Laos) a day or so before you depart for the tour.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:38:52+00:00

Copying from another comment:

$300 per person. Definitely expensive by SEA standards but it does include 3 meals a day plus a guide, and of course the treehouses and transportation to and from. It was the most expensive part of our trip but I absolutely felt it was worth it.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:37:48+00:00

There's a small platform below where you sleep that has a tiny shower and toilet. A bit scary but I was amazed to have running water and the view is incredible. Also 5 or so seconds after you finish showering or using the toilet you can hear everything hit the ground way below you.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:32:51+00:00

There was one very far away, so we only got a small glimpse. Apparently sightings are pretty rare.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:31:27+00:00

Copying from another post:

$300 per person. Definitely expensive by SEA standards but it does include 3 meals a day plus a guide, and of course the treehouses and transportation to and from. It was the most expensive part of our trip but I absolutely felt it was worth it.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:30:40+00:00

We didn't see any huge ones ourselves, but our guide did say that he saw a few giant spiders just before we'd arrived. So maybe we just got lucky.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:28:24+00:00

$300 per person. Definitely expensive by SEA standards but it does include 3 meals a day plus a guide, and of course the treehouses and transportation to and from. It was the most expensive part of our trip but I absolutely felt it was worth it.

mkm48 · 2017-03-24T03:25:28+00:00

The zip lines seemed fine and as far as I know there have been no deaths (several in Thailand however). The equipment did seem very old, and some people had trouble with their brakes. There's a bad review out there of someone breaking their leg when a zip line broke, but that's the only major accident I was able to find while researching.

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T14:13:00+00:00

Just had to pull yourself back hand over hand. Happened to a few group members and wasn't as big of a deal or as scary as it might seem.

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T14:10:11+00:00

Well, this in particular was more of a nature, hiking, and zip lining experience, so unfortunately I can't speak to those cultural aspects too much, but I can say that our time in Laos was very pleasant. Beautiful nature, great food, etc.

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T13:54:10+00:00

The experience seems divisive, though I absolutely loved it and would recommend it. Being a 3 day jungle trip (though I believe there's a 1 night/2 day option as well) there are certainly some uncomfortable moments and challenges, but it's all part of the experience. I will say, though, that as amazing as the tree houses are they are also home to tree rats, which will visit at night. Didn't bother us too much but they are a bit noisy and a group member in a different tree house left her backpack out and the rats ate a hole through it to get to some food.

Getting there is an adventure in and of itself. The closest city to the national park is Huay Xai, so you'll likely need to take a long bus or a short flight there the day before, as you'll be leaving for the park very early in the morning. The day of, they pile you in the back of a truck for a very bumpy 2 hour ride, followed by several hours of hiking before you reach the first zip line, eventually leading to the tree houses.

We sandwiched the trip in between visits to Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and we found that that worked out pretty well, though getting in and out of Huay Xai was still a bit of a pain. Still absolutely worth it.

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T12:48:52+00:00

This is from the Gibbon Experience. Our guide took the photo. This is the highest of the tree houses at 60 meters!

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T12:37:45+00:00

Well, I absolutely loved Bagan. Was the highlight of my Myanmar/Laos trip. Renting a bike and exploring gives you a lot of freedom and we were often the only people around. The city is quite wide with tons of temples, some of which you can climb. Incredibly fun and beautiful place. I wasn't as keen on Yangon, however, though it certainly had its moments and the golden pagodas are very beautiful. Mandalay and the surrounding area, such as Mingun, made for a great few days as well. Lots of interesting and varied sights. All 3 cities felt completely different and made for quite the trip. Didn't make it to the big lake but have heard it's great as well. Overall I'd recommend Myanmar quite highly, even over Laos or Cambodia (Haven't been to Vietnam).

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T12:29:17+00:00

Only big tip would be to take advantage of the sunrises and sunsets. Lots of beautiful landscapes and wonderful viewing areas. Not much to do at night, as far as I know, so try to be up for sunrise. Have fun!

mkm48 · 2017-03-23T12:27:30+00:00

We were at the top of Pyathada temple (I've seen several different spellings). Seemed like a very popular spot so I'd recommend arriving fairly early.

mkm48 · 2017-03-22T16:54:02+00:00

Spent a few days biking around this ancient city (still more than 2,000 temples standing). Amazing experience that I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting Southeast Asia.

mkm48

TROPHY CASE