Autumn in China ! Backpack from Penang to Tibet, Xinjiang and Tianjin in August 2009

Leave Penang 2.30pm from Butterworth railway station to Bangkok arriving at Hualumpung railway station 11am the next day

Upon arrival buy ticket to Chiangmai, if cannot leave the same day, check in to nearby Hualumpung guesthouse(Contact Mr Art)

Take a morning train 8.30am from Bangkok to Chiangmai, arriving 20.30 evening (You can also take a overnight train 2.30-5.10, 6.00-7.15, 7.20-7.40, 7.35-9.45, 22.00-12.45) Train schedule

From Chiangmai catch a 8.30am bus from Arcade Bus station to Thai/Laos border town Chiang Kong,arriving 2.55pm. Trip takes 6-7 hour. (Or take a half hourly bus to Chiang Rai than a bus to Chiang Kong, it takes about 2.5 hours)

From Chiang Kong, take tuk-tuk for 30B to the ferry terminal. Take a boat across to Laos border town Huay Xai for 20B and a tuk-tuk to the bus station 2km away for 10,000 kip. Bus leaves 9.30am for 95,000kip(350B) to Luang Nam Tha. Trip takes 5-6 hours (198km)

Put up a night in Luang Nam Tha, catch a bus to scenic Muang La the next day (Muang La is an hour by bus to Udomxay)

From Muang La catch a songthaews to Muang Khua at about 09:00, 12:00 and 14:30 (2.5 hours, 20,000 kip)

From Muang Khua catch a bus at 7.00am for 50,000kip and 2000kip to Sop Hun (Laos) /Tay Trang (Vietnam) and finally Dien Bien Phu

Stay a night in Dien Bien Phu, catch a bus to Lai Chau

From Lai Chau catch a bus via Sapa to border town Lao Cai, taxi takes about 30minutes from Sapa to Lao Cai

From Lao Cai cross over to Hekou, China. Take a sleeper bus to Kunming which is a whooping 470km away ! You can take a bus from Lai Cao to Gejiu and then to Kunming(5 hours)

Suggested quick trips

10 days or less trips: Siem Reap, Hua Hin, Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Chiangmai, HCMC

Siem Reap 10days by Walin

Train to Hualumpung, Bangkok then another train to Aranyaprathet, tuk-tuk to Poipet..

Trip highlights..