Suggest itinerary

We would like to visit Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos for 3 weeks over Xmas 2009. We want to do some walking. We haven%26#39;t booked our flights yet, so we have complete flexibility. Is Cambodia good for walking? Has anyone done a similar trip? Is it possible to fit all 3 countries into 3 weeks without feeling rushed. Can anyone help with a suggested itinerary? We want to visit some temples but don%26#39;t want to make this the focus of our trip. We are keen to do a cruise, rail journey, relaxing for a few days (perhaps Xmas day, boxing day time). We don%26#39;t like the big %26#39;stuffy%26#39; hotels and on our previous travels we have always stayed at more %26#39;quirky%26#39; smaller hotels/apartments (around 3*). Any recommendations of where to go/stay and what to give a miss would be mostly appreciated?

Suggest itinerary

As a starter , miss the big stuffy hotels (LOL), there are a multitude of smaller places to take up residence where you can be much more relaxed , cruise , not here , rail journey also not here , but relax , Cambodians know how to do that very well .

Walking ? Go to Sihanooh-ville , miles of beaches to walk on , warm , clean water to swim in , forget the temples , too many tourists if you want to relax . Temples ? should you be like me , seen one seen them all , today is of more importance unless you want bragging rights !!!!!!!!

Suggest itinerary

3 countries in 3 weeks is pushing it in my opinion, but others may not have a problem with it.

Personally I%26#39;d pick 2 countries, probably cambodia and Laos, and concentrate on those.

Lots of hotels fit your bill. when you say ';walk'; what do you want? day long treks with variable terrain? By the time you%26#39;ve gone around some of the temples you%26#39;ve walked most of the day! And if you were really desperate to walk further you could walk between the sites at angkor. Or head for a hike up to kbal spean - will be a short uphill walk if you are a quick walker, or take a longer walk around phnom kulen.

For trekking type of walking, then areas like Mondulkiri or Rattanakiri or bokor national park may be of interest, but i wouldn%26#39;t do some of those areas without a guide who is aware of the area!

a number of places run walking trips etc, even if its just to get an idea of what you can/could do, and where!

greentrail-indochina.com/cambodia/cambodia_w…

www.hiddencambodia.com/trekkingwalking1.htm

peregrineadventures.com/South-East-Asia/…

Thanks for all your help, especially the links. We are hoping to do a trek for 3 days as we recently did Machu Picchu and enjoyed the varied terrain (but no so much the altitude). I will have a good read through the links you have emailed me. Thanks!!!