Whenever you are planning a long haul trip it can be difficult to know where to begin when organising transport in and around your chosen destinations. South East Asia has recently opened itself up to a huge global travel market and as such transport possibilities are evolving and improving all the time. There are, however, a few rules of thumb that might just help to make your life a little easier.

The first big journey is what you want to book first. The biggest and best connected airports in South East Asia are to be found in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh (though the airport still uses the city’s former name, Saigon), Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Depending on your onward trajectories and how long you wish to spend in your city of arrival, these cities will all offer you a range of possibilities for onward journeys. Furthermore, they all offer direct flight services from selection of airports across the UK, eliminating the need for tiresome and time-consuming connections.

Once you are in South East Asia you usually have the choice between travelling by internal flights within the region or taking a bus. In Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and parts of Thailand, rail travel services are also available.

Useful airlines to remember are Jet Star – Singapore’s budget airline, connecting a range of South East Asian cities – and Air Asia – another cheap and cheerful choice, operating mostly out of Kuala Lumpur. If you are in any doubt about the services you are reserving, check out online reviews and air traffic safety sites for the latest information.

Overland travel is, of course, more time consuming, but it may allow or inspire you to make a few interesting stops along the way. It will give you a glimpse of many different kinds of South East Asian societies, away from the bustling, and comparatively affluent, cities. When travelling by bus, be sure to take plenty of water, insect repellent and, where possible, a well charged iPod. You will never get a straight answer when you ask how long your journey might take.

It’s obviously not possible here to list tips like this for every major tourist destination in Asia. But the general drift of it is that each place has its own laws and customs, so the best Asia travel advice that can be provided here is that visitors should know beforehand what is acceptable and what isn’t. Most destinations are quite friendly and welcoming, but it’s important to show some respect for local sensibilities.

Ecotourism is increasing in popularity across the world, but has significant practical value in developing countries where the needs of impoverished communities may conflict directly with the need to capitalise on the growing tourism industry

Ecotourism is a move to counter this. It aims to create viable and sustainable tourism opportunities, and limit the impact that all related activities will have on the environment, while improving the lives of the local people living in the area. According to Ecotourism.org, the concept consists of a number of core principles, including:

• Minimising industrial impact on the environment

• Building environmental and cultural awareness

• Empowering local communities

• Raising awareness of the political, environmental and social issues of the country concerned, and

• Ensuring that the experience is positive for all parties, including visitors and hosts

The aim is to achieve sustainable and responsible tourism practices to the benefit of all and the detriment of none. One of the most important factors in the success of any ecotourism venture is knowledge. Those proposing the project must gain intimate knowledge of the area, the fauna, the flora and the communities living there. They must understand how they impact on each other and how a change in one will affect the rest. They must understand the culture governing the people’s relationship with the environment, and how they view concepts such as territory, hunting, farming and gathering materials for personal use.

It’s vital to include the local communities in the project, not merely as grateful beneficiaries of charity, but as empowered and informed team members. Their input is to be valued, as chances are that they understand the area and complex ecosystems better than anyone else involved in the project.

The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable resource that protects both the people and the nature involved. Over 20 years ago, in 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development stated that sustained development implied, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This sentiment is just as applicable now as it was then.