Charlotte Dec 26, 2026 → Charlotte May 18, 2027 · 144 days
Two weeks of snowboarding in Vail on the Epic Pass, then Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Gulf islands, a ski week in the French Alps with friends, Las Fallas and Holy Week in Spain, Everest Base Camp, and four weeks of dry-season surf in Bali and Lombok.
Duration
144days
Estimated cost
$15,300all-in
Per day
$106average
Countries
8abroad, plus Vail
Snowboarding
Dec 26 – Jan 7 · Vail, Colorado
Elephant sanctuary
Jan 16–20 · Chiang Mai
Boat down the Mekong
Jan 23–24 · Huay Xai → Luang Prabang
Angkor Wat
Feb 3–7 · Siem Reap
Ha Giang Loop
Feb 10–13 · Northern Vietnam
Full Moon Party
Sun Feb 21 · Haad Rin, Koh Phangan
Diving
Feb 24 – Mar 3 · Koh Tao
Everest Base Camp
Mar 31 – Apr 16 · Khumbu, independent
Surfing
Apr 19 – May 13 · Bali, Lembongan & Lombok
Bar width is proportional to days. Bali (30), Nepal (22) and Spain (14) are the long blocks after France; the gold bars are the two snow legs — Vail on the front, Val Thorens in the middle.
| Assumption | Setting |
|---|---|
| Who's traveling | Solo — every number is per person. Val Thorens lodging split 4 ways |
| Departure | Charlotte (CLT), Sat Dec 26, 6:20am — Frontier 1361 to Denver, then Vail. Denver (DEN) → Bangkok, Fri Jan 8, 6:45am — Delta / Korean Air via Seattle and Seoul, landing Bangkok Sat Jan 9 at 11:20pm. Both booked |
| Return | Charlotte (CLT), May 18 — inside the May 14–20 window |
| Passport | US |
| Style | Budget backpacker — dorms/guesthouses, local food, budget airlines |
| Vail | Free lodging with kitchen access · own snowboard and outerwear · full Epic Pass → lift, lodging and gear all $0 |
| Snowboard | Goes home to Charlotte with friends on Jan 7. Nothing snow-related flies to Bangkok |
| Diving | Already certified — fun dives only |
| Nepal trek | Everest Base Camp, classic out-and-back, independent — legal in the Khumbu. Cold kit rented in Thamel |
| Skiing | Full Epic Pass already owned — lifts $0. Friends bring your ski kit and take it home |
| Spain | Dorms throughout, food ~$30/day. No Granada, golf or football this leg |
| Surf level | Intermediate |
| Insurance | US short-term medical for the Vail window + international policy from Jan 8 (~$3/day), covering trekking to ~6,000 m and skiing |
Head to Itinerary for the day-by-day and the budget. Two standalone trips live under References → Potential trip extensions: Costa Rica (Pacific surf + Lake Atitlán, mid-Nov → mid-Dec, ≈$3,900) and Patagonia (Torres del Paine O Circuit, any January, ≈$3,300).
Dec 26, 2026 → May 18, 2027 · 144 days
Day-by-day, with the budget. All costs are per-person USD planning estimates, researched Sept 2026 (FX ~33.2 THB, ~140 NPR, ~16,000 IDR, ~0.92 EUR per USD). Unbooked flight figures are snapshots, not quotes. All flight times are local.
| Date | Flight | Route | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Dec 26 | Frontier F9 1361 | Charlotte (CLT) → Denver (DEN) | 6:20am | 8:22am |
| Fri Jan 8 | Delta DL 1731 | Denver (DEN) → Seattle (SEA) | 6:45am | ~8:55am |
| Fri Jan 8 | Korean Air KE 042 | Seattle (SEA) → Seoul Incheon (ICN) | 11:00am | ~3:55pm Sat Jan 9 |
| Sat Jan 9 | Korean Air KE 653 | Seoul Incheon (ICN) → Bangkok (BKK) | 7:05pm | ~11:20pm |
| Booking | Paid | Includes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLT → DEN | $231.98 | 1 checked bag | Nonstop. Frontier only lets you bring a small free personal item. If the included checked bag is the snowboard, the 40–50 L pack needs a carry-on or a second checked bag. Add it in Manage Trip before the airport, where the fee is highest |
| DEN → SEA → ICN → BKK | $424.80 | 1 checked bag | 3 flights, ~26.5 hrs door to door. ~2 hr connection in Seattle: Korean Air leaves from the South Satellite (S gates), so take the underground train. ~3 hr layover in Seoul: both Korean Air flights use Terminal 2, so you don't change terminals. Confirm at Denver check-in that the bag is checked through to Bangkok |
Arrival times marked ~ are the airlines' published schedules, not your ticket. Check the times in your confirmations.
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Dec 26 | Fly CLT → DEN, Frontier 1361 (6:20am → 8:22am), shuttle DEN → Vail | 1 | Book a ~10:30–11am shuttle to leave time for bag claim, including the board. ~2–2.5 hrs on I-70, which is slow the day after Christmas. You should reach Vail early afternoon. Vail Village sits at 8,150 ft |
| Dec 27 – Jan 6 | Snowboard Vail | 11 | Epic Pass, unlimited and unrestricted at Vail with no holiday blackouts. Back Bowls (Sun Up, Sun Down, China, Tea Cup), Blue Sky Basin, Game Creek Bowl, Riva Ridge. Dec 26 – Jan 4 is the busiest stretch of Vail’s season — first chair, then ride the bowls while everyone queues for Gondola One. Jan 5–7 falls in one of the quietest weeks all winter |
| Thu Dec 31 | NYE Torchlight Parade & fireworks | — | Skiers descend Golden Peak with flares, fireworks after. Free, and the one unmissable date in the window |
| Thu Jan 7 | Morning ride, afternoon shuttle Vail → Denver, overnight at a DEN airport hotel | 1 | The 6:45am flight means reaching the airport by ~4:45am. No Vail shuttle gets you there that early, so sleep near DEN (~$120, pick one with a free airport shuttle). Hand the snowboard and all snow gear to your friends before you leave Vail. It goes back to Charlotte with them |
| Fri Jan 8 | Fly DEN → Bangkok | — | DL 1731 at 6:45am. See Booked flights |
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8–9 | Fly DEN → Seattle → Seoul → Bangkok | 2 | Booked. Lands Suvarnabhumi Sat Jan 9, ~11:20pm. Book the first night near the airport or somewhere with 24-hour check-in. The Airport Rail Link stops around midnight, so take a metered taxi into town (~$15) |
| Jan 10–12 | Bangkok | 3 | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Chatuchak. Peak cool-dry season |
| Jan 13–21 | Chiang Mai (+ Pai) | 9 | Fly BKK → CNX Jan 13 (~$40). Elephant sanctuary (Elephant Nature Park, BEES or Kindred Spirit — no riding), cooking class, Doi Suthep, Old City temples. Room for 2–3 nights in Pai |
| Jan 22 | Minivan → Chiang Khong | 1 | ~6 hrs, overnight at the border |
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23–24 | Mekong slow boat | 2 | Cross to Huay Xai, overnight in Pakbeng, Luang Prabang evening of the 24th. Bring a cushion |
| Jan 25–28 | Luang Prabang | 4 | Kuang Si, dawn alms, Mount Phousi, night market |
| Jan 29–31 | Vang Vieng | 3 | Laos–China railway (~1 hr). Tubing, Blue Lagoon, caves, balloon |
| Sun Jan 31 | Sleeper bus Vang Vieng → 4000 Islands | — | Through ticket via Vientiane and Pakse, incl. the boat to Don Det (~$33–39). Leaves ~1–2pm, arrives Don Det ~10–11am Feb 1 — about 20 hrs. Solo travellers on Lao sleepers often share a double berth; pay for both spots (~+$20) if you want it to yourself. DIY alternative: train to Vientiane (~$15, book ahead) + overnight sleeper to Pakse ($13–20) + van and boat to Don Det (~$6–10) |
| Feb 1–2 | 4000 Islands (Don Det) | 2 | Hammocks on the Mekong. Bike Don Det and Don Khon over the old French bridge, Li Phi (Somphamit) falls, Khone Phapheng falls (~33,000 kip each), kayak tour of the channels. No ATM on Don Det — bring cash |
Dolphins: Don Det tours still advertise Irrawaddy dolphins, but the last one on the Lao side reportedly died in 2022. The kayak trip is worth it for the channels and falls — don't book it for the dolphins.
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Feb 3 | Van Don Det → Siem Reap, overland via Nong Nok Khiene / Trapeang Kriel | — | Boat to Nakasong, then van ~9am, arriving ~5–7pm (8–11 hrs, delays of 2–4 hrs at the border are common). $20–41 depending on operator; most change vans in Stung Treng. Cambodia e-visa is accepted at Trapeang Kriel (or visa on arrival, ~$35). Border open 06:00–18:00. Expect ~$2 Laos exit stamp; ignore the "health check" at the second barrier — it's a scam. Bring crisp USD, there's no ATM at the border |
| Feb 3–7 | Siem Reap — Angkor | 5 | Arrive the evening of Feb 3, so temples start Feb 4. 3-day Angkor pass ($62), Feb 4–6: Angkor Wat sunrise, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea. Day 4–5: Tonlé Sap, Phare circus. Tet / Chinese New Year falls Sat Feb 6 — Angkor is busier with Chinese New Year tourists that week; get to sunrise early and save Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea for the busiest days. Some lion dances around town |
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 8 | Fly Siem Reap → Hanoi | 1 | Vietnam Airlines direct (~$100). Tet day 3 — city still quiet, taxis add a Tet surcharge. One night in the Old Quarter |
| Feb 9 | Limousine bus → Ha Giang | 1 | ~6 hrs. Tet day 4 — buses run but thinner; book the seat in advance |
| Feb 10–13 | Ha Giang Loop | 4 | Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que River, Dong Van, Lung Cu. Easy-rider ~$180 incl. homestays + food. Starts Tet day 5 — most operators are running again. Tail end of domestic Tet travel, so homestays are busier: book early. Plum and peach blossom season |
| Sun Feb 14 | Bus → Hanoi | 1 | Arrive afternoon. One night in the Old Quarter. Leave the big pack in the hostel's luggage storage and book Feb 16–18 at the same place. Ninh Binh is daypack-only |
| Mon Feb 15 | Ninh Binh, day 1 — Trang An + Hang Mua | 1 | 7am limousine van with Old Quarter pickup → Tam Coc (~2 hrs, ~$8). Confirm it drops in Tam Coc, not Ninh Binh city. Rent a bicycle (~$2–3/day) and ride the flat ~7 km to Trang An. Trang An boat, Route 2 (250k VND, ~$10, 2.5–3 hrs) — caves, temples and the Kong: Skull Island set. Lunch: mountain goat (dê núi) and crispy rice (cơm cháy). ~4pm Hang Mua (100k VND, ~$4) — ~500 steps to the view over Tam Coc, sunset ~5:50pm. Night: private room at a Tam Coc homestay (~$15), bia hơi on the strip |
| Tue Feb 16 | Ninh Binh, day 2 — Bai Dinh + Hoa Lu, van back to Hanoi | 1 | Bike out by 7am — ~18 km, mostly flat, to Bai Dinh Pagoda, Vietnam's largest temple complex, during its festival (opens day 6 of the lunar year, ~Feb 11). Entry free, electric cart from the gate a few dollars. Beat the pilgrim buses. Ride back via Hoa Lu, the 10th-century capital (~$4, 1–1.5 hrs). ~40 km round trip all in. Afternoon: back roads around Tam Coc and Bich Dong Pagoda. ~4:30pm van → Hanoi, in by ~7pm |
| Wed Feb 17 | Hanoi — post-Tet | 1 | City fully reopened. Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo, train street, water puppets, street food |
| Feb 18 | Fly Hanoi → Bangkok | 1 | ~$90, many daily flights. Overnight near Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi, depending on the next flight |
Not on this route: Ho Chi Minh City (War Remnants, Cu Chi) and Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek). Neither was a must-do. If you'd rather keep Phnom Penh, the bus from the 4000 Islands can go there instead (via Stung Treng and Kratie) — cut Siem Reap to 3 days, add 2 nights in Phnom Penh, then fly PNH → HAN.
Ninh Binh notes: Feb 15–16 is a Monday–Tuesday, ~10 days after Tet — everything's open and you miss the weekend pilgrim crowds at Bai Dinh. February is cool (~15–20 °C) and often misty with light drizzle: moody karsts, but the rice paddies are bare or just planted (the green and gold photos are May–June). Skip the Tam Coc boat — it repeats Trang An and the rowers are known for pushing tips and sales. Bicycles only, no scooter: the US IDP isn't valid in Vietnam. If your legs are done after Ha Giang, a Grab to Bai Dinh is the fallback (~$6–8 each way).
Not on this route: the Perfume Pagoda day trip — it's the same rowboat-through-karst experience as Trang An, and at its most crowded in the festival's first week.
Tet dates: Tet is Sat Feb 6. Vietnam hasn't announced the official 2027 holiday yet — expect roughly Feb 4–10. Confirm when it's published before booking Feb 8–9.
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19 | Fly Bangkok → Surat Thani, joint bus-ferry → Koh Phangan | 1 | ~$70. Or fly BKK → Samui (pricier, Bangkok Airways) and take the 30-min ferry across |
| Feb 19–23 | Koh Phangan | 5 | Full Moon Party Sun Feb 21 (preliminary — confirm ±1 day). Feb 22 is a written-off recovery day. Bottle Beach, Than Sadet, Thong Nai Pan |
| Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Koh Tao | 8 | Fun diving — Chumphon Pinnacle, Southwest Pinnacle, Sail Rock, Japanese Gardens. ~8 dives, ฿800–1,200 each or a package. Whale shark season starts in March |
| Mar 4–5 | Koh Samui | 2 | Beach and rest days, or an Ang Thong Marine Park day trip (~$40–60). Close to the airport for the next day |
| Mar 6 | Fly Samui → Bangkok, overnight flight Bangkok → Geneva | 1 | Most BKK → GVA itineraries leave around midnight via Doha, Dubai or Istanbul and land Geneva around midday |
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Mar 7 | Land Geneva, transfer to Val Thorens | 1 | ~3–3.5 hrs by shared or private transfer. Meet your friends; they bring your snow gear |
| Mar 8–13 | Ski Les 3 Vallées | 6 | Epic Pass: 7 consecutive days, whole 3 Vallées (Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Méribel, Courchevel, Orelle). Activate Mar 8 → valid through Mar 14 |
| Sun Mar 14 | Morning ski or rest, transfer to Geneva, fly GVA → Barcelona | 1 | easyJet or Vueling, ~1h20. Hand the ski kit back to your friends before you leave the resort |
Epic Pass rules at Les 3 Vallées: redeem at a lift ticket office with your physical Epic card, or proof of an active pass plus ID. The My Epic app's mobile pass does not work for lifts there. Bring the card (or have a friend bring it with your gear). Epic Local and Epic Day passes don't include 3 Vallées — only the full Epic Pass does.
Timing: French school holidays end Mon Mar 8 (the last zone, Zone B), so the ski week lands just after the rush — quieter slopes and cheaper lodging than late February. Most resort lodging runs Saturday–Saturday; your dates are Sunday–Sunday, so confirm the booking works or book 8 nights Sat Mar 6 – Sun Mar 14 and split the extra night with the group.
Your snow gear: friends bring your ski kit — jacket, pants, gloves, goggles and ski socks — and take all of it home on Mar 14. Nothing for Nepal comes with them; that kit is rented in Kathmandu. See the Packing List.
Ski insurance: confirm your travel policy covers on-piste skiing (many long-term backpacker plans exclude or charge extra for winter sports). The resort's Carré Neige add-on (~€3/day at the ticket office) covers mountain rescue and is cheap insurance on top.
| Dates | Leg | Nights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Mar 14 | Val Thorens → Geneva, fly GVA → Barcelona | — | easyJet or Vueling, ~1h20. Take an afternoon or evening flight — the transfer down from Val Thorens is ~3–3.5 hrs |
| Mar 14–17 | Barcelona | 3 | Sagrada Família, Park Güell (both timed entry — book online), Gothic Quarter, El Born, Barceloneta |
| Wed Mar 17 | Train Barcelona → Valencia | — | ~3 hrs (Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo). Fallas week — a busy day for seats |
| Mar 17–20 | Valencia — Las Fallas | 3 | Ofrenda de flores Mar 17–18 · Nit del Foc fireworks night of Mar 18 · Cremà night of Mar 19, when the fallas burn · mascletà daily at 2pm in Plaza del Ayuntamiento |
| Sat Mar 20 | Fly Valencia → Málaga | — | ~1h15. No direct train (the rail route changes in Córdoba, €67–110). Take a late-morning flight — the Cremà runs to ~1:30am |
| Mar 20–24 | Málaga | 4 | Semana Santa from Palm Sunday, Mar 21 — Málaga's processions are among Spain's biggest. Alcazaba, Gibralfaro, Picasso Museum. One optional free day: Caminito del Rey or rest |
| Wed Mar 24 | Train Málaga → Seville | — | ~2 hrs |
| Mar 24–27 | Seville — Holy Week climax | 3 | La Madrugá, the overnight procession of Thu–Fri Mar 25–26. Alcázar, Cathedral and Giralda (the Cathedral closes afternoons during Semana Santa), Triana, a flamenco show |
| Sat Mar 27 | Fly Seville → Kathmandu | — | Qatar or Turkish, 1–2 stops. Easter Sunday (Mar 28) is spent in transit |
Food: ~$30/day everywhere — menú del día at lunch, tapas at night. Lodging: Fallas and Holy Week are the two most expensive weeks of the year in Valencia and Seville. Dorms there book out months ahead.
| Dates | Leg | Nights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28–30 | Kathmandu | 3 | Arrive Mar 28, Nepal visa on arrival. Sagarmatha NP permit, rent the cold kit in Thamel (down jacket, −15 °C sleeping bag, poles ~$90; buy gloves ~$15), confirm the Lukla flight |
| Mar 31 – Apr 16 | EBC, classic out-and-back | 16 | Days 1–13: Lukla → Namche (+ acclimatization day) → Tengboche → Dingboche (+ acclimatization day, Chhukung Ri side trip) → Lobuche → Gorak Shep / EBC → Kala Patthar sunrise → Pheriche → Namche → Lukla · Days 14–15: floating spare days · Days 16–17: Lukla flight buffer |
| Apr 16–17 | Kathmandu | 2 | Return the rentals |
| Sun Apr 18 | Fly KTM → Denpasar (overnight) | — | 1 stop via KL, Bangkok or Singapore. Arrive Apr 19. Buy a flexible fare in case the Lukla buffer gets used |
Lukla flights in April: peak season, so flights most likely leave from Manthali / Ramechhap — a 4–5 hr pre-dawn jeep from Kathmandu (~$30 each way). Budget for it either way.
April is Everest expedition season. Base Camp is a tent city of climbing teams — the best time of year to see it. Trails and teahouses are busier than March; book the first nights in Namche ahead if you can.
Neither ski trip pre-acclimatizes you. Follow the normal Khumbu schedule — the two acclimatization days are built in.
Independent is legal here. Khumbu uses its own Pasang Lhamu permit instead of TIMS. You need: Sagarmatha NP (~$25) + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu (~$15–17, bought in Lukla or Monjo). Microspikes aren't needed for EBC in April; if a section is icy, rent them in Namche.
| Dates | Leg | Nights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19–23 | Canggu | 5 | Batu Bolong and Old Man's to shake the trek out of your legs. Berawa and Echo Beach when you want more |
| Apr 24 – May 2 | Bukit Peninsula | 9 | Uluwatu, Bingin, Padang Padang (shallow reef), Balangan and Dreamland (friendlier). Early dry season. Kecak dance at Uluwatu temple |
| May 3–5 | Nusa Lembongan / Nusa Penida | 3 | Fast boat from Sanur (~$25). Manta Point dives off Penida (~$100–130 for 2 dives). Surf Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds |
| May 6–13 | Kuta Lombok / Gerupuk | 8 | Fast boat Lembongan → Lombok (~$40). Inside and Outside Gerupuk by boat, Don Don, Mawi, Seger |
| May 14–16 | Ubud | 3 | Fly LOP → DPS (~$40), ~1–1.5 hrs by car to Ubud. Early night on Fri May 14 |
| Sat May 15 | Mt Batur sunrise trek | — | Shared tour with Ubud pickup (~$42–45): van, guide, park fee, two light breakfasts. Pickup ~1:30–2:30am, ~2 hrs up in the dark, summit (1,717 m) for sunrise ~5:30–6am, back in Ubud ~11am. Afternoon: Batur Natural Hot Spring (~$12–15) or nap |
| Sun May 16 | Ubud — backup day | — | Tegallalang rice terraces, Tirta Empul, Monkey Forest. If May 15 is clouded or rained out, Batur moves here |
| May 17–18 | Fly DPS → Charlotte | — | ~30 hrs via a West Coast hub. Arrive CLT May 18 |
Visa: 29 days in Indonesia (Apr 19 – May 17) — inside the 30-day e-VOA, so no extension needed. Don't let the KTM → DPS flight slip more than a day.
Surf logistics: board rental ~$4–7/day · group lesson ~$25–35 · private coaching ~$40–60 · scooter ~$5–7/day with board racks. Bring an International Driving Permit. Rash guard, reef booties for the Bukit, reef-safe sunscreen.
Mt Batur: Ubud is the closest base — from Canggu or the Bukit it's a ~1am pickup plus a ~IDR 200k surcharge, so it waits for the end of the trip. May is dry season, so the odds of a clear sunrise are good, and after EBC it's an easy hike (4–5 hrs round trip). A guide is required in practice: the local trekking association turns away unguided hikers at the trailhead, so going without a tour saves almost nothing solo (entry IDR 100k + guide IDR 300–600k per group). Book 1–3 days out through your guesthouse (often ~IDR 500k, ~$31) or Viator/GetYourGuide (free cancellation to 24 hrs). Bring the headlamp, the mid layer (the summit is cold and windy at dawn, and the down jacket went back in Thamel), trail shoes for the loose scree, and IDR 50–100k cash to tip the guide. Expect hundreds of people at the top.
Per person, all-in, over 144 days.
~$106/day all-in. Spain runs ~$2,285 including the flight on to Kathmandu ($1,635 above + the $650 SVQ → KTM fare under international flights). The Vail leg comes to ~$1,200, about $93/day, because lodging, lifts and gear are free
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Daily living (lodging, food, local transport) — Thailand north 13d × $32 · Laos 12d × $28 · Vietnam 7d × $25 (post-Tet pricing) · Cambodia 5d × $32 · Bangkok transit 1n $20 · Thai islands 15d × $50 · Nepal off-trail 5d × $40 · Bali, Lembongan & Lombok 28d × $45 | $3,317 |
| Vail, Colorado (Dec 26 – Jan 7) — food 13d × $35 $455 · DEN airport hotel Jan 7 ~$120 · lodging $0 · Epic Pass lifts $0 · snowboard + outerwear $0 | $575 |
| Val Thorens (7 nights) — lodging, 4-way split of a 4–6 person apartment $700 · food, lunches on the mountain, après $560 · Geneva ↔ Val Thorens transfers $200 · ski + boot + helmet rental $250 total for the week · tourist tax + Carré Neige $50 · lift pass $0 (Epic) · outerwear $0 (friends bring it) | $1,760 |
| Spain (13 nights, Mar 14–27) — Barcelona 3n $300 (dorm ~$40/n $120 · food $90 · Sagrada Família + Park Güell ~$70 · metro $20) · Valencia 3n $385 (Fallas-peak dorm ~$80/n $240 · food $90 · extras $40 · local $15) · Málaga 4n $340 (dorm ~$45/n $180 · food $120 · sights $30 · local $10) · Seville 3n $350 (dorm ~$60/n $180 · food $90 · Alcázar, Cathedral, flamenco $70 · local $10) · GVA → BCN ~$100 · BCN → VLC train ~$45 · VLC → AGP flight incl. bag ~$80 · AGP → SVQ train ~$35 | $1,635 |
| International flights — CLT → DEN $231.98 (booked) · DEN → BKK $424.80 (booked) · BKK → GVA ~$500 · SVQ → KTM ~$650 · DPS → CLT ~$800 | $2,607 |
| Regional transport — DEN ↔ Vail shuttle $200 · BKK→CNX $40 · CNX→Chiang Khong $20 · slow boat $40 · Laos rail/bus $35 · Vang Vieng → Don Det sleeper ~$45 · Don Det → Siem Reap van ~$35 · SAI→HAN $100 · Hanoi↔Ha Giang $40 · Hanoi↔Tam Coc vans $16 · HAN→BKK $90 + BKK→Surat Thani→Phangan $70 · island ferries $55 · Samui→BKK $80 · KTM→DPS $350 · Sanur→Lembongan→Lombok→DPS $105 · transfers $70 | $1,391 |
| Visas — Laos VOA $40 · Vietnam e-visa $25 · Cambodia e-visa $30 · Nepal 30-day $50 · Indonesia e-VOA $31 + Bali levy $10 · ETIAS €20 contingency $22 (Thailand, France, Spain free) | $208 |
| Insurance — US short-term medical for the Vail window, 1 month ~$200 · international travel policy 131 days @ ~$3/day ($393), altitude cover to ~6,000 m · winter sports add-on ~$30. The travel policy starts Jan 8 — don’t double-pay over the Vail dates | $623 |
| Activities — EBC independent $1,390 (Lukla RT $450 · Ramechhap jeep $60 · permits $45 · teahouse + food 15d × $45 $675 · Lukla buffer nights $70 · Thamel rentals ~$90) · Koh Tao fun diving $300 · Bali/Lombok surf $400 · Manta Point dives $120 · Mt Batur sunrise $65 (shared tour $45 · hot springs $15 · guide tip $5) · Ubud temples + rice terraces $20 ·Ha Giang Loop $180 · Ninh Binh $35 (Trang An boat $10 · Hang Mua $4 · Hoa Lu $4 · Bai Dinh cart $4 · bike $5 · private-room top-up $8) · Angkor pass + driver $132 · Laos activities $80 · 4000 Islands (kayak tour, falls, bike) $30 · elephant sanctuary $70 · Full Moon $50 · Bangkok sights $40 · cooking class $35 · Kathmandu $40 · buffer $230 | $3,217 |
| Total | ≈ $15,300 ($15,333) |
| Lever | Delta |
|---|---|
| Fly Vientiane → Pakse instead of the overnight sleeper (train to Vientiane + Lao Airlines, daily, plus a Pakse night) | +$80–100 |
| Self-cater harder in Val Thorens (supermarket lunches, fewer mountain restaurants) | −$200 |
| Groceries down-valley (Avon or Edwards City Market) plus a brown-bag mountain lunch every day in Vail | −$150 |
| Fly KTM → Bali via KL on AirAsia with a self-transfer (riskier with a non-flexible fare) | −$100 |
| Self-ride Ha Giang instead of easy-rider (the US IDP isn't valid in Vietnam, so you'd be riding unlicensed and likely uninsured) | −$90 |
| Book the Valencia and Seville dorms now, before Fallas and Holy Week prices peak | −$50–100 |
| Skip US health coverage for the Vail window — saves money, bad idea | −$200 |
| Private rooms instead of dorms for some Holy Week nights (estimate) | +$150–300 |
| Hire a porter for EBC (~$22/day × 13) | +$290 |
| Bali surf-camp package instead of DIY (~$60–100/day with lodging) | +$500–1,200 |
| What | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CLT → DEN (Dec 26) and DEN → BKK (Jan 8) | Booked | Frontier 1361, and Delta / Korean Air via Seattle and Seoul. See Booked flights |
| Valencia (Mar 17–20), Málaga (Mar 20–24) and Seville (Mar 24–27) dorms | Now | Fallas and Holy Week are the peak weeks of the year in all three. Book free-cancellation beds |
| DEN → Vail shuttle (Dec 26, late morning) + return (Jan 7, afternoon) | Oct 2026 | Holiday-week shuttles sell out and close-in bookings carry a fee. Check whether Epic Mountain Rewards applies to your pass for the discounted rate |
| Val Thorens lodging | Now – Oct 2026 | Coordinate with your 3 friends. Confirm Sun–Sun check-in or book Sat–Sun |
| US short-term health insurance | Nov – early Dec 2026 | Must be active Dec 26. Confirm it covers snowboarding injury — some plans exclude “hazardous sports” |
| Siem Reap lodging (Feb 3–7) | Nov 2026 | Chinese New Year week |
| DEN airport hotel (Jan 7) | Nov–Dec 2026 | For the 6:45am departure. Pick one with a free airport shuttle that runs from ~4am |
| BKK → GVA (Mar 6) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Confirm you arrive GVA by midday Mar 7 |
| Barcelona dorm (Mar 14–17), GVA → BCN (Mar 14), VLC → AGP (Mar 20) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Take a late-morning VLC → AGP flight — the Cremà runs to ~1:30am |
| SVQ → KTM (Mar 27) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Qatar or Turkish, 1–2 stops |
| KTM → DPS (Apr 18) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Flexible fare — it has to move if the Lukla buffer gets used |
| DPS → CLT (May 17) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Busy months |
| SAI → HAN (Feb 8) and HAN → BKK (Feb 18) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Feb 8 is Tet day 3 — fewer seats |
| Vietnam official Tet holiday dates | Watch, ~autumn 2026 | Confirm Feb 8–9 are workable |
| Ha Giang easy-rider + homestays | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | Confirm they run Feb 10–13; tail of domestic Tet travel |
| Tam Coc homestay, private room (Feb 15) + Hanoi hostel (Feb 14, 16–17) | Jan 2027 | Bai Dinh festival season. Same Hanoi hostel both stays so the big pack can wait in storage |
| Hanoi ↔ Tam Coc vans (Feb 15, 7am · Feb 16, ~4:30pm) | A few days out | Through the hostel or 12Go. Confirm the Tam Coc drop-off and Old Quarter pickup |
| BCN → VLC (Mar 17) and AGP → SVQ (Mar 24) trains | When Renfe / Iryo / Ouigo open March 2027 sales | Mar 17 is a busy Fallas travel day. Set an alert for when the sales window opens |
| Lukla flight (Mar 31) | Jan 2027 | April peak — likely from Ramechhap, plus the ~$30 jeep each way |
| BKK → Surat Thani (Feb 19) | Jan 2027 | Full Moon week |
| Vietnam e-visa | ~Jan 2027 | Port-specific — list Noi Bai (Hanoi) |
| Cambodia e-visa | ~Jan 2027 | $30 at evisa.gov.kh only. Entry by land at Trapeang Kriel Feb 3 |
| Vang Vieng → Don Det sleeper (Jan 31) and Don Det → Siem Reap van (Feb 3) | A few days out | Book in town or online. Pay for both berths on the sleeper if you want a bed to yourself |
| ETIAS | Watch for launch | Apply once the EU portal opens |
| Indonesia e-VOA + Bali levy | Before Apr 18 | Onward ticket required at check-in |
| Manta dives, Nusa Penida | A few days out | Walk-in is fine |
| Mt Batur sunrise tour (Sat May 15) | 1–3 days out | Through the Ubud guesthouse or Viator/GetYourGuide. Confirm Ubud pickup is included |
Sources: Epic Mountain Express Vail rates, DL 1731 schedule, KE 042 schedule, KE 653 schedule, Cheap eats in Vail, Cost of living in Vail, CO, Vail NYE Torchlight Parade & Fireworks, Short-term health insurance costs (ValuePenguin), Best short-term health insurance (Forbes Advisor), Full Moon Party 2027 dates, Epic Pass — Les 3 Vallées access, OnTheSnow 2026/27 Epic Pass guide, Vacances d'hiver 2027 by zone, Val Thorens self-catering guide, BKK→GVA fares (Skyscanner), BKK→GVA fares (Expedia), HAN↔SAI direct flights, HAN↔SAI fares (Skyscanner), Cambodia e-visa & border crossings (Travelfish), Don Det → Siem Reap (12Go), Don Det → Siem Reap (GoAsia), Vang Vieng → Don Det (12Go), Vang Vieng → Pakse (Gecko Routes), Vientiane → Pakse (12Go), Don Det guide (The Common Wanderer), Don Det guide (Gecko Routes), Vietnam Tet 2027 travel guide, Vietnam holidays 2027, Ninh Binh 2026 costs, Hanoi → Ninh Binh (12Go), Bai Dinh Pagoda festival, ETIAS for US citizens — 2027 status, Nepal trekking without a guide, 2026 rules, Koh Tao Diving Budget Guide 2026, DEN→BKK fares (Skyscanner), DPS→CLT fares (Skyscanner), KTM→DPS fares (momondo), Programa de Fallas (Visit Valencia), Las Fallas guide (Tres Gatos), Semana Santa Seville 2027, Seville procession schedule, Mount Batur: rules and real costs (WanderOn), Mt Batur sunrise trek from Ubud
References · standalone trips, not part of the Dec 26 – May 18 route
Two fully costed trips that sit outside the main route. Neither can share a season with it — one big trip per season — so both are pencilled for after you're home. Figures are per person in USD, researched Sept 2026.
Mid-Nov → mid-Dec 2027 · Denver in, Guatemala City out
21 days down the Nicoya Peninsula — Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa — then 12 in the Guatemalan highlands for Acatenango, Chichicastenango and the Quema del Diablo on Dec 7. The surf window is the shoulder, not the peak: half the wet-season swell, but Papagayo offshores, empty line-ups and low-season pricing.
Days
33
All-in
$3,900
Per day
$118
Any January — next open one is 2028 · from Charlotte
The full 110–120 km circuit over 7–9 days, counter-clockwise, every night pre-booked, plus Perito Moreno, Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre on the Argentine side. January is peak austral summer: 17 hours of light and the John Gardner Pass reliably open, at the cost of wind, crowds and peak pricing. Can't go January 2027 — that's the main trip.
Days
21
Own gear
$3,300
Rented
$3,750
| Costa Rica + Atitlán | Torres del Paine | |
|---|---|---|
| Window | Mid-Nov → mid-Dec 2027 | January 2028 |
| Length | 33 days | 21 days |
| Cost | $3,900 | $3,300–3,750 |
| Per day | $118 | ~$160 |
| Books how far ahead | Flights 4–6 months; Acatenango and Antigua lodging for Dec 7–8 | Campsites Apr–Jun 2027, then flights. 100% cancellation penalty inside 44 days |
| Gear load | Light — rent boards locally, nothing cold | Heavy — full camping kit, hardshell, boots (or $450 to rent in Puerto Natales) |
| Visas | None, both visa-free | None, both visa-free |
| The catch | Shoulder-season swell; dawn patrol is mandatory in Guanacaste | 100+ km/h gusts, sold-out campsites, the most expensive month |
← Potential trip extensions · mid-Nov → mid-Dec · from Denver
33 days: 21 surfing down the Nicoya Peninsula, 12 in the Guatemalan highlands. Dated for Nov 14 → Dec 16, 2027. Per person in USD, researched Sept 2026 (FX ~508 CRC, ~7.7 GTQ per USD).
Duration
33days
Total
$3,900all-in
Per day
$118average
Surf days
19of 21 in CR
| Year | Verdict |
|---|---|
| 2027 | The clean window. The main trip ends May 18, 2027, so you'd have six months to recover and re-earn. This is the one to plan for |
| 2026 | Eight weeks out as of now, and it collides head-on with pre-departure prep for the Dec 26 departure — the tooth implant alone is a 3–6 month lead time, plus flights, storage and selling things. Not realistic |
Same logic as Patagonia: one big trip per season.
What's out of season in this window: Pavones is genuinely off (it needs a south swell), and Jacó and Playa Hermosa face away from the northwest swell. That's why this itinerary stays entirely on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Early November is still wet. Guanacaste dries out earlier than the rest of the country, and by the last weeks of November it can go several days without a drop of rain. Mid-November, where this trip starts, is the tail end of that.
What you get in exchange: clean groomed waves, 90 °F days, almost no rain by late November, the greenest landscape of the year, and low-season prices with empty line-ups — November is the last quiet month before the Christmas rush. Prices climb through December and go vertical after the 15th.
If you want the surf and nothing else, go April–October instead. If you want good weather, cheap prices, empty water and a Guatemala leg, this window is genuinely nice — just don't show up expecting Witch's Rock at eight feet.
One alternative worth knowing: the Caribbean flips in this window. Salsa Brava at Puerto Viejo fires December–February at 4–8 ft. Heavy, shallow reef, advanced only, opposite coast — but if the Pacific goes flat, that's where the waves are.
The surf gets slightly better in December and Guatemala's festival calendar gets much better, so both want the back half. Guatemala wins, for three reasons:
The cost is that your first week of surf (Nov 14–20) lands in the wettest, least settled part of the window. If you'd rather have the better surf and skip the festivals, flip it — Guatemala Nov 14–25, Costa Rica Nov 26 – Dec 16.
One clean line down the peninsula. No backtracking.
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Nov 14 | Fly DEN → Liberia (LIR), shuttle to Tamarindo | 1 | Fly into Liberia, not San José. LIR is ~1 hr from Tamarindo; SJO is 5. Denver runs seasonal nonstops |
| Nov 15–21 | Tamarindo | 7 | Base for the north. Playa Grande (better and emptier than Tamarindo itself), Avellanas, and Playa Negra — a right-hand reef that works on the northwest swell, so it's one of the few breaks actually in season here. Witch's Rock / Ollie's Point boat trip |
| Nov 22–28 | Nosara / Playa Guiones | 7 | The most consistent, most forgiving beach break in the country and the heart of the trip. Long sand-bottom peaks, lefts and rights, works at almost any size. Also: Ostional turtle arribada just up the coast |
| Nov 29 – Dec 3 | Santa Teresa / Mal País | 5 | Miles of beach break plus rocky reef points that hold size. Mal País for the quieter end, Playa Carmen for the consistent one. Montezuma waterfalls and Cabo Blanco reserve on a flat day |
| Sat Dec 4 | Ferry Paquera → Puntarenas, drive to San José | 1 | ~5–6 hrs all in. Sleep near SJO airport — don't try to do this and the flight in one day |
| Dates | Leg | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Dec 5 | Fly SJO → GUA (~2 hrs), shuttle to Antigua | 1 | ~$170 on Copa or Avianca. Airport shuttle to Antigua ~1 hr, ~$12 |
| Dec 6–7 | Antigua | 2 | Acclimatize at 5,000 ft before Acatenango. Colonial center, Cerro de la Cruz, coffee farm tour. Tue Dec 7, 6:00 pm — Quema del Diablo |
| Dec 8–9 | Acatenango overnight ⭐ | 2 | See below. Dec 8 is Día de la Concepción, a national holiday — book early, it'll be busy |
| Fri Dec 10 | Shuttle Antigua → Panajachel (~3 hrs), boat across the lake | 1 | Base in San Pedro (social, cheap, best transport links) or San Marcos (quiet, wellness-y). San Juan is the prettiest but has the least infrastructure |
| Dec 11–15 | Lake Atitlán | 5 | Indian Nose sunrise, San Juan weaving co-ops, San Pedro volcano, kayaking. Sun Dec 12 — Chichicastenango market ⭐ |
| Thu Dec 16 | Shuttle to GUA, fly GUA → DEN | 1 | ~3.5 hrs to the airport. Take the early shuttle |
One is the best night you can buy in Central America. The other is the largest indigenous market in the Americas.
You camp at about 3,700 m on the flank of Acatenango and watch Volcán de Fuego erupt across the saddle, every 15–20 minutes, all night, close enough to hear it. It is the best thing in Guatemala and one of the best nights you can buy anywhere.
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tour, mid-range | Cabin, decent food, English-speaking guide, quality gear. Wicho & Charlie's, OX Expeditions | $90–140 |
| Tour, budget tier | Shared tents, thin food, group transport. Tropicana, Soy Tours | $50–85 |
| Tour, premium | Private transport, small groups, restaurant-grade meals. Old Town Outfitters | $150–250+ |
| Park entrance | Mandatory, cash only | Q110 (~$14) |
| Fuego ridge add-on | Gets you onto the ridge opposite the crater at dusk. Take it | Q200–250 (~$25–32) |
| Porter (optional) | Carries your gear. No shame in it — the first two hours are relentless | Q150–200 (~$20–26) |
| Gear rental in Antigua | Warm jacket, gloves, headlamp, poles. Rent rather than carry them on a surf trip | Q20–75 each |
| Budget line | Mid-range tour + park fee + Fuego add-on | $152 |
What to know: it's ~5–6 hours up on loose volcanic scree, gaining about 1,500 m, and it is genuinely hard. Nights at camp drop to near freezing. Two nights in Antigua beforehand is the acclimatization — don't skip it.
The largest indigenous market in the Americas, and — importantly — not a tourist bazaar. It's the real trading hub for the highland Maya: textiles, pottery, flowers, masks, livestock, food. Thursdays and Sundays only, year-round.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Getting there | 37 km from Panajachel, 1–1.5 hrs. Atitrans shuttle ~$15 each way |
| Cost | Market is free. Budget $30 round-trip shuttle plus whatever you buy |
| Timing | Go very early or wait until mid-afternoon. The tour buses from Guatemala City and Panajachel land mid-morning and clear out by early afternoon |
| Bonus on Dec 12 | Sunday is the bigger of the two market days, it's Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (processions nationwide, children in traditional dress), and the Feria de Santo Tomás opens the next day |
If you can stretch to Dec 21: the Feria de Santo Tomás (Dec 13–21) closes with the Palo Volador — men in costume spinning on ropes from a 30 m pole. Five days past your window, but worth knowing it exists.
| Activity | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Nose (Rostro Maya) sunrise hike | Q25–50 ($3–7) community fee + optional guide Q50–100 ($7–13), or ~$13–26 as a package from Panajachel | Leave by 4:00–4:30 am, 30–45 min climb, summit before ~6:00 am. Easy, one main path — bring a headlamp, you're walking in the dark |
| San Juan la Laguna weaving co-ops | Free to visit; class ~$40 | Half day. Natural-dye demonstrations, women's cooperatives, least touristed of the villages |
| San Pedro volcano | Q100 (~$13) + guide | 3 hrs round trip to 3,020 m |
| Kayaking between villages | Varies by rental | Half day. Go in the morning — the Xocomil afternoon wind makes the lake choppy and dangerous |
| Spanish school, Antigua or San Pedro | ~$200 / 20 hrs one-on-one | Optional add-on. San Pedro is cheaper than Antigua and you'd be there 5 days |
| Break | Base | Type | Level | In this window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playa Negra | Tamarindo | Right-hand reef | Intermediate+ | Good. Works on NW swell, so it's genuinely in season |
| Playa Grande | Tamarindo | Beach break | All | Good. Better and emptier than Tamarindo town |
| Avellanas | Tamarindo | Beach + reef | All | Good. The "Little Hawaii" section is the heavier one |
| Witch's Rock (Playa Naranjo) | Boat from Tamarindo | Beach break, offshore-groomed | Intermediate+ | Papagayo offshores clean it up. Needs a decent swell to be great |
| Ollie's Point | Boat from Tamarindo | Right point | Intermediate+ | Good on the right swell |
| Playa Guiones | Nosara | Long beach break | Beginner → advanced | The most consistent wave on this trip. Works at almost any size |
| Playa Carmen / Santa Teresa | Santa Teresa | Beach break | All | Consistent, smaller than the Jun–Sep peak |
| Mal País reef points | Santa Teresa | Rocky reef | Advanced | Hold size when a swell shows |
| Pavones | Southern zone | Long left point | — | Off-season. The point doesn't work on north swells |
| Jacó / Playa Hermosa | Central Pacific | Beach break | — | Faces away from the NW swell. Skip |
Witch's Rock / Ollie's Point boat trip: ~$140–180 per person on a shared boat, or ~$650 for a private charter split between 4–6 people, plus a $17 Santa Rosa National Park fee. Departs around 5:00 am, back by mid-afternoon. Book a weekday — most operators don't run weekends.
Ostional turtle arribada (near Nosara): olive ridley turtles nest en masse on this beach, and arribadas run through December, usually clustering around the last-quarter moon. Tens of thousands of turtles over a few nights. Guided access only, ~$25–60. Ask locally when you arrive — nobody can predict it more than a few days out.
Gear: rent boards locally at $10–25/day (weekly rates are cheaper) rather than flying with one. Bring a rash guard, reef booties for Playa Negra and the Mal País reefs, reef-safe sunscreen, and surf earplugs.
Per person, all-in, over 33 days.
~$118/day. Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America for a surf trip — tourism priced in USD — and it's where two-thirds of the days are. Guatemala runs about half the daily cost
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Costa Rica, living — 21 days (Tamarindo 7 × $65 · Nosara 7 × $65 · Santa Teresa 5 × $60 · SJO night $45) | $1,255 |
| Guatemala, living — 12 days (Antigua 3 × $45 · Atitlán 9 × $40) | $495 |
| Flights — DEN → LIR ~$260 · SJO → GUA ~$170 · GUA → DEN ~$260 | $690 |
| Costa Rica, ground — LIR → Tamarindo $25 · Tamarindo → Nosara $35 · Nosara → Santa Teresa $55 · ferry + SJO $60 · local $40 | $215 |
| Guatemala, ground — GUA → Antigua $12 · Antigua → Panajachel $20 · lake boats $4 · Chichi round trip $30 · Atitlán → GUA $30 · tuk-tuks $25 | $121 |
| Costa Rica, activities — board rental 20d × $12 = $240 · Witch's Rock trip + park fee $172 · 2 coached sessions $160 · Ostional $60 · Montezuma/Cabo Blanco $30 · buffer $60 | $722 |
| Guatemala, activities — Acatenango $152 · San Juan weaving class $40 · Indian Nose $20 · San Pedro volcano $20 · kayak $15 · buffer $50 | $297 |
| Travel insurance — 33 days @ ~$3/day | $99 |
| Visas — none. Both visa-free for US passports | $0 |
| Total | $3,894 |
| Lever | Delta |
|---|---|
| Skip the Witch's Rock boat trip | −$170 |
| Public buses instead of tourist shuttles in Costa Rica | −$100 |
| Weekly board rental instead of daily | −$60 |
| Budget-tier Acatenango operator (shared tent) | −$50 |
| Spanish school, 20 hrs one-on-one in San Pedro or Antigua | +$200 |
| Stretch to Dec 21 for the Palo Volador at the Feria de Santo Tomás | +$250 |
| Full surf-camp package in Nosara or Tamarindo (lodging + meals + daily coaching) | +$800–2,500/wk |
| Event | 2027 date | Where you'll be |
|---|---|---|
| Quema del Diablo — devil piñatas burned in the street at 6 pm | Tue Dec 7 | Antigua. You're there |
| Día de la Concepción — processions | Wed Dec 8 | Nationwide. You're on Acatenango |
| Virgen de Guadalupe — processions, children in traditional dress | Sun Dec 12 | Nationwide, big in Antigua. You're at the lake / Chichi |
| Feria de Santo Tomás opens | Mon Dec 13 | Chichicastenango. Runs to Dec 21, Palo Volador on the 21st |
| Chichicastenango market | Every Thu & Sun | Dec 9, 12 and 16 fall in your Guatemala leg |
| Posadas begin | Dec 16 | Nationwide. You fly out that morning |
| Missed just before the window: Día de los Santos and the Giant Kite Festival at Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez | Nov 1 | Two weeks too early. It's spectacular — a reason to consider starting Nov 1 instead |
Sources: When to surf in Costa Rica — Surf Atlas, Costa Rica surf seasons by region, Costa Rica surf regions and breaks — Lush Palm, Costa Rica in November — MyTanFeet, Costa Rica surf trip cost — LatAm Surfing, Cost of traveling Costa Rica 2026, Witch's Rock boat trip — Tamarindo Active, Witch's Rock tour pricing — Iguana Surf, Acatenango cost 2026, Acatenango operators compared, Chichicastenango market days 2026, Indian Nose sunrise hike, Things to do at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala events calendar, Quema del Diablo — National Geographic, SJO → GUA fares, DEN → SJO fares
← Potential trip extensions · any January · from Charlotte
A separate trip from the main route. It's priced from Charlotte for any January. It can't go in January 2027 because that overlaps the main trip, so the next open January is 2028. Costs use published 2025–26 season rates plus a small cushion; the 2027–28 rates aren't out yet. All figures are per person in USD (FX: ~954 CLP and ~1,550 ARS per USD, Sept 2026).
The O Circuit runs counter-clockwise only, is ~110–120 km, and takes 7–9 days. Every night must be pre-booked with the two concessionaires, Las Torres Patagonia and Vertice Patagonia. The free CONAF sites (Paso, Italiano) are closed.
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly Charlotte → Miami/Dallas → Santiago (overnight) | Plane |
| 2 | Santiago → Punta Arenas; bus to Puerto Natales (~3 hrs) | Puerto Natales |
| 3 | Pick up rental gear, buy groceries and trail food, confirm bookings | Puerto Natales |
| 4 | Bus to the park → Welcome Center → Serón (13 km) | Serón (Las Torres) |
| 5 | Serón → Dickson (18 km) | Dickson (Vertice) |
| 6 | Dickson → Los Perros (12 km) | Los Perros (Vertice) |
| 7 | John Gardner Pass → Grey (15 km). Hardest day, with an early-start cutoff from Los Perros | Grey (Vertice) |
| 8 | Grey → Paine Grande (11 km) along Grey Glacier | Paine Grande (Vertice) |
| 9 | Paine Grande → Francés, with a side trip up the French Valley to Mirador Británico | Francés (Las Torres) |
| 10 | Francés → Cuernos → Chileno (~16–20 km) | Chileno (Las Torres, full board — stoves aren't allowed there) |
| 11 | Pre-dawn hike to Mirador Base Las Torres for sunrise → Central (14 km) → bus to Natales | Puerto Natales |
| 12–13 | Weather buffer / rest. Optional: a guided fly-fishing day or the Milodón Cave | Puerto Natales |
| 14 | Bus Puerto Natales → El Calafate, Argentina (~5–6 hrs) | El Calafate |
| 15 | Perito Moreno Glacier walkways. Optional: Minitrekking on the ice | El Calafate |
| 16 | Bus to El Chaltén (~3 hrs) | El Chaltén |
| 17 | Laguna de los Tres (Fitz Roy), ~20 km round trip | El Chaltén |
| 18 | Laguna Torre, ~18 km round trip (this trail is free) | El Chaltén |
| 19 | Loma del Pliegue Tumbado or a rest day. Optional: fly fishing on the Río de las Vueltas | El Chaltén |
| 20 | Bus to El Calafate | El Calafate |
| 21 | Fly El Calafate → Buenos Aires → Charlotte (arrive day 22) | Plane |
Book the flights open-jaw: into Punta Arenas, home from El Calafate. That way you never backtrack. If you skip Argentina, days 14–20 become 4 more buffer or fly-fishing days in Chilean Patagonia plus a return from Punta Arenas.
| Category | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Charlotte → Punta Arenas / El Calafate → Charlotte, open-jaw, peak January (book 4–6 months out) | $1,400 |
| Ground transport | Airport → Natales bus ~$15; Natales ↔ park round trip CLP 28,000 (~$30) + Welcome Center shuttle ~$10; Natales → Calafate ~$45; Calafate ↔ Chaltén ~$70; Perito Moreno round trip ~$35; airport transfer ~$15 | $220 |
| Park fees | Torres del Paine multi-day pass CLP 48,500 (~$51); Los Glaciares ARS 45,000 (~$29) plus 50% off a second entry within 72 hrs (~$15) | $95 |
| O Circuit campsites + trail food | Own or rented tent. Serón ~$45, Dickson/Los Perros/Grey/Paine Grande ~$13 each, Francés ~$45, Chileno ~$45 + full board ~$130. Self-carried food ~$120 | $450 |
| Lodging off-trail | 12 nights of hostels in Natales, Calafate and Chaltén at ~$40–45 (January peak) | $500 |
| Food off-trail | 12 days @ ~$35 (Argentina has gotten expensive) | $420 |
| Travel insurance | 22 days @ ~$3/day, hiking included | $66 |
| Misc / buffer | Tips, SIM/eSIM, one extra weather night | $150 |
| Core total (you bring your own gear) | ≈ $3,300 | |
| + Full camping kit rental | Rental Natales, $56/day × 8 days: tent, pad, bag rated to −7 °C or colder, stove, cook set, poles, pack | + $450 → ≈ $3,750 |
| Upgrade | Cost |
|---|---|
| "Comfort" O Circuit (pre-pitched tents + all meals at every site; packages run ~$1,100–1,800) | + $800–1,300 |
| Perito Moreno Minitrekking (ARS 464,000, transfers included) | + ~$300 |
| Guided fly-fishing day (Río Serrano or Río de las Vueltas). This is an estimate, so get quotes | + $350–600 |
| Refugio beds instead of camping at Las Torres sites | + $200–600/night |
Sources: Torres del Paine trip cost breakdown, O Circuit campground guide, Torres del Paine campsites — Stingy Nomads, Torres del Paine reservations 2026, Rental Natales camping kit, Los Glaciares fees 2026, El Chaltén fees 2026, CLT→PUQ fares, USD/CLP
The bookable companion to the itinerary.
Costs are per person and cover the activity only; lodging and food sit in the itinerary budget. Prices from Sept 2026 research, using 2026 season rates where 2027 prices aren't published (FX ~33.2 THB, ~140 NPR, ~16,000 IDR, ~0.92 EUR per USD).
| Event | Date | Where you'll be | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vail Kris Kringle Market | Through late Dec 2026 | Vail — holiday market near the International Bridge. May still be running when you arrive Dec 26 | Medium |
| Vail NYE Torchlight Parade & Fireworks | Thu Dec 31, 2026 | Vail — Golden Peak. Free. The one date to be in town for | High |
| Vail Winterfest ice sculptures | January | Vail — Gore Creek Promenade. Likely installed before you leave Jan 7 | Medium |
| Tet / Chinese New Year | Sat Feb 6 | Siem Reap — you're back in Hanoi Feb 8 and after Feb 14 | High |
| Bai Dinh Pagoda festival opens | ~Feb 11 (day 6 of the lunar year), runs to the end of the 3rd lunar month | Ninh Binh, Tue Feb 16 — by bike, early, on a weekday | Medium |
| Ha Giang plum & peach blossoms | Feb | On the loop, Feb 10–13 | Medium |
| Full Moon Party | Sun Feb 21 | Haad Rin, Koh Phangan — the must-do | Preliminary ±1 day |
| French school holidays end | Mon Mar 8 | Val Thorens — you arrive just after the rush | High |
| Nyepi / Ogoh-Ogoh, Bali | Mar 8 / Mar 7 | Val Thorens — missed (airport closes on Nyepi) | High |
| Las Fallas | Mar 15–19 (mascletà daily at 2pm from Mar 1) | Valencia, Mar 17–20 — Ofrenda Mar 17–18, Nit del Foc night of Mar 18, Cremà night of Mar 19 | High (fixed dates) |
| Semana Santa — Palm Sunday | Sun Mar 21 | Málaga — processions all week, Mar 20–24 | High |
| Semana Santa — La Madrugá | Night of Thu Mar 25 → Fri Mar 26 | Seville — the overnight climax of Holy Week | High |
| Easter Sunday | Sun Mar 28 | In transit to Kathmandu — missed (open question: stay for it?) | High |
| Everest expedition season | April – May | EBC, ~Apr 7–9 — Base Camp is a tent city of climbing teams | High |
| Songkran | Apr 13–15 | On the trail — missed | Fixed |
| Nepali New Year | Apr 14 | On the trail — small in the Khumbu | High |
| Full Moon Parties | Jan 22, Mar 22, Apr 21, May 20 | Chiang Khong border night · Málaga · Kathmandu · home | Preliminary |
Dec 26 – Jan 7 · 11 full riding days plus a Jan 7 morning · everything that matters is already paid for.
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lift access | Full Epic Pass — unlimited and unrestricted at Vail, no holiday blackout dates. The My Epic app pass works fine here; the physical card is only mandatory at Les 3 Vallées in March | $0 (you own it) |
| Lodging | Free place | $0 |
| Board, boots, bindings, outerwear | Your own, flown from Charlotte. All of it goes home with friends Jan 7 | $0 |
| Food | 13 days @ ~$35 with kitchen access | $455 |
| DEN airport hotel, Jan 7 | Needed for the 6:45am Jan 8 departure | ~$120 |
| In-town transport | Vail’s town bus is free and runs the whole village / Lionshead / East Vail loop | $0 |
| US health coverage | Short-term medical, 1 month. Your international policy won’t cover the US | ~$200 |
Dec 26 – Jan 4 is the busiest stretch of Vail’s entire season. Gondola One and Chair 2 (Avanti) will have long lines from 9am. Jan 5–7 falls in one of the quietest weeks all winter.
| Tactic | Why it works |
|---|---|
| First chair, every holiday day | 90 clean minutes before the lines form. Non-negotiable Dec 26 – Jan 4 |
| Ride the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin | Sun Up, Sun Down, China and Tea Cup Bowls, then Blue Sky (Pete’s and Earl’s). Far from the village, so the day-tripper crowd never gets there |
| Use Game Creek Bowl | Its own little zone off Chair 7, reliably emptier than the front side |
| Load at Golden Peak or Lionshead | The Vail Village gondola takes the brunt of it |
| Take lunch with you | Mid-mountain lodges are packed and $25–30. A packed lunch saves ~$20/day and 40 minutes of queueing |
The honest caveat: Vail’s Back Bowls are south-facing and huge, and need real snowfall to open — in a slow start they stay closed or scratchy into January, and Blue Sky opens later still. Check the snow report in mid-December.
| Activity | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NYE Torchlight Parade & fireworks, Dec 31 | Free | Golden Peak. Get there early; the village is at capacity |
| Vail Winterfest ice sculptures | Free | Gore Creek Promenade, January |
| Vail Nordic Center (Vail Golf Club) | ~$25–35 rental + trail | Cross-country and snowshoe trails. Good active recovery, and good pack-testing for Nepal |
| Adventure Ridge, Eagle’s Nest | Varies | Tubing, ski biking and snowshoe tours have run here in past seasons, but some attractions have closed recently — confirm what’s operating for 2026/27 before planning a day around it |
| Après | $8–15/beer | The Red Lion’s $8 chili bowl is the value play; Blue Moose in Lionshead does a $5 slice-and-soda lunch deal |
Practical: village 8,150 ft, summit 11,570 ft — coming from Charlotte, expect a rough first 36 hours. Snow glare at 11,500 ft burns faster than the beach. Tune the board before you leave Charlotte — don’t burn a Vail day in a shop. And confirm the US health plan doesn’t exclude snowboarding.
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lift access | Full Epic Pass: 7 consecutive days, all of Les 3 Vallées — Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Orelle, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Courchevel. Not on Epic Local or Epic Day passes | $0 (you own it) |
| Redemption | Ticket office with physical Epic card, or proof of active pass + ID. The My Epic app pass doesn't work for lifts here | — |
| Ski + boot + helmet rental | 6–7 days. Book online ahead for 20–40% off walk-in | ~$250 total (not per day) |
| Carré Neige | Mountain rescue insurance, ~€3/day at the ticket office | ~$25 |
| Outerwear | Friends bring a ski kit from the US and take it home Mar 14 | $0 |
| Dates | Ski Mar 8–13, optional morning Mar 14 | — |
Worth doing: Cime Caron (3,200 m) for the view across to Mont Blanc; the Orelle side and Val Thorens glacier bowls; a day trip over to Courchevel or Méribel to use the whole 3 Vallées. Val Thorens is Europe's highest ski resort (2,300 m base), so early March snow is reliable.
Two snow trips, one pass. The Epic Pass earns its keep twice on this route — ~12 days at Vail over the holidays and 7 at Les 3 Vallées in March. Worth remembering when the renewal price comes up.
Mar 14–27 · 13 nights · Las Fallas, then Holy Week. Food ~$30/day throughout; costs below are the activity only.
| Activity | Location | Date | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sagrada Família + Park Güell | Barcelona | Mar 15–16 | ~$70 both | Timed-entry tickets — book online a few weeks out |
| Gothic Quarter, El Born, Barceloneta | Barcelona | Mar 14–17 | Free | Walkable; metro ~$20 for the stay |
| Mascletà | Valencia — Plaza del Ayuntamiento | Daily, 2pm | Free | A daytime barrage you feel in your chest. Get there by ~1pm |
| Ofrenda de flores | Valencia — Plaza de la Virgen | Mar 17–18 | Free | Falleras in costume build a giant flower tapestry of the Virgin |
| Nit del Foc | Valencia — Paseo de la Alameda | Night of Mar 18 | Free | The biggest fireworks night of Fallas |
| La Cremà | Valencia — citywide | Night of Mar 19 | Free | Every falla burns; the City Hall one goes last, ~1am. Late-morning flight out the next day |
| Palm Sunday processions | Málaga | Sun Mar 21 | Free | Huge tronos carried through the centre all week. Alcazaba, Gibralfaro and the Picasso Museum by day (~$30 total) |
| Caminito del Rey (optional) | From Málaga | Free day, Mar 22–23 | ~$25 + train | Book ahead; sells out at Easter. Or take the day off |
| La Madrugá | Seville | Night of Mar 25–26 | Free | Processions through the night into Good Friday morning. Pick a route and stay put — crowds are dense |
| Alcázar, Cathedral & Giralda, flamenco | Seville | Mar 24–27 | ~$70 total | The Cathedral closes afternoons during Semana Santa — go in the morning. Book the Alcázar slot online |
Not on this route: Granada, a golf round and a Valencia CF match.
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| EBC, classic out-and-back, independent | Mar 31 – Apr 16: 13 trekking days + 2 floating spare days + 2 Lukla buffer days. Namche and Dingboche acclimatization days, Chhukung Ri side trip, EBC, Kala Patthar sunrise (5,644 m) | ~$1,390 |
| Lukla flight, round trip | April peak — likely from Manthali/Ramechhap | $450 |
| Ramechhap jeep | 4–5 hr pre-dawn drive from Kathmandu, ~$30 each way | $60 |
| Permits | Sagarmatha NP ~$25 + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu ~$15–17. No TIMS, no guide required | $45 |
| Teahouse lodging + food | 15 days × ~$45 all-in | $675 |
| Lukla buffer nights | If the flight days get used | $70 |
| Thamel rentals | Down jacket, −15 °C sleeping bag, poles. Buy gloves there too (~$15) | ~$90 |
| Optional: porter | ~$20–25/day, hireable in Lukla or Namche | +$290 |
April conditions: peak trekking season — warmer than March, busier trails, and Base Camp full of expedition teams. Microspikes aren't needed; rent them in Namche if a section is icy.
| Activity | Location | Date | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Moon Party | Haad Rin, Koh Phangan | Sun Feb 21 | ~$50 | ~$12 gate + drinks. Keep Feb 22 free |
| Fun diving (certified) | Koh Tao | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | ~$300 | ~8 dives. ฿800–1,200/dive; Sail Rock, Chumphon, Southwest Pinnacle. Whale sharks from March |
| Free-diving course (optional) | Koh Tao | within the 8 days | $250–350 | |
| Ethical elephant sanctuary | Chiang Mai | Jan 16–20 | $50–90 | No-riding only |
| Thai cooking class | Chiang Mai | Jan 15–21 | $25–40 | |
| Ang Thong Marine Park | From Koh Samui | Mar 4–5 | $40–60 | Fits on either Samui day — beach and rest days otherwise |
| Activity | Location | Date | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ha Giang Loop | Ha Giang | Feb 10–13 | $150–250 | Easy-rider. Starts Tet day 5 — confirm the operator runs and book homestays. February is cold and foggy — layers and waterproofs |
| Ninh Binh — Trang An boat (Route 2), Hang Mua, Bai Dinh festival, Hoa Lu | Tam Coc | Feb 15–16 | ~$35 + $16 vans | Trang An 250k VND · Hang Mua 100k · Hoa Lu ~100k · bike ~50k/day. One night, private room. Skip the Tam Coc boat |
| Hanoi, post-Tet | Hanoi | Feb 14, 17 | — | City reopened. Tet itself is spent in Siem Reap |
| Mekong slow boat | Huay Xai → Luang Prabang | Jan 23–24 | $35–50 | |
| Kuang Si Falls | Luang Prabang | Jan 25–28 | ~$4 + $6–10 | |
| Tubing, kayaking, caves | Vang Vieng | Jan 29–31 | $8–30 | |
| 4000 Islands — kayak tour, Li Phi and Khone Phapheng falls, bike Don Det and Don Khon | Don Det | Feb 1–2 | ~$30 total | Kayak tours ~170,000–220,000 kip; falls ~33,000 kip each; bikes ~25,000 kip/day. Dolphins on the Lao side are gone — don't pay for that |
| Angkor 3-day pass | Siem Reap | Feb 3–7 | $62 + $20–25/day tuk-tuk | Use it Feb 4–6 — you arrive the evening of Feb 3. Chinese New Year crowds — go early |
| Zone | Dates | Breaks / activities | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canggu | Apr 19–23 | Batu Bolong, Old Man's, Berawa, Echo Beach | Board $4–7/day |
| Bukit Peninsula | Apr 24 – May 2 | Uluwatu, Bingin, Padang Padang, Balangan, Dreamland. Kecak dance at Uluwatu (~$10) | Board $5–10/day; coaching $40–60 |
| Nusa Lembongan / Penida | May 3–5 | Manta Point dives (~$100–130 for 2), Shipwrecks, Lacerations, Playgrounds | ~$120 diving |
| Kuta Lombok / Gerupuk | May 6–13 | Inside & Outside Gerupuk (boat $10–15/session), Don Don, Mawi, Seger | |
| Mt Batur sunrise trek | Sat May 15 (backup Sun May 16) | Shared tour from Ubud: pickup ~1:30–2:30am, ~2 hrs up, sunrise from 1,717 m, back ~11am. Guide required in practice. Batur Natural Hot Spring after | ~$65 (tour $42–45 · hot springs $12–15 · tip $3–6) |
| Ubud | May 14–16 | Tegallalang rice terraces, Tirta Empul, Monkey Forest | ~$20 |
Surf budget: $400 (boards ~25 days, coaching sessions, Gerupuk boats, scooter). Late April onward is the start of dry season — offshore on the west coast and Bukit.
Sources: Vail NYE Torchlight Parade & Fireworks, Vail signature winter events, Vail Nordic Center, Vail Adventure Ridge tubing — closure note, Cheap eats in Vail, Full Moon Party 2027 dates, Epic Pass — Les 3 Vallées, OnTheSnow 2026/27 Epic guide, Vacances d'hiver 2027, Nepal trekking without a guide, 2026, Programa de Fallas (Visit Valencia), Las Fallas guide (Tres Gatos), Semana Santa Seville 2027, Seville procession schedule, Koh Tao Diving Budget 2026, Bali Surf Seasons, Gerupuk Surf Guide, Mount Batur: rules and real costs (WanderOn), Mt Batur sunrise trek from Ubud
| Country | Entry | Your stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Home | 13 days (Vail) | No entry requirement — but US health coverage is not automatic. Your international travel policy almost certainly excludes the US, so buy a short-term plan for Dec 26 – Jan 8 |
| Thailand | 30 days visa-free | 14 + 17 days | Jan 9–22 (air in, land out to Laos) · Feb 18 – Mar 6 (air). Both under 30. Submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before each entry |
| Laos | VOA ~$35–40, 30 days | 12 days | Overland in at Huay Xai (Friendship Bridge 4), overland out at Nong Nok Khiene (~$2 exit stamp) |
| Cambodia | E-visa $30, 30 days | 5 days | Enter by land at Trapeang Kriel Feb 3 — e-visa accepted there, or visa on arrival (~$35). Plus the free e-Arrival card |
| Vietnam | E-visa $25 single, up to 90 days | 11 days | Port-specific — enter by air at Hanoi (Noi Bai) Feb 8 |
| France + Spain (Schengen) | Visa-free, 90/180 | 21 days | Mar 7–27, enter Geneva/France, exit Seville. Well under 90. ETIAS €20 if it has launched by then. EES biometrics at the border |
| Nepal | VOA $30/15d, $50/30d, $125/90d | 22 days | Mar 28 – Apr 18. The $50 30-day visa covers it with room for a Lukla delay |
| Indonesia | e-VOA ~$31 + Bali levy ~$10, 30 days | 29 days | Apr 19 – May 17. Under the cap — no extension needed |
€20, valid 3 years. It was expected in Q4 2026 but the EU pulled that target in July 2026; launch is now an unconfirmed 2027 date. If it's live before Mar 7, apply online before flying to Geneva — one ETIAS covers France and Spain. Until then, a valid passport is all you need.
You're in Indonesia 29 days (Apr 19 – May 17), one day under the 30-day e-VOA. If the KTM → DPS flight slips more than a day, either push something in Bali or extend once, online (~$31) before day 30. Overstays are fined daily and can lead to a blacklist.
Every stop on the route, in order, with what it costs per day and what to do there.
| City / region | Daily cost | Your days | Season fit | Top activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States · Dec 26 – Jan 7 | ||||
| Vail, Colorado | ~$35 (food only) | 13 | Dec–Apr · peak (Dec 26 – Jan 4 is the busiest of the season) | Snowboarding on Epic, Back Bowls, Blue Sky Basin, NYE Torchlight Parade |
| Thailand — north · Jan 9–22 | ||||
| Bangkok | $30–35 | 3 | Nov–Feb · peak | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Chatuchak |
| Chiang Mai & Pai | $28–32 | 9 | Nov–Feb · peak | Elephant sanctuary, cooking class, Doi Suthep, Old City temples |
| Laos · Jan 23 – Feb 2 | ||||
| Mekong slow boat | $20–25 | 2 | Nov–Feb · peak | Huay Xai → Pakbeng → Luang Prabang |
| Luang Prabang | $25–30 | 4 | Nov–Feb · peak | Kuang Si, alms ceremony, Mount Phousi |
| Vang Vieng | $22–28 | 3 | Nov–Mar · good | Tubing, Blue Lagoon, caves, balloon |
| 4000 Islands (Don Det) | $20–25 | 2 | Nov–Feb · peak (dry, river still high) | Hammocks, kayak tour, Li Phi and Khone Phapheng falls, bike Don Khon |
| Cambodia · Feb 3–7 | ||||
| Siem Reap | $28–35 | 5 | Nov–Mar · peak (Chinese New Year crowds) | Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon, Banteay Srei, Tonlé Sap |
| Vietnam · Feb 8–18 | ||||
| Hanoi | $22–28 | 3 | Oct–Apr · good (post-Tet, reopened) | Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo, train street |
| Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) | $25–35 | 2 | Nov–Apr · good (cool, misty; paddies bare in Feb) | Trang An boat, Hang Mua, Bai Dinh festival, Hoa Lu |
| Ha Giang Loop | $25–35 | 4 | Mar–May, Sep–Nov · off-season (Feb cold, foggy; blossoms) | Ma Pi Leng, Dong Van, Nho Que River |
| Bangkok transit · Feb 18 → Thai islands · Feb 19 – Mar 6 | ||||
| Koh Phangan | $45–55 | 5 | Feb–Sep · peak | Full Moon Feb 21, Bottle Beach, Than Sadet |
| Koh Tao | $45–55 | 8 | Feb–Sep · peak | Fun diving, Sail Rock, whale sharks from March |
| Koh Samui | $50–60 | 2 | Dec–Apr · peak | Ang Thong Marine Park, beaches, rest before the long haul |
| France · Mar 7–14 | ||||
| Val Thorens | ~$180 (split lodging + food) | 8 | Dec–Apr · peak (post-holiday week) | Les 3 Vallées on Epic, Cime Caron, Courchevel/Méribel day |
| Spain · Mar 14–27 | ||||
| Barcelona | ~$70 | 3 | Mar · shoulder, mild | Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Gothic Quarter, El Born, Barceloneta |
| Valencia | ~$110 | 3 | Las Fallas peak | Mascletà, Ofrenda, Nit del Foc, Cremà |
| Málaga | ~$75 | 4 | Holy Week | Palm Sunday processions, Alcazaba, Gibralfaro, Picasso Museum, Caminito del Rey |
| Seville | ~$90 | 3 | Holy Week climax | La Madrugá, Alcázar, Cathedral & Giralda, flamenco |
| Nepal · Mar 28 – Apr 18 | ||||
| Kathmandu | $35–45 | 5 | Mar–May · peak | Permits, Thamel rentals, Bhaktapur, Patan |
| Khumbu (EBC) | ~$45 on trail | 17 | April · peak + expedition season | Namche, Tengboche, Chhukung Ri, EBC, Kala Patthar |
| Indonesia · Apr 19 – May 18 | ||||
| Canggu | $40–50 | 5 | Apr–Oct · season opening | Batu Bolong, Old Man's, Echo Beach |
| Bukit / Uluwatu | $40–50 | 9 | Apr–Oct · peak building | Uluwatu, Bingin, Padang Padang, Kecak |
| Nusa Lembongan / Penida | $40–50 | 3 | Year-round mantas | Manta Point dives, Shipwrecks, Playgrounds |
| Kuta Lombok / Gerupuk | $35–45 | 8 | Apr–Oct · season opening | Gerupuk boat sessions, Mawi, Seger |
| Ubud | $35–45 | 3 | Apr–Oct · dry | Mt Batur sunrise (May 15), rice terraces, temples |
Vail is the cheapest leg of the whole trip — ~$35/day, because lodging, lifts and gear are all free and food is the only cost. Val Thorens is the opposite: the most expensive week per day (~$250/day all-in with rental and transfers), even with lifts free on Epic. Spain sits in between at ~$70–110/day — Fallas and Holy Week push Valencia and Seville dorm prices to their yearly peak. Bali is the biggest block by total spend — 30 days at $40–50. Nepal is middling off-trail and ~$45 on the trail.
| Kit | How it moves | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vail snow gear | Goes home to Charlotte with friends on Jan 7 | $0 |
| Val Thorens ski kit | Friends bring it in Mar 7, take it home Mar 14 | $0 |
| Nepal cold kit (down jacket, −15 °C bag, poles) | Rented in Thamel, returned Apr 16–17 | ~$90 rental, in the trek budget |
| Gloves (bought in Thamel, ~$15) | Keep, leave or give away — small enough not to matter | — |
| Merino base layers, warm hat, buff, mid layer | Carried the whole trip | — |
Airline note for your friends: the ski kit may mean a second checked bag on their flights. Offer to cover it (~$40–75 each way on transatlantic economy, often free on long-haul).
A surfboard, art or a pile of souvenirs in Bali: check it on DPS → CLT first. Most Asian carriers on US routes include two checked bags at 23 kg each (Singapore Airlines and Korean Air both do), so a second bag is usually free. Shipping from Bali through a freight forwarder or DHL runs ~$250–700 and is the fallback.
Post office caveat: since the US ended its de minimis duty exemption on Aug 29, 2025, many postal services stopped sending parcels to the US. Use your baggage allowance or a courier. Purchases abroad can be charged duty; used personal effects come back duty-free.
Sources: Global suspensions of parcel shipments to the US, Singapore Airlines baggage fees 2026, Korean Air baggage fees 2026, IDP Cargo — Bali to the USA
Trip is locked: Charlotte Dec 26, 2026 → Charlotte May 18, 2027 (144 days). Route is decided — see the itinerary doc. About 12 weeks out. Flights booked: CLT → DEN (Dec 26) and DEN → BKK (Jan 8).
| Task | Why it's urgent |
|---|---|
| Book the Vail shuttles around your flights | DEN → Vail late morning Dec 26 (you land 8:22am), Vail → DEN afternoon Jan 7. Holiday-week shuttles sell out |
| Start shopping US health coverage for the Vail window | Buy in Nov – early Dec. Your international travel policy will not cover you inside the US. Snowboarding two weeks with no domestic coverage is the worst exposure on this trip |
| Lock Val Thorens lodging with your 3 friends | Early March post-holiday week still books up. Resort lodging runs Sat–Sat; your dates are Sun Mar 7 – Sun Mar 14 |
| Book the Valencia, Málaga and Seville dorms | Valencia Mar 17–20 (Fallas), Málaga Mar 20–24 and Seville Mar 24–27 (Holy Week). The peak weeks of the year in all three — take free-cancellation beds now |
| Task | Timing | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US health coverage for Dec 26 – Jan 8 | Nov – early Dec | Not started | ~$200 for one month. Short-term medical runs $150–250/mo for a healthy adult at the $5,000-deductible tier (Everest ~$192, Pivot Health ~$215, UnitedHealthcare ~$229). Confirm it doesn’t exclude snowboarding as a “hazardous sport” — some plans do. Alternatives: COBRA, or an ACA marketplace plan through January |
| Bloodwork while still insured | ASAP — before Dec 26 | Not started | $200–$600 out of pocket if coverage lapses |
| Cavity filled | Now (next 6–8 weeks) | Not started | Before the implant. $150–$400 |
| Travel clinic visit | ≈ late Oct / early Nov | Not started | Diamox for EBC; typhoid, hep A/B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies pre-exposure; malaria prophylaxis for rural Laos. Some are multi-dose series — don’t compress this |
| Altitude conditioning plan | Start ~Nov | Not started | Build to 10–12 kg loaded day hikes for the Mar 31 EBC start. Bonus: ~12 days of snowboarding over the holidays is real leg work — use it |
| International travel health insurance | 1–2 months out | Not started | 131 days from Jan 8 ≈ $393 + ~$30 winter sports add-on. Must cover trekking to ~6,000 m AND on-piste skiing — many long-term backpacker plans exclude winter sports. Also surfing and scooters (license + IDP). Start it Jan 8, the day you fly out of Denver. The Vail window is covered by the short-term plan above. Don’t double-pay |
| Task | Timing | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 passport photos | Early Dec | Not started | Nepal VOA, Laos VOA, trek permits |
| International Driving Permit | Nov – early Dec | Not started | AAA, ~$20. Bali scooters (not valid in Vietnam). Get it before you leave for Vail — AAA is a walk-in errand you can’t do from the road |
| Find your physical Epic Pass card | Before Dec 26 | Not started | The app pass works fine at Vail, so you don't strictly need the card in December — but find it now while you're home. It must reach Les 3 Vallées in March, so either carry it the whole way or send it back with the snowboard and have the France group bring it |
| Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) | Jan 6–9, and again Feb 15–18 | Not started | Free, online, required for every entry. Submit within 3 days before arrival. Do the first one from Vail or the Denver hotel |
| Vietnam e-visa | ~Early Jan 2027 | Not started | $25 single. Port-specific — enter by air at Noi Bai (Hanoi) on Feb 8 |
| Cambodia e-visa | ~Jan 2027 | Not started | $30 at evisa.gov.kh only. Entry by land at Trapeang Kriel on Feb 3 — e-visa accepted there. Visa on arrival (~$35) is the fallback |
| ETIAS (France) | Watch for launch | Not started | €20, valid 3 years. Slipped from Q4 2026 to an unconfirmed 2027 date. If live before Mar 7, apply online — usually approved in minutes |
| Indonesia e-VOA + Bali levy | Before Apr 18 | Not started | ~$31 + ~$10. Onward ticket required — have the DPS → CLT booking ready |
| Laos VOA | At the border, Jan 23 | On the day | ~$35–40 at Huay Xai. USD cash, crisp bills |
| Nepal visa on arrival, 30-day | Mar 28, on arrival | On the day | $50. 22 days in Nepal (Mar 28 – Apr 18) — comfortably inside it. USD cash + passport photo |
| Dive C-card | Before Dec 26 | Not started | Physical card + photo. Pack it — you won’t be home again |
| Task | Timing | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLT → DEN, Sat Dec 26 | — | Booked | Frontier 1361, 6:20am → 8:22am. $231.98 with 1 checked bag. If the board takes the checked bag, add a carry-on or second bag for the pack in Manage Trip before you fly |
| DEN → BKK, Fri Jan 8 | — | Booked | $424.80 with 1 checked bag. DL 1731 DEN → SEA 6:45am · KE 042 SEA → ICN 11:00am · KE 653 ICN → BKK 7:05pm Jan 9, lands ~11:20pm. Confirm the bag is checked through to Bangkok |
| DEN → Vail shuttle, Dec 26 (~10:30–11am) | Oct 2026 | Not started | ~$100. Epic Mountain Express winter rates run $99–169/leg standard, $80–136 with Epic Mountain Rewards — check whether your pass qualifies. Holiday-week shuttles sell out and close-in bookings carry a fee. You land 8:22am, so a late-morning departure leaves room for bag claim. Allow for slow I-70 the day after Christmas |
| Vail → DEN shuttle, Thu Jan 7 (afternoon) | Oct 2026 | Not started | ~$100. Book with the outbound. Ride the morning, shuttle down after lunch |
| DEN airport hotel, Jan 7 | Nov – Dec 2026 | Not started | ~$120. The 6:45am Jan 8 flight means a ~4:45am airport arrival. Choose a hotel with a free airport shuttle that runs that early |
| Confirm the Vail place, Dec 26 – Jan 7 | Now | Not started | Free lodging — but confirm the exact dates, kitchen access, and that a snowboard can live there for two weeks |
| Arrange the snowboard handoff | By Jan 7 | Not started | Board, boots, bindings and all outerwear go back to Charlotte with friends. Confirm who, and that they can store it until you’re home in May |
| Val Thorens lodging | Now | Not started | 4–6 person apartment, split 4 ways (~$700 each). Confirm Sun–Sun or book Sat Mar 6 – Sun Mar 14 |
| Tell friends what to bring to Val Thorens | ~Jan–Feb 2027 | Not started | Ski kit only — jacket, pants, gloves, goggles, ski socks. This is a separate kit from the Vail gear that went home in January. They take all of it home Mar 14. Nothing for Nepal |
| Book the remaining long-haul flights | Nov–Dec 2026 | Not started | BKK → GVA Mar 6, overnight (~$500) · SVQ → KTM Mar 27 (~$650, Qatar/Turkish) · KTM → DPS Apr 18 (~$350, flexible fare) · DPS → CLT May 17 (~$800) |
| Spain bookings: Barcelona dorm, GVA → BCN, VLC → AGP | Nov–Dec 2026 | Not started | Barcelona Mar 14–17 (~$40/n) · GVA → BCN Mar 14 (~$100, easyJet/Vueling) · VLC → AGP Mar 20 (~$80 incl. bag) — late-morning flight, the Cremà runs to ~1:30am |
| BCN → VLC (Mar 17) and AGP → SVQ (Mar 24) trains | When March 2027 sales open | Not started | Renfe / Iryo / Ouigo, ~$45 + ~$35. Mar 17 is a busy Fallas travel day — set an alert for the sales window |
| Geneva ↔ Val Thorens transfer | ~Jan 2027 | Not started | ~$200 round trip, shared. Coordinate with friends — a private van split 4 ways can match it |
| Vang Vieng → Don Det sleeper (Jan 31) + Don Det → Siem Reap van (Feb 3) | A few days out | On the day | ~$33–39 through ticket incl. the boat; pay for both berths (~+$20) for a solo bed. Van $20–41, ~9am departure, 8–11 hrs |
| Siem Reap lodging (Feb 3–7) | Nov 2026 | Not started | Chinese New Year week |
| SAI → HAN (Feb 8) | Nov–Dec 2026 | Not started | ~$100 direct, Vietnam Airlines. Tet day 3 — fewer seats |
| HAN → BKK (Feb 18) + BKK → Surat Thani → Koh Phangan (Feb 19) | Nov 2026 – Jan 2027 | Not started | ~$90 + ~$70, plus one Bangkok night. The party is Feb 21 |
| Lukla flight, Mar 31 | Jan 2027 | Not started | ~$450 round trip. April peak — likely from Ramechhap, plus a ~$30 jeep each way |
| Nepal trek permits | On arrival, Mar 28–30 | On the day | Sagarmatha NP (~$25) in Kathmandu; Khumbu Pasang Lhamu (~$15–17) in Lukla/Monjo |
| Decide: porter or self-carry | Before Mar 18 | Decision needed | ~$290 for 13 days, hireable in Lukla |
| Koh Tao dive shop | Walk in | On the day | Negotiate on Sairee Beach |
| Ha Giang Loop easy-rider | Jan 2027 | Not started | ~$180. Confirm they run Feb 10–13 — days 5–8 of Tet. Book homestays too |
| Angkor 3-day pass | On arrival | On the day | $62. Buy it the morning of Feb 4 — you arrive the evening of Feb 3 |
| Manta dives, Nusa Penida | A few days out | On the day | ~$100–130 for 2 dives |
| Mt Batur sunrise tour, Sat May 15 | 1–3 days out | On the day | ~$42–45 shared tour with Ubud pickup, or ~IDR 500k through the guesthouse. Sun May 16 is the backup |
| Rent the Nepal cold kit in Thamel | Mar 28–30 | On the day | Down jacket, −15 °C sleeping bag, poles ~$90; buy gloves ~$15. Return Apr 16–17 |
| Open: fly out of Seville Mar 27, or stay for Easter Sunday Mar 28? | Before booking SVQ → KTM | Decision needed | Staying costs a night in Seville and pushes Kathmandu by a day |
| Open: El Palmar (Cádiz) surf day trip from Seville? | Before Mar 24 | Decision needed | Optional, would use one Seville day |
| Open: dorms vs some private rooms during Holy Week? | Before booking Málaga/Seville | Decision needed | Budget assumes dorms throughout |
| Storage unit or green garage | Early Dec | Not started | |
| Sell what you don't use | Oct – early Dec | Not started | Start now — selling takes longer than you think |
| Task | Timing | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401k/HSA control | Now – late Oct | Not started | |
| New bank / cards | Oct – Nov | Not started | No-FX + ATM refunds. Two cards on different networks. Apply now — approval, mailing and activation eat weeks |
| Notify banks of travel dates | Mid-Dec | Not started | 8 countries plus domestic Colorado. Give them Dec 26 as the start date |
| Pay off truck | Before Dec 26 | Not started | |
| Car insurance → storage policy | Right before Dec 26 | Not started | You leave home Dec 26 — the truck sits from then |
| Cancel unused subscriptions | Early Dec | Not started | |
| Trip budget: ≈ $15,300 | — | Set | ~$106/day across 144 days. Both booked flights are in at their real prices ($231.98 + $424.80). Full breakdown on the Itinerary page |
| Cash buffer | Before Dec 26 | Not started | ~$400 USD crisp bills + ~€100, plus a little walking-around cash for Vail. Keep ~$60 in crisp small bills for the Cambodia visa and Laos exit stamp — no ATM on Don Det or at the border |
| Task | Timing | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40–50 L load-carrying pack | Late Oct – Nov | Not started | You want it broken in before you leave |
| Garmin fēnix | Oct – Nov | Not started | fēnix 9 Pro recommended for satellite SOS. Buy it before Vail — two weeks of snowboarding is a good shakedown for a new watch |
| Snowboard, boots, bindings — tuned and ready | Mid-Dec | Not started | Base grind and edge tune before you go. Nothing worse than burning a Vail day at a shop. Goes home with friends Jan 7 |
| Snow outerwear for Vail | Before Dec 26 | Not started | Your own jacket, pants, gloves, goggles, helmet, snow socks. All of it goes back to Charlotte with friends on Jan 7 — none of it flies to Bangkok |
| Trail runners or light hikers, broken in | Nov – Dec | Not started | Your EBC footwear. Put real miles on them before Dec 26 |
| Reef booties, rash guard, surf earplugs | Early Dec | Not started | |
| Camera setup | Oct – Nov | Not started | Vail is a good test run |
| Order everything else | By ~Dec 5 | Not started | Holiday shipping is slow — order earlier than feels necessary |
Sources: CLT→DEN fares (Expedia), Epic Mountain Express Vail rates, Short-term health insurance costs (ValuePenguin), Best short-term health insurance (Forbes Advisor), Epic Pass — Les 3 Vallées access, ETIAS for US citizens, Nepal trekking without a guide, 2026 rules, Nepal Visa Fees 2026, Single Tooth Implant Cost 2026, Storage Unit Pricing Guide 2026, Long-Term Travel Insurance Costs 2026
The route: Vail (snowboard, Dec 26 – Jan 7) → Thailand → Laos → Cambodia → Vietnam → Thai islands → Val Thorens (ski, Mar 7–14) → Spain (Mar 14–27) → Nepal (EBC, independent, Mar 31 – Apr 16) → Bali, Lombok & Ubud.
You hit snow twice, eleven weeks apart, with two months of tropics in between. The whole packing strategy is built around never carrying cold-weather gear through that gap.
| Vail (Dec 26 – Jan 7) | Val Thorens (Mar 7–14) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the gear arrives | You fly it from Charlotte — you’re starting from home, so just bring it | Friends bring it from the US |
| Board / skis | Your own snowboard | Rent skis, boots, helmet at the resort (~$250) |
| Outerwear | Your own — jacket, pants, gloves, goggles, helmet | Friends bring a ski kit |
| Lift access | Epic Pass — the app pass works at Vail | Epic Pass — physical card required, the app doesn’t work at 3 Vallées |
| How the gear leaves | Goes home to Charlotte with friends on Jan 7 | The whole ski kit goes home with friends Mar 14 |
The one item that has to survive the handoff decision: the physical Epic Pass card. You don’t need it at Vail (the app works there), but you do need it in France in March. Two clean options:
Val Thorens comes 8 weeks into Asia. Friends bring a ski kit only — nothing for Nepal.
What your friends bring to Val Thorens (Mar 7): jacket, pants, ski gloves, goggles, ski socks, helmet if you own one. This is a second set — the Vail gear went home in January. If you only own one set, make sure it comes back with the France group.
What goes home with your friends (Mar 14): the whole ski kit. Spain is 15–25 °C in late March; your packable rain jacket is the trek shell in Nepal.
What you fly to Spain and then Kathmandu with: the tropics kit plus the merino base layers, warm hat, buff and mid layer you've carried since Vail. Everything else for the trek is rented or bought in Thamel.
Everything in the “goes home” column leaves with your friends on Jan 7, before you shuttle to Denver. Nothing in it touches the Bangkok flight.
| Item | You fly it to Vail | Goes home to Charlotte Jan 7 | Stays with you → Asia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowboard, bindings, boots | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Snowboard travel bag | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Snow jacket | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Snow pants | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Snow gloves / mittens | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Goggles | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Helmet | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Snow / heavy socks | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Winter boots (village walking) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Wax, tool, spare hardware | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Merino base layers | ✓ | ✓ — also for Ha Giang and Nepal | |
| Packable mid layer | ✓ | ✓ — mid layer at Val Thorens and Nepal | |
| Warm hat + buff | ✓ | ✓ — tiny, and needed in Nepal | |
| Polarized sunglasses | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sunscreen, lip balm | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garmin fēnix | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Physical Epic Pass card | ✓ | Only if a Val Thorens friend will carry it back in March | ✓ — recommended: just keep it |
| Tropics kit (the whole Core List) | ✓ — it’s in the same bags | ✓ |
Practical: pack the tropics gear in your main 40–50 L pack and the snow gear in the board bag plus a duffel. On Jan 7 you hand over two bags and walk away with one — clean split, no repacking in a hurry. That one bag is the checked bag included on the DEN → BKK ticket. Confirm in writing with whoever takes it that they’ll store the board until you’re back in May, and whether the Epic card goes with them.
Independent trekking means you carry everything for ~13–17 days. April nights still drop to roughly −10 to −15 °C at Lobuche and Gorak Shep.
| Item | Category | Notes | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40–50 L pack with real suspension | Bag | Must carry 10–12 kg comfortably for two weeks on trail. Osprey Exos 48 / Atmos AG 50, Gregory Zulu 45 | $200–$300 |
| Snowboard bag / travel bag | Bag | Vail only. Checks the board CLT → DEN on Frontier, which uses up the one included checked bag. Goes home with friends Jan 7 — don’t haul an empty board bag to Asia | Have, or $60–$120 |
| Packable daypack (15–20 L) | Bag | Day hikes, flights, Angkor days, ski days, summit pushes | $25–$40 |
| Packing cubes (3–4) | Bag | $25–$40 | |
| Garmin fēnix watch | Electronics | fēnix 9 from $999.99, fēnix 9 Pro from $1,099.99. The Pro adds inReach satellite SOS + LTE messaging. Recommended: the Pro — solo above 5,000 m with no cell signal. Also tracks skiing and diving (40 m rating) | $1,000–$1,200 |
| 4–5 quick-dry tops | Clothing | Merino or synthetic, never cotton | $20–$45 ea |
| 2 quick-dry pants (1 convertible) | Clothing | Covers knees for temples | $50–$80 ea |
| 2 shorts, swimwear | Clothing | Have | |
| 5–7 underwear, 5–7 socks (3 merino hiking) | Clothing | $10–$20 ea | |
| Packable rain jacket | Outer | Tropics rain shell, and your trek shell in Nepal | $100–$180 |
| Packable mid layer (fleece or light puffer) | Mid | Vail mid layer, ski mid layer, trek mid layer and the Batur summit at dawn — this one does quadruple duty and stays with you the whole trip | $60–$120 |
| Merino base layers, top + bottom | Mid | Bring your own set to Vail and keep it — useful in Ha Giang in February (cold and foggy) and essential in Nepal | $80–$150 |
| Warm hat + buff | Clothing | Bring to Vail, keep it. Packs to nothing, useful in Ha Giang and essential in Nepal | $25–$40 |
| Sun hat + polarized sunglasses | Clothing | Category 3–4 lenses — snow glare at Vail, on the slopes in France, and above 5,000 m | $20–$40 |
| Trail runners or light hikers | Footwear | Broken in before you leave. Your EBC footwear | Have or $100–$140 |
| Winter boots or insulated shoes | Footwear | Vail only — village walking in snow. Goes home with friends Jan 7 | Have |
| Sandals / flip-flops | Footwear | ~45 days of beach on this route | $20–$40 |
| Quick-dry towel | Gear | $20–$30 | |
| Universal adapter with USB | Electronics | US A/B at Vail · Thailand/Vietnam A/B/C · France/Spain C/E/F · Nepal C/D/M · Indonesia C/F | $20–$30 |
| Power bank (20,000 mAh) | Electronics | Teahouses charge $2–5 per charge above Namche | $35–$50 |
| Headlamp + spare batteries | Electronics | Pre-dawn pass starts, Angkor sunrise, Batur sunrise | $15–$25 |
| 2–3 TSA padlocks, earplugs, eye mask | Gear | Earplugs earn their keep in Haad Rin | $25 |
| Filter bottle + purification tablets | Health | Squeeze filters freeze and crack above 4,500 m. Sleep with it | $50–$65 |
| Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 30–50, SPF lip balm | Health | Snow burn at 11,570 ft is real — then diving, surf, and 5,500 m sun | $25–$35 |
| Insect repellent (20%+ DEET or picaridin) | Health | Mainland SE Asia | $10–$15 |
| First-aid & medicine kit | Health | See below | $30–$50 |
| Passport, valid past ~Nov 2027 | Documents | 6 months' validity from entry for Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia. Last entry is Bali on Apr 19 → valid through mid-Oct 2027 minimum | — |
| 4 passport photos | Documents | Nepal VOA, Laos VOA, trek permits | $15 |
| Printed e-visas (Vietnam, Cambodia), insurance confirmation | Documents | Must show altitude cover to ~6,000 m and winter sports | — |
| US short-term health insurance card / policy number | Documents | Vail. Your international policy doesn't cover the US. Have it on your phone before you get on a lift | — |
| Physical Epic Pass card + photo ID | Documents | The app pass works at Vail but NOT at Les 3 Vallées. Simplest plan: keep the card on you the whole trip | — |
| International Driving Permit | Documents | Bali scooters. Not valid in Vietnam | $20 (AAA) |
| Dive C-card + a photo of it | Documents | Koh Tao and Nusa Penida. Pack it in December — you won't be home again | — |
| 2 no-FX-fee cards, ~$400 USD cash + ~€100 | Money | Laos/Nepal VOAs and Khumbu teahouses are cash-only. Euros for France and Spain | — |
| Item | Comes with friends | Goes home with friends |
|---|---|---|
| Ski jacket | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ski pants | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ski gloves, goggles, ski socks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Helmet (if owned; otherwise rent) | ✓ | ✓ |
Rent at the resort: skis, boots, helmet — ~$250 for the week, budgeted in the itinerary. Nothing for Nepal travels with the France group.
| Item | Source | Notes | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down jacket (−10 °C or better) | Rent in Thamel | Check the fill and zips before you leave the shop | ~$90 total |
| Sleeping bag (−15 °C) | Rent in Thamel | Teahouse blankets are not enough above 4,500 m | |
| Trekking poles | Rent in Thamel | ||
| Liner + insulated gloves | Buy in Thamel | Kala Patthar sunrise starts in the dark well below freezing | ~$15 |
| Sleeping bag liner | Bring from the start | Adds ~5 °C. Packs small enough to carry from December | $30–$50 |
| Thermal base layer, top and bottom | Carried from Vail | Merino | $80–$150 |
| Warm hat, buff, mid layer | Carried from Vail | Weighs nothing | — |
| Trail runners or light hikers | Bring (Core List) | Broken in before you leave. No microspikes — rent in Namche if a section is icy | — |
| Packable rain jacket | Bring (Core List) | Your shell layer on the trek | — |
| Rain / pack cover | Bring | $15–$25 | |
| Offline maps + downloaded route | — | On the fēnix and your phone (Maps.me or Gaia) | — |
| Item | Notes | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Long-sleeve rash guard | ~25 surf days in Bali/Lombok sun | $35–$60 |
| Reef booties | Uluwatu, Bingin, Padang Padang, Lembongan reefs | $30–$50 |
| Surf earplugs | Surfer's ear is cumulative | $15–$30 |
| Boardshorts / surf leggings | Have | |
| Wax + ding-repair tape | $15 | |
| Dive mask (optional) | Koh Tao and Manta Point | $50–$80 |
| Small dry bag (10 L) | Gerupuk boats, ferries, Lembongan fast boats | $20 |
Always rent the board. $4–7/day across Bali and Lombok.
| Activity | Bring | Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Snowboarding (Vail) | Your own board, boots, bindings and outerwear — you're flying from home. All of it goes back to Charlotte Jan 7 | Nothing |
| Diving (certified) | C-card, mask, log | BCD, reg, wetsuit, computer |
| Skiing (Val Thorens) | Friends bring outerwear; you bring the Epic card | Skis, boots, helmet at the resort |
| Surfing | Rash guard, booties, wax, earplugs | Boards, always |
| Trekking | Liner, base layers, hat, buff, mid layer, trail runners | Down jacket, sleeping bag, poles in Thamel (buy gloves there) |
| Fitness | Resistance bands | — |
Sources: Garmin fēnix 9 / 9 Pro announcement, Epic Pass — Les 3 Vallées access, Nepal trekking without a guide, 2026 rules, Southeast Asia Packing List — The Broke Backpacker, CDC Travel Health Kits