Southeast Asia forum

Hi folks. I'd love your feedback on my itinerary.

I am a first-time traveler to SE Asia, female, in my mid-thirties. The trip is about 5-6 weeks, this winter. I'm joining a friend for some of Cambodia and all of Laos, but will likely be on my own for the rest. I'm not really a partier, have some budget, but not luxe. Hoping to avoid many 6 hour bus rides. Interested in food/cooking, cities, photography, art/culture/language, maybe a little hiking, and generally relaxing.

I'm getting stumped on logistics, so I'll spare you the details and ask only whether this sort of an itinerary is best for avoiding too much backtracking and travel fatigue, while still being able to get a good sense of place, and a good mix of things to experience for a lone traveler with interests like mine. (The Bangkok and island part aren't really flexible.) Too much?

Bangkok (4 nights)
BKK > PNH (fly, overnight)
PNH > Koh Totang (3 nights)
Koh Totang > Sihanoukville (~2 nights)
Sihanoukville > Kep or Kampot (~3 nights)
Kep/Kampot > Phnom Penh (~4 nights, friends here)
Phnom Pehn > Siem Reap (~4 nights)
Siem Reap > Battambang (~2 nights)
Siem Reap > Vientiane (~4 nights)
Vientiane > Luang Prabang > Nong Kiaow (~7 nights, total)
Luang Prabang > Back to BKK to depart for NYC (~4 nights, total)

Thanks much.