Travel across Asia and you’ll have a lifetime of stories to share, from its sun-dappled beach towns to towering Himalayas, expanse deserts, historic old towns and futuristic cities.
Asia is massive. It covers nearly a third of the Earth’s land, and more than half of the world’s population resides across the continent. Its strength lies in its incredible diversity. You can spend a week in Tokyo’s buzz before napping in a sleepy remote island village in Cambodia, sipping hot chai on a buzzy street in north India, or meditating to the faint hum of mantras from a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Bhutan. For visitors, the experiences are endless: hiking the world’s tallest peaks, snorkeling in the Indonesian archipelago dotted with thousands of islands, sleeping under the stars in Jordan’s Wadi Rum or biking Vietnam’s mountain loops.
Wherever you go in Asia, you are in for a treat, whether it’s phenomenal dining, friendly people or diverse scenery. Plan well, learn, and respect local customs and values before you embrace everything Asia has to offer. These are our recommendations for the best places to visit in Asia.
1. Luang Prabang, Laos
A nostalgic town by the mighty Mekong
Every morning, Luang Prabang wakes up before the sun when hundreds of saffron-robed monks meditatively walk the town’s frangipani-studded lanes and bylanes while residents gather to offer alms. Forget maps because this is a town that really pulls at your heartstrings, shaped by the influences of Buddhism, royal dynasties, French colonial powers and generational artists tending to their crafts. Meander the old town that sits on a peninsula where the two rivers – the Mekong and the Nam Khan – confluence, housing over 30 temples and monasteries alongside the city’s Royal Palace Museum.
Spend your days sampling Lao cuisine, watching Mekong sunsets, and learning local textile weaving traditions at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC). Don’t forget to take a day trip to swim in the cascading Tat Kuang Si falls, cruise the Mekong to the village of Ban Xang Hai where locals distill their own alcohol, and head further afield to Pak Ou, where two riverfront limestone caves house hundreds of Buddha images.
2. Bangkok
One of the world’s most atmospheric cities
Bangkok is a city that has it all! We are talking about a Thai grandma wearing a floral bucket hat quietly sipping coffee next to a vintage gay magazine stall while the BTS or the Sky Train – the city’s mass transit system – rides past some of Asia’s glitziest shopping malls. You could spend your morning aimlessly wandering its streets lined up with gilded Buddhist shrines, grab pour-over coffee from a bean-to-cup brew bar, and watch a street vendor toss up rice noodles for dinner. First-timers can’t skip the iconic Royal Palace and the glistening Wat Pho, while feasting on street food at Bangkok’s Chinatown or shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market, where you’ll see everything from mango sticky rice to knitted sweaters.
Those who want to embrace the city’s rhythm can spend time exploring its different neighborhoods, from the cosmopolitan Sukhumvit with Michelin-star dining to the new cool kid on the block, Talat Noi heaving with charming alleyways and restored warehouses transformed into hip cafes. If you’ve got more time, take a day trip to the ancient city Ayutthaya or cycle your way through the pottery village Ko Kret.
3. Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Up close with the Khmer royals
No trip to Southeast Asia is complete without a visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s national pride that even appears on the country’s flag. This vast sprawling ancient temple complex built by the Khmer kings nearly 900 years ago soars above the tropical jungles with detailed bas reliefs, ascending towers and courtyards connected with elaborate walkways. Spend at least half a day on a guided tour wandering through the temple’s galleries where thousands of ethereal apsaras (celestial figures) are carved into its walls and columns. If you’ve more time, explore other ornate Khmer temples that are part of the massive 400-sq-km (154-sq-mile) Angkor Archaeological Park, which UNESCO narrates as a “unique concentration of features testifying to an exceptional civilization.”
4. Hoi An, Vietnam
A World Heritage-listed magical town
Ask anyone who’s been to Vietnam and they’ll tell you Hoi An was one of the memorable places they’ve visited. Although recent years have seen the UNESCO-listed town overflow with tourists, Hoi An’s remarkably preserved, lantern-strung old town still feels as magical as ever. Apart from strolling the warmly lit alleyways of the atmospheric main drag lined up with dozens of cafes and boutiques, and enjoying epic sunsets, Hoi An is also famous for getting custom-made clothes done. There are more than 300 tailor shops here, and some even call it the tailoring capital of the world. Cycle through the country roads that wrap around the waterways, passing through rice fields, markets and craft workshops. While nearby Danang has earned a reputation as one of Central Vietnam’s main beach spots, Hoi An’s beaches are great for those looking for a warm, sunny day by the sea.
5. Hunza Valley, Pakistan
Spectacular mountain scenery with glacial-fed rivers
Snowcapped jagged peaks guard the riverine valleys where cherry and apricot trees come to bloom in spring, and herds of yaks traverse the wildflower-dotted grassy meadows in summer. This is everyday life in Hunza Valley, a high-altitude region of Northern Pakistan surrounded by some of the world’s tallest peaks of the Karakoram Mountains. Since the valley was cut off from the world for many years, the Hunzani people have their distinctive culture, language and cuisine and often take pride in community-based schools contributing to the region’s 97% literacy rate, the highest in Pakistan.
A spike in tourism in recent years saw guesthouses and hotels open up and you can now fly into Gilgit – the nearest big city that’s also the gateway to the country’s remote northernmost region. Those who seek adventure, though, opt for an epic road trip along the Karakoram Highway – a 1300km-long (808-mile) highway that connects Hasan Abdal near Pakistan’s capital Islamabad to China’s Kashgar. With trails to Rakaposhi and Nanga Parbat base camps, it’s truly a paradise for trekkers, but there are also plenty of other things to do, like wandering the lively Karimabad Bazar, hiking to glacial lakes and feasting on buckwheat pancakes and yak meat burgers.
6. Jaipur, India
Vibrant walled city studded with historic architecture
Almost everyone who visits India visits Jaipur. The Rajasthani capital – also nicknamed India’s “Pink City” thanks to most buildings painted in pastel pinks – bursts with flamboyant palaces, majestic royal fort and lively bazaars teeming with color. Roam the historic old city guarded by massive gated walls, step inside Jaipur’s royal glory at the City Palace with museums, galleries and courtyards, and view the sandstone palace Hawa Mahal with latticed windows at sunset. You could spend hours at the Amber Fort with its palaces, pavilions with mosaics of mirrors, and courtyard gardens, or shop at the marketplaces in Jaipur’s Old City for hand block printed clothes, artisanal jewelry and colorful footwear. Disclaimer: you might, like me, want to bring everything home!
7. Pokhara, Nepal
A town with big heart and impressive views
Pokhara’s got everything (of course not the buzz of Kathmandu, but that’s what makes it the perfect place to rest). Set around Lake Phewa, Nepal’s second-largest city offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas and is the ideal spot to recharge after weeks-long trekking in the Annapurna mountains. But with temples, markets, laid-back cafes and family-run homestays, you can easily dive deep into Nepal’s heart and soul here. And if you need some adventure, there’s that too – you can paddle a rowboat on the lake or go for white water rafting, and even enjoy paragliding from Sarangkot Hill.
8. Ella, Sri Lanka
The island’s adventure hub
The six-hour-long train journey from Sri Lanka’s spiritual heart Kandy rides past rolling tea gardens, cascading falls and small British-era railway stations before stopping at Ella. Once a small, sleepy village, Ella transformed into the island’s adventure hub in the last decade. Crowds frequent Little Adam’s Peak at sunrise and sunset, which overlooks the overgrown craggy peaks of Ella Rock and the valley below. Chase waterfalls, hike through the thick, humid jungle to gaze at the Nine Arch Bridge – a railway engineering marvel – and enjoy caramelized coconut-stuffed local pancakes at one of the cafes in the town. Follow that by learning how to cook coconut milk-based Sri Lankan curry from scratch at the women-run cooking school Matey Hut.
9. Singapore
Modern city with a dose of culture
There’s perhaps no place like Singapore. The airport itself is a destination and constantly ranks as one of the best in the world, and the city-state pretty much does everything to triumph as one of Asia’s leading tourism hubs. While many visitors use it as a connecting city, there’s much more to Singapore than being a pit stop. There’s excellent hawker stall food, colorful Peranakan terrace houses, and seemingly endless shopping on Orchard Rd. The Marina Bay Sands is a Singapore icon, and the illuminating Gardens by the Bay is a must-visit on any Singapore itinerary.
10. Kerala backwaters, India
Everything lush, tropical and soulful in life
For many foreign travelers, the lush landscapes of Kerala woven around its coconut-fringed creeks and canals – with pink lotus blooming on freshwater lakes – appear as a different world to the rest of India. The backwaters of Kerala pack everything one seeks out from a laid-back southern Indian holiday in the tropics: home-cooked meals, Ayurveda treatments and outstanding hospitality. Houseboats with meals onboard cruise the waterways starting from the small town of Alappuzha (Alleppey), and are popular with travelers, but those looking to stay longer can pick a homestay to feast on the state’s excellent local food, like meen pollichathu (fish wrapped in banana leaf) and appam (a fluffy breakfast dish made of fermented rice flour and coconut milk batter). You cannot skip the toddy shops, which are an everyday affair in Kerala serving fresh toddy (sap of the coconut flower). The region’s beaches and idyllic, sleepy villages make for excellent day trips while you can hop on a fisher’s boat to pick your own water lilies.
