USD

Asia Travel Guide

Everything You Need to Know about South East Asia

The sights, scents and sounds of Asia are uniquely exotic to first-time travelers to the continent yet they stay that way even after many visits. The extremes of China, the rolling verdant landscape of Vietnam, the sensory overload of Indonesia to the graceful side of Thai culture all testify to Asia’s broad scope of appeal. And the appeal is a celebration of diversity; from the tranquility of a countryside Buddhist temple to a glittering Macau casino it’s not really that far and as we enter the Global Age Asia is embracing more of the west. So come and embrace Asia’s diversity, its cuisine, culture, creativity and charm.

Read More

South East Asia

Thailand

Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world - 20 years ago it was considered 'daring' to travel to the kingdom. Times have certainly changed. From the majestic five-star hotels in Bangkok to simple beach huts in Koh Samui or Koh Samet, accommodation choices are many.

  • Bangkok

    Bangkok

    Cultural phenomenon, shopping heaven and tourist treasure. Welcome to Bangkok; one of the most cosmopolitan, contrasting Read More»

  • Phuket

    Phuket

    Whether it's world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at world-standard championship courses or exciting Read More»

  • Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai is a land of misty mountains and colourful hill tribes, a playground for seasoned travellers, a paradise for Read More»

Indonesia

Perhaps the most apt description for this colourful country is as 'an attack on your senses'. Steamy, potent, exotic and vibrant; the sounds, sights and smells of Indonesia feel incredibly alien at first. Indonesia straddles the equator and is 5,000sqkm large, encompassing more than 17,000 islands, less that two-thirds of which are inhabited.

  • Bali

    Bali is a stunning tropical island bathed in beauty.  With mystical temples, colourful festivals, unique arts and Read More»

  • Jakarta

    Jakarta, Indonesia's capital and largest city, is often referred to as ‘The Big Durian’ – the popular but rather pungent Read More»

  • Gili Islands

    Discover the action and attractions of the three popular small islands off the north-western shore of Bali’s neighbour, Read More»

Vietnam

The Vietnam you see today is steeped in ancient rites and traditions that have survived throughout the bumps and scrapes of history. It’s a place where handmade water puppets spin elaborate tales, singing kites soar overhead, highland markets promise the hope of love to young villagers, and colourful Mekong River markets are a daily occurence.

  • Hanoi

    Hanoi

    Vietnam's capital lies on the banks of the Red River, some 100 kilometres from its mouth. Previously known as Thang Read More»

  • Ho Chi Minh City

    Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

    Ho Chi Minh City is the business and financial hub of Vietnam, with a prominent history. The French embellished the city Read More»

  • Ha Long Bay

    Ha Long Bay

    Halong Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. Designated a World Heritage Site Read More»

Malaysia

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s top destinations, possessing an endless range of attractions and activities that cater for the cosmopolitan shopper, cultural enthusiasts and nature-lover. Divided into Peninsular Malaysia in the West and East Malaysia, part of the Borneo archipelago, the country will allure you with the shopping experience of its modern cities, the splendour of its cultural arts and natural heritage!

  • Kuala Lumpur

    Kuala Lumpur

    The hub of modernity and urbanisation. Enjoy the crisp shopping opportunities for both traditional and modern Read More»

  • Penang

    Penang

    The Pearl of the Orient, Penang Island, is a cultural fest of colours in all shapes and sizes! Read More»

  • Langkawi Guide

    Langkawi

    The mythical island of Langkawi is shrouded in ancient legends and stories. To top it off, the island is one of Read More»

Cambodia

Cambodia, bordered by Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, has a fabulous heritage, warm friendly people and an untamed wild landscape. The beautiful and extensive temple ruins at Angkor, now a UNESCO Heritage site, represent the glorious Khmer civilization and one of the most spectacular historical sites in Asia.

  • Siem Reap

    Siem Reap

    Located between rice paddies and flanking the Siem Reap River, the provincial capital of Siem Reap serves as the gateway Read More»

  • Sihanoukville

    Sihanoukville

    Sihanoukville is located 230km southwest of Phnom Penh. The town and surrounding area offers beach holidays to suit Read More»

  • Phnom Penh

    Phnom Penh

    Phnom Penh's history begins with the Lady Penh who discovered five Buddha images concealed in a tree, had a pagoda named Read More»

Hong Kong

Hong Kong hotels, attractions, and nightlife; an essential collection of must-knows for every venture to Asia’s storybook city. Visiting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) for business? We can help you get an edge – or at least recommend a golf course. Only making a short stopover. We show you how to make the most of it.

  • Hong Kong

    Hong Kong

    Hong Kong is a truly cosmopolitan city, attracting people from every continent to its busy and bustling streets. Lively, Read More»

  • 10 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

    10 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

    Hong Kong is an endlessly fascinating destination due to its rich history, its cultural diversity and for its many Read More»

  • Macau

    Macau

    Macau is an island cultivated for visitors where dining, sightseeing and recreational choices are plentiful. It is truly Read More»

Singapore

Singapore is a tourist playground with a host of spectacular attractions, exotic dining and luxury hotels. There is something for everyone here; from families to business travellers. You will find all the modern conveniences – an efficient, user-friendly airport, comfortable city wide accommodation, and quick and clean public transportation.

  • Singapore

    Singapore is a thriving cosmopolitan city with a history deeply rooted in trade and commerce. Although a long favourite Read More»

  • 10 Best Hotels in Singapore

    10 Best Hotels in Singapore

    It's hard to imagine a trip to this fabulous place without making the best of the wide range of hotels in the city-state Read More»

  • 10 Best Things to Do in Singapore

    10 Best Things to Do in Singapore

    Almost everyone will have seen an image of the city’s symbol, the Merlion. The impressive Singapore flyer and Marina Bay Read More»

Laos

Laos has a rich history stretching back 10,000 years. At its height, it ruled over present day Laos and much of neighbouring northern Thailand. Landlocked and laid-back, it’s a unique spin on the Southeast Asia experience. Here Buddhism permeates every facet of life, change comes slowly, and cities bed down early.

  • Vientiane

    Vientiane

    The tranquil capital of Laos is beginning to expand, but its city streets are still dominated by quiet temples and slow Read More»

  • Luang Prabang

    Luang Prabang

    The ancient capital of the Lam Xang Kingdom wakes up every day to the sound of bells gongs and drums from the local Read More»

  • Vang Vieng

    Vang Vieng

    Vang Vieng for many travelers is simply a piece of heaven on earth. Surrounded by scenic landscape, this small and Read More»

Maldives

Given that 99.9 per cent of the Maldives is underwater, it's easy to see why this is a diver's Valhalla. And given that many of the islets making up the remaining 0.1 per cent of the country are dotted with deliciously enticing resorts, it's easy to see why thousands flock here every year, perhaps for the vacation of a lifetime, perhaps to a much loved, tried-and-tested bolthole beneath the tropical sun.

  • Maldives

    Given that 99.9 per cent of the Maldives is underwater, it's easy to see why this is a diver's Valhalla. And given Read More»

  • All Hotels in Maldives

    All Hotels in Maldives

    All the Maldives resorts are self-contained. Everything needed is brought in from the outside world, and in the vast Read More»

  • Maldives Activities

    It's common to head a list of activities with a selection of Must Do's. Such is not the case with the Maldives, where Read More»

Myanmar

Myanmar is a conflicting destination for travellers; despite of the reasons not to go – and there are plenty – the country’s allure is quite powerful. Take Bagan, for instance, where the sun sets over a sea of ancient temples and pagodas. Thousands dot the landscape, their peaked roofs and spires poking the sky like pins.

  • Yangon

    Yangon

    Refreshingly free of high rises until now, this pleasant mix of colonial buildings and tree shaded streets serves as a Read More»

  • Bagan

    Bagan

    Much like Siem Reap in Cambodia, the small town of Bagan close to the archaeological site is destined to develop rapidly Read More»

  • Mandalay

    Mandalay

    The old royal city of Mandalay, is also the home of traditional artisans - including wood and stone carvers, Read More»

Philippines

The Philippines is the place many believe to be the real inspiration behind the Alex Garland’s novel – The Beach. If you’re looking for a new Asia experience, the archipelago consisting of over 7,107 islands is well worth considering. The world’s 12th most populous country, it has a population of around 90 million people, the majority of which are renowned for their great sense of rhythm and talented vocal chords.

  • Boracay Island

    Boracay Island

    Those on holiday and looking for the perfect combination of sun, sand, and sea will not be disappointed in Boracay. The Read More»

  • Palawan

    Palawan is the name of an archipelagic province of the Philippines, named after its largest island and located toward Read More»

  • Manila

    Manila

    Manila has a certain ‘rough diamond’ quality about it. With over 9.5 million people in the Filipino capital – traffic Read More»

Seychelles

The Seychelles are particularly well geared towards travellers, with a highly developed infrastructure complementing the islands' natural attractions. While this destination is on the pricey side, the quality is exceptionally high. The crime rate is low, and visitors - who make a substantial contribution to the economy - are welcomed everywhere.

  • Seychelles Hotels: Where to Stay?

    All Hotels in Seychelles

    From island resorts that practically sing 'bling' to more modest Creole-style guesthouses providing bed and breakfast, Read More»

  • Seychelles Attractions

    Seychelles Attractions

    With very few exceptions, visitors to the Seychelles will pass through Mahé, even if only to land and take off at the Read More»

  • Seychelles Beaches

    Seychelles Beaches

    Beau Vallon, on the northwest coast, is very much the most popular Mahe beach. Its chief attraction is that there are no Read More»

Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal. It lies some 31 kilometres from the Indian subcontinent, separated from the mainland by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. With a tropical and warm climate, average yearly temperatures range from 28 °C (82 °F) to nearly 31 °C (88 °F). With a plurality of religions, many fascinating temples dot the lush landscape.

  • Kandy

    Kandy

    Head over to the hill city of Kandy or to what is locally known as Maha Nuvara. It is the second-largest city of Sri Read More»

  • Colombo

    Colombo

    The capital of Sri Lanka is called Colombo. Some believe that the name was a distortion from the old name of Kolam, Read More»

  • Nuwara Eliya

    Nuwara Eliya

    This city in the Hill Country is rather colonial in its appearance. The temperate climate endeared itself to the English Read More»

Taiwan

Situated off the main Southeastern coast of China, Taiwan is also known as the People's Republic of China. Home to more than 22 million people, Taiwan in itself is one of the most densely populated regions of the world. The place has innumerable districts with different cultures, all melted together on this potato-shaped island.

  • Taipei Area Guides

    Taipei

    Comprising of 12 districts, Taipei is one of the largest cities in the Pan-Asia region and is the capital of Taiwan, Read More»

  • Kaohsiung Area Guides

    Kaohsiung

    Kaohsiung is the second largest and the most densely populated district of The People's Republic of China or Taiwan, as Read More»

  • Tainan Area Guides

    Tainan

    Tainan is located in the southern portion of Taiwan and is a great place to live and visit. It is one of the ancient Read More»

North Asia

China

China is a land of extremes. It has one of the world's longest lasting continuous civilizations, a civilisation that dates back more than 6,000 years. It also has the world's longest continuously used written language system.

  • Beijing

    Beijing

    The capital city of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing (Peking) is a fast-growing, dynamic conurbation that Read More»

  • Shanghai

    Shanghai

    Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai is a dynamic cosmopolitan city characterised by an Read More»

  • Xi'an

    Xi'an

    The capital of the Shaanxi province, Xian (pronounced 'Shiang') is home to some seven million people and is in essence Read More»

Japan

Flanking the eastern coast of the Asian mainland for more than 1,800 miles, Japan – land of contrasts, celebrated culture and electronic wizardry – is the ideal place to explore and celebrate. Even though the country is an economic powerhouse Japan has held on to its deep cultural heritage and the result is the ultra-modern sitting next to the historic; the state-of-the-art contrasting with the historic.

  • Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Tokyo may just be the most exciting city on earth combining the natural, the ancient and the ultra-modern all in one Read More»

  • Osaka

    Osaka

    Japan’s third largest city, Osaka has a unique identity characterized by a penchant for good food and lively fun. Ever Read More»

  • Kyoto

    Kyoto

    To really discover the beauty and grace of Japan you need to visit the ancient imperial capital Kyoto. Originally Read More»

India

India is a paradox difficult to understand. It is ultra modern and very rural. It is a place where the journey will make a more an interesting anecdote than the arrival. This country hosts mountains and deserts, plains and plateaus, beaches and back water. It changes in appearance every few hundred kilometers that you travel, not just in the scenery but also in the local population.

  • Mumbai Area Guide

    Mumbai

    Formerly known as Bombay, this is the financial capital of India. It hosts the Bombay Stock Exchange on Dalal Street and Read More»

  • New Delhi Area Guide

    New Delhi

    Delhi is the capital of India and is growing fast, forever spreading into neighbouring villages and engulfing them. Read More»

  • Hyderabad Attractions

    Hyderabad

    Hyderabad is the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, and is no less fascinating compared to other cities in India. Situated Read More»

South Korea

South Korea, also known as the Republic of Korea, is one of the ‘Asian tigers’ situated at the southernmost part of the Korean peninsula. It is a complex and fascinating nation -- on one hand, it has modern and flourishing megacities that are as urbane as they come, and on the other hand, a remarkable and rich culture and history, which dates back to 2333 BC, that has scores of history buffs visiting from all the corners of the world.

  • Seoul

    Seoul

    Seoul, the capital city of South Korea is one of the most vibrant cities in Asia and attracts many tourists every year. Read More»

  • Busan

    Busan

    One of the most densely populated cities and a popular seaport in the Pan-Asia region, Busan is also a highly-rated Read More»

  • Daegu

    Daegu

    Daegu is the third-largest metropolitan city in South Korea and is the capital of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province even though Read More»

Rate This Place: ( votes)

We try to provide free information that is as up-to-date and accurate as possible. However, if you are planning to travel it's a good idea to double check specific dates and information to avoid surprises.

Hotels.com

Talk to us!

Help us keep this site up-to-date by sending us your comments:


Loading...