Southeast Asia Highlights
Southeast Asia has a surprising range of natural and manmade attractions for all types visitor and its people are adept at making one feel welcome. From ruined ancient cities, glittering temples and significant World Heritage sites, to idyllic islands and beaches; this diverse region of Asia has it all.
National parks and reserves: the Southeast Asian region has some of the finest national parks and reserves in the world owing to its positioning in the tropics and the associated abundance of flora and fauna…more
World Heritage sites: with so many important ancient sites, structures and habitats, World Heritage has had an easy time in designating large swathes of Southeast Asia…more
Spiritual places and trips: Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam are all important in the fabric of Southeast Asia culture and there are so many interesting sites and journeys of spiritual significance…more
Islands and beaches: Southeast Asia’s greatest gift to the world is its unending offering of idyllic beaches and most people travel here for this very reason. Everything from buzzing party resorts to secluded islands and coves are apparent…more
Top 10 Southeast Asian highlights
Phuket, Thailand
Phuket attracts more people than any other destination in Southeast Asia. Thailand’s largest island has fine beaches, a hedonistic nightlife, an attractive old town and a surprising amount of countryside to look at.
Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia
Lying on the verdant east coast of the Malay peninsular, Taman Negara (‘national park’ in Malay) was one of Malaysia’s first national parks as well as being its most beautiful. With an abundance of flora and fauna, plunging waterfalls, meandering rivers, fantastic views and intrepid walkways, it is one of the finest parks in Southeast Asia.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is stunning and is the most important architectural site in Southeast Asia with its numerous Khmer buildings. It has bags of history yet its scale is its most impressive attribute, covering 100 square kilometres.
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand
The main attraction in Thailand is the opulent Grand Palace, a collection of the country’s finest temples. Among them is the royal temple (Wat Phra Kaew) which houses the Emerald Buddha.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Laos’s fairest town hails from the 14th century and is a World Heritage Site, preserving the uniqueness of the traditional village and its many intricate temples.
Boracay, Philippines
Appearing time and again on the ‘world’s best beaches’ lists, Boracay is a stunningly beautiful beach with its white sand and calm waters. Adding to its appeal are the water activities and buzzing nightlife.
Bali, Indonesia
Kuta beach is the main draw to Bali for hordes of Australians who come here to surf and to enyoy the nightlife. Bali also has a deep-rooted culture and there are several desirable temples and nature reserves on the island to boot.
Phi Phi, Thailand
Thailand’s southern Phi Phi archipelago is a snorkellers’ dream and its fine mixture of sandy beaches, inviting coffee shops and laid back guesthouses attracts a certain type of fun-loving traveler. Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh are the main attraction.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s natural gems, a stunning collection of karsts and islets bordered by the Gulf of Tonkin. Ha Long Bay can be found in the northeast of the country and is a major stopping off point for many tourists.
Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia
Malaysia’s answer to Indonesia’s Mulu National Park on the island of Borneo is the impressive Kinabalu Park in Sabah. The park was set up to protect the area around Mount Kinabalu (Southeast Asia’s highest mountain) which features excellent walking across four climatic zones.
