Southeast Asia Things to Do

South East Asia's beautiful beaches are perhaps the region's biggest draw, with the likes of Bali's Kuta, Thailand's Chaweng and the Phillippine island of Boracay attracting sand lovers from far and wide. Get your thrills snorkeling through colorful reefs, riding the waves on a surfboard or wreck diving at some of the region's best dive sites.

Trekking in the jungle-covered outback of the region, especially at Mount Bromo, a 2,000-metre active volcano in Indonesia, is a highlight for many, while Laos' and Thailand's less challenging peaks are more suited to relaxing hikes.

For a dose of culture, ensure you visit some of South East Asia's best-known temples and attend one of the region's unique festivals, with Singapore's lively Chinese New year celebrations and Thailand's Songkran festivities being two of the region's unmissable events.

Southeast Asia Adventure

  • Trekking: trek across volcanic islands in Indonesia or hit the dense jungles of Peninsular Malaysia.
  • Diving and snorkeling: world-class dive sites and stunning coral reefs await divers of all levels.
  • Surfing: catch a left-hander in Bali or test the less visited Philippine waves for surfing thrills.
  • White water rafting and kayaking: the wet season sees the region's rivers swell to provide challenging grade five rapids.
  • Mountain climbing and rock climbing: limestone terrain and volcanic landscapes invite climbers to test their skills.

Southeast Asia Festivals and Events

  • Festivals and events: join a dragon dance at Singapore's Chinese New Year celebrations or get wet amid Thai Songkran festivities.

Where To Go in Southeast Asia

  • Highlights: with beaches to die for you'll need to plan well to fit in Cambodia's Angkor Wat, the region's main cultural highlight.
  • World Heritage sites: with heritage sites in every corner of the region, the hardest thing will be deciding which one to visit first.
  • Spiritual places and trips: check out Malacca's multi-faith character in Malaysia or Thailand's grand glittering temples.
  • Islands and beaches: tired of Boracay's spotless sands? Head for Kuta's lively beach activities on Bali.

Southeast Asia Work and Study