Southeast Asia Where to Go
Many visitors come to South East Asia to enjoy the picture-postcard perfect beaches at Boracay (Philippines), Samui (Thailand) and Kuta (Bali), yet there is a whole host of beautiful islands and beaches to choose from. Aside from popular Thai, Philippine and Indonesian beach havens, Vietnam and Cambodia have some less popular up-and-coming sandy stretches.
In between days spent on the beach, travelers to South East Asia can explore the region’s abundant historical and cultural sites, with Cambodia’s Angkor Wat drawing vast numbers of visitors annually. Thailand’s ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are of great religious significance to the Thais and make for a relaxing trip walking or cycling among the ruins.
If natural attractions dictate your itinerary you’ll not want to miss Malaysia’s Taman Negara National Park where ecotourism, climbing and rare animals such as the Indochinese tiger and Sumatran rhinoceros await wildlife-spotters.
Highlights: from the vast and ancient Angkor Wat in Cambodia, to the natural paradise of Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia, and the idyllic sandy beaches of tourist-friendly Phuket, South East Asia is bursting with both manmade and natural highlights to woo any traveler.
World Heritage sites: with a rich history stretching back millennia, South East Asia is home to dozens of notable World Heritage sites including Cambodia’s awe-inspiring Angkor Wat and Thailand’s historical ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, where atmospheric ruins can be explored on foot or by bicycle.
Spiritual places and trips: many of the region’s residents are deeply spiritual people, with Buddhism being the predominant religion. The region’s Buddhist roots as best seen at the remarkable Angkor Wat in Cambodia, while other religions are represented in Malaysia’s Malacca, where a mosque, Chinese temple and a Hindu temple can be seen side by side in a fascinating cultural fusion.
Islands and beaches: the region’s beaches and islands are perhaps its biggest tourist draw card, with some of the world’s best stretches of sand situated here. Try Boracay’s sugary white sand and warm waters in the Philippines, or hit trendy Koh Samui’s longest beach, Chaweng, for a Thai beach experience. If you’re looking for waves and water sports, Kuta beach in Bali could be your best option.
