With thousands of stunning places to visit in Asia, it’s easy for many of them to get overlooked or simply be unheard of. If you’re planning on traveling to Asia any time soon, here are fifty absolutely amazing places that will make your trip feel complete.
1. Shodoshima, Japan
The second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea is known for it’s Mediterranean feel. There are amazing resorts, mountainous regions, and beaches.
2. Haputale, Sri Lanka
The dense region is rich in agriculture and life with an elevation of over 1,400 meters. You can check out the Adisham Monastery, Diyaluma Falls, and Dambatenne Tea Factory if you’re looking for some fun activities.
3. Hsipaw, Myanmar
Located on the Duthawadi River the town of Hsipaw doesn’t have much for nightlife, but it does have many interesting restaurants that you can grab a cold one at after a long day of traveling.
4. Koh Kood, Thailand
In the district of Trat Province in eastern Thailand, the small island only has a population of around 2000 people. If you’re looking for a relaxing night away from the world, this is the place to go.
5. Ko Lipe, Thailand
The southern most island in Thailand has been getting some attention lately for it’s beauty. Ko Lipe offers serene sand beaches and many hotels to choose from.
6. Mekong Delta, Vietnam
The Mekong Delta is filled with paddy fields and orchards, rice being the main crop of the delta. If you’re looking for an amazing cultural experience, this is it.
7. Ko Rong, Cambodia
The second largest island of Cambodia has a surprisingly few people who live there. There are four small villages on the island along with guesthouses and bungalows.
8. Kayan, Burma
If you’re wondering in what part of the world National Geographic is getting images of people wearing neck rings, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s coming from the people of Kayan, where it’s a long going tradition.
9. Tuvas Village, China
The people of Tuvas are part of an old minority ethnic group. They also speak their own native language and survive by hunting and farming the land.
10. Wuyuan, China
The weather in the county of Wuyan is moderate and moist, with late-March and mid-May being the peak season for tourists. While you’re there you can visit the Jinshan Ecological Tea Garden and the Likeng tourist area, which is famous for it’s little bridge and cottages.
11. Dili, East Timor
The capital of Timor-Leste, Dili is the largest city of East Timor. It’s full of rich views like the one above.
12. Tashkurgan, China
Tashkurgan, in the Xinjian province, is home to around 30,000 Tajik people. The town is high up in the Pamir mountains between China and Pakistan.
13. The Hexi Corridor, China
The Hexi Corridor is actually a part of the silk road. It was developed in the Han Dynasty as early as 206 BCE!
14. Garden of Dreams, Nepal
The neo classical historical garden, is located in Kathmandu city. It was developed by Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana in 1920 and it was recently restored.
15. Hokkaido, Japan
Japan’s second largest island, has tons of fun places to visit like Sapporo, which was where the 1972 Olympic Winter Games happened.
16. Ji Chang Yuan, China
A part of the Xihui Park, the small garden is packed with beauty and is an excellent way to spend part of your day. This garden also had to be reconstructed due to an incident in 1860.
17. Kongosanmaiin Garden, Japan
The garden is home to beautiful scenery and is next to the Kongosanmai-in temple that dates back to the 13th century.
18. Mabul Island, Malaysia
This small island is off the south-eastern coast of Sabah, which is in Malaysia. It’s known for being a fishing village, it’s also a popular destination for diving.
19. Pulau Ubin, Singapore
Also known as the Ubin island, it’s shaped like a boomerang and covers 1,020 hectares. It’s home to Singapore’s last villages, with around 100 villagers still living there.
20. Surin Islands, Thailand
The Surin Islands are an archipelago that consists of five islands. There are beautiful coral reefs, mangrove forests, and sea grass on the island.
21. Phnom Kulen, Cambodia
Home to the Kulen Mountain, it’s a National Park. It’s regarded as the beginning of the ancient Khmer Empire from the 9th century. There are many carvings of fertility in the park that represent a rich history.
22. Ping Yao, China
Ping Yao serves as an example of a tradition Han Chinese city. This ancienct city was founded as far back as the 14th century and was once a major centre for China in the 19th and 20th centuries.
23. Classical Gardens of Suzhou, China
The classical gardens recreate natural landscapes in miniature forms. The gardens are known to be masterpieces dating between the 11th and 19th centuries.
24. Malapascua, Philippines
The islands are home to diving, sea explorations, amazing beaches, as well as a bunch of really cool restaurants.
25. El Nido, Philippines
One of the most amazing places in Asia, you can experience a gorgeous lagoon, tropical weather, and stunning views of large rock formations.
26. Hoh Xil, Tibet
Ho Xil is known for being one of the most primitive and natural environments in the world. The weather in this area is quite fierce due to its high altitude, so pack well!
27. Redang, Malaysia
Redang Island is one of nine islands off the east coast of Malaysia. It’s perfect for going snorkling, diving, or just hanging out on the sandy white beaches and sucking in the tropical weather.
28. Don Kong Island, Laos
The largest island in the Si Phan Don riverine archipelago on the Mekong River, has plenty of fun activities. You can take a bike ride around the island, visit the Buddhist temple, or even check out the Somphamit Waterfalls.
29. Halong Bay, Vietnam
In the gulf of Tonkin, the bay includes around 1,600 islands and islets. Many of the islands are completely unaffected by humans and are uninhabited.
30. Miho Museum, Japan
Located in Kyoto Japan, the museum was built by one of the wealthiest women in Japan. It has an impressive collection of statues and artwork that will give you a greater appreciation for the local area.
31. Gyeongju Historic Areas, South Korea
Filled with Korean Buddhist art, which included sculptures, pagodas, and reliefs.What’s more is the remains of temples and palaces that date back between the 7th and 10th centuries.
32. Boat Quay, Singapore
If you’re looking to find a place with a killer nightlife this is your new favorite place. It’s huge on the electric music scene and high end restaurants. This is a great place to rave.
33. Hwaseong Fortress, South Korea
The fortress was built in the 18th century when a son buried his father’s tomb and wanted to protect it with high walls and other defensive works like bastions and artillery towers.
34. Gaya Island, Malaysia
Most well-known for the Gaya Island resort, there are beautiful boat ports and palm trees. Depending on where you are on the island there is both a small city and a well-preserved nature feel to the small island.
35. Kamakura, Japan
The coastal town is less than an hour south of Tokyo and used to be the political capital of Japan in 1192. The small city is filled with great history to explore and hiking trails.
36. Lake Toba, Indonesia
Lake Toba is not only a lake, but it’s also a supervolcano. In the center of this giant lake is an island that is nearly the size of Singapore and the lake gets as deep as 550 meters.
37. Rua da Tercena, Macau
The century-old street is home to a flea market and the culture of the small country. The small area is right next to a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can visit while you’re passing through.
38. Mehrangarh Fort, India
The ancient fort and museum sites four hundred feet above the city below it. Inside the massive fort are gardens, palaces, courthouses, and beautiful works of art.
39. Rainbow Family Village, Taiwan
Believe it or not, the colorful village was only painted in the last few years and it was painted by an 87 year-old military veteran known as “Grandpa Rainbow.” He adds a little more pain to the village every day.
40. Cham Showcase, Vietnam
The private museum was established in 173 on Le Hong Phong Street in Quy Nhon. The museum is known for its columns and other pieces of architecture.
41. Mount Wuyi, China
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is an amazing area for bio-diversity and south-east China. It’s home to a beautiful mountain range, river, and many ruins.
42. Tarim Poplar Forest National Reserve, China
The Tarim River is one of the largest rivers in China and is home to Populus forests along its banks. The area spans nearly 390,000 hectares.
43. Luang Praband, Laos
Located in Laos, this city is surrounded by mountains and is next to both the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. The town is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
44. Bagan, Myanmar
An ancient city that existed between the 9th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan. There are dozens of amazing ruins to visit while you’re there.
45. Siem Reap Museum, Cambodia
The giant museum that covers 20,000 square meters is full of religious, ancient civilization, and war artifacts. There’s a solid chance you’ll get lost, so you may want to pick up a map!
46. Pai, Thailand
A small town in the north of Thailand, it’s the perfect getaway to get out of the big city and enjoy an eye-opening cultural experience. The town is full of beautiful architecture and art.
47. Peshawar Museum, Pakistan
The Peshawar archaeological Museum, founded in 1907, is home to many sculptures of the Gandhara period. The Gandhara period dates between 1500 BCE to 500 BC.
48. Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
This is actually the largest island in Vietnam and has many nearby islands that you can travel to. You can get to this island with a short 50 minute flight from Saigon.
49. Ambon, Indonesia
Ambon is a very small island that is one of thousands of islands in the Moluccas seas. It was founded as far back as the 15th century and played a part in triggering the European Age of Exploration.
50. Kep, Cambodia
Kep is the smallest province in Cambodia and is home to many great restaurants along with a national park, Rabbit Island, and a Butterfly farm.
Featured photo credit: Raimond Klavins via unsplash.com
