6 Destinations in Asia That Are Begging to Be Explored
Destinations That Will Enlighten You
Asia travel is rich and varied, making it difficult to create a guide that does justice to the breadth of cultures scattered across the 44 million square kilometers of the continent. Life in Japan is worlds away from life in Israel or Singapore — they simply can’t be compared or ranked one above the other.
Their cultures simply vary too much; from the tipping etiquette to the pace of life, nothing can be put into one uniform box. Where you decide to go depends what kind of experience you’re after.
Do you want to be enveloped by the bustling streets of mega-cities? Are you yearning to immerse yourself in age-old cultural traditions? Are you drawn to destinations with stunning natural beauty? Do you long for days spent on a remote tropical island?
Here are some of the best places to visit in Asia that will give you all that and more.
Ubud, Indonesia
These past few years, bucket lists have tended toward contemplative and meaningful travel rather than thrill-seeking, adventure travel. Ubud, on the island of Bali, is the perfect destination to nurture this contemplative spirit.
It is the ideal place to experience Balinese culture. Whether you prefer to soak in some of the city’s world-renowned spas, try authentic Balinese cuisine or visit ancient holy sites such as Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi, you are sure to leave feeling transformed.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East. Dubai tourism is known for its luxury shopping, raucous nightlife and skyline full of massive skyscrapers, including the 830-meter-tall Burj Khalifa that has been the tallest building in the world since 2008.
The city sits on the Persian Gulf, which features artificial islands just offshore, the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, which is built in the shape of a sail, and the public Jumeirah Beach. The massive shopping malls are destinations unto themselves and offer exciting features like an Olympic-size ice skating rink, indoor ski slopes and prestigious international restaurants.
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Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan is certainly an up-and-coming tourist destination known for tasty street food and stunning sights. It’s easy to hop from attraction to attraction — such as the sky high Taipei 101 skyscraper or the National Palace Museum — on their well-organized and convenient public transportation system.
The real highlight of Taipei is that it is entirely surrounded by mountains. Visiting the mountains is a must. We love when we can have great nature experiences without getting too far away from the convenience of a city. If you only visit one mountain during your trip, Elephant Mountain is the one we recommend due to its easy access and stunning views.
All in all, Taipei remains a bit off of beaten path for Western tourists, but that’s changing quickly as more and more travelers realize the hidden gem that is Taiwan’s vibrant capital city.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi is personally my favorite of Asia’s capitals to visit, so I may be a bit biased including it on this list. But how can you beat some of the most delicious cuisine in the world, amazing cultural traditions and modern conveniences all crammed into one city?
There’s not much better in life than sitting by a lake in Hanoi eating a fresh Banh Mi, or slurping Pho noodles from a street stall. However, even if the food is a highlight, there’s so much more to do than eat.
The city has a number of interesting cultural features and also offers easy access to both Halong Bay and Sapa for those who wish to experience even more of the country during their visit. I’d certainly advocate spending at least 10 days in Vietnam if you can, but if you can only spare a few days or only want to visit one destination, Hanoi should certainly be it.
Kyoto, Japan
If you are looking to experience both modern Japan and the cultural remnants of its imperial history, look no further than Kyoto. This former capital of Japan is a city famous for its palaces, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, traditional houses and beautiful gardens. The city is considered by many to be the spiritual heart of the country.
You can visit the famous Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) or the massive Higashi Hongan-ji to see this for yourself. Visiting the Nishiki Market for some tasty indulgences is a must-do for the sake of your taste buds. Local artisans pass down their arts and crafts traditions from generation to generation as well and you will find many specialty shops here.
If you’d like to really experience Japanese culture, there’s no better place to do so than Kyoto. However, traditional etiquette is more important here than perhaps in any other place in Japan, so we recommend reading up a bit on cultural traditions so you don’t unknowingly offend someone.
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Mongolia
Riding horses through the steppe and sleeping in a traditional yurt? Yes, please! Mongolia remains a mystery to many Westerners with images of nomads wandering vast, open expanses coming to mind. We’d recommend a few days in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, to learn about the history and culture of the country through museums and historic sites.
From there, we’d suggest setting off to explore the countryside. If you are limited in time, you should first check out the Gobi Desert in the southern part of the country where you can ride camels, explore sand dunes and spend the night in a traditional ger (the Mongolian word for yurt).
