Asia
Dubai
Thailand
Thailand
Vietnam
Asia
Dubai
Vietnam
Vietnam
Sri Lanka
Asia
Dubai
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Singapore
Asia
Dubai
Singapore
Singapore
Thailand
Asia
Dubai
Thailand
ASIA
TOP THINGS TO DO
Thailand
“Watching Bangkok unspool from its klongs, canals that lace out from the serpentine Chao Phraya River, was my first look at life in Thailand. From the slender wooden boat I saw tiny temples, ramshackle wooden houses on stilts, overgrown gardens spilling into the murky water, little children waving and huge monitor lizards sunbathing. We stopped for ludicrously cheap bowls of boat noodles (silky white rice noodles in a deep-flavoured broth) and flagged a floating trader down for freshly fried banana fritters.” - Rachel Truman
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Thailand
Explore the food markets in Bangkok
Whether you meander Bangkok’s back alleys, bustling thoroughfares or the klongs, you’ll find frenetic markets, tiny shophouse eateries and street carts with steaming, sizzling, smoking eats. The Yaowarat (Chinatown) area and Or Tor Kor wet market (and its food court) are just a few choice spots. While the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market oozes authentic charm.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Thailand
Visit the ancient capital of the Siamese kingdom
The ruinous city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom and a major regional power until it was besieged by the Burmese army in 1767 and abandoned. Now a vast archaeological park of temples, palaces and monasteries with monumental prang towers, the UNESCO World Heritage Site gives a glimpse at the splendour that set the Royal Court of Ayutthaya apart.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Thailand
Dive and snorkel off palm-fringed islands
A speck of an island near Koh Samui, Koh Tao is a top dive site and vital breeding ground for hawksbill and green turtles. The beaches are pretty dreamy too. As are those on Koh Lanta. Join snorkel and dive excursions into Mu Ko Lanta National Park, home to dugongs, hawksbill sea turtles and manta rays.
Asia
Dubai
Vietnam
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
“Vietnam is geographically diverse, and culturally fascinating. From rappelling jungle waterfalls amid the mountains of Da Lat to riding the hairpin-studded Hà Giang loop by motorcycle; trekking amid the rice paddies of lush, northerly Sapa to exploring the Mekong Delta’s remote rural villages, I’ve had some of my most memorable adventures here – and much of it still feels relatively undiscovered, providing a glimpse into Southeast Asia at its most ‘authentic’.” - Laura French
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
Explore Halong Bay
Mist-capped limestone karsts rising above glassy emerald waters; forested islands ringed by soft, deserted sand; mystical caves etched into towering rocks; the Unesco-listed Halong Bay is a landscape like no other, and a cruise here is a must if you want to see its cinematic scenery up close.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
Visit Hoi An
One of Vietnam’s most charming towns, colourful Hoi An well warrants your time. At its heart is the atmospheric Ancient Town, where leafy courtyards hide behind historic wooden houses, and bright-yellow facades line a picturesque river. Amble its paths on two wheels, and head to one of its many textile shops for custom-tailored clothes – a tradition dating to the time of the Silk Road.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
Wander through Hanoi
No visit to Vietnam would be complete without a visit to its historic, frenetic capital. Unmissable is Hanoi’s labyrinthine Old Quarter, where French colonial buildings sit between atmospheric cafes, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and sense-overloading street food stalls; explore by cyclo or hop on a Vespa tour to do as the locals do, and prepare for plenty of honking.
Asia
Dubai
Sri Lanka
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
“Halfway up Sigiriya, a family of macaques played on a 1600-year-old wall, while below, a carpet of jungle unrolled towards the horizon. It was a moment that summed up the diversity of Sri Lanka, where history, wildlife and landscapes meet. I could see why they call it the Pearl of the Indian Ocean: few gems sparkle so brightly.” - Bella Falk
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
Discover Ancient History
Sri Lanka’s past comes alive in its palaces and temples. At Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, an opulent shrine draws worshippers to one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics. Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, is a sprawling maze of stupas and monasteries, home to a sacred tree tended by monks for over 2,000 years. Even in Colombo, gilded buddhas meditate serenely against the capital’s modern skyline.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
Encounter Wildlife
For a small island, Sri Lanka bursts with biodiversity. Minneriya’s grasslands offer intimate encounters with herds of elephants, while in Yala National Park, elusive leopards stalk the shadows. On the Bentota River, a boat safari winds through mangroves alive with kingfishers and herons, or head to Mirissa to spot a blue whale, the largest animal on Earth.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
Hike and Relax in Nature
Fill your lungs with fresh air in the Knuckles Mountains, where trails lead past rice paddies and quiet villages whose friendly locals wave ‘Ayubowan’ (hello) as you pass. In Ella, stroll through emerald tea plantations and meet workers harvesting leaves by hand. Or head to Sri Pada and join pilgrims for a spiritual hike to watch sunrise from its 2,243-metre summit.
Asia
Dubai
Singapore
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
“Jewel-bright bougainvillea blazes on busy streets, foliage trails down bridges, trees flourish on rooftops and vertical gardens clad skyscrapers in Singapore, a steamy, densely populated city state where botany is brimming over. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the most beautiful and serene urban oases I’ve been too. With the scent of perfume in the humid air, I wandered for hours under towering trees and huge ferns, spotting bizarre cycads, sniffing exotic aromatics (one garden has more than 250 species of ginger) and learning about medicinal plants.” - Rachel Truman
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
Discover the city’s UNESCO listed food culture
There’s nowhere better to understand Singapore’s food (and taste its national dishes) than at its hawker centres. These communal food courts were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If there’s one seminal dish to try, it’s chicken rice, a Hainanese dish by origin and Singaporean staple. Another classic is the curry puff, while the laksa at Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Laksa is legendary.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
Get a glimpse of old Singapore
Take a stroll around the streets of Katong-Joo Chiat to see the pastel-hued shophouses and traditional workshops that once proliferated in Singapore. A hub of Peranakan culture (people of mixed Chinese and Malay heritage), this is the place to seek out nonya cuisine too. Next, take a walk around the historic district of Blair Plain, another of Singapore’s old world architectural gems.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
Follow walking trails
Looking to see more of the island state? Get your walking shoes on and follow all or part of the 22-mile Coast-to-Coast Trail. You’ll soon see just how much green is woven into the landscape of Singapore. Connecting its many parks, nature reserves and tree-lined corridors from peaceful Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to the mangroves and casuarina woodlands of Coney Island Park in the northeast.
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Transcript
Asia
Dubai
Thailand
Thailand
Vietnam
Asia
Dubai
Vietnam
Vietnam
Sri Lanka
Asia
Dubai
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Singapore
Asia
Dubai
Singapore
Singapore
Thailand
Asia
Dubai
Thailand
ASIA
TOP THINGS TO DO
Thailand
“Watching Bangkok unspool from its klongs, canals that lace out from the serpentine Chao Phraya River, was my first look at life in Thailand. From the slender wooden boat I saw tiny temples, ramshackle wooden houses on stilts, overgrown gardens spilling into the murky water, little children waving and huge monitor lizards sunbathing. We stopped for ludicrously cheap bowls of boat noodles (silky white rice noodles in a deep-flavoured broth) and flagged a floating trader down for freshly fried banana fritters.” - Rachel Truman
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Thailand
Explore the food markets in Bangkok
Whether you meander Bangkok’s back alleys, bustling thoroughfares or the klongs, you’ll find frenetic markets, tiny shophouse eateries and street carts with steaming, sizzling, smoking eats. The Yaowarat (Chinatown) area and Or Tor Kor wet market (and its food court) are just a few choice spots. While the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market oozes authentic charm.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Thailand
Visit the ancient capital of the Siamese kingdom
The ruinous city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom and a major regional power until it was besieged by the Burmese army in 1767 and abandoned. Now a vast archaeological park of temples, palaces and monasteries with monumental prang towers, the UNESCO World Heritage Site gives a glimpse at the splendour that set the Royal Court of Ayutthaya apart.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Thailand
Dive and snorkel off palm-fringed islands
A speck of an island near Koh Samui, Koh Tao is a top dive site and vital breeding ground for hawksbill and green turtles. The beaches are pretty dreamy too. As are those on Koh Lanta. Join snorkel and dive excursions into Mu Ko Lanta National Park, home to dugongs, hawksbill sea turtles and manta rays.
Asia
Dubai
Vietnam
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
“Vietnam is geographically diverse, and culturally fascinating. From rappelling jungle waterfalls amid the mountains of Da Lat to riding the hairpin-studded Hà Giang loop by motorcycle; trekking amid the rice paddies of lush, northerly Sapa to exploring the Mekong Delta’s remote rural villages, I’ve had some of my most memorable adventures here – and much of it still feels relatively undiscovered, providing a glimpse into Southeast Asia at its most ‘authentic’.” - Laura French
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
Explore Halong Bay
Mist-capped limestone karsts rising above glassy emerald waters; forested islands ringed by soft, deserted sand; mystical caves etched into towering rocks; the Unesco-listed Halong Bay is a landscape like no other, and a cruise here is a must if you want to see its cinematic scenery up close.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
Visit Hoi An
One of Vietnam’s most charming towns, colourful Hoi An well warrants your time. At its heart is the atmospheric Ancient Town, where leafy courtyards hide behind historic wooden houses, and bright-yellow facades line a picturesque river. Amble its paths on two wheels, and head to one of its many textile shops for custom-tailored clothes – a tradition dating to the time of the Silk Road.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Vietnam
Wander through Hanoi
No visit to Vietnam would be complete without a visit to its historic, frenetic capital. Unmissable is Hanoi’s labyrinthine Old Quarter, where French colonial buildings sit between atmospheric cafes, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and sense-overloading street food stalls; explore by cyclo or hop on a Vespa tour to do as the locals do, and prepare for plenty of honking.
Asia
Dubai
Sri Lanka
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
“Halfway up Sigiriya, a family of macaques played on a 1600-year-old wall, while below, a carpet of jungle unrolled towards the horizon. It was a moment that summed up the diversity of Sri Lanka, where history, wildlife and landscapes meet. I could see why they call it the Pearl of the Indian Ocean: few gems sparkle so brightly.” - Bella Falk
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
Discover Ancient History
Sri Lanka’s past comes alive in its palaces and temples. At Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, an opulent shrine draws worshippers to one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics. Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, is a sprawling maze of stupas and monasteries, home to a sacred tree tended by monks for over 2,000 years. Even in Colombo, gilded buddhas meditate serenely against the capital’s modern skyline.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
Encounter Wildlife
For a small island, Sri Lanka bursts with biodiversity. Minneriya’s grasslands offer intimate encounters with herds of elephants, while in Yala National Park, elusive leopards stalk the shadows. On the Bentota River, a boat safari winds through mangroves alive with kingfishers and herons, or head to Mirissa to spot a blue whale, the largest animal on Earth.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Sri Lanka
Hike and Relax in Nature
Fill your lungs with fresh air in the Knuckles Mountains, where trails lead past rice paddies and quiet villages whose friendly locals wave ‘Ayubowan’ (hello) as you pass. In Ella, stroll through emerald tea plantations and meet workers harvesting leaves by hand. Or head to Sri Pada and join pilgrims for a spiritual hike to watch sunrise from its 2,243-metre summit.
Asia
Dubai
Singapore
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
“Jewel-bright bougainvillea blazes on busy streets, foliage trails down bridges, trees flourish on rooftops and vertical gardens clad skyscrapers in Singapore, a steamy, densely populated city state where botany is brimming over. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the most beautiful and serene urban oases I’ve been too. With the scent of perfume in the humid air, I wandered for hours under towering trees and huge ferns, spotting bizarre cycads, sniffing exotic aromatics (one garden has more than 250 species of ginger) and learning about medicinal plants.” - Rachel Truman
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
Discover the city’s UNESCO listed food culture
There’s nowhere better to understand Singapore’s food (and taste its national dishes) than at its hawker centres. These communal food courts were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If there’s one seminal dish to try, it’s chicken rice, a Hainanese dish by origin and Singaporean staple. Another classic is the curry puff, while the laksa at Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Laksa is legendary.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
Get a glimpse of old Singapore
Take a stroll around the streets of Katong-Joo Chiat to see the pastel-hued shophouses and traditional workshops that once proliferated in Singapore. A hub of Peranakan culture (people of mixed Chinese and Malay heritage), this is the place to seek out nonya cuisine too. Next, take a walk around the historic district of Blair Plain, another of Singapore’s old world architectural gems.
Asia
TOP THINGS TO DO
ASIA
Singapore
Follow walking trails
Looking to see more of the island state? Get your walking shoes on and follow all or part of the 22-mile Coast-to-Coast Trail. You’ll soon see just how much green is woven into the landscape of Singapore. Connecting its many parks, nature reserves and tree-lined corridors from peaceful Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to the mangroves and casuarina woodlands of Coney Island Park in the northeast.