The Calamian islands in the Philippines province of Palawan were described as “the last frontier” by Jacques Cousteau.Credit: iStock
A world of adventure, luxury, fascinating cultures, natural beauty and incredible cuisines is on Australia’s doorstep. Here are the new bucket list experiences in Asia.
THE DETAILS: ASIA
- Total land mass 44.6 million square kilometres
- Countries 49
- Total population 4.753 billion
- Main religions 12
- Major cities Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Delhi and Beijing
- Did you know? Asia is the largest continent, covering one-third of the Earth’s surface
Conquer the other Grand Canyon
The other grand canyon: Balcony Walk above Wadi Nakhar. Credit: Alamy
Never considered hiking in the Middle East? You’ll change your mind once you see pictures of the spectacular Wadi Nakhar. The walls of Oman’s grand canyon plummet to about a kilometre below ground level at its deepest point. The Balcony Walk, a three-hour return trip, starts on the canyon rim and takes you down to the abandoned village of Al Sab, where you will see stone houses, irrigation channels and sculpted crop terraces. As it is just two hours from Muscat, you can do it as a day trip if you are prepared to get up early. See zaharatours.com
Dive into a world of colour
Coral wonderland: Alila Purnama.
The reefs of the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the coast of Indonesia’s Irian Jaya, are home to three-quarters of the world’s coral species. The dizzying varieties of colours and shapes – from spiked branches and vast platters to lace-like fans – make this a paradise for divers. The marine life is equally impressive, with turtles, rays, large schooling fish and plenty of other specimens. Explore it at your leisure aboard Alila Purnama, an elegant teak phinisi-style boat with just five suites, plenty of deck areas for lounging and an experienced dive team. See alilahotels.com
Climb aboard Japan’s most luxurious train
The Seven Stars Kyushu: There’s more to train travel in Japan than bullet trains.
Japan’s speedy Shinkansen aren’t the only reason to ride the rails there. The country’s most luxurious sleeper train, the Seven Stars Kyushu – named for the seven prefectures through which the train passes – is so popular, it sells berths on a lottery system. Guests on its two- and four-day itineraries enjoy timber-lined suites and a stellar dining car run by the best chefs on Kyushu, the southernmost main island. There are off-train excursions to mountains, villages, onsens and even overnights at elegant ryokans. If you want to secure a seat, your best bet is to contact one of the handful of ticket resellers, such as the Luxury Train Club. See cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp, luxurytrainclub.com
Wonder at the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora
The cave temples of Ajanta are crowd free.Credit: iStock
The Indian city of Aurangabad is off the usual tourist trail, which explains why it is still possible to visit the nearby temples of Ajanta and Ellora without fighting your way through the crowds. Ajanta’s oldest cave temples, dating back more than 2000 years, feature vivid frescoes depicting the life and times of Buddha. Ellora’s Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples display varying styles and the most impressive, Kailsanatha – dedicated to the Hinda god, Shiva – rivals the ruins at Petra in Jordan with its colonnades, porches and sculpted shrines. See abercrombiekent.com.au
Give yourself a sporting chance in Mongolia
Riders in traditional dress perform at the opening ceremony of Naadam.Credit: AP
Parties don’t get much bigger than Mongolia’s Naadam Festival, the national holiday that is celebrated around the country, from the capital of Ulaanbaatar to remote settlements in the Gobi Desert. There are fiercely fought contests in the “three manly sports” of Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing, including the longest horse race on Earth, the Mongol Derby. Its course stretches more than 1000 kilometres over the steppe, retracing the messenger routes of Genghis Khan’s empire. Take some time while you’re here to experience Mongolia’s wide-open landscapes. A night spent in a traditional ger is a must. See gadventures.com
Work up some steam in Seoul
The Finns settle in at the sauna, the Turks head for the hammam, and in Korea, things get steamy in the jjimjilbang. If you are touring big cities such as Seoul and Busan, a visit to one of the biggest bath houses – which double as 24-hour entertainment complexes – is not to be missed. As well as relaxing in soaking pools and steam rooms, you can sign up for a massage, catch a movie, enjoy a meal or just hang out. Don’t bother bringing your swimsuit – it’s strictly skin-only in the gender-segregated swim areas. You will be issued pyjamas to wear in the common areas. See scenic.com.au
Sail cruising’s hottest new destination
Daigoji Temple in autumn at Kyoto, Japan. Credit: iStock
The hottest new cruising destination isn’t in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean: it’s Japan. Several cruises work their way through this island nation but if you want to hit the highlights, you can’t go past the 12-night Tokyo to Tokyo itinerary by Regent Seven Seas, including Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kagoshima. Regent’s all-inclusive rates give you a choice of land excursions in every port, letting you make the most of the experience, from watching a geisha performance in Kyoto to feasting on the famed Kobe beef in the namesake city. See rssc.com
Go totally green in the tropical garden city
Cutting edge: Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore.
In the most striking building in Singapore, the unusual cutaways and plant-covered facade aren’t just for show. Everything about the Pan-Pacific Orchard Hotel is at the cutting edge of sustainability, from its rainwater harvesting to the sky-high terraces that ventilate the building, reducing the need for air-conditioning. It’s proof that you can go green even in the heart of such a bustling city. So when you step from your high-rise room directly into the lagoon-style suspended pool, you know it’s a guilt-free indulgence. See panpacific.com
Steppe this way for an ultimate rail adventure
The Golden Eagle train 16-day Caspian Odyssey restaurant car.
The steppes of Central Asia are home to some dazzling sights, from the gleaming tiled mosques of Bukhara to the surprising contemporary architecture of Baku, but travelling around the region can be a challenge. An indulgent option, the Golden Eagle train’s 16-day Caspian Odyssey itinerary, takes you from Armenia to Kazakhstan, through the Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Tashkent. There is plenty to discover along the way, including fine food, enrichment lectures and, of course, a comfortable sleeper cabin. See goldeneagleluxurytrains.com
Journey to the island where rainforest adventures reign
Wonders await: pygmy elephants in Borneo.Credit: iStock
Wonders await in Borneo’s ancient rainforests. The magnificent orangutans are the most famous residents of this island – Borneo is one of only two places where they are still found – and an encounter with these gentle giants is always a highlight. In the verdant jungles of Sabah, you may also spot pygmy elephants, gibbons and macaques. Other Borneo highlights include the opportunity to watch sea turtles laying their eggs and a hike up Mount Kinabalu. Experience them all on Intrepid Travel’s Sabah Adventure. See intrepidtravel.com
Be surprised by the world’s newest tourism destination
Saudi Arabia is opening up to tourists.Credit: iStock
Ancient Nabatean tombs, palm-filled oases, rock art dating back thousands of years, a mirrored concert hall that seems to disappear into the desert. When Saudi Arabia announced it was launching as a tourism destination, there were plenty of sceptics but as news of its stellar attractions spreads, more people are paying attention. Sustainability is front and centre – the new Red Sea Global, for example, is a zero-waste, zero-carbon destination that caps visitor numbers to limit environmental impacts – and the locals’ excitement at their changing society is palpable. See exodustravels.com
Take a cruise between two of Asia’s urban tigers
Some cruising routes are classics – Barcelona to Rome, Amsterdam to Budapest – now you can add Singapore to Tokyo to the list. Linking two of Asia’s most buzzing big cities, Celebrity Cruises’ 12-night North-East Asia Singapore to Tokyo voyage hits plenty of highlights along the way. Feast on fabulous street food in Ho Chi Minh City, have a hot mineral mud bath in Nha Trang, visit the temples of Taipei and enjoy an overnight stay amid the bright lights of Hong Kong. See celebritycruises.com
Embrace a different kind of Himalayan high
Mountain high: Tsomgo Lake in North Sikkim.Credit: iStock
Trekking the Himalayas doesn’t have to be a hardcore experience. Shakti Himalaya’s private walking trips, running in destinations such as Sikkim and Ladakh, make it easy to enjoy a mountain high. Each day, you walk between villages, through lush forests or past soaring peaks, and relax in the evening in a village house kitted out with king-size beds and modern bathrooms. Feeling lazy? Let your driver know when you’re ready to be picked up and he’ll drive you the rest of the way – or take the morning off for a yoga session or a cooking class. See shaktihimalaya.com
Kayak across a tropical wonderland
Waves and winds: kayaking the Calamian islands.
Imagine paddling through a tropical archipelago where white sandy beaches are washed by clear turquoise waters, your route governed by the daily patterns of the waves and winds. The Calamian islands in the Philippines province of Palawan were described as “the last frontier” by Jacques Cousteau, and World Expeditions’ eight-day Kayak the Calamian itinerary combines relaxing days and nights spent in comfortable beach camps. Best of all, a traditional Philippine banga boat accompanies you, so you can relax onboard if you don’t feel like dipping your oar that day. See worldexpeditions.com
Go wild in the jungles of Cambodia
Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia.
It starts – if you are up for it – with a zip line journey above the jungle canopy, but every moment of your stay at Shinta Mani Wild, in the Cambodian jungle two hours from Phnom Penh, is equally memorable. The ultra-glam safari-style tents, ranged along a riverbank, come with roll-lip tubs on your private deck, but the excursions are the real draw here. Hotelier Bill Bensley designed this as a conservation project, and the all-inclusive rate covers activities ranging from orchid walks to joining anti-poacher patrols. See shintamaniwild.com
Get involved in the grave undertakings in Sulawesi
Traditional Tongkonan Houses of the Toraja people.Credit: iStock
There are plenty of surprises hidden amid the lush rainforest of Toraja Highlands, on the northern end of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, including the Toraja’s extravagantly decorated wooden houses. Most fascinating of all, however, are the tribe’s extravagant burial rites, which include cliff graves watched over by life-size statues of the dead in galleries high above. Funerals go on for days and a more-the-merrier custom means tourists are often honoured guests. See audleytravel.com
Relax in style in the Seychelles
Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles.
It’s not just the Instagrammable swimming pool, carved into the cliff overlooking the sea, that makes Six Senses Zil Pasyon the most seductive resort in the Seychelles. Nor is it the stylish suites or the spa, where treatment rooms are built in and around the granite boulders. What elevates Zil Pasyon is its location on the island of Felicite – two-thirds of which is protected national park, making for great hiking. And if you are in the mood to explore, nearby islands include Cocos – with some of the best snorkelling anywhere – and Curieuse, where you can marvel at the 200-kilogram Aldabra tortoises. See sixsenses.com
Soak it all in like nowhere else
Letting off steam in Turkey.Credit: iStock
You’ll find hot springs around the world but nowhere are they as stunning as at Pamukkale in south-west Turkey, where the mineral-rich waters have formed travertine terraces that have an otherworldly gleam. Come early or late to avoid the crowds and while you’re here check the nearby ruins of Hierapolis: Romans and Byzantines came here to enjoy the waters. Trafalgar’s 14-day Best of Turkey itinerary also takes in other highlights including the “fairy chimneys” of Cappadocia and the mighty ruins of Ephesus. See trafalgar.com
Discover the Indonesian island that beats Bali
Horses on Sumba, Indonesia.
Just an hour’s flight from Bali, the island of Sumba is Indonesia’s new hot spot, a serene tropical hideaway with a clutch of boutique resorts. The most irresistible is Nihi Sumba, which regularly features on world’s-best lists thanks to its surprising cocktail of castaway-chic interiors, outstanding omakase meals and the thrill of watching horses take a daily swim at the beach. In another twist, the spa is on the other side of the island, and the recommended way to get there is to hike. It’s an unforgettable experience. See nihi.com
Crave for crab in Colombo
Singapore may be famous for its chilli crab but those tasty crustaceans are not local – they come all the way from Sri Lanka. On your visit to this charming island, try the mouthwatering mud crabs on their home turf. Colombo’s burgeoning Ministry of Crab, housed in the historic Dutch hospital building and now with branches in China, India, the Maldives and Thailand, serves up mighty specimens – up to two kilograms – in a variety of styles from Japanese to Mediterranean. (You can’t beat the house speciality, the dashi-based pepper crab.) And you know the seafood is fresh, thanks to the restaurant’s no-freezer policy. See ministryofcrab.com
Q&A Asia
Dennis Bunnik, Bunnik Tours
I love Asia because … of the richness and variety of the culture. I also love the fact that physically it is so different from my home state of South Australia – it provides a wonderful contrast. Oh, and the food. Definitely the food.
For me, the hottest new bucket list experiences in Asia are … the village food experiences in Sri Lanka. This is authentic home cooking at its best.
Dennis Bunnik.
The one classic bucket list destination for Asia is … Japan. From the bright lights of Tokyo through to the serene temples of Kyoto there is nothing on Earth like it.
The one big issue for travellers when visiting Asia is … animal tourism such as elephant rides and tiger temples, as well as visits to orphanages, can still be an issue in some Asian countries. Children in orphanages are never a tourist attraction. Australian tour operators, including Bunnik Tours, have led the way in eliminating animal tourism and orphanage visits from their programs. We’re helping to educate local tourism authorities.
You can be a better traveller to Asia by making sure that you … move beyond the tourism trail by visiting the smaller towns and villages and eating in local restaurants. This helps to spread the economic benefit of tourism and often leads to the best cultural experiences.
My one big travel tip for Asia is … visit one or maximum two countries per trip and really immerse yourself in the destination. You’ll get so much more out of your holiday and come back richer for it.