Thailand

A country of dramatic landscapes, ancient culture and irresistible cuisine, stretching over 1,600 kilometres along the South China Sea.

Vietnam’s elongated shape gives it three distinct climates and an extraordinary range of scenery within a single trip. In the north, travellers are drawn to Hanoi’s atmospheric Old Quarter, the towering limestone karsts of UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, and the emerald rice terraces surrounding the hill town of Sapa. Central Vietnam is home to the lantern-lit ancient town of Hoi An, the imperial city of Hue, sun-drenched beaches around Da Nang, and Son Doong, the largest cave on earth. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City’s energy contrasts beautifully with the slow rhythm of the Mekong Delta, where floating markets and fruit orchards line the river. Vietnam is also one of the most accessible countries in the region, with visa-free entry for many nationalities and a 90-day e-visa available to all.

Highlights for Travellers

• Ha Long Bay’s UNESCO-listed limestone islands, best explored by overnight cruise
• The ancient trading town of Hoi An, glowing with lanterns after dark
• Sapa’s terraced rice fields and ethnic minority hill-tribe villages
• Hue’s Imperial Citadel and Royal Tombs along the Perfume River
• The Mekong Delta’s floating markets and orchard villages by boat
• Son Doong Cave, the largest cave passage in the world

Home to the magnificent Angkor temples and the enduring spirit of the Khmer people.

Cambodia’s long and storied history has left behind one of the world’s greatest architectural treasures: the temples of Angkor, crowned by the incomparable Angkor Wat. Beyond Siem Reap’s temple complexes, the riverside capital Phnom Penh offers a fascinating mix of French colonial architecture, the glittering Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, and a moving, important history. Along the coast, Sihanoukville and the nearby islands of Koh Rong offer white-sand beaches and clear water, while Tonle Sap Lake’s floating villages and the rolling hills of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provide a window into rural and ethnic minority life. With warm hospitality, excellent-value travel, and a huge variety of experiences packed into a compact country, Cambodia rewards travellers who venture beyond its most famous temple.

Highlights for Travellers

• Angkor Wat and the wider Angkor Archaeological Park at sunrise
• Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and riverside promenade
• The floating villages and bird sanctuaries of Tonle Sap Lake
• White-sand beaches and island-hopping around Sihanoukville and Koh Rong
• Community-based eco-tourism and wildlife trekking in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri
• Traditional Apsara dance performances and authentic Khmer cuisine

A serene, unhurried country of Buddhist heritage, mighty rivers and untouched natural beauty.

Landlocked and comparatively little-visited, Laos remains one of Southeast Asia’s most authentic destinations. Its history traces back to the 14th-century kingdom of Lan Xang, the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’, and that heritage is still visible in the UNESCO-listed royal capital of Luang Prabang, where saffron-robed monks collect morning alms along streets lined with French colonial villas and gilded temples. Further north, the mysterious Plain of Jars scatters thousands-year-old stone megaliths across the Xieng Khouang plateau, while the capital Vientiane offers a laid-back introduction to Lao culture. In the south, the Bolaven Plateau’s waterfalls and coffee plantations and the river islands of Si Phan Don reward travellers seeking a slower pace. Add a cuisine built around sticky rice, fresh herbs and Mekong River fish, and Laos offers a gentle, deeply rewarding contrast to its livelier neighbours.

Highlights for Travellers

• Luang Prabang’s UNESCO-listed temples and the daily alms-giving ceremony
• The mysterious ancient megaliths of the Plain of Jars
• Kuang Si Falls’ turquoise cascades near Luang Prabang
• The riverside capital Vientiane, with its blend of Lao and French heritage
• Waterfalls and coffee plantations of the Bolaven Plateau
• The tranquil river islands of Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands) in the far south

A land of golden pagodas, timeless traditions and landscapes still largely untouched by mass tourism.

Myanmar remains one of Southeast Asia’s most captivating and least-explored destinations. Its undisputed highlight is Bagan, where more than 2,000 ancient temples and pagodas rise from the plains — best experienced at sunrise, ideally from a hot air balloon. At Inle Lake, local fishermen famously row their boats with one leg, tending floating gardens and stilted villages amid a ring of mountains. Yangon’s glittering Shwedagon Pagoda, one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites, anchors the country’s largest city, while Mandalay preserves royal heritage, traditional craftsmanship and the photogenic U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge. Pilgrims and travellers alike are drawn to the gravity-defying Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo, and sun-seekers to the white sands of Ngapali Beach. With more than 135 ethnic groups and two millennia of history, Myanmar offers an authentic, deeply rewarding journey for travellers willing to venture off the well-worn path.

Highlights for Travellers

• Sunrise over the 2,000-plus ancient temples of Bagan
• Inle Lake’s leg-rowing fishermen and floating gardens
• Yangon’s magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda
• Mandalay’s royal heritage and the U Bein teak bridge
• The sacred, gravity-defying Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo
• Ngapali Beach’s unspoiled white sand and clear water