Off the Beaten Track in South East Asia
The art of travel is to escape the mundane tourist traps, and South-East Asia is now a popular choice for travelers. To make your life easier, we’ve selected six destinations off the beaten track in South-East Asia where you won’t feel like a sheep following the flock.
Cát Bà, Vietnam
The island of Cát Bà is the largest in Vietnam’s Halong Bay and a great place for intrepid explorers. Due to wars in the 20th century, it changed from a fishing port to a lookout point for guerrilla fighters. These fighters built a vast cave system called Hospital Cave; its name suggests it was primarily used as a hospital, but it was essentially an entire underground village. Cát Bà is largely unaffected by Vietnamese tourism, so that means there are still many things to do on Cát Bà Island.
Paradise Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
Central Vietnam is peppered with stunning limestone caves, with the most notable region being Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Paradise Cave is certainly off the beaten track in South East Asia and is a whopping 31km long. It boasts prodigious stalagmites and stalactites. Although this is a popular spot for tourists, most people only visit the first 1km. Through special guided tours, you can easily escape the other tourists by going deeper into the caves. And, if being underground isn’t your thing, consider cycling in Thailand, as it’ll certainly give you an off the beaten path way to experience this fascinating country.
Sukhothai, Thailand
The Thai region of Sukhothai is situated between the popular tourist cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mia. You can take a bus from Bangkok to Sukhothai. Thus, tourists often overlook it. Historically, Sukhothai was the seat of the Siam Kingdom and the cradle of the Thai civilisation. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its large area of temples. In particular, don’t miss the giant seated Buddha at Wat Mahathat. And, if you’re already this far north, consider checking out Blue Temple in Chang Rai.
Be sure you’re covered by travel insurance before you head out there – it’s not wise to travel to Thailand without it.
Rajah Sikatuna National Park, Bohol, Philippines
This national park is another spot you can go to get off the beaten track in South East Asia, and it is a refuge for the nature lovers among you. Established in 1987, the park has nurtured the local wildlife, so you can catch glimpses of everything from fruit bats and monkeys to the secretive nocturnal tarsier and the bizarre Philippine frogmouth bird. Check out this Bohol itinerary, for many more experiences in this beautiful corner of the world.
Lutungan Island, Indonesia
If you’re a diver, or just fancy giving it a try, Lutungan Island in Indonesia is your paradise. However, before you think of venturing into the deep blue sea, make sure you’re physically fit and fully equipped to do so. The island is an ancient cemetery and locals consider it a sacred island. For divers, the waters surrounding Lutungan are paradise, with atolls which are teaming with tropical corals and fish.
Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Sipadan Island is another diving Mecca which deserves a mention. Situated off the coast of Sabah, it has a truly unique ecosystem and its beauty means it regularly features in the world’s top ten places to scuba dive. Due to its remoteness, tourist traffic is limited, making it a great place to dive in tranquil waters. Those who choose to scuba here could see barracudas, turtles and sharks as well as white sand and turquoise waters. Paradise? We think so. If you happen to be coming through KL on your way to this tropical gem, don’t skip over it, check out the top 10 things to do in Kuala Lumpur, and then head to the island!
BONUS!!!
A post on 6 Destinations Off the Beaten Track in South East Asia wouldn’t be complete without a bonus suggestion! And, given that we’re all about outdoor family adventures, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include at least something about hiking. So, if after you’ve experienced all of the items above you still have some pep in your step, consider checking out any of the many fabulous hikes in Chiang Mai. Any of these will surely not disappoint, but select one suitable for your ability level.
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