Travelling to Asia - 10 great destinations

Thinking of travelling to Asia? Today we're sharing 10 Asian destinations that we've visited and loved - from relaxed holiday islands to exciting cities.

Travelling to Asia

Travelling to Asia is something special. This eastern part of the world offers everything from wonderful destinations for those seeking sun and sea, to city life and exciting historical and cultural sights.

For some time, we often made one trip to Asia per year. Recently, this has become less frequent, but we are now attracted to Asia again and are planning a trip later this year. In the meantime, here are ten exciting destinations that we can recommend.

1. Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay in Vietnam is an amazing place on earth, which we would love to see again at some point. We went here when we were newly married, and travelled around on a beautiful wooden boat among the sugarloaf mountains. Sometimes we stopped to swim or visit a cave. Absolutely magical!

2. Hoi An, Vietnam

Another place in Vietnam that we loved was Hoi An. This lovely little town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South Asian trading harbour from the period between the 15th and 18th centuries. Here you can enjoy the environment, sew clothes, sunbathe, swim and eat good Vietnamese food.

3. Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi is a group of islands off the north-west coast of Malaysia, close to the border with Thailand. It is primarily a place for sunbathing and swimming, but also for a variety of excursions. For example, you can go on sailing trips, travel around by hired mopeds or experience the mangrove swamp with all its wildlife.

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

If you like big cities, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is also an exciting place to visit. Here you can check out the Petronas Twin Towers, shop in all the major shopping centres or perhaps experience the lovely China Town. And don't miss out on the great Asian food!

5. Koh Samui, Thailand

Many people love Thailand, and perhaps it's not surprising given all that Thailand has to offer. When we were here, we stayed on the island of Koh Samui, where you can sunbathe and swim, hang out in restaurants, kayak and see temples.

6. Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is a tropical island in the Philippines with beautiful beaches. The island is popular with tourists and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, hotels and excursion options. For example, you can go on various boat excursions.

7. Mindoro, Philippines

The Philippines consists of over 7000 islands, so there are many destinations to choose from. Mindoro is a slightly larger island, which is part of the Luzon archipelago. We got here by boat from Batangas, where we travelled by bus from Manila. The island offers lovely sandy beaches, a relaxed atmosphere and the possibility of excursions by boat or moped.

8. Galle, Sri Lanka

Galle is an amazing and special city in Sri Lanka. The city is best known for Galle Fort, the fortified city built by the Portuguese and Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today it is a beautiful colonial-style town, filled with nice restaurants and cosy hotels.

9. Beijing, China

With over 20 million inhabitants, Beijing, the capital of China, is a giant city. It is also full of history and interesting sights such as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Wangfujing Avenue and Tiananmen Square. From Beijing, you can also take a trip to the Great Wall of China.

10. Jerusalem, Israel

If you want to experience something completely different during your trip to Asia, visit Jerusalem. This historic city is a holy place for Christians, Jews and Muslims, and here you can experience places you've read about in the holy stories. For example, you can start from Tel Aviv, located on the Mediterranean coast.

More tips for travelling to Asia?

Are you interested in travelling to Asia yourself, or have you travelled there before? Do you have any other tips for travelling to the East?