ASIA

Asia is exotic. Asia is lush. Asia is rugged. Asia is exceptional. From the Siberian plains of Russia, down to the lush jungles of Indonesia, from the mountains of Afghanistan, to across the sea to Japan, Asia contains every type of terrain imaginable, exceeded only by the diversity of its people, cultures, religions, and innumerable languages. Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the South by the Indian Ocean, and to east by the vast Pacific. A lifetime could be spent exploring the nearly 45 million square miles of land. Millions of PlanetHoppers! have already visited its greatest destinations: the Taj Mahal, Angor Wat, Mount Fuji, Red Square, the Great Wall of China, and the Forbidden City. Yet, there are so many other destinations that cannot be ignored. The impressive Banaue Rice Terraces, Borobudur's 500 statues of Buddha, the amazing carvings of Ellora Caves, the revelry of Ko Pha Ngan, the Bengal tigers of Rantambore and the "dragons" on Komodo Island, the majestic Pamirs, the beaches of Goa, and the festivals of Naadam and Holi. Words do little justice to Asia. Visit its many wonders and see for yourself.

TOP DESTINATIONS

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The Great Wall - China	Angkor Wat - Cambodia	Taj Mahal - India	Jurong Bird Park - Singapore	Everest Base Camp Trek - Nepal
Sigiriya - Sri Lanka	Borobudur - Indonesia	Trans-Siberian Railway - Russia	Goa - India	Potala Palace - China
Mount Fuji - Japan	Ko Pha Ngan - Thailand	Taipei 101 - Taiwan	Slow Boat Down the Mekong River - Laos	Terracotta Army - China
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Naadam Festival - Mongolia	Banaue Rice Terraces - Philippines	Varanasi Ghats - India	Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary - Malaysia	Chiang Mai Cooking School - Thailand
Shalimar Gardens - Pakistan	Registan - Uzbekistan	Bali - Indonesia	Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard - Bangladesh	Red Square - Russia
Matenadaran - Armenia	Bagan - Myanmar	Ranthambore National Park - India	Three Gorges Dam - China	Thamel - Nepal
Himalayan Snowman Trek - Bhutan	Bridge Over the River Kwai - Thailand	Jigokudani Monkey Park - Japan	Holi Festival of Color - India	Komodo Island - Indonesia
Kampong Ayer - Brunei	Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary - China	Cristo Rei of Dili - East Timor	Tiananmen Square - China	Dive the Maldives Reefs - Maldives
Petronas Towers - Malaysia	Mehrangarh Fort - India	Ko Phi Phi Don - Thailand	Khyber Pass by Train - Pakistan	Hermitage Museum - Russia
Pushkar Camel Fair - India	Mud Volcano - Azerbaijan	Chitwan National Park - Nepal	Minaret of Jam - Afghanistan	Temple of Heaven - China

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Pamir Mountains - Tajikistan	Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Vietnam	Lake Palace - India	Ayutthaya - Thailand	Friendship Highway Journey - Nepal
Joseph Stalin Museum - Georgia	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - India	Ashgabat - Turkmenistan	Baekdu Mountain - North Korea	Korean Demilitarized Zone - South Korea
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Cambodia	Ala Archa National Park - Kyrgyzstan	Chinese New Year - Singapore	Buddha Park - Laos	Gir Forest National Park - India
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park - Japan	Ellora Caves - India	Forbidden City - China	Almaty Tower - Kazakhstan	Khao San Road - Thailand
War Remnants Museum - Vietnam	Hunza Valley - Pakistan	Jaisalmer Fort - India	Huế - Vietnam	Victoria Harbour - China

Take a day trip to the island of ancient Ayutthaya, the original capital of Siam for over 400 years. The city once held over 4,000 golden images of Buddha and 1,700 temples and palaces. Today the area is dotted with ruins, with hundreds of statues of Buddha with missing heads that were cut off by invading Burmese. Even in its present state, Ayutthaya is quite impressive and steeped in historical and cultural significance. Some highlights on any tour should include a visit to three gigantic bronze statues of Buddha and a boat trip to Bang Pa-In Palace and its beautiful landscaped gardens. Ayutthaya is easily accessible from Bangkok with various modes of transportation and is a popular tourist attraction. Visiting here will make you realize that there is much more to Thailand than just sun, sand, and shopping.

Pay your respects to all of the men who lost their lives constructing the "Death Railway" during WWII, which is symbolized by Thailand's Bridge over the River Kwai. The bridge exists to this day and carries regular passenger trains from Bangkok to as far as Nam Tok. A book by the same name has forever immortalized this bridge as a silent memorial to the thousands of men who labored for years to complete the railway line from Bangkok to Rangoon. (An interesting fact - which is not widely known - is that that the author Pierre Boulle made a mistake. The "Bridge" in question really spanned the Mae Khlung River; the actual "River Kwai" was located somewhere else. To save on confusion, Mae Klung was simply renamed as the "Kwai".) On the Kanchanaburi side of the bridge, there is a museum which chronicles the hardships endured during the construction of the line, as well as a café, and a few steam locomotives on display. You're free to walk across the bridge, but need to step aside when trains come along. Day trips are available from Bangkok. You can leave in the morning and arrive back by morning. It's a good idea to read up on the history of the bridge before visiting to truly appreciate the area.

Sample a culinary delight of your own making with a visit to one of Thailand's famous Chiang Mai Cooking Schools. While Chiang Mai may be the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand with millions of visitors each year, the cooking schools have become a big draw. It doesn't matter what level of chef you are, all you need to do is come for the love of food. More than a dozen schools offer classes; research them on the internet before you make a booking. The courses can be relatively cheap and often includes trips to the local market and a free recipe book. They will teach you everything from selecting vegetables, to adding just the right amount of chili to give that pleasant fire that Thai cuisine is known for. It is guaranteed to make your mouth water and make you look forward to getting into your kitchen back home! 

Walk the length of Bangkok's Kho San Road and revel in the fact that you're amongst kindred spirits. This energetic road was once mainly a hangout for hippies and the budget-minded, but over the last few years, people from all walks of life have discovered this legendary thoroughfare. It has become something of a crossroads, where everyone who visits Southeast Asia seems to end up at one point or another during their travels. Packed into a 1 kilometer long strip, the area has some of the cheapest accommodations and shopping in Bangkok. It also has restaurants, tattoo shops, travel agents, books shops and internet cafes. And, of course, there are bars and hangouts to kick back and exchange tales with other PlanetHoppers! and plan your next journey.

Join the thousands of party-goers who descend upon Thailand's Kho Pha Ngan for the monthly Full Moon Festival. A while ago a group of PlanetHoppers! saw the most beautiful full moon rising over Koh Phan Ngan and arranged for a party on the beach of Head Rin - well, the rest as they say is history... For nearly a week prior to the arrival of the full moon, the party slowly builds up to a fever pitch, with music blaring from beachside bars, fire-twirlers performing their craft up and down the beach, and an assortment of other, more nefarious goings on in the shadows. While it may not rival Carnival for sheer magnitude, up to 30,000 people join the party each month. It explodes into a dancing frenzy and lasts all night. But eventually it's time to chill out and wade out into the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand to re-energize yourself for the next month's party!

Shed your cares away with a relaxing visit to Thailand's Kho Phi Phi Don, an island that has been a mainstay on the Southeast Asia tourist route for decades. This is the place to come if all you want to do is while away the hours floating in the turquoise waters or soaking up the tropical sun. And if you want to get totally away from "surface dwellers", it is a spectacular diving and snorkeling spot. Located a short 30 minute boat ride from Phuket, it does get overrun by day trippers, but as long as you can find a good hiding place to rest out of the sun during this rush, you have the place virtually to yourself when everybody has left. There is no other word for it but one - paradise.

Thailand Quick Travel Guide

With a travel rating of 78%, Thailand is one of the king of travel destinations where you can combine some of the world's best beaches with a culture that is unspoiled and unique, having never fallen under the rule of a foreign power. The most obvious attraction is the capital Bangkok and it endless shopping and food choices. Pratunam Market and Tor Kor Food Market are just two among many, many more. Bangkok is where you will also find Khao San Road, one of best backpacker's hangouts anywhere. Period. After you're done hanging out with all of your "mates" or simply tired of the city, it's time to push out beyond the capital. Start out with the ruins of Ayutthaya, the capital of ancient Siam, where you'll come across thousands of Buddhas and get a glimpse at the origins of Thai culture. Take a train journey and cross the historic Bridge Over the River Kwai and the infamous Death Railway. Moving on, explore the wonderful city of Chiang Mai, where you can attend one of the many cooking schools that teach local techniques which are guaranteed to contribute to your waistline. But the beaches will eventually beckon and, with such picturesque islands as Kho Phi Phi Don and Phuket, you're bound to end up golden brown - and hung over when you party the night away at a Full Moon Party in Ko Pha Ngan. Thailand may have never been taken over by foreign power, but it's certainly been overrun by legions of PlanetHoppers!

PlanetHop! Travel Rating

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Ayutthaya

Take a day trip to the island of ancient Ayutthaya, the original capital of Siam for over 400 years. The city once held over 4,000 golden images of Buddha and 1,700 temples and palaces. Today the area is dotted with ruins, with....

Ko Phi Phi Don

Shed your cares away with a relaxing visit to Thailand's Kho Phi Phi Don, an island that has been a mainstay on the Southeast Asia tourist route for decades. This is the place to come if all you want to do is while away the hour....

Chiang Mai Cooking School

Sample a culinary delight of your own making with a visit to one of Thailand's famous Chiang Mai Cooking Schools. While Chiang Mai may be the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand with millions of vis....

Bridge Over the River Kwai

Pay your respects to all of the men who lost their lives constructing the "Death Railway" during WWII, which is symbolized by Thailand's Bridge over the River Kwai. The bridge exists to this day and carries regular passenger tra....

Ko Pha Ngan

Join the thousands of party-goers who descend upon Thailand's Kho Pha Ngan for the monthly Full Moon Festival. A while ago a group of PlanetHoppers! saw the most beautiful full moon rising over Koh Phan Ngan and arranged for a p....

Khao San Road

Walk the length of Bangkok's Kho San Road and revel in the fact that you're amongst kindred spirits. This energetic road was once mainly a hangout for hippies and the budget-minded, but over the last few years, people from all w....

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WIKI GUIDE	VISAS	EMBASSIES	ADVISORIES	AIRPORTS	MEDICAL
ELECTRICAL	CONVERTER	WEATHER	TIME	INSURANCE	TOURS
FLIGHTS	HOTELS	HOSTELS	CARS	VACATIONS	TRAVEL DESK

Click on the photos below!

Checkpoints	0	1	2	3	4	5	Score
Events/Festivals	Destination has either none or only very basic local events/festivals that would not be of great interest to travelers.	Destination has a limited range of local events/festivals that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any world class events/festivals, but there are still a variety of local events/festivals that may be of interest to travelers.	Destination has at least 1 world class event/festival*.	Destination has at least 3 world class events/ festivals *.	Destination has at least 5 world class events/ festivals *.	5
Beaches	Destination is landlocked or only has rocky or polluted beaches that would not be of much appeal to travelers.	Destination has a limited range of beaches that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any world class beaches, but there are still very nice beaches that are more than adequate for relaxing.	Destination has at least 1 world class beach*.	Destination has at least 3 world class beaches*.	Destination has at least 5 world class beaches*.	5
World Famous Icons	Destination does not have any world famous icons and local sights are only poorly maintained.	Destination has local sight(s), while not world famous, may be well known to a limited number of travelers.	Destination does not have any world famous icons, but more than enough local sights to be of interest to travelers.	Destination has at least 1 world famous icon*.	Destination has at least 3 world famous icons*.	Destination has at least 5 world famous icons*.	4
Natural Wonders	Destination has either no formal national parks or national parks are not well-funded or maintained.	Destination has a limited range of national parks that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any world class national parks, but does have a formal national park system with well-maintained parks.	Destination has at least 1 world class national parks*.	Destination has at least 3 world class national parks*.	Destination has at least 5 world class national parks*.	4
Cultural/Historic Sites	Destination has either none or only very poorly maintained cultural/historic sites with no formal recognition.	Destination has a limited range of cultural / historic sites that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any cultural/historic sites that are currently UNESCO listed, but does have some local sites that may be of some interest to travelers.	Destination has at least 1 world class cultural/historic site that is UNESCO listed.	Destination has at least 3 world class cultural/historic sites that are UNESCO listed.	Destination has at least 5 world class cultural/historic sites that are UNESCO listed.	4
Adrenaline Activities	Destination does not have any world class adrenaline activities.	Destination has a limited range of adrenaline activities that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any world class adrenaline activities, but does have a variety of local adrenaline activities that may still be fun for travelers.	Destination has at least 1 world class adrenaline activity*.	Destination has at least 3 world class adrenaline activities*.	Destination has at least 5 world class adrenaline activities*.	3
Museums	Destination has either no formal museums or museums are not well-funded or maintained.	Destination has a limited range of basic museums that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any world class museums, but does have a variety of local museums that may be of some interest to travelers.	Destination has more than 1 world class museum*.	Destination has at least 3 world class museums*.	Destination has at least 5 world class museums*.	2
Cities	Major cities are either unsafe to visit due to war or social unrest.	None of the destination's cities is on the list of "global cities" or is UNESCO classified.	None of the destination's cities is on the list of "global cities".	Destination contains at least 1 "global city" and 1 UNESCO classified city.	Destination contains at least 2 "global cities" and 2 UNESCO classified cities.	Destination contains at least 3 "global cities" and 3 UNESCO classified cities.	5
Classic Journeys	Destination does not have any classic journeys.	Destination has a limited range of excursions that would be of interest to travelers.	Destination does not have any classic journeys*, but does offers a variety of journeys that would appeal to a wide range of travelers.	Destination has at least 1 classic journey*.	Destination has at least 2 classic journeys*.	Destination has at least 3 classic journeys / road trips*.	3
Overall Safety	Destination is either in a state of war or the danger is such that travelers should not visit.	Destination travel advice: do not travel to designated parts of the destination.	Current travel warnings are in place and there are recommendations in place against visiting.	Current travel warnings are in place, but there are no recommendations in place against visiting.	Destination has had travel warnings issued within the past, but none within the past 12 months.	Destination is safe to visit with no travel warnings or civil unrest.	1
						RATING	72%

 * As rated by PlanetHop!