01 - Get lost in Asia's coolest neighbourhood
Soak up Cambodia's culture in the laid-back, low-rise town of Siem Reap.
Welcome to the gateway to the temples of Angkor
Previously ranked by Time Out London as the coolest neighbourhood in Asia, the area surrounding Siem Reap’s Wat Bo pagoda is a maze of tiny treasures.
Wat Bo Village, one of the city's oldest areas, has an idyllic riverside location filled with experimental Khmer restaurants, local craft galleries, elegant hotels, and (our personal highlight) an organic-cooking social enterprise, Tevy’s, which empowers local women.
Then, of course, there’s Angkor. Built by Cambodia’s 'god kings' between the 9th and the 15th centuries, blending Hinduism and Buddhism to represent heaven on Earth, its temples are the ultimate expression of creative vision and spiritual devotion.
Most visitors assume you can whizz round Angkor in an afternoon, but this was once the seat of the Khmer Empire and the biggest city in the world – it’s huge. Angkor Wat is the tip of the iceberg.
Step off the beaten path to find equally magnificent yet deserted ruins, locked in a battle with the jungle - where it’s impossible to tell who’s winning.
"Cambodia is a must, in particular Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is everything I expected and more."
InsideAsia customer - Cambodia 2023
Where in the world is Siem Reap?
Connects with:
Banteay Chhmar The chances are you’ve heard of Angkor Wat, but did you know that the Khmer Empire extended over a million square kilometres, and that their ruins lie hidden in every corner of Cambodia?
Read more Battambang With its crumbling colonial buildings, fertile countryside, vital contemporary arts scene and mellow, carefree ambiance, it’s very difficult not to fall in love with Battambang.
Can't do January?
Cambodia has one of the simplest weather systems in Southeast Asia: just two seasons and little variation across regions.
- Dry season - October to late April
- Wet season - May to late September
- Hottest months - Feb to June (32-35°C / 90-95°)
- Coolest months - Oct to Dec (28°C/ 82°F).
02 - Graze your way around the city that never stops eating
Taste the delights of Bangkok - the food capital of the world.
Dive headfirst into the city's famed food scene
What draws people to Bangkok? For us, it’s the head-spinning array of world-class foodie experiences. From Michelin-starred crab omelettes to fishball soup, drunken noodles to chive dumplings, Bangkok's cuisine is much more than pad thai (though there’s that, too).
Its nine districts vary so completely you could think of each as a city in itself.
In sprawling Chinatown, incense mingles with the steam of countless sizzling street-food delights in alleys jostling with people. Along the quiet canals of Thonburi, residents watch the world go by from the creaky waterfront porches of teakwood homes.
Ko Rattanakosin’s glittering temples and Royal Palace are matched only by the equally glittering fashion boutiques of Siam Square, while sleepy Phra Phradaeng offers a surprising pocket of peace among flower gardens and mango groves.
Take all this, add a burgeoning contemporary art scene, world-class hospitality and a culture of playful friendliness, and it’s hardly surprising Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world.
"An assault on the senses in the best way possible. Modern food courts with Michelin guide kiosks serving wok-fresh Pad See Ew, through to Koh San Road vendors hawking scorpions on sticks and ice-cold towers of Chang beer."
Luke - InsideAsia team
Where in the world is Bangkok?
Connects with:
Kanchanaburi
Three hours’ drive from Bangkok, in a sleepy, riverside town surrounded by jungle, is the site of one of the most traumatic periods in Thai history. This is Kanchanaburi, home of the real-life Bridge on the River Kwai.
Sukhothai It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Sukhothai in the history of Thailand. Abandoned for four centuries, today its 193 restored temples offer a glimpse into the civilisation that created the Thai alphabet, spread Theravada Buddhism, and gave birth to Thai culture.
Can't do January?
Thailand has a tropical climate consisting of two seasons: dry and wet. Dry season is November to early May, when you can expect warm weather throughout the country.
03 - Spot sea eagles on the drift ice
Glimpse the majestic birds from a Japanese icebreaker cruise.
Japan in winter is really something special.
From picture-perfect snow-dusted roofs to majestic wildlife soaking up the winter glory, winter in Japan is one of the best times to visit. And the mountainous, northern island of Hokkaido is a good place to use as your wintery-base.
To get a real feel for Japanese winter, wrap up warm and board an icebreaker for a cruise on the Okhotsk Sea near Abashiri. From your boat, you'll appreciate the wild scenery of the Shiretoko Peninsula and perhaps even get up close to a flock of Steller's Sea Eagles as they congregate on the ice floes.
Slightly further south, you'll find Sapporo, the island's capital, and a town famous for its beer, skiing and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, featuring enormous ice sculptures.
If you're still in Sapporo for the first weekend of February, you'll see ice sculptors from all over Japan gather to carve huge blocks of ice into works of art, along with music, food and activities.
A truly incredible sight to see, it's a brilliant place for families, nature-lovers, and curious travellers alike. And there's no happier travel moment than easing into a traditional onsen (hot spring bath) on a cold night in the mountains.
"This was a very different view of Japan from our previous visits in Spring and Summer. I was surprised how interesting the bird watching was. Overall, the service was faultless as always"
John Haines - Winter Highlights Small Group Tour
Where in the world is Hokkaido?
Connects with:
Tohoku
Revitalise the body in tiny hot-spring towns and salve the spirit in the sacred mountain temples: Tohoku is the place to lose yourself in the romance of rural Japan.
Kanto
It may be dominated by the world’s biggest city, but Kanto’s unsung highlights include mountain hikes, hidden beaches and some of the most spectacularly ornate shrines in Japan.
Can't do January?
Most visitors to Japan opt for the famous spring or autumn seasons when nature puts on its finest shows. Summer can be humid and wet, while winter snowy and cold. But every season in Japan has its own festivities, foods and charm.
For Hokkaido specifically, we recommend either mid-winter for its snowy activities, or summer, which offers great hiking conditions and the chance to see Furano's famous, vibrant flower fields in bloom.