Our Top 10 Places to See in South East Asia

South East Asia is scattered with extraordinary archaeological sites, vivid and fascinating cities, gorgeous beaches,  lush green jungles, vast tea and rice plantations, impressive mountains and volcanoes and least but not last, friendly and smiley locals. No wonder South East Asian countries have become very popular with travellers that seek places to relax and experience authentic cultures and traditions.

During our 1 year long epic journey through South East Asia, we ventured to various well-known remarkable sites, as well as places off the beaten path.

It can be overwhelming for those who start planning a trip to this part of the world, as there is so much to see and do!

Let’s now have a look at the most exceptional places of South East Asia you shouldn’t miss.

Our top 10 places to see in South East Asia

Bagan, Myanmar

With more than 2000 Buddhist temples spread across an area of 26 square miles, Bagan is undoubtedly one of the world’s most spectacular archaeological sites. It’s a place with the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples in the world.  Most of the temples date back to 9th to 11th century. 

The whole archaeological site is so large that you could spend months exploring it if you wanted to see all the temples. You can go around the area of Bagan by bicycle, electronic bike or you can hire a tuk-tuk.

Ankor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor War, the pride of Cambodia, is a complex of Buddhist temples and the largest religious monument in the world. This majestic UNESCO heritage site is a must-visit archeological gem in South East Asia. Ankor Wat is an extensive site that includes several important temples – you might need more than one day to explore all of it. We hired bicycles and spend three days roaming around the main imposing temples as well as the smaller, but magical ruins that were hidden in jungles.

Mount Bromo, Indonesia

Situated in Tenger Semeru National Park in East Java, Mount Bromo is an impressive volcano surrounded by dramatic landscapes and vast savannas covered with dark grey volcanic sand. It measures 2329 meters and remains active. We found climbing Mount Bromo quite easy and can say that the days we spent in Tenger Semeru NP were one of the best days on our journey through South East Asia.

Kawah Ijen, Indonesia

Kawah Ijen, one of the most amazing wonders of Indonesia, is the world’s largest acidic volcanic crater lake. It’s known for its turquoise colour, huge deposits of sulphur and the blue fire that can be seen only in the night.

To know more about Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen and our experience of climbing these two stunning volcanoes, read Mount Bromo & Kawah Ijen: 2 spectacular active volcanoes in Indonesia you must climb.

Nacpan Beach, the Philippines

Nacpan beach on Palawan Island in the Philippines is one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world we’ve been to. Pristine, deserted, 4 km long – now it’s time to go! Off the beaten track even though it’s located just 15 km from the popular, crowded and busy El Nido.

Old Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand

Sukhothai kingdom flourished in the second half of the 13th century and in the 14th century. Today we can admire the remains of the old capital that illustrate the beginning of the Thai architecture. Situated near Sukhotai in a beautiful setting of trees and lakes, Old Sukhotai Historical Park is one of the most important and impressive historical places in Thailand. 

Ayutthaya, Thailand

The historic city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and became the capital of Thailand and one of the world’s largest centre of commerce and diplomacy of those days. The ancient city remained the capital until the 18th century when it was attacked and partly destroyed by the Burmese. Ayutthaya is located 80 km north of Bangkok and is a must-see place for all those who enjoy wandering or cycling around mystical ancient ruins.

If you feel like travelling to places in Thailand where the only person speaking English will be you, then have a look at Off the Beaten Path in Thailand: 6 Unique Places to Explore.

Lake Toba, Indonesia

Situated in northern Sumatra, lake Toba is the largest and deepest volcanic crater lake in the world. It was created by a volcanic eruption about 70 000 years ago and covers an area of 1700 km2. Lake Toba is a perfect place for relaxing and swimming. The Batak people, their authentic culture and architecture make the place even more intriguing.

If you’re thinking about travelling to Lake Toba, consider visiting nearby Bukit Lawang that is one of few places where you can go spotting orangutans in Sumatra.

George Town, Malaysia

Multicultural and exciting George Town is located in the north-west of Malaysia on an island called Penang. There is so much to do and see in George Town that you never stop exploring and finding new attractions of this unique Malaysian town. We’d say there are at least 10 reasons to visit George Town Penang. 

If you’re planning to do more travelling in Malaysia, make sure to check out our post Top 5 places to visit in Malaysia to find out which other places in Malaysia you shouldn’t miss.

Mandalay, Myanmar

Hot and busy Mandalay offers much more than you would expect; you can explore a lot of gorgeous temples, try delicious traditional cuisine, meet friendly locals with thanaka, a traditional yellowish mask on their faces, and have a chat with kind monks who are happy to share their experience and want to practise English. The best way to see all the main attractions of Mandalay is to cycle, hire a taxi or motorbike taxi. We hired two motorbike taxis and managed to visit all the main sites in just 2 days.

Have you travelled in South East Asia? What place fascinated you the most?

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