Boasting perfect beaches, a tropical climate, amazing food and a dizzying mix of cultures, it's no wonder that Southeast Asia is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Made up of 11 different countries stretching from eastern India to China, the region is divided into “mainland” and “island” zones. Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam make up the mainland, while the islands include Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, and the new nation of East Timor.
Vietnam is a multi sensory explosion of a country. Whether you're watching the sun rise over the extraordinary limestone islands of Halong Bay, exploring the world's most spectacular cave systems in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park or strolling down the elegant tree-lined boulevards of the capital Hanoi, every experience here is one to cherish for a lifetime. And it's home to some of best food in the world, sublime beaches, tropical waters and outstanding, pampering spas too!
Beautiful beaches. Oceans alive with tropical fish, turtles, dolphins and rainbow-coloured coral. Ancient primary jungle where tapirs forage and orangutan swing through the trees. Dynamic cities where the soaring skycrapers of today meet the colonial architecture of the past. This is Malaysia.
Borneo is the single largest stretch of rain forest in Southeast Asia and the third largest rain forest on earth so if you're after a jungle adventure and the chance to encounter an orangutan in the wild or get up close to the world's largest flower (Rafflesia arnoldii), this is the place to be. But there is more to Borneo than awe-inspiring wildlife, this paradise island also has a rich cultural history, idyllic beaches and food to set your taste buds dancing.
A sovereign island city state nestled in lush greenery, Singapore is a place of contrasts; 21st century architecture sits alongside traditional village markets and history rubs up against a high tech future. A cultural melting pot offering some of the world's best street 'hawker' food, plenty of retail therapy and breathtaking gardens, Singapore is set to become one of the region's hottest destinations.
There's a gentle spirituality about Bali, a barely perceptible shift in time that takes you back to a more tranquil time, so if you're looking for a holiday to renew your body and mind, this small paradise island is the place to be. Warm, generous people, more temples than you can count, dramatic volcanoes, rice fields and ancient monuments, surf, sun and sand, Bali has it all.
