The 10 most beautiful places in Asia

Asia offers countless unique places to visit on holiday.

Dream of creating enchanting memories in places that invite you just to stop and enjoy the beauty there?

Read on below, where we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most beautiful places in Asia.

Luang Prabang, Laos

The fairy tale city of Luang Prabang is located in northern Laos and is one of Asia’s most exciting cities. What’s more, it enjoys an insanely scenic location, surrounded by green mountains.

The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique blend of architecture, both Laotian and European. You can therefore also enjoy some fascinating architectural experiences here, such as the Royal Palace Museum, which offers a mix of French and Laotian architecture.

The city exudes a lovely, calm atmosphere, and it’s not unusual to encounter monks walking through the city streets to collect alms in the quiet morning hours.

The natural highlight of Luang Prabang is the enchanting Kuang Si Falls located just south of the city. In the midst of the lush tropical jungle, you suddenly come across tiered limestone pools filled by cascades of turquoise-blue water.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam

In northern Vietnam, you will find one of Vietnam’s main attractions: Ha Long Bay

The distinctive scenery found here is what has made the area a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The bay is characterised by hundreds of beautiful, majestic limestone cliffs towering out of the water. Depending on when you visit the bay, the sea will be deep blue or emerald green – both colours a beautiful contrast to the green cliffs.

There are more than 1,600 islands and islets in the 1,500 km2 area. Several of the islands have large caves, others have small fishing villages, and on the large island of Cat Ba, there are several villages.

The bay is one of Vietnam’s most visited attractions and you should definitely see it with your own eyes if you’re going to Vietnam.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall is said to be visible from the moon, but that’s just a tall tale. But great it is. The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west in the north of China.

The wall, which is actually made up of several different walls built and extended under several dynasties – most recently in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), is a line of defence which besides walls also consists of lookout towers, fortresses and other ruins.

Depending on who you ask, the wall is between 6,000 km and 20,000 km long. The part we consider today to be the Great Wall was built under the Ming Dynasty and measures around 8,851 km.

The wall is not only steeped in history but is also situated in an absolutely stunning landscape. When you stand on the wall, you will see how the construction follows the mountains, winding its way through the landscape – an absolutely enchanting sight!

The highlands in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s enchanting highlands are centrally located in the southern part of the island state.

The highlands are a lush mecca consisting of a hilly landscape that reaches up to 2,500 metres above sea level. The area offers abundant flora and fauna and is home to several endangered animal species such as the Sri Lankan leopard.

One of the best ways to experience the scenic landscapes is on a train ride through the lush, winding landscape. Sit back and enjoy the view of the picturesque tea plantations, waterfalls and small local villages. A different but unforgettable way to experience the beautiful nature of Sri Lanka.

Yangshuo, China

Yangshuo is a picturesque region with an almost surreal landscape. The region covers an area of around 1,428 km2 and comes under the city of Guilin in southern China.

The region is bordered on one side by the scenic Li River, which has several small villages along its banks.

The river twists its way, ribbon-like, through the landscape, which is dominated by the green limestone mountains jutting up from the earth.

The mountains cast shadows over the fields and villages, and are reflected in the river.

And yes, it’s every bit as beautiful as it sounds!

Long Beach on Koh Rong, Cambodia

Koh Rong is an island in the Gulf of Thailand off the west coast of Cambodia. It’s a wonderful place with small villages, amazing scenery and not least beautiful white sandy beaches.

One of those beaches is Long Beach (Sok San Beach), which is one of Asia’s more pristine beaches. The white sand is lapped by the crystal-blue water, and the beach stretches for more than 7 km, so there’s plenty of space.

Visit Koh Rong and Long Beach if you need a bit of ‘bounty’ on your holiday.

The island is also covered by a lush, green jungle that you can explore on foot, when – and if – you tire of lazing on the stunning beach.

Mount Fuji in Japan

Japan has several active volcanoes and one of them is Mount Fuji. Standing 3,776 metres tall, it is the highest mountain in the country.

The mountain is highly iconic with its almost perfect cone shape and eternal snow on top.

Mount Fuji is located just outside Tokyo, and in clear weather you can enjoy the view of it from the big city. Even better is the view from Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which, in addition to its view of Fuji, is known for its onsen baths, which are natural hot springs.

One thing is for sure: every time you catch a glimpse of the great mountain, you’ll be captivated by its magnificence and beauty.

Khao Sok National Park in Thailand

In southern Thailand, you’ll find the outstanding and scenic Khao Sok National Park.

One of Thailand’s largest and most beautiful national parks, the ancient, undisturbed rainforest is home to great biodiversity, offering ample opportunity for you to come face to face with the local wildlife, including various bears, tapirs, monkeys, snakes, as well as almost 400 different bird species.

One of the main attractions of the national park is the emerald green Cheow Lan Lake, which was formed when the Rajjaprabha dam was built in the mid-1980s, flooding the area. More than 100 iconic limestone karsts tower from the water, and it is quite the experience to paddle on the lake in a canoe and see the stunning national park from the water.

Mount Bromo, Indonesia

One of the most beautiful places to see the sun rise has to be on Mount Bromo on the island of Java in Indonesia.

At 2,329 metres, Mount Bromo is not the highest mountain in Indonesia, but it’s still one of the most visited. Its popularity is partly due to the fact that the volcano is in the middle of a volcanic crater of around 10 kilometres in diameter.

A visit to the volcano requires an easy hike, but when you get there, you’ll be standing in the middle of the large volcanic crater on the fine volcanic sand with breathtaking views of Mount Bromo. It’s totally worth it!

Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia

Nusa Lembongan is a small Indonesian island south-east of Bali.

The island is the perfect place for a dreamy beach holiday on white sandy beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters.

The island is well worth exploring, and one of the places you should visit is Devil’s Tears. Devil’s Tears is a depression in the rocks lashed by the waves, which often create beautiful rainbows right in front of you.

From Paradise Beach, you get absolutely stunning views. You can see Bali’s Mount Agung on the horizon, not to mention the most amazing sunsets.

Asia is brimming with magical destinations.

Not sure which tour to choose? Please feel free to contact our travel consultants, who are at the ready to help you on the adventure of your lifetime!

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller