Southeast Asia Highlights

The Southeast Asia region is full of amazing experiences. It’s a fantastically diverse region which is very welcoming to visitors. This list of Southeast Asia highlights showcases my personal favourite things to see and do in the region. Use it to help create your own Southeast Asia bucket list.

If you look through my blog you will see these Southeast Asia highlights featured across many of my other posts. I decided to collect them all here to help new and prospective visitors to Southeast Asia get a good overview of the region. Plus it’s fun to talk about the places I loved visiting! I hope I can inspire people to visit the region, and that they enjoy what it has to offer.

You can also think of this post as an introduction to Southeast Asia. You can then use posts such as my Southeast Asia 6 month itinerary and Southeast Asia backpacking tips to plan in more detail.

There is no specific order to these Southeast Asia highlights, they each deserve their inclusion in their own right. Basically, these are things and places I love in the region. I feel there is a great variance between them, which helps to capture just how varied Southeast Asia is.

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Southeast Asia Highlights

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Temples Of Angkor

Angkor Wat is of course one of the world’s most iconic monuments and is truly spectacular to behold. It was first built as a Hindu temple under the Khmer Empire in the 12th century. Later the rulers converted to Buddhism and changed the temple accordingly. As such you can find both Hindu and Buddhist statues here. Look out for the interesting carvings (also known as bas-reliefs) here amongst the awesome Khmer architecture. Of particular significance is depiction of the Hindu mythological tale of ‘The Churning Of The Sea Of Milk’.

It should not take all the glory though, for Angkor has many amazing temples to explore. Seeing the faces of the Bayon is in my opinion is a very worthy an inclusion on any Southeast Asia bucket list. Over 200 faces here are carved into towers reaching up from the temple. Its lower levels feature some amazing bas-reliefs, well worth taking your time to admire.

The Bayon is found in Angkor Thom, a temple complex that was once the centre of the Khmer empire. Another great temple nearby is Ta Phrom, where you can see tree roots growing over ruins. There are plenty more temples around too. I recommend taking a 3 day tuk tuk tour of the area, there is so much to see here. You can find plenty of drivers for hire and accommodation in Siem Reap, the city that serves the area.

Volcanoes in Indonesia

Indonesia has over 141 volcanoes throughout its islands, 130 of which are active. And they are really worth a visit. If you fancy trekking up one, there are many options. The 2 I’ve done so far are Mount Batur on Bali and Mount Bromo on Java. Both popular treks, they only last a few hours each but give you some amazing views. And yes, both are active volcanoes!

Mount Bromo is particular offers you an amazing view into its crater. You can see the smoke rising and smell the sulphur. Its location in the ‘sea of sand’ is a really interesting one too, the rugged landscape definitely adds to the appeal. Honestly this is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, I really recommend it. If you only have time for one volcano in Indonesia, this is the one I would recommend.

Mount Batur on the overhand has a much more green surrounding. It has a great lake to gaze upon and notably a black lava field, the remains of a previous eruption in 1964.

Riding the Slow Boat in Laos

Taking the slow boat in Laos is one of those quintessential backpacking experiences. It combines the adventurous nature of enjoying an unusual journey with the social aspect of meeting other travellers. Heading down the Mekong river you can enjoy the countryside and spotting locals going about their life’s. You can chat with your fellow boat passengers and basically take it easy for a couple of days.

After crossing the border to Huay Xai from Chiang Kong in Northern Thailand, and heading through Laos immigration, you can head down to the river to board the slow boat. I recommend picking up some snacks before you go aboard, you won’t get any food until the evening. The boat takes you down the Mekong river to Luang Prabang. You stop for the evening in a town named Pak Beng, which is full of accommodation and restaurant options. This is quite fun as you rush into town to find a decent bed for the night and then enjoy the evening with food and drinks and the company of the other passengers.

You can also do this the opposite way too. So if you planning to visit Laos before heading to Northern Thailand then you can still partake in this experience.

Trekking around Sapa

Whilst the town of Sapa itself is a bit of a tourist trap, trekking around the area is a memory I really cherish. Found in North Vietnam up near the border with China, it’s famous for its mountainous landscape and many rice terraces. I was in a group of 4 who took a 2 day trek with a local guide and it was so much fun. We saw lots of fantastic scenery, had great local meals and I really enjoyed the experience. Whilst you might see some people advising against Sapa because of the state of the town, I definitely recommend heading there to do a trek.

Kuang Si Waterfall

Near to the laid back city of Luang Prabang in Laos you can find the Kuang Si Falls. These really are spectacular to look upon, and great fun to explore. The waterfalls have several tiers and many pools, most of which you can swim in.

It’s best to visit between November/December and April when the pools will have their amazing turquoise colour. During rainy/monsoon season this will disappear and the site can get very muddy. I went during December and it was great and felt like the perfect time to go.

To get here you can take a group tuk-tuk from the centre of Luang Prabang. Here the art of negotiating is important, they expect you to barter them down so always give you a high cost to start.

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The temples in Bagan

This ancient area of Myanmar is an incredible place to see temples, there are so many here! Found on the plains across central Myanmar, Bagan was once the centre of the powerful Kingdom Of Pagan. Between 1044 and 1287 CE they constructed over 10,000 Buddhist temples and monuments here. An impressive feat. And although the Kingdom fell to Mongol invasions, over 3000 temples still remain! Both big and small, they cover the landscape surrounded by vegetation and the dusty plains.

They really are an awe inspiring sight. The memory of standing on the large temples here looking across the plains is certainly one I cherish. There are so many to explore and many of the big temples are important shrines for Buddhist pilgrims. I met many Burmese people who were visiting the temples themselves and wanted to say hi and take photos with me.

The trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake

One of the most well know tourist activities in Myanmar is the hike from Kalaw to Inle Lake. What I really love about this trek is how it takes you through the landscapes on Shan State and shows you the people who live here. It’s a 3 day, 2 night walk and it was amazing to stay with local people along the way. I was part of a good group of people who I’d actually met in Bagan, and we’d travelled to Kalaw to do the trek together. We had a local guide of Indian descent, named Mr Robin, and he had great information to tell about the things we were seeing. If you plan to do the trek yourself be sure to meet your guide before you go, so you know that you will get along with them.

Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park

Visiting Elephants is often high up of many peoples Southeast Asia bucket list. However you need to be cautious, as Elephants are frequently mistreated across the region. There is a particular problem with Elephant riding in Southeast Asia. Sadly the methods used to make an Elephants accept people on their backs involve a technique named ‘breaking the spirit’. This involves Elephants being tortured from a young age, and being kept in a constant state of fear. Their captors do this to make sure they are docile enough to accept people onto their backs. It’s a really horrific practise and one that shames the region.

Fortunately there are people doing great work to save Elephants, particularly in Thailand where the Elephant Nature Park is at the forefront of conservation efforts. Located near to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is a great centre where Elephants are rehabilitated after rescue and can live lives with dignity and respect. When I visited I went for the day, and it was amazing to see the Elephants up close. I wanted to see Elephants ethically when in Southeast Asia and I was really happy to visit this park. You can also volunteer for longer, helping to run the park.

They also have projects in other parts of Thailand and in Cambodia. So if you can’t visit the one in Chiang Mai you can consider these instead. For more information about Elephant conversation projects you can visit the Saddle Off website.

Asian Civilisations Museum

There are many great museums in Southeast Asia, it’s a area rich with history after all. One of my personal Southeast Asia highlights is the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore. It explores the cultural and artistic heritage of Southeast Asia, particularly that of the ancestors of Singapore’s population.

You can really get to understand how trade as impacted the region, beginning with the Tang shipwreck gallery. It shows you an amazing collection of taken from the wreck of a Arabian trader that sunk around 830 CE. Its cargo was full of artefacts from the Chinese Tang Dynasty, offering an amazing insight into the trade between East Asia, Arabia and Africa back then.

There is an extensive religious artefact collection here, covering the religions that have influenced Asia. There is a particular focus on Buddhism and Hinduism, but also featured are Jainism, Christianity, Islam and others. This museum does a great job of showing how the religions spread though Asia and have influenced the population of Singapore.

Islamic Art Museum

Another museum I loved visiting is the Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur. Its the largest collection of Islamic art in Southeast Asia and it’s very impressive. With a well planned layout, this museum gives you a great history of Islamic art and helps to explain Islam’s impact on Southeast Asia. Whilst Kuala Lumpur might have more well known attractions such as the Petronas towers and Batu caves, I think this museum is a really overlooked gem. It’s definably worth adding to any Southeast Asia bucket list.

Finding street art in George Town

There is great street art all over Southeast Asia, but George Town is the most well known, and its certainly earned its reputation. It is the main city on the island of Penang, which is part of Peninsular Malaysia. The city has a great cultural mix that really epitomises the appeal of the nation. Its well known for its food, and deservedly so. Strolling around George Town, which is the main urban area on Penang, you can find street art all around. Many of the hostels and hostels will even have maps showing you the locations and trails you can follow.

A lot of the most famous murals were painted by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic. He was commissioned to paint them by the city in 2012 as part of an arts festival. Since then a lot more have cropped up, and it makes it really fun to see what you can find. Be sure to visit the old Hin Bus Depot too, its been turned into an art centre by an art collective.

However I don’t feel I can talk about street art in these Southeast Asia highlights without mentioning Yogyakarta. It’s a city on Java, Indonesia. Whilst the street art is a lot rougher and informal than that of Penang, it’s still a fantastic city to explore to find pieces. I’ve included some of the best places to find artwork in my Yogyakarta travel guide.

Kek Lok Si Temple

Returning to Penang, found on the outskirts of George Town, Kek Lok Si is a truly impressive Buddhist temple. It actually blends two branches of Buddhism, Mahayana and Theravada, with Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese traditions. It is the largest in the country and has several parts to explore as you make your way to the top. At its pinnacle you can find a giant statue of the Chinese mythological Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin.

Borobudur and Prambanan

On the island of Java, Indonesia, there are two amazing temples that show the areas past connections to Buddhism and Hinduism. Both are best visited from Yogyakarta, which is the nearest city. You can find many tours to take you and often can book through your accommodation.

Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It was originally constructed in the 9th century though lay abandoned for many years. Nowadays it is a popular tourist and pilgrimage site. Prambanan was also constructed around the same time, and is is speculated that it was built as a response to Borobudur by the regions Hindu rulers.

Both temples have some fantastic architecture to explore, and feature many awesome carvings and statues. Borobudur is covered in Buddhist stories, and likewise Prambanan’s carvings tell of Hindu legends and gods. I was honestly really impressed by both of these temples and loved visiting them. I thoroughly recommend adding a trip to Yogyakarta to your Southeast Asia bucket list so you can visit them too.

Komodo Dragons

The legendary Komodo Dragons are truly one of the greatest highlights of Southeast Asia. Their home is the Komodo National Park in Indonesia. You can visit by joining a boat tour from Labuan Bajo. Generally you don’t need to book in advance, just book the night before through your accommodation or one of the tourist agencies.

Most Komodo Dragons are located on the islands of Rinca and Komodo, where (after paying the park entrance fee) a guide will take you around and give you opportunities to see the Dragons and other wildlife. It really is amazing to see these creatures in the wild, they are very impressive and of course dangerous! Which is why you need the guide.

The boat tours will also take you to see other spots. I was privileged to see Manta Rays and Giant Turtles in the sea! As well as amazing views and sunsets. You can read more in my guide to the Komodo Nation Park.

Gardens By The Bay

The city of Singapore is one of my favourites in the world. It’s full of great things to see and do. I’ve already mentioned one of its great museums and now it’s time for one of its outdoor wonders. The impressive Gardens By The Bay. I think it’s actually best to visit this attraction both at day and again at night. During the day you can walk around the Supertree Grove, a series of man made structures covered in vegetation. You go up the towers and along the interconnecting walkways. You can also visit the domes, including the Cloud Forest which showcases the conditions and flora of tropical mountain regions.

At night however, the vibe is completely changed as the Gardens put on a spectacular light show. The Supertree Grove structure’s are all lit up and it’s really visually impressive. Music plays and crowds gather to watch. It’s a fun way to spend an hour or so in the evening, before going off to enjoy Singapore’s food and nightlife.

Hội An

This beautiful city in Vietnam was actually once one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia. Today its ‘Old Town’ area is full of interesting shops and temples, as well as having very picturesque streets and fun nightlife. However it’s not just looking pretty that makes it feature on this list of Southeast Asia highlights. It also has An Bang beach, which is a great place to relax and has a long beautiful stretch of sand. The combination of a great city and lovely beach mean Hội An is a great inclusion for any Southeast Asia bucket list.

Exploring the caves of Phong Nha

The Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in Vietnam is home to many caves found amongst its mountains and along the Son River. It is one of the fun filled places to visit on this list of Southeast Asia highlights, with several great organised tours.

This national park is actually home to the largest cave in the world, Hang Son Doong. But visits there are very restricted and expensive. Instead you can visit several other caves around the area that offer a nice diverse experience.

The first tour I personally took here too my group to Paradise Cave and then the Dark Cave. The former was full on amazing stalactites and stalagmites, visually it was really fascinating to see. It felt very other worldly and strange. The Dark Cave on the other had was a much more active experience. After taking a zip-wire down to it you can proceed with your group through the cave. Now you will begin to understand why you have been told to change into swimwear, it’s full of mud! Floating in the mud in a cave in Vietnam is definitely a Southeast Asia bucket list experience.

Another tour, and the second I did, is to take a boat down the river to visit the Phong Nah and Tien Son cave’s. Both are really interesting to explore with yet more stalactites and stalagmites and cool rock formations.

The ancient Thai cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai

If you’re fascinated by historical ruins then Ayutthaya and Sukhothai will be major Southeast Asia highlights for you. I know they are for me! Both cities were important in the history of the Thai state, having been capital of their own kingdoms for hundreds of years. The Sukhothai kingdom was then annexed into the Ayutthaya kingdom during the 1500’s. That kingdom lasted until 1767 when it fell to Burmese attack. These days the ruins of both cities are located in historical parks, with ‘new’ cities nearby hosting all the accommodation and food options you need for you trip.

These historical parks are really fun to explore and are full of temples and other interesting ruined buildings. There are Buddhist statues all around, look out in Ayutthaya for all the decapitated ones. This is from where the invading Burmese army chopped their heads off looking for gold. You can easily spend a couple of days in each park wandering the ruins and seeing what you can find.

If you’re really into checking out these ancient cities you could also stop by Lopburi. It’s located between the above two and makes for a decent day trip. You can read more about Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Lopburi here.

Finding the quieter island spots

Whilst this region has many famous and popular islands, one of my Southeast Asia highlights is finding some of the more serene spots.

In Thailand I’m a big fan Koh Phayam. It’s in the Andaman sea and can be reached by boat from Ranong. Away from its port and main beach you will find many quiet beaches and fewer people around. And on the other side of the country I enjoyed Koh Chang (take a ferry from Trat). Whilst it was busier and had nightlife areas, it felt much more relaxed than somewhere like Koh Samui.

In Cambodia Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem offer a great place to relax. Koh Rong’s main beach isn’t pleasant but the other beaches around the islands are really enjoyable. When I visited I stayed on Sok San beach, in a hut I rented with a few other backpackers. The sand was white, the water blue and the sun was out, it really did feel idyllic. On Koh Rong Sanloem I stayed in the backpacker village of M’Pai Bay. Starting life as a fishing village it is now home to laid back hostels and beach huts where you can spend the days chilling out.

In Indonesia the Gili islands are popular, however Gili Air is the quietest of them. It’s nice for sunsets and doing not a lot. It’s easy to reach by boat from Bali or Lombok.

The Grand Palace and Wat Pho in Bangkok

The city of Bangkok is often the first place tourists visit in Southeast Asia, and for good reason. It’s easy to get to, has great connections and has lots of fun things to do. It’s actually my recommended starting point in my advised Southeast Asia 6 month route. Hence the Grand Palace and its neighbour Wat Pho are often the first tourist attractions people visit when exploring this part of the world. And they do offer a great introduction, featuring some fantastic Buddhist imagery and architecture.

The Grand Palace is officially the residence of the King of Thailand (previously Siam) and has been since 1782 CE. It features an abundance of Buddhist imagery and is also home to the Emerald Buddha, which is the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand.

Across the road is Wat Pho. The most notable feature here is the huge Reclining Buddha. It’s 46 meter long and 15 meter high, so is quite spectacular! Another great thing to look for in this temple complex are the chedis (Buddhist stupa’s featuring relics) which I think are very elegant.

Sampling the local Food

Southeast Asia is of course well known for its food and has many culinary delights. There are many difference cuisines to try and different areas are well known for their different delights. I couldn’t pick just one place for this list of Southeast Asia highlights so I’ve grouped them together as one entry.

Thailand is the obvious starting point. Thai food is famous around the world and rightly so. It’s a great place to try lots of street food, Pad Thai is a cheap and well available choice as are spring rolls. As a vegetarian I loved all the cheap Thai vegetarian curries available in restaurants.

Vietnamese food has often been underrated over the years, though the growing popularity of Pho is changing that. Personally I love the platters I ate here, usually a great combination of tofu, salad, noodles and spring rolls. Hot posts are also very popular here, and look out for the French baguette style ‘Bánh mì’. Laos also has similar French influence with baguettes being a popular street food.

Singapore and Malaysia both are well known for their food. I particular like the food in the Little India’s here, especially getting Thali meals in the restaurants. Thali means ’round platter’ and offers you a great range of flavours. Look out for food halls (sometimes stand alone, sometimes in big shopping malls). They offer great value and variety.

Chilling out in Pai and Tonsai

Both found in Thailand, these spots are great for relaxation. I’ve included them in my Southeast Highlights as I really enjoyed taking the time to enjoy the slow pace of life in both of them.

Pai is by far the more well known of the two and is popular with backpackers and Thai locals alike. It’s a tourist town in the mountains in Northern Thailand. Its array of bars and cosy accommodations make for great days chilling out, but it’s real attraction is the surrounding area. There are waterfalls, hot springs and even a canyon to explore and enjoy the sunset in. There’s great viewpoints around and you can take a trip to Lod Cave which was once home to prehistoric inhabitants.

Tonsai on the other hand is in the south, near the town of Krabi. It has more of a hippy vibe and is popular with rock climbers who enjoy its limestone cliffs. Don’t confuse it with the Tonsai on Koh Phi Phi, I’m referring to the one near the Railay beaches. There was previously plans to turn part of it into a resort, however they were thankfully abandoned. This did leave a long wall though, which is now covered in artwork. This really enhances the feel of the place. Look out for the monkeys here, there are a few different groupings and species.

Chiang Rai’s White Temple and Black House

Located in the north of Thailand, Chiang Rai is most famous for it’s White Temple. Opened in 1997 by the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, it features lots of interesting Buddhist imagery, statues and more. It differs from the kind of things you will see in other Thai temples for the way it incorporates more contemporary styles. It is very visually striking, particularly for example its bridge of the cycle of rebirth’ where many hands reach out to you as you cross it. The main temple area also features paintings including western popular culture. It is bizarre yet intriguing to see Neo from the Matrix and Kung Fu Panda!

Although not officially related, many regard the ‘Black House’ as the White Temples opposite. Actually named the Baan Dam Museum, it exhibits the work of Thai artist Thawan Duchanee. Dark colours such as black and brown are used in abundance here. What is particularly striking is how traditional Thai buildings are mixed with more unusual structures, and dead animal bones and skulls are used for artwork. They are all said to have died from natural causes. At any rate, visiting the White Temple followed by the Black House certainly shows the artists different styles and themes!

There is also a new temple in Chiang Rai, generally called the Blue Temple. I haven’t visited yet but from what I’ve seen online it does look striking!

Taman Negara

Found in Peninsular Malaysia, Taman Negara National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. It’s is a wonderful place to explore, to see plenty of interesting fauna and flora. Local companies offer treks through the rainforest, though you can also go unguided. I would advise taking a guide for longer trips, as it’s easy to get lost and there are large animals in the jungle. Yes that does include elephants and tigers! I think trekking here is great experience and shows you more of Malaysia’s’ natural side, which can be missed when in the cities. If you can, take the boat here, it’s great fun to see all the life on the river as you head through the park.

You can also join a ‘Night Safari’ here, which I did when I visited. I saw a Praying mantis, scorpion’s, frogs and much more. It’s really fascinating to see some of the creatures that come out at night and I had a really good time.

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Thanks for reading

If you’ve enjoyed my Southeast Asia Highlights you can check out my favourite cities and temples in the region too. You can also connect with me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

Just to note I have yet to visit the Philippines or Borneo. I’m sure there are places in these parts of Southeast Asia worthy of including in this list, and I hope to add them in future.

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