10 Off-the-Beaten-Path Asia Destinations
Beyond Bali + Bangkok, Asia has incredible places that tourist crowds haven’t ruined. Here are 10 to consider.
1. Bhutan
Tiger’s Nest + Druk Path + happiness measured + isolated kingdom
2. Mongolia
Gobi Desert + nomadic ger stays + Naadam festival + camel trekking
3. North Sumatra (Bukit Lawang), Indonesia
Orangutan jungle trekking + Lake Toba + cheaper than Bali
4. Northern Pakistan (Hunza Valley)
Karakoram peaks + ancient kingdom + UNESCO + photographer paradise
5. Cambodia (Battambang + Banlung)
Off-Siem-Reap towns + bamboo train + remote Cardamom Mountains
6. Laos (Nong Khiaw + Muang Ngoi)
Northern mountains + boat villages + Mekong + caving
7. Eastern Indonesia (Flores, Sumba)
Komodo dragons + traditional culture + remote beaches
8. Northern Vietnam (Ha Giang Loop)
3-4 day motorbike loop + ethnic minorities + dramatic karsts
9. Kyrgyzstan
Mountains + 60-day visa-free + emerging + cheap + nomadic culture
10. Northern Thailand (Pai, Mae Hong Son)
Mountain villages + waterfalls + hippie + cheap accommodation