South East Asia

If island-hopping is your thing then Thailand’s 1,400 or so islands will impress. From stunning Andaman Sea dive sites in the Similan Islands, down to Koh Phi Phi’s legendary party scene and Koh Lipe, the country’s southernmost unspoiled island, there’s plenty of above and underwater fun to be had. For more remote jungle-covered island escapes, Indonesia’s far southwestern Raja Ampat archipelago is renowned for its Robinson Crusoe-esque islands teeming with marine and bird life.

Swap relaxed beach days for intrepid exploration and head to Cambodia where the breathtaking Angkor Wat temple complex is just one of the region’s more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites on the must-see list. Other popular southeast Asian sites include Hạ Long Bay in northeast Vietnam, known for its towering limestone islands and emerald waters; and Penang, Malaysia’s historic George Town, with its melting pot of Chinese, Indian, Malay and British influences.

Culinary influences also define the region, from well-known staples such as Singapore’s go-to chicken rice, Indonesian nasi goreng, and Thailad’s ubiquitous pad thai, to the umami Filipino flavours found in a bowl of adobo. Take a wander through a local street market in any village, town or city to discover new flavour combinations that won’t be found on takeout menus back home.

Catch a magical sunrise from the deck of a luxury superyacht, or end your travels watching the crimson sun sink into the sea beyond Bali’s clifftop Uluwatu temple.