Asia round trip
Asia is a vast and varied continent. With so many languages, cultures and cuisines to traverse, there’s no way you’ll be able to cover it all in one trip. Your best experiences will be hidden away down roads less taken, and so Asia is ideal for those who love the thrill of risk. But you will only be able to find such experiences if you really lean into your travels, and give each place the time it deserves. We’d suggest going to fewer places, and spending more time at each. We’ve stuck to the East Coast, to cover the countries people usually think of when planning an Asia Round Trip, but this is by no means the limit to the myriad of cultures that this continent encompasses.
We suggest starting your Asia Round Trip in Bangkok, to experience the clash of wild nightlife and breathtaking spiritual sites. For some crazy nights out, visit the clubbing districts of Khao San Road, Soi Patpong or Soi Cowboy. With lots of impressive temples to visit in the city itself- Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Saket- Bangkok is also only a short trip away to visit UNESCO locations such as the Historic City of Ayutthaya and the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex: perhaps a day trip to these tranquil places will help wash away your sins.
The best way to get around Asia is with a combination of sleeper trains, and airplanes. You can get from Thailand to Vietnam overland by bus, but we’d only recommend this is if you’re planning to explore Laos and Cambodia on your way through. The bus ride takes much longer than flying, and is far less comfortable for a long-haul journey. If you can, get an airplane instead.
When travelling in Vietnam, most people go straight for Ho Chi Minh City, but the real Vietnamese experience is further North, where the Western influence is far less. We start off in the historic Hoi An, a heritage-listed town right near An Bang beach, a famous R&R spot during the Vietnam War, which is now lined with atmospheric beach bars. You’ll need to fly into Da Nang Airport, and have a driver from your hotel come to take you to Hoi An. Hire a bicycle to get around town, and buy a pass to explore the many ancient temples and museums either side of the canal.
When you’re done in Hoi An, board the train at Da Nang station, to head for Hanoi. The ride costs about $60 USD, winding through the picturesque Hai Van pass, and is an experience in its own right, though it does take about 16 hours.
Once in Hanoi, you’ll experience the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s ancient capital city. We suggest you stay in the Old Quarter, where there are many cheap hotels all in good proximity to the city’s best features. Highlights of Hanoi include the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the legendary Hoan Kiem lake, countless Bia Hoi’s (bars which sell “fresh beer” in recycled green glass tumblers) and many good tours out to rural areas of the North.
Especially recommended is the day trip to the Perfume Pagoda- an important Buddhist temple that attracts thousands for pilgrimage each New Year, to visit the Huong Tich cave. If you have time (and money), you could also put aside two days for an overnight trip to the UNESCO-listed Ha Long bay, though experiences are highly varied, and mainly depend on your selection of cruise boat. This is not something to skimp out on.
Next we head to Taipei, with the flight from Hanoi costing around $300. Taipei might be 300 years old, it certainly isn’t stuck in the past, as you will see in the neon Ximending and Xinyi districts. Songshan cultural park is hub of indie arts and culture in Taipei, and is a good visit for lovers of contemporary design and visual arts. Yangmingshan is a vast and breathtaking national park, riddled with hiking and cycling trails. It is close enough to Taipei for a day trip, but if you’re a real nature freak you might want to consider camping. Another good trip to take is Taroko Gorge. You will need to bring your own tent for this one, as it is a trip for a few days. And while you’re in Taiwan, be sure to try eating stinky tofu, spring onion pancakes, and of course, their world-famous bubble tea!
Working Holiday Maker Tip: Now we’re really in China, it’s worth noting that if you want to use Facebook or Google Maps anywhere, you will need to get a VPN. This also applies for Seoul.
You can fly from Taiwan To Guilin for about $275. Guilin is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in China. Built on the west bank of the Li river, it winds through valleys between the many hills formed as part of the distinct karst topography. It has many important landmarks, including the Jingjiang Princes City, a number of caves and scenic hills to explore, the Longsheng Rice Terraces and the Fir Lake Pagodas. Many of the striking karst features of the landscape allow for unique hiking experiences, or even rock climbing, if you’re game. Local Guilin food is seasoned with a lot of spice: this is an especially good place for chilli-lovers.
After Guilin, we head to Beijing, which can be reached by sleeper train overnight for about $70 USD, or by airplane for $200 USD. China’s massive capital blends old and new: sometimes seamlessly, sometimes jarringly. As well as the well-known tourist attractions- the Great Wall, the Art District, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City- there is much to be discovered in Beijing, and the best way to do this is by bike. You can get a fixie for about $50 AUD, and because there are bike lanes on almost every street, this is a really good way to get around the city like the locals do. Enjoy a whole spectrum of flavour, from really rustic street food under a bridge or in a tunnel, to specialty coffee in hutongs (narrow alleyways distinct to China and especially Beijing).
Flying from Beijing to Seoul is around $250. Seoul is a dazzlingly modern city, with remnants of the past tucked in between. We suggest staying in Hongdae district, which is near the Hongik University and has become a hub for creative arts and alternative music, but anywhere on the green inner city circle line is good, as you will find it very easy to get transfers to Seoul’s main attractions from there. It’s also a good idea to use bikes to get around: especially to cycle the popular path alongside the Hanh river. Our sources say that “Ask Ajumma” on South Korea’s social media site Kakaoutalk is an invaluable aid for any questions about travelling in South Korea. To escape from the city, Namiseom Island is an especially beautiful place to visit in autumn or winter, with its tranquil corridors of chestnut and poplar forest. Of course you won’t want to miss a day trip to the DMZ while you’re in South Korea, but while you’re there be sure to visit the Joint Security Area, otherwise known as the “Truce Village”, the only section where soldiers from both North and South Korea stand face-to-face. We also suggest visiting the Heyri Art Valley, which showcases contemporary pieces that range from the colourful to the curious.
Last but not least, we head for Japan. Head for Osaka from Seoul for about $300 AUD. As Japan’s third-largest city, Osaka may seem like a maze of concrete and skyscrapers on the surface. It offers incredible shopping and food, and is also home to a vibrant entertainment scene. Check out the iconic Dotonbori, with its neon lights and myriad arcades and entertainment facilities. Shinsaibashi, on the other hand, is known as the best shopping centre in Osaka.
However, let yourself get lost among its many winding streets and you will find that it is also riddled with classical Japanese gardens and temples. We suggest visiting Shitennoji Temple, as well as the Osaka Castle and Nishinomaru Garden, Shinsekai, with traditional-style eating and drinking establishements, and Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.
We recommend Osaka over Tokyo because of its proximity to Kyoto (only half an hour by train) and Kobe (around 45 minutes), however if you are interested in visiting Tokyo, it is only 400kms away, which takes about 2 hours by train.
So, next we go to historic Kyoto. It is best to visit in the springtime, when the cherry blossoms are out, though autumn is also quite a sight, when the city lights up with fiery red leaves, or winter, when it is dusted with snow. Make sure to give this city the time it deserves: with so many tranquil temples and gardens, it would be a shame to be in a rush. Of course you should visit the many museums and temples in Kyoto, but the best thing to do here is just to wander off and get as lost as possible. Key attractions in Kyoto include the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine, which featured in the film “Memoirs of a Geisha”, and the Otagi Nenbutsuji temple, which has 1200 unique and mossy stone sculptures of rakan, the Buddha’s disciples. You should also visit the Kobo-San Market, which is held on the 21st of each month, and sells everythin from kimonos to food to ceramics.
Get a group of friends together and head for an Izakaya that does “tabehoudai” (all you can eat) and “nomihoudai” (all you can drink). Izakayas are similar to pubs or taverns, but with a distinctly Japanese twist, featuring tatami mats, sake, and red lanterns outside. They can be found anywhere in Japan, but the best are in Kyoto.
From Osaka it is easy to visit Kobe and explore the many hiking trails that wind through Mt Rokko. There are even a few waterfalls to be discovered! For those of you who are less energetic, you can take an antique cable car up the beautiful Mt. Rokko to see the view of the city. Behind Mr Rokko, the 1000-year-old Arima Onsen is tucked away. This traditional onsen has been there for over a 1000 years, and will make you feel that you have wandered into a Miyazaki film. Another highlight of Kobe is the Luminarie, a light festival to commemorate the devastating Great Hanshin earthquake, which is held in December each year.
