Southeast Asia holiday destinations

This is a guest post by Will Peach.

Southeast Asia casts an allure like no other. From pristine beaches to bustling cities and everything in between, this magical part of the world is hugely popular with backpackers the world over.

Picking a top 10 of must see destinations from Southeast Asia is no easy feat. In a region so varied it’s no real surprise that everyone has their own favourite part.

Surely some of these would be on your list however?

1. Halong Bay, Vietnam

Home to over 3, 000 islands of varying shapes and sizes, Halong Bay features some of the worlds rarest species of flowers that grow amid its lush topography.

Catch a junker, tour the various islands and descend into the cracks and caves of its hidden lagoons for a chance to get up close and personal.

Hopping off at Bai Tu Long Bay, one of the larger parts that makes up this UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must. There you can climb stone mountains, wander through its mangrove forests or laze for a while on its long stretch of beach.

Thanks to the increasing popularity of Vietnam as a tourist destination, its probably best to visit Halong Bay soon. In the future it might not be possible for everyone to squeeze into the enchanting caverns of places like Song Sôt cave.

2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Southeast Asia’s not short of temples but there aren’t many as memorable as those of Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

This temple complex, dating back to the 12th century, features the world’s largest religious building that is still very much active today with Buddhists and people of all faiths.

Crawl over the fallen and tree-covered ruins of Tah Prohm (made famous by the film Tomb Raider) for Indiana Jones like adventures, take a tuk-tuk across the length and breadth of the complex and don’t miss the earth-shattering experience at sunset from the top of Bakheng Hill.

The nearby backpacker town of Siem Reap is heaps of fun too!

Boat Quay (photo: inoc)

5. Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand’s got it all, amazing beaches, beautiful people and flavourful food. But nowhere does its magic all come together more than in its capital Bangkok.

While the true hippie mecca of Khao San road, in the middle of Bangkok, is a must for any self-respecting backpacker, it’s also worth paying attention to the cities other glorious ages with a trip on the modern BTS Skytrain and a wander around the 19th century temple of Wat Arun.

There’s also Patpong if you fancy a spot of ping pong too. Just don’t be expect to be playing!

6. Vientiane, Laos

Little known Laos may be slightly off the backpacking radar but its capital Vientiane is bags of fun.