Asia is too massive and diverse to conceptualize as a single digestible travel “destination”. Even defining the borders of this continent is difficult – from the mountains around the Black Sea in the west, to the snow fields of Siberia in the North, there are more people and cities in Asia than outside of it

Travel Guide Asia

The world’s highest point, Mount Everest, lies within Asia along the border of Tibet and Nepal soaring 8,848m (29,028 ft) above sea level. Mt. Everest is mostly accessible through Kathmandu. Its lowest point is the Dead Sea, located at the meeting points of Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan, whose surface is 400m (1,312 ft) below sea level. Asia’s longest river is the Yangtze, which runs 6,300km (3,915 miles) through China, all the way from the high Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai. Its largest lake is the 386,400km² (149,200 square mile) Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by several Central Asian nations.

Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, by Australia to the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the south. It’s bordered by the Red Sea to the southwest, by Europe and the Urals to the west, and by the Arctic Ocean to the north

Travel options range widely, from the desert ruins and modern mega-malls of the Middle East to the magnificent ancient monuments in South Asia, and from the beach bungalows and jungle treks of Southeast Asia to the mega-cities and technology capitals of East Asia. The Steppe and Siberia also dominate much of Central and North Asia. Find out more about regions, destinations, and itineraries below.

Asia offers very diverse travel options. There are ultra modern, largely democratic countries like Japan and the East Asian Tigers (regions and countries) of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea which are very prosperous and in which people enjoy very high standards of living. On the other hand, Afghanistan, Laos and East Timor are extremely poor countries where people struggle even to get a few grains of rice each day. Of course, there are also many countries lying somewhere in the middle, such as the emerging powerhouses of China and India, which make wonderful travel destinations in themselves due to their long history, size and diversity. Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia offer a warm tropical climate, diverse culture, and great beaches. On the other extreme, Asia houses Communist North Korea, perhaps the most oppressive regime in the world, which has no travel freedom and constant monitoring by the government. Then, there are a naturally gifted, and historically alive heavens such as Nepal

Bangkok — Thailand’s bustling, cosmopolitan capital with temples, nightlife, and fervour
Beijing — capital of the People’s Republic of China with the Forbidden City and springboard for visiting the Great Wall of China
Isfahan — Isfahan is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a lot of historical and cultural monuments. Famous historic bridges, museums, parks, palaces and mosques, as well as many of the natural attractions of Asia, are located in this city.
Dubai — most modern and progressive emirate in the UAE, developing at an unbelievable pace
Hong Kong — a truly world-class metropolis with a unique mix of native Chinese and former colonial British heritage
Jerusalem — containing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City, this city is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims
Lahore – Pakistan’s most liberal and cosmopolitan cities. It exerts a strong cultural history and influence.
Mumbai — most eclectic and cosmopolitan city of India, well-known for the Bollywood film industry
Seoul — beautiful palaces, great food and a hopping nightlife, Seoul is a frenetic way to experience the Asia of old and new
Singapore — modern, affluent city-state with a medley of Chinese, Indian, Malay and British influences