37 days in Asia Itinerary

Shaped like a teardrop and located just below the southern tip of India, lush Sri Lanka boasts some of the greatest biodiversity in the world. Unless you time your Sri Lanka holiday for monsoon season, you can expect bright blue skies and plenty of sunshine, perfect for exploring tropical forests, historic temples, colonial forts, and many other buildings dating back to Dutch rule. Popular things to do in Sri Lanka include swimming, sailing, and surfing, though a growing number of visitors come here just to eat their way around the country. Greatly influenced by nearby India, the national cuisine also features many elements of European cooking--a result of the Dutch and Portuguese colonial years. Of course, a trip to Sri Lanka would not be complete without a cup of its world-famous Ceylon tea.

Offering a rich culinary heritage, sun-kissed beaches, exotic culture, tropical climate, and stunning landscapes, a Thailand vacation remains one of the world's greatest magnets for curious travelers. In between the busy and crowded cities, the Asian nation features a quiet countryside: a blend of lush rice paddies, flourishing tropical forests, and tiny villages living according to an age-old agricultural clock that continues to play a major role in the locals' lifestyle. A tour of Thailand reveals a deep devotion to Buddhism, exemplified by eye-catching temples lavishly decorated with golden Buddha statues, simple shrines, and lively religious festivals celebrated throughout the country.

Long overlooked by travelers due to its reputation as one of the world's poorest nations, Laos is drawing a growing number of visitors with its laid-back charm, natural beauty, and numerous archaeological sites and historic temples. Many visitors make the trip to Laos from nearby Thailand, combining the two neighboring countries into one memorable experience of Southeast Asia. Others focus their Laos vacation on the Mekong River, which serves as a major source of irrigation for local farms and represents a popular alternative for sightseeing by car. On top of the rich cultural heritage and impressive natural landscapes, its major treasure remains its people--friendly and devout Buddhists welcoming visitors with a genuine hospitality rarely felt in other parts of the world.

For over six centuries, the mighty Khmer Empire flourished in Cambodia, a scenic land of majestic temples, pristine waterfalls, and dense jungles. A protectorate of France between 1863 and 1953, the country suffered under the Khmer Rouge, a ruling party remembered mostly for its part in organizing the bloody Cambodian genocide of the 1970s. Today, a trip to Cambodia will reveal the region's troubled history, but also some of Southeast Asia's most significant archaeological sites. Few tourist attractions in Cambodia match the splendor of Angkor Wat, a World Heritage-listed temple complex that represents the biggest religious monument on the planet.

While most Southeast Asian countries have at least one booming metropolis, none seem to bustle nearly throughout like Vietnam does. While busy locals zoom about on motorbikes, visitors fill their Vietnam vacations with a mix of cultural sightseeing and exploring the landscape. Big cities and towns boast colonial architecture, open-air markets, outstanding spa complexes, and modern restaurants. The country also features over 3,200 km (2,000 mi) of coastline dotted with sandy bays that attract scuba divers and kitesurfers. Away from busy urban centers, a tour of Vietnam reveals a rural landscape of lush rice paddies, jagged mountain peaks, and timeless villages unspoiled by the outside world.

Encompassing over 7,600 islands, the Philippines offer plenty of vacation ideas for active travelers. Though the island chain's location leaves it vulnerable to typhoons and earthquakes, it also endows it with plenty of natural resources and biodiversity. For most visitors, a Philippines holiday includes outdoor adventures like kitesurfing, mountain trekking, spelunking, and volcano hiking. Those with a taste for something more relaxing can build a Philippines itinerary around beaches, local fiestas, and the island cuisine, which blends influences from around the world and serves up dishes at once sour, salty, and sweet.

Rugged beaches lure many to take their holiday in East Timor, a former Portuguese colony that gained its independence in 2002 after a brutal occupation by Indonesia. With pristine reefs, steep mountains, mysterious jungle caves, and misty hillside villages, the country represents one of Asia's most charming destinations, where it's still possible to have an off-the-beaten-track adventure. Many choose to tour East Timor by car, stopping at various locations to snap photos, dive into the sea, and mingle with the locals at quaint settlements preserving age-old traditions lost to the rest of the world. Those preferring urban experiences concentrate on Dili, the ultra-relaxed capital with access to both sea and mountains.

Boasting over 18,000 islands, Indonesia represents the world's largest archipelago, serving as home to about 250 million people. A kaleidoscope of cultures, the country encompasses some 300 ethnic groups and nearly 750 different languages and dialects--an astounding cultural diversity that makes an Indonesia holiday especially rewarding. Begin your Indonesia tour by discovering the country's big cities, huge melting pots bursting with energy and soaked in centuries of dramatic history. From there, head farther afield: the nation's varied landscapes of volcanoes, white-sand beaches, and sprawling tropical forests draw adrenaline junkies seeking an exotic land offering perhaps the world's last truly great outdoor adventures.