Asia

In Sarawak, fortune favours the intrepid.  As Malaysia's largest state it isn't just beautiful, it's a land of wild encounters, of 140-million-year-old rainforests and unique tribal cultures. Those that tread lightly - who travel slowly and sustainably - will see a side to the region that few others do, for this is a destination that rewards a deeper exploration.  Spend a night in a tribal homestay, and you'll be welcomed as a member of the family. Join a turtle nesting project, and the beach reveals its wild side.

If you read anything about the coral-fringed islands Okinawa archipelago, you'll quickly find out that diving, whale-watching and island hopping are among the best things to do here.  The archipelago of Okinawa, made up of over 160 islands slung across the East China Sea, is a place of chalk-white beaches and mangrove forests, located closer to Taiwan than Tokyo.

There it was again. A streak of colour and a scurry in the tiny alleyway up ahead. I crept forward, treading lightly past wooden facades and unmarked doors, careful not to knock the red lanterns that cast an atmospheric glow across the cobbled path. A sharp turn to the left, and there she is: a geisha.  A quick glance over her shoulder, her white made-up face contrasting with the elaborate design of her kimono - and she's gone.

While we all know that geishas' inherent beauty, grace and charm have been admired for centuries, the same could be said of Kyoto. Like waiting for a glimpse of a shy nocturnal creature, you can wait all day for the city to reveal its secrets, and just as you're about to give up in favour of fast food and a night at karaoke, Kyoto's discrete world will reveal itself.

A monsoon deluge broke as we approached the emerald rainforests of Ubud, sending a family of chattering monkeys, some holding each other's tails, scampering for the sanctuary of the sandalwoods trees.  It was that bewitching hour in the tropics when day turns rapidly into bible-black night, as if a curtain has dropped, and driving through plantations of coconut, mangrove and banana we plunged ever deeper into the verdant, virgin valley where far below the vodka-clear Ayung river gurgled over rocks.

Burma has been long over looked for its Southeast Asian neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam. So, we have put this 10-day guide to share with you the best of this beautiful country.  Read this 10-day itinerary and you'll be booking Burma in no time.

China is emerging as one of the hottest destinations on the planet for adventurous travellers. but while the mega cities of Shanghai and Beijing are an obvious draw, there is one city in the geographical centre of the country that is gaining some well-deserved hype: Chengdu. Touted by travel experts as the country's hippest city - think China's version of Berlin or Lisbon - with a relaxed, laid-back vibe intertwining a forward-thinking cosmopolitan throng.

Tokyo: one of the world’s largest cities. It’s big, buzzy and loud. But the Japanese capital isn’t all frantic-paced living and cramming on to impossibly packed subway trains. There are blissful pockets of peace and tranquillity too. From discovering the intricacies of a traditional tea ceremony to zazen meditation and dining experiences that last all afternoon, here are five ways to find calm in Tokyo.

When diplomat and author Sir Harold Nicolson landed in Singapore in 1957 he was stunned. “It is about the greenest place I have ever seen”, he writes in his travel memoir Journey to Java. “It is like entering Dartmouth on a muggy August afternoon.” Aboard a cruise ship on a last hurrah to the era of cruise ship travel, Nicolson saw the island before it blossomed into the Singapore we know today. The transition from a little more than a fishing village to a futuristic first world country all happened within just 50 years.

The Thai island of Koh Samui is a little slice of paradise – offering everything from water sports to blissful relaxation.  From secret Buddha gardens to hidden beaches, world class hotels to backpacker chic, sizzling street food to world-class cuisine, Koh Samui has established itself as one of the most diverse and alluring destinations on the planet.  For those of us who prefer sun to snow this winter – and who wouldn’t? – This 15km-wide paradise island in Thailand’s Chumphon archipelago takes some beating.

Once an intriguing stop-off for passing traffic, Singapore has now established itself as the new go-to holiday destination for savvy travellers with a taste for adventure. With a long and rich history tracing back 700 years, the relative size of this city-state compared to other Southeast Asian destinations means visitors have a chance to explore everything it has to offer in just one holiday.