The Best Places in Southeast Asia to Visit in 2024

Head further south in Thailand to swap outdoor adventure for beach bliss on this 11-day tropical retreat, which takes in the epic limestone karsts of Khao Sok Lake and the kaleidoscopic marine life of Hong Island. You’ll discover the true meaning of paradise in Koh Yao Yai, though. You’ll call this secluded island home for most of the second half of this trip, and our time there is all about relaxation. We’ll be staying at a luxurious resort with its own private beach, but we suspect you’ll also want to sample some of the island’s other natural bounties, be it mangroves forests and coral reefs, or just a different stunning stretch of golden sand.

Bali is not short on magical places, from the epic vistas atop Mount Batur to the rice paddies of Batukaru and the tropical joys of the Gili Islands. There’s something especially spellbinding, however, about Banyumala. This 40m (131ft) tall pair of waterfalls are a symbol of Bali’s beauty – intoxicatingly idyllic and found seemingly in the middle of nowhere – and you’ll get to spend a good few hours here on day three of our trip. You’ll discover the falls, hidden among dense tropical rainforest, and spend a few hours relaxing, splashing about in the water and tucking into a traditional Indonesian picnic of nasi bungkus – rice wrapped in a banana leaf, typically served with meat and vegetables. Delicious.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh often steal the headlines when it comes to cities in Vietnam but, for our money, Hoi An is the best of the lot. This atmospheric coastal town boasts a colourful mix of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and French-colonial architecture, all of which are intersected by a series of pretty canals and even prettier foot bridges. The charm of this city – a little less chaotic than the capital – makes it the perfect place to wrap up our epic 12-day exploration of Vietnam. When you’re not strolling around sightseeing with our local guide, gorging on the city’s many local delicacies or learning how to practice restorative Yin yoga, you’ll be able to unwind at our relaxing spa resort.

Why just stick to one country on your Southeast Asian epic? This border-crossing Rail Trip is a two week odyssey across two of the region’s most fascinating nations. In Thailand you’ll explore the temples of Bangkok and the ruins of ancient Sukhothai, before street food adventures and a Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai await. You’ll walk with elephants at an ethical sanctuary, go bamboo rafting down Wang River and spend a night glamping in the jungle before crossing over into Laos. We’ll swap trains for a river boat as we cruise down the Mekong, stopping off to meet rice-whisky making locals and visit a sacred cave. The aesthetic highlight of the trip, however, is without doubt Kuang Si. It’s the most famous sight in Laos for a reason, and our jungle trek to reach it is well worth the effort. Having marvelled at the gem-coloured waters of this streaming, multi-tiered waterfall, you’ll have a few hours to soak in the natural beauty, as well as in the water itself, of course.