Part of Asia. 10 stories.
Two official fees, a two-hour ferry, homestays without hot water and the richest reefs on earth: how to plan a first trip to Raja Ampat, including what is open and what is not in 2026.
Laos's UNESCO-listed royal town asks visitors to plan around a silent dawn ritual, a turquoise waterfall that changes with the season, and a river that still sets the pace.
Mu Ko Similan closes by law for five months every year. Plan the 2026–27 season around the 15 October opening, daily caps, e-tickets and the day-trip-or-liveaboard choice.
On the fourteenth night of each lunar month, Hoi An switches off its electric lights and runs on silk lanterns alone. Here is how the heritage ticket, the river boats and the 2026 dates fit together.
Maya Bay is no longer a swim-and-anchor beach. Plan around its August–September closure, Loh Samah landing, one-hour slots and the conservation rules that now shape every visit.
Boracay’s White Beach still delivers its famous pale sand and clear water, but the first decision is practical: sort the entry QR, accredited stay, fees and beach rules before you fly.
Angkor Wat's sunrise crowd builds before 5:15am, but the pass rules, opening hours and dress code are all predictable if you plan around them rather than improvise at the gate.
The turquoise lagoons of El Nido now come with visitor caps, timed slots, and a kayak-only entry rule, so a good trip here is planned around a permit system rather than improvised on arrival.
Two days of silence among limestone islands, then a plunge into Asia's most exhilarating street-food city. Northern Vietnam's great short itinerary, from the water to the plastic stool.
The south coast has been discovered many times over. Head north and east and you’ll find the Bali that the crowds forgot.
