Beyond the usual circuit
Southeast Asia is one of the easiest regions to reach from India, and its best-known places, Bangkok, Phuket, Bali and Ha Long Bay, are popular for good reason. But a few days away from the main circuit often become the part of a trip people talk about most. These are places we suggest to travellers who have already done the classics, or who simply want more space.
Cambodia: quiet islands and the pepper coast
Off the southern coast, Koh Rong Samloem has long white beaches and clear water without the crowds of Thailand's islands. On the mainland, the riverside town of Kampot is surrounded by pepper farms, and nearby Kep is known for its crab market and sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand. Both pair well with Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor.
Vietnam: mountain towns and karst valleys
Ninh Binh, two hours south of Hanoi, offers the limestone scenery of Ha Long Bay on land. At Trang An, rowing boats glide through caves and between karst towers, and the valleys are best seen at dawn.
In the Central Highlands, Da Lat sits at around 1,500 metres, with pine forests, lakes, coffee plantations and French-era villas. It is cool when the coast is hot, and makes a gentle counterpoint to the energy of Ho Chi Minh City.
Thailand: the quieter North and a gentle island
Nan, in the far north, is a small, unhurried province of temples, murals and rice valleys that few international visitors reach. In the Gulf, Koh Kood has jungle waterfalls and calm bays, with a handful of very good small resorts.
In Bangkok itself, the food alleys of Talat Noi and the lanes around Chinatown are where locals eat. With a private food guide, we arrange vegetarian tastings so everyone can join in.
How to fit them into a trip
Each of these works best as two or three nights added to a classic itinerary rather than a trip on its own: Kampot with Angkor, Ninh Binh with Hanoi, Da Lat with Ho Chi Minh City, Koh Kood with Bangkok. Tell us what you have already seen, and we will suggest the quiet places that suit your pace.
