China
Monumental historic sites, fast-changing cities and enormous regional variety reward a route that focuses on one part of China at a time.
Countries
Start with a country
Indonesia
A vast archipelago of distinct cultures, volcanoes, reefs and cities, Indonesia is best approached as several separate journeys.
Japan
Fast trains, distinctive neighbourhoods and deep regional variety make Japan rewarding for both first visits and slow returns.
Malaysia
Food-rich cities, historic ports, rainforest and island coasts create an accessible route across both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.
Philippines
Thousands of islands create exceptional beach, reef and landscape trips, but the best routes account carefully for weather and transfer days.
Singapore
Compact, highly connected and culturally layered, Singapore combines food neighbourhoods, architecture, gardens and waterfronts in a short stay.
South Korea
Compact transport links connect energetic cities, mountain landscapes, coastal escapes and a food culture that changes from region to region.
Thailand
Bangkok, northern culture, tropical islands and an established travel network make Thailand flexible for both first visits and slower returns.
Vietnam
Long-distance rail, layered cities, mountain landscapes and a strong regional food culture make Vietnam ideal for a focused north or south route.
Trips
Build a route
Sixteen days in Bali and Komodo: two island bases and one boat trip
Two distinct Bali bases and a properly buffered Komodo boat trip from Labuan Bajo, built around one return flight rather than a string of island hops.
Twelve days in central and southern Vietnam: Saigon to Phu Quoc
A southern route from Ho Chi Minh City up through Hoi An and Hue, finishing flat on a Phu Quoc beach, built around meals and short transfers.
Sixteen days in China: history, Sichuan and the coast
The classic northern route with one western stop added, running Beijing to Xi’an to Chengdu and finishing in Shanghai rather than drawing a second loop back across the map.
Nine days across Java: Yogyakarta, Malang and the Ijen crater
An overland route down Java's rail spine with two volcanoes and two temple complexes, ending at the Bali ferry rather than doubling back to Jakarta.
Two weeks from Java into Bali: temples, volcanoes and two island bases
The overland route east across Java with one ferry crossing into Bali, finishing near the departure airport instead of retracing the whole island.
Sixteen days in Malaysia: the peninsula and a Sabah wildlife leg
Kuala Lumpur and George Town first, then one flight east to Borneo for the islands off Kota Kinabalu, the Sepilok forest and two nights on the Kinabatangan.
Two weeks in northern Vietnam: Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh and Ha Long
A focused northern loop from Hanoi that trades map pins for usable days, with a mountain trek, a river valley and one overnight on the bay.
Nine days in Palawan: El Nido, Coron and two days in Manila
One flight and one sea leg instead of four, pairing the limestone coast of northern Palawan with the food and history of the capital either side of it.
Twelve days on the Malaysian peninsula: cities, hills and one island
A west-coast route on the rail and coach spine, from Kuala Lumpur through the tea hills to George Town, finishing on Langkawi rather than crossing the country twice.
Sixteen days in the Philippines: Palawan, Cebu and Bohol
Three distinct bases, one straightforward ferry pairing and enough slack for weather, without stacking seven beaches that start to blur into one.
Three days in Singapore: one base, three districts and the bay
A first Singapore trip that stays central, moves by MRT and keeps one evening for the waterfront instead of turning every landmark into a timed booking.
Six days in Singapore: districts, gardens and one island
The version of Singapore with room in it — four neighbourhoods at their best hours, one full garden day and a morning on Pulau Ubin instead of another mall.
Sixteen days in South Korea: the mainland line plus Jeju
A linear route south from Seoul through Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan, finishing with four days and a rental car on Jeju rather than squeezing the island into a long weekend.
Nine days on the Korean rail spine: Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan
The straight-line first route down the KTX corridor — four nights in Seoul, two in the old Silla capital and three on the southern coast, with no backtracking and no internal flights.
Ten days in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
A balanced first route with four Tokyo nights, a measured Kyoto stay and a final taste of Osaka.
Ten days in China: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai
The first-pass route that most China trips should be, using two fast-rail legs to link the capital, the old imperial centre and the coast without turning the fortnight into station logistics.
Guides
Answer the next question
Paying and connecting in China as a visitor
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly, know what a foreign card will and will not do, and get the SIM, maps and translation sorted on the ground.
What first-time visitors should know about Japan
A calm editorial briefing on pace, etiquette, transport and the choices that make a first Japan trip easier.
Getting around China by high-speed rail
How to use 12306, what a second-class seat actually costs, when to fly instead and why the station name matters more than the city name.
Getting around Indonesia without losing days to transfers
How to move between Indonesian islands by train, ferry and plane, which legs are worth the overland time and where the separate-ticket risk actually sits.
Getting around Malaysia without wasting days
How to move along the peninsula by ETS train and coach, when to fly to Borneo, and where the ferries and separate tickets need slack in the plan.
Getting around Singapore without overpaying
How the MRT, buses, taxis and the Changi transfer actually work, what a day of travel costs, and when paying for a car is the sensible choice.
Getting around South Korea without overpaying for rail
How KTX, SRT, express buses and the Tmoney card actually fit together, when the KORAIL Pass is worth buying, and why Jeju needs a car booked before the room.
Getting around the Philippines without losing days
How to move between Philippine islands by plane, ferry, bus and tricycle, what each transfer really costs in time, and where to put the weather buffer.
Getting around Vietnam without wasting days
How to move between Vietnam's regions by plane, train, sleeper bus and Grab, with real prices and the transfers worth paying to skip.
What Indonesia costs per day in 2026
A realistic daily budget for Indonesia, split into beds, food, transport and the boats and flights that actually move the total, with three bands you can place yourself in.
Indonesia entry requirements and the visa on arrival
What the B1 visa on arrival costs, how long it lasts, when the extension is worth it and the arrival card you need to submit before you fly.
What Malaysia costs per day in 2026
A realistic daily budget for Malaysia, split into beds, food, transport and activities, with the peninsula and Borneo priced separately because they are not the same trip.
Malaysia entry requirements and the arrival card
Who gets a visa-free stay, how the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card works, and why Sabah and Sarawak stamp you in again when you fly across from the peninsula.
What the Philippines costs per day in 2026
A realistic Philippine daily budget split into beds, food, local transport and the island transfers that quietly decide the total.
Philippines entry requirements and arrival paperwork
The visa-free rules, the free eTravel registration you must file before landing, extension costs and the passport paperwork a tourist SIM now requires.
Eating at Singapore hawker centres properly
What to order, how to read a stall, why the longest queue is rarely the best hour of your day, and how a whole day of eating stays under S$25.
K-ETA, the e-Arrival Card and what South Korea actually asks for
Which of the two online forms you need before flying to South Korea, what each costs, how long they take and the exemption that runs to the end of 2026.
What Vietnam costs per day in 2026
A realistic daily budget for Vietnam, broken into beds, food, transport and activities, with the swing between big cities and small towns made explicit.
Vietnamese food worth planning a trip around
What to eat in each region of Vietnam, what it costs, and how to tell the €2 bowl locals queue for from the €8 one aimed at you.
Where to stay in Seoul, by what you want your evenings to be
A district-by-district comparison of Seoul's main bases — Jongno, Hongdae, Euljiro, Itaewon and Gangnam — with what each costs, who each suits and which to avoid on a first visit.
Where to stay in Singapore for a short trip
The room is the largest line in a Singapore budget, so pick the district first — with honest price bands and the event weeks that move rates hardest.
Where to stay in Tokyo for a first visit
Match your Tokyo base to evening atmosphere, rail connections and the amount of calm you want after a full day.
Where to stay in Vietnam for a first trip
Match your base in each Vietnamese city to the district that makes your evenings easy, with honest price bands from dorm to boutique.