Today we look at five beautifully photogenic spots on the huge Asian continent. Three of these are natural wonders. The other two are luxury hotels that reflect a lovely harmony with their surrounding nature.
To visit these destinations, please see our flight schedule.
1. A most scenic destination in the Philippines: Boracay Island
In Southeast Asia, the Philippines is an archipelagic country with 7,641 islands and islets of various sizes. Among the most beautiful is, undoubtedly, Boracay Island.
Boracay Island has been recognized as one of the world’s best beaches by a number of travel magazines and organizations, as well as by TripAdvisor in 2015. Boracay Island is considered a holiday paradise: visitors come for relaxation and water sports such as diving, boating and parasailing, but there’s also a lively nightlife scene.
Among the highlights of Boracay are Luho, Willy’s Rock and the Bat Caves. Luho, in the eastern part of the island, is the highest point and offers incredible sunset views. Willy’s Rock is a natural stone formation on the beach, with a stone shrine to the Virgin Mary. And the Bat Caves, reached via boat or via a hike through jungle, are a network of caves inhabited by bats. It’s also a renowned dive site.
White Beach, which overlooks the Sulu Sea, is one of the best known on the Island. At four kilometers long, this picturesque beach has gorgeous views, white sand, and coconut palms – along with restaurants, hotels, and resorts.
The best time to visit the island is between December and May, when the weather is dry; most tourist visit the island between March to May – something to consider if you’re seeking a quieter holiday.
To get to Boracay Island, fly into Kalibo International Airport or Caticlan Airport when selecting a Turkish Airlines flight. From Kalibo, Boracay Island is two hours by road, followed by a 30-minute ferry ride. From Caticlan Airport, it’s 15 minutes by ferry.
2. Daydreaming in Bali: The rice fields of Ubud
Bali, perhaps the most well-known island in the Indonesian Archipelago, is famed for its lush, terraced rice paddies, which have been the subject of countless paintings and photographs. Five of these rice terraces and their water temples are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province Subak System. According to UNESCO, “The temples are the focus of a cooperative water management system of canals and weirs, known as subak, that dates back to the 9th century.”
The best time of the year to see the rice terraces is between April and October, the pre-harvest period; the best time of the day is in the early morning, a magical time when the light is just perfect.
Ubud, surrounded by rice fields, is considered the cultural and artistic heart of Bali. It was the capital of Bali, the site of the Royal Palace, and remains a center for Bali’s artisans, performers and musicians. In the 20th century, foreigners, including artists and actors such as Charlie Chaplin, began coming to Ubud, and the region’s allure and natural beauty continue to draw people from all over the world.
While Ubud has grown considerably in the last decades, the rice fields remain one of the area’s most enduring symbols. A guided tour is a wonderful way to see the rice terraces and learn about their history. Other attractions in Ubud include the Monkey Forest, featuring a temple and plenty of monkeys, and the Campuhan hiking trail.
Ubud’s many galleries and museums showcase the work of both local and foreign artists.
Ubud is also prominent for its handcrafts: wood and stone carving, jewelry making, textile weaving and design, and many others. Visitors can take classes or workshops in any of these disciplines. Other popular draws in Ubud include yoga and meditation retreats, and cooking classes – There are several cooking schools in Ubud, where the intricacies of Balinese cuisine can be explored.
If rice terraces – or art, dining and culture – are in your dreams, book a ticket to Bali with Turkish Airlines. Ubud is about 40 kilometers from Ngurah Rai International Airport and reachable via car, taxi or shuttle bus.
3. A carpet of flowers in Thailand: The Red Lotus Sea
In the Isan region of Northern Thailand, the city of Udon Thani offers a wondrous sight: the Red Lotus Sea. Like an infinite rippling carpet, the sea of pink lotus flowers stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s also a habitat for herons; watching the birds soar across the flowers is an extraordinary experience. The freshwater lake, called Talay Bua Daeng in Thai, has an area of 36 square kilometers and a unique ecosystem.
Visitors can hire a boat for a lake tour; the shore is lined with cafes and restaurants serving both western fare and traditional Isan dishes, including the simple – but delicious – grilled banana.
The best time to visit the Red Lotus Sea is between December and February, when the flowers are blooming and the Red Lotus Sea Festival takes place.
Getting to Udon Thani is fairly easy: fly into Udon Thani International Airport or take a train or bus from Bangkok. The Red Lotus Sea is about 50 kilometers from the city and accessible via a taxi. Alternatively, visitors can rent a car or a motorbike.
4. A perfect experience in Phuket: The Keemala Hotel
Just outside Kamala Village, in Phuket, the glamorous Keemala Hotel is an architectural marvel. Built into a lush hillside rainforest overlooking the Andaman Sea, the Hotel offers four types of accommodation, each based on the design and tradition of four different Thai clans. The chic villas include private pools, terraces and rainforest and sea views, as well as stylish, luxe interiors. Villas are presented as treehouses or ultramodern, spherical bi-level cottages. Others have traditional thatched roofs. All offer the utmost comfort, tranquility, and relaxation – amid nature at its finest.
The Hotel also features a sleek spa and an acclaimed restaurant. For visitors who want to explore Phuket’s famed nightlife, Patong Beach is about eight kilometers from the Hotel. Quiet Surin Beach is about six kilometers from the Keemala.
The ideal time to visit Phuket is between November and February, when the weather is relatively dry and cool. It’s still warm, however – Phuket does have a monsoon season, but the temperatures are consistent throughout the year.
The easiest way to reach Phuket is by flying to Phuket International Airport. The Keemala Hotel is about a 40-minute drive from the airport. Taxis and the airport transfer service are available. As well, the Keemala Hotel can arrange airport transfers.
5. Miyazaki would love it: Guntû, the floating hotel
In Hayao Miyazaki’s 2004 animated film, “Howl’s Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro)”, a morality tale was intertwined with a fantastic adventure and a mobile palace. Similar to the movie’s castle, Guntû is a unique ‘floating hotel’ – one that brings fantasy to life.
Traversing in the Seto Inland Sea, which features Honshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū, three of Japan’s five main islands, the Guntû is a three-story structure with 19 cabins. The minimalist cabins are quietly sumptuous, with wood paneling, wood floors and wood furnishings, along with terraces and sea views.
Designed by architect Yasushi Horibe, the Guntû’s sleek common areas include an observation deck, a gym and a roof terrace. There’s also a communal open-air bathhouse, a sauna, and therapy and massage rooms. Dining options on the Guntû include a sushi bar.
Departing from the Bella Vista Marina in Onomichi and returning to the same point, the Guntû takes guests along the region’s Chugoku and Shikoku coastlines. Four different routes are available, with two- or three-day accommodation options.
The best months to visit are March, April and May. October and November are also preferred by visitors.
The easiest way to reach Bella Vista Marina, the Guntû’s first stop, is to fly to Hiroshima Airport. The Guntû provides a transfer service from Hiroshima Airport, which is about 50 kilometers from the marina. You can also rent a car or hire a taxi. The Shin-Onomichi train station is about 15 kilometers from Bella Vista Marina.
To make a reservation or for more information on the Guntû, click here.
These five destinations – and more – await you. To get there – or anywhere else in Asia – all you need to do is buy a ticket and set out on your own adventure!
