Asia is the largest continent in the world, which makes it a land
of great geographical contrasts, finding arid areas and large
jungles, valleys and depressions just kilometers away from the
Himalayas, the most imposing mountain range on the planet. Between
the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the land is disarmed and gives
rise to thousands of islands, each home to a unique ecosystem.
More than half of the planet's population lives on this
continent. A variety of cultures, religions and languages coexist
in their lands - in some cases friendly and in others not so much.
Asia stands out for the great cultural diversity of the Indian
subcontinent, the traditional dances of Southeast Asia , the great
ancient constructions of China and the arts of ancient Japan . The
steppes of Central Asia still keep different secrets of their
ancestral cultures waiting for new travelers, while the distant
SiberiaIt has become a destination for the most curious adventurers
and goes from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean. This space is among
the largest in the world, but also among the least populated.
Regions
middle East
Saudi Arabia · Bahrain · Qatar · United
Arab Emirates · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon ·
Oman · Palestine · Syria · Yemen
Land of spirituality and
conflict, the Middle East is the cradle of human civilization and
the origin of the three main monotheistic religions in the world. In
the Holy Land you can visit the holy sites of Jerusalem and quickly
jump into the effervescence of Tel Aviv. Syria and Jordan maintain
impressive ruins such as Palmyra or Petra, while Iraq tries to
re-emerge where Babylon once stood. The Arabian Peninsula,
meanwhile, faces the duality of Mecca's religiosity and Dubai's
excessive luxury.
Central Asia
Afghanistan Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan
The grasslands and
steppes of Central Asia have been home to various nomadic tribes
throughout history, taking advantage of their strategic location
between Europe and Asia. From the plains of the Caspian Sea to the
high mountains of the East, thousands of caravans traveled the Silk
Road, passing through beautiful cities such as Samarkand and
wonderful places such as the Fergana Valley. While Afghanistan tries
to stabilize after decades of civil war, the rest of the countries
try to develop after the end of Soviet rule.
Far East
China (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan) North Korea South Korea Japan
Mongolia
One fifth of the world's population so it is not
surprising that this region presents as much variety as the human
being can have. From the vast rice fields of southern China, the
steppes of Xinjiang and Mongolia, or the high plateaus of Tibet, one
can travel to the ultramodernity of global trading centers like
Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Tokyo. Cities like Beijing or Kyoto still
maintain the monumental essence of the ancient great empires of the
region, while Macao delights with its ruins of Portuguese origin and
its exotic casinos. North Korea's secrecy, meanwhile, presents a
challenge to many adventurers.
Indian subcontinent
India
Pakistan Sri Lanka Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh Maldives
A mixture of
diverse religions and traditions, chaotic and crowded cities, peaks
that rise to infinity and impenetrable jungles characterize this
piece of land between the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean. Going into
cities like Calcutta, Mumbai, Karachi or Dhaka are a challenge for
any tourist who wants to really get to know this region, beyond the
classic attractions such as the Taj Majal. In the north, Mount
Everest stands guard over the valleys of Nepal, while remote Bhutan
captivates with its Buddhist traditions. Finally, an escape to the
wonderful beaches of the Maldives can be the perfect closure of an
incomparable excursion through South Asia.
Southeast Asian
Burma Thailand Cambodia Laos Vietnam Philippines Malaysia Brunei
Indonesia Timor-Leste Singapore
Thanks to its extensive jungles,
beautiful beaches and scattered archipelagos, Southeast Asia has
experienced a tourist boom in recent decades. Thousands of
backpackers have ventured to discover ruins such as Angkor Wat in
Cambodia, the wonderful mountains of Laos or the canals of Hoi An in
Vietnam. Thailand stands out for the cultural wonders that
congregate in its capital, Bangkok, as well as spectacular beaches
on islands such as Phuket and Phi Phi. While the skyscrapers of
Singapore and Kuala Lumpur continue to light up the night, Bali
delights its tourists with its perfect mix of culture, adventure and
unforgettable landscapes.
While every continent has a wealth of things to see, what sets Asia
apart is the incredible variety of things to see. . From the desolate
Siberian tundra and taiga in the far north to the colorful street scenes
of India, from ruins along the Silk Road to dazzling futuristic
metropolises, and from camels in the Arabian desert to dragons of Komodo
who roam the jungles of Flores, visiting it is safe to say that Asia has
something for everyone.
Extending from the Arctic to beyond the
Equator, Asia is home to virtually every type of climate and ecosystem
that exists in the world and a corresponding number of different plants
and animals. Almost every part of Asia boasts iconic animals, including
pandas, brown bears, tigers, monkeys, elephants, crocodiles, camels, and
birds, although many of them are threatened in the wild. While North and
Central Asia is part of the Palearctic region, South and Southeast Asia
form the Indomalaya region. There's no shortage of jaw-dropping
landscapes either. Vast boreal forests cover the northern part of the
continent interspersed with some of the longest rivers in the world.
Further south, Asia is dominated by a massive system of mountain ranges
stretching from the highlands of Turkey through Iran and Central Asia to
China, where it branches off into a northern section that includes the
Altai Mountains and continues all the way to the south. way through the
Russian Far East. and in a section further south that includes the
Himalayas, which features the highest peaks in the world, and then the
highlands of Southeast Asia. Many mountains in the easternmost parts of
the continent are volcanic, Pakistan and Indonesia and Kamchatka are
indeed great destinations for volcanic tourism. Central Asia has
steppes, which turn into desert when you travel south, and if you've
always wanted to experience a desert environment, the Middle East is
definitely a good choice. Another great desert is the Gobi on the
borders of Mongolia. and Chinese. Finally, Tropical Asia which covers a
portion of East and most of South and Southeast Asia, where it is not
cultivated or urbanized, is dominated by various types of tropical
forests and thousands of beaches ranging from isolated paradise islands
such as the Maldives. to some of the world's most popular spas in
Thailand.
Home to more than half of the world's population,
birthplace of the world's major religions, and using all of the world's
most widespread writing systems, the different peoples and cultures you
can find on this continent are probably even more varied than the
landscapes. Nearly every region of Asia has ruins from some of the
world's oldest civilizations, often dating back several millennia. The
Holy Land of the Abrahamic religions is located in the Middle East.
Similarly, the Indian subcontinent is the source of Hinduism, Buddhism,
Sikhism, and Jainism, and East Asia of Confucianism, Taoism, and
Shintoism. Asia is also witnessing the spread of the great religions in
the form of amazing religious architecture, including ancient tombs and
places of worship at Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Samarkand, the Taj Mahal,
and thousands of others. There are also other types of historical sites
such as the Great Wall, Petra, Ayutthaya, and the royal and imperial
palaces of past and present dynasties. Even in the latter case, royal
traditions can be experienced as in the royal changing of the guards at
Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. The ruins of Saint Paul's Church in
Macau, showing the contrast between colonial architecture and the rapid
development taking place in much of Asia. Colonial influences are not as
prominent as in Africa, America or Oceania, but this does not mean that
they are not there. Virtually all of South and Southeast Asia was ruled
for centuries by various European empires that introduced things like
Western architecture and food (some of it from the Americas), as well as
Christianity, European languages, and the Latin alphabet. We must not
forget Russian Asia and Central Asia, which was part of the Russian
Empire and the Soviet Union for a century and a half. The history of the
20th and 21st centuries, although much of Asia features many wars and
other sad things, is also present in monuments and museums. Finally if
you want to immerse yourself in modern cities with most of the tallest
buildings in the world, glass, steel and huge LED screens, extensive and
modern transport systems and centers of entertainment and fun, Asia is
also the place to go, especially the Gulf States and East Asia.
The highest point in Asia is Mount Everest, on the border between Tibet and Nepal, which rises to 8,848 m (29,028 ft) above sea level. Its lowest point is the Dead Sea, located at the meeting points of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, whose surface is 400 m (1,312 ft) below sea level. Asia's longest river is the Yangtze, which runs 6,300 kilometers (3,915 miles) through China all the way from the High Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai. It's largest lake is the 386,400 km² (149,200 sq mi) Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by several Central Asian nations. Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, Australia to the southeast, and the Indian Ocean to the south. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the southwest, by Europe and the Urals to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north.
By plane
Asia's busiest airports include Hong Kong (HKG), Dubai
(DXB), Singapore (SIN), Bangkok (BKK), Seoul (ICN), Tokyo (NRT, HND),
and Jakarta (CGK). If you're going anywhere in Asia, chances are you'll
pass through at least one of these airports, either in transit or as a
final stop. Fortunately for those with long transit times, they are some
of the best equipped airports in the world, known for their efficient
service and ample amenities. In addition, Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG),
New Delhi (DEL), and Mumbai (BOM) are the main hubs for travel to China
and the Indian subcontinent. For the Middle East, Doha (DOH) and Abu
Dhabi (AUH) also have fairly good connections.
By train
If you
are coming to Asia by train, you must enter through Russia or Turkey,
although there may be other options. For an interesting experience, try
the "Trans-Siberian Railway".
Boat
Although the distance
between Indonesia and Australia may seem close, there are no ferry
services between the two continents, and freighter travel is probably
the most reasonable option. Several cruise companies such as Royal
Caribbean and Princess ships do not depart from Australia, but only
Holland America travels across the Pacific from North America.
Many languages are spoken throughout Asia, comprising a number of
families and some unrelated isolates. While local languages are always
best, some Manta languages can be useful in multiple countries. In the
Middle East, Arabic is widely known, while knowledge of Russian will
help you in Mongolia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Hindi/Urdu is
useful in South Asia and Malay/Indonesian will help you in Southeast
Asia. Mandarin Chinese is spoken by the majority in China, and
understood in Taiwan and, to a lesser extent, in Singapore, but there
are many other languages spoken including different dialects.
In most Asian countries, the local languages use their own alphabets,
so the feeling of being completely lost in them is multiplied several
times. To avoid this, it is advisable to first go to the local tourist
office, and ask for a map in English or a Western language. Once that's
done, at least you'll be able to get your bearings, even if things still
sound Chinese to you.
Asia is known for having some of the best cuisine in the world and
natural and social services. Asian cuisine is incredibly diverse, from
Turkish kebabs to Arabian pita bread, Indian curries and Chinese
noodles, there really is no shortage of different food to try. Rice, in
its many varieties, is a very common staple food throughout Asia. Street
food is also available almost anywhere in countless variations.
Southeast Asia offers a wide variety of tropical fruits and wonderful
food at affordable prices.
Wikivoyage has detailed guides to
various cuisines of the continent: see Middle Eastern Cuisine, South
Asian Cuisine, Thai Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, Korean Cuisine, Japanese
Cuisine, Filipino Cuisine, and Malaysian Cuisine.
To drink
Tea is the most common beverage, especially in South and
East Asia. In tropical areas, enjoy fresh fruits and coconut juice.
Fresh sugar cane juice is available in many cities in India. It can be
served alone or with ginger and lemon. In some areas, fresh water and
clean drinking water may not be readily available. Yogurt-based drinks
are common in some areas, lassi in India and Pakistan, and doogh in some
western parts of Asia such as Iran and Armenia.
Alcohol is widely
available throughout North, Southeast and East Asia. Larger cities or
tourist areas often have a trendy night scene. Alcohol is illegal in
some parts of India and in some Middle Eastern countries. While beer is
commonly available in countries that serve alcohol, it often uses rice
as its staple grain, which affects the flavor somewhat. Another common
drink, especially in Japan, Korea and China, is "rice wine" (closer to
beer because it contains more starch than sugar) which is sold and
produced under various names and with a variety of variations on the
basic recipe. .
Usually the largest city or capital has the best
nightclubs. Tea is a common drink, especially in East Asia. In tropical
areas, there is a lot of fresh fruit and coconut juice, which makes the
heat of these areas more bearable.
Leave
In Asia it is not
very common to go out in the European style, almost always seasoned with
alcohol. Either because there are many countries that are Muslim, which
have prohibited alcohol, or because genetically some Asian peoples are
not prepared for it, it is not very common. In any case, after
globalization, the style of nightlife imported from Europe has spread,
and one can always find pubs or discos; many of them frequented by
locals, and others by foreigners. Alcohol will continue to be expensive
and scarce for what we are used to in Europe or America, but at least
one will be able to go out and have a good time as he is used to.
In China, Korea and Japan, karaoke is very common.
Sail among the
spectacular limestone karsts, islets and islands, in the emerald blue
sea of Ha Long Bay.
Sleep aboard a houseboat on the backwaters of
India's Kerala.
Experience the architecture of the Taj Mahal Agra in
India.
Dive into a crystal blue sea in Bunaken, Indonesia to see a
colorful coral reef and its wide variety of tropical fish.
Climb
Mount Everest, the highest point on earth (Nepal) or K2, the second
highest, in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Explore Borneo, an island divided
between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei that contains one of the oldest
tropical rainforests in the world.
Climb Mount Bromo, Indonesia, an
active volcanic mountain that has incredible scenery during sunrise.
Take a tour of Yogyakarta, Indonesia's cultural hub and gateway to see
the magnificent Borobudur Buddhist Temple and the Prambanan Hindu
Temple.
Explore Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in Indonesia and
the world.
Visit Lombok, a popular island to the east of Bali, with
its beautiful white sand beaches and the famous Gili Trawangan Island
and the mighty Mount Rinjani located in Indonesia.
Climb Mount Fuji,
an icon of Japan
Asia has a large number of dive sites, from
snorkeling to diving, with very interesting underwater life and quite a
few shipwrecks. For more information
Visit Cox's Bazar, the world's
longest sea beach, and Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest,
in Bangladesh.
Watch anime and manga in Japan.
Go shopping for
Persian rugs in the bazaars of Central Asia.
For the seasoned
traveler, visit the world's two Stalinist countries, Turkmenistan or
North Korea. on a guided tour.
Gamble at some of the world's largest
casinos in Macau.
Experience ancient Silk Road caravanserais like
Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
Relax on a beach in the Maldives.
Visit
the Holy Land in Israel and Palestine.
Ride the Trans-Siberian
Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok and experience Siberia from the
comfort of a train car.
Journey through Asia's cradles of mankind,
into the Indus River Valley, Yellow River Valley, and Mesopotamia.
Visit the national parks and protected areas of India.
Many areas of Asia, especially Southeast Asia and South Asia, are
humid tropical, and there are health risks associated with traveling in
those regions. See tropical diseases and country articles for specific
information.
Parts of Asia, like Mongolia and Siberia, have very
harsh winters. See cold and country/region articles for more
information.
In some areas, such as Tibet, travelers will have to
take precautions to avoid altitude sickness and in other places such as
India, diseases are present due to overcrowding, for which it is
suggested to be vaccinated.