South East Asia is without a doubt on every travellers Bucket List, simply because it has a lot to offer. Be it experimenting different street food options or immersing yourself in nature or visiting some of the most picturesque beaches in the World or admiring the diversity in marine life underwater. And trust me, no matter how many times you visit, you still wont be able to experience everything. Which is why, we have compiled this list of the Ultimate Bucket List Experiences in South East Asia, as recommended by travellers and travel blogger themselves.
Contents
- Experiencing the White Sand Beaches in Boracay
- Seeing Komodo Dragons in Komodo National Park
- Swimming with Whale Sharks in Donsol | Sorsogon
- River Safari in Borneo
- Kiteboarding in Kalpitiya
- Scuba Diving in Coron | Palawan
- Visiting the Instagrammable Nine Arch Bridge in Ella
- Experimenting Thai Street Food in pop up restaurants in Bangkok
- Visiting George Town’s UNESCO Heritage Site
- Visiting Dieng Plateau
- Seeing an Orangutan in the Wild in North Sumatra
- Related
Experiencing the White Sand Beaches in Boracay
Recommended by Marquis of Kiki La Gringa
Photo by Laurentiu Morariu on Unsplash
Boracay has one of the finest white sand beaches in the world! The island is surrounded by blue waters and white sand but the best stretch of beach is at Station 1. It is worth a visit, especially at sunset for vivid orange and purple skies.
An afternoon is well-spent on a catamaran going around the island and to neighbouring islets. If you’re into water sports there are plenty of companies that offer banana boat rides, kiteboarding, and even scuba diving.
The beach is so beautiful, that lounging on the sand and just chilling will be a great vacation too!
Seeing Komodo Dragons in Komodo National Park
Recommended by De Wet of Museum of Wander
Visiting Komodo National Park in Indonesia is an epic adventure. Where else on earth can you see real dragons? The Komodo dragons are enormous, prehistoric-looking reptiles that you can only see on five small islands near the town of Labuan Bajo on Flores island.
The best places to see these gigantic lizards are on Komodo or Rinca islands. Park rangers meet boats docking at these islands and will take you on a guided walk through the natural habitat of the Komodo dragons.
Your guide will track down the dragons, point out dragon nests, and take nice photos of you from an angle that makes the dragons appear enormous in front of you. Park fees at Rinca island are RP 150 000 (USD10) for foreigners, including the guide’s service.
Swimming with Whale Sharks in Donsol | Sorsogon
Recommended by Bernadette of Book Retreats
Photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash
For a chance to swim with whale sharks head to Donsol, Sorsogon. It is one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks. And it can be exciting since you have to get on a boat and lookouts will tell you when to dive into the water to swim next to the whale sharks. It is also an amazing place to go scuba diving to see humongous manta rays and other sea creatures.
Donsol is one hour away from Manila by plane and the best time to see the whale sharks are in April and May.
River Safari in Borneo
Recommended by Kerry Hanson from VeggTravel
Kinabatangan river safari is one of the most popular tour destinations in Borneo. The region is home to abundant wildlife, ranging from orangutans and elephants to macaques and Proboscis monkeys. The Kinabatangan River safari offers an awe-inspiring glimpse into the natural splendour of this Southeast Asian rainforest.
Choose from morning or afternoon river safaris that will take you on a journey through some of Borneo’s most pristine landscapes, including the Kinabatangan River National Park. Stay in an eco-lodge in the middle of the rainforest and watch out for wild elephants passing by. If you appreciate nature and wildlife, Kinabatangan river safari needs to be added to your bucket list.
Kiteboarding in Kalpitiya
Scuba Diving in Coron | Palawan
Recommended by Bernadette of Live a Relaxed Life
Photo by John Hernandez on Unsplash
The limestone cliffs around Coron, Palawan are one of the reasons to visit this small city in the Philippines. In the clear blue waters are World War II shipwrecks – some you can see by snorkeling and others you’ll have to scuba dive to get up close. Kayaking and boating are great ways to get around and into the limestone mountains for a swim in a lagoon.
Kayangan Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in Asia and it is worth the trek up and into the cove. While at the top make sure to take a picture of the surrounding islands and mountains, it will be the most scenic picture of your trip!
Visiting the Instagrammable Nine Arch Bridge in Ella
Recommended by Helen Wildgoose of Curious Goose Travel
The Nine Arch bridge is one of the most visited landmarks in the popular backpacker town of Ella in Sri Lanka. The iconic bridge is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by thick forest and tea plantations, making it one of Sri Lanka’s most instagrammable spots!
If you are lucky, you might also catch the train as it passes over the bridge.
The best way to get to the Nine Arch Bridge is by tuk tuk from Ella. Many of the tuk tuk drivers will wait for you whilst you take your photos and walk over the bridge. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, you can walk to the Nine Arch bridge from Ella. For a longer walk, combine it with a hike to Little Adams Peak, which is another great attraction to visit when you are in Ella.
You can’t travel to Ella in Sri Lanka without visiting the famous Nine Arch bridge, it is an impressive sight!
Experimenting Thai Street Food in pop up restaurants in Bangkok
Visiting George Town’s UNESCO Heritage Site
Recommended by Marco Ferrarese of Penang Insider
Visiting George Town on the northwestern Malaysian island of Penang is a must when in Southeast Asia. Founded by Francis Light in 1786, Penang island best expresses its multi-ethnic flavour in its capital, George Town. It’s a unique mix of former colonial architecture blending European and Middle-eastern elements, nestled in the northeastern corner of the island that once was a crucial port on the Straits Sea.
Today, after the UNESCO inscription in 2008 brought in more and more tourists, that decadent old-world atmosphere still oozes from George Town’s busy streets. And even if they have gentrified with street art, hip cafes and charming Penang Heritage hotels, walking in the streets of George Town and up to its sea-facing Esplanade where the British-built Fort Cornwallis today welcomes cruises instead of warships, are a traveller’s delight.
Visiting Dieng Plateau
Recommended by Marya Sutimi from The BeauTraveler
Photo by Masyitha Mutiara Ramadhan on Unsplash
Dieng Plateau, known as just Dieng for the locals, is situated 2093 meters above sea level between Banjarnegara and Wonosobo district in Central Java, Indonesia.
Seeing an Orangutan in the Wild in North Sumatra
Recommended by Abi from IGOA-Adventure
Photo by Jorge Franganillo on Unsplash
One of the ultimate bucket list experiences in South East Asia has got to be seeing an orangutan in the wild! It’s something which was on my bucket list forever and when the opportunity arose we jumped at the chance.
We were heading to North Sumatra in Indonesia, one of the last remaining habitats for this endangered species, for a week long adventure of jungle treks. There’s only two places to see wild orangutans – North Sumatra and Borneo – which is what makes this experience so incredible! One area where you are almost guaranteed to see them is in a little village called Bukit Lawang.
From Bukit Lawang it’s possible to go on excursions into the National Park to find these adorable animals. We were lucky enough to spot a mother nesting with her baby and had a close encounter with another. It was the best experience and I would seriously recommend visiting North Sumatra for this ultimate bucket list experience!
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