I really enjoyed the first post I did on places that are a bit off the beaten “tourist” path in Europe earlier this year and as I got to thinking about it, I think it’s so worthwhile to not only show off the large cities that everyone goes to all over the world but also the ones that don’t get as much attention. Asia is no different and there are so many amazing spots all over the continent that aren’t the typical places for tourists to choose to explore, but so worthwhile all the same. These are some of my favorite spots in Asia that aren’t going to be your typical suggestions when traveling.
During my trips to South Korea for work, I spent a lot of time traveling throughout the country to go to job sites at American military bases throughout. One of the spots that I got to visit and that really struck me was the city of Dongducheon in the Northern part of South Korea, about 45 minutes away from the North Korean Border. This tree lined town has a gorgeous landscape, surrounded by green mountains and filled with small side streets, offering amazing local Korean food and small shops and markets. For a real dose of local Korean culture without the crowds of Seoul, this little gem is a perfect spot.
While Siem Reap is sure to become a tourist staple within the next five years, I’m so glad we got to experience it while it’s still relatively unknown to many people. Before we went I had so many people say to me, “Where is Siem Reap and why would you go there?” To be honest, I was kind of glad to hear that thinking it wouldn’t be super crowded. And while there were definitely a large number of tourists there, the town of Siem Reap still feels authentic. A good majority of people we tell about our trip there don’t know it until we mention Tomb Raider, though I have a suspicion that Siem Reap is going to only get busier and busier as more people flock to the Angkor temples in the years to come.
While most people planning a trip to India hit the major designations like Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai, there are so many amazing hidden spots within the country too that offer the uniqueness of India without the masses of people. Udaipur is one such destination and while honestly, I’d love it to stay that way for years to come and I secretly hope that people don’t really catch on to the beauty of this city, it really is a hidden gem. We fell in love with India, much credit to this gorgeous lakeside city. The magic is Rajasthan is real here and among colorful buildings, incredible landscape and grand palaces, Udaipur is one of those places you’ll want to return to as soon as you leave.
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Susanne V. says
This is a great post! These are places I didn’t really know about and they are now definitly going on my list of places to go.
Casey Martin says
Thank you! 🙂 So glad they got added to your list!
Krystal R. says
Great post as usual. I watched a show as a kid about Kathmandu and then I saw it on House Hunters Inda a while back. When I went to Hyderabad there were contrasts of magnificent buildings and then slums. I heard itss not like that in Kathmandu and I think thats a great off the beaten path location I’d love to explore!
Casey Martin says
Thanks so much Krystal! Yes, I’ve actually heard some amazing things about Kathmandu, I think that’s a gorgeous area!
Kelley Matney says
Great Post! Heading away from the typical tourist cities is always a great idea, it gives you a better feel of what the country is like for the people that live there.
Casey Martin says
Totally, I love finding places that aren’t such tourist hot spots, you really get a better sense of the place and country.