The best countries to visit in Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population. During the 20th century Asia's population nearly quadrupled.
No other continent boasts greater extremes than Asia. Beyond its many geographic blessings, Asia is home to a tapestry of cultures and histories that make for a unique travel portal to the origins of civilization.
More than that, Asia today is home to a conglomerate of populations happy to show off their homes and their history. Open your eyes, mind and heart to the Asian experience and you'll wish you'd started the journey years ago.
1. China China is a world unto itself - a jigsaw of historic change, geographic diversity and spiritual wonder. Start your journey at one of the world's Great Wonders, the Great Wall: the 200 year old structure is simply breathtaking.
2. ThailandThis nation's breathtaking natural beauty is surpassed only by its people. Let them show you the wonders of their homeland - the historic temples, the humble villages and the magnifi cent ancient ruins.
3. JapanFor a quick cultural snapshot, head for Kyoto, home to many of Japan's National Treasures. Or lose yourself in Tokyo and its myriad cultural delights: the Imperial Palace, Asakusa Kaman and ikebana flower-arranging.
4. Sri LankaThis island nation south of India is just the right size for a completely satisfying tour of discovery. Wander among the shrines of the medieval city of Polonnaruwa and devour a criss-cross of cultural wonders in the hill capital of Kandy.
5. NepalThere is much more to Nepal than trekking adventures, but how you approach it will depend on your own personal journey. Whether you're looking to make a difference in the world's 12th poorest country or to experience natural riches beyond compare, this nation won't disappoint.
6. IndiaThis exotic nation's culture is like a giant maze: complex, all-consuming and so easy to get lost within. No exploration would be complete without visiting India's most famous attraction - the Taj Mahal. If life has reached the time for refl ection, this is where you need to be: looking down the Refl ection Pond at a monument built of love, grief and 40,000 hands.
7. MyanmarThe land formerly known as Burma is at once complex and captivating. One of the earliest homes of mankind, it can deliver the travel experience of a lifetime but is ultimately dependent on good travel advice to assure a safe passage.
Worth it? Absolutely!
8. PakistanNorthern Pakistan is the holiday you'll simply have to tell your friends about ... because none of them will have been there. It's remote and brimming with fascinating ethnic diversity. Worth it alone is railing through historic Khyber Pass.
9. VietnamVietnam is a nation of difference, history and charm. Begin in Hanoi, home to many of Vietnam's cultural icons, then venture to the Sapa hill tribes and unforgettable Halong Bay.
10. CambodiaThis once war-ravaged nation has emerged from decades of isolation to reveal a mighty soul: Base your holiday at Angkor Wat, archaeological ruins consistently voted among the most breathtaking man-made sites on earth.