The Best Less Known Asia Travel Destinations to Travel to in 2020

Asia is one of the most amazing place to travel. Asia offers a variety of cultures and beautiful landscapes that anyone is sure to love. Traveling in Asia also offers a wide variety of choices that it can be overwhelming. There are many major cities in Asia that are worth traveling to but I want to share some cities with you that are bit less known, or off the typical tourist track. Below are some of my favorites less traveled Asian destinations. Please leave your favorites in the comments below!

Guilin and Yangshuo China

Guilin and Yangshuo are two cities in China that are right next to eachother located in the southern province of Guangxi. They both offer some of the most serene and beautiful views that I have ever had the opportunity to lay my eyes on. They have the backdrop of the Karst mountains and is home to the Li River. The best thing to do is to rent a bike or bicycles and wander outside the main city streets. You feel like the only person around going through farmland as you see the mountains in the distance.

Chengdu, China

Beijing and Shanghai are the largest and most well known cities in China. Those cities in China have amazing things to do and see but another great city to consider is Chengdu. I was lucky enough to call Chengdu home for two years and it really has a special place in my heart. This city, that they call the gateway to Tibet, is home to modern architecture, historical temples, delicious Sichuan cuisine, lively parks, surrounding mountains and the amazing Panda Research base. Travel to Chengdu to get a taste of both modern and ancient China along with beautiful greenery. Just a quick high speed train ride away and you can see the Terracotta warriors in Xi’an, visit the famous giant Buddha in Leshan, hike Mt. Emei, one of the sacred Buddhist mountains or experience the bustling municipality of Chongqing.

Antalya, Turkey

Antalya is a stunning seaside town in Turkey that I never heard of until I was actually traveling in Turkey. It has a beautiful harbor with crystal clear water that looks gorgeous against the mountainous background. Antalya offers high end resorts that are outside the main city for a great escape. I stayed in the older part of town in Antalya (Kaleici) and I highly recommend staying there. A great budget hotel that has an amazing breakfast and is also clean is the Route Hotel in Kaleici. There are cute shops, cafes, beautiful beach spots and a lot of history. I fell in love with this little resort town in Turkey. You can get to Antalya by flight from Istanbul at a very reasonable price. I highly recommend a side trip to this gem during your travels in Turkey.

Amritsar, Punjab, India

Amritsar may not be a city that you have heard of in India. It is not on the typical tourist route, though you will find people from all over traveling through this intriguing city. It his home to the largest Sikh temple, known as the golden temple. It is a beautiful structure, but what goes on daily in this sacred place is even more beautiful. At the golden temple langer (community kitchen with a free meal) is given throughout the day no matter your race or religion. The Golden Temple feeds over 100,000 people a day. We got to experience langer and it is one my favorite travel experiences. Seeing the organization and volunteers that take part daily was truly special. Amritsar itself is a city that is very vibrant and gives you a real taste of India culture, plus a taste of the best Indian food you could ever have! If you go I highly recommend the restaurant Kesar Da Dhaba, is incredible, the thali is to die for!

Bagan, Myanmar

Myanmar travel is really starting to boom and for good reason. Myanmar is an amazing country to travel to and has so much to offer. It only opened up to tourism about 5 years ago and now people are really seeing the beauty it offers. The larger cities of Yangon and Mandalay are wonderful, but Bagan is truly magical. It offers more piece and quite and hundreds of temples that offer history and a beautiful view when looking out onto the landscape. Bagan has a small airport nearby or you can take one of the VIP overnight buses from many cities around Myanmar. They are very cost effective and a nice way to get around, book them through JJExpress.

Alleppey, Kerala, India

This southern state of India is one that is not to miss! It offers a different experience than that of the north, a more tranquil and tropical experience. The best thing to do in Kerala India is to rent a private houseboat to tour down the backwaters. The views are amazing! The amount of time and what the boats come with can vary, but no matter what you choose it is very affordable. We went down the backwaters of Alleppey for 2 days and 1 night, with our own chef. We enjoyed amazing food and views that were truly unforgettable. You can also visit nice beaches and enjoy the more laid back city vibe. Another great thing to do while you are there is to experience an ayurvedic spa!

Tioman Island, Malaysia

This is the only place on the list that I have not actually traveled to myself, yet. This Island in Malaysia is located off the the east Peninsula and is in the south China sea. Its home to beautiful stunning Malaysian beaches that surround the nature reserve. It is known for its amazing diving. It is a Rainforest that hosts many different species of animals. Tioman Island should be on your list if you are looking for beautiful beaches and nature that is more untouched compared to Langkawi, Bali or some of Thailand’s beaches.

There are so many amazing options of places to go when traveling in Asia but these are a few that you may not have heard of before. I recommend any of these locations highly! I would love to hear your favorite less known travel places in Asia or where you plan to travel to in 2020. Tell us in the comments below!!

Health, Love & Happiness,

Courtney