Ray Montgomery

With an entire month at your disposal, Southeast Asia opens up a world of contrasting experiences for curious culture vultures, adventurers, foodies, and nature lovers.    Prepare for an epic 30-day multi-country itinerary over land, sea and air. Even a month won’t fit it all in, so we’ve highlighted the unmissable destination hotspots across four countries. It’s a flexible itinerary that allows for unplanned side trips. After all, some of the most rewarding experiences are those unscripted surprises you uncover while on the road. It’s an itinerary that ticks all the boxes. Explore the culture, history and art of colonial Singapore and Malaysia and get horizontal on the tropical beaches of Bali and Phuket. There is also plenty of time and opportunity for adventure, from surfing, scuba diving, swimming with turtles, and volcano trekking. READ MORE: The most spectacular places to visit in Asia and The best hotels in Asia right now

The colonial British, Dutch, and French have all left an indelible mark on Asian cities. Since the 1990s, however, tiger economies have altered the skylines of cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok. At the same time, Hong Kong has reinvented itself as a cutting-edge arts hub, best seen in its dramatic modernist buildings. But if you know what to look out for, you’ll notice that Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism still influence much of the modern architecture transforming the region today.  In short, Asia offers a rich and compelling mix of architectural styles. Take a journey through the many layers of Asian urban design with these top architectural gems from the past and present. READ MORE: The most spectacular places to visit in Asia and The best places in Asia to visit in 2025

Indonesia, a land of idyllic islands in their thousands, is so much more than just sugary white sand, scuba diving, and epic surfing. Indonesia’s location in the heart of the Pacific Ring of Fire has carved out a landscape of immense volcanic peaks, crater lakes, dramatic valleys, and cascading waterfalls. Explore its lush interior, and you’ll unlock more than 100 active volcanoes, an emerald green tapestry of paddy fields, and dense jungle. Strap on your boots and backpack to tackle some of the best hikes in Indonesia. READ MORE: The best volcanoes for a hike in Indonesia and The most stunning beaches in Indonesia

Whether a newcomer to the region or a seasoned Asia explorer, there’s no denying travelling to a new place in Asia is always a full-on educational experience. A trip to a museum is a portal to understanding what a destination is all about through its art, culture, history and identity. Asia has some of the world’s oldest civilisations, offering immersive journeys into the past while the region’s sheer diversity throws up a steaming melting pot of contrasting cultures. Here are our top picks for Asia’s finest museum experiences. READ MORE: Where to travel in Asia in 2025 and The best places to visit in Asia

Indonesia: 13,000+ islands spread across three time zones. That’s an awful lot of sand to get horizontal on. This land is where spectacular sandy bays and secret coves are seemingly around every corner. Who wouldn’t want to spend a day (or longer) with a deserted palm-fringed island all to themselves?  From Bali’s lively beach bum vibe to hideaway coves to play castaway on, there is a stretch of soft golden sand waiting for every adventurous soul. Swim with turtles, dive shipwrecks, or spend days surfing barreling waves. Here are our top picks for Indonesia’s most sublime shorelines, all easily reached from major tourist hubs. RECOMMENDED: The most incredible places to visit in Indonesia and The most stunning island getaways in Indonesia

This unique museum shines a light on the side of Vietnamese society very few travellers get to see. It tells the stories, customs and legends of the 54 recognised ethnic groups in Vietnam. Vibrant displays showcase Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage through old artefacts, photos, and multimedia presentations. The standout feature is the extensive outdoor display of traditional houses of various ethnic groups and a full-size replica of a traditional village. A section of the museum also displays exhibits from other Southeast Asian ethnic groups, showing how the influence of some Vietnamese tribal communities has extended across borders.

Also known as the Death Railway Museum, this is arguably Thailand’s most evocative museum facility. In a dignified manner, it retells the harrowing story of prisoners’ fight to survive under extreme conditions while building the Thailand–Burma Railway. It is told through a variety of wartime artefacts and film footage, and uniquely, from the viewpoint of both allied prisoners of war and their Japanese captors. Combine a visit with a sobering stroll on the infamous 300m-long bridge, and see the old WWII-era trains and remembrance gardens. The nearby JEATH Museum also eloquently describes the forced labour conditions experienced building the railway, mainly through a collage of photos and journals donated by POW survivors.

Getting a handle on the history, culture and traditions of a nation as vast and diverse as Indonesia means an inevitable stop at the National Museum in Jakarta. Established over 150 years ago, it’s one of the oldest museums of its kind in Southeast Asia. The monumental collection numbers more than 100,000 artifacts and spans prehistory, the Hindu and Buddhist Kingdoms, the Indonesian sultans, colonial times and WWII occupation. The museum showcases Indonesian artistic culture with comprehensive displays of traditional Batik garments, Dayak puppets, ancient gamelan-style instruments, and ceramics. Free English and foreign language tours are conducted several times a week.