30 places to discover
Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary is an open wildlife sanctuary spread across 13 villages near Abohar in Fazilka District, Punjab. Established in 1975 and notified as a sanctuary in 2000, it covers private farmlands and semi-arid scrub of the Bishnoi community. It is notable for its large free-ranging population of blackbuck and nilgai, protected by the Bishnoi people, and offers wildlife viewing in a unique community-managed landscape.
Ayamaru Lakes are a group of karst lakes located in Ayamaru District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua, Indonesia. The system includes Lake Ayamaru, Lake Hain and smaller interconnected lakes surrounded by low karst hills and villages. Notable for clear freshwater, seasonal water level changes and scenic rural landscape, the lakes are a natural attraction in the interior Bird's Head Peninsula and support local fishing and community life.
Bai Xep Beach is a small, relatively undeveloped beach located about 14 km north of Tuy Hoa city in Dak Lak Province (formerly Phu Yen Province). It features golden sand, clear turquoise water and distinctive black basalt rock formations beside a traditional fishing village. The beach gained national attention as a filming location for the film Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass and is noted for its tranquil, scenic and unspoiled coastal landscape.
Baliem Valley is a broad, fertile highland valley in Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia, surrounding the town of Wamena at about 1,600 meters elevation. Enclosed by the Jayawijaya Mountains and traversed by the Baliem River, it is known for its traditional Dani, Lani and Yali villages, terraced sweet potato fields and annual cultural festival. The valley is a major trekking and cultural tourism destination in Papua.
Balut Island is a volcanic island in the municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, at the southern tip of the Philippines in the Celebes Sea. Part of the Sarangani island group, it is dominated by Mount Balut, an active stratovolcano. The island is known for its black sand beaches, coral reefs, fishing villages and Sangil communities, offering a remote, largely undeveloped natural setting distinct from mainland Mindanao.
Ban Ba Waterfall is a three-tiered cascade waterfall located in Trung Ha Commune, Chiem Hoa District, Tuyen Quang Province, about 80 km from Tuyen Quang City. Stretching over 3 km with a vertical drop of around 100 meters, it flows through primary forest and forms clear natural pools. The site is notable for its forested landscape and association with the Tay ethnic community in Ban Ba village.
Batudaka Island is the largest island in the Togian (Togean) Archipelago in the Gulf of Tomini, Tojo Una-Una Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. It hosts Wakai, the main gateway village and harbor for the Togian Islands National Park. The island is notable for its white-sand beaches, mangrove coasts, coral reefs, and Bajo settlements, serving as a base for diving, snorkeling, and island-hopping across the national park.
Besoa Valley (Lembah Besoa) is a highland valley in Lore Tengah District, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi, within Lore Lindu National Park. Situated at about 1,200 meters elevation, it is renowned for its extensive megalithic remains, including stone statues, kalambas and burial jars dating back thousands of years. The valley combines scenic agricultural landscapes, traditional villages and archaeological sites, forming one of three major megalithic valleys alongside Bada and Napu.
The Hapao Rice Terraces are a cluster of ancient stone-walled terraces located in Barangay Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao, in the northern Philippines. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, they are known for their extensive, well-preserved stepped fields irrigated by the Hapao River. Built by Ifugao ancestors, the terraces showcase traditional engineering and remain actively cultivated, forming a living cultural landscape.
Hawai is the headquarters of Anjaw District in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, located in the Lohit River valley at an elevation of about 1,296 metres. Surrounded by the Mishmi Hills, it serves as the administrative and cultural centre of the remote Anjaw region near the India-Myanmar border. The town is notable for its scenic valley landscape, Mishmi tribal culture, and as a base for visiting nearby attractions like Walong, Kibithu and Dong Valley.
Krayan Highlands is a remote highland plateau in Krayan District, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, near the Malaysia border in interior Borneo. At about 900-1,000 meters elevation, it consists of fertile valleys and scattered villages inhabited mainly by the Lundayeh (Lun Bawang) people. Notable for organic Adan Krayan rice, natural salt springs, and well-preserved Dayak culture, it lies within the Heart of Borneo area and is known for its cool climate and highland landscapes.
Lake Paniai is a large natural freshwater lake in Paniai Timur District, Paniai Regency, Central Papua, Indonesia, situated at approximately 1,700 meters above sea level in the central highlands. Part of the Paniai Lakes system with Lakes Tage and Tigi, it is known for its expansive clear waters, surrounding hills and traditional villages. The lake supports local fishing communities and is noted for scenic highland landscapes and biodiversity.
Lake Toba is a large natural volcanic lake in North Sumatra, Indonesia, centered in Samosir Regency. Formed by a supervolcanic eruption approximately 74,000 years ago, it is the largest volcanic lake in the world and the largest lake in Southeast Asia. The lake contains Samosir Island at its center and is renowned for its scenic mountain surroundings, cool climate, and significance as the cultural heartland of the Batak people.
Lak Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Dak Lak Province and the second largest natural lake in Vietnam, located in Lien Son Township, Lak District, about 56 km south of Buon Ma Thuot. Surrounded by low hills and forests, it covers about 6.2 sq km and is notable for its scenic landscape, traditional M'Nong villages, dugout canoes, and the former Bao Dai Palace overlooking the water.
Mabul Island is a small oval-shaped island located off the southeastern coast of Sabah near Semporna, within the Celebes Sea. Covering about 20 hectares, it is renowned as one of the world's top muck-diving destinations due to its rich marine biodiversity and proximity to Sipadan Island. The island features sandy beaches, coconut palms, traditional Bajau Laut stilt villages, and numerous dive resorts that attract underwater photographers and divers.
The Mayoyao Rice Terraces are a cluster of ancient stone-walled terraces located in the municipality of Mayoyao in Ifugao Province, northern Luzon, Philippines. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, they are distinguished by stone masonry and interlinked with traditional villages. Carved into steep mountainsides by Ifugao ancestors, the terraces remain actively cultivated with rice and demonstrate enduring indigenous agricultural engineering and landscape management.
Mon Town is the headquarters of Mon District in northeastern Nagaland, near the borders with Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Situated at about 897 metres elevation, it is the cultural centre of the Konyak Naga tribe, formerly known for headhunting traditions. The town serves as a base for visiting nearby traditional villages, offers views of surrounding hills and valleys, and is known for its vibrant tribal heritage, woodcraft, and the annual Aoling festival.
Mu Cang Chai Terraced Fields are extensive rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai District, Lao Cai Province, northwestern Vietnam, about 280 km from Hanoi. Created over centuries by the H'Mong people on steep mountain slopes, the fields cover around 500 hectares across La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and De Xu Phinh communes. Designated a National Heritage Site in 2007, they are noted for their layered landscape, seasonal color changes and traditional agricultural system.
Muong Hoa Valley is a large valley located about 8-10 km southeast of Sa Pa town in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. It is notable for its extensive terraced rice fields along the Muong Hoa River, traditional villages of H'Mong, Dao and Giay ethnic groups, and the Sapa Ancient Rock Field with carved stones. The valley is one of Sa Pa's most scenic landscapes and a center for trekking and cultural tourism.
Na Ka Plum Valley is a large plum orchard valley in Tan Lap Commune, Moc Chau District, Son La Province, northwestern Vietnam, about 16 km from Moc Chau town. Covering over 100 hectares, it is one of the largest plum cultivation areas on the Moc Chau Plateau. The valley is notable for its seasonal white plum blossoms in late winter and plum harvest in late spring, offering expansive rural scenery of orchards, low hills and farming hamlets.
Pa Khoang Lake is a large artificial reservoir located about 20 km northeast of Dien Bien Phu city in Dien Bien Province, northwest Vietnam. Constructed between 1974 and 1979, it serves irrigation and water regulation for the Muong Thanh valley. Surrounded by forested hills and Thai ethnic villages, the lake is notable for its scenic landscape, calm waters, islands, and role as a recreational and eco-tourism destination near Dien Bien Phu.
Palin is the headquarters town of Kra Daadi district in central Arunachal Pradesh, situated in a scenic valley along the Palin River surrounded by forested hills. Predominantly inhabited by the Nyishi tribe, it serves as the administrative and cultural centre of the district created in 2015. The town is notable for its tranquil hill landscape, traditional tribal villages, terraced fields and as a base for exploring the natural surroundings of central Arunachal Pradesh.
Phong Nam Valley is a broad karst valley in Phong Nam Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam, within the UNESCO Cao Bang Global Geopark. Notable for its flat rice paddy fields framed by limestone peaks, winding village roads and traditional Tay and Nung stilt houses along the Quay Son River, the valley is valued for scenic rural landscapes, seasonal rice colors and tranquil village scenery near Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Sainj Valley is a V-shaped Himalayan valley located in the eastern part of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, approximately 35 km from district headquarters. Spanning about 90 sq. km, it forms an integral part of the Great Himalayan National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site and follows the course of the Sainj River. The valley is noted for its alpine meadows, ancient wooden tower temples, traditional villages like Shangarh, and rich biodiversity within the Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary.
Seppa is the administrative headquarters of East Kameng district in western Arunachal Pradesh, situated on the banks of the Kameng River at an elevation of about 363 metres. Surrounded by forested hills and river valleys, it serves as a gateway to remote tribal villages and natural areas of the district. The town is known for its Nyishi tribal culture, scenic river landscape, and as a base for exploring nearby valleys, forests and traditional settlements.
Sin Ho Plateau is a high mountain plateau in Sin Ho District, Lai Chau Province in northwestern Vietnam, situated at about 1,500 meters above sea level. Known for its cool year-round climate, frequent cloud cover and scenic mountain landscapes, it is notable for wild orchids, plum and buckwheat flower seasons, and villages of H'Mong and Dao ethnic groups. The plateau centers on Sin Ho town and offers panoramic views, traditional markets and rural trekking routes.
Tirthan Valley is a river valley in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, centered around the village of Gushaini along the Tirthan River. It serves as a primary gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is characterized by dense forests, trout-filled rivers, apple orchards, and traditional villages. It is notable for eco-tourism, hiking trails, birdwatching, and serving as a base for treks into the park's buffer and core zones.
Togean Islands National Park is a marine national park in the Gulf of Tomini, Tojo Una-Una Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Established in 2004, it covers approximately 362,000 hectares including 56 islands, extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves. The park is notable for high marine biodiversity, clear waters, fringing reefs, and traditional Bajau settlements, and is a major destination for diving and snorkeling in central Indonesia.
Tomia Island is one of the four main islands of Wakatobi Regency in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, located within Wakatobi National Park. Known for its extensive coral reefs and clear waters, it is a major diving and snorkeling destination in the Banda Sea. The island features white-sand beaches, small coastal villages, and the private Wakatobi Dive Resort. It is accessible via Maranggo Airport and by boat from Wangi-Wangi.
Tua Chua Rock Plateau is a vast karst plateau in Tua Chua District, Dien Bien Province in northwestern Vietnam. Situated around Tua Chua town at about 1,000 meters elevation, it is characterized by rugged grey limestone formations, rocky fields and scattered valleys. Notable for its stark, arid karst landscape similar to Dong Van, it is interspersed with Hmong villages, seasonal buckwheat and rapeseed flower fields, and offers panoramic views of the mountainous region.