The three historic Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley offer visitors a journey into the heart of Nepal’s heritage. They contain many of country’s finest temples, both Hindu and Buddhist, along with centuries-old royal palaces. Despite being badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake, the squares remain full of atmosphere, and of buildings that retain the power to dazzle any visitor.
Thailand is well known for its luxury spas and beach resorts, and now many of these are competing with India offering high quality yoga and meditation retreats. Our yoga expert takes a look at what is on offer from Phuket in the south up to Chiang Mai in the north, and recommends five of the best — two in the luxury category, two mid-range resorts and one that will appeal to the budget traveller.
Jewel Changi Airport is Singapore’s latest attraction. A huge glass and steel dome, it’s designed to add to the Changi experience and increase visitor numbers, with its remarkable indoor waterfall, entertainment areas, shops, gardens and over 100 eateries. We take a look at what Jewel has to offer senior travellers.
Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is well known for its white beaches and historic temples. Being a Hindu pilgrimage town, it receives a large number of domestic tourists, but it’s also a popular inclusion on South India tour itineraries for international visitors. A local travel expert recommends the top 5 places to see in Rameswaram for senior travellers.
Singapore may be one of Asia’s wealthiest and most advanced countries but it has taken care to preserve memories of its colourful past as a British colony. This is particularly true of the pivotal role it played in World War II. Older travellers with an interest in history are likely to find a visit to the country’s only surviving coastal fort, Fort Siloso, absorbing. Built on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, the fort is today a military museum focusing on the tumultuous events of the war.
It’s always enjoyable to do something new in a city you’ve visited before. This is especially true when it offers the opportunity to get out of the city centre and travel into the surrounding countryside. One such attraction in Nepal is the Chandragiri Hills cable car on the outskirts of Kathmandu, which opened in 2016.
Visiting the colourful provincial festivals in the Philippines can be a stressful experience for senior travellers because of the distance, heat, crowds and noise. But there is one festival close to Manila that can be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace, and still offers all the elements of the larger ones — colour, tradition, culture and local foods to sample.
India has hundreds of trekking destinations from the Himalayas in the north to the bottom end of the Western Gnats in the south, but not all are suitable for older travellers. Manmohan Singh describes his five favourites that are ideal for over-50s and other travellers who like to do their trekking at a slower pace.
The fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on 15 April 2019 has revived memories of how accidents and natural disasters have devastated sacred buildings in other countries. We take a look at similar tragedies in Asian countries, and how the authorities have handled them.
Bhutan’s national animal, the takin, is surely one of Asia’s oddest-looking animals. It appears to be a combination of several creatures, including a goat, a cow, a moose and a muskox. Its origins puzzle experts, who have placed it in a species category of its own. The best place for visitors to see these unusual animals is a wildlife preserve in the hills on the outskirts of the capital, Thimphu.
From experiential art installations to raptors and turtles, the emirate of Sharjah in the UAE offers a plethora of things to do and places to see for the senior traveller. Guest author, Ambica Gulati, describes her 4-day visit to this destination on the Persian Gulf that is growing in popularity with visitors from overseas.
TripAdvisor has unveiled its 25 top destinations for 2019 and, not surprisingly, they include many places in Asia. Its annual Travellers' Choice Awards are based on the reviews and ratings of TripAdvisor users around the world. Here’s a look at the 10 Asian destinations that made the list and what they have to offer older travellers.
Kathmandu’s main tourist area is the bustling district of Thamel. It’s a busy place, full of hotels, restaurants and shops, and its narrow alleys are crowded with visitors. But this wasn’t always so. When backpackers began discovering Kathmandu in the 1960s and 1970s, most stayed in an area further south, around the historic Durbar Square. It’s one of the many ways Kathmandu has changed over the years – and some of the changes have been dramatic.
Thailand is one of the 10 most visited countries in the world, and the third in Asia after China and Turkey. Whilst it’s a magnet for younger tourists seeking sun, sand, bars and nightlife, it also has a lot to offer older travellers with its cultural sites and festivals, regional cuisines, tropical island hideaways and cool mountain regions that are accessible all year round. And for those into shopping, Bangkok has many world-class malls.
For travellers who enjoy exploring Asian cities on foot, a covered walkway in central Kuala Lumpur provides a relaxing way to walk between two of the city’s main tourist areas. It’s clean, safe, air-conditioned and enticing for senior travellers who want to escape the city’s stifling tropical heat. And it offers the chance to stop and take in popular attractions along the way.
RVing is a popular pursuit in many parts of the world, but in Asia there are only three countries where campervans can be rented, and only one country – namely Japan – where campgrounds or RV parks are on a par with those in the West. Japan is also one of the safest countries in the world to tour in a campervan.
