Asia offers some of the best luxury train experiences in the world with Japan and India leading the field. Travelling by train provides the opportunity to enjoy scenery and sights at a leisurely pace with onboard fine dining and entertainment. Many multi-day journeys offer tours at stopovers to interact with locals and visit places of historic and cultural interest.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Hierapolis – Pamukkale in south-west Turkey is an outstanding historical and photogenic landscape. The magical sight of dazzling white travertine terraces filled with mineralized waters, close to the ruins of the ancient holy city of Hierapolis, make this a fascinating destination to visit for older travellers.
Asian airports have always ranked well in the annual Skytrax awards, but this year Singapore’s Changi has been knocked from its top perch by two others in the region. Here’s a rundown of where the top Asian airports have ranked in the 2021 awards, so if you have to spend time at any of these Asian airports, at least you know you’ll be staying amongst the world’s best.
Asia is most often associated with tropical beach resorts for winter holiday destinations, but for some who prefer it cooler there are plenty of options offering adventures in the snow. For older travellers who may not be into skiing or snowboarding, this ice village in Japan offers a unique opportunity to relax amongst the white stuff.
A first-time visitor to Dhaka is likely to be mesmerised by the huge numbers of cycle rickshaws that ply the streets of Bangladesh’s crowded capital. In an age when rickshaws have largely disappeared from most Asian cities, they remain as popular here as ever. They give Dhaka a distinctive feel and are a vital means of transport for local people.
Japan has some excellent snow skiing destinations for older travellers who are looking for quieter and more relaxing places to ski than the crowded mountain resorts in North America and Europe. For most residents of Asia it is the easiest ski destination to reach, and for travellers from Australia and New Zealand, it provides the additional opportunity to ski in the southern hemisphere summer.
If you are looking for a holiday destination that’s off-the-beaten track, somewhere that’s peaceful where you can slow down, smell life, rest and rejuvenate, then Nikko in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture is the perfect destination. Just two hours north of Tokyo, you can unwind, meditate, relax in hot springs, and enjoy the authentic delights of Japanese culture away from the crowds.
Singapore’s Sentosa Island is widely promoted as a destination for young people and families, but the island also has a lot to offer older travellers. There is an interesting fort and heritage buildings to explore, walking trails, boardwalks and cycling paths offering scenic views of the city and harbour, clean beaches, award-winning golf courses and plenty of eating places from fine dining to street food.
Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa has a sub-tropical climate and a slower pace that may appeal to older travellers looking for a restful holiday. The prefecture is made up of over 100 islands and is home to more centenarians than anywhere else in the world. Many have claimed that’s because of the healthy Okinawan cuisine and eating habits which visitors can sample.
The Singapore Sling is a drink that most visitors to Singapore will try at least once. This legendary cocktail, created by a barman at the Raffles Hotel over 100 years ago, has retained its distinctive taste and flashiness over the years, but now the Raffles is working to reduce its carbon footprint and make the Singapore Sling a more sustainable and eco-friendly drink for the environment.
Aichi Prefecture is one of Japan’s most diverse regions offering a mix of coastal and inland attractions for all seasons. It’s known to locals as the ‘heart’ of Japan and is an ideal destination for older travellers wanting to enjoy a calmer and slower pace away from the larger cities.
One of Bangkok’s oldest urban canals has undergone a massive rehabilitation to transform it into a trendy walking street and night market. Khlong Ong Ang is near many of the Thai capital’s major sights. It is rich with entertainment, street art, history and tasty street food. Stalls selling local crafts and other items are interspersed with the food stalls along the walkways making the canal banks a pleasant place for an evening stroll.
Kuala Lumpur’s historic Coliseum Café was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2021. Instead, it announced it was closing permanently – a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept customers away. It’s a sad end for a restaurant built at the height of British rule that retained its quirky colonial charm even as Malaysia changed around it.
Dubai has established itself as a global transportation hub well known for its duty-free shopping and upmarket malls. But it’s more than a shopping paradise – this ultra-modern cosmopolitan melting pot of many races and cultures has a wide range of attractions and activities that will appeal to older world travellers from discerning foodies to history buffs.
Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City is a fascinating destination for history buffs. With its French colonial past and the prominent role it played in the conclusion of the Vietnam/American War, there’s lots to see and learn in this bustling metropolis. There are many ways to experience this city that is full of life, and one of the safest in the region to explore, enjoy and embrace.
As many are starting to plan post-Covid travel and look for destinations where contact can be minimised with others, the appeal of remote retreats is greater than it has ever been. Asia has many such escapes along its thousands of kilometres of remote coasts and jungle interiors, especially for those looking to combine luxury with a little adventure.
