A guide to Cambodia's top places, plus our lesser-known favourites

Covering most of Preah Vihear Province in the remote northern plains, Kulen Promtep is a haven for rare birds, and one of the few remaining places to see the endangered giant ibis — Cambodia’s national bird.

With so many temples and shrines squirrelled away in its mountains and valleys, it should come as no surprise that hiking in Japan is almost inseparable from pilgrimage.

Paddy fields, betel farms and coconut groves provide a picture-perfect backdrop for experiencing village life in rural south India.

Whoosh into Kyoto’s futuristic central station on the bullet train and you’ll be greeted by karaoke bars and concrete, not Zen gardens and mysterious shrines. But don’t let that fool you.

Langkawi is a jungle-clad island paradise amid the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea. The best way to round off a day of snorkelling, trekking or mangrove kayaking? Satay skewers and an ice-cold beer on its white, sandy beaches.

With its hodgepodge of Buddhist heritage, fishing villages, high-rise shopping centres and theme parks, Hong Kong’s largest island is a patchwork of a place — but one that’s worth exploring.

In snow-scoured Leh, Buddhist gompas and Tibetan-style buildings huddle on barren, treeless plateaux, watched over by the peaks of the Himalayas.

East of Chinatown and north of Kampong Glam, Little India has the same old-fashioned, village-like feel as those districts — but with a distinctly Indian flavour.

A unique salt desert with diverse wildlife, engrossing local culture, and a history stretching back to the Indus Valley Civilisations.

Luang Prabang is Laos’s Shangri-La: sweeping golden roofs and colonial shophouses against a lush backdrop of jungle-covered mountains, and a laid-back atmosphere of peace and serenity.

Lucknow is one of India’s best-kept secrets. History, beauty, charm and culture for days — it’s up there with any city in Rajasthan, even Jaipur.

‘The Soul of Tamil Nadu’, ‘The Athens of the East’, ‘The city that never sleeps’ – Madurai is one of the oldest cities in India, and it has collected its fair share of epithets over the years.