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

Modern, clean and cosmopolitan, Gangtok has a unique Himalayan cultural mix, and is totally unlike any other state capital in India.

With coral reefs, dense mangroves, sandy beaches and thick jungle, all just fifteen minutes by speedboat from Sabah’s capital, Gaya Island is a microcosm of the Borneo wilderness and a true tropical paradise.

Unassuming Guwahati has more to offer than meets the eye. Take a stroll along the Brahmaputra and browse its bazaars for a slice of everyday Assamese life.

Just a stone’s throw from the Golden Triangle, little-visited Gwalior boasts one of the most ostentatious palaces and the finest pre-Mughal fort in India.

Known for its proud, independent streak, Gwangju has an authenticity that is all its own. In addition to being testament to Korea’s long and often bloody struggle for democracy, Gwangju is famous for its fiery cuisine, colorful street art, and as a gateway to the bucolic wonder of southwest Korea.

An ancient East Asian capital, seat of power for a thousand years, and still home to a staggering host of treasures from that period – it’s hard for Gyeongju to avoid comparisons with Kyoto, though we’d argue this little city is actually even better than its far more famous Japanese counterpart.

Just a hop, skip and a jump (read: a short bullet train ride) from Tokyo, on a good day Hakone offers views of Mount Fuji in all her glory — and it’s your best bet for a good time even if she doesn’t oblige.

A gorgeous landscape of paddy fields and palm trees, with some of the most spectacular ruins in India — plus fantastic rock climbing and laid-back, tropical vibes.

Combining canary-yellow French palaces with colourful and chaotic market streets dating back to the imperial dynasties, Hanoi is the place to soak up the atmosphere of old Vietnam.

Once the heart of the Hoysala Empire, Hassan is now the staging point for visiting its most beautiful relics: the World Heritage temples of Belur and Halebidu.