Azerbaijan

Baku

• Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• Bibi-Heybat mosque
• National Museum of History of Azerbaijan
• Carpet Museum
• Fire Temple (may be out of the way)

Sheki *

• Winter & Summer Palaces
• Caravanserai (ancient)

Gobustan: petroglyph site

Bhutan

Thimphu

• Simply Bhutan Museum
• Tashichoo Dzong Fortress
• Bhutan archery
• Simtokha Dzong
• National Folk Heritage Museum

Paro

• Paro National Museum
• Tiger’s Nest
• Rinpung Dzong

Cambodia

phnom penh *

• national museum
• choeung ek genocidal centre
• tuol sleng genocide museum
• royal palace
• silver pagoda
• riverside path

siem reap *

• Angkor national museum
• war museum
• national museum
• kbal spean (requires a hike)

Angkor wat *
koh rong

• bioluminescent plankton

banteay srei: archaeology
preah vihear: archaeology
ream national park

China

Shanghai *

• yuyuang garden
• jade Buddha temple
• the bund
• old city god temple
• Nanjing road
• shanghai museum: art
• longhua temple
• tian zi fang area
• qibao & zhujiajiao ancient towns
• French concession area
• shanghai history museum

Beijing *

• forbidden city
• great wall of china
• temple of heaven
• lama temple
• capital museum
• old summer palace
• dashilar street
• liulichang street
• shichahai area
• national museum
• temple o confucius and guozijian museum (old buildings)

Longqing gorge
hong kong *

• sham shui po area
• victoria peak gardens & lugard road
• soho, wan chai (street art)
• PMQ art centre
• hong kong museum of history
• tsim sha sui promenade
• dr sun yat-sen museum (life of man who reformed china)
• hong kong heritage museum
• ping shan heritage trail
• hong kong museum of art
• man mo temple
• chi lin nunnery
• 10,000 buddhas monastery
• tian tian buddha
• Aberdeen floating village
• cat street
• kowloon walled city park (w/ archaeology)

Suzhou *

• humble administrator’s garden
• panmen
• pingjiang night market (july only?)
• Suzhou museum
• tiger pride pagoda
• nanxun old town
• tongli water town
• bonsai in tiger hill
• shantang street, chaozong pavilion, pingjiang road

Hangzhou

• hu xue yan house (traditional chinese house)
• lingyin temple
• chenghuang pavilion
• longjing tea (local specialty)
• ten scenes of west lake
• hu qing yu tang (beautiful medical hall & medicine museum)
• general yue’s tomb
• national tea museum

Chengdu

• pandas
• kuan zhai alley
• jinsha site museum (archaeology)
• erwang temple
• wuhou shrine
• qintai road
• wenshu monastery
• qintai road
• qingyang palace
• huang long xi ancient street

Lijiang

• mu’s mansion
• museum of naxi dongba culture

Xi’an *

• terracotta warriors (make a terracotta warrior workshop)
• tang bo art museum
• shaanxi history museum
• yuanjia village
• tian long bao yan vegetarian restaurant
• bell & drum tower (at night)
• wild goose pagoda (views)
• xi’an museum

Pingyao *

• temple of the city god
• temple of Confucius
• first museum of armed escort in north china (archery)
• qiao’s family compound & other museums

Mianshan: mountainside city
Nanjing *

• xiaoling mausoleum of ming dynasty
• Confucius temple
• presidential palace (modern)
• Nanjing massacre memorial
• usnisa palace
• porcelain tower: archaeology museum & views
• master gao jasmine tea lager
• Nanjing folklore museum
• sun yat-sen mausoleum
• Nanjing museum
• xinjiekou: lit up shopping mall

Zhouzhuang

• town museum (chinese only)
• shen’s house
• quanfu temple (views)
• chenxu temple
• zhang house (smaller house)

Kunming

• stone forest
• grand view park
• Yunnan nationalities village
• dragon gate (hike)
• golden temple

Guangzhou

• chen clan ancestral hall
• temple of the six banyan trees
• shamian island
• forest of stone tablets

Guilin
Luoyang *

• white horse temple: china’s first Buddhist temple
• longmen grottoes
• Luoyang gated old town
• museum of ancient art and tombs
• new old town
• mingtan scenic area (views)
• flower garden
• Luoyang museum (history)
• fairy village
• folk museum

Qibao (very small water town)

• trades house
• shadowgraph museum

Zhujiajiao: water town
Zhengzhou

• Pagoda forest
• Shang City Ruins
• Hunan museum
• Zhongyue Temple
• Shaolin Temple
• Fawang Temple
• Grottoes Temple

Yungang Grottoes *
Hanging Temple
Datong

• City Wall
• Yingxian Temple
• Huyan Temple
• Nine Dragon Screen
• Shanhua Temple

Mogao Grottoes *
Lhasa *

• Potala Palace
• Jokhang Temple
• Tibet Museum
• Norbulingka Palace
• Drepung Monastery
• Tombs of Early Tibetan Kings

Foshan

• Ancestor Temple
• Lingnan Tiandi area
• Shiwan Ceramic Museum
• Bruce Lee Ancestral Home

Chongqing

• Ciqikou Ancient Town area
• Zhong Family House
• Hongya Cave (house complex)

Fenghuang *

• Former Residence of Shen Congwen
• Former Residence of Xiong Xiling
• Yang’s Ancestral Hall
• City Museum
• Longevity Palace
• Rainbow Bridge
• Chongde Hall

Miao Village
Shaxi

• Hungry Buddha vegan restaurant

Xizhou

• Yan’s Compound
• Yang’s Compound

Dali

• Lake tour

Larung Gar: monastery
Lanzhou: modern city

• Gansu Provincial Museum
• Lanzhou Museum
• White Pagoda Mountain

Zigong

• Salt Industry History Museum (beautiful)
• Fazang Temple
• Dinosaur Museum

Langzhong: ancient town

• Zhongtian Tower
• Examination House
• Temple of Marquis Huan
• Zhang Fei Temple
• Tengwang Pavilion

Xiamen

• Gulangyu Island “Gallery of Architecture”
• Lover Valley Reservoir
• Botanical Garden
• Nanputuo Temple
• Ding’aozai Cat Street
• Xiamen Riyuegu Hot Springs (huge spa)

Quanzhou

• Guandi Temple
• Chengtian Temple
• Kaiyuan Temple
• Tianhou Palace
• Qingjing Mosque

Fujian Tulou: ancient buildings
Dazu Rock Carvings
Shengsi Islands: islands with abandoned fishing villages
Yangshuo: beautiful nature

• Xingping town

Guiyang

• Guizhou Province Nationality Museum
• City Park wild monkeys
• Qingyan Ancient Town
• Jiaxiu Tower
• Flower Stream Park

Shenyang

• Mukden Palace
• Bailing Park
• Marshal Zhang Mansion
• Liaoning Provincial Museum
• "September 18" Museum (WWII)
• Botanical Garden

Changde

• Jinshanling Great Wall
• Changde Mountain Resort Gardens

Georgia

Tbilisi *

• Sulfur baths
• Meidan Bazar
• Gallery 27
• Tbilisi History Museum
• Art Museum of Georgia
• Georgian National Museum
• Clock Tower
• Holy Trinity Cathedral
• Georgian Museum of Fine Arts
• Chronicle of Georgia Monument
• Printing House Museum
• Kalantarov House
• Blue House
• Mother Georgia Statue
• Narikala Fortress

Vardzia
Uplistsikhe
Vardzia: cave monastery
Uplistsikhe: cave city
Kutaisi

• Green Bazaar
• Bagrati Cathedral
• Cholchis Fountain
• Gelati Monastery (out of the way)

Mtskheta

• Jvari Monastery
• Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
• Samtavisi medieval building

Batumi

• Octopus

India

Delhi

• lotus temple
• iskcon temple
• red fort
• jame masjid
• qutb minar
• hauz khas area
• lodi gardens
• humayun tomb
• national gandhi museum
• india gate
• akshardham

Agra *

• taj mahal
• I’timad-ud-daulah tomb
• agra wall
• petha food

Varanasi
Jaisalmer

• jaisalmer fort
• jain temple

Aurangabad *

• grishneshwar jyorielinga
• anjata ellora caves *
• bibi ka maqbara

Hampi *

• hanuman temple
• elephant stalls
• chariot temple
• hippie island

Mysore

• Mysore palace
• Jagan Mohan palace
• lalith mahal palace
• chumundi hills

Jaipur *

• city palace
• hawa mahal
• jammer fort
• jiagarh fort
• nahargarh fort
• amber palace
• chokhi dhani (cultural centre)
• johari bazaar
• anokhi museum of hand printing
• albert hall museum (history)
• jantar mantar observatory

Alleppey:* backwater town

• krishnapuram palace
• revikarunakaran museum (art)

Jodhpur

• mehrangarh fort & museum
• umaid bhawan royal palace
• jaswant thada
• mandore gardens

Bengaluru

• Bangalore fort
• tipu sultan summer palace
• Bangalore palace
• suryanarayara temple

Bhubaneswar city

• parasurameswara temple
• lingaraja temple
• udayagiri and khandgiri caves
• odisha state museum
• mukteswara temple

Somnathpur: kevala archaeological site
Samode

• samode palace
• samode haveli
• govind devji temple

Chand baori & harshat mata temple: * architectural site
Ranakpur jain temple *
Orchha

• orchha fortress
• chaturburj temple
• Lakshmi temple
• royal cenotaphs
• raja mahal
• laxminarayan temple
• government museum

Udaipur

• city palace
• lake palace
• monsoon palace
• janak niwas hotel miniature art
• jagdish temple

Dholavira
Chennai

• Kapaleeswarar Temple

Madurai *

• Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple
• Gandhi Museum
• Koodal Azhagar Temple
• Pazhamudhir Solai Temple
• Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
• Samanar Malai (out of the way)
• Alagar Kovil

Karaikudi

• Abandoned mansions
• Athangudi Palace
• Athangudi Tile Factory
• Kundrakudi Temple

Thanjavur

• Brahadeeswara Temple
• Airavateshwara temple
• Thanjavur royal palace
• Gangaikonda temple
• Seforji Saravati Mahal library (history of medieval india)

Tiruchirappalli (things may not be in the city)

• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
• Rock fort Temple
• Thiruvanaikoil
• Malaydipatti Rock-cut temples
• Uthamarkoil
• Viralimalai Murugan

Puducherry

• Pondicherry Museum: roman artefacts in india
• Botanical garden
• Beaches beaches beaches
• Manakula vinayagar temple
• Sri Aurobindo Ashram spiritual facility
• French quarter

Mahabalipuram *

• Shore temple
• Five rathas
• Arjuna’s penance
• Crocodile bank
• Alamparai fort
• Kovalam beach
• Mahishamardini mandapa
• Vedagirishvara temple (has eagles)
• Thirukadalmallai
• Pancha rathas
• Dakshinachitra museum: open air
• Cave temples
• Beach beach beach
• Sadras fort
• Tiger cave

Vadodara

• Laxmi Vilas Palace
• Marajah Fateh Singh Museum (art)
• Baroda Museum (huge art gallery)
• Kirti Mandir Temple
• Sevasi Vav step temple
• Tambekar Wada (house with frescoes)

Amritsar

• Golden Temple
• Partition Museum
• World’s only vegetarian McDonald’s

Mumbai

• Mumbai Taj
• Elephanta Island (cave carvings)
• Prince of Wales museum (misc, history)
• Marine Drive
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
• Gateway of India
• Kala Ghoda area

Kolkata *

• Victoria Memorial
• St. Johns Church
• Indian Museum
• Marble Palace
• Kalighat Temple
• Kumartuli area
• Parashnath Jain Temple
• Dakshineswar Kali Temple
• Mother Teresa Memorial Home
• Belur Math Temple Complex

Bikaner

• Junagarh Fort
• Camel Farm
• Merchant’s Trail old town
• Bhandasar Jain Temple (Bhanda Shana?)
• Lalgarh Palace (now a hotel and museum)
• Bhanwar Niwas Palace (now a hotel)

Gwalior

• Gopachal Parvat cave carvings
• Tomb of Tansen
• Sun Temple
• Gwalior Fort (gorgeous)
• Guraji Mahal archaeological site
• Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor Sahib (temple?)

Kanchipuram

• Jain Temple Thiruparuthikundram
• Kailasanatha Temple
• Sri Ekambareswar Temple
• Varadarajaswami Temple
• (temples are closed in the afternoon)
• Kamakshi Amman Temple

Thiksey Monastery
Hemis Monastery
Leh Palace
Likir Monastery

Indonesia

Yogyakarta *

• Borobudur temple
• prambanan temple (evening dance performances)
• taman sari palace
• kraton palace
• karanganyar pottery village
• kota gede area
• batik museum
• museum sisa hartaku (may be out of the way)
• ullen sentalu museum (java culture)
• batik workshop
• chocolate monggo factory

Ubud *

• saraswati temple
• monkey forest
• neka art museum (Balinese art)
• day trips to Bali & munduk

Komodo national park *
Jakarta *

• jakarta history museum
• istiqlal mosque
• national museum of indonesia
• Indonesian museum
• jakarta cathedral
• national gallery
• taman mini indonesian park (architecture)
• Chinatown
• kota tua (old town)
• skye bar (views)
• sunda kelapa port
• kite museum
• rangunan zoo (komodo dragons)

Seminyak *: beach town
Bali *

• pura tirta empul
• pura gunung kawi
• campuhan ridge
• goa gajah (elephant cave)
• pura lempuyang luhur
• kecak dancing
• ulun banu beratan

Semarang

• pagoda avalokitesvara
• tay kak sie temple
• sam poo kong temple
• lawang sewu
• central java grand mosque

Prambanan temples
Borneo: wildlife

• sun bear sanctuary

Munduk *

• handara gate
• waterfalls

Taman ayun & tanah lot
Trowulan: ancient archaeological site
Semarapura

• Kertha Gosa Park
• Klungkung Royal Palace

Iran

Tehran *

• Golestan Palace
• Museum of the Qasr Prison (led by former prisoners)
• Museum of the Islamic Era
• Islamic Revolution & Holy Defense Museum
• Tajrish Mosque
• Cinema Museum of Iran
• National Museum of Iran
• Niavaran Palace

Shiraz *

• Karim Khan citadel
• Pink Mosque
• Sayyed Mir Mohammad Mausoleum
• Vakil Mosque
• Imamzadeh-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze
• Qavan House museum
• Hafez tomb (poet)
• Shah-e Cheragh Shrine
• Eram Garden

Persepolis archaeological site* Yazd

• Water Museum (includes mansion)
• Jameh Mosque
• Amir Chakmakh Square
• Towers of Silence (out of the way)

Isfahan

• Masjed-e Shah Mosque
• Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah
• Chehel Sotun Palace
• Jameh Mosque
• Ali Qapu Palace
• Hakim Mosque (oldest in Isfahan)
• Zayandeh River bridges
• Vank Cathedral

Kashan

• Abbasi House museum
• Tabatabaei House museum
• Borujerdi House museum
• Ameriha House museum
• Agja Bozorg Mosque
• Fin Garden
• Taj house museum (artefacts)
• Rose-water factory
• Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse
• Shrine of Imamzadeh Hilal Ibn Ali (out of the way)

Noushabad Underground City
Abyaneh: ancient village (touristy)

Israel

tel aviv *

• jaffa area
• neve tzedek area
• carmel market
• tel aviv museum of art
• independence hall museum
• the great synagogue
• eretz Israel museum: history

Jerusalem *

• western wall
• dome of the rock
• church of all nations: rock which jesus prayed on
• tomb of the virgin mary
• via dolorosa: path Jesus took to crucifixion
• church of the holy sepulcher: lots of Christian artefacts
• garden tomb
• cenacle (site of the last supper)
• king david’s tomb
• tower of david museum
• Israel museum
• western wall tunnels
• cardo: roman shopping street
• yad vashem museum: holocaust memorial
• mount of olives
• city of david & siloam tunnel
• ein karem area

Akko

• halls of the knights
• medieval market
• hammam (museum)
• treasures in the wall museum (art)
• hospitaller fortress & peter’s headstone
• underground prisoners museum

Masada
Bethlehem *

• church of the nativity
• grotto of the nativity
• chapel of the milk grotto (not important but empty)
• shepherd’s fields
• rachel’s tomb
• herodium (roman ruins)

Nazareth

• Nazareth village
• mary’s well

Japan

Kanazawa *

• kanazawa castle
• higashi chaya area
• nagamachi area
• ishikawa museum of art: small Japanese art collection
• kurando terashima house: samurai house
• hakuza hikari gold house
• ninja temple
• oyama shrine
• gold leaf tea
• kenrokuen gardens
• nomura clan samurai house
• Suzuki museum: zen Buddhism
• kaga yuzenkan: silk painting workshop

Hakone

• hakone shrine
• lake ashinoko
• POLA museum of art
• venetian glass museum
• odawara castle
• hakone open air museum (unique sculptures)
• mishima skywalk (views)
• okada museum of art

Takayama *

• takayama jinja
• sakurayama hachimangu shrine
• matsuri no mori museum: local festival
• yoshijima heritage house
• kusakabe folk crafts museum
• takayama museum of history and art
• soyuuji jinja
• hirata sake brewery

Hida folk village
Shirakawago *

• shirakawago viewpoint
• wada house
• kanda house
• nagase house
• myozenji house and temple
• natural hot spring no yu
• ainokura traditional crafts museum

Kawagoe: village with shrines
Yokohama

• yokohama museum of art
• cup noodles museum
• Chinatown

Kamakura *

• hasedera temple
• great Buddha
• hokoku-ji temple
• kencho-ji temple (japan’s oldest zen temple)
• zeniarai benten shrine
• tsurugaoko hachimangu shrine
• natase nishihama: beach

Hikone Castle: medieval castle
Uji

• ujigami shrine: oldest Shinto shrine
• byodoin temple
• mimurotoji temple
• tale of genji museum
• byodoin museum
• pure land garden
• uji tea festival (October)
• bashi bridge
• murasaki shikibu statue
• fukujuen tea museum
• seven springs of uji
• phoenix hall

Koya

• kongobugi
• torodo hall
• daimon gate
• okuoin cemetery
• konpon daito

Nara

• Kofuku-ji
• Todai-ji
• Nigatsudo
• Kasuga-Taisha
• Hōryū-ji
• Yakushi-ji

Osaka

• Osaka Museum of History
• Museum of Housing and Living
• Shitennoji Temple
• Hozenji Temple
• Owl Cafe
• Minoo Park

Nikko

• Kanmangafuchi
• Tomozawa Villa
• Kaizando
• Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
• Nikko National Park

Narai-Juku
Aoshima Island (cat island)
Oshino Hokkai: village near Mt Fuji
Sapporo

• Beer Museum
• Open Air Museum
• Shiro Koibito Park (chocolate factory)
• Ishiya Chocolate Factory (?)

Fukuoka

• Hakata Machiya Furusato-Kan
• Kushida Shrine
• Canal City shopping
• Castle ruins
• Takumi Gallery (crafts)
• Ryuguji Temple (has mermaid bones)
• Chikuzen Sumiyoshi Shrine

Naha

• Shuri Castle Park
• Beach
• Okinawara Prefectural Museum
• Naminoue Shrine

Kinosaki: hot spring town
Matsue

• Matsue castle
• Shimane Art Museum (misc?)
• Yaegaki shrine (soulmate shrine)
• Matsue Castle Town
• Kumano Taisha
• Lafcadio Hearn Residence (European writer)
• Meimei-an Teahouse (centuries old)

Ginzan Onsen: hot spring town
Kakunodate

• Castle
• Samurai District
• Merchant District

Naoshima

• Chichu Art Museum
• Giant Pumpkin
• Ando Museum

Matsuyama

• Castle
• Dogo Onsen (oldest in Japan)
• Bansuiso Villa
• Museum of Art, Ehime

Tsumago: preserved village
Obuse

• Hokusai-kan Museum
• Gansho-in Temple
• Takai Kozan House (artist)
• Taikan Bonzai Museum
• Jokoji Temple
• Saishoji Temple
• Mont Blanc (chestnut vermicelli)

Otaru

• Aoyama Villa
• Otaru Museum (history)
• Music Box Museum (make your own)

Sannai Maruyama: archaeological site
Otsu

• Mii-dera
• City Museum of History
• Omi Jingu shrine
• Ukimi-do temple
• Takebe shrine
• Iwama-dera temple

Gokayama: old folk town
Snow Monkey Park
Ainokura: folk village
Ine (Unaya)

• Cute bayside town

Ogimachi: cute town

• Wada-ke house
• Kanda-ke house
• Myozenji temple

Tomonoura

• Ota residence
• Ponyo fountain
• Fukuzenji temple (views)
• Ankokuji temple
• Ioji temple (views)
• Irohamaru museum (shipwreck)

Sarushima Island
Tottori

• Sand Museum
• Hokuto Shrine
• Sanbutsuji Temple (mountainside)
• Mizuki Shigero Museum (folklore artist)

Zao Fox Village
Yufu: small cute village in the mountains with a lake
Karuizawa: nature escape

• Muro Saisei Kinenkan Museum
• Onioshidashi Park
• Karuizawa Lake Garden

Jigokudani Monkey Park
Okayama

• Kurashiki Bikan historical area
• Okayama Castle & Garden
• Kibitsujinja Shrine

Kayabuki: folk village
Shodoshima

• Yokai Art Museums (4)
• Choshikei Monkey Park
• Observation deck
• Movie Village
• Nakayama Senmaida Rice Paddy

Mt Haguro: mountain trail

Jordan

Petra *
Jerash *
Dead Sea *
Amman *

• Sugar cane juice
• Rainbow street
• Roman theatre
• Jordan museum
• National Gallery of Fine Arts
• Duke’s Diwan house
• Al-Balad area
• Citadel
• Cave of Seven Sleepers

Siq al-Barid "little Petra"
The Baptism Site of Jesus Christ

Kazakhstan

Almaty

• Kazakhstan Museum of Arts
• State Museum
• Kasteev State Museum of Art

Zharkent

• Mosque & Cathedral

Laos

luang prabang

• wat xieng thong
• royal palace museum
• pak ou caves (out of the way)
• bamboo bridge (seasonal)
• kuang si waterfall

wat phu: archaeology
Vientiane *

• COPE Vientiane: war museum
• Lao national museum
• Lao textile museum
• Buddha park
• pha that luang temple
• wat si saket
• haw phra kaew
• patuxai victory monument
• that dam
• wat si muang

Vang vieng: backpacker town in nature

• ban tham xang village
• tham chang cave
• blue lagoon
• wat kang temple
• pha ngren viewpoint

Lebanon

Beirut

• National Museum of Beirut
• Corniche
• Blue Mosque
• Ancient Roman Baths
• Sursock Museum (art)
• Chateau Ksara wine (underground Roman tunnels)
• Beit Beirut (war memorial)
• Saifi area
• Ashrafieh district

Baalbek Archaeological Site
Batroun

• Old Souk

Tyre: fishing village
Byblos

• Byblos Castle
• Saint John-Paul Cathedral
• Phoenician Harbor

Malaysia

Georgetown

• arulmigu balathandayuthapani temple
• khoo kongsi
• the blue mansion
• colonial penang museum
• pinang peranakan museum (house museum?)

Kuala lumpur

• national museum
• menara tv tower (views)
• klcc park
• merdeka square
• sri mahamariammam temple
• national mosque of Malaysia
• Islamic arts museum
• thean hou temple (may be out of the way)
• jalan alor food market
• jamek mosque

Batu caves*: colorful pilgrimage site
Malacca *

• a’famosa fort
• Melaka sultanate palace
• baba nyonya heritage museum
• cheng ho cultural museum
• leaning church of Melaka
• maritime museum (history overview)
• malay living museum
• Christ church
• jonker street
• st paul church
• Melaka straights mosque
• cheng hoon teng temple

Johor bahru

• arulmigu sri rajakaliamman glass temple (looks amazing)
• johor bahru kwong siew heritage gallery
• kota tinggi firefly park
• sanrio hello kitty town
• crocodile farm
• pasir gudang kite museum

Ipoh *

• sam poh tong cave temple
• qing xin ling leisure and cultural village
• ho yan hor museum (cultural heritage)
• gua tambun cave paintings
• kellie’s castle
• perak cave temple
• tambun Tibetan temple
• kallumalai arulmigu subramaniyar temple
• concubine lane
• tasik cermin (lake)
• ipoh heritage trail

Taiping

• perak museum
• ling nam ku miew (oldest chinese temple in Malaysia)

General

• tea plantations & strawberry farms (Cameron Highlands)

Myanmar

Yangon

• Schwedagon Pagoda
• Bogyoke Park
• Yangon National Museum
• Sule Pagoda
• Karaweik Royal Palace
• Sri Kaali Temple

Mandalay

• U-Bein Bridge
• Sandamuni Pagoda
• Kutkudaw Pagoda
• Umin Thonse Pagoda
• Shwenandaw Monastery
• Mandalay Palace
• Atumashi Kyaung
• Royal Palace
• Snake Temple

Ngapali Beach
Bagan: archaeological site
Ngwe Saung: beach
Mrauk U: archaeological site
Mingun

• Msinbuyama Paya
• Pawtohdawgyi
• Hsinbuyami Pagoda
• Saw Tar Yar Pagoda

Inwa

• Bagaya Monastery
• Yadana Hsenee Pagoda
• Maha Aung My Bom San Monastery

Nepal

Kathmandu *

• Swayambhu (views and monkeys)
• Pashupatinath Temple (cremations)
• Boudhanath Stupa
• Taleju Temple
• Durbar Square
• National Museum of Nepal

Bhaktapur *

• Lots of temples (candle lighting at 7pm)
• Peacock window

Patan

• Durbar Square
• Patan Museum
• Golden Temple
• Mahabouddha Temple

Pakistan

Mohenjo Daro
Lahore

• Badshahi Mosque
• Tomb of Jahangir
• Masjid Wazir Khan
• Grand Jamia Mosque
• Lahore Museum
• Lahore Fort
• City Gates

Pakistani Valleys

Philippines

El Nido: Beach islands
Manila

• National Museum of Fine Arts
• National Museum of Anthropology
• Intramuros area
• Casa Manila
• Lakbay Museo (visit areas of Philippines from a museum)
• National Museum of the Philippines
• Art in Island (interactive art)
• Ayala Museum: history

Vigan*: Colonial town

Singapore

Singapore *

• Gardens by the Bay
• National Gallery Singapore
• Kampong Glam area
• The Intan (private decorative art collection)
• Haw Par Villa art park
• Thian Hock Keng temple
• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
• Sri Mariamman Temple
• East Coast Road Area
• National Museum of Singapore
• Peranakan Museum
• Asian Civilisations Museum
• 5 Merlion Statues
• Singapore Art Museum
• ArtScience Museum
• Chinatown Heritage Museum

South Korea

Seoul *

• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Bongeunsa Temple
• Hanok Village
• Changdeokgung Palace
• Samcheongdong area
• Sungnyemun Gate
• National Folk Museum of Korea
• Samsung Museum of Art
• Deoksugung Palace
• National Museum of Korea
• Namsan Hanok Village
• Hangaram Art Museum
• Hangaram Design Museum
• Jongmyo Shrine
• Jogyesa Buddhist Temple
• War Memorial and Museum
• Seoul Forest
• Rabbit Park
• Ihwa area
• Changyeonggung Palace
• Gyeonghuigung Palace
• Korean Folk Village
• Insadong area

Busan

• Beomeosa Temple
• Seokbulsa Cliff Carvings
• Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
• Gamcheon Culture Village
• Busan Museum
• National Maritime Museum

Gyeongju

• Bulguksa Temple
• Gyeongju National Museum
• Cheonmachong Tomb (ancient)
• Yangdong Folk Village
• Woljeong Gyo Gyeongju Bridge
• Donggung Palace
• Gyochon Traditional Village
• Daereungwon Ancient Tomb
• Gyeongju Tower
• Namsam Mountain (lots of Buddha statues)

Jeonju

• Gyeonggijeon Shrine
• Jeonju Hanok
• Royal Portrait Museum
• Omodae viewpoint
• Hanbyeokdang Pavilion
• Deokjin Park lotus pond
• Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School
• Kimchi Cultural Center
• Traditional Wine Museum
• Jaman Mural Village
• Pungnammum Gate
• Jeonju National Museum
• Makgeolli rice liquor
• Gangam Calligraphy Museum

Andong

• Andong Hahoe Folk Village
• Bongjeongsa Temple (2nd oldest wood temple in Korea)
• Wolyonggyo Bridge (longest in Korea)
• Confucian Culture Museum
• Imcheonggakgun jajeong
• Mammoth bakery chocolate

Naganeupseong: folk village
Suwon

• Hwaseong fortress
• Haenggung-dong Mural Village

Gurye

• Has a few temples

Sri Lanka

Dambulla Cave Temple
Kandy *

• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Three-Temple loop
• Buddha statue
• Tea factory (Embilmeegama)
• Botanical gardens
• World Buddhist Museum
• Ceylon Tea Museum

Colombo *

• National Museum
• Fort area
• Gangaramaya Temple
• Independence Memorial Hall
• Pettah area
• Dutch Period Museum
• Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque
• Sri Kailawasanathan Temple
• Gawa House Museum (modern architect)

Hikkaduwa *

• Big Buddha Statue
• Turtle Hatchery
• River Safari
• Tsunami Museum

Ella

• Halpewatte Tea Factory
• Ravana Zipline
• Ella Rock
• Ravana Falls
• Nine Arch Bridge

Sri Lankan Park

Taiwan

Keelung Chuan Yuan Festival
Taipei *

• National Palace Museum
• National Taiwan Museum
• Taipei Fine Art Museum
• National 228 Memorial Museum
• Longshan Temple
• Bao-an Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Taipei 101 (views)
• Maokong Gondola (views and tea gardens)
• Tamsui Old Street area
• National Concert Hall (exterior)
• You Ci Temple
• Chiang Kai-Sheck Memorial Hall
• Elephant Mountain (views)
• Museum of World Religions
• Gates of Old Taipei
• Dihua Street
• Dadaocheng area
• Dalongdong Baoan Temple
• Gate of Great Centrality
• Bubble Tea (created in Taiwan)
• Ximending (downtown area)

Tainan

• Grand Matsu Temple
• National Museum of Taiwan History
• Chihkan Tower

Keelung

• Chung Cheng Park
• Zhengbin Harbor

Chiayi

• Hinoki Village
• Central Fountain
• Cheng Huang Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Jiuhua Mountain Temple
• Xingang Fengtian Temple

Kaohsiung

• Museum of History
• Lotus Pond
• Martyrs’ Shrine
• Pier-2 Art Centre
• Dai Tian Temple
• Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
• Fo Guang Shan Temple

Hualien

• Eternal Spring Shrine
• Buluowan Aboriginal Center
• Martyrs’ Shrine

Taichung *

• Rainbow village
• Earthquake museum
• Bubble tea (origin city)
• Zhongshe Flower Market
• Confucius Temple
• Wufeng Lin Family Garden
• New Village
• Creative and Cultural Industries Park
• Taichung Park
• Riverwalk
• Miyahara Ice Cream
• Animation Alley

Jiufen

• Lantern Tea House
• Rent a Qipao

Wulai

• Wulai Atayal Museum

Thailand

Bangkok *

• Marriott hotel the surawongse rooftop bar (views)
• chatuchak market
• floating markets excursion
• wat pariwat
• wat suwannaram
• sumat prakan
• baan kamthieng house museum (rural house)
• MR Kukrit House
• rattanakosin exhibition hall (1700-1900s)
• prasart museum: collection of buildings

Sukhothai:* archaeology
Chiang mai *

• pilgrim path
• kindred spirit elephant sanctuary
• lanna folklife museum
• tribal museum

Chiang rai *

• clock tower
• monkey temple
• hill tribe museum
• wat huay pla

Golden triangle (three countries in one spot)
Phuket *

• wat chalong (has splinter of buddha’s bone)
• big Buddha
• monkey hill
• chinpracha house museum
• patong beach
• karon view point

Kanchanaburi

• Death Railway & War Cemetery
• Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
• Mueang Sing Historic Park
• Ban Kao National Museum (pre-historic)

Pattaya

• Temple of Truth
• Anek Kusala Sala

Phimai Historical Park
Phanom Rung Historical Park Mae Hong Son

• Wat Hua Wiang
• Tong Pae Temple
• Wat Chong Klang & Wat Chong Kham
• Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu

Baan Rak Thai

• Tea Garden

Lopburi

• Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat
• Prang Sam Yod & resident monkeys
• King Narai Palace
• Lopburi Heritage Walk

Mae Sariang

• Wat Jong Soon
• Wat Chom Thong
• Mae Sariang
• Wat Phrathat Chomthong

Chanthaburi

• King Taksin Shrine

Phitsanoluk

• Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
• Wat Wihan Thong
• Chan Royal Palace Historical Center
• Wat Rachaburana

Isaan (Red Lotus Sea)

Turkiye

Istanbul *

• Hagia sophia
• Blue mosque
• Grand bazaar
• Galata tower (views)
• Topkapi palace
• Mosque of suleyman
• Rustem pasha mosque
• Fener & Balat areas
• Walls of constantinople
• Archaeology Museum
• Museum of the Orient
• Museum of Islamic Art
• Basilica cistern
• Chora church
• Dolmabahce palace (1800s)
• Red Rose Cake
• Ayran drink

Cappadocia/Goreme *

• Goreme open air museum
• Zelve open-air museum
• Ortahisar castle (views)
• Derinkuyu underground city
• Pink salt lake
• Kaymakli underground city
• Pasabag fairy chimneys (can climb to the top of one)
• Uchisar Castle
• Selime cathedral (highway to urgup is the same route as the silk road!)
• Nevsehir underground city

Ephesus *
Bursa

• Grand Mosque
• Green Mausoleum
• Green Mosque
• Tophane Park (views)
• Umurbey silk museum
• Irgandi bridge – has shops
• Inkaya (biggest tree in turkey)
• Hisar gate
• Ataturk museum (Turkey’s founder)
• Cumalikizik area

Trilye

• Tarihi camli kave (teahouse)
• Kapanca port
• Faith mosque

Izmir *

• Agora archaeological site
• Clock tower
• Izmir archaeological museum
• Museum of Art and History
• Culture Park
• Konak pier
• Kadifekale castle (ruins)
• Asansor (views)
• Ataturk museum
• Pergamon open air museum
• Cesme castle (has misc artefacts inside)
• Blue mosque
• Kemeralti bazaar

Bergama/Pergamon archaeological site
Sirince: town famous for fruit wine
Ankara

• Mausoleum of ataturk
• Ankara citadel (views)
• Museum of Anatolian civilization
• Old quarter
• Alton kosk mansion
• War of independence museum
• Aslanhane mosque (one of the oldest in turkey)

Konya

• Melvana museum/mausoleum
• Kultur park at night (has coloured lights)
• Mersa ince minerali – wood and sculpture museum (beautiful)
• Sircali Madrasa – open air ancient school
• Bedestern bazaar

Catal hoyuk *
Troy archaeological site & museum
Pamukkale

• Hot springs
• Ancient theatre
• Pamukkale museum (artefacts from ancient site)
• Cleopatra’s pool

Aspendos ancient theatre and city
Antalya

• Kaleici old town
• Antalya museum
• Old harbor
• Hadrian’s gate
• Burnt ice cream

Termessos ancient city ruins
Karain cave & museum (pre-history)
Perge ancient city
Kas: cute town
Kral Kaya/Carian rock tombs
Demre

• Santa Claus museum
• Roman myra (rock tombs)
• St Nicholas church

Alacati: cute town with windmills
Sumela Monastery
Gaziantep

• Zeugma Mosaic Museum
• Archaeology Museum
• Culinary Museum
• Castle
• Struggle Museum

Side: Ancient town

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Corniche

Dubai

• Al Bastakiya area
• Global Village
• Al Fahidi area
• Dubai Mall
• Etihad Museum (history)
• Dubai Miracle Garden
• Dubai Museum

Al-Ain

• Al-Ain Oasis
• Al-Ain Palace Museum
• Jebel Hafeet Beehive Tombs
• Al Muwaiji

Sharjah

• Butterfly house
• Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation
• Al Qasba
• Blue Souk
• Heritage area
• Sharjah Art Museum
• Sharjah Archaeological Museum

Uzbekistan

Samarkand *

• Registan
• Bibi-Khanym mosque
• Gur-e Amir Complex
• Shah-I Zinda Mausoleum
• Islam Karimov Mausoleum
• Afrosiab Settlement & Museum

Bukhara *

• Chor Minor
• Ark of Burkhara
• Bolo Hauz Mosque
• Poi Kalon Ensemble
• Ismail Samani Mausoleum
• Madrasah of Nadrid Divan-begi
• Palace of Moon-Like Stars (out of the way)
• Merchant Khojaev House Museum
• Trading Domes
• Silk Road Tea House (family owned for 600 years)

Khiva *

• Itchan Kala old town (requires tickets)
• Juma Mosque
• Tash Khauli Palace
• Kuhna Ark Fortress
• Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
• Isfandiyar Palace

Tashkent

• Hazrat Imam Complex (has world’s oldest quran)
• Kukeldash Madrasah
• State Museum of History
• Metro (pretty)
• Amir Timur Museum
• Minor Mosque
• Fine Art Museum
• Islam Karimov Museum
• Chorsu Basaar
• State Museum of Arts

Vietnam

Hanoi *

• imperial citadel of thang long
• ho chi minh mausoleum
• ancient house
• st joseph’s cathedral
• ngoc son pagoda
• Vietnamese women’s museum
• temple of literature
• hoa lo prison museum
• Vietnam fine arts museum
• Vietnam museum of ethnology
• mosaic wall
• lotte observation deck (views)

Halong bay *
Hue *

• imperial city
• hue museum of royal antiquities
• tomb of minh mang (looks prettiest)
• thien mu pagoda
• tu duc tomb
• khai dinh tomb
• thuy tien lake water park (no entry)

Hoi an

• Japanese bridge

Ho chi minh * (siagon)

• reunification palace
• giac lam pagoda
• thien hau temple
• jade emperor pagoda
• war remnants museum
• Vietnamese history museum
• city museum of fine arts
• museum of ho chi minh city

My son: archaeology
Sapa: rice fields and mountains
Dalat

• Vuon Anh Sang Lumiere light exhibit
• Linh Phuoc Pagoda
• Flower garden
• Linh Son Pagoda
• Cable car (views)
• Truc Lam Pagoda
• Bao Dai Summer Palace

Nha Trang (beach town)

• Po Nagar Cham Towers
• Mud Bath
• Monkey Island

Ninh Binh/Tam Coc *

• Hoa Lu historic area
• Hang Mua temple
• Bai Dinh Pagoda
• Bich Dong Pagoda
• Phat Diem Church
• Trang An Boat Tour

Duong Lam: may or may not be interesting
Quy Nhon

• Cham towers
• Fishing villages
• Snorkelling