Discover Hidden Asia

The Road Less Traveled

Hundreds of miles away from the hustle of Beijing, far from the shadows of athletes, judges, tourists and smog lies a Hidden China. These villages, there for you to discover, provide an experience that can only be described as the closest you'll ever feel to stepping back in time.

These villages, often cloaked by an ethereal fog, offer up scenes of beauty that you’ll dream about when you’re old and gray. Lucky for you, they don't just exist in China. Thailand, India and Vietnam all have options for those interested in the road less traveled. Get ready to unearth Hidden Asia.

 

If you have prior commitments, we suggest you let a good buddy hold on to your passport for you. You’re going to want to leave now.

 

We're giving you some advice on just a few places that it would be totally worthwhile for you to visit if you're interested in the obscure adventure. Some of these places might not have the convenience you're used to (bye-bye Starbucks!), but the experience offered is totally worth the trade-off. There are a ton more places for you to discover, so you're best bet is to get in contact with an STA Travel advisor, who can help you find your own perfect Wonderland.

 

Yangshuo, China- Yangshuo is truly a retreat from the modern cities of China. Known for it's amazing karst background and scenery, it's a little more touristy than the other locations on our list, but still a great introduction to rural China. Yangshuo comes complete with mysterious caves to explore, local temples to marvel in, and a whole host of hills to climb.  Our own World Traveler Intern Pat Blute hopped along to Yangshuo, so make sure you check out his Asia videos for some great visuals. To see Yangshuo, ask your STA Travel advisor about our Iconic China tour!

 

Pingyao, China- A Unesco World Heritage site, Pingyao is in the Shanxi Province 250 miles south of Beijing. It's actually an extremely well-preserved ancient city that was once considered China's banking center. It was home to extreme wealth, but in the last century or two, fell victim to extreme poverty. This poverty helped the city ward off development. That, and the huge ancient wall that surrounds the entire village. Pingyao is so old, that it's existence actually pre-dates the recording of Chinese nationality. That's over 2,700 years. The place is just awesome, especially the old buildings that used to house 15th century banking facilities. Ask your STA Travel advisor about our China in Depth tour!

Fenghuang, China – Fenghuang is in the Hunan Province, which is the birthplace of Chairman Mao. Fenghuang is so obscure, it’s not even listed in some China guidebooks. The initial entry in to the city is nothing special, it resembles any average Chinese city. But if you make it through along the Tuo River, you’ll discover an ancient city, relatively untouched by development. You’ll be faced with ancient-looking houses packed tightly together, teetering on the banks of the river. Red lanterns will hang literally everywhere, and you’ll be staring at your very own Kodak moment! Take it all in, pictures just don’t do it justice. You can ride in a boat along the river to a food market that opens in the evening. You can chow on some grilled meat, fish or veggies, all made in front of you. Our favorite moment of Fenghuang has to be the hundreds of candles floating in the river at the end of the night. You can get to Fenghuang from Guilin via taxi. To get to Guilin and much more, ask your STA Travel advisor about our Iconic China tour!

Hoi An, Vietnam- Another World Heritage Site, Hoi An is an amazing place to visit. The best attraction in this ancient trading port is the Japanese Covered Bridge. The bridge was constructed in the 1600s. It’s an amazing example of fine architecture, with statue guardians of dogs and monkeys on either side. Legend has it that there once lived an enormous monster called Cu, who had its head in India, its tail in Japan and its body in Vietnam. Whenever the monster moved, terrible disasters such as floods and earthquakes befell Vietnam. This bridge was built on the monster's weakest point and killed it, but the people of Hoi An took pity on the slain monster and built this temple to pray for its soul. Definitely a must see! Ask your STA Travel advisor about our Vietnam Unplugged tour!

Orchha, India- Surely one of the best of the obscure in India is Orchha, home to a  huge fort and built by a Bunda chief Rudra Pratap Singh, who died before the city was built attempting to save a cow from a lion. Orchha is perched on the peaceful Betwa river, and is peppered with cenotaphs the size of a castle. Adding to the mysterious vibe of Orchha is the huge jungle that surrounds the city. It’s one of those places that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Ask your travel advisor about our North India Highlights tour!

Ayuthaya, Thailand- Ayuthaya looks like something straight out of a Disney film. Founded by King U-Thong (no we didn't make that up) in 1350, and sitting on a bend of the Chao Phraya river, Ayuthaya was the capital of the Thai kingdom when it was it's mightiest. Everywhere you turn you'll find amazing ancient ruins, hundreds of images of the Buddha (even carved in the roots of trees) and stunning bell-shaped pagodas. Ask your STA Travel advisor about our Northern Thailand tour for a chance to grace Ayuthaya!

These are just some of the inspiring sites for you to explore in Asia. There are dozens more, all available to you with help from our wonderful travel advisors. Stop by a branch or call 800.781.4040 to talk over your dream itinerary. Don't forget to send us pictures!