Affordable Adventure Travel Destinations in Asia

Photo by Simon Migaj 

Are you the type of traveller who looks for adrenaline-pumping activities during your holiday vacation but is short of budget to afford the trip to popular adventure destinations? Travelling to Asia can be the best alternative as cheap airfares are commonly available for flights bound for different countries in Asia.

Buying online air tickets from established travel companies can be cheaper especially during promotional periods rather than going to the direct website of airline companies. Thus most travellers who are planning a trip to Asia resort to online booking to get the cheapest air ticket. Although most of the famous adventure destinations can be found in expensive-to-travel continents, Asia offers numerous places which guarantee a vacation full of adrenaline rush. Here are some of the places that promise a smashing holiday:

Bali, Indonesia

Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri

Most travellers thought of Bali as a romantic and relaxing place to go because of its spectacular beaches. Aside from being an ideal getaway for sun and sand lovers, Bali offers adrenaline-pumping activities as well. The big waves of its beaches are a big hit for surfers from around the world. Visitors can also try ocean raft sightseeing or snorkelling for more adventures. For those who love the rapids, white water rafting in the Ayung and Unda Rivers can be the highlight of the trip.

Thailand

Photo by Frankie Spontelli 

If you are planning to go to Thailand for a holiday trip but still hesitant to do it, forget the hesitation because this country is filled to the core with adventures that will surely make your blood pumping. Inland activities such as jungle treks in the Northern Mountains, mountain climbing, canopy tours and elephant rides will surely make travellers sweat while having a good workout. Other activities worth trying are cave exploration, scuba diving, surfing and kayaking.

Ladakh India

Photo by Omendra Singh

Climbing the rugged mountains of the Northern Border of India can be physically demanding however it can also be a lifetime experience for those who crave for adventure. Different forms of Buddhist culture can be seen dotting the region as traveller trek along the steep mountainside of Ladakh. White water rafting is also a popular sport in this part of India. The ultimate test of courage and physical fitness will be conquering the River Azkar known for its wild raging rapids and cold waters.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Photo by Ling Tang 

Climbing the tallest peak in Malaysia which is the Kota Kinabalu is one of the reasons why travellers search for cheap air tickets to Sabah. This activity is commonly popular for those who seek adventure during their trip. Aside from climbing the 13,400-foot peak of Kota Kinabalu adventure lovers can also enjoy camping out in the jungle and have a chance to see untamed wild animals wandering free.

Vietnam

Photo by Jonathan Ouimet 

The country’s national park Cuc Phoung is famous to tourists because of its more than 300 species of tropical birds and a whopping 43 million varieties of flora and fauna. Trekking through the forests of Vietnam can bring each traveller closest to the wildlife and nature at its best.

Bhutan

Photo by Adli Wahid 

Bhutan is one of those destinations waiting to be discovered by adventure lovers. An archaeological paradise, Bhutan is well-known for its magnificent monasteries and fortresses. Travellers can trek through the trails that wind past them or bike through the countryside to explore the area. Other ways of touring this place is through kayaking or rafting which is more of a challenge.

Travellers who crave an adrenaline rush need not spend a lot to have a dose of thrilling activities. With several cheap airfares available for Asian countries, adventure comes at an affordable price.

Trips Back In Time

Traveling is one thing that most of us love to do. It gives us the opportunity to explore other places, discover new things, and learn more about other people’s culture and history. While it is common for everyone to search for the cheapest airfare, looking for historical sites our place of destination has to offer, contributes a great deal when it comes to planning a holiday vacation.

It is very usual that before buying our air ticket online, we make sure that we won’t just have an enjoyable experience from our trip but it will also enrich our knowledge about the country’s history, people, and culture. Here are the top historical sites commonly visited by tourists around the globe:

Egypt

Photo by Spencer Davis 

With numerous attractive travel deals on the internet offering cheap airfares and accommodation, exploring the historical sites of Egypt such as the Great Pyramid and Sphinx of Giza has become more affordable. Be amazed at the stunning beauty of the oldest Seven Wonders of the World as you learn more about the ancient civilization’s pharaohs and kings, culture, and history. Other must-see places are Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Luxor, and Karnak.

Rome

Photo by Ben Lee

Sometimes buying air tickets online is cheaper from online travel companies than going to the direct website of airline companies, especially when travel companies are having promotions. Thus visiting Rome might no longer be too expensive for those who desire to see those magnificent and iconic buildings of Ancient Roman, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Get up close with the ancient ruins of the Coliseum, Pantheon, the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Arch of Constantine, and Fontana de Trevi and discover for yourselves why they are famous all over the world.

Petra

Photo by Emile Guillemot 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this famous “rock cut” architecture in Jordan will be worth every effort in searching for the cheapest air ticket. Petra is a “rock-carved rose-red city” built by industrious Arab people called Nabataeans who settled in the southern part of Jordan around 100 B.C. This world’s wonder is known for its majestic and incomparable scenic spots that enchant tourists of all races.

Taj Mahal

Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel

For most tourists, the main reason for joining India tours is to see one of the most stunning monuments in the world famous not only for its beauty but for its romantic story as well. Known to many as “a symbol of everlasting love”, the Taj Mahal is the most beautiful structure built by Mughals or Muslim rulers in India. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal. Nearby tourist attractions such as Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s Tomb, Agra Fort, Temples of Vrindavan, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park, and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary will definitely complete the India experience.

The Parthenon

Photo by Francesca Noemi Marconi

A trip to Greece won’t be complete without setting foot on the ruins of the Parthenon. This historically rich structure was built by Pericles in the mid-5th century B.C. to serve as a temple for the Greek Goddess Athena whom people of Athens regard as their virgin patron. Parthenon symbolizes not only the highest point of Greek Art but as a symbol of Athenian Democracy as well.

Machu Picchu

Photo by Ayesha Parikh 

Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru. It is considered highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site because the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest. After the discovery of American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu has become a famous tourist destination.

Angkor Wat

Photo by Silver Ringvee 

In recent years travel destinations in Asia are becoming more and more popular to tourists not only because of their beauty and historical value but also because of several travel deals to different countries in Asia offering cheap airfares and discounted hotel accommodations. One of the places that are attracting lots of tourists is this ancient temple featuring top classical style Khmer architecture located in Angkor, Cambodia known as Angkor Wat. This temple was built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his temple and capital city. Angkor Wat is admired by many because of the grandeur and harmony displayed in its architectural design, extensive bas-reliefs, and numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls.

Although books and the Internet can provide us the essential facts about these ancient wonders of the world, seeing them up close will give us an experience of a lifetime that we can only get from traveling.

Sydney’s Best Destinations

Photo by Dan Freeman 

Being Australia’s financial and economic hub, Sydney has grown to become a wealthy and prosperous city, with iconic landmarks and heritage buildings that entice millions of tourists to purchase air tickets to Australia. Sydney is also home to several internationally known museums and galleries. It is also popular with tourists because of its large open spaces and natural areas which is why it is no wonder that Sydney is one of the top tourist destinations all over the world.

Sydney offers exciting places and activities to its visitors thus booking air tickets to Sydney guarantees a fun-filled holiday vacation. One of the attractions in the most populous city of Australia is the Sydney Tower. It is the tallest structure in Sydney located above Centrepoint shopping centre, as such it provides a spectacular view of the city’s amazing skyscrapers.

Photo by Simon Rae

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a must-see structure if you are visiting Australia. Nicknamed “Coathanger” because of its arch design, it gives a dramatic view of the city, the harbour and the nearby Sydney Opera House. According to the Guinness World Records, it is the world’s widest long-span bridge and the fifth longest spanning-arch bridge.  A stroll on this magnificent bridge especially at dawn or dusk provides a breathtaking view of Sydney enough to make every visitor develop a strong liking for the city.

Photo by Sean Bernstein 

One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Sydney Opera House is an iconic building conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jorn Utzon. Utzon received the architecture’s highest honour in 2003 – the Pritzker Prize for designing the most distinctive building of the century and the most famous performing arts centres in the world. Sydney Opera House hosts over 1,500 performances every year attended by roughly 1.2 million people. It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Sydney with more than seven million people visiting the site each year.

Photo by Eriksson Luo

Darling Harbour is a perfect chill-out place situated on the western outskirts of Sydney’s central business area. It is considered as the city’s favourite destination for leisure and entertainment featuring more than 40 restaurants, 30 bars, cafes, museums, aquariums and parks.

Photo by David Clode

Located at the Darling Harbour is one of the world’s largest aquariums – the Sydney Aquarium. Children and adults alike will be amazed to see the world’s largest collection of all-Australian aquatic life. It boasts more than 12,000 aquatic animals from 650 species in spectacular habitat display. Visitors can have a glimpse of Australia’s famous marine life at a very close distance at the Open Ocean exhibit featuring a massive oceanarium comprising of underwater channels.

Photo by Michael Williams 

Just next to the Sydney Aquarium is another tourist attraction which is Wild Life Sydney previously named as WildLifeWorld. It brings some of Australia’s unique animals such as koalas and kangaroos to the doorstep of the city’s central district. It also offers visitors a chance to see various species of animals, birds, reptiles and insects commonly found in the Australian bush, swamps, rainforests and deserts.

Large open spaces are one of the things that visitors like about Australia. Parks which are perfect for camping and taking leisure walks are also popular tourist spots in Australia. The Sydney Olympic Park which had been the venue of the 2000 Summer Olympics is now a premier destination for sporting, entertainment, and cultural activities and is considered Australia’s largest urban parklands.

Photo by Annie Spratt

Families will surely have a great time at Luna Park, Sydney’s premier amusement park featuring fun and games for the whole family. Entrance to the park is free thus visitors just need to pay for the rides and games plus since it is located at Milson’s Point on the north side of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the park provides an amazing view of the Sydney Harbour.

A trip to Australia won’t be complete without visiting the famous beaches located just a few kilometres away from the city such as Bondi Beach, Manly Beach and Double Bay. These beaches are popular for water activities such as surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling. If you are not into water sports, you’ll have a great time enjoying their pristine sands, turquoise water and relaxed atmosphere.

From iconic structures to sandy beaches, Australia is full of interesting and thrilling activities to offer. As such, most tourists opt to buy an air ticket to Australia to spend a holiday vacation.

Places to Explore in Dubai

Photo by David Rodrigo 

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It has emerged as a global city and a business hub paving the way for the development of innovative construction projects that have attracted the attention of the world. Although Dubai’s economy mainly depends on the oil industry, the emirate’s model of business drives its economy with the effect that an essential part of its main revenues comes from the tourism industry. In fact, it attracted 7.8 million visitors in 2009 and ranked 7th in the “150 most visited cities by international tourists”.

Burj Khalifa

Photo by Jeremy Bishop 

With its epic boom of large-scale construction, Dubai has attracted visitors for its top-end luxury accommodations. Burj Khalifa is a perfect example of opulence aptly branded as the home of the elite. Boasting 160 stories of first-class facilities and hotel rooms, it has been considered as the tallest building in the world towering with a height of 828 meters or 2,716.5 feet. It has also the highest number of floor stories and the highest observation deck in the world. “At the Top”, Burj Khalifa’s observation deck, visitors will be surely captivated by the panoramic scene of the city’s amazing skyscrapers and city lights. Throughout the journey to the top, visitors will also be entertained by the exotic history of Dubai and the beauty of Burj Khalifa. Spending an air ticket booking to Dubai won’t be worth it without visiting this magnificent structure.

Dubai Museum

Photo by Dubai Culture

After seeing the spectacular view of the city from the world’s tallest building, head on to the city’s museum for a dose of essential knowledge about the city’s history and culture. Dubai Museum is an old building of Al Fahidi Fort which was built to defend the city from foreign invasion in 1979. Visitors will be entertained while learning about the city’s history and its people with the colourful life-sized dioramas vividly depicting the everyday life of the ancient years before the discovery of oil. The museum also possesses galleries recreating scenes from Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date farms, the desert, and marine life. Dubai Museum makes learning far from boring as it provides its visitors with an entertaining way of presenting its historical facts and culture. It's definitely a must-see place for all the tourists who are planning to have a fun-filled holiday in Dubai.

Dubai Grand Mosque

Photo by Junhan Foong 

A trip to Dubai won’t be complete without visiting the magnificent mosques which are a significant part of its community. The Grand Mosque of Dubai boasts the city’s tallest minaret of 70 meters in height. It has 9 large domes and 45 smaller ones which can accommodate 1200 Muslims at once. Throughout the years, this mosque has been the center of the religious and cultural life in Dubai. Although non-Muslims are not allowed inside the building, it is still worth a visit just to see its inspiring sky-blue mosaic, sand-hued facade, handmade stained glass, and wooden shutters. 

Wild Wadi Water Park

Photo by Wild Wadi Waterpark™ 

Children and adults alike will definitely have a wonderful time at the Wild Wadi Water Park. It is the only themed amusement park in Dubai featuring 30 rides and attractions for the whole family. The concept of Wild Wadi is based on the tale of Juha and his friend Sinbad who are famous characters of Arabian folklore. Those who just love water will surely enjoy its large wave pools, several water slides, and artificial surfing machines. Wild Wadi Park has the largest wave pool in the entire Middle East and the tallest free-fall water slide in the region which makes it more appealing. Don’t miss the adrenaline rush you will surely experience at Wild Wadi Park when you purchased air tickets to Dubai.

Having been considered as one most attractive and posh destinations for tourists around the globe, numerous travel companies are now offering attractive travel deals for those who would like to spend a vacation in Dubai. Various cheap air tickets to Dubai are easily available online making it a more affordable travel destination for all tourists.

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia Announced New Darwin Services and Frequent Flyer Tie-up

Singapore Airlines together with Virgin Australia announced the new international and domestic routes to Darwin and the launch of the frequent flyer programme cooperation last December 13, 2011. It is considered as the first two milestones of the recently approved alliance between the two airline companies. 

Part of the joint plan of the new alliance is to provide more flight services to northern Australia.  Starting on 26 March 2012, SilkAir – Singapore Airlines regional full-service airline will begin a four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin. Virgin Australia will be complementing these services with a daily flight between Sydney and Darwin from 02 April 2012.

The two airlines had also merged their frequent flyer recognition which started last 20 December 2011. This program will enable KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Virgin Australia’s entire network which goes the same for the Velocity members who can earn and redeem points on Singapore Airlines-operated flights. Reciprocal lounge access will also be available for eligible customers. 

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial and SilkAir Chairman, Mr Mak Swee Wah, was quoted saying: “We are delighted to be adding Darwin to our network and providing more travel options for our customers as a result of our alliance with Virgin Australia. Our partnership enables us to better serve this important market, particularly with the introduction of a strong business-class product and extensive international connections.

Mr Swee Mah added that the launch of the reciprocal frequent flyer ties will deliver tangible benefits to the customers of both airlines providing them more choice for domestic and international travel with excellent service.

On the other hand, Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network & Yield Management, Ms Merren McArthur stated that their alliance with Singapore Airlines enable them to open up important new routes in Australia and Asia.

Miss McArthur said: “Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s popular tourist destinations and is an increasingly important commercial hub. Together with Singapore Airlines, we will be able to offer visitors from Singapore, Asia, and Europe the opportunity to visit the Northern Territory and then travel on to Sydney and the East Coast of Australia. Our services will also be attractive to business travelers who now have the option of a quality business class service from Sydney to Darwin and on to Singapore and beyond.

Virgin Australia also announced that it would open a lounge at Darwin Airport that would accommodate eligible Virgin Australia guests and those of its alliance partners.

Both airlines are expecting to commence the codeshared arrangements on each other's services from early 2012.

Singapore Citizen’s Travel Visa Guide

Photo by yousef alfuhig

Singaporeans are the most well-traveled people in the Asia Pacific region according to the Channel News Asia based on a survey conducted by MasterCard during the month of August 2011. The survey revealed that 85% of Singaporeans made at least one international leisure trip within the 12 month period the survey was conducted.

Having a passion for traveling, this guide for the latest visa requirement for popular travel destinations in Asia will be useful for Singapore citizens who are planning to secure an air ticket booking to spend a holiday abroad. This guide covers Singapore citizens, holders of passports issued in Singapore, and those who were born in Singapore and wish to attain a Tourist Visa, not including Business and Diplomatic Visas.

Applying for a Tourist Visa can be sorted out into three categories – no advanced planning, three-day preparation, and two-week preparation.

Asian countries like Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia fall into the “no advanced planning” category. It means that a tourist visa will be granted automatically upon arrival at the airport thus no pre-arrangements or payments are necessary.

The number of days a tourist was allowed to stay or the date a tourist must leave the country will be stamped on the passport by the immigration officer. That stamp will serve as a “visa” which allows the tourist to enter the country multiple times within a specific number of days, starting from the date of arrival. It is also known as a multiple-entry visa.

For countries like India and Indonesia, a visa on arrival comes with a fee. Visitors will be asked to approach the ‘visa-on-arrival counter’ to submit a visa application. A passport-sized photo will be required along with the stamping fee.

While other countries grant visas upon arrival, some countries in Asia such as Australia require visitors to submit a visa application in advance, before arrival at the entry point. The processing period takes at least three working days. Applying for a visa can be done online without handing over the original passport then the letter of approval will be sent through e-mail. A visa will be valid only for a particular period of time thus the applicant will be asked to enter the country within a specific number of days. Some nations will grant the visa without payment however some will ask visitors to pay for a stamping fee at the visa-on-arrival counter.

On the other hand, tourist visa applications for some countries such as Myanmar and Russia take around two weeks processing period. In this case, an applicant must approach the embassy of the country he/she wishes to visit to apply for a visa. Another option will be through a travel agent as they have “runners” who can process the application in the embassy without the presence of the applicant. Usually, the validity of the visa begins once it has been issued, not on the day the visitor arrived in the country.

Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Asia?

Photo by Jules Marvin Eguilos

Harry Potter in Asia? Millions of “Harry Potter” fans in Asia were elated with the news of having a theme park based on the character of the “boy who lives” as part of the future attractions in Universal Studios Singapore and Japan.

Asian fans of the famous J.K Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series might get a chance to experience the magic of the ‘Wizarding World” in Japan or Singapore according to TravelWeekly.Asia. It said that reports have suggested that themed parks based on the character of the famous boy wizard could be coming to Japan and Singapore. If this attraction will push through, air ticket booking to Japan will increase in numbers as fans across Asia surely would not miss this exciting experience.

NBC Universal will be rolling out its “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” to the theme park of Universal Studios in Los Angeles after its successful launch at the Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida last year.

With the movie’s phenomenal success worldwide, theme parks of Universal Studios in Japan and Singapore could also be in line for future “Wizarding World”. Although there has been no confirmation from the management of NBC Universal, this project will surely attract more tourists to book air tickets to Singapore and Japan.

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TravelWeekly.Asia is a business travel news portal in Asia for news and research for organizations that manage travel. It provides daily business travel news updates and regular tourism-related information.