Asia
From Wikitravel
Contents
Asia is too massive and diverse to conceptualize as a digestible travel "destination". Even defining the borders of this continent is difficult - from the mountains around the Black Sea in the west, to the snow fields of Siberia in the east, there are more people and cities in Asia than outside of it. Asia's highest point is Mount Everest, along the border of China and Nepal, which rises to 8,848 m (29,028 feet) above sea level. Its lowest point is the Dead Sea, between Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan, whose surface is 400 m (1,312 feet) below sea level. Asia's longest river is the Yangtze, which runs 6,300 km (3,915 miles) through China. Its largest lake is the 386,400 sq km (149,200 square mile) Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by several Central Asian nations. Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, by Australia to the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the south. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the southwest, by Europe and Urals to the west, and by the Arctic Ocean to the north.
Travel options range widely, from the desert ruins and modern mega-malls of the Middle East to the magnificent monuments in South Asia, and from the beach bungalows and jungle treks of South-East Asia to the megacities and technology capitals of East Asia. Find out more about regions, destinations, and itineraries below.
In any case, Asia offers the very diverse travel options available to the most avid travelers. On one end, there are the ultramodern countries/territories like Japan and the East Asian Tigers of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea which are very prosperous and in which people enjoy very high standards of living. On the otherhand, Afghanistan, Laos and Timor Leste are extremely poor countries where people struggle even to get a few grains of rice each day. Of course, there are also many countries lying somewhere in the middle, such as the emerging powerhouses of China and India which make wonderful travel destinations in themselves due to their history, size and diversity. To add to a list of possible travel destinations, Asia is also home to North Korea, which is under one of, if not the most, oppressive regimes in the world. Thailand is a magnet for travelers too, with great food, a tropical climate, fascinating culture and great beaches.
[edit] Regions
| Central Asia (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) |
| East Asia (China (including Hong Kong, Macau), Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan) |
| Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) |
| Russia and the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia) Russia comprises much of Asia, a huge country of vast, empty expanses, while the Caucasus is a dense, warm, friendly, but extremely dangerous travel region. |
| South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) |
| Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) |
[edit] Get in
Asia's largest airports by number of intercontinental connections include Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. For the Middle East, Dubai is by far the largest hub, with Doha and Abu Dhabi also having reasonably good connections.
If you are coming to Asia by train, you'll be likely coming in through Russia or Turkey, although other options may exist. For an interesting experience, try the Trans-Siberian Railway.
[edit] Get around
Due to the vast distances and expanses of water separating Asia's different regions, air travel is likely to be the preferred mode of transport between the regions many travel destinations. Fares are lower on average than in Europe or America, and low cost airlines are rapidly expanding their networks particularly in Southeast Asia.
[edit][add listing] See
- Amazing natural wonders of the world.
- Birthplaces of all five of the world's major religions
- Dead Sea Lowest point of land on earth (Israel,Jordan and Palestinian Territories)
- Mount Everest The highest point of land on earth (Nepal and China)
- Famous buildings.
- Unique cultures.
- Dynamic cities.
- Rare species of flora and fauna.
- Beautiful islands and beaches.
- Friendly Asians.
[edit] Stay safe
Safety in Asia can vary wildly, but it is a safe place in general. Non-violent crime can be a problem in some areas though. Refer to specific pages and your State Department/Foreign Affairs Office/embassies for more information.
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