{"id":22128,"date":"2017-09-25T21:47:12","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T11:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=22128"},"modified":"2025-04-22T15:06:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T05:06:30","slug":"southeast-asia-hidden-gems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/","title":{"rendered":"9 under-the-radar destinations in South East Asia worth a visit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>You\u2019ve gazed in awe at Cambodia\u2019s Angkor Wat, lazed on one of Thailand\u2019s many white-sand beaches and eaten as much Vietnamese pho as your stomach can possibly handle. So, what\u2019s next? Well, a whole lot \u2013 <a href=\"\/southeast-asia\">South East Asia<\/a> is truly the gift that keeps on giving.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To show you how much there is to the region beyond the obvious, iconic sights, we\u2019ve compiled a little list of\u00a0lesser-known gems and unique experiences that our tours offer. Think ancient caves and limestone karsts, mountain villages and lake-filled craters. And then there&#8217;s homestays so remote you need a boat to reach them and seaside towns so untouched it\u2019s just you and the ocean (and, well, a whole bunch of new friends).<\/p>\n<p>Here are 9 South East Asian spots you didn&#8217;t expect to land at the top of your bucket list:<\/p>\n<h2>Doi Mae Salong, Thailand<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22344\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22344\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/thailand_doi-mae-salong_tea-plantation.jpg\" alt=\"Southeast Asia Thailand Doi Mae Salong\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/thailand_doi-mae-salong_tea-plantation.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/thailand_doi-mae-salong_tea-plantation-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/thailand_doi-mae-salong_tea-plantation-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/thailand_doi-mae-salong_tea-plantation-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22344\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Doi Mae Salong<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> Doi Mae Salong combines the beauty of Thailand with the cuisine of China and allure of Myanmar. Why? Well, the town sits close to the border of Myanmar and is home to former Chinese Nationalist Soliders who fled from (then) Burma back in the 1960s. Famous for its Chinese tea traders (plus gorgeous mountains and tea fields), it feels just like a quaint southern Chinese village, yet sits in scenic Chiang Rai province. Enjoy a cup of tea from a traditional tea house and check out the array of craft markets on offer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> We recommend our 15-day <strong>Beautiful <a href=\"\/thailand\/beautiful-northern-thailand-159897\">Northern Thailand <\/a><\/strong>trip. Not only will you spend a night in scenic Doi Mae Salong and stay in a guesthouse, there are a ton of other cool activities too. Visit the Golden Triangle (where the Thailand, Myanmar and Laos borders meet), spend the night in a rural homestay, embark on a hilltribe trek through a bamboo forest, and enjoy all the foodie wonders Bangkok has to offer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/cruising\" data-wpil=\"url\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AdventureCruising4BexArtboard-1-copy-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AdventureCruising4BexArtboard-1-copy-6.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AdventureCruising4BexArtboard-1-copy-6-425x159.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AdventureCruising4BexArtboard-1-copy-6-768x288.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AdventureCruising4BexArtboard-1-copy-6-585x219.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"\/adventures\/thailand-week-guide\/\"><strong>SHORT ON TIME? HERE&#8217;S HOW TO DO THAILAND IN JUST 7 DAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Sanur, Bali, Indonesia<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22351\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22351\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22351\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-162420186-e1506281613835.jpg\" alt=\"Sanur Bali fishing boats Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-162420186-e1506281613835.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-162420186-e1506281613835-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-162420186-e1506281613835-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-162420186-e1506281613835-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22351\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sanur<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> A laid-back seaside town that has everything going for it, Sanur is blissful. Based in the southeast of Bali, it&#8217;s a far cry from the hectic parties of Kuta. And that&#8217;s why we love it. Colorful jukung boats rest on the sand, the beach is peaceful and not crowded, and the local eateries are superb. It&#8217;s the last stop on our <strong>Cycle Bali trip<\/strong> because it&#8217;s the ideal place to kick back and relax. The art gallery scene here is pretty impressive, as is sacred Hindu temple,\u00a0Pura Blanjong.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> You can&#8217;t go wrong with our new 8-day <strong>Cycle Bali <\/strong>trip. The cycling is unparalleled \u2013 from the green hills of Ubud to the black-sand beaches of <a href=\"\/bali\">Lovina<\/a> \u2013 and the other activities are endless too. <strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/climb-mt-batur-bali\/\">Hiking up Mt Batur<\/a><\/strong> at sunrise, and soaking in hot springs after, is something you won&#8217;t forget. You won&#8217;t forget sunset at Tanah Lot either. The temple sits on an island, and sundown here really is beautiful. As is the cuisine, the Balinese hospitality, and, well, the entire island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/south-bali-guide\/\"><strong>READ MORE: SECRET SCENIC SPOTS WORTH DISCOVERING IN SOUTH BALI<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22353\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22353\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22353\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-844938910-e1506289602313.jpg\" alt=\"Southeast Asia Cambodia Cardamom Mountains\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-844938910-e1506289602313.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-844938910-e1506289602313-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-844938910-e1506289602313-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-844938910-e1506289602313-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22353\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cardamom Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> Because if you Google the Cardamom Mountains you&#8217;ll find&#8230; very little. Even with tourists flocking (justifiably) to Angkor Wat, very few visitors make it to this majestic mountain range in Cambodia&#8217;s southwest. A biodiversity hotspot, this region is one of the last remaining wild elephant corridors. It&#8217;s also home to a community project whereby you can help plant trees to combat forestry. And an array of truly outstanding beauty. Seriously \u2013\u00a0this place is a haven for hikers, especially thanks to the fact it houses Cambodia\u2019s highest peak, Phnom Aural.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> Our 14-day <strong><a href=\"\/cambodia\">Temples and Beaches trip<\/a><\/strong> through Cambodia is packed with cool experiences. To reach day eight&#8217;s homestay in in the Cardamom Mountains you travel for several hours by boat to Chi Phat. It&#8217;s quite the adventure venturing somewhere so remote! Facilities this night are basic but the local food and hospitality is fantastic (read up on the country&#8217;s cuisine <strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/cambodian-food-guide\/\">here<\/a><\/strong>). The tour also includes snorkelling in Koh Chang, a bike tour along Phnom Penh&#8217;s Mekong River, and temple-hopping in Siem Reap with a local guide.<\/p>\n<h2>Vientiane, Laos<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22347\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22347\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22347\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/laos_vientiane-golden-pagoda-monk-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vientiane Laos Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/laos_vientiane-golden-pagoda-monk-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/laos_vientiane-golden-pagoda-monk-1-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/laos_vientiane-golden-pagoda-monk-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/laos_vientiane-golden-pagoda-monk-1-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22347\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pha That Luang in Vientiane<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> We&#8217;re not claiming that no-one&#8217;s heard of Vientiane, the peaceful capital of Laos, but we <em>are<\/em> claiming it&#8217;s underrated. Many visitors simply stop by Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, but this city has sights and eats aplenty. So, where to begin? At Wat Si Saket, a Buddhist temple believed to be the oldest still standing in Vientiane. Then venture down to war monument, Victory Gate, and Buddhist stupa, Pha That Luang, before grabbing some street food at\u00a0Lane Xang. You also have the opportunity to visit\u00a0COPE, an Intrepid Foundation-sponsored organization that rehabilitates children who have been injured by unexploded bombs. Sunset over the Mekong, the night bazaars and the French-influenced food scene here are also musts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> We have a bunch of trips that go to this laid-back city but one of our favorites has to be our 13-day <strong>Cambodia and Laos Encounter<\/strong>. On this tour you spend two nights in Vientiane and enjoy a guided tour of its highlights. You also spend the night in a homestay in rural Cambodia, trek to a breathtaking waterfall in Vang Vieng, and visit\u00a0the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, which protects Asiatic bears.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/laos-best-travel-destinations\/\"><strong>READ MORE: 4 BEST DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN LAOS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Mt Pinatubo, Philippines<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22346\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"\/philippines\" data-wpil=\"url\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22346\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg\" alt=\"Philippines Mount Pinatubo Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-22346\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crater of Mount Pinatubo<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> With more than\u00a07,000 islands that brim with natural wonders, it&#8217;s safe to say the country itself is a bit of a hidden gem. But even with abundant rice fields, forests and beaches,\u00a0Mt Pinatubo stands head and shoulders above the crowd. After it erupted back in 1991, the top of the mountain was replaced by a large lake-filled crater. You have to trek for several hours to reach this lake, but it&#8217;s truly spectacular. We don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s better \u2013 its emerald green waters or the opportunities to meet the indigenous people here, the Aetas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> Check out our 11-day <strong><a href=\"\/philippines\">Philippine Discovery\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>trip and you won&#8217;t regret it. Not only will you trek to\u00a0Mt Pinatubo on day nine, you&#8217;ll stay in tents by the crater lake itself. One for the books. And the Instagram feed. The rest of the tour doesn&#8217;t disappoint either. The\u00a0stunning Banaue rice terraces you visit have been labelled &#8216;the eighth wonder of the world&#8217;, whilst the hikes that pass through coffee plantations and waterfalls are seriously stunning.<\/p>\n<h2>Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Vietnam<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22349\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22349\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-530575888-e1506280886766.jpg\" alt=\"Paradise Cave Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Vietnam Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-530575888-e1506280886766.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-530575888-e1506280886766-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-530575888-e1506280886766-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-530575888-e1506280886766-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22349\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paradise Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> Because we never tire of discovering Vietnam&#8217;s gems. Whether it&#8217;s the<strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/best-beaches-in-vietnam\/\"> best beaches\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or the <strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/vietnam-foodie\/\">tastiest street snacks<\/a><\/strong>, there&#8217;s just so much to love \u2013\u00a0particularly in Central Vietnam (which is home to two of our favorite cities, Hue and <strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/top-6-things-to-do-in-hoi-an\/\">Hoi An<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p>Central Vietnam is also home to a bunch of lesser-known natural wonders, from Truong Son mountain range to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. And it&#8217;s the latter that&#8217;s extra special. We&#8217;re talking about the fact it&#8217;s home to one of the world&#8217;s largest, and only recently-discovered, cave complexes. The park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, houses the oldest karst mountains in Asia, and has underground rivers as well as caves!<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> We truly think there&#8217;s no better way of seeing Vietnam&#8217;s highlights than on<a href=\"\/vietnam\/best-vietnam-160328\"><strong> this\u00a0adventure<\/strong><\/a>. On it you can do the hundreds of caves justice, as you spend several days exploring the national park. Highlights of the park include walking through the\u00a0cavernous Paradise Cave (pictured above), swimming to the dazzling Ken Cave, and trekking to the mountain range containing\u00a0Tu Lan Cave. The trip also lets you see the best of Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/jimmy-koto-vietnam\/\"><strong>MEET THE INTREPID LEADER WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO HELPING DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN VIETNAM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22343\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"\/indonesia\" data-wpil=\"url\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22343\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22343\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-183853839-e1506280412964.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Toba Sumatra Indonesia Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-183853839-e1506280412964.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-183853839-e1506280412964-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-183853839-e1506280412964-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-183853839-e1506280412964-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-22343\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Samosir Island in Lake Toba<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> For starters, because we love Sumatra. Though it&#8217;s the world&#8217;s sixth largest island, it remains part of Indonesia that few people visit. So, what are the masses missing out on?\u00a0Gunung Leuser National Park, your best chance to see orangutans in the wild in the whole country; jungle hikes aplenty, especially to the top of Sibayak Volcano; and bustling Medan, the island&#8217;s largest city. But the icing on the cake is surely Lake Toba. Formed by two huge volcanic eruptions, the island in the middle of it (called Samosir) is the size of Singapore! The lake is surrounded by mountains and is as peaceful as it is picturesque. Oh, and it&#8217;s the world&#8217;s largest volcanic lake. Not bad at all.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> On our new 9-day <strong><a href=\"\/indonesia\/sumatra-adventure-160415\">Sumatra Adventure<\/a><\/strong>, of course! We&#8217;re super excited to be taking travelers to this nature-filled, beautiful land. When you visit Lake Toba with us you&#8217;ll enjoy lakeside accommodation with views of the surrounding water, mountains and rice fields. And when you get to Gunung Lesuer National Park, home to\u00a0one of the richest ecosystems in the world, you camp for the night! You&#8217;ll also visit\u00a0Indonesia&#8217;s highest waterfall, witness\u00a0traditional Batak dance performances, and so much more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/bali-one-week-guide\/\" data-wpil=\"url\"><strong>WHERE TO TRAVEL IN INDONESIA, ACCORDING TO AN INTREPID LEADER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Kanchanaburi, Thailand<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22352\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22352\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905.jpg\" alt=\"Kanchanaburi Thailand Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22352\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kanchanaburi<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> Considering Kanchanaburi\u00a0is just a two or three hour drive from chaotic Bangkok, it couldn&#8217;t be more different. The town is equal parts scenic and tranquil. Think floating restaurants along the river, shops and buildings surrounded by verdant jungle, and a food scene that is simply mind-boggling. However,\u00a0Kanchanaburi is also home to a dark history. During World War Two, Japanese forces used Allies prisoners of war and Asian laborers to build a rail route to Myanmar. Many died while constructing it, and this story was then memorialized in a book and film. But it&#8217;s Kanchanaburi&#8217;s WW2\u00a0that gives the best insight into it. On the brighter side, this town is an ideal base for exploring some of Thailand&#8217;s rural gems \u2013\u00a0it&#8217;s super close to many parks and historic sites in the surrounding countryside.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> We think our 8-day <strong><a href=\"\/thailand\/thailand-real-food-adventure-159887\">Thailand Real Food Adventure<\/a><\/strong> is an excellent way of exploring the town. Because what better way to get to know a place than through its food scene? On our trip, which starts in Bangkok and ends in Chiang Mai, your two nights in Kanchanaburi\u00a0offer a hands-on masterclass in Central Thai cuisine. Start at the markets to collect ingredients then cook up some classic dishes (from wing beans to banana flower cake) before feasting on them. Don&#8217;t forget to dine at the local night market, as well as exploring the city of\u00a0Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and staying the night at a rural Thai village homestay.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/krabi-thailand-guide\/\"><strong>READ MORE: ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SPOT IN THAILAND, KRABI<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Ke Ga, Vietnam<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_22348\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22348\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-527068263-e1506280636911.jpg\" alt=\"Ke Ga Vietnam Southeast Asia\" width=\"800\" height=\"449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-527068263-e1506280636911.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-527068263-e1506280636911-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-527068263-e1506280636911-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-527068263-e1506280636911-585x328.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22348\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ke Ga<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why we love it:<\/strong> Vietnam&#8217;s coastline is spectacular\u00a0\u2013 as you already know. And although <strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/nha-trang-vietnam-guide\/\">Nha Trang<\/a><\/strong> and Hue have a special place in our hearts, there&#8217;s just something about little Ke Ga that makes us melt. The seaside village is several hours northeast of Ho Chi Minh City and though it certainly doesn&#8217;t bustle with the same volume of attractions, the ocean vistas are unmissable. Not only that, the French colonial lighthouse it&#8217;s known for is the tallest of its kind in the country. Built in 1889 and made of granite, it&#8217;s worth hiring a boat to the island and climbing up to the top for panoramic views of the bay. The fishing village is also known for its seafood and rice paddies (just past the beach).<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to visit:<\/strong> If you like Vietnam and you like the sea, we recommend our <strong><a href=\"\/vietnam\/cycle-vietnam-160330\">15-day Cycle Vietnam<\/a><\/strong> trip. There&#8217;s few better ways to travel down from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in a way that really shows off the country&#8217;s splendor and diversity. From spending one night in a homestay to one night on a <strong><a href=\"\/adventures\/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam\/\">sleeper train<\/a><\/strong>, biking through the rural beauty of Ninh Binh to drinking coffee in scenic Dalat, this trip has everything. Whether it&#8217;s your first or your fifth time in the country, cycling never fails to delight.<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to visit the stunning spots listed above? Check out our range of small group adventures in <a href=\"\/vietnam\" data-wpil=\"url\">Vietnam<\/a>, <a href=\"\/indonesia\" data-wpil=\"url\">Indonesia<\/a>, <a href=\"\/thailand\" data-wpil=\"url\">Thailand<\/a>, <a href=\"\/laos\" data-wpil=\"url\">Laos<\/a>, <a href=\"\/cambodia\" data-wpil=\"url\">Cambodia <\/a>and the <a href=\"\/philippines\" data-wpil=\"url\">Philippines<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p><em>(Image credits from top to bottom: Intrepid Travel, Intrepid Travel, iStock\/master2, iStock\/tobiasjo, Intrepid Travel, Intrepid Travel, iStock\/Gilitukha,\u00a0iStock\/laughingmango,\u00a0Roger Sandford, iStock\/ewastudio,\u00a0iStock\/xuanhuongho)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are 9 Southeast Asian spots about to take pride of place on your bucket list. Prepare yourself for lesser-known gems, unique experiences and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15888,"featured_media":22346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455],"tags":[180,185,43,61,71,582,35,41],"class_list":["post-22128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","tag-asia","tag-bali","tag-cambodia","tag-indonesia","tag-laos","tag-southeast-asia","tag-thailand","tag-vietnam","ipf_region-cambodia","ipf_region-indonesia","ipf_region-laos","ipf_region-thailand","ipf_region-vietnam"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>9 under-the-radar destinations in Southeast Asia | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the 9 Gems in Southeast Asia, truly not to be missed when travelling SE Asia with all the tips on how to visit them\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"9 underrated gems in Southeast Asia to add to your list\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here are 9 Southeast Asian spots about to take pride of place on your bucket list. Prepare yourself for lesser-known gems, unique experiences and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Good Times by Intrepid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-09-25T11:47:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-22T05:06:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Bex Shapiro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"10 Southeast Asian destinations that are seriously underrated\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bex Shapiro\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/\",\"name\":\"9 under-the-radar destinations in Southeast Asia | Intrepid Travel Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-09-25T11:47:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-22T05:06:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/99c2b13918f51397a827de7e464b70ff\"},\"description\":\"Discover the 9 Gems in Southeast Asia, truly not to be missed when travelling SE Asia with all the tips on how to visit them\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":450,\"caption\":\"Hiking in beautiful scenery is priceless\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"9 under-the-radar destinations in South East Asia worth a visit\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\",\"name\":\"The Good Times by Intrepid\",\"description\":\"adventure news\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/99c2b13918f51397a827de7e464b70ff\",\"name\":\"Bex Shapiro\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e36e5d469909ca31769f84a6efbb17223279281fe1082e5d708e8d8974effdda?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e36e5d469909ca31769f84a6efbb17223279281fe1082e5d708e8d8974effdda?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Bex Shapiro\"},\"description\":\"Born in London and based in Toronto, Bex is happiest anywhere she can connect with interesting people over good food. She's passionate about sustainable travel and powerful storytelling, and her favourite cities are New York and Shanghai. She's also the Senior Editorial Manager at Intrepid. Follow her adventures on Twitter and Insta @BexShapiro.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/rebecca-shapiro\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"9 under-the-radar destinations in Southeast Asia | Intrepid Travel Blog","description":"Discover the 9 Gems in Southeast Asia, truly not to be missed when travelling SE Asia with all the tips on how to visit them","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"9 underrated gems in Southeast Asia to add to your list","og_description":"Here are 9 Southeast Asian spots about to take pride of place on your bucket list. Prepare yourself for lesser-known gems, unique experiences and more.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/","og_site_name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/","article_published_time":"2017-09-25T11:47:12+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-22T05:06:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":450,"url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/iStock-485256585-e1506281687905.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Bex Shapiro","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"10 Southeast Asian destinations that are seriously underrated","twitter_creator":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_site":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Bex Shapiro","Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/","name":"9 under-the-radar destinations in Southeast Asia | Intrepid Travel Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg","datePublished":"2017-09-25T11:47:12+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-22T05:06:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/99c2b13918f51397a827de7e464b70ff"},"description":"Discover the 9 Gems in Southeast Asia, truly not to be missed when travelling SE Asia with all the tips on how to visit them","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg","width":800,"height":450,"caption":"Hiking in beautiful scenery is priceless"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/southeast-asia-hidden-gems\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"9 under-the-radar destinations in South East Asia worth a visit"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/","name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","description":"adventure news","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/99c2b13918f51397a827de7e464b70ff","name":"Bex Shapiro","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e36e5d469909ca31769f84a6efbb17223279281fe1082e5d708e8d8974effdda?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e36e5d469909ca31769f84a6efbb17223279281fe1082e5d708e8d8974effdda?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Bex Shapiro"},"description":"Born in London and based in Toronto, Bex is happiest anywhere she can connect with interesting people over good food. She's passionate about sustainable travel and powerful storytelling, and her favourite cities are New York and Shanghai. She's also the Senior Editorial Manager at Intrepid. Follow her adventures on Twitter and Insta @BexShapiro.","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/rebecca-shapiro\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4OQMK-5KU","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15888"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22128"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84088,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22128\/revisions\/84088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}