Five Best

Ko Tarutao Marine National Park in the Adaman Coast of Southern Thailand consists of 51 islands covered with protected virgin rainforest that is home indigenous fauna. Most of the islands are surrounded by magnificent beaches and healthy coral reefs. Ko Tarutao is the largest of the 51 islands that belong to the Tarutao National Marine Park and second-most visited island in the group. In the early 1940’s Ko Tarutao was used as a prison because it was considered remote and hard to escape from. The island is 26.5km long and 11km wide and the highest point is 700 metres above sea level. Rainforest covers over 70% of this hilly and most unspoiled island in the Anderman Sea. Here there are long sandy stretches of unspoiled beach and some caves to be explored. Another island within the ...

The Komodo National Park and Pink Beach on Komodo are just two of the highlights of this island. Pink Beach is not to be missed. Situated in an uninhabited area of the island, this beach is one of only seven in the world that due to a mixture of red and white sand give off a lovely pink hue. The water here is shallow making the beach ideal for swimming or snorkelling from. One is able to gaze down onto wonderful corals of all colours, shapes and sizes. For diving enthusiasts there are world-class diving sites either just off Komodo as well as the close site of Gili Banta, an unpopulated island just northwest of Komodo. Gili Banta features many finger like bays with crescent beaches and is well known for its large population of giant sea turtles and manta rays. The dive site here is ...

Situated nearby the city of Kuala Trengganu, Pulau Kapas (Kapas Island) is only 2 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide. This small island really fits the imagined images of many of its visitors. Here, untouched tropical forest, turquoise water, swaying palm trees and colourful coral reefs just off shore, makes this an idyllic tropical island destination. A day trip here is highly recommended. The name Kapas means cotton and is attributed to the pure white beaches. The sand is soft to walk on and this helps to engage an image of a most enjoyable island to be shipwrecked on. Most visitors come for relaxation, sun bathing, swimming and diving. With good visibility, calm and shallow water, snorkelling is also popular as there are colourful reefs and a good variety of fish to view. Seve...

The city of art and culture, Yogyakarta is the capitol of the Yogyakarta Special Region in Java. Here education, fine art, music, drama, ballet and poetry flourish along with ancient architectural sites and historical buildings. Of the most visited of all the sites here is the 9th century Borobudur, the largest Mahanyana Buddhist Temple in the world. Built by King Samaratungga of the Wangsa Dynasty in 824 AD this shrine has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Toped by three circular platforms the temple contains 2,600 relief panels and around 500 Buddha statues. This edifice to the dynasty lies between the Sumbing and iconic Merapi volcanoes and it is recommended to reach the top at sunrise for a breath-taking visual. Yogyakarta is also the home of the Keraton, the regions roya...