Asia - The Best Time to Visit

This 400,000-Person City Is One of the World’s Most Isolated — No Roads Lead Here

September 6, 2025 by Ben

Cityscape view of Iquitos, Peru with the Itaya River in the background in the middle of the Amazon Rain Forest

Iquitos plays in a league of its own. This city of 400,000 inhabitants, Peru’s fifth-largest, functions like a continental island, completely disconnected from the global road network. To reach it, you have two options: plane or boat. No middle ground. This geographical constraint has shaped a peculiar city where prices soar for an imported box of corn flakes and motorcycle taxis reign supreme over potholed streets. Travelers who embrace the challenging journey discover an ambiguous Amazonian hub, torn between its role as a gateway to the jungle and its status as a mecca for mystical tourism. The Journey Is Part … Read more

This Country Plans 300,000 Autonomous Taxis by 2030

September 5, 2025 by Ben

The news never stops, whether in tourism or other sectors. It’s easy to miss important developments that might interest us. That’s why we regularly revisit recent news stories to highlight them again. A National Priority Although their public deployment is quite recent, dating back only to 2023, what we call “autonomous taxis” – driverless vehicles – are gaining momentum and attracting interest from multiple countries and municipalities worldwide. So far, only the United States and China have truly taken the leap with public services. But things are moving fast. Beyond those still testing like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, … Read more

Laos Now Requires Digital “Arrival Card” for All Visitors – Here’s What You Need to Know

September 3, 2025 by Ben

Like many countries worldwide – and increasingly so – Laos is also going digital when it comes to entry formalities for its territory. Effective Since September 1st The measure has been in effect since this month. To visit Laos, all travelers must now have an “Arrival Register,” or electronic arrival card, obtained within two days prior to entering the country. This free document, which then appears as a QR Code received by the applicant, is obtained online directly on the official site immigration.gov.la. It supplements any visa that may also be required depending on your nationality. However, note that unlike … Read more

Thailand Offers 200,000 Free Flight Tickets to Boost International Tourism

August 24, 2025 by Ben

Wat Mahathat Temple in the precinct of Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thailand

After a lukewarm 2024 with only 20.8 million visitors by August (down 7% from the previous year), Thailand is pulling out all the stops. The government is preparing a massive tourism campaign that could revolutionize travel in the kingdom: distributing 200,000 free domestic flight tickets to international travelers between September and November 2025. The “Buy International, Free Thailand Domestic Flights” program works simply: any tourist purchasing an international ticket to Thailand through participating airlines or online agencies will automatically receive a round-trip domestic flight with 20 kilograms of baggage allowance. It’s a world first in terms of scale, though Japan tested a … Read more

This Massive New Beach Resort Just Opened in North Korea – And You Can Actually Visit It

August 23, 2025 by Ben

We might not think of it this way (to say the least…), but North Korea under dictator Kim Jong Un also has tourism ambitions, or at least eyes on the revenue it could generate. This is what the recent opening of this massive beach resort in Wonsan on North Korean territory seems to suggest… A country that has always welcomed tourists This might also come as a surprise, but apart from during the pandemic and the (lengthy) closure of its borders, North Korea has always welcomed tourists, including Europeans and Americans. In fact, as we mentioned some time ago, the … Read more

The World’s Tallest Statue Stands 598 Feet High—And Most People Have Never Heard of It

August 22, 2025 by Ben

The Statue of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid, the Great Sphinx of Giza, Easter Island’s Moai—some statues are undeniably famous, standing as witnesses to our world and our times. Yet the tallest of them all remains surprisingly unknown to most people. Perhaps that’s because it was only completed in India as recently as 2018. 597 Feet—Even 787 Feet Including Its Base After five years of construction and over $360 million invested, the Statue of Unity was inaugurated on October 31, 2018, on an island near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Indian state of Gujarat. Standing 597 feet tall (182 … Read more

Chiang Mai Uncovered: Why Northern Thailand’s Ancient Capital Will Change How You See Southeast Asia

August 20, 2025 by Ben

Chiang Mai, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, stands apart as a unique gem in northern Thailand. Far from Bangkok’s relentless pace, this city moves to its own rhythm. The historic center preserves its ancient moats and remnants of city walls that encircle over 300 Buddhist temples, bustling markets spilling onto sidewalks, and a vibrant local arts scene. Temple Treasures Wat Phra That Doi Suthep watches over the city from its mountain perch at 3,280 feet above sea level. After climbing 309 steps flanked by golden naga serpent railings, the panoramic view rewards every bit of effort. In the … Read more

This Forbidden Island Will Kill You if You Try to Visit: North Sentinel Island, India

August 19, 2025 by Ben

There are places and sites we’d love to visit but simply cannot. Some have vanished due to human folly or nature’s whims, while others—more commonly—have become inaccessible because they’re now located in war zones or regions where tourism is strongly discouraged. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re permanently closed or that circumstances will never change, but for now, they remain off-limits. Today we’re heading to a small island not far from Myanmar that, despite its proximity, belongs to India: North Sentinel Island. Where is North Sentinel Island? North Sentinel is an island in the Indian Ocean, specifically in the Bay of … Read more

Dubai Just Broke Another World Record – And This One Will Take Your Breath Away

August 13, 2025 by Ben

Dubai is undoubtedly the city that consistently dominates tourism headlines worldwide, particularly when it comes to groundbreaking innovations. This Emirati metropolis continues to show us what tomorrow’s megacities will look like, from their architecture and urban planning to the services and amenities designed for both residents and tourists. The World’s Tallest Hotel Once again, all eyes are turning skyward. In addition to being home to the world’s tallest building – the famous Burj Khalifa we’ve covered before – Dubai will soon welcome the world’s tallest hotel as well. Hotel Ciel is set to open its doors to first guests in … Read more

Hanoi’s Iconic Scooters Could Soon Vanish from City Centre

August 9, 2025 by Ben

It’s practically a symbol of Vietnam’s capital, if not the entire country. The countless scooters in varying states of repair, smoking and spluttering throughout the city, could well disappear from central Hanoi as early as next year… Scooters: A Social Phenomenon To say that scooters and other small motorcycles are abundant in Hanoi would be an understatement. This is hardly surprising, given that they’re the primary mode of transport for most residents – so much so that there are reportedly over 5 million of them for a population of around 9 million. It’s practically a world record… Whilst this mode … Read more