1. Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei
Covering 500 square kilometers in Brunei’s Temburong District, the Ulu Temburong National Park allows visitors to experience truly primeval rainforest, untouched by human hands except for the interconnected canopy walkways that let travelers hike through the park’s treetops 50 meters above the jungle floor.
This vantage point is ideal for chance encounters with Temburong’s hornbills, gibbons, and over 400 species of butterfly. You can also relax after your hike with by cooling off in the pristine Sungai Temburong River.
A visit to Ulu Temburong requires that you secure a permit from one of the authorized travel agencies in Bandar Seri Begawan. From there, you’ll take about two hours’ ride by boat and by car from the jetty at Jalan Residency to the Ulu Ulu Temburong Resort within the park. The trip is almost as memorable as the destination itself, as you’ll pass through mangrove channels, Malay kampongs and Iban longhouses before taking the final lap by longboat into Temburong’s deepest, darkest jungle.
2. Isaan Region, Thailand
This region in Thailand’s northeast is as far as it gets from Thailand’s image as a hedonistic beach destination.
Given their region’s location next to Laos, the Isaan people share close language and cultural ties with the Lao. The area’s bustling cities, like Nong Khai and Nakhon Ratchasima, offer street food and shopping experiences with all the charm of Thailand’s better known cities minus the crush of tourists. And rural towns like Sangkhom can be found all along the Mekong River, rustic getaways from the almost overpopulated tourist tracks further south.
Nature-minded travelers can head to Khao Yai National Park in Isaan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering over 2,100 square kilometres of the Sankamphaeng Mountain range. Here, they can find themselves in close communion with the local wildlife, including about 2,000 species of plants, over 70 species of reptile and 46 species of mammal.
The town of Pindaya lies in the middle of Shan State, a good 12 hours by bus from Mandalay. Trekkers love Pindaya’s rolling hills, and usually reach them as a stopover from Kalaw on a multi-day hike toward Inle Lake.
But Pindaya is definitely worth a few days’ stop. Start with Pindaya Cave, filled with thousands of Buddha images of different sizes donated by devout Buddhists from all over the world, some dating back to the 11th century AD. Closer to town, you can visit a Shan cultural centre that makes and sells traditional Shan products like Shan paper and bamboo umbrellas.
4. Abatan River, Philippines
The Philippine countryside is not often sought after by tourists, but most tourists haven’t experienced the friendly Filipino hinterlands the way Abatan River explorers do. Starting from the river wharf at the town of Cortes, travelers can sail down the Abatan River in Bohol Island, and visit a series of riverside communities.
Each community welcomes guests with a bang – beginning with a traditional musical performance, then bringing them off the boat to a pavilion where more musical performances, a display of the local artisanal products, and a snack of local goodies await. The trip ends at a scenic waterfall at the head of the river, from which travelers can either return to Cortes or proceed to an “eco-adventure” at neighboring GREAT Catigbian.
5. Loksado, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
This bucolic Dayak community in South Kalimantan’s Meratus Mountains has plenty to offer both the culture seeker and the outdoorsy traveler. From Loksado, you can venture on a number of adventures through the Bornean hinterland, from riding the churning Amandit River on a bamboo raft to trekking around the nearby hills and waterfalls.
The local Dayak culture is worth observing. Formerly feared headhunters, today’s Dayak are better known for their animistic practices. If you’re lucky, you’ll arrive just as the Loksado Dayak are celebrating a festival. Festive season or otherwise, you can experience the Dayak culture better if you book a homestay among them.
According to visitsoutheastasia.travel
