Landscapes in Asia

The beautiful Dushanbe – Khorog South Route runs mostly along the Afghan border and is a great introduction to what is await further into the Pamir. The landscape starts as rolling hills outside Dushanbe which then rises and become more cragged the closer you get to Afghanistan. For most of the time the road actually follows the Panj River which makes out the border to Afghanistan. And what an excitement the first glimps of Afghanistan are. Just across the roaring river, often less than 100 m away, rural Afhgan villages cling to the mountain side with a single narrow footpath as the only infrastructure. If that wasn't enough, the jagged snowcapped peaks of the majestic Hindu Kush will also appear as you get closer to Khorog. Not a bad teaser for the Pamir Highway.

Disclaimer: Some consider this route (or the northern direct route along M41) a part of the Pamir Highway.

Located in the remote far east of the already remote Pamir region of Tajikistan, the tiny village of Karakul would, under any other ordinary circumstances, probably go completely unnoticed by travellers. However, Karakul is anything but ordinary. It is the village's location on the shores of Lake Karakul that makes a stop here almost mandatory for anyone passing through the region. With the magnificent Pamir Mountains reflecting in the pristine lake waters, it is an image almost too good to be true. If you then throw in the fact that the only place to stay in town is in one of the tremendously charming local home-stays, a stop in Karakul is transformed from a "Might-as-well" visit to a "Must" visit.

The Pamir Highway is one of those epic road trips. The "real" Pamir Highway is the section of the M41 that goes from Khorog (in Tajikistan) to Osh (in Kyrgyzstan) through Murgab. It is 730 km of high-altitude road in everchanging condition passing soaring mountain peaks, blue alpine lakes and nomadic settlements. The journey can be done in two days by jeep, but the there are lots of great detours (Bulunkul, Rang-Kul, Kara-Kul,...) and the scenery is just too pretty to rush through. These days, the southern route, which goes through the Wakhan Valley along the border to Afghanistan and joins the M41 near Bulunkul, has become a popular alternative with a handful of historical sights (like fortresses and petroglyphs) to break up the journey, close-up views of rural Afghanistan, and peeks of the impressive Hindu Kush.

There exists a kind of tightrope when travelling through Eastern Tajikistan. A narrow river valley acts as an international dividing line. On one side, the remote Pamir region of Tajikistan, on the other, the even more remote mountains of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan. For many, the mere thought of being a stone throw away from Afghanistan might be reason enough to visit the Wakhan Valley. But once there, the sheer beauty of the place will overshadow any preconceptions. Snowcapped mountains, grazing land, ancient ruins and natural springs all line the valley. And likely being the only traveller for miles makes the experience all the more special.

The landscape at Yashilkul lake border the unreal. A clear blue sky above a dark jade green lake surrounded by an undisturbed colourless desert and a horizon sprinkled with white mountain peaks. You can reach Yashilkul by a short drive or long walk from Bulunkul village.

If you ever the had urge to go Indiana Jones style, then a visit to the Lod Cave in Thailand's North is for you. The cave system, which holds archeological significance, is locally known as Ban Tham Lod and located on the outskirts of a village called Pang Mapha, around 130 km north of Chiang Mai. Remains from primitive humans dating back 20,000 years, ancient cave paintings from 2 to 3,000 years ago and long wooden coffins have all been found within this massive cave system. A trip through the cave will take anything from 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on how long you stand in awe at the amazing formations that have been created over the eons. As you pass through the massive caverns with a single oil lantern wielded by your local guide, you can't help but think of what these caverns have seen and of how time has forgotten them. If you plan on visiting the Lod Cave, make sure you pay the extra money to take the raft through the entire cave, you won't be disappointed. It may also be a great idea to bring a rain poncho or umbrella - the bats haven't been toilet-trained yet!

Chiaw Lan Lake was artificially created in 1982, when they built the Ratchaprapha dam. While it is never nice to flood a national park, the result seems rather genius. Steep, vertical limestone outcrops are now rising high out of the green, warm freshwater. Some outcrops reach more than 950 m straight up into the sky. The best way to take in all this beauty is to stay at some of the cool raft guesthouses made of floating bamboo poles tied together, and go exploring early in morning in a kayak. Though most people come here on a tour, it is easy to get here by yourself and then you can choose which area of the lake, you want to stay at.

Going south on Ko Lanta Yai means losing the throngs of tourists and finding some of the quieter beaches in the Krabi province. Nui Bay is one of the islands most untouched beaches, for the most part because it's surrounded by cliffs on all sides and also because it is usually bypassed while heading to the National Park. The lack of accessibility and signage has meant that no resorts have taken over and there’s only ever a few people at a time, giving you as much privacy as you’ll find in this part of Thailand. The only way to reach it is either by a steep 100 m footpath from the main road or accessing it through a nearby restaurant and walking down the man made steps. This is one of the few places you won’t find development, just beautiful rock formations on either side of a soft, sandy beach and calm, clear waters. If privacy and natural beauty is what you want, this might be worth your while.

If you like flowers, specifically sunflowers, make a trip to Lopburi or Saraburi Province. The Sunflower Festival goes on between November and February of every year. Only 150 km from Bangkok, the vast fields of sunflowers are a beautiful sight when in bloom. A nice way to spend a day if you are in Bangkok and want to get out of the mayhem and big crowds for the day. Warning: the area gets very crowded on weekends with local tourists.

Approaching Ba Be National Park feels like a journey into a lost world. When reaching the rim of the karst limestones that enclose Ba Be lake, you will be met by a landscape that is the source for Asian scroll paintings. A dark lake with mist hanging heavy over the flat surface with green foliage clinging to the steep cliff sides and an intense silence (if you turn off the engine). The lime stone mountain range surrounding the lake is full of caves, where Puong Cave is the longest (300 m). Don't limit your roaming to the lake only for there are fine small walks too. Though Ba Be is a national park there are villages along the shore who can offer home stays and boat rentals.