More senior travellers than ever are visiting Asia these days, and enjoying it to the full. The knowledge they have acquired over the years helps them appreciate new countries and cultures. They face challenges too, not least in staying healthy while on the road. Here are 10 tips on how senior travellers can make the most of their Asian trip.
Senior travellers planning to visit India for the first time may feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of the place. It’s hard to decide which areas to visit and how much to try to see. It’s best not to try to cram too much in. Instead of rushing from here to there, day after day, a better approach is to choose one or two regions of interest, and spend most of the time there. This provides a chance to relax and savour the local atmosphere. This guide will help in making those choices.
Thinking of renting a car in Southeast Asia? In some countries it’s possible but in others it’s not. And in those where self-drive rental cars are available, there are dangers to be aware of. In several countries driving yourself is not recommended unless you’ve had previous experience of driving in Asia. Check out our guide to the best countries in which to rent a car.
Sri Lanka’s Hill Country is ideal for walking, with its many hiking trails, cool weather and exceptional views. In the heart of the region is Nuwara Eliya, once a colonial hill station and now a busy city that has retained something of its English flavour. The surrounding tea plantations offer memorable hikes. It’s also perfectly situated for the walk to World’s End in Horton Plains National Park, one of the Hill Country’s most spectacular hiking destinations.
TIME magazine’s 2018 World’s Greatest Places listing featured many places to visit, eat, drink and stay in Asia. We reviewed the list and came up with the top 20 places that we think will be of most interest to older travellers. These include some diverse and interesting places that have only opened in the past year.
Once the centre of a decades-long tin mining boom, Malaysia’s third-largest city, Ipoh, has now come into its own as holiday destination. Its historic old town has seen a renaissance and is a popular shopping and dining district. The craggy limestone hills that surround the city contain many caves, some housing temples. It’s a city that will appeal to senior travellers in search of history, good food and a bit of easy adventure.
House sitting offers retirees without time constraints the opportunity to visit other countries and save on accommodation costs. It enables travellers to enjoy new cultural experiences and live like a local. House sitting has been popular in the US, UK and Australia/New Zealand for many years, but is now taking off in Asia.
The Chinese city of Chengdu has long been famous for its pandas. Its renowned panda breeding centre is one of the best places in the world to see these vulnerable, solitary animals. Chengdu’s other attractions – not least its spicy Sichuanese cuisine and its relaxed atmosphere – are helping turn it into an increasingly popular destination for foreign visitors.
The best orchid gardens in Asia are located in Singapore. They are arguably the best orchid gardens in the whole of the tropical world. Any visitor to Asia who appreciates the beauty of orchids should include these gardens on their travel itinerary. This short guide describes the three best places to see flowering orchids in Singapore.
The orangutan is among the most loved of Asia’s wild animals. But it is critically endangered and its numbers are continuing to decline as its natural habitat, the rainforest, is destroyed. Today orangutans can be found only in Borneo and Indonesia’s North Sumatra. But there are still relatively easy ways for travellers to see them in the wild or forest rehabilitation reserves.
Many older travellers have Tibet on their bucket list but are discouraged to travel there because of the travel costs and fears of altitude sickness. A cheaper alternative is India’s Ladakh region which is known as ‘Little Tibet’ because of its similarity in scenery and culture. It also offers options for overland travel to reduce the risk of suffering altitude sickness.
The humble bullock cart has been an important means of transport in Asia since ancient times. It has survived into the modern age and continues to be used in many parts of the continent despite fierce competition from tractors and other motorised transport. The bullock cart represents a side of Asia where tradition holds sway even in the 21st century.
Turkmenistan is Central Asia’s least visited country. Its capital, Ashgabat, is a city like no other: a showcase of large white marble buildings, interspersed with grand monuments, golden statues and well-manicured parks. It provides an intriguing interlude for travellers in search of something different.
Asia is a less risky continent in which to travel from a health perspective than Africa or South America. However, some precautions still need to be taken — especially in the tropical countries of Asia — to ensure that a holiday or extended travel is not ruined by illness or injury. This succinct guide lists the key facts that the older traveller needs to know.
When you’re travelling in Asia, you’ll probably want to see some of its famous festivals. Each country has its own, religious or cultural, traditional or modern. Some of the biggest festivals, especially religious ones, reach beyond national borders and are celebrated by huge numbers of people across the continent. Here’s a concise guide to six of Asia’s top international festivals.
Visitors to Hanoi who want an experience combining Vietnam’s past and present can take a walk across the city’s historic Long Bien Bridge. Built by the French and bombed by the Americans, the 115-year-old bridge across the Red River has become a symbol of the country’s resilience.
