Quick Trips:
To get you thinking about your next trip, the team from Shanti Travel reminds us just how close we are to some of the world’s great destinations. Exciting locations less than 4 hours from Singapore
Great destinations within a four-hour flight
Where: MYANMAR Fly to: Yangon International Airport How long: 3 hours
Despite a recent tourism boom, the magical, mysterious atmosphere that surrounded Myanmar for years hasn’t disappeared. You’ll feel it as you visit the Bagan temples, explore colonial Yangon or meet Inle Lake’s ethnic minorities. This is a walking mecca, too, from the Kalaw countryside to trekking through Hsipaw or great adventures in the Burmese Himalayas in Putao.
Where: INDONESIA Fly to: Denpasar International Airport, Bali How long: 2 hours 20 minutes
Indonesia has something for everyone: enjoy the sweet life at Bali’s beaches, rice fields or Hindu temples; explore UNESCO Heritage Sites such as Borobudur and Prambanan in Java; scuba dive amongst some of Asia’s richest marine biodiversity; cruise to meet the legendary Komodo dragon; or climb the majestic volcanoes of Bromo, Mount Batur or Kawah Ijen.
Where: SRI LANKA Fly to: Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo How long: 3 hours 50 minutes
Sri Lanka is home to multiple cultures, languages and ethnicities. For beautiful beaches and whalewatching, head to the south and east coasts. For spotting leopards and elephants, visit the 15 national parks. For hiking, make for the famous Ceylon tea plantations. Other highlights include Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya and Kandy. This is an ideal destination for a memorable and manageable trip with family or friends.
Where: VIETNAM Fly to: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City How long: 2 hours 10 minutes
The richness of Vietnamese gastronomy (we would go to Hanoi just for a dish of delicious pho or bun bo) is matched only by the immensity of its landscapes – from the karst pinnacles of Halong Bay and Sapa’s endless rice terrace, to the merchants’ houses of Hoi An and the quaint villages of the Mekong Delta. The added advantage is how well priced it all is for travellers.
Where: CAMBODIA Fly to: Siem Reap International Airport How long: 2 hours 10 minutes
Visit Angkor’s mythical temples, explore Tonle Sap and its floating villages, lose yourself on Crusoe-worthy beaches, marvel at Khmer temples, or browse Phnom Penh’s markets: whatever you choose, Cambodia is a small place with a big impact. For a unique experience, hike the less-explored trails in the Cardamom Mountains, the Kulen region or the beautiful Virachey National Park.