Whether you’re a heritage traveller or simply looking to enrich your next holiday with culture, these UNESCO-listed sites across Asia showcase the continent’s vast history and natural beauty. Here are 20 stops to inspire your next itinerary.
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia
FRIM has recently been added to UNESCO’s world heritage sites list, and rightly so. Located just 16km from Kuala Lumpur, FRIM stands as a shining example of forest restoration and sustainable land use. Once heavily deforested, the 600-hectare site has been transformed into a thriving secondary tropical forest over the past century. Visitors can explore walking trails, a botanical garden, and canopy walks, making it ideal for nature lovers. UNESCO recognised FRIM for its significant contribution to environmental conservation and scientific research.
Kepong, 52109 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Cambodia
Set in a former high school turned prison during the Khmer Rouge regime, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum offers a harrowing glimpse into Cambodia’s tragic past. Known as S-21, this site documents the atrocities committed between 1975 and 1979. Preserved prison cells, photographs, and survivor testimonies tell a sobering story of resilience and remembrance. It was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2009 and later recognised as a World Heritage Site for its historical importance.
St 113, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:00pm (Closed for lunch from 11:30am – 2:00pm)
Maratha Military Landscapes of India, India
Recognised in 2023, the Maratha Military Landscapes highlight the strategic brilliance of the Maratha Empire during the 17th to 19th centuries. Spread across 11 forts in Maharashtra, these locations showcase a unique fusion of military architecture and landscape design – often perched on hills, cliffs, or plateaus. The sites offer panoramic views and are deeply tied to India’s resistance against colonial powers.
Multiple sites across Maharashtra, India (e.g. Raigad Fort, Shivneri Fort)
Opening Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm (varies by site)
Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, Korea
These ancient rock carvings near Ulsan offer a rare glimpse into Korea’s prehistoric past. Dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the petroglyphs depict hunting scenes, rituals, and daily life. Preserved on cliffs along the Bangucheon Stream, the site not only serves as a cultural relic but also offers a scenic riverside setting. Recognised by UNESCO in 2023, it adds significant value to Korea’s archaeological landscape.
Bangudae Cliff, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00am – 6:00pm (Closed Mondays)
Xixia Imperial Tombs, China
Often referred to as the ‘Pyramids of China’, the Xixia Imperial Tombs lie at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia. These 11 mausoleums house emperors of the Western Xia Dynasty, a powerful but lesser-known kingdom that flourished between the 11th and 13th centuries. The site features distinct architecture combining Han, Tibetan, and Tangut influences. It was officially added to the UNESCO list for its historical, cultural, and architectural significance.
Western Xia Imperial Mausoleums, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 6:00pm
Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex, Vietnam
This vast cultural and spiritual complex in northern Vietnam encompasses sacred mountains, ancient pagodas, and historical sites tied to Vietnamese Buddhism. Yen Tu Mountain, in particular, is considered the cradle of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, founded by King Tran Nhan Tong. Pilgrims and tourists alike visit to hike forest trails, explore serene temples, and pay respects at meditation shrines. Added to UNESCO’s list in 2023, the site reflects the rich spiritual legacy of the Tran Dynasty.
Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hai Duong provinces, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 5:00pm
Phong Nha, Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
This park in central Vietnam is a treasure trove of limestone karsts, underground rivers, and enormous caves — including Son Doong, the world’s largest cave. Phong Nha – Ke Bang’s rich biodiversity and striking geological formations earned it a UNESCO listing in 2003. It’s a magnet for eco-tourism and adventure seekers.
Bố Trạch District, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:30am – 4:00pm
Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
The ruins of Thailand’s first capital city are beautifully preserved in this tranquil park. With lotus ponds, ancient stupas, and towering Buddha statues, Sukhothai reflects early Thai art, architecture, and spirituality from the 13th century. Rent a bicycle and wander the grounds to get a full sense of its grandeur.
Mueang Kao, Mueang Sukhothai District, Sukhothai 64210, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:30am – 7:30pm
Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Home to the legendary Komodo dragons, this UNESCO-listed site spans several islands in eastern Indonesia. Beyond its namesake reptiles, the park offers stunning coral reefs, pink-sand beaches, and thriving marine biodiversity. It’s a paradise for diving, trekking, and nature photography.
East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 6:00pm
Hoi An Ancient Town, Vietnam
This charming riverside town once served as a bustling trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries. Its blend of Chinese, Japanese, and European architecture — along with lantern-lit streets and riverside cafés — makes it one of Vietnam’s most atmospheric destinations.
Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Old Town open all day; ticket booths 7:30am – 9:30pm
Horyu-ji Buddhist Monuments, Japan
Located near Nara, this site includes some of the world’s oldest wooden buildings and marks the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6th century. The architecture showcases traditional Asuka-period design and remains a pilgrimage site for history buffs and Buddhists alike.
1-1-1 Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Nara 636-0115, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:00pm (last entry 4:30pm)
Borobudur Temple Compounds, Indonesia
The world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur is a magnificent 9th-century structure covered in intricate stone carvings and crowned with bell-shaped stupas. The complex also includes the smaller Mendut and Pawon temples, forming a sacred Buddhist axis in central Java.
Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:30am – 4:30pm
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Famed for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands topped with rainforests, Ha Long Bay is an iconic natural wonder. Cruises are the best way to explore the bay’s caves, floating villages, and dramatic seascapes, especially at sunrise or sunset.
Address: Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:30am – 5:00pm
Pyu Ancient Cities, Myanmar
The ruins of Beikthano, Halin, and Sri Ksetra reveal the earliest urbanised settlements in Myanmar, dating back over 2,000 years. These ancient cities reflect Buddhist monastic traditions and early architectural planning, with walled cities, stupas, and irrigation systems.
Magway, Sagaing, and Bago regions, Myanmar
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Town of Luang Prabang, Laos
Tucked between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, Luang Prabang is a peaceful town known for its blend of French colonial architecture and Buddhist temples. Early mornings are marked by monks’ alms rounds, while the rest of the day offers cafés, waterfalls, and cultural walks.
Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours; museum and temple hours vary
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley, Malaysia
This lesser-known site is home to one of the oldest human skeletons found in Southeast Asia — the 11,000-year-old Perak Man. The valley also holds evidence of tool-making and early settlements dating back two million years.
Lenggong, Hulu Perak, Perak, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha, Nepal
Lumbini is revered as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha. Pilgrims and tourists visit the Maya Devi Temple, sacred pond, and monastic zone — a peaceful complex dotted with temples built by different Buddhist nations.
Lumbini Province, Rupandehi District, Nepal
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:00am – 6:00pm
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Philippines
These 2,000-year-old terraces, carved into the Ifugao mountains by Indigenous communities, are a feat of sustainable engineering. Still used for farming rice and vegetables today, they reflect a deep relationship between humans and nature.
Banaue, Ifugao Province, Luzon, Philippines
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours; best visited during daylight
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
A green oasis in the city, the Singapore Botanic Gardens dates back to 1859 and is the only tropical botanic garden recognised by UNESCO. Highlights include the National Orchid Garden and rainforest sections, attracting researchers and casual visitors alike.
1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
Opening Hours: Daily, 5:00am – 12:00am
Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
This ancient capital of Sri Lanka was founded in the 4th century BCE and flourished for over a millennium. Today, its ruins feature monasteries, palaces, and the revered Sri Maha Bodhi tree — said to be grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Opening Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 6:00pm
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