![\"Great](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/great-wall-of-china-800x450-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Everyone\u2019s familiar with the iconic\u00a0Great Wall of China<\/a>, but the glossy picture-perfect image you get is at two locations: Badaling and Mutianyu. A shame as there\u2019s 21,196km worth of wall snaking along the length of China to sniff out.<\/p>\n While much of it has been plundered for building material or lost to the sands of time, you can get a non-tourist experience by seeking out parts of the great wall such as Shuiguan and Huanghua Cheng, both accessible from Beijing. Jiayuguan in Gansu is also impressive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Asia\u2019s Dark Star. The hermit nation. The DPRK. Where Dennis Rodman goes to for fun.\u00a0North Korea<\/a> has often received a bad rep in both the media and in the movies, which all adds to its allure.<\/p>\n Not many people realise you can travel by train from Dandong in China into Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK. Organise your visa and travel plans via agencies such as Koryo Yours, Young Pioneer Tours and Explore North Korea.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mt Kinabalu<\/a> in Sabah is Malaysia\u2019s highest peak and while it tragically experienced an earthquake in June 2015, it\u2019s set to re-open on 1 December 2015. This is great news as the summit to Low\u2019s Peak at 4095 metres is tough and thrilling.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll begin your ascent in darkness in time to catch the sun break above the clouds at dawn. Sign up to descend by Via Ferrata, organised by Mountain Torq<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the most epic of train trips, look no further! The\u00a0Trans-Siberian<\/a> is a 9289 kilometre-long train route from Moscow to Vladivostok.<\/p>\n En route, you will pass through China and Mongolia. If you so desire, you can even connect from China down into Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore and west from Moscow into Europe as far as London and Paris!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Get to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia for the start of your life as a Mongolian nomad. A homestay industry has mushroomed and operators now offer everything from horseback and camelback rides to hikes and stays in gers<\/em> (yurts).<\/p>\n Sample traditional Mongolian fare such as urum<\/em> (a thick clotted cream) and buuz<\/em> (dumplings) in the middle of rolling grasslands. The Mongolian hospitality is warm, and you\u2019ll no doubt quickly feel at home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Taj Mahal might get top billing in India but it\u2019s at\u00a0Varanasi<\/a> where you\u2019ll see India in all its true nature, warts and all. Located along the Ganges, Varanasi holds the title as one of the world\u2019s oldest continuously occupied cities in the world. It\u2019s well known for the Ghats that line the Ganges.<\/p>\n These are steps to the river where locals perform ritual ablutions. Pilgrims bathe in the river, corpses are sent on their fiery way and it\u2019s a heady, colourful and overwhelming scene not found anywhere else on earth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Son Doong Cave in the middle of Vietnam was only discovered by a local in 1991. It was finally rediscovered in 2006 and has since been explored and open for treks. Local tour company\u00a0Oxalis<\/a> organises five-day treks through the length of this 9 kilometre-long cave.<\/p>\n Imagine stumbling into the cave\u2019s largest chamber, 200 metres wide, several kilometres long and 150 metres high. It\u2019s a space large enough to fit Singapore\u2019s Marina Bay Sands in inside!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We all know that Dubai is a city of excess where money unlocks some truly unreal experiences.<\/p>\n Rent a private yacht to explore the coastline, guzzle a US$1300 cocktail served in a Swarovski glass at the Skyview bar and take a helicopter ride back to your pad at the\u00a0Atlantis The Palm<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your pockets don\u2019t run so deep, you can still gawp at some modern engineering feats. The Burj Khalifa<\/a> is the world\u2019s tallest building at 829.8 metres while the iconic sail-like Burj Al Arab is a luxe hotel extending out into the bay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Catch the sun breaking over the mist-filled horizon before you start spotting the ancient temples dotting the\u00a0Bagan<\/a> landscape. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, more than 10,000 temples were built at the height of the Pagan kingdom\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n Today, a hot-air balloon ride across in the morning is one of the best ways to view the lush landscape and awe-inspiring temples. The rush alone is worth waking up pre-dawn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most people think of a few things when it comes to South Korea: K-Pop, Jeju Island and Seoul. Yet this country has plenty of other things to offer. One of the best ways for Korea-philes to get under the skin of the country is to\u00a0hire a car<\/a> and take a trip from Seoul down south through the length of the country.<\/p>\n Along the way, explore fortresses such as Sangdang San-seong in Cheongju, stay at a temple in Guin-sa, sample Bibimbap in Jeonju where it was created, and chat with fishermen in the islands of Heuksando and Hongdo. You\u2019ll find there\u2019s more to South Korea than shopping and beaches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feature Image: Bagan \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Christopher Michel<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2) Take the train into Pyongyang in North Korea<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"pyongyang-train\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pyongyang-train-800x540-1.jpg\")
Pyongyang station \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Fr\u00fchtau<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n3) Catch the sunrise from the peak of Mt Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Kinabalu-National-Park\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Kinabalu-National-Park-800x450-1.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n4) Take the Trans-Siberian Train from Moscow to Vladivostok<\/h2>\n
![\"Trans-Siberian](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trans-siberian-railway-switchman-public-800x707-1.jpg\")
Switchman at Trans-Siberian Railway \/\u00a0Source<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n5) Experience life as a local in the steppes of Mongolia<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"ulubaataar-mongolia\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ulubaataar-mongolia-800x452-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6) Get overwhelmed at the spectacle that is Varanasi, India<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Varanasi\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Varanasi-800x450-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7) Trek through the world<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s largest cave in Vietnam<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"son-doong-cave\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/son-doong-cave-800x556-1.jpg\")
Son Doong Cave \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Doug Knuth<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n8) Live like a king in Dubai<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Atlantis](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/atlantis-the-palm-dubai-800x533-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9) Thrill to a bird<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s-eye view of the Bagan temples in Myanmar<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Bagan\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/bagan-800x600-1.jpg\")
Bagan \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0poida.smith<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n10) Road trip the length of South Korea<\/h2>\n
![\"jeonju\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/jeonju-800x600-1.jpg\")
Jeonju \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Steve Walker<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n