24 Perfectly Chilled Places to Visit in Southeast Asia

Breathe in. Slow and deep. Breathe out. Slowly. Visualize happiness.
Feels good right?

Sometimes all we need is a relaxing vacation where we can disconnect from everyday life, unwind and BREATHE. Since nowhere says RELAX quite like Southeast Asia, we are making a list of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia to relax (and forget that you’re an adult with responsibilities).

While we are quite proficient in the art of chilling, we decided to ask our favourite travel writers Zen masters to help in our search of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia for a relaxing vacation.

Reluctantly, they fell out of their hammocks, took the last sip of iced coffee through a bamboo straw, put a final shell on a sandcastle, got up from a downward-facing dog pose, breathed out slowly, and this is what we eventually came up with.

Yes, the forests, beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers are incredible. The massages are cheap and heavenly. The food not only tastes damn good, but it also looks beautiful. It offers exceptional value for money, and deciding whose kidney will be sold on the dark web to pay for the holiday is never an issue. We love Southeast Asia for all these things, but that’s not why we keep on going back.

We go back for the people and their genuine warm hospitality, their unforced smiles, their sense of humour and their deep connection with their land and culture. Surround yourself with happy people and you’ll be happy too, I guess. You can’t help but get caught up in all that laid-back happiness and go with the flow.

Amed is a collection of 7 fishing villages, and along the road connecting these villages you can find boutique hotels, guesthouses, infinity pools, warungs and restaurants, yoga lessons, dive schools, free-range chickens and if you look very carefully- the true meaning of life.

The snorkelling in Amed is among the best there is in Bali, and it’s right off the beach. Any beach in Amed will have very good snorkeling, but the underwater temple at Jemeluk beach or the Japanese shipwreck is not to be missed.

You can spend your lazy days visiting some of the best spas in the world, practising yoga, visiting temples, exploring sacred forests or trying and identify just how many shades of green the rice paddies have. Ubud is perhaps the best place to visit in Southeast Asia if you’re feeling creative and want to learn a new skill.

Being the cultural heart of Bali, artists and craftsmen in Ubud still practice their traditional trades and welcome visitors to learn by doing. A silversmith could teach you how to make your own jewellery, or you could learn how to cook an authentic Balinese meal.

Foodies, vegans, carnivores and normal people like you and me will love Ubud for its beautiful and delicious food. Eating well is as important a part of a relaxing holiday as spending time in the pool or at the spa. Look at our favourite places to fight hunger if you can’t decide where to eat in Ubud.

By day you can swing in your hammock, take refreshing dips in the lake, get a massage in the garden or drink cup after cup of Sumatra coffee. You might have seen Lake Toba Coffee at Starbucks Reserve, but nothing beats having it in its natural habitat.

Exploring Samosir Island by scooter is just wonderful. The island is big, and a drive all around the island takes a whole day. Along the way, you can explore traditional Batak villages, chase waterfalls, meet coffee farmers or wave to grazing water buffaloes.

Khao Sok is located in the province of Surat Thani, away from all the popular tourist traps. It may be a little trickier to get to, but that’s exactly what makes it so wonderfully relaxing. Spend one night in a jungle treehouse and then head into the depths of the park to stay in a floating raft house on the lake. Here you’ll find limited electricity and no phone signal, making it the perfect place to truly switch off from the outside world.

Spend your days exploring the park on foot or by kayak. Discover cascading waterfalls, hidden caves, and stunning viewpoints, as well as an abundance of wildlife and plants. Or simply sit back and relax at your accommodation, going for the occasional swim in the lake to cool off from the humidity.

A river city that’s known for holding onto its heritage character (a world apart from nearby Sihanoukville), Kampot is centred around the Praek Tuek Chhu river. The streets are filled with beautiful French-colonial architecture and crumbling shophouses. Some of Cambodia’s finest cafes and restaurants are located here, many of which use local Kampot salt and pepper to flavour their meals.

There are only two accommodation options in the valley: the Danum Valley Field Centre and the upmarket Borneo Rainforest Lodge. The field centre is perched on the bank of the Segama River, surrounded by the ancient rainforest shrouded in mist. There is something so primaeval about this forest that you half expect a dinosaur to appear out of the mist.

The main attraction of Danum Valley, apart from its unique rainforest, is the incredible abundance of wildlife. Borneo orangutans, pygmy elephants, gibbons, colugos, marbled cats, and clouded leopards inhabit the valley, not to mention the 270 bird species and a variety of reptiles. The two suspension bridges over the Segama River and the Field Centre restaurant are great spots for watching birds first thing in the morning.

Kanchanaburi is only two hours by bus outside Bangkok, yet it could be on another planet. Sitting on the Kwai River banks, Kanchanaburi is just the place to go if you need a break from the hectic traffic and noise of the capital.

Once you leave Bangkok, it gets greener and greener the closer you get to Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi, also the name of the province, is considered the lushest in all of Thailand.

In Kanchanaburi, unwind and book yourself into one of the fantastic floating hotels. Soon, your state of mind will sync with the flow of the river, and all your worries will be forgotten.

History enthusiasts will want to visit the infamous Bridge Over the River Kwai and pay their respects at the sombre WWII Commonwealth cemeteries. A little farther out, towards the Myanmar border, you can also visit the Hellfire Pass and walking trail. If you have not done so already, read the Man Booker Prize-winning novel, Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan before (or during your trip). Much of the novel is set in the POW camps building the railway. It has also been adapted into a gripping Amazon Prime miniseries starring Jacob Elordi.

>>> Take a visual journey through Myanmar

If you can tear yourself away from the hammock, you can ride the cable cars at Bai Truong, browse the souvenirs and food market of Duong Dong Market, hire a kayak, or visit the traditional Ham Ninh Fishing Village. But really, your biggest decision each day will be whether you should lounge by the pool or head to the beach. This is not the place to come to party the night away, so stock up on some books, and settle into island time.

The Cameron Highlands is the tea-producing capital of the country and you can visit tea plantations in the area to enjoy a cuppa with stunning panoramic views of the tea fields or take a tour around the factory. The Cameron Highlands is also the centre of strawberry production in Malaysia. There are several strawberry farms around town where you can pick your own fruit and sample produce such as strawberry jam, strawberry ice cream and strawberry juice. 

Other fun things to do in the Cameron Highlands include visiting the Jim Thompson Tea Room inside the Cameron Highlands Resort for their English Afternoon Tea, served with fresh local strawberries. You can also visit the award-winning Spa Village inside the hotel, which uses honey, strawberries, tea, and roses for its relaxing treatments and therapies.

But Mui Ne is more than just a kitesurfing destination. Chillaholics can choose from massages on the beach, watching the sunset from the red or white dunes or simply bobbing around in the pool.

Halong Bay is mainly explored on board Junk boat cruises. You can choose between one-day or multi-day cruises depending on the time and level of relaxation required. The cruise takes you along the bay through the islands while offering many activities.

You can kayak through the limestone karsts, admiring the natural wonders. There are many caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites in the Halong Bay area, and you get to tour one of them.

Firstly, it is the cold and hot springs that are available to visit on the route. Unwinding in the natural turquoise waters, surrounded by lush green forest, will wash away any aches and pains you’ve built up on your trip. 

Secondly, it’s one of the best places to stay in Southeast Asia – SpringRiver Resort. Built at the junction of a spring and river (makes sense right!) this is one of the closest places to heaven you’ll find in Laos. There are 16 wooden bungalows connected by bamboo boardwalks and a small restaurant overlooking the river.

The bay consists of two parts, Railay West and Railay East. While both are equally beautiful and unique in their own right, the western region, especially the areas near Phra Nang Beach, can get pretty crowded with day-trippers coming to soak up the chilled vibes, catch the sunset or try out rock climbing. 

Railay East, on the other hand, is much more laidback. Here, you’ll find a secluded stretch of sand where you’ll likely have the entire beach all to yourself, or at the very least share it with one or two Asian Water Monitors. Of course, there are loads of fantastic eateries where you can sip on a freshly cracked coconut or gobble up some pad thai too. However, you’ll be doing yourself an injustice if you didn’t spend some time at Tew Lay Bar – a funky beachfront bar where you can kick back with a boozy cocktail. 

While bus services run to Ngapali from Yangon, you can also take short regional flights to Thandwe Airport, and most of the resorts are just a short drive away. Almost all the top places to stay are located directly on the long stretch of white sandy beach. There is a diverse range of accommodation options, from luxury 5-star hotels to budget eco-lodges.

There is little to do in Ngapali other than enjoy its beautiful picture-perfect beach, enjoy some local cuisine, and take strolls into the small nearby fishing towns for a glimpse into local life. Rise early in the morning, and you can watch the local fishermen bringing in their catch, which they sell to local restaurants.

The hot springs near Ranong are a popular and relaxing place to unwind. Renting a scooter to drive from Ranong to the hot springs is not a daunting task, but taking a taxi also won’t break the bank. Make sure to visit the PornRang hot spring to the south and the Raksa Warin hot spring east of Ranong for a long soak. The rules are similar to those of a Japanese onsen, so it’s great to unwind in a clean environment. They even prepare onsen eggs in the hot waters.

Not only will you see the orange man of the forest, but also other species of monkeys, insects and other jungle critters. An orangutan trek is usually followed by an exciting inner-tube float back to town on the rapids of the Bohorok River.

Walking along the esplanade as the sun goes down is a wonderful time of the day. So many people are out enjoying the cooler weather and you will always find someone who wants to talk. It is at this time that you can find out how beautiful and loving the Thai people are.

The Bolaven Plateau is about 85 kilometres south of Pakse and is at an altitude of between 1,000 and 1350 metres above sea level. The roads here are good but quiet, so it’s a great place to visit independently and on a motorbike without the stress of much traffic.  There are organic farms here, small villages and some glorious waterfalls. Mostly, though, there’s time to relax and take everything slowly. Be sure to check out local coffee, stop at several waterfalls and enjoy the quiet up here. For those interested in coffee, there are coffee farms to visit, and even a Coffee Farm Resort at Sinouk.

El Nido is a place where you can experience pure relaxation and leisure. Just the sight of the vast ocean dotted with islands and limestone rock formations in the Bacuit Archipelago is already a respite in itself. For the easy-going who like sunbathing, watching sunsets, or just lazing on the beach, there’s the charming Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach further up north.

And if you’re up for both adventure and relaxation, you must go island hopping in El Nido. There are four major island-hopping tours on offer in the area. Expect amazing, tranquil beaches, lagoons, sandbars, towering limestone formations, and crystalline water in 50 shades of blue.

Koh Chang is unquestionably the place for beach addicts. Not only is there plenty of them, but they are also clean and quiet, with soft fine sand and clear blue water that’s perfect for swimming. Ideal for lying on the sand all day and simply doing nothing.

What’s more, is that Koh Chang also offers some spectacular sunset spots. Bars on the beach will set up tables and chairs on the sand during the evenings, offering guests front-row seats for a quiet night watching the sunset while enjoying a beer.

Though the island is small, there are ample things to do. You could laze on Dream Beach with its white sand beach and deep blue water. This dreamy beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island.

Mushroom Beach is also worth a visit. Sit back and enjoy a drink or grab a bite to eat in one of the restaurants overlooking the beach.

Swimming with the giant whale sharks in Donsol is an eco-friendly activity, and precautions are in place to have minimal impact on these amazing animals. Searching for the whale sharks by boat and then swimming with them is an unreal experience.

At night, you could go look for fireflies from a rowboat on the Ogod River, and it is a very romantic trip outside Donsol. Getting to the river by tricycle from town is already an adventure. During the hour rowing down the river with a guide, you will see hundreds of fireflies glowing in the trees next to the river. You can rent a kayak and row down the river during the day on your own.