Asia

Between the Ural Mountains in the west, the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Pacific in the east and the Indian Ocean in the south, the largest continent of all fascinates people again and again. There is hardly any other part in the world that is so diverse and multifaceted, not only in terms of its cultural and scenic appearance, but also in terms of the people who live there.

Treeless tundra in the north, the Siberian taiga, steppes as well as rocky mountains in the inland are just as characteristic of Asia as the tropical rainforests and monsoon regions in the south. The weather is as varied as the landscape: the frosty climate in the north and the cold weather conditions in Siberia stand in sharp contrast to the extreme temperatures of the desert regions in Central Asia. The Mediterranean coasts in the southwest are, however, marked by comparably mild temperatures, whereas the tropical regions in the southeast are considerably influenced by the monsoon.

Asia comes up with a variety... of tourist attractions and natural phenomena: the highest mountains on earth can be found in Asia; all of the 14 mountains over 8,000 m are located in India, Nepal, Pakistan or China. However, between the snow-covered landscapes of Siberia and the bright white sandy beaches of Thailand and the mega malls of Malaysia or Singapore, Asia has so much more to offer.

Whether you decide to go on a backpacking tour through Thailand and visit the ruin sites of Ayutthaya or Sukhothai, or whether you wish to feel like in paradise at the breathtaking beaches of Phuket or Ko Samou or prefer to experience the vibrant city life of Bangkok – the possibilities in Thailand alone are endless. In Japan, the richly adorned shinto shrines and the beautiful gardens, which exist side by side with ultra-mondern skyscrapers, are worth seeing; another popular destination is the imperial city Kyoto. Pure culture awaits travelers to India, one of the oldest countries in the world. The 13,000 Indonesian islands are also worth more than a visit. Beijing, the capital of China, is home to some of the most important tourist attractions on earth, whereas Shanghai represents the economic center of the country.

Asia is even more than that: the countries of the Orient allow travelers to experience the magic of 1001 Nights, while the north exposes them to the sheer force of nature. It is a continent of contrasts, in which highly developed nations such as Japan, Taiwan and South Korea stand in opposition to less developed countries like Afghanistan and Laos. Every single region has its special charm, and even vacationers who are looking for a holiday of a special kind will find their dream destination. more