Our planet is full of wonders and the most incredible of them are architected by Mother Nature herself. If these are the wonders you want to see, coming to Asia should be your priority as some of the most biodiverse and overall fantastic natural sites are located here. There are dozens of places for any nature lover to explore throughout the vast expanse of Asia. But the following five are definitely the ones that you should start with.
Top 5 Wildlife Hotspots to Discover in Asia
1. Chitwan National Park in Nepal
Everything in Nepal is fascinating and somewhat alien for a westerner. Therefore, no matter where you go in this country, you are sure to get impressed. But no place will make a bigger impact on a nature lover than the Chitwan National Park. It’s a World Heritage Site for a reason, and that reason is that it’s one of the richest ecosystems on the planet.
Hundreds of animal and plant species inhabit the park, including the exceedingly rare Bengal tigers, Bengal foxes, and sloth bears. It’s also one of the few places where you can see rhinoceros in a natural habitat.
2. Derawan Archipelago in Malaysia
The wildlife of the place is so rich that Derawan Islands don’t even need to have a national park on their territory. The entire archipelago is considered to be one of the most biodiverse natural sites that exist on the planet today.
Here the amazing wildlife thrives both above and below water, so be sure to pack your diving equipment for this trip. Derawan Islands belong to the Coral Triangle, which means the marine life here can only be matched by few other places in the world. The benefit of diving to admire coral reefs here is that there will be fewer people to share your space with because for all its incredible biodiversity, the archipelago has yet to become a tourist hotspot.
3. Ang Thong National Marine Park in Thailand
If it’s marine life you are most interested in, your next stop after the Derawan Islands should be the Ang Thong National Marine Park in Thailand. This place will allow you to see quite a few different marine species, including sea turtles that inhabit the area.
Come to this part of Thailand to relax and witness nature without the crowds of tourists everywhere. You can arrive by boat and enjoy a day of sea kayaking, diving, and snorkeling. Don’t forget about hiking as you will also need to see the land-wonders of the national park.
4. Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka
If you’ve always dreamt about seeing a large group of elephants just roaming around free in the wild, Minneriya National Park is where you need to go. This place has the biggest natural gathering of Asian elephants that exists today.
But majestic elephants are far from the only animals you can admire here. Hundreds of species live alongside the gentle giants. Take a safari tour to see as much of the local wildlife as possible. You can also visit nearby villages where you’ll be able to see how the people of Sri Lanka lived and worked centuries ago.
5. Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia
The Cardamom Mountains are an extraordinary place even for diverse Asia. This is a place where you can not only witness one of the densest jungles brimming with wildlife. Here you can also find many historic sites that date back up to the 15th century.
Note that you can also admire many elephants here as they favor this place where nature is allowed to rule. The primeval rainforest still exists here due to the fact that the Cardamom Mountains aren’t easy to access. Today it’s one of the world’s foremost destinations for ecotourism.
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