Southeast Asia’s forests are fighting back – from Laos’s mass reforestation drive to Borneo’s ancient jungle. Around the Region For those of us in Bangkok who found ourselves knee-deep in flood water this week, this is merely a sign of things to come. Briefly, messily, typically a storm can see the water table in Thailand’s
A major new report finds two in three captive elephants in Thailand live in poor conditions – despite the industry’s ethical re-brand. Here’s what the report actually says, and what you need to know before you go. The sanctuary had no riding. No shows. It had a logo with a lotus flower and a tagline
Around the Region Not everything that calls itself ethical always is. Operators and outlets across the region claim green credentials that don’t survive much scrutiny – and those of us seeking genuinely sustainable travel experiences know exactly what that looks like. The region is waking up to the reality that visitors don’t just want eco-friendly
The Cabinet vote on 19 May 2026 reshapes entry rules for 93 countries. Here is a plain-English breakdown of the tiers, the timelines, and the options. Thailand’s Cabinet voted on 19 May 2026 to end the 60-day visa-free window that has been in place since July 2024. Most travellers from the UK, US, Australia, and
Your Insider Guide to Southeast Asia Around The Region That low season feel is upon us here in Bangkok. Heat, humidity and daily downpours is the norm as the monsoon sweeps Southeast Asia. A strange time then, one would have thought, for the government to announce it’s ending the 60-day visa exempt trial and increasing
Visitor numbers at Angkor climb sharply from mid-June. The next few weeks are one of the best opportunities of the year to experience the world’s largest religious monument with space to breathe – if you plan it properly. There are over a thousand temples inside the Angkor Archaeological Park. Most visitors see three. They queue
Your insider guide to Southeast Asia asiaunmasked.com Around The Region Bangkok in May has a quieter quality to it. The crowds have thinned, the streets feel like they belong to the city again, and the afternoon downpours have become part of the daily rhythm. It is, for those of us who live here, one of
Your insider guide to Southeast Asia asiaunmasked.com Your Week in Southeast Asia This week, in what is possibly the region’s most progressive country, Vietnam’s northern highlands, the world’s largest bamboo resort has just opened inside a national heritage landscape – offering us a reminder that luxury and environmental responsibility don’t need to pull in opposite
The Philippines’ most biodiverse island province is one of Southeast Asia’s great travel experiences – here is everything you need to make the most of it The bangka rounds a limestone cliff, the engine cuts, and a hidden lagoon opens up ahead. The water is so clear you can see the reef fifteen metres below
Issue No. 6 | Thursday 30 April 2026 Your insider guide to Southeast Asia asiaunmasked.com Your Week in Southeast Asia This week we’ve covered developments across the region, including a resort on Palawan Island that has received a full eco-luxury make-over, which bodes well for the future of The Philippines – a country that has
Vietnam’s Best Michelin Restaurants in 2026: The Practical Guide for Conscious Travellers
Read More »
