Back to grid

Best boating destinations in Asia

Back to grid
Kerala
Verdant backwaters and serene spice gardens
8.9
A narrow state on India's southwest coast has a large network of canals and lagoons called the backwaters. Kerala houseboats are modelled on old rice barges and drift past palm villages and paddy fields. Most overnight trips start from Alappuzha or Kollam. Small canoes reach narrow channels that big boats cannot enter.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Explore the spice plantations in Wayanad
  • 🍛 Sample authentic Kerala cuisine at a local homestay
  • 🚤 Cruise the backwaters of Alleppey at sunset
Ha Long
Mystical limestone islands and emerald seas
7.5
Compared with open sea cruises, this bay in northern Vietnam is sheltered by more than 1,600 limestone islands. Junk style cruise boats offer day trips and overnight stays with cabins. Stops include caves, floating fishing villages and quiet spots for kayaking. The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Watch sunrise from the deck of an overnight cruise
  • 🛶 Kayak into hidden lagoons and explore sea caves
  • ⛵ Cruise through Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts and emerald waters
Maldives
Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas
9.2
Fishing communities in this island chain have used wooden dhoni boats between the atolls for centuries. Today dhonis carry visitors on snorkelling trips, sunset fishing outings and dolphin watching tours. Liveaboard yachts cover longer routes across several atolls over a week. The chain is made up of more than 1,000 coral islands.
Highlights:
  • 🌌 Watch a glowing beach at night on Vaadhoo Island
  • 🦈 Snorkel with reef sharks and manta rays at Hanifaru Bay
  • 🏝️ Stay in an overwater villa surrounded by turquoise lagoon
Similan Islands
Thailand's underwater paradise
7.1
The national park is open to visitors from about mid October to mid May, when the sea is usually calm. Liveaboard boats and day speedboats go from the mainland coast near Khao Lak to a group of granite islands. White beaches and clear water suit snorkelling and diving. Large rounded boulders line the shore.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Climb Sail Rock for panoramic island views
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sand of Donald Duck Bay
  • 🤿 Dive among colorful coral reefs and tropical fish
Dubai
Glamour, Adventure and Desert Charm
9.2
A small trading port on a creek grew into a large modern city on the Gulf coast. Wooden dhow boats still cross Dubai Creek with goods and passengers every day. Dinner cruises and yacht charters leave from the Marina, where tall towers line the water.
Highlights:
  • 🏜️ Take a desert safari and ride camels over golden dunes
  • ⛷️ Shop and ski inside the Dubai Mall and Ski Dubai
  • 🏙️ Ascend the Burj Khalifa and watch the city from above
Ko Phi Phi
Tropical Paradise Awaits You
7.7
Compared with nearby Phuket, this small island group in the Andaman Sea feels more compact and relaxed. Longtail boats and speedboats carry visitors to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Monkey Beach. Maya Bay has rules on visitor numbers and on where boats may stop. Snorkelling stops at the bay edges show colourful fish.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Swim and snorkel around Bamboo and Mosquito Islands
  • 🚤 Take a boat tour to Maya Bay and Pi Leh Lagoon
  • 🌄 Hike to the stunning Phi Phi Viewpoint for panoramic views
Langkawi Island
Tropical Beaches, Rainforests and Sunsets
7.9
An island group in the Andaman Sea lies off the northwest coast of Malaysia near the Thai border. Langkawi has one large island with a harbour at Kuah and many smaller islands around it. Boat tours pass through mangrove channels where eagles are often seen. Island hopping trips stop at a freshwater lake.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Take a mangrove boat tour through Kilim Geoforest Park
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Pantai Cenang Beach
  • 🌉 Ride the Langkawi SkyCab and cross the curved Sky Bridge
Fethiye
Turquoise Coast’s Hidden Gem
7.4
A relaxed harbour town sits on a wide bay ringed by pine covered hills. Fethiye is a popular start for day boat trips around the bay islands and for gulet cruises along the coast. Swimming stops at quiet coves are part of the routine. Butterfly Valley can be reached by boat.
Highlights:
  • 🏚️ Explore the ghost village of Kayaköy
  • 🪂 Paraglide over the turquoise Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
  • 🏞️ Climb to Amyntas Rock Tombs for panoramic views
Marmaris
Turquoise Bays, Castles and Nightlife
7.7
A lively resort town sits at the head of a deep and sheltered bay in southwest Turkey. Marmaris has a large marina and is a busy starting point for gulet charters. Day boats stop at small bays for swimming and lunch. Rhodes in Greece is a short ferry ride across the water.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Enjoy the vibrant Dancing Fountains light and music show
  • 🏖️ Relax on the sandy shores of Marmaris Long Beach
  • 🏰 Explore historic Marmaris Castle and archaeology museum
Tanjung Puting National Park
Orangutan paradise in Borneo jungle
7.3
Most visitors travel the Sekonyer River by klotok, a wooden boat with an open upper deck and simple sleeping mats. This national park in Indonesian Borneo is known for its orangutans. Crews cook meals on board while the boat moves between feeding stations in the forest. Nights are spent anchored along the riverbank.
Highlights:
  • 🌳 Explore the lush rainforest on guided jungle treks
  • 🛶 Take a traditional klotok boat tour along Sekonyer River
  • 🦧 Observe wild orangutans at Camp Leakey feeding stations
Bodrum
Sun, Sea and Ancient Ruins
7.2
A peninsula on the southwest coast of Turkey faces the Aegean and has many sheltered coves. Bodrum is a base for gulet cruises, which are wooden sailing boats with cabins. Many routes stop at quiet bays where guests swim and eat on deck. Ferries also connect the harbour with the Greek island of Kos.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the sandy shores of Bitez Beach
  • ⚓ Discover ancient shipwrecks at Underwater Archaeology Museum
  • 🏰 Explore the historic Castle of St. Peter and its museum
Phuket
Beaches, Culture and Nightlife
8.1
The largest island in Thailand lies in the Andaman Sea and has a busy network of marinas and piers. Boat trips cross Phang Nga Bay, where limestone towers rise from green water. Visitors paddle sea kayaks into caves and hidden lagoons there. Yacht charters and speedboats also head out to the Phi Phi islands.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore colorful streets of Phuket Old Town
  • 🗿 Climb to the serene Big Buddha viewpoint
  • 🏖️ Relax on Patong Beach and enjoy vibrant nightlife
Khao Sok National Park
Ancient Jungle and Emerald Lake Paradise
7.8
Weather is usually drier from November to April at this rainforest park in southern Thailand. Cheow Lan Lake is a reservoir surrounded by limestone cliffs and can be explored by longtail boat or kayak. Floating raft houses on the water offer simple overnight stays. Early boat rides offer a good chance to see birds.
Highlights:
  • 🐘 Trek into the jungle to spot wild elephants and gibbons
  • 🛶 Kayak through emerald waters surrounded by limestone cliffs
  • 🏞️ Stay overnight in floating bungalows on Cheow Lan Lake
Komodo National Park
Dragons, Pristine Reefs and Wild Beauty
7.3
Wooden phinisi boats, built by shipwrights in South Sulawesi, are the usual way to tour these islands in eastern Indonesia. Trips start in Labuan Bajo and last from one day to several nights. Stops include walks to see Komodo dragons, snorkelling at pink sand beaches and calm bays for swimming.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Snorkel with graceful manta rays at Manta Point
  • ⛰️ Hike to Padar Island’s summit for breathtaking views
  • 🦎 See Komodo dragons in their natural habitat on Komodo Island
Lombok
Untamed Beaches and Majestic Mountains
7.4
An island just east of Bali lies across the Lombok Strait with Mount Rinjani rising in the north. Fast boats link it with Bali and with the three small Gili islands off the northwest coast. Snorkelling trips around the Gili islands often stop where green turtles feed over shallow reefs.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel among colorful coral reefs around the Gili Islands
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Kuta Beach, Lombok
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Rinjani and watch sunrise over the crater lake
Feedback