107 Insider Guides: South Asia - International Traveller

From Bhutan and India to Sri Lanka – here, insider guides to all the places in South Asia you can’t wait to get back to or visit next year.

Read all 107 Insider Guides from around the world here.

24. Bhutan

Insider: Khin Omar Win, owner of Gangtey Lodge

Bhutan's17th-century Gangtey Monastery — Visit the 17th-century Gangtey Monastery in Bhutan.

The hidden Kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas is a perfect safe haven for first travellers, with one of the most successful COVID-19 responses in the world. See Mount Everest as you fly into this ancient kingdom, hike through mystical valleys where flying tigers and demons once roamed, and experience the warmth of the ‘happiest people on Earth’.

Join morning prayers with 200 monks at the 17^th-century Gangtey Monastery or the Monk’s University. Located in Bhutan’s rarely visited Phobjikha (Gangtey) Valley, this protected nature reserve is home to the endangered black-necked cranes, as well as ancient hiking trails, stunning villages where one can visit a local home and learn how to make traditional butter tea. Receive a blessing from a reincarnated Master for a long and healthy life.

You [should] also try some local delicacies – momos [dumplings filled with minced meat, cheese, or vegetables, and consumed with lots of Bhutanese chilli sauce known as ezay] or a yak burger.

25. Mumbai, India

Insider: Soho House Mumbai general manager Kelly Wardingham shares her top ways to explore the city.

Dine at Cecconi's Mumbai — The stylish Soho House Mumbai is also home to Cecconi’s Mumbai restaurant.

EATS

Shree Thaker Bhojanalay (since 1945) – No food tour of India is complete without trying a vegetarian Gujarati thali – a selection of dishes served together on a platter. Wind through the narrow lanes of old Mumbai to discover this traditional dish at Shree Thaker Bhojanalay where thali comes in unlimited quantities.
Pali Bhavan – Its old, regal charm keep customers coming back! Pali Bhavan serves Indian food with a contemporary twist. And its wine menu could easily pass off as the best in the city. A feast for every guest.

SHOPPING

Crawford Market and Chor Bazaar – Pick up fruit, vegetables and spices at Crawford Market, or discover vintage treasures, sculptures and Bollywood film posters at Chor Bazaar.

Mumbai's best market - Crawford Market — Shop at Crawford Market for fruit, spices and vegetables.

Good Earth – An all-encompassing lifestyle store [at outdoor shopping centre Raghuvanshi Mills], Good Earth stocks a collection of Indian-printed home furnishings, bedding, home decor, crockery and clothing, as well as a selection of children’s wear.

CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT

Kala Ghoda District – Hip bars, restaurants, boutiques and galleries, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum and Jehangir Art Gallery, are peppered throughout this cultural precinct, which is also the location of a free nine-day event each February – the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.

The best things to do in Kala Ghoda District — Visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum in the Kala Ghoda District.

26. Kerala, India

Insiders: Praveen, Sujith and Jithu, surf coaches at Soul and Surf retreat in Varkala

What makes Kerala such a great place to surf?

There are a few things that make Kerala great for surfing. The first and most obvious is the waves can be really good! But other than that, the surf culture has grown in a really interesting way that’s unique to this part of the world. There are a host of outdoor activities that you can get involved in other than surfing, too, from paragliding and stand-up paddle boarding to nature walks and treks in the mountains, although our favourite outdoor activity after a surf is drinking a chai in one of the hundreds of streetside chai shops.

Learn to surf at Soul and Surf retreat in Varkala.

What do you fuel up on post-surf?

Well, our favourite local food is the Kerala-style beef fry with parotta [flatbread]; we wouldn’t let you leave without eating that. If you’re vegetarian then we’d highly recommend a local Keralan sadya, or traditional feast, which is eaten on a banana leaf and consists of about 20 different veggie curries. Another interesting experience would be to visit a toddy shop; they’re known for local coconut wine but also for their food. This isn’t for vegetarians though, as there aren’t many veggie options on their menus.

Surfing spots in Kerala — Jithu rides the waves in Kerala.

What is the one thing travellers should leave Kerala with?

Kerala is world famous for its spices so we would highly recommend leaving with a bag full of pepper, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, to name a few.

Interview: Chloe Cann

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27. Sri Lanka

Insider: Imran Mannan, business development manager at The Fortress Resort and Spa

Sri Lanka attractions - Historic Galle Fort — Historic Galle Fort is one of the main attractions on the south of the island.

Sri Lanka’s breathtaking coastline is a considerable draw for global visitors, especially in the south of the island. It’s home to The Fortress Resort and Spa, a luxury boutique beach resort whose design includes Dutch and Portuguese colonial touches as well as modern local features.

Tea Plantations to visit in Sri Lanka — Visit a tea plantation in Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Historic Galle Fort and the town’s unique attractions are a short drive away while whale-watching and sea turtle conservation are two of the many marine-based diversions. Intrepid travellers can also do a wreck-diving experience since Sri Lanka is known to be one of the best wreck-diving locations in South Asia. Discover the secrets of virgin tea and cinnamon plantations or enjoy a trail at the Sinharaja rainforest: an enchanting, peaceful and beautiful environment which stirs the senses at every turn.

This article is part of our 107 Insider Guides series. Visit the hub to read them all.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Insider guides to South Asia

From Bhutan and India to Sri Lanka – here, insider guides to all the places in South Asia you can’t wait to get back to or visit next year.

24. Bhutan

25. Mumbai, India

26. Kerala, India

27. Sri Lanka

This article is part of our 107 Insider Guides series. Visit the hub to read them all.

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