Five exotic destinations you should not miss

Singaporeans are a well-travelled lot, and there are very few parts of the globe that have been left unexplored by the city’s well-heeled. But if you want some original holiday snaps for the family album – or of places which your friends won’t likely have – then you should check out these locations that are off the beaten track.

Batanes, Philippines
It’s easy to see why this group of islands in the north has been dubbed the “Ireland of Asia”. It features rolling hills, a subtropical climate, traditional stone houses, and breathtaking land and sea scapes. Plus it possesses a history and culture unique to the area, with the locals (called Ivatan) having common cultural and linguistic points with the Babuyan on Babuyan Island and the Tao people of Orchid Island. Intrigued? Batanes is accessible by ferry and flight from Manila.

Mrauk U, Myanmar
Travellers from ASEAN member nations can now enter the country with its new visa-on-arrival scheme. But that’s just the beginning: Getting to the off-the-radar, ancient city of Mrauk U involves flying to the historic port city of Sittwe on the Bay of Bengal from Yangoon, and then taking a private boat or ferry to town. All that trouble is worth it, however, once you see how Mrauk U is situated between imposing hills and snaking canals, and comprises 700 temples which date back from the city’s heyday from 1430 to 1784. The place is almost untouched by technological progress too, and leaves a tranquil village of goat herders, farmers and solemn Buddhist monks looking more picturesque.

Machu Picchu, Peru
The remnants of the long-lost Incan empire, this iconic complex (which means “Old Peak” in Quechua Indian) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. And as there are very few Incan cities left intact by the Spanish conquest, it is also considered an archaeological gem. So take advantage of the unusual compound of stones which make good backdrops for photographs, and discover more of its rich history to initiate interesting conversations over dinner. Can’t wait to go there? Some airlines are now flying direct to South America, so here’s your chance to get there first.

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Made famous by Charles Darwin and his Theory of Evolution, this small chain of volcanic islands forms an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador. But then tourist access has been limited in an attempt to protect it, so the only way to get there from mainland Ecuador is by flight from two airports. Travel isn’t cheap too, and there are variety of fees to pay. But make the effort and an unforgettable experience awaits: Thick garua fogs accumulate though the night and last well into the day, casting an otherworldly light to the place. Besides, the unique flora and fauna in the parks are just stunning.

North Korea
Why choose North Korea? Because only a few can ever say they’ve actually been there. Visitors usually enter via China, and agencies operate controlled tours. Only two airlines fly to Pyongyang, and four trains a week travel between Beijing and Pyongyang – so applying for a visa and booking tour packages well in advance is a good idea. You can forget immortalising your trip, though: There are restrictions on photography and almost no video is allowed. Customs officers at Sinuiju (a North Korean city on the border of China) might even ask to examine your photos. But once you step out of the country, you can have photos of one place there that people have rarely visited.