Selective Asia

With the arrival of a new school year, and everybody settling down into their routine, there’s hardly been a better time for the most wanted disruption: next summer holidays planning.

It may sound far-fetched, but the truth is, booking a big family getaway ahead saves you the stress and gets you what you want. Especially if your dream adventures lay in faraway lands of Indonesia or Borneo, both popular family destinations (and for all good reasons).

Summer months fall into the dry season here, which brings great weather and exceptional sea conditions, making wildlife spotting and island hopping easy and enjoyable.

Best hotel rooms, rare treehouses, and lovely local homestays are all available for you to pick your favourites, and so are the flights. This winning combination can only mean one thing - there’s no better time than now.

🚂 🇮🇳 🕢 25 days 17 hours 55 mins 😬

As we approach our B Corp recertification, we thought it was a good time to reminisce a little, look back at our path, and share with you what being a B Corp brand means to us.

- What made SA go B Corp?

It became a very obvious choice for us back in 2020, when we had taken the time to reconsider what we wanted to achieve. We changed the way decisions were made, came to better understand our values and goals, and the type of travel we wanted to design and sell, focusing more on responsible travel. B Corp was a great fit for the type of organisation we were aspiring to become. We liked the structure it gave us, and the focus it provided on always improving, one change at a time.

- Why we think B Corp isn't "style over substance"?

There are a little over 2000 B Corp companies in the UK, with each of these having gone to great lengths to achieve their accreditation, and it’s a great crowd to be a part of! Becoming a B Corp does not mean claiming perfection or being fully sustainable. But that the organisation strives to improve, and that making businesses more sustainable and more responsible lies at the forefront of every decision. We may still have unsustainable parts of our operation (we sell carbon heavy flights, for example), but the points system used to score companies helps to ensure that, overall, the business is good and considerate, and that it is committed to becoming even better.

- What is SA's greatest impact on travel (from the B Corp perspective)?

We’ve become a very collaborative business, working with like-minded travel businesses to improve the travel sector from within. In 2018 we founded “One bottle at a time”, which challenged 6 SME tour operators to reduce the use of the plastic water bottles provided on their trips. In 2020 we collectively DIDn’t use 1 million bottles! Our founder, Nick, sits on the executive board of Travel by B Corp, meaning we have the authority to influence meaningful change in travel industry.

While ethical travel, community-based tourism, sustainability, and eco-tourism over the years have become overused trendy words with often vague explanations, to us at Selective Asia, these terms mean everything we stand for.

Working towards B-corp certification was a logical way of making these hard-to-measure but so important standpoints of our business tangible. Embarking on the B-corp path not only means we don’t “just say it”, but also pushes us to be better and achieve more in a limited time between the re-certifications. A bit like marathon training.

Being part of the Travel B-corp community is about inspiration, support, successes, and, ultimately, the greater good. The impact that can be made by the many like-minded, passionate, honest businesses, even if small, fuels us to do more. To find out why travelling with a B-corp certified company is a (very) good thing, head over to the link in our bio🔝

The epitome of high life and extravagance, over the years the Maldives have become the dream honeymoon destination and a must-visit spot under the tropical sun. Single-island resorts built to impress even the most demanding guests rival in excellence, and the extreme levels of service.

In all this whirlwind of fashion and marketing, the real destination that lies beyond the sparkling pools and adorned suites is almost forgotten and left to be unnoticed. There is, however, a lot to explore, and it is our mission to show you the Maldives you haven’t seen.

As soon as you leave the overcrowded and overdeveloped central part of the archipelago and head either north or south, the scenery changes. You won’t see the resort-centred atolls, but islands with small local villages. Some of them would have colourful guesthouses or small boutique hotels perched by the peaceful bays, ready to welcome travellers from afar.

It is here, on the living islands, where you can learn about the local culture, food, and even marine conservation. While bigger resorts don’t tend to deny their guests certain experiences, whether ethical or less so, smaller local hotels take a much more sustainable path of educating both locals and travellers. You’ll soon learn to carefully check your sunscreen for any coral-damaging ingredients, and to never feed fish, rays or sharks.

Your pastime on a local island can be as diverse as you can imagine. While the Maldives are mostly associated with white sandbanks, clear waters and incredible reefs, there’s plenty to do ashore. From cycling through villages and having an afternoon tea at a local home, to cooking classes, kayaking through the mangroves, and helping with beach cleans. Those interested in marine life can take part in numerous conservation projects, monitoring sea turtles or manta rays.

Staying on a local island, or hopping between a few, is the only way to get to the soul of the Maldives, and we’re eager to help you delve deeper.

Despite the astonishing numbers of tourists visiting Japan each year, this country remains adorned in myths and mysteries. It could be due to centuries worth of traditions so strong and so foreign to the western world that we are simultaneously feeling scared, attracted and mesmerised. To help the first-time travellers gain some understanding of what this incredible country is like, we’ve asked our Destination Specialists and avid Japan lovers a few questions about their experience of Japan. Keep reading to find out more:

1. What do you think sets Japan aside from the other Asian destinations?

Its complete uniqueness and lack of influences. It's an island nation that does things its way, and doesn't bend itself to the visitors whim.

2. What’s the best way to see the true untouched Japan, away from the tourists?

Go into the countryside and don't be tempted to travel at peak season.

3. How to feel less foreign in Japan?

As a Westerner I don't think that's really possible, just embrace it!

4. What should we learn from the Japanese?

A better diet, a balanced approach to life, how to run a train system, the beauty in simple things like a napkin holder, forest bathing, the list goes on and on!

5. The three “musts” for a truly magical experience in Japan.

Do everything - don't worry about sleep, you can do that when you get home.
Look at everything, everywhere, there are so many beautiful things to see and do, even in the most mundane places. You just need to keep your eyes open. Try and use a few Japanese words where you can, it always breaks the ice.

6. A piece of advice for first time travellers.

Don’t be scared of making a mistake, you will be forgiven

In celebration of World Elephant Day, we’d like to talk about one of the elephant sanctuaries close to our hearts: The Elephant Valley Project.

Established back in 2006, this was the first NGO in Cambodia dedicated to elephants’ welfare. The country’s elephant count was (and remains) scarily low, with only about 600 elephants, both wild and captive, and EVP has started their path as the elephant rehabilitation centre and a retirement home.

The project was revolutionary in its core, trying to flip a very traditional system of human/elephant interaction (mainly seeing these giants as either workforce or tourist attraction) on its head. Educating both the locals and the travellers on what elephants can and cannot do, and how they should be cared for, was the aim that could see this pattern shift.

To remain healthy and active, elephants need to graze for up to 18 hours a day, consuming 5% to 10% of their body weight. To make this possible for the elephants under their care, EVP That’s have started working closely with one of the local communities: the EVP has introduced support programmes benefiting local Barong people, and they, in return, have been helping protect the forest for the elephants to graze in. This partnership has brought opportunities to the local people, with many joining the EVP and becoming trained guides, who now help travellers from all over the world experience a completely different, healthy approach to elephant interaction. It has immensely changed the lives of elephants too, allowing them to roam freely and interact with one another, as if they were in the wild.

And although, after being captive for years, these elephants cannot be released back into the wilderness, at the EVP they have a chance of a happy, pain-free life, and us, travellers, have an opportunity to experience this first-hand by paying a visit to the EVP while venturing through Cambodia.

Sometimes the destination we visit is dictated purely by the place we want to stay in, and there is nothing wrong with that. A grand heritage hotel, a quaint guesthouse with a sweeping view, or a treehouse amidst the rainforest are all bound to enhance your experience and turn a trip into a memorable adventure. Here are just a few unique properties worth travelling for that might inspire your next voyage.

The Mud House (Sri Lanka)
This extraordinary property will have you immersed into the destination from the very start. The name really gives it away, leaving little to your imagination (you’d think): you will be staying in a traditional hut made out of mud. The ex*****on, however, will leave you speechless. Each hut is a work of art, made from local materials in its entirety, furniture included. This eco-retreat, sat by the lake and surrounded by the jungle, allows you to explore Sri Lanka’s wilderness while keeping you comfortable. Rustic luxury at its very best.

Ramathra Fort (India)
India isn’t a destination that lacks extravagant accommodation. On the contrary, there’s so many incredible stays, from opulent palaces to gold-dusted havelis, it’s hard to fit them in an itinerary. Today, though, our pick is the incredible Ramathra Fort. Perched atop a hill, this beautifully restored now-boutique-hotel breathes history of the past 350 years and offers travellers a chance to delve into Rajasthan’s past without compromising on luxury. With nothing but the peaceful countryside around, this rural retreat is a perfect place to catch your breath.

Benesse House (Japan)
A small island town and an ever evolving openair art project, Naoshima is on every art lover’s bucket list. To immerse yourself into the art scene completely, opt to stay at the famous Benesse House, the famed art hotel and Naoshima’s beating heart. This modern building is a work of art itself, and serves both as a hotel and a gallery, with sculptures being spread around the lawns and by the beach. The kingdom of creativity and vision, Benesse House has the best location, being in the centre and overlooking the sea, to explore the rest of the island.

As much as we love the city buzz, well-recognised skylines, countless food choices and numerous cultural attractions each of the cities offer, it is the wild and remote areas that bring us the true relaxation, time to contemplate and an ability to recharge and then continue our journeys. Today we’ll be sharing some of our most loved locations across Asia. They may be tricky to get to, but, in our minds, are worth every additional mile you’ll travel.

Gal Oya - SL
The untouched land of dense forests, elephants and lakes, Gal Oya sits well beyond the trodden path, making it far less reachable than its famous counterparts, Yala and Wilpattu. But the extra effort you’ll have to make getting here is well worth your while. The park’s remote location and lack of transport links (as well as roads to be perfectly honest) can only mean one thing: solitude. Cherry on top? Gal Oya is the only place in Sri Lanka where you could see elephants swimming across the man-made lake.

Mustang - Nepal
Windswept and adorned with myths, the legendary Forbidden Kingdom is an ultimate escape from the hectic world. With barren landscape and dramatic Himalayan peaks surrounding Mustang and preventing rainfall, this dry, sparsely populated land is a country of its own. Strong Tibetan influences dominate the culture, setting it apart from the rest of Nepal. Time has frozen here, just like the snow covering Nilgiri peaks, making it an ideal place to slow down too.

Ha Giang - Vietnam
Barely visited by foreign travellers, this far and remote region bordering China is somewhat of a fantasy world. Unimaginably beautiful, it’s bound to steal your heart. Picture vast mountain ranges, moss-covered boulders, peaceful rivers snaking through the sleepy valleys. On top of its idyllic looks, Ha Giang province is home to as many as 17 ethnic groups, making it one of the most culturally diverse areas a traveller could explore.

Mumbai, Bangkok and Tokyo are undeniably some of the most exhilarating cities one can visit. Beautiful in their chaos, these hubs lure travellers in with their bright lights, culinary delights, cultural hot spots, and nightlife to die for. But if this all sounds too intense, you might prefer to scale it down a notch in these smaller and less overpowering cities.

Japan - Naha (Okinawa)
Picture Tokyo’s neon lights drowning in the greenery of palm trees. That’s Naha, Okinawa’s capital city, and a getaway to Japan’s tropical paradise. Distinctly different to the other cities in Japan, with a bit of american flair mixed in with the authentic Ryukyu culture, Naha is a lively but relaxed place worth exploring before you’re off to one of the many beaches (the main attraction of this prefecture). Countless food stalls with local produce, tropical gardens, and abundance of ancient cultural sights, from shrines to palaces, are waiting to be explored.

India - Cochin
We’d love to come up with a different, less overused expression, to describe Cochin (or Kochi), but nothing hits the nail on the head as precisely as ‘melting pot”, which this ancient port undoubtedly is. Eclectic and atmospheric, Cochin is a one-of-a-kind place, shaped by the foreign traders across the centuries. Here, Indian markets neighbour synagogues, Dutch fortifications overlook the Chinese fishing nets, and British bungalows stand side-by-side with intricate Portuguese mansions.

Borneo - Kuching
Sarawak’s colourful capital is well known for its incredible food scene, and you can easily spend a few days discovering the best cafes and street food stalls. This isn't the city's only merit. Kuching’s brilliant location makes it a great base to explore Sarawak without packing every couple of days. Bako National Park and Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre are within easy reach, as are a handful of blissful beaches, meaning you can slow down the pace of your trip and discover the city and its vicinities.

Namaste, konnichiwa, xin chao, salamat siang and hello to all our avid Asia explorers!

It’s been a little quiet here lately, while we’ve been forming new fruitful partnerships, scouting for incredible stays you’ll enjoy, and focusing on your memorable adventures. But it’s time for us to jump back into the social media saddle and do what we do best: unfollow the herd.

In our feed you won’t find your typical polished and airbrushed photos of sieved-through beaches, perfectly arranged meals and impeccable suites. Instead, we’ll show you the beautifully imperfect world of adventures, and inspire you to join us on our journey through beloved Asia.

We’ll be your trusted voice of the anti-trends and real-life stories, and an outlet for true and important conversations.

Fasten your seat belts, our odyssey begins now. Let’s explore the chaotic and mesmerising world of Asia together.

As part of our hybrid approach to working, we hold full team get-togethers each month, combing a working session & townhall meeting with something a little more fun and bubbly. Tasting the stuff to be precise in this instance. A wonderful afternoon was spent with the team at located just a few miles from our HQ in Brighton. A fellow (obvs), Ridgeview are setting the bar with not only the quality of their multi (multi) award winning sparking whites, but also showing real leadership in producing their wines in a more sustainable way. Amongst other praiseworthy steps, they’re looking to reduce the industry average of using 10 litres of water to make 1 litre of the delicious bubbles. We say bravo. So a big thanks to Christine and her team, and as ever to our wonderful friends at for providing our accompanying picnic.

This morning Anna and Sarah have continued their journey to Nagano, exploring the beautiful Zenkoji Temple complex. They had the great pleasure of experiencing the goma fire ceremony followed by a guided Zen meditation led by one of the resident monks. A truly beautiful morning.

Yesterday Selective Asia’s Anna and Sarah had a fantastic time learning about the traditional art of Sakura Kabazaiku (cherry tree bark craft).

Over the last few days Selective Asia’s Anna and Sarah have been exploring Hokkaido, the Northern-most island of Japan - so far it has been a foodie’s dream adventure! Starting with a food tour in Sapporo, the highlight of which was the Genghis Kahn BBQ. The next day after a short train journey to Yoichi, they were treated to a visit to a wonderful organic vineyard & winery, followed by an incredible tasting menu at hotel Loop each course paired with delicious local wines. And later that day the freshest melt in the mouth sushi in Otaru. Then on to explore the city of Hakodate, up the Goryokaku Tower to view the star shaped Samurai Fort and then after dark a short ride on the cable car up Mount Hakodate to see the sparkling cityscape below… and finally on the bullet train under the sea to continue their Japanese adventure… please take a look at our stories for some mouthwatering pictures of the food they’ve had the pleasure of sampling so far 🍱🍣🍜.

Where next? It’s a question never far from our lips, whether it be an unfamiliar district of a familiar city, or a new region or an as yet unvisited country. We’re always keen to discover ‘new’.
And, what better way to research than through our bellies…!
So, huge thanks to co-owner & head chef of Brightons finest for the introduction to Pakistani cuisine, you’ve made a very strong case!!

We’re so proud to share that our great friend and founder of Lone Buffalo English School in Laos, Mark Steadman, received his MBE last week. A former world guide of the year, punk (an MBE?!) and rock band manager, Mark is one of life’s gems and we love being a very small part of his world through our longtime sponsorship and support of Class 4a at Lone Buffalo. Love you Mark, congratulations.

We’ve been humbled by some very special thank you messages over the years, and they always mean the world to the SA team in the UK and across Asia. I’m not sure any have ever been as delightful as this from a dear friend Sasha and her family. A tiffin tin, picked up during their India travels, filled with individual message scrolls and a few cleverly targeted treats (that really do take the biscuit. boom tisch. soooorry). Thank you, you really made our day 🙇‍♂️🙏🏼

We’re very excited to be exhibiting at the Destinations Travel Show in London next week and would love to see you there. Please do come and say hi to the SA team at stand AP130.

🎙️You can also join Nick and other industry leaders as they take to the Travel Stage for a discussion on how working together helps us deliver better holidays, more sustainably.

👉 To claim your complimentary invite, simply head to https://www.destinationsshow.com/london , and use code XLSELECTIVE

When: 1-4 February 2024
Where: Olympia, London
Stand: AP130

We’re loving this tree in the home (and imagined by the ever creative mind) of Selective Asia’s . Just brilliant

Nowhere does escapism like Nepal. Nick’s been sampling some trekking trails in the Rolwaling Valley and reports having spotted 1 red panda and no more than 15 other western travellers in a full week.
Need to press reset? # mountains

Nick’s just arrived in the Kathmandu valley for some exploration ahead of his upcoming trek/climb in the Rolwaling region, close to the Tibetan border. He’s sent this should of Kathmandu’s Boudhanath stupa, and says ‘its the only place I want to spend sunset when I’m in the city. There’s an incredible power to the place. Despite the throngs of pilgrims and lay people circumnavigating and the stupa, it’s so incredibly peaceful’.

Imagine sailing through Indonesia’s cerulean waters aboard a traditional Indonesian phinsi, hopping between islands to discover vibrant marine life, hidden coves and ancient temples, and learning about the archipelago’s diverse local cultures.

These unforgettable journeys go way beyond day-trip sailing, with each 8-day plus journey following a different route around the archipelago depending on the time of year.

⛵️Get in touch to start planning your next Indonesia adventure.

Read our latest newsletter here to find out more: https://mailchi.mp/selectiveasia/sailing-indonesia

Hungry for some Vietnamese food? The lovely Louise has shared her knowledge on Vietnam's vibrant vegetarian and vegan food scene after her recent journey through the country 😋

Don't miss out on the chance to indulge in her mouthwatering guide, waiting for you on our blog (linked in our bio)

Unique is a horribly overused word, and yet here we are - is utterly unique... Not just in its spirituality and impressive landscape, the Kingdom of Happiness, delivers so, so much more... Read more 🇧🇹

https://www.selectiveasia.com/blog/bhutan/celebrating-bhutan

Food plays a vital role in experiencing and understanding a destination's culture while traveling, notably through street food. However, what precisely defines street food and what makes it so special? We've been talking about it on our latest blog, but would love to know which is your favourite street food dish?

🍜 https://www.selectiveasia.com/blog/asia/guide-to-street-food-in-asia

Continuing our India adventure from Jaipur, Aaron went off the beaten track towards the wonderful Shapurah Bagh (with a whistle stop in Pushkar), where he was welcomed with a wonderful meal and company.

From there, and as Maria was busy tiger spotting in Rathambore, Aaron headed to the fairly remote Bera region, where leopards live peacefully amongst the region's shepherds 🐆 It's a fascinating relationship that you can read more about here: www.selectiveasia.com/india-holidays/experiences/jawai-land-of-leopards

Help anyone/everyone!!!
How is this being allowed to happen?! - credit: Brighton & Newhaven windfarm www.markhelliwell.com

A snapshot of our time in Jaipur - from deep diving into Jaipur's fascinating history and traditions with a very fun Rickshaw ride to explore the city's markets in the early morning, followed by a visit to the magnificent Amber Fort, to a walk through the bazaar at night. Here, we learned about Jaipur's many specialist crafts and trades, met shop dwellers whose families have been trading for generations, and sampled some of the city's best street food as we went along. A perfect couple of days in the Pink City before continuing our India adventure...

It the duty of all of us to take steps in helping protect this wonderful planet we call home.

Norways state-owned energy giant, are awaiting a UK govt decision on their plans to move forward with the development of Rosebank, the biggest undeveloped oil field in the UK.

If it goes ahead it will produce more CO2 than the worlds 28 lowest income countries do in a year.

This is madness. It’s time for the UK, Norway and other developed countries to start walking the walk. Talk is meaningless without action

and follow