The Local Edit (Part 2): Close to Home Collection - Asia & the Indian Ocean
Eight extraordinary destinations across Asia and the Indian Ocean - closer than you think, more remarkable than you might imagine.
In April, we explored journeys closer to our own backyard across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. This month, we shift our focus to some of the most beautiful and compelling destinations across Asia and the Indian Ocean, still surprisingly close to home, yet often overlooked as truly exceptional getaway options.
These destinations resist any single mood, moving effortlessly from vibrant, food-driven cities to island retreats so remote they feel entirely removed from the rest of the world. From Chiang Mai’s temple-lined lanes to the far-flung atolls of the Maldives, this is Part Two of our Y Travel edit - a collection of neighbouring regions well worth rediscovering.
Sri Lanka
Uga Halloowella, Hatton
Sri Lanka has a way of exceeding expectations. For its size, the diversity is remarkable. Ancient cities and sacred temples sit within the Cultural Triangle, while national parks offer extraordinary wildlife encounters, including large gatherings of wild elephants.
The hill country introduces a softer landscape of tea plantations and mist-covered valleys, while the coastline shifts from surf beaches in the south to quieter, reef-fringed shores in the east. The cuisine is vibrant and deeply rooted in place, and the warmth of the people leaves a lasting impression.
Best time to travel: South and west coasts from November to April. East coast from May to September. The Cultural Triangle and hill country can be visited year-round.
Where we love to stay: Uga Hotels offers a thoughtfully curated collection across the island, from elegant city stays to safari-style lodges and beachfront retreats, allowing for a seamless journey through Sri Lanka’s many landscapes.
The Maldives
Patina Maldives
The Maldives more than lives up to its reputation. A scattering of coral islands across impossibly blue waters, it is a place defined by stillness, space and natural beauty. Days unfold to the rhythm of the ocean, whether snorkelling vibrant reefs or simply doing very little at all.
What has evolved is the diversity of the experience. Today’s resorts are more distinctive than ever, with architecture, design and concept playing a central role in shaping each island’s identity.
Best time to travel: November to April for dry weather and optimal visibility. May to October brings the monsoon, with higher humidity and stronger winds that can be excellent for surfing and manta ray encounters.
Our ultimate experience: Patina Maldives for contemporary design and a vibrant social feel. Joali Maldives for art-led immersion and striking architectural detail. COMO Cocoa Island for a more intimate, wellness-focused escape.
Mauritius
LUX* Grand Baie
Mauritius has long attracted European travellers, with French influence evident in its language, cuisine and relaxed pace of life. For many Australians, it still feels something of a hidden gem.
Beyond its idyllic beaches, the island reveals a richly textured interior of volcanic peaks, lush forests and sugarcane fields. Its lagoon, protected by one of the world’s largest fringing reefs, creates calm, crystalline waters, while its blend of French, Indian, Creole and Chinese heritage shapes a vibrant and distinctive identity reflected most deliciously in its cuisine.
Best time to travel: May to December for warm, dry conditions. The shoulder months of April, May, September and October are ideal for avoiding crowds, while July and August are particularly good for water sports due to higher winds.
Where we love to stay: LUX* Grand Baie for a lively, design-led atmosphere with a strong culinary focus. Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita offers spacious villas, a beautiful lagoon setting and a wide range of experiences, ideal for both couples and families.
Indonesia - Beyond Bali
Aqua Blu Ocean Yacht
Bali will always have its place for travellers seeking an easy beach escape, but the islands beyond reveal a more layered and less explored Indonesia. Lombok offers volcanic landscapes and sweeping coastlines with far fewer crowds. Sumba feels entirely different again - raw, remote and culturally rich, where ancient traditions remain deeply woven into daily life and wild horses roam its open plains and beaches.
Further east, the journey becomes the destination. Sailing through the Flores Sea, past Komodo and into the remote reaches of Raja Ampat, is one of the world’s great travel experiences. Think uninhabited islands, translucent waters and extraordinary marine life.
Best time to travel: May to October for dry conditions, ideal for sailing and beach travel. Raja Ampat is generally best from October to April.
Where we love to stay: The Oberoi Lombok for understated beachfront calm. Nihi Sumba for a truly iconic, experience-led stay with a strong community ethos. For exploration by sea, Lamima combines modern superyacht technology with the elegance of Indonesia’s traditional phinisi vessels, while Aqua Blu by Aqua Expeditions is a purpose-built expedition yacht designed for exploring East Indonesia.
Thailand
The Slate Phuket
Thailand is vast and varied enough to feel like several distinct journeys, which is precisely why it draws travellers back time and again. In the north, Chiang Mai is quietly cultured, its walled old city dotted with ancient temples, atmospheric markets and a creative food scene that rivals Bangkok. Nearby, the Golden Triangle - where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge - introduces a sense of lush wilderness layered with history.
Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, needs little introduction, yet it rewards those who look beyond the obvious. Beneath the surface lies a city of waterways, design-led spaces and a dynamic culinary scene that ranges from street-side brilliance to world-class dining. In the south, Phuket has evolved at the luxury end of the market, while the small island of Koh Yao Noi remains blissfully under the radar. Set within Phang Nga Bay, its limestone karsts rise dramatically from emerald waters, creating a landscape that feels almost otherworldly.
Best time to travel: November to April across most of Thailand. The north is particularly pleasant from October to February. The Andaman coast, including Phuket and Koh Yao Noi, follows a similar dry season.
Where we love to stay: Four Seasons Chiang Mai for its serene rice paddy setting, paired with Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle for something more remote and immersive. In Bangkok, The Siam offers an art-filled, deeply personal stay along the Chao Phraya. In Phuket, The Slate delivers bold, design-led luxury that still feels family-friendly. On Koh Yao Noi, ANI Thailand offers the ultimate all-inclusive private island experience, complete with a dedicated team to coordinate bespoke experiences and uninterrupted views across Phang Nga Bay.
Vietnam
Zannier Bãi San Hô
Vietnam stretches long and varied from north to south. Hanoi carries a sense of history, often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, with tree-lined boulevards and a slower, more reflective pace. Ho Chi Minh City, by contrast, is energetic and fast-moving.
Between them lies the central coast. Hoi An, with its lantern-lit streets, traditional markets and beautifully preserved architecture, feels both atmospheric and timeless. Its food culture is among the most celebrated in the country. Beyond the town, the coastline opens into long, pristine stretches of sand, offering a more relaxed and less visited side of Vietnam.
Best time to travel: Central Vietnam is best visited from February to August. Conditions are most comfortable from February to April, becoming hotter and more humid from May through to August.
Where we love to stay: Four Seasons The Nam Hai on the Hoi An beachfront for its expansive beachfront setting and consistently exceptional service. Further south, Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô offers a more secluded, design-led retreat on a private peninsula, where villas are thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding jungle landscape.
Singapore & Beyond
The Warehouse Hotel Singapore
Singapore is one of Asia’s most refined and fascinating cities, and an exceptional gateway to the wider region. A few days here provides the perfect start to any itinerary. The food scene is extraordinary at every level, the green spaces beautifully considered, and the hotel landscape spans heritage icons to sleek contemporary design.
For those looking to venture further, Singapore also serves as the ideal base for exploring Indonesia’s remote Anambas Islands. This archipelago of more than 250 islands in the South China Sea is a place where time slows and nature takes centre stage, surrounded by some of the region’s most pristine coral reefs.
Best time to travel: Year-round, with February to April typically the driest. Monsoon season in the Anambas Islands is November to February, with many resorts closing during this time.
Where we love to stay: In Singapore, iconic hotels such as Raffles and The Fullerton offer heritage and grandeur, while COMO Metropolitan and The Warehouse Hotel provide a more contemporary, design-led stay. In the Anambas, Bawah Reserve - reached via a short flight to Matak Island followed by a 45-minute speedboat transfer - is a luxurious nature retreat spread across six islands and three lagoons, and one of the most untouched escapes in South East Asia.
Japan
Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
Japan is undeniably having a moment, but to reduce it to cherry blossom season alone is to miss its depth. While spring is beautiful, it is also busy. Increasingly, seasoned travellers are drawn to quieter seasons.
Autumn brings crisp air and vivid foliage. Winter reveals snow-covered temples and exceptional skiing in Hokkaido and Nagano. Early summer offers a lush, green calm before the humidity sets in. At any time of year, Japan delivers a level of craftsmanship, hospitality and culinary excellence that is difficult to match.
Best time to travel: Autumn and winter for a quieter experience. Spring is spectacular but busy. Japan is compelling year-round.
Where we love to stay: Capella Kyoto for a refined riverside retreat. Park Hyatt Tokyo, newly reopened, remains a benchmark for city hotels. Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park offers a design-forward urban sanctuary, while Espacio Hakone provides an intimate introduction to traditional Japanese hospitality.
Asia and the Indian Ocean offer the kind of journeys that stay with you long after you return home, layered, sensory and endlessly rewarding for those willing to explore a little further. From vibrant cities and cultural immersion to remote islands shaped by stillness and sea, these are destinations that invite a deeper kind of discovery.
If this part of the world is calling to you, our Travel Designers would be delighted to craft a journey that feels seamless, personal and entirely your own, thoughtfully curated with the insight, access and detail that transforms travel into something truly unforgettable.