Partners in Asia

Asia is almost too massive and diverse to conceptualize as a digestable travel "destination". Even defining the borders of this continent is difficult - from the mountains around the Black Sea in the west, to the snow fields of Siberia in the east, there are more people and cities in Asia than outside of it.
Asia's highest point is Nepal's and China's Mount Everest, which rises to 8,848 m (29,028 feet) above sea level. Its lowest point is Israel's and Jordan's Dead Sea, whose surface is 400 m (1,312 feet) below sea level. Asia's longest river is the Yangtze, which runs 6,300 km (3,915 miles) through China. Its largest lake is the 386,400 sq km (149,200 square mile) Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by several central Asian nations. Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, by Australia to the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the south. It is bounded by the Red Sea to the southwest, by Europe to the west, and by the Arctic Ocean to the north.
Travel options range widely, from the desert ruins and modern malls of the Middle East to the magnificient monuments in South Asia, and from the beach bungalows and jungle treks of South-East Asia to the megacities and technology capitals of East Asia. Find out more about regions, destinations, and itineraries below.

Central Asia (Afghanistan,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
It is home to the 'Stans: rugged countries with limited arable land, historically coveted for their position between Europe and east Asia, rather than for their resources (though petroleum reserves in the region are becoming important). They are home to generally poor, primarily Muslim, historically nomadic, mostly Turkic-speaking peoples. All but Afghanistan (which is sometimes categorized separately for this and other reasons) are former Soviet republics that so far have retained authoritarian, secular governments.
Cities: Almaty in Kazhakstan, Ashgabat - capital of Turkmenistan, Astana - capital of Kazhakstan, Bishkek - capital of Kyrgyzstan, Dushanbe - capital of Tajikistan, Kabul - capital of Afghanistan, Samarkand - UNESCO World Heritage Site, and likely stop in Uzbekistan, Tashkent - capital of Uzbekistan.

East Asia (China (Hong Kong, Macau), Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan)
East Asia is a cultural and geographic region of Asia. East Asia is what used to be known in the West as The Orient, a mysterious land inhabited by a race of inscrutable tea-sipping Orientals. Behind the caricature, though, is a uniting factor in the form of Chinese influence: China, as by far the largest and, historically, the most technologically and societally advanced culture in the region, has given its writing system (Chinese characters), religion (Mahayana Buddhism) and philosophy (Confucianism) to all the countries in East Asia.
However, underneath these superficial similarities lie a vast range of differences. The geography alone covers the gamut, from the arid steppes of Mongolia to the vast deserts of northwestern China, the lush rice paddies of south central China and the beaches of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. The upheaval of the past centuries has also led the countries of the region along strikingly different paths, with the hyper-modern skyscrapers and consumerist culture of Japan having little if anything in common with the Stalinist austerity of North Korea.
Countries and regions: China - the quickly awakening giant of East Asia, with huge cultural treasures among the rising skyline, Hong Kong - China's former British colony - a shopper's paradise, famous for its harbor view, Macau - a former Portuguese colony with liberal gambling laws, Japan - the home of ninjas, Zen, Sushi, Hello Kitty, Pokémon, Nintendo, electronics multinationals and anime.
Mongolia - a nomadic land of vast spaces. North Korea - Orwell's worst nightmares come true. South Korea - the dynamic but undiscovered destination of East Asia. Taiwan (Republic of China) - an island of sharp contrasts: lush mountains, skyscrapers and gentle tai-chi.
Cities: Beijing - smoggy, noisy, and fascinating metropolis capital of China. Hong Kong - island city crowned by Victoria Peak. Kyoto - historic capital of Japan. Lhasa - mysterious capital of Tibet.
Pyongyang - North Korean capital with much communist architecture. Seoul - bustling South Korean capital. Shanghai - skyscraper and art deco strewn port city.Taipei - capital city of Taiwan.
Tokyo - world's largest megalopolis. Ulaanbaatar - capital of Mongolia.

Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen)
The Middle East is a world region in south-western Asia that is skirted by South-Eastern Europe and North Africa. The term was created by British military strategists in the 19th century, and definitions of the Middle East vary; it is not simply a geographical term, but also a political one.
Countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
As one of the wellsprings of human civilisation in the ancient and medieval worlds, the birthplace of several world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Bahai) and an area of much modern economic and political importance, the Middle East remains a popular destination for travellers.

Ethnically, the region is extremely mixed. Arabs, Persians and Turks are the largest groups, but there are several substantial minorities ? Kurds, Armenians and others ? with their own languages, customs and sometimes their own countries. Every invading army ? from Alexander and the Romans through Genghis Khan to the 19th century colonial powers ? has left descendants behind. There are also substantial numbers of workers from other countries coming to the region for higher pay ? mainly Afghan, Pakistani for jobs like construction labourer, with Egyptians, Philipinos, more Pakistanis, and some westerners in the more skilled jobs.

A great majority of people throughout the region are Muslim ? with Iran mainly Shia, other areas mainly Sunni, and both with minorities of the other ? and the legal systems in most of these countries are influenced by Islamic Law; a few are entirely based on it.

Russia and the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia)
Russia - more fully known as the Russian Federation - is a vast country in Eastern Europe and northern Asia.
The Caucasus region is a mountain range lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, considered part of the natural boundary between Europe and Asia. Geographically it is usually considered part of Western Asia, adjacent to northeastern Turkey and northwestern Iran. But culturally, this portion of Russia and these small former Soviet republics are arguably part of Eastern Europe.
Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia's Northern Caucasus
Cities: Baku, Tbilisi, Yerevan
Russia comprises much of Asia, a huge country of vast, empty expanses, while the Caucasus is a dense, warm, friendly, and compact travel region.

South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
South Asia comprises those countries lying between the Himalaya range of mountains and the Indian Ocean (north to south) and between the Ganga and Indus river valleys (east to west). The Indian Ocean shoreline is divided between the Arabian Sea (in the west) and the Bay of Bengal (in the east). The extensive, triangular-shaped landmass of South Asia is sometimes referred to as "the Indian Subcontinent", or simply "the Subcontinent"
Countries: Bangladesh - home of beautiful mangroves and the worlds longest beach, Bhutan - the last Shangri-la, India - Rich and exotic culture , several languages and a billion people.
Maldives - paradise found, Nepal - home to Mount Everest, adventure tourism, and smiling people, Pakistan - rich in culture and history, varying climates and terrains from hot deserts to mountains,
Sri Lanka - pearl of the Orient.
Afghanistan is sometimes considered part of the region. Its recent moves towards joining the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) may some day firmly place it in South Asia.
Myanmar (formerly Burma) may be considered a part of South Asia for long-standing historical and political ties to India.
Some commonalities exist to this area, mainly climate and culture. Apart from the Himalaya, the climate is tropical, with monsoon in summer and dry winter. However, you have the extremes of this climate, i.e. in Western Pakistan monsoon is quite non-existent and in Southern India, it lasts for six months. Sri Lanka even has two monsoons, one in May, one in October/November.
The influence of historical Indian culture can be seen everywhere. Two of the main "world religions" have their origins within South Asia: Hinduism and Buddhism. A third, Islam, was introduced by Muslim invaders starting around the 7th century and rose to prominence during the Mughal Empire.
An additional layer of South Asian cultural unification derives from the influence of British culture, and especially the frequent and growing use of the English language, as a result of India having formed the "Jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire before Independence in 1947.
Population density: South Asia is one of the world's most densely populated regions - approximately 1.6 billion people (or roughly a quarter of humanity) make their home there. The average population density of 305 people per square km is 7 times the world average.
Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
South-East Asia is a collection of dissimilar but not unrelated states squeezed between the twin giants of India and China. SE Asia has long been a favorite corner of the world for globe-tramping backpackers; well-known for its perfect beaches, tasty cuisine, low prices, and good air connections.
Countries: Brunei - tiny oil-rich sultanate in Borneo. Cambodia - recovering from decades of war and home of Angkor. East Timor - one of the world's newest states, at the eastern tip of Indonesia
Indonesia - the giant of the region, with more than 18,000 islands and a population of over 240 million
Laos - the forgotten, but growing, country of South-East Asia, landlocked by Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
Malaysia - multicultural country covering the skyscrapers of KL and the jungle headhunters of Borneo
Myanmar (Burma) - military dictatorship open to the adventurous traveller
Philippines - freewheeling former Spanish and American colony with over 7,100 islands and beautiful tropical beaches
Singapore - clean and orderly island-city state
Thailand - the most popular destination in the region
Vietnam - firmly marching down the long road to capitalism

South Beach, Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
Southeast Asia is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and for a reason. Some of the countries here have it all: a tropical climate, warm all year around, rich culture, gorgeous beaches, wonderful food and last but not least, low prices.

L'Asie est un des cinq continents ou une partie des supercontinents Eurasie ou Eurafrasie de la Terre. Plus grand continent, est également le plus peuplé.

Vers 442 av. J.-C., le Grec Hérodote découpe le monde en trois parties qu'il nomme en l'honneur de trois personnages de la mythologie grecque : l'Europe en l'honneur de l'Océanide Europe ou de la fille d'Agénor Europe, la Libye en l'honneur de Libye et l'Asie en l'honneur de l'Océanide Asie. L'Asie sert alors à désigner l'Asie Mineure ou, par opposition au monde grec ou égyptien, l'empire Perse. Le terme Ασία proviendrait lui-même de l'akkadien qui signifie en parlant du Soleil.
Une autre explication de l'étymologie fait intervenir Homère qui mentionne dans 'l' Iliade un certain Asios, un Troyen, fils d'Hyrtacus. Le nom Asios dériverait d'Assuwa, un État confédéré situé dans l'Ouest de l'Anatolie et dont le nom proviendrait de l'hittite assu qui signifie
L'Asie constitue l'est et le nord de l'Eurafrasie ou encore l'est de l'Eurasie. Elle est délimitée au nord par l'océan Arctique, à l'est par l'océan Pacifique, au sud par l'océan Indien, au sud-ouest par l'océan Indien et à l'ouest par l'océan Atlantique, le Caucase, la mer Caspienne, le fleuve Oural et les monts Oural.
L'Asie est séparée du continent américain par le détroit de Béring, de l'Océanie par différents mers et détroits et de l'Afrique par l'isthme de Suez. En revanche, la séparation avec le continent européen est nettement plus arbitraire dans la mesure où l'Europe et l'Asie forment une seule masse continentale clairement continue.
Les critères qui définissent l'Europe comme un continent distinct de l'Asie pourraient s'appliquer à d'autres portions de l'Eurasie : Proche et Moyen-Orient, Asie du Sud, Insulinde, etc. On rencontre ainsi le terme de sous-continent Indien pour parler des pays qui constituent la péninsule indienne : Pakistan, Inde, Népal, Bhoutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka et Maldives.

Asien ist mit rund 44,4 Mio. km² der größte Kontinent und Teil von Eurasien. Es umfasst etwa ein Drittel der Landmasse der Erde. In Asien leben mit etwa 4 Milliarden Menschen etwa 60 % der Erdbevölkerung. Das Wort Asien stammt aus dem Assyrischen und bedeutet Sonnenaufgang. Es entspricht also dem lateinischen Wort Orient oder dem deutschen Morgenland. So hieß in der Antike das Gebiet Kleinasiens die römische Provinz Asien.
Die kontinentale Landmasse liegt ganz in der östlichen Hemisphäre und nördlich des Äquators mit Ausnahme der Tschuktschen-Halbinsel in Ostsibirien, die östlich der Datumsgrenze liegt, und den südöstlichsten Inseln im Indonesischen Archipel, die sich auf der Südhalbkugel der Erde befinden. Asien ist der größte Kontinent der Erde. Mit ca. 44,4 Millionen Quadratkilometer Fläche umfasst er rund ein Drittel der gesamten Landmasse. Gemeinsam mit Europa wird Asien auch als Teil des Großkontinents Eurasien betrachtet.

Asien wird im Norden vom Arktischen Ozean, im Osten vom Pazifischen Ozean und im Süden vom Indischen Ozean begrenzt.
Im Westen wird die Grenze zu Europa von Nord nach Süd durch das Ural-Gebirge, den Ural-Fluss, das Kaspische Meer bzw. die Manytschniederung, den Kaukasus, die Südküste des Schwarzen Meeres, sowie Bosporus, Marmarameer und Dardanellen gebildet. Von der Barentssee bis zum Schwarzen Meer ist diese Grenze rund 2.700 km lang. Mit Afrika ist Asien nördlich des Roten Meeres über die Halbinsel Sinai verbunden.
Im Nordosten liegen die Festlandmassen von Asien und Nordamerika an der Beringstraße etwas mehr als 80 km voneinander entfernt.
Im Südosten bildet der indonesische Archipel die Verbindung zu Australien.
Nördlich des indischen Subkontinents erheben sich im Anschluss an den Punjab und die Ebene des Ganges die höchsten Gebirge der Erde in denen alle vierzehn Achttausender liegen.
Im Himalaya, dem in seiner Ausdehnung größten Gebirgszug der Welt, befindet sich mit dem Mount Everest (8.848 m) der höchste Gipfel. Im Westen schließt an den Himalaya das Karakorum-Gebirge mit dem zweithöchsten Berg K2 (8.611 m) und weiter südöstlich der Hindukusch (Tirich Mir: 7.699 m) sowie nordwestlich der Pamir (Kongur: 7.719 m) an. Das sich nördlich des Himalaya und des Transhimalaya mit dem „heiligen Berg“ Kailash (6.714 m) erstreckende Hochland von Tibet („Dach der Welt“), die höchstgelegene und größte Hochebene der Erde, wird im Nordwesten vom Kunlun-Shan-Gebirge und im Nordosten vom Qilian Shan umfasst.
Im Norden des Kunlun Shan, jenseits der Wüste Taklamakan und des Tarimbeckens, erhebt sich im Westen das bis zu 7.439 m hohe Tianshan-Gebirge und im Osten der bis zu 4.506 m hohe Altai. Daran anschließend erstrecken sich weitläufige Ebenen, Steppen und Tundren (vgl. Sibirien) bis zum Nordpolarmeer, die von einigen Mittelgebirgen unterbrochen werden, darunter der kasachischen Schwelle (bis 1.566 m), dem mittelsibirischen Bergland (bis 1.701 m), den Jenisseibergen (bis 1.104 m) und im äußersten Nordosten dem ostsibirische Bergland mit seinen Teilgebirgen, an das im Süden das südsibirische Gebirge anschließt. Im Westen bildet der bis zu bis 1.894 m hohe Ural die Begrenzung des westsibirischen Tieflandes und des asiatischen Kontinents.
Weiter südlich, im Südwesten des Kontinents, liegt der Kaukasus (Elbrus: 5.642 m), der verschiedentlich als Teil der innereurasischen Grenze, aber auch als europäisches Gebirge betrachtet wird. Im Norden Kleinasiens, entlang der Küste des Schwarzen Meeres liegt das pontische Gebirge, im Westen der 2.543 m hohe Uludağ und im Osten der 5.165 m hohe Ararat. Östlich von Mesopotamien, dem Zweistromland von Euphrat und Tigris, erhebt sich das bis zu mehr als 4.500 m hohe Zagros-Gebirge. Daran anschließend liegt im Nordosten, zwischen Kaspischem Meer und Iranischem Hochland, das Elburs-Gebirge (Damavand: 5.671 m).
Karstberge am Li-Fluss
In Ostasien befinden sich einige weitere kleinere Gebirgszüge wie etwa das Changbai-Gebirge an der Grenze zwischen China und Nordkorea (Paektu-san: 2.750 m), die Huang-Shan-Berge (Lotosblütengipfel: 1.841 m) in der chinesischen Provinz Anhui und die Karst-Gipfel nahe der Stadt Guilin im autonomen Gebiet Guangxi am Li-Fluss. Daoisten gelten fünf und Buddhisten vier als „heilige Berge Chinas“ und sind bedeutende Pilgerorte.
Entlang der Ostküste Südostasiens erstreckt sich von Nord nach Süd die annamitische Küstenkette, im Norden Thailands das Phetchabun-Gebirge und die Khorat-Hochebene und auf der malaiischen Halbinsel die Ausläufer der hinterindischen Zentralkette (Gunung Tahan: 2.187 ). Auf kambodschanischem Gebiet befinden sich das nur rund 600 m hohe Dangrek- und das Kardamom-Gebirge (Phnom Aural: 1.813 m).
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