Winter is coming to Southeast Asia.
Okay, fine. That’ll never happen. Most of the ASEAN region is hot enough to fry an egg on a car’s windshield, especially in our beloved city of Singapore, where the only option of escaping the heat is to duck inside a crowded shopping centre.
If that cooling measure has stopped appealing to you long ago, which we’re sure it has (who likes squeezing with crowds anyway), why not try something else, like travelling to places that actually have cool temperatures, for instance.
And lucky for us, there are quite a number of spots near Singapore with cool climates that are great for holidaying as well. Here are 7 of our favourites:
Chiang Rai, Thailand
If flower-streaked fields, candy-coloured sunsets, and loads of space to stroll around are your ideas of fun, then Chiang Rai is the place for you.
Averaging a pretty chilly temperature (by Singapore’s standards) of 25°C from December to February, this off-the-beaten vacation spot is one of Thailand’s most underrated, and most beautiful too.
Oh, and you can say hello to a raft of exciting activities down here, such as rock climbing up beautiful limestone rock, zip lining past trees blossoming with all sorts of flowers, or simply cycling through the magnificent Singha Park.
Kundasang, Malaysia
With temperatures dropping to as low as 13°C, Kundasang is definitely one of the coolest spots in Southeast Asia.
This small, picturesque town in the heart of the Ranau district in Sabah is home to vegetable plantations, rustic farms, and gorgeous sweeping vistas of Mount Kinabalu, making you feel like you’re in New Zealand rather than Malaysia.
Over here, visit the Desa Dairy Cattle Farm, where you can score some fresh ice cream and milk, or head over to the Kinabalu National Pak for hot springs, treetop walks, and even tandem paragliding – an exhilarating activity that involves you leaping off a cliff over 3000 metres high!
Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur may be a sprawling urban centre, but just a short bus ride away into the Bentong district of Pahang lays a quaint village by the name of Bukit Tinggi.
Situated 800-metres above sea level, Bukit Tinggi has temperatures that range from 25°C to 27°C, which is not really super cold per se, but is way better than the heat waves we experience daily in Singapore.
Tourists can either to choose to visit the colonially themed French village; which you can trick your Instagram followers into thinking you’re holidaying in the Alps instead of Malaysia, or the tranquil Japanese village that’s a lot more Kyoto than KL.
Dalat, Vietnam
For three months every year, Dalat is pretty much as hot as Singapore. The rest of the year is a different story.
From June to December, the temperature in this charming city that’s surrounded with rolling hills, pine-covered peaks, and glistening lakes, ranges from 23°C to 25°C, with lows of 18°C at night.
Dalat’s high altitude also makes it a fantastic destination for pure adrenaline activities like mountain biking, hiking, and canyoning, with scores of beautiful agricultural plantations to explore and admire.
Sa Pa, Vietnam
Straddled along the border of China, Sa Pa is one of those rare places in the region where it is cold all year round.
This breathtaking hill town in the Hoàng Liên Son mountain range of Vietnam’s Northwestern region gets extremely chilly during winter (November to February), where temperatures can drop to a bone-chilling 8°C – there was even snow once in 2011!
Avoid visiting during that period though. That’s when the paths become muddy and rice paddies are empty. For the best Sa Pa experience, go between March to May or September to November. Trust us, you won’t regret the beauty you’ll witness.
Baguio, Philippines
A picture-perfect hill station, with a bustling city centre and spectacular nature views, Baguio is one the most underrated destinations in the Philippines.
Temperatures here range between 18°C to 20°C throughout the year, so you can expect comfortable “air-conditioning” weather, something that Singapore will never experience unless there’s a torrential downpour of course.
For the best time to visit, head over in February, when the Panagbënga Festival takes place. The festival, which celebrates the ‘season of blooming’ is an annual flower event that features colourful bazaars, parades, and street dancing; definitely a spectacle not to be missed.
Sagada, Philippines
A small town in the mountainous island of Luzon, Sagada is one of the last remaining places in the Philippines with a strong indigenous culture.
That means you’ll be able to find truly unique sights like the hanging coffins – centuries-old coffins that are eerily lined up high along limestone cliffs, as well as untouched nature like vast mountains, rice terraces, and pool-filled caves.
The temperature here is pretty swell too, averaging 20°C all year long, meaning it’s going to be difficult to break a sweat, even if you engage in strenuous activities like trekking or spelunking.
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