The Hidden Treasures of the Philippines and Borneo

Keelung, a historic port city in northern Taiwan, is known for its vibrant atmosphere and culinary treasures, including the famous Oyster Omelette and Braised Pork Rice. A must-do experience is exploring the bustling Keelung Night Market and venturing to nearby attractions like Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge. The best season to visit is during the fall, when the weather is mild and pleasant for outdoor exploration.

Currimao on the Ilocos coast of northwestern Luzon is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Paoay Church, a masterpiece of Earthquake Baroque architecture, and the rich culinary heritage of Ilocano culture. Must-dos include visiting Paoay Church, tasting crispy bagnet pork belly and Ilocano empanadas, and exploring the volcanic black sand beaches. Best visited November through May during the dry season.

Corregidor Island is a powerful WWII memorial site at the mouth of Manila Bay, where ruined gun batteries, the Malinta Tunnel headquarters, and war-scarred buildings stand among tropical forest as testament to the defence of the Philippines. Must-do experiences include the Malinta Tunnel light-and-sound show and exploring the hilltop battery ruins. November through May offers dry weather for the best exploration conditions.

Manila is the Philippines' sprawling, historically layered capital where the UNESCO-listed San Agustín Church in the Walled City of Intramuros, world-class museums, and one of Asia's most underrated cuisines reward travelers who embrace its magnificent complexity. Visit November through February via Cunard or Holland America Line for Baroque colonial heritage, revolutionary history, and the Filipino hospitality that makes even thirteen-million-person chaos feel welcoming.

Coron Island, Philippines, immerses visitors in Southeast Asia's intoxicating blend of ancient culture, extraordinary cuisine, and tropical beauty. Don't miss the vibrant local markets and street food scene, where regional flavors achieve remarkable complexity. The most comfortable visiting conditions occur December through April, during the dry season when skies are clearest and seas are calmest. Cruise lines including Norwegian Cruise Line feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Puerto Princesa is the gateway to Palawan — repeatedly voted the world's best island — and home to UNESCO's longest navigable underground river, eight kilometers of cathedral-scale limestone caves explored by paddle boat. Visit November through May via Seabourn or Holland America Line for Honda Bay island-hopping, vibrant reef snorkeling, and access to the Philippine island whose natural beauty renders superlatives inadequate.

Balabac is the southernmost frontier of Philippines' Palawan, where pristine coral reefs, blindingly white beaches, and traditional fishing culture survive in extraordinary isolation between the Sulu and South China Seas. Must-dos include snorkelling the reef at Onuk Island, watching for dugongs in the seagrass beds, and tasting freshly prepared kinilaw ceviche with local fishermen. Visit November through May for calm seas and optimal visibility in one of Southeast Asia's last truly unspoiled island destinations.

Muara is the gateway port to Brunei Darussalam, a wealthy sultanate on Borneo known for its golden-domed mosques, the world's largest water village (Kampong Ayer), and pristine rainforest in Ulu Temburong National Park. Must-dos include visiting the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, exploring Kampong Ayer by water taxi, and tasting ambuyat, the national sago dish. February through April is the driest period.

Bintulu is a port city on Sarawak's coast in Malaysian Borneo, serving as a gateway to the extraordinary Niah Caves with their 40,000-year-old human remains and the coastal wilderness of Similajau National Park. Must-dos include tasting Laksa Sarawak and indigenous Melanau umai raw fish, exploring the Niah Caves archaeological site, and visiting traditional Iban longhouse communities upriver. Visit March through October for the driest conditions and best accessibility to forest and cave attractions.

Kuching is the charming capital of Sarawak on Borneo, blending colonial waterfront architecture, world-class ethnographic museums, and what may be Malaysia's finest food scene. Must-dos include tasting Sarawak laksa, visiting orangutans at Semenggoh, and exploring Bako National Park for proboscis monkeys. April through September offers the driest conditions in this equatorial riverside city.

From Raffles's 1819 trading post to the world's second-busiest port, Singapore has always been where the world's trade routes converge — and its Supertree Groves, UNESCO-listed hawker culture, and the bowl of Hainanese chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre confirm that its ambition has never dimmed. As Southeast Asia's definitive cruise hub, it serves as the ideal starting point for voyages across the Indian Ocean, the Indonesian archipelago, and beyond. February through April offers the most settled weather for exploring this extraordinary island city-state.