Asia

This is the largest and continent and contains over half of the world’s people. It’s separated from Europe by the Ural mountains. Like Africa, this is a continent of contrast – from the paddy fields of China to orange-robed monks in ‘Buddhist country’ to the Middle East.

Eastern Asia

One of the first countries to ban plastic bags, here you can find Bengal tigers, Himalayan black bears, jackals, monkeys and leopards. Flowers include water hyacinth, jasmine, water lily, rose, hibiscus, magnolia and wild orchids. Birds include cuckoos, hawks, owls, kingfishers, parrots, woodpeckers, myna and blue-bearded bee-eaters.

The king of this country has installed ‘Gross National Happiness’, based on the Genuine Progress Indicator (endorsed by The Green Party). The country has banned plastic bags, tobacco, wrestling, MTV and billboards, on the grounds that they do not make anyone happy! The statistics bear it out – it now is 8^th in ‘happiness’ rankings.

This sits on the rainforest-covered island of Borneo. Home to tortoise, small bear, monkey, lizard, scorpion, crocodile and centipede. Borneo is also of course home to orang utans, whose favourite fruit is durian – a fruit that some say tastes like onion-flavoured custard. But it stinks so much, it’s banned on public transport!

Near India, China and Thailand lies this mysterious land of jungles, snow-capped mountains and beautiful beaches. Native trees are teak, acacia, bamboo, coconut and rubber. Native animals are tiger, leopard, rhino, buffalo, wild boar, deer, antelope, elephant, gibbon and monkey. Other creatures include parrots and Burmese pythons.

Lying in the tropics of the IndoChina peninsula, this is a land of ancient trees, remote hill tribes, colourful pagodas and temples buried in the jungle. Local wildlife includes elephant, deer, wild oxen, panther, bear, tiger and dhole (wild dog), cranes and ibis. Each year, a Water Festival celebrates the Tonle Sap reversing its waters.

The oldest civilisation in the world is also the most populated. Full of rivers including the Yangtze, China houses the Giant Panda, a bear that lives on bamboo in the remote forests. Other native species are South China Tiger, red-crowned crane and White-Flag Dolphin (one of only two species of freshwater dolphin in the world).

One of the world’s youngest countries due to recent independence from Indonesia. This is a tiny island rich in coral reef and lots of wildlife like giant frog fish, box fish, scorpion fish, monkey, deer, civet cats, crocodile, snake, gigantic water buffalo and green pigeon. Also renowned for its coffee.

We all think of Hong Kong as an island of skyscrapers, but actually most is rural. Located on China’s south coast, here can you find bamboo forests, mountains, beaches, natural harbours – and the Mai Po Sanctuary for Wild Birds.

India is a very large country (‘sub-continent‘) that ranges from the northern Himalayas to Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ territory with its elephants, tigers and serpents – you may even bump into Baloo the bear! India also has beautiful coasts like Goa, and is home to the mango tree – mangoes are the most widely eaten fruit on earth.

With a strong Buddhist influence, this nation includes the islands of Bali and Sumatra. Also home to Javan and Sumatran rhinos, Sumatra is also a natural home to endangered orang utans, who spend most of their time in trees. Like us, males grow beards and if it rains, they use leaves to make themselves an umbrella!

These islands of North East Asia are home to a unique culture: tea ceremonies, Zen gardens, sumo wrestling, kimonos, pagoda architecture. Here is Mount Fuji, cherry blossom (reported on weather bulletins), red-faced ‘snow monkeys’, red-crowned cranes and whooper swans. The residents of the Okinawa regularly live to 100.

Once known as ‘the land of a million elephants’, environmentalists are keen for their habitats to be protected more. This country borders many countries including China, Burma and Vietnam. Find leopard cat, java mongoose, goat antelope, gibbon, Malayan sun bear, Asiatic black bear, green peafowl birds and dolphins in the Mekong River.

Like Hong Kong, most people here are ethnically Chinese. Facing the South China sea, the people here have the longest life expectancy in the world – must be all that sea air! With little arable land, wildlife is not so diverse, but there is colourful greenery from the many parks, gardens, baroque churches and pastel-coloured buildings.

Home to skyscrapers, stilt houses, coral reefs, rainforests, mangroves and the world’s largest cave passage, this contrasting large area also is home to the world’s third largest island of Borneo – another home for orang utans. Common birds include kingfishers, storks and green imperial pigeons.

This popular honeymoon destination lies so below sea level, it is hoping to become the first zero-carbon economy in the world, to encourage others to take climate change seriously. Sitting in the Indian Ocean, The President has been the most pro-active of any world leader, on the issue of climate change.

In the heart of Asia next to China and Siberia, this vast plain of a land has 2 million nomadic people – and 20 million horses! Wildlife includes black-tailed antelope, lynx, fox, snow leopard, argali (mountain sheep) and ibex. Many birds migrate from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the bottom third is covered by the Gobi desert.

In the Himalayas, this shares Mount Everest with China and Tibet. Nepal holds 8 of the world’s ten highest mountains and near the Indian border you can find elephants, tigers, deer and buffalo and wild ox. Home to ‘Yeti’ abominable snowman, the most likely explanation is a Himalayan Brown Bear – which can walk upright. But some still stay it’s a group of human hermits!

Cut off from the world, there is not much information about this remote country in East Asia. Mostly hills, mountains and valleys, 80% of the country is mountainous and four distinct seasons (including a windy winter!) give rise to roe deer, bear, tiger, lynx, water shrew and the three-toed woodpecker.

On the South China Sea, these volcanic islands (formed from the second largest archipelago) are covered in tropical rainforests, where spotted and mouse deer hide. The national bird is the Philippine eagle. The Apo Reef is the largest coral reef system in Asia and the second in the world (after Australia’s Great Barrier).

These 63 islands near Malaysia are one quarter hot tropical rainforest. A rich land that has invested in many nature reserves, bird sanctuaries and botanic gardens. It is the most densely populated country, after Monaco in Europe.

Next door to China and the Yellow Sea, this country has more mountains than most. A breathtaking landscape of hills and valleys, each summer the country is covered in blooms from the Rose of Sharon. Home to bear, woodpeckers, river deer, water shrew and lynx. Wild Siberian tigers have not been seen here since 1920s. Here’s hoping.

Waterfalls and banyan trees are everywhere, and Rain Trees produce clusters of pink powder-puff flowers. Off the coast find blue, humpback and sperm whales with dolphins. Birds includes peacock, parakeet and Paradise Flycatcher. Wildlife includes elephants, leopard, turtle, monkey, reptile, deer and sloth bear.

This leaf-shaped island lies off the eastern coast, south of Japan and north of the Philippines. ‘Asia’s version of Hawaii’ teems with unique wildlife: mountain goat, Formosan rock money, blue magpie, Mikado pheasant and grass lizard. The Pacific Ocean is home to coral reef and three dolphins – bottlenose, spinner and spotted.

With its tropical climate and hundreds of outlying tropical islands, this is known for its cuisine. Wildlife includes gibbons and many elephants. With hundreds of tropical islands, Buddhist temples and mesmerising Thai dancing, this is the heart of southeast Asia.

Next door to China and the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama, at 4000 metres above sea level – this is ‘the roof of the world’. Its highest peak (on the border with Nepal) is Mount Everest. Many people here are Buddhist monks. It‘s a land of monasteries, orange robes, hypnotic chanting and prayer flags blowing in the wind.

On the east of the Indochinese peninsula, this S-shaped strip of land is mainly mountains and hills. A land of wildlife – bear, tiger, leopard, elephant and the dhole Asian dog. Also a land of flowers – peach flower, orchid, yellow apricot and chrysanthemum.

Western Asia

A country of mountains, the average altitude is over one mile high! There are 5 scenic canyons, 200 mineral springs and close-knit extended families who welcome you as one of their own. Also welcoming you are local wildlife: wild boar, porcupine, lizard and snake.

Named after fire ‘azer’, this ancient country on the Caspian Sea is covered in mud volcanoes and mountains. Also home to over 4500 species of flora, and the good-tempered Karabakh horse.

This landlocked mountainous county is often called the Switzerland of Asia, with its valleys, basins and Lake Issyk-Kol – the world’s second largest alpine lake. Find spruce and birch tree, golden eagle, brown bear, mountain goat, wild boar, lynx and snow leopard (his feet is covered in fur, to act as natural snow shoes).

Another remote and mountainous alpine nation, more than half this country is above sea level. Most people speak ethnic languages and they share a strong cultural history with neighbours Afghanistan and Iran. It is the smallest country in central Asia. Wildlife includes brown bear, Siberian ibex, red marmot and wolf.

Most of this is desert, mountains, steppes and ancient mystical cities. The forests are home to Persian lynx, goat and snow leopard. Desserts are home to gazelle, wildcat, fox, jackal, wild boar, monitor lizard, gecko and rare pink deer. The Caspian shore provides a watery home to local tortoises.

With over 100 ethnic communities, this landlocked
country is a melting pot of different cultures. Also as
diverse in its wildlife, where amongst mountains,
alleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls – you can find
brown bear, deer, lynx, wild boar, snow
leopards and Bukhara deer.

Middle East

With the dramatic Pamir Mountains and Wakhan Corridor, native wildlife includes ibex, lynx, wolf, snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep. Birds include myna, rock dove, raven, raptor, buzzard and the world’s least-known bird – large-billed reed warbler. The land also produces roses, and could be used to produce eco-friendly hemp and pomegranates – both of which could give a good income to local farmers.

These 30 or so islands translate as ‘two seas’ after the welcoming water surrounding the desert land. Birds abound here – larks (desert, crested and hoopoe), plus bee-eaters, rollers and lesser kestrel.

A beautiful island linked with Turkey (north) and Greece (south), there is a green line in the capital Nicosia, to separate the two. Rich with olive trees and citrus fruits, lizards and migrating birds from the Nile Delta, also find protected wild donkeys in Karpaz National Park.

Between the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea, Iran has cypress trees and fragrant myrtle. Birds include Siberian crane, falcon, imperial eagle and Dalmatian pelican. Also find black bear, cheetah and blue whales. There are still hopes that Caspian tigers still roam this land.

Another ancient country, some believe it to be the site of The Garden of Eden. With two welcome big rivers in a desert country, the marshes and Mesopotamian Wetlands are important in the south for wintering water birds, including White-Headed Duck.

Along with the Dead Sea (you float – even if you can’t swim!), explore ancient Tel Aviv, Galilee and Jerusalem. Near the Mount of Olives, a new tree is planted for every new child born here, to ask for peace. Mount Carmel‘s coastal mountains are home to the Baha‘i Faith.

Famed for its marine wildlife on the Red Sea, this nation also contains Mujib Reserve (the lowest nature reserve in the world). Wadi Rum is like a moon landscape, dotted with red, yellow and orange mountains. Here also find oak and pistachio trees, over 1000 species of fish, coral, sea turtles, dolphins, sea cows and whale sharks.

On the northeast Arabian peninsula (next door to Saudi Arabia), this is one of the smallest countries on earth, mostly composed of desert, although there is a natural deep harbour. The island‘s wildlife suffered during the Gulf War, but now you can find camels, lizards, snakes and many birds, including the lesser Kestrel.

On the Mediterranean Coast, this land also contains fertile land and alpine peaks. An ancient land listed in the New Testament, its capital Beirut has overcome its difficulties to be called the ‘Paris of the East’. Famed for ancient cedar forests, loggerhead turtles, colourful wildflowers, medicinal plants and of course, olive oil.

With 3000km of coastline, this is packed with beaches, caves, wadis and deserts. With many laws to protect local wildlife, here you can find Arabian leopard, Arabian oryx, gazelle, ibex, desert fox, wild cat, plus breeding turtles and 22 species of whales and dolphins. There are also many bird sanctuaries.

This big country (larger than the UK and France together) is south of the Arabian sea. Covered in mountains, it also has over 1000km of coastline. It’s home to leopards, vultures and falcons. A land of great contrast, you can also find sub-tropical pine forests, pine forests and the Himalayas.

This lies between the Mediterranean Coast and the Jordan River. It comprises the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Ein Kenya Nature Reserve is named after its natural springs, with lots of beautiful wildlife. It’s interesting that both tourist websites of here and Israel go out of their way to promote peace and reconciliation.

This beautiful country is surrounded on three sides by sparkling blue waters, and sits in the Arabian Gulf, with the only land border meeting Saudi Arabia. It has hot humid summers and mild winters. The Arabian oryx is protected here – due to its horns, it is believed to be the animal behind the legend of the unicorn.

This large land is the home of Islam’s two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Lying on the Red Sea, a quarter of this country is desert and home to Bedouin tribes, but the south gets lots of rain and supports wildflowers, apricot, lime and quince trees. Local creatures include black kite, antelope, hyena, camel, wolf and Arabian oryx.

With olive trees, palm trees, daisy meadows, oleander meadows and vineyards, local shopkeepers offer you a tiny cup of Arabic coffee, a glass of mint tea or lemonade while you browse. When you go, they will say ‘ma salaam’ – may you go in peace. Also exchange greetings with the local wildlife – Jackal, wolf, antelope and bear.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents; Europe and Asia. There is where St John, St Paul and St Peter lived and preached, and Mary spent her last days. Local wildlife includes bear, lynx, wild boar, deer, otter, fox and, buffalo and the protected Van Cat (one green eye, one blue eye!). Cranes migrate here too.

Of the 7 states, Dubai is the best-known. Birdlife flourishes here: herons, ducks, chestnut-bellied sand grouse, little green bee-eaters and Indian rollers that explode into brilliant blue rolling displays as they take flight. Also find flamingos (the locals have built an island to protect them). Offshore, find dugongs and green turtles.

Full of desert sand, lush greenery, coral reef, mountain villages and the port of Aden, this is a land of contrasts. Find desert rose and prickly pear cactus. Or look for wildlife: striped hyena, fox, hare, mongoose, lizard and camel. Socotra Islands are called ‘Asia‘s Galapagos Islands’ – here is a Dragon Tree that melts a bright red liquid.