Savor the Sunsets & View Points of SE Asia (w/ a twist of adventure)

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The sights of sunsets & view points are the epitome of savoring the moment. These moments truly comes alive via outdoor activities, hunting down local sites , and motorbike adventures in SE Asia.

Sunsets (and Sunrises)

There is something magical about sunsets – beautiful orange / yellow / purple / pink sunsets! They’re almost like a sunset rainbow, if that was a thing? Yea, let’s go with “sunset rainbow”.

A man taking a photograph of a sunset within Angkor Archeological Park in Cambodia. There is an ancient doorway and wall made of stone between the man and the sunset. However, the photographer is capturing the sunset (can be seen in this image) through the doorway. The doorway has no door, so it is open.

A sunset view at Ao Nang beach in southern Thailand. There are many people on the beach, but it is not overly crowded. There are two Thai longtail boats in the water near the shore. And, in the distance are low mountains (not too tall) where the land extends far into the ocean. The sunset can be seen with the mountains as a backdrop.

A sunset with mountains in the background. High rise housing is between the background and foreground, which are just slightly shorted than the mountains. In the foreground is the top of a tree, which takes up the entire width of the image. The sky is partially bright orange color and light blue. One cloud is light-up bright orange.

A sunset at a black sand beach in Bali, Indonesia. The sand is wet, and reflects the color of the sunset. In the middle of the image are one story high rock formations just off the near shore of the beach. Two people are standing one of the rocks formations. In the background is an organge sunset. From bottom to top, the orange sunset fades to yellow and then blue (at the top of the image).

Depending on where you are in SE Asia, the entire sky is filled with a beautiful array of color at sunset! Find a spot, and wave it farewell.

“Want to go to see the sunrise?” 🌅, is on the tip of many a backpacker’s tongues.

Early morning tours like the Mount Batur trek in Bali are arranged in an effort to find the best sunrise viewpoints. Angkor Wat sunrise is another well-traveled sunrise tour. P.S. Always read reviews before you book.

Tour or not, no-one owns the sunrise and sunset. Get creative, find a spot, and enjoy it alone in peace or with surrounding company.

Viewpoints in SE Asia

Backdrops

Mountains, the jungle, the ocean and water ways . The list is long and we’ll let your travel discoveries elaborate on our behalf.

A pool on a waterfall with a view in Bali, Indonesia. At the very peak top of a waterfall with a small natural swimming pool, located at the point where the water falls down. The image shows the water a the bottom half, and the view on the upper half consisting of a forest of palm trees and mountainous region in the background. A female is enjoying the small natural pool that has a rocky protective barrier to prevent them from falling over. The open for the water flows around the barrier. Another female is taking a picture, using their cell phone, of he friend inside the pool.

A beach at sunset time in Thailand. The photographer of this image is standing on an elevated rocky area looking at the beach with waves, and a small hilly area coverin the sun.

Several bamboo rafts along the shore of a lake in Thailand. It is sunset and no-one is in sight. These rafts are large enough for eight people and are have a roof over the seating area. They are towed out into the middle of the lake, and food is served to the patrons on the rafts. This is unique concept of a restaurant.

A café overlooking a rice field in Bali, Indonesia. The café is completely open-air. One section of the roof is made with straw, and the other with corrugated metal.

Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

Marveling at stunning views is one of life’s most delightful pleasures. Feast with your eyes.

It gets better – add in a relaxing chair 🪑, sipping coffee 🍵, and/or enjoying a meal 🍴. What more could you ask for!?

Locals capitalize on good views, and there is no shortage of cafes and restaurants with a view or two (hehe that rhymes).

Seating at a rooftop café overlooking Mount Batur in Bali, Indonesia. There is only one seat in this image, which is large seat fitting up to two people. It is cushioned, and has an umbrella for shade. Attached to the seat, is a large table on the right-hand side with a café late and croissant. Mount Batur is on the left-hand side of the seat.

A picture of a banana smoothie in a glass with mountains in the background at a café in southern Thailand. A palm oil plantation with a forrest of palm trees covers the land between the café and mountains.

A large hut in Cambodia for eating in with a table and floor seating consisting of a mat and cushions. A rural view can be seen from within the hut. Air fans are mounted for a cool breeze, and bamboo curtains are rolled down to provide shade and block the sun.

Motorbike Riding

Motorbiking 🏍️ through the countryside and on ‘riding loops‘ (Ha Giang loop, Thakhek loop, etc) offer riders some of the best views. Vietnam and Bali are among riders’ favorites.

A parked motorbike (scooter) with a rice field in the background. The field has a water way going through it, and it's walls are made of stone. There are several tall palm trees in the field not too far away. It appears that it recently rained, and all the vegetation looks fresh.

A sunrise on the Mekong river, which serves as the border line between Thailand and Laos. The sun is still behind the mountains beyond the river, but light can be seen. There are seven long boats docked along the shore, together. This image was taken on the Thailand side facing Laos.

A motorbike (scooter) parked on a back-country road in Thailand. The scenery is tropical with palm trees. There are no people in the image. The motorbike is an Honda Click, which is an automatic (not manually or semi-automatic). This means that the rider never switches gears manually - the motorbike has a CVT automatic transmission.

Looking down a paved country road in Southern Laos, while riding the Bolaven Loop. At a distance, at the end of the road, there are mountains. Along the road are trees and tall grass.

Rooftop Restaurants & Bars

These come in all types – laid back to fine dining.

Some are come-as-you-are, others enforce the dress code of dress to impress. What they all offer is a rooftop with a view.

Viewing a sunset from a rooftop infinity swimming pool in Southeast Asia. High rises can be seen between the pool and the sunset, since this takes place in a large, densely populated, city in Southeast Asia.

A rooftop view of Bangkok city, Thailand at night with high rise buildings everywhere. Lights light-up the buildings and roads.

Hiking

Not all viewpoints 🌄 come free – you have to work 🚶‍➡️for it. Hiking up to the viewpoints is satisfying.

Reaching the top, you will pant a sigh of relief followed by the realization that you made it! Undoubtably, you will be rewarded with good views.

Yea, you could’ve looked at pictures of the view online, but you know it’s just not the same!

Steep metal stairs mounted on a very high cliff that leads from the top to the ocean. This image is mid-way on the stairs, showing the near vertical cliff and how it meets the ocean water at the bottom.

Five people standing around enjoying a sunste at a viewpoint spot at a camping area in Thailand. This area is surrounded by mountains and palm trees (a palm oil plantation) at Kuan Nom Saow Restaurant and Viewpoint in Krabi Thailand.

A mountain hiking viewpoint with sunset at Nam Xay Viewpoint in Vang Vien, Laos. The image is within a roof-covered wooden observational deck at the top of a mountain peak. A female is at the edge of the deck, with her legs dangling off the edge, and arms resting on the short railing. Her chin is resting on her arms. She is peacefully soaking in the view and sunset. It is quite at the top.

A viewpoint seen after hiking to the top of a mountain in Southeast Asia. The image was taken at a cliff. Below is a valley surrounded by the mountain. Below, on the ground is a dirt road that goes in a circle around the valley.

An overlook of two beaches with a stretch of land going between them, and steep mountains in the background. Palm trees cover the land, and boats are along one of the beaches.

A mountain hiking viewpoint with sunset at Nam Xay Viewpoint in Vang Vien, Laos.

Savor the Sunsets & View Points (w/ a twist of adventure)