Much like Japan, the borders of this pocket-sized kingdom in the foothills of the Himalayas were sealed off throughout the pandemic, giving the country time to finesse its tourism strategy, which prioritises the preservation of both its otherworldly landscape and cultural traditions. This is the Land of the Thunder Dragon, whose breath shrouds Buddhist monasteries clinging to steep cliffs in a mystical fog.
Occupying the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, the port city of Busan calls to mind Miami – its high-rise buildings suddenly giving way to golden beaches. It’s more laidback than Seoul thanks to its coastal setting, with many Koreans coming here to switch off and reconnect with nature – trekking into its pine-studded hills on paths that take hikers past historical monuments such as the Cliff Carvings of Seokbulsa.