Bizarre dirt trail winds a narrow path above the tree line.

A meditative walk up 353 stairs leads to a majestic white Buddha overlooking Pai.

One of Ayutthaya’s most iconic locations is a mysterious, hauntingly surreal miracle.

This elephant kraal is the only one remaining in Thailand, dating back to the 16th century when these massive mammals were integral players in war and trade.

A shrine built to combat the bad karma of a commercial venture.

Bangkok celebrated its shifting monarchy with a militaristic homage to democracy.

Striking, enormous gold-plated sculpture of Buddha installed in the 19th century.

This dazzling Buddhist temple was constructed from over one million ceramic tiles salvaged from a British shipwreck.

A secluded, little-known temple hidden amid the dense jungle.

Though it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, Baphuon was converted to a Buddhist temple in the 15th century, complete with a massive hidden statue.

A battle between nature and architecture in the Cambodian jungle.

A small 12th-century temple surrounded by waters believed to have curative properties.

This Cambodian riverbed is covered in ancient Hindu carvings both above and below the waters.

The site of an ancient city pillar that was lost and rediscovered.

This Khmer temple is named after a young woman who sacrificed herself to protect the city from a disastrous deluge.

This mysterious tower is said to enshrine a dormant seven-headed serpent that once protected Vientiane from destruction.

When the USA donated cement and funds to expand the airport in Laos, the Laotians built a massive monument instead.

More than 200 statues filled with cryptic symbols give this park spot an aura of horror vacui fantasy.

American bombs, morbid memorabilia, and graphic photographs tell the story of the CIA-led “Secret War” from the Pathet Lao perspective.

This tiered waterfall is so pretty it may cause visitors to cry tears of their own.

Abandoned limestone cave was once a sacred place of worship.

One-of-a-kind stupa in Laos.

These bamboo and rope bridges cross the Nam Khan River for six months every year.

Ha Long Bay's "Cave of Surprises" houses a popular phallic rock formation.