Witness the breathtaking beauty of autumn foliage at 5 destinations in Asia and Australia.

Nami Island, South Korea

If you're a fan of the drama Winter Sonata, you absolutely must visit Nami Island when traveling to South Korea. This is where the classic love story between Min-Hyeong and Yoo-Jin unfolded, and it's also a popular weekend getaway for couples seeking a relaxing atmosphere. This crescent-shaped island is located about 50km from central Seoul and is named after a general who quelled a rebellion in the 13th century but died unjustly at the age of 28 after being falsely accused of treason.

Perhaps the most famous spot on Nami Island is the ginkgo tree-lined avenue along Metasequoia Road. In autumn (late October - early November), the entire forest turns golden, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Another place to fully enjoy the beauty of autumn on Nami Island is Baekpungmilwon Garden, which boasts over 300 red maple trees, along with several friendly wildlife species such as squirrels, deer, rabbits, ducks, ostriches, and various birds.

If you have a bit of an adventurous spirit, you can reach Nami Island via the ZipWire aerial slide! As soon as you arrive at the Han River waterfront area in Chuncheon, look for the tallest tower. This is the ZipWire Tower. For KRW 38,000 (including the return ferry fare), you can zip-line from the top floor (80m) of this tower to Nami Island in just 2 minutes, enjoying panoramic views of both sides of the Han River from above! Since the KBS program "A Day and a Half," ZipWire has become very popular, so remember to book your tickets in advance.

After returning from Nami Island, if you have extra time, you can visit Petite France, a French-style village located a 25-minute bus ride from the ferry terminal (on the Gapyeong Tour Bus). This village is modeled after Saint-Exupery's novel, The Little Prince, featuring vibrant pastel-colored buildings, art galleries, museums, and souvenirs with a distinct European cultural feel.

Additional information

Weather: Autumn temperatures in South Korea range from 5-13 degrees Celsius.

Note: Tourists start flocking to Nami Island after 10:30 AM, so arriving early will allow you to capture more beautiful photos. If you decide to stay overnight, you can book a hotel room in the area around the central lake.

+ Getting there: From Seoul, take the subway to Mangwoo, then take another train to Gapyeong station, and then take a bus or taxi to Nami Ferry Terminal.

Nikko, Japan

Nikko town is the gateway to a national park near Tokyo, featuring mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and mineral springs, along with numerous Shinto temples and shrines. It's also where autumn lasts the longest, as the leaves change color in stages depending on the mountain's altitude. The most famous shrine in Nikko is Toshogu Shrine, with its wooden architecture adorned with gold leaf against a backdrop of lush green mountains, resembling a beautiful ink painting.

However, the best place to see autumn foliage in Nikko is the Okunikko area around Lake Chuzenji. This area is at its most beautiful from mid to late October, when the forests surrounding the lake are painted golden with the colors of autumn. Here you can go hiking, bathe in the hot springs at Yumoto Onsen, or visit the two most famous waterfalls in the region, Kegon and Ryuzu.

Don't miss the 100-meter-high Kegon Falls, as it's ranked as one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. Ryuzu Falls, nicknamed the "Dragon's Head Falls" due to its unique shape, becomes even more majestic in autumn when the leaves on either side turn yellow and red, resembling flames enveloping a dragon's body.

Additional information

+ Getting there: Traveling from Tokyo to Nikko is quite simple. Take the Shinkansen bullet train to Utsunomiya Station, then transfer to a train on the JR Nikko Line.

Tip: When you arrive in Nikko town, you can stroll around the temples and shrines, then take a bus to Chuzenjiko Onsen located next to Lake Chuzenji.

Bright Town, Australia

Located about a four-hour drive from Melbourne, the tranquil small town of Bright is considered to have the most beautiful autumn foliage in Victoria. Here, you can admire the changing colors of the trees, from green and yellow to orange and red.

Every autumn (April-May), the town hosts the 10-day Bright Autumn Festival, showcasing products from the Australian Highlands to visitors, such as cheese, honey, wine, and fruit jams.

Autumn in Bright offers many delightful activities. You should visit the charming private gardens that are only open for a few days each year, or go chestnut picking at the farm to roast at home. Freshly fallen chestnuts have a prickly outer shell, so you need to wear gloves to avoid getting pricked. After peeling the kernels, you can roast or bake them until fragrant, or even make them into soup for a change of pace.

Because it's located quite far from Melbourne, the town of Bright is like a hidden gem to tourists, but it's very popular with locals.

Additional information:

+ Getting there: From Melbourne, Australians often drive along the M31 or B300 motorway to Bright, then book accommodation for 1-2 nights to fully enjoy the peaceful and quiet countryside atmosphere.

+ Tip: If you're short on time, you can enjoy the autumn scenery at the Royal Botanic Gardens right in Melbourne, but the leaves usually turn yellow later, around May-June.

Nepal

Autumn (from mid-September to the end of November) is the ideal time to travel to Nepal, especially for backpackers who love trekking. The rainy season has just ended, the sky is clear, the air is cool and refreshing, and the mountains are clearly visible. From Kathmandu, you can take shorter routes like the Annapurna Circut or the Kathmandu Valley trails. For those wanting a more challenging trek, this season is the best time to explore the Everest Base Camp trail. Along the way, you can admire the majestic Himalayan scenery and experience local Sherpa culture by visiting monasteries along the way.

A highlight of Nepal is Chitwan National Park. If you're lucky, you might even spot a one-horned rhinoceros, deer, monkey, or even a Bengal tiger. Additionally, the Pokhara Valley is famous among trekkers for its lush green hills, terraced rice paddies, the Amapurna mountain range, and the Fishtail peak.

Additional information:

+ Activities: Spend the final days of your trip exploring the local markets and Buddhist and Hindu temples in Kathmandu. Highlights include Boudhanath – Nepal's largest Buddhist stupa; the Pashupatinath Hindu temple; and Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and a pilgrimage center for Buddhists since the 3rd century BCE.

Jiuzhaigou, China

Dubbed a paradise on earth, Jiuzhaigou (the Valley of Nine Villages) in northern Sichuan boasts 108 breathtaking lakes and waterfalls. Nestled amidst snow-capped mountains, Jiuzhaigou features many locations featured in television dramas such as Journey to the West (Pearl Shoal) and Heroes (Bamboo Lake). It is so named because it is home to nine villages inhabited by the Tibetan ethnic group.

This place is especially beautiful in autumn, when the maple and birch leaves change color, creating vibrant patterns reflected in the turquoise water. Some of the most famous spots here include Wuhua Lake, with its crystal-clear water nestled amidst pristine hills; Luwei Lake, with its cool stream winding through reeds; and the wild Pearl Waterfall, a convergence point of streams from an altitude of 2,700m, from which hundreds of large and small waterfalls cascade down into the deep gorge like a giant curtain.

Additional information:

+ Getting there: You can fly to Huanglong Airport in Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu, Dongjing, Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai, or Hangzhou. Then take a bus to Jiuzhaigou, which takes 90 minutes. The entrance fee is 220 RMB, plus a sightseeing bus ticket of 90 RMB.

+ World Heritage Site: Jiuzhaigou was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1992.

Text and photos: Dang Trinh

The Thanh