Five long weekend breaks in East Asia to give you a taste of adventure, from Japan to Vietnam to Papua New Guinea

If you live in East Asia you don’t need to go far to shake off the rust, from the clear waters of Ishigaki, Japan, to jungle and beaches in Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Luang Prabang in Laos, Saipan with its World War II battle sites, and even Papua New Guinea can give you a memorable long weekend adventure too

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Stretch your legs and head for the hills on a weekend break from Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or East Asia’s other big cities, as this hiker is doing in Laos. There’s diving, cave exploration, jungle trails, zip lining and much more to do within easy reach, wherever you are. Photo: Getty Images/iStockPhoto

Published: 6:00am, 15 Feb 2020Updated: 9:33pm, 15 Feb 2020

If you are dying for a chance to shake off the rust and have a taste of adventure, but do not have the luxury of a couple of weeks to spare, all is not lost. There are some exciting trips you can take in a weekend – or long weekend, by adding on a “red day” or two – from cities in East Asia, including Hong Kong, that will take you out of your comfort zone and give you a proper escape for your money.

1. Ishigaki

Part of Okinawa, Ishigaki is the largest island in the Yaeyama archipelago and is closer to the coast of Taiwan and China than mainland Japan. Its crystal-clear waters are excellent for snorkelling and scuba diving.

This is the place to come if you want to see manta rays – the northern coast has plenty, especially in autumn – and impressive coral reefs. On the island itself you will find mangroves, palm forests, rolling hills and rivers. Ishigaki is also the central transport hub for the archipelago and makes a great base from which to explore the neighbouring islands on day trips by boat to Kohama, Kuroshima or Taketomi.

Boats with glass bottoms float in a beautiful tropical lagoon in Ishigaki, Japan. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images

Once you have built up an appetite, try the island’s famous noodles, Yaeyama soba, its fresh sushi or Ishigaki beef.

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