Asia’s 6 most haunted destinations to visit this Halloween

From cursed islands to ghostly shrines, Asia’s most haunted destinations promise chills, legends, and a Halloween you’ll never forget.

Think haunted castles are only a European affair? Asia tells a different story — one that’s steeped in myths, ghostly encounters, and age-old legends that still send chills down the spine. As Halloween 2025 approaches, adventure seekers can trade pumpkin parties for real paranormal thrills at some of the continent’s eeriest locations. From Thailand’s love-lorn ghost shrines to India’s spirit-haunted forests, these places redefine what it means to travel “off the beaten path.”

According to a recent curation by Agoda, here are six of Asia’s most spine-tingling destinations where folklore and fear meet breathtaking beauty.

1. Mae Nak Shrine, Bangkok, Thailand

Hidden amid the chaos of Bangkok lies a shrine that embodies love beyond death. The story of Mae Nak — a woman who died during childbirth yet stayed to reunite with her husband’s spirit — has haunted Thai folklore for centuries. Locals visit her shrine to seek blessings for love, marriage, and even lottery luck. Her story, immortalised in films like Pee Mak, turns this sacred site into one of Asia’s most unsettling yet fascinating spiritual landmarks.

2. Living Root Bridges, Meghalaya, India

In Meghalaya’s dense, mist-shrouded forests, the Khasi and Jaintia tribes crafted bridges from living roots — but local lore insists these woods are home to unseen spirits. Crossing these bridges as dusk falls is an otherworldly experience. The air thickens, the forest quiets, and every creak beneath your feet feels like a whisper from the past. Both eerie and enchanting, Meghalaya’s natural wonders blur the boundary between nature and the supernatural.

3. Mount Osore, Aomori, Japan

Few places embody eerie serenity like Mount Osore — literally “Mount Fear.” Believed to be the entrance to the underworld, this volcanic landscape in northern Japan is said to guide souls to the afterlife. Sulphur fumes rise like ghostly mist while Bodaiji Temple performs centuries-old rituals for the dead. It’s a place where the silence feels heavy — and every gust of wind sounds like a sigh from another world.

4. Siquijor Island, Philippines

Siquijor has long been shrouded in superstition — a tropical paradise with a dark, mystical core. The island’s traditional healers, known as mananambal, practice ancient rituals of healing and sorcery, blurring the lines between medicine and magic. Visitors come seeking cures, blessings, or simply to witness the island’s fabled “spirit nights.” Come Halloween, Siquijor’s haunting charm makes it one of the most fascinating — and feared — destinations in the Philippines.

5. Dol Hareubang Statues, Jeju Island, South Korea

Jeju’s volcanic landscape is dotted with mysterious stone figures known as Dol Hareubang — ancient guardians said to protect the island from evil spirits. Their blank stares and towering presence add an eerie air to Jeju’s otherwise serene scenery. Locals still tell tales of spirits roaming the coasts and mountains, making Jeju a place where beauty and the bizarre coexist under one haunting sky.

6. Mahsuri Tomb, Langkawi, Malaysia

Few legends in Southeast Asia are as haunting as that of Mahsuri — a woman wrongly accused of adultery and executed, who cursed Langkawi for seven generations before dying. Her tomb now stands as both a tourist attraction and a site of eerie reverence. Visitors have reported flickering lights, strange whispers, and a sense of melancholy that lingers long after leaving. It’s a reminder that some curses never truly fade — they just sleep beneath the surface.

(Image: Canva)

These haunted corners of Asia are not just about ghosts and goosebumps — they’re about stories that refuse to die. Whether you’re drawn by folklore, spirituality, or the thrill of the unknown, each of these places promises an experience that lingers far beyond the journey itself.

So this Halloween, skip the costume parties. Pack your courage — and maybe a little salt — and set out to explore the darker, deeper side of Asia.