Travel in Asia: destinations, itineraries and seasons

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Where and when to go: the calendar by destination

Travel in Asia: what you need to know

Travel in Asia covers very different realities: East Asia (Japan, South Korea, China), mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos), island Southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia), the Indian subcontinent and Indian Ocean archipelagos such as the Maldives. In English, our guides currently cover Japan and Thailand; other destinations will follow. Flights are often long-haul and time differences large: allow a few days to adjust.

Across much of the continent, the climate follows the monsoon. In South and Southeast Asia, a dry season alternates with a rainy season, on dates that vary from one coast to another: in Thailand, the Gulf and the Andaman Sea do not get their rain at the same time. In Vietnam, the north, centre and south each have their own calendar. East Asia, by contrast, has four distinct seasons, with cold winters and hot, humid summers, as explained in our guide on when to go to Japan. Typhoons can hit Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan or Vietnam, mainly in summer and autumn.

Which destination for which season?

The trends below are general. The table of countries by month, above, and our “when to go” guides give the detail destination by destination.

• November to March: dry season across much of mainland Southeast Asia and on Thailand’s Andaman coast (see when to go to Thailand); also the usual season for the Maldives.
• Spring (March–May): cherry blossom in Japan and South Korea. In Southeast Asia, often the hottest period before the rains.
• June to September: monsoon over much of the continent, but dry season in Bali and parts of Indonesia.
• Autumn (October–November): autumn colours in Japan and Korea, end of the rains in several Southeast Asian countries. Check the exact region: in Vietnam, the centre then gets its heaviest rain.

Which destination for your kind of trip?

• Beaches: Thailand (Andaman and Gulf islands such as Phuket or Koh Samui), the Maldives, Bali and nearby islands, the Philippines.
• Culture: Japan, South Korea, the Angkor temples in Cambodia, Rajasthan in India, Vietnam.
• Hiking: Nepal, the Japanese Alps, the rice terraces of northern Vietnam, Indonesia’s volcanoes.
• Tight budget: once there, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Indonesia are generally inexpensive; the flight weighs heavily in the total budget.
• Families: Japan (reliable transport, very safe), Thailand (well-developed tourist infrastructure).
• Honeymoon: the Maldives, Bali, the Thai islands.

Planning your trip

• Entry requirements: passport, visa, electronic authorisation: rules differ by country and change over time. Check them for each country on your route on travel.state.gov (US) or GOV.UK foreign travel advice (UK) before booking; our Japan and Thailand guides summarise US and UK requirements with the date of the check. Several Asian countries require a visa or an electronic authorisation, with passport validity conditions.
• Health: some vaccinations and protection against mosquitoes (dengue in particular) may be recommended depending on the country. See a doctor or travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
• Monsoon and typhoons: the rainy season does not necessarily stop you travelling (showers are often short), but it can disrupt boat services and excursions. Follow local weather bulletins during your stay.
• Local holidays: Lunar New Year, Songkran or Japan’s Golden Week push prices up and fill transport. Check each year’s dates with the tourist boards.

Our seasonal recommendations are based on climate normals published by national weather services. To see how we select and update them, read our methodology.