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26 BEST Places to Visit in Asia in July & August!

Categories Asia , Summer Travel

I love Asia and I’m always looking for different places to visit Asia and the best time to go to Asia! Along with my travel blogger friends I have put together this list of the best places to visit in Asia in July and best places to visit in Asia in August to help you plan your summer holidays!

July and August bring the Summer holidays for people in the Northern Hemisphere and whether you’re looking to go on a family holiday during the Summer holidays, you’re studying and only have the Summer off, or you want to get away from the heat and crowds in popular European holiday destinations , you may want to spend the Summer in Asia.

However,  July and August generally bring the rain and monsoon season to many parts of Asia and if you’re like me this isn’t what you want from a trip!

A few years ago, I was personally wondering where to travel to in Asia in August so I reached out to my travel blogging friends to get their thoughts, opinions and experiences from travelling Asia in the Summer months and below are all the recommendations I received back on the best places to visit in July in Asia and the best places to visit in August in Asia !

Best Place to Visit in July and August in Asia

Indonesia is a clear winner as the best place to travel in July and August due to the weather!

A lot of the Indonesian islands will have blue skies and less rainy days making it the perfect country for a Summer holiday destination.

For example, I was in Gilli Trawangan during Christmas and although it was hot, December is the start of the rainy season so we had awful rain on Christmas Day! Whereas May, June, July, August and September practically offer no rain.

Weather in Asia in August and July

In this list of where to go in Asia in July and August, I have recommendations for places in South East Asia , East Asia ,  Central Asia and the Sub Continent showing that if you have a bit of flexibility you can visit some real gems during July and August in Asia.

Generally, I have tried to pick places where the weather is comfortable so although it may, and most like will be, very hot , it won’t be really humid which is awful weather to travel in!

Also, some countries change depending on where you are , for example, Pakistan in July and August varies a lot. In Lahore and Islamabad where you’d fly into, it’s soo unbearably hot but once you fly to the mountains of Northern Pakistan, it’s beautiful weather!

I’ve also tried to pick places out of the rainy season as generally the rainy season in Asia comes to most countries in July and August which is why it can be so hard to plan a summer holiday in Asia!

You really can’t do a 2 week India trip visiting the likes of Delhi, Rajasthan and the Taj Mahal in July or August, unfortunately!

However, sometimes the heat and a bit of rain aren’t that bad and can really benefit your trip because in the low season, you’ll avoid the crowds and get better prices by visiting these destinations in the Asian Summer months!

I ended up deciding on Sri Lanka in August so let’s see where you’ll book!

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-Gili Islands

Best in: July

The Gili Islands in Indonesia are idyllic year-round but for the best weather on the Gili Islands, I would recommend visiting in July as I did. The days are warm and sunny and perfect for relaxing on the beach or snorkelling. 

The peak season runs between June and August and during these months, you can be almost guaranteed sunny dry weather. 

There are 3 islands to choose from and I would recommend Gili Air, particularly if you are visiting in July. Gili Air is much quieter than Gili Trawangan which is busy throughout the year but especially so in peak season. Gili Air, by contrast, has just a scattering of hotels and beach bars so even if all the hotels are fully booked, it won’t feel crowded. I would, however, recommend booking well in advance.  

Gili Meno is also an option but in my opinion, it is a little too quiet with only 1 or 2 restaurants. It does, however, make the perfect place to escape to for the day and you can catch boats between the islands. 

Gili Meno is probably the most beautiful but perhaps a little boring if you plan to stay more than a day or two. Gili Air, in my opinion, has the perfect blend of quiet beaches with the option of finding a lively bar if you want a few cocktails. 

Spend your days sunbathing, snorkelling, cycling around the island, enjoying good food and maybe treat yourself to a massage or try some yoga. The Gili Islands are one of the best places to visit in July and I would recommend allocating at least 4 or 5 days in your Indonesia itinerary to visit.

Suggested by: Leanne from The GlobeTrotter GP.

My Related Posts: 30 things to do in Gili T / 3 Day Gili Islands Itinerary / Where to stay in Gili T!

VIEW ALL MY INDONESIA POSTS HERE

Best in: July & August

Visiting Bali during July and August is a great choice as the weather is fantastic. The weather is warm and there is less of a chance that it will rain. It is the high season but not peak season like Christmas time when the prices are very high and the weather not so great.

August is a great time to enjoy Bali due to all the wonderful festivals that take place. Buleleng Festival, Bali International Kite Festival, Ubud Village Jazz Festival and Sanur Village Festival are just a few of the events on offer. The festivals in Bali are a great way to experience the local Balinese culture and cuisine.

During August it is the school term in Australia so you will experience less Australian holidaymakers with their kids. It is of course summer holidays for the Northern Hemisphere families but with longer distances to travel to Bali you don’t really notice as many kids. Exploring Bali during July and August when the weather is sunny and not too humid will help you to experience all the amazing things Bali has to offer.

Suggested by: Kate from Rolling Along With Kids .

Book yourself a private guide aka diver and plan your full day yourself via viator!

My related Post:  The BEST 2 Week Itinerary | Bali, Gili Islands and Lombok!

-Sumba Island

It doesn’t get more remote than Sumba Island in Indonesia! This gorgeous island boasts a rugged coast that’s lined with palm trees and is unspoiled by development.

July and August are the best times to visit Sumba Island as there’s no rain nor wind and you can enjoy long sunny days on the beach. These months also bring with them the best swell if you’re looking to surf in uncrowded waters.

Sumba Island is a short flight from Bali and whilst it doesn’t have the high influx of tourists as other Indonesian islands, people are quickly discovering the beauty that lies within Sumba. It’s an adventure lovers’ dream destination with towering waterfalls, picturesque lakes, hidden caves and an abundance of traditional villages. All of this coupled with the unique culture and rich history make Sumba Island an ideal destination if you’re looking to visit Asia in July or August. There isn’t much tourist information online so be sure to check out this travel guide to Sumba before your visit. 

Suggested by: Carryn from Torn Tackies.

-Komodo, Flores

Best in: August

Usually visited from Bali or Lombok by boat (although you can also catch a domestic flight from Denpasar airport to Labuan Bajo, Ende or Maumere), Flores and Komodo are one of those destinations in Indonesia that are on the list of any traveller who it boasts.

Although both July and August are good times to visit the Komodo Islands perhaps August is somewhat better if we take the weather into consideration. That said, before going make sure that these islands are open for tourism when you plan to go. The country’s government – like many others in Southeast Asia – has already begun to take action against mass tourism and the degradation of some of its islands; closing them briefly for cleaning and regeneration.

Once there, the possibilities of things to do in Komodo are many. From visiting the Komodo national park and approaching the mighty Komodo dragons with a park guide, to explore some of the other islands in the area such as the beautiful Pulau Padar (pictured here), Rinca island, and pink beach – which is way less pink than the saturated Instagram images show.

Suggested by:  Imma from A World to Travel.

– Munduk

The small Balinese village of Munduk is an amazing destination in Indonesia for lovers of the outdoors. It’s a peaceful escape from some of Bali’s busier destinations, such as Ubud and Kuta, making it a wonderful addition to any  Bali itinerary .

July and August are some of the busiest months in Bali, making it a great time to visit Munduk to get away from the crowds. On top of that, July and August are some of the least rainy months in the village, which means your stay is unlikely to be hampered by bad weather. 

The most popular thing to do in Munduk is to go trekking through the beautiful nature. Undeniably the best hike to do is the Munduk Waterfall trek, which starts from the village and visits 3 nearby waterfalls over the course of a few hours. Other treks are possible too, whether it’s through rice fields or to other smaller waterfalls.

Another great reason to visit Munduk is that it is ideally located to take day trips to attractions in the north of the island.  Some of the best spots to visit include Sekumpul waterfall, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple and Banyumala twin waterfall.

As so many of the activities to enjoy in the area involve being outdoors, July and August are perfect months for visiting Munduk!

Suggested by: Sam & Natalia from Something of Freedom.

– Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is an interesting destination, known for its temples and food culture. If you visit in July, you’ll experience the “winter” of Yogyakarta, even though it’s still hot and humid with temperatures of 30°C (86°F) in the daytime.

While some rain is expected year-round in Yogyakarta, July and August are the driest months of the year, which makes it excellent for sightseeing as you won’t have your day ruined by downpours.

July is also in the low-season of visiting Yogyakarta as many international tourists are travelling around Europe at that time of the year, which means fewer crowds and lower prices for tours and accommodation.

As for choosing between July or August, it doesn’t really matter and both months are generally good for exploring Yogyakarta and getting the most out of your money and time. Thanks to fewer crowds and tourists, you’re more likely to get to interact with some locals as well.

Borobudur is perhaps the most famous tourist attraction near Yogyakarta, but a lesser-known place with stunning views is Kalibiru which is just a short car ride away

Suggested by: Alex from Swedish Nomad .

Here is the link to do some interesting things in Yogyakarta like guided tours to breathtaking places and watching sunrise

-Perhentian Islands

The Perhentian Islands are on the East Coast of Malaysia not far from Thailand. In fact, the word ‘Perhentian’ means stopping because they were the stopping island for boats going between Malaysia and Bangkok. However, these islands are not on the usual South East Asia backpacker trail and are they unique in the fact that they are only open from March to October because this is when the weather is best.

They are made up of 2 islands- a big one (Perhentian Besar) and a small one (Perhentian Kecil). The small Perhentian Island has much more of a backpacker feel with lots of hut and bungalow accommodation whereas the big Perhentian Island is much more popular with families because it has more resorts to stay in and is more built up.

Visiting the Perhentian Islands in July and August is a great time to visit because the weather is the best in the Summer months offering you clear blue skies and hot temperatures. Due to this, this time of year is peak season on the Perhentian Islands so expect more people to visit and book your Perhentian Island accommodation in advance!

I recommend these islands if you want to chill on a beach, learn to dive, go snorkelling and relax in paradise for a few days! And if you’re looking for a cheap holiday in July or August.

Suggested by: Ellie from The Wandering Quinn.

My Related Posts:  Travellers Guide to the Small Perhentian Island of Paradise  / How Much It Costs to Visit the Perhentian Islands  

VIEW ALL MY MALAYSIA POSTS HERE!

How to get the best flights??

I use Skyscanner to book all of my flights! I’m a huge fan of Skyscanner because I love how easy it is to compare different destinations and different dates for the best price and route!

For example, I type in ‘everywhere’ in the destination if I have fixed dates and want to find the best flights on those dates on Skyscanner .

And if I have a set destination I’ll look at the ‘month view’ to check the cheapest days to fly in that month!

Open Skyscanner by clicking here and search for the best flights as you read this post!

Kuching on the Borneo side of Malaysia makes an excellent base for a stay on this island.  You can visit the wildlife rehabilitation centre to see the Orangutans and take a tour to Bako National Park to admire the spectacular scenery and the Proboscis Monkeys. 

July and August is the best time of year to visit with Kuching although it will be busy with tourists because it’s peak season. For a quieter getaway to avoid the crowds head to Mulu in the north of Sarawak. Mulu is a Unesco World Heritage site, and the national park has some of the most magnificent caves in the world. The caves are stunningly beautiful, and the wooden walkways make them easily accessible. The stalactites and stalagmites glisten inside its genuinely spectacular.

The Mulu Marriott Hotel and Spa is the perfect place to relax, surrounded by the green oasis of the jungle. There’s also plenty of wildlife to spot here, especially if you take one of the night walks. The departure of the bats from the caves at dusk provides a spectacular display that’s also not to miss. 

Suggested by: Fiona from Passport and Piano.

Royal Belum State Park in Malaysia is the best place to visit in Asia in July and August. Firstly, Royal Belum State is located in the state of Perak and crosses into Southern Thailand meaning July is the coldest and driest month in Perak. 

Secondly, the state park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. It’s the perfect place to see tropical plants and wildlife, including monkeys, elephants, wild boards, and cobras. Although chances are slim, you may get a glimpse of Malaysian tigers and the threatened gigantic Rafflesia! 

Thirdly, Royal Belum State Park is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated travel destinations in Asia. Unlike other National parks in Malaysia, it remains largely unknown to tourists. Not to worry though, there are a number of decent resorts nearby the state park to stay in and most resorts offer tour packages that include accommodation, breakfast and excursion. Some of the top activities in Royal Belum State Park are river cruises, trekking to waterfalls, visiting the local tribe, bamboo rafting and fishing.

Suggested by: Ming from Flyerism.

-Koh Samui Archipelago

While it is the rainy season throughout a lot of Thailand during July, there is a slice of paradise off the East Coast where you can enjoy sunny days in July. This is the Koh Samui Archipelago and it consists of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

July is heading towards the dry season around these islands, therefore, I definitely recommend a visit in July rather than August. By travelling to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in July, you will also be missing the main busy season in Thailand from November- February. That means you can still get wonderfully sunny days as well as cheaper accommodation prices.

There are plenty of things to do on these islands such as the ever-popular Full Moon party held each month in Koh Phangan. This massive event is super popular with backpackers in Thailand. I am not so much of a partier so instead, I hired a scooter to find the top beaches in Koh Phangan . Though, if you love discovering life underwater Koh Tao provides plenty of opportunities for snorkelling, diving and free diving.

Either way, the gorgeous Koh Samui Archipelago in Thailand has some impressive islands with plenty of things to keep you busy. So, if you are looking for where to go on holiday in July and looking for a cheap holiday destination in July, I highly recommend either Koh Tao, Koh Phangan or Koh Samui.

Suggested by: Tasha Amy from Backpackers Wanderlust.

My Related Posts:  Female Packing List For Thailand | What To Pack and Not Pack  /  How to Visit Koh Samui on a Budget /  2 Week Thailand Itinerary to see the North & the South Islands!  

VIEW ALL MY THAILAND POSTS HERE!

– Sapa

The summer months are the perfect time to visit Sapa in Northern Vietnam. Sapa’s elevation high up in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountain Range keeps it nice and cool during summer months, which is rare in Southeast Asia. Due to its unique climate and location, this region only gets one rice crop per year and the terraces are bright green and full of life in July & August. The extensive rice terraces that cover the tall hills and mountains are a photographer’s dream! 

Hikers too will love walking through the lush paddies, however, you should bring some gear that can withstand a few raindrops. Even though the temperatures are pleasant it does rain more than the winter months. One of the best ways to experience Sapa, Vietnam is to hike to and sleep in a local village in a homestay with a Hmong family to get a glimpse into local life here. A trip here in the summer is one you won’t soon forget. 

Suggested by: Adam & Hannah from Getting Stamped.

-Vientiane 

While Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, in general, is a laidback city, without the chaos of the other Southeast Asian Cities. In July and August, the crowds are much less on the streets of Vientiane than in the high seasons of October to April. July and August make for the best time to visit Vientiane.

The tourist attractions are not overcrowded, the streets are mellow, and the weather isn’t that bad during these months with low season bring a little more rainfall and the rise of humidity. Therefore, if you want to go to a major city in Asia without chaos, no significant high-rise buildings and plenty of cultural attractions to visit. Surely that’s reason enough to put Vientiane on the list when organising your holidays in Asia during the Summer. 

In addition to Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng are also good places to visit in Laos in the Summer months of July & August.

Suggested by: Anthony from Fair Dinkum Traveller .

Singapore in July and August is the time just before the rain starts to fall hard, but it’s also a time of joyous celebration. The first major party that you should know about is National Day, annually falling on August 9. It is a day of national pride as it commemorates Singapore’s independence from Malaysia, which they received in 1965. There is a wonderful parade (NDP), an address by the Prime Minister of Singapore. But the reason you’d want to visit is the fireworks celebrations. The year 2019 is particularly important as it is the bicentennial. The entire city-state will be lit up with the most miraculous displays of light and pyrotechnics. And the best part… it’s free to view.

If you’re a shopaholic, the months between June and July is the annual Great Singapore Sale. This is a 5 week extravaganza when the entire country slashes their prices to up to 70% off. The best place to go during the sale, Orchard Road of course. This street is lined with massive malls that get super packed on weekends. So go during the week if you can. You can also visit the less flash shops in Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Little India, particularly Haji Lane for boutique stores.

Suggested by: Callan from Once in a Lifetime Journey.

-Northern Areas

If you want some Mountain adventures in July and August you need to consider Pakistan! Pakistan in July and August is the perfect time to head to the Northern Mountains in Pakistan because the sun will be out, flowers will be in bloom and the mountains are open for you to hike and explore.

I’d recommend Skardu and Hunza as the best places to visit in Pakistan to start with. There are so many places to visit in the Northern areas of Pakistan and although I do recommend following an itinerary similar to this 2 week Pakistan itinerary , I do also recommend keeping your plans flexible and free as the more you see in Pakistan, the more you want to see!

The Southern areas of Pakistan including Islamabad will be hot in July and August and probably a bit wet due to the monsoon season and this will only intensify as you go South, so fly into Islamabad and get up North in Pakistan asap and spend as long as you can seeing this incredible country that is only just waking up to tourism!

My Related Posts:  10 Things To Know BEFORE You Go to Pakistan  / 2 Week Itinerary for Pakistan | Best Places to Visit on Your First Trip!  

When planning your  backpacking Sri Lanka  adventure, you’ll quickly realize that there’s not just one optimal time to visit this small island, just off the coast of India. While other countries in Asia have a clear division of dry season and rainy season, there are different climate zones within Sri Lanka. If you’re ready for an island escape in Asia in July and August, make sure to focus your itinerary on the North as well as the East part of the country, since this is the best time to visit these regions of Sri Lanka.

That being said, during my travels around Sri Lanka in July 2018, I also visited the Southern coast to places such as Galle and Mirissa. Although it was very hot, I was pretty lucky and didn’t see any rain for a whole week! Further, I was also able to take full advantage of travelling the southern coast off-season – there were no tourist crowds and the streets of Galle were very quiet, especially compared to other touristic places that I visited in Sri Lanka.

My recommendation for the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in July and August? Focus on the East and North, but keep your days flexible and if the forecasts predicts sunshine and little rain for your time, make sure to include the Southern coast as well in your Sri Lanka itinerary!

Suggested by: Patrick from German Backpacker.

My Related Posts:  Visiting Sri Lanka in August | Weather in Sri Lanka  /  Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka on Your First Trip!

The Maldives is a good country to visit all year round meaning July and August are also great months to visit the Maldives. You can spend the morning watching the sun come up and listening to the ocean from the overwater villas and the temperatures hover over a balmy 80F year-round.

You are guaranteed a magical time in the Maldives anywhere you stay on any of the islands, the water is crystal clear, there is abundant marine life and the people are friendly.  With so many resorts it is hard to pick just one, but the water swing at Taj Exotica Resort and Spa sold us! The resort is located on the Emboodhu Finolhu Island which used to be called ‘Three Coconut Island’ is in the middle of one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. Our family spent 5 days here and would love to go back to spend a week or two exploring the other islands that make up the Maldives.

We flew from Chennai to Male through Colombo on SriLankan Airlines. Taj Exotica is located not too far from the Malé airport and is just a 20-minute boat ride away, no need for any seaplanes to get here.

Suggested by: Priya from Outside Suburbia.

Most people choose to visit tropical destinations like Kerala, in South India, in the winter, when they want to escape cooler climates. But then there are more romantic souls, who opt to go in the monsoon season to experience that special magic the rains bring.

Kerala is a state in South India that is warm and tropical all year ‘round. It is blessed with gorgeous beaches, lush forests, a system of backwaters that are home to a unique culture, and a cooler, mountainous highland region that provides ideal conditions for a myriad of spice, tea, and coffee plantations.

There are many great places to visit in Kerala all year ‘round, but monsoon is a special time. The monsoon rains hit Kerala in early June, and continue for most of the summer months – June, July, and August.

I spent a week during monsoon at a resort in the Kerala backwaters once, and I loved the bountiful lushness, and the way the sky, lake, and canals all blended together like a giant watercolour painting. It’s very hard to describe the peaceful ambience, and how relaxed I felt in this atmosphere. Almost like being suspended between earth and water, calmed by a lullaby of pattering rain, and secure in the feeling that there was no need to go anywhere or do anything.

Suggested by: Mariellen from Breathe Dream Go.

VIEW ALL MY INDIA POSTS HERE!

– Matheran

Matheran (Meaning Forest on the Forehead) is the cutest hill station, located 90 km from Mumbai in the lap of the Sahyadris mountain ranges well away from the hustle-bustle of city life.  It gets heavy rainfall during the monsoon season ranging from May-August.

However, a good reason to visit Matheran in Monsoon season  is because of its natural landscape. One can encounter amazing waterfalls with a height ranging from 10 to 100 meter during July and August. Some very popular tourist points in Matheran include Echo Point, Alexander Louisa The point, Panorama Point, and Porcupine Point. To preserve the surroundings and environment, the hill station has been declared an ECO-ZONE which means no vehicles are allowed leaving an only way to roam around is wither walking or cycling or riding horses.

The town has no road, so it’s all rock and red soil with a natural terrain ideal for hiking and adventure seekers.  A traveller may get close to monkeys and various species of birds at any point of their trip.

It is a favourite destination among locals for a day trip or longer to get close with nature in peace. Every traveller, photographer and nature seeker should once experience this alluring place in the rainy season. 

Suggested by: Chandresh from Family on the Wheels.

Sikkim the state in North East India, looks heavenly in the Monsoon Season in July and August. It is a time when the mother nature wakes up from deep sleep and starts rejuvenating. The continuous rains make the landscapes look lush green and valleys get beautifully covered with clouds. The new fresh green leaves start budding, forests becomes dense, Lakes start roaring in full swing and birds make it a chirpy heaven. There is just a feeling of freshness and livelihood in the whole environment.  

Sikkim during the monsoon season is the offseason, and this is a good time to visit because there is not a high demand for accommodation and resources are dirt cheap.

The weather in Sikkim in July and August is extremely pleasant and temperatures range between 4 – 15 degree Celsius. In North Sikkim, you will feel that the mother nature has opened up its arm just for you. We recommend visiting this place in August as compared to July as the amount of rains decreases and so does the chance of encountering landslides. Check the complete itinerary of Darjeeling Sikkim Tour here.

Suggested by: Suruchi from All Gud Things.

Although the beginning of July in Japan is when the hot and humid summer starts, our five-days stay in Kyoto in July was very pleasant and enjoyable.

During our visit, Kyoto seemed a lazy and sleepy city and not as busy as we expected, in fact, there was almost no one visiting the famous bamboo forest at that time! Who knows, maybe we were just lucky. On several nights during our stay in Kyoto in July it rained quite intensively, but throughout the day we only had to use an umbrella twice. We also carried a small towel, as humid air made us sweat more than usual. Throughout the day the sky was quite cloudy, so our photos from Kyoto seem a bit hazy, but still, it was not a big issue for us.

When it was getting too hot and stuffy, to cool down we drank a lot of cold green tea, ate matcha flavoured ice creams, and rested in the shade of trees. Kyoto is definitely our favourite city in Japan, and we won’t hesitate to visit it in the summer again.

Suggested by: Marta and Milosz from Backpackers.wro .

My Related Posts:  How to take a Day Trip from Osaka to Kyoto | 1 Day Itinerary  /  2 Week Japan Itinerary for Your First Visit to Japan  /  How to Use a Japan Rail Pass – All You Need To Know!

VIEW ALL MY JAPAN POSTS HERE!

Tours in Kyoto to book to help you explore the amazing place with a guide:

– Tokyo

Tokyo is hardly a well-kept secret but there is a special reason to visit Tokyo in July and August: Fuji. 

This icon of Japan can be seen on a clear day from a few spots in the city, but during the summer months only, you can climb right the way to the top, passing through scarlet torii gates as you go. After that, the path is closed and you need to wait another year.  The climb itself doesn’t require technical skills but it does require good footwear and a decent level of fitness as you’ll be walking over uneven ground and climbing to 3776 metres.

You can climb Fuji in a day but the more popular way to climb Mount Fuji is to join the crowds and climb at night to see the sunrise from the mountain peak. 

So, what should you do for the rest of your time in Japan in July and August? You can easily fill an itinerary with five days in Tokyo before activating a Japan Rail Pass and travelling on to see more of the country. Summer in Japan allows you to linger in the gardens and enjoy the shade of the temples. A chance to refresh and recharge before heading back into the frenetic parts of Tokyo.

Suggest by: Abigail from Inside the Travel Lab.

-Penghu Islands

If Taiwan is Asia’s best-kept secret destination, Penghu is its paradise island only insiders know. While the mainland of Taiwan is suffering from heatwaves during the summer the Penghu islands become the perfect getaway destination from the city to cool off and relax by the crystal clear water.

Penghu is a group of 90 islands and islets in the west of Taiwan Strait. Naturally, the islands feature many gorgeous sandy beaches with emerald water. The best part is that they rarely get crowded, especially the ones off the uninhabited islands. You can relax by the uncrowded seaside or swim in the unpolluted water. Or, even go island-hopping on a boat.

While the island’s notorious wind makes a hostile living environment in winter, it becomes an ideal place to catch the waves for surfing and windsurfing enthusiasts in summer. Again, it’s only known to a small circle of insiders, which means you don’t need to fight for your spot. Penghu also has the world’s first submarine postbox you can dive or underwater helmet-walk to send a waterproof postcard. Deep-sea fishing is popular here too.

Does Penghu sound like your perfect summer getaway destination in Asia? Wait until you check out this list of uncrowded, stunning beaches in Taiwan and the best time to visit.  

Suggested by: Chloe from Chloe’s Travelogue.

My Related Posts:  16 Places to Visit in Taiwan | Tourist Spots  /  2 Week Taiwan Itinerary /  1 Week Taiwan Itinerary!

VIEW ALL MY TAIWAN POSTS HERE!

One of the best, and most forgotten about, places to visit in Asia during July and August is the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan.  The winter months are an extreme version of cold that many people have probably never felt anything like but the summer months are pleasantly hot and surprisingly tolerable.

The capital of Nur-Sultan is the second coldest capital city in the world during the winters but the summers are warm on the steppe and it gives Nur-Sultan a new life during July and August.  Autumn can come quickly and sometimes even in September, so it is best to get your fill of Kazakhstan during the summer.

Almaty, the country’s southeastern mega-city is cold in the winters and because it is surrounded by mountains, it can be rather inaccessible during the winter months. July and August are the perfect time to go to Almaty and to explore the city’s scenery, vibrant cafe scene, and must more.  Many people may flock to the beaches of southeast Asia or for a culinary adventure in India, but Kazakhstan is a great alternative as it has lakes, seas, deserts, canyons, and amazing food culture… without all the tourists.

Suggested by: Megan from Megan Starr.

If you mention the name Uzbekistan as a travel destination you can be guaranteed that most people will wonder why you would wish to visit there. It is, however, a very good Asian destination to visit during the summer due to its arid land, beautiful landscapes and minimal amounts of rain.

Travelling in Uzbekistan will take you across the former Silk Road and you can certainly visit the silk factories in Khiva and Bukhara. Equally impressive are the carpet making factories of Khiva and the elaborate embroidery, suzani, found in Bukhara and Samarkand which is difficult to resist buying! The walled city of Bukhara feels as though it is part of a film set with its vast towers and romanticism. It is truly stunning! Monuments such as the Chor Minor with its turquoise domes will mesmerise you with their beauty!

There is also the option of visiting the mountain areas as respite from the heat and exploring the traditional cultures with an overnight stay in a yurt in Nurata. Plus, you could also take a camel ride through the desert to break up the journey. The summer palace of Alim Khan is also a worthwhile stop. There are so many activities to partake in witha visit to Uzbekistan and the food is also scrumptious with the national, rice-based dish of Plov to try. The non-bread also features on daily menus with different regional designs!

The landscapes alone are spectacular with very mesmerising views including a visit to the fortress that Alexander the Great had located in Nurata, which is a desert area. Furthermore, petroglyphs can be viewed at Sarmysh Gorge. Uzbekistan is certainly a destination that you will always talk about and remember fondly.

Suggested by: Latoya from Franglais27 Tales .

Ulaanbaatar is a fascinating place to visit at any time of year but July and August bring long, hot sunny days and light evenings so you can make the most of your sightseeing days.

In the middle of July, Mongolians gather throughout the country for the nations’ biggest festival, Naadam, a rousing and colourful spectacle celebrating the traditional sporting abilities of the nomadic tribes and Mongolian people. However, if you visit in August, Ulaanbaatar (and the rest of Mongolia) will be quieter and accommodation will be cheaper and easier to find. Explore the museums, historic and religious sights of Ulaanbaatar such as Gandantegchenling Monastery with its enormous standing Buddha.

The summer months are an ideal time for a trip to the Mongolian steppe to see the impressive Genghis Khan statue and the scenic Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. The open, exposed steppe is easier to visit in summer than in winter and you can enjoy hiking, cycling and horse riding activities. Stay with a local family in one of their yurts or ‘gers’ where the clear night skies of summer will provide you with amazing star-filled skies.

Suggested by: Sinead from Map Made Memories .

-Lake Bikal

Lake Baikal is one of the best places in Russia to get out of the cities and experience the country’s vast expanses of unadulterated nature. It’s the oldest and deepest lake in the world, and the largest freshwater lake in the world. But since the lake is in Siberia, the climate is bitterly cold outside of the summer season. In fact, it’s completely frozen over for four to five months of the year!

If you want to go hiking or camping, the window of opportunity is fairly short, and July and August are the best months. It’s possible to swim in the lake too, but be prepared for some very cold water! There’s a fabulous hiking trail called the Great Baikal Trail, which hugs the shoreline along the cliffs between Listvyanka and Bolshoie Koty. The trail is about 22 kilometers long and takes five to eight hours to complete. 

Foreign tourists usually visit Lake Baikal as part of a longer trip by train along the Trans-Siberian Railway, taking in other sights along the way, such as the Kremlin of Kazan and the Boris Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg. If you want to visit just the lake, you should fly into Irkutsk, which is about 70 kilometers from Listvyanka. From there, you can take a minibus or a ferry to reach the lake.  

Suggested by: Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan.

And there you have it! I hope you can now work out where will be the best place to travel in July and August to get good weather and small crowds whilst the Summer Holidays are happening!

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Tuesday 14th of January 2020

Hi there! we traveled last summer for 3 months in SE Asia.(Thailand, Laos,Cambodia and Vietnam) and from Laos Vientiane(capital) is basically just a stopover city to travel through to other amazing places this country has to offer, Laos is still very virgin and unknown so now is the time to go as it’s un ruined by tourism, for example if you are coming from Thailand you should do a 2 day boat trip to Luang Prabang and spend some time in this impressive city as there are over 50 temples here to visit, the food, the markets, the people!!! also the Kuang si falls. Vang Vieng is the “touristy area “ amazing, and beautiful nature and has lots of super cool activities yo offer, from zip lining to kayak to going in donuts in caves, to cheap buggy rides to the lakes through the rice fieds. and at last the 3000 islands on the mekong delta, also an amazing place to visit, in the middle of nowhere you suddenly find theese beautiful virgin islands with also. a lot to offer. So please change the part of Vientiane and include theese amazing spots. it’s also one of the cheapest places in Asia, cheaper then Thailand and Vietnam!!

TheWanderingQuinn

Monday 3rd of February 2020

Thank you for this, thats so good to hear! I will add them in! :)

Friday 20th of September 2019

Mongolia has the most beautiful landscapes I have ever visited, I remember that with my friends we did a picnic and we all loved the idea of returning as soon as possible. (we have not returned to for work :(((((( so sad hahahahah).

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Ah wow that's so good to know! I do plan to go there next year!!

L - Franglais27

Saturday 10th of August 2019

Love this post! I quite often consider travelling to Asia in July/ August as I typically have my longer holiday then. I have probably been quite fortunate in avoiding heavy rains whilst visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, China and other places in that time. Uzbekistan is also quite good to visit during the summer months and Georgia and Armenia which are on that cusp of Europe and Asia.

That’s great to know and good to know you enjoyed Georgia and Armenia at this time of year, I thought it might be quite hot there. If you want to write a piece to add to the post with a photo just pop me an email on [email protected] :)

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Best places to visit in asia.

From megacities to remote islands, Asia's top travel spots offer a hearty dose of adventure, ancient history and culture. And with most Asian destinations now fully open after years of pandemic restrictions, there has never been a better time to plan a trip. After considering local prices, accessibility and the variety of attractions in each destination, along with traveler feedback, U.S. News ranked the best places to visit in Asia. Contribute to next year's list by casting your vote below.

Sagarmatha National Park

Railay beach, guilin and lijiang river national park.

If your dream vacation involves posting up on a postcard-worthy beach, the Maldives is for you. This far-flung destination, which is located about 370 miles from civilization in the Indian Ocean, is made up of more than 1,100 idyllic islands (roughly 200 of which are inhabited). The Maldives feature lush tropical landscapes, unparalleled white sand beaches, crystal-clear ocean waters and coral reefs that prompt extensive exploration. The best way to experience this slice of paradise? Stay in one of many overwater bungalows , of course.

Tokyo is as fast-paced as cities come – it's the most populated city in the world, after all. Japan's capital features neon-lit skyscrapers and crowded streets that novice visitors may find dizzying, but its one-of-a-kind offerings can't be missed. Spend days touring quirky museums, exploring fascinating architecture or visiting Odaiba for its premier shopping scene. Or, take in some quieter, more peaceful moments at a holy site like the Meiji Shrine or Sensoji Temple. Tokyo's unrivaled gastronomic landscape (think: sushi, ramen, sky-high cocktail bars and more Michelin darlings than you could hope to visit) also makes it a bucket list destination for foodies.

Phuket, Thailand's elongated beaches and cerulean waters embody a paradise that few other Asian destinations can rival. Besides swimming and relaxing on the beach, visitors can take traditional, wooden longtail boat tours to James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay to see the surreal limestone rock formations that rise from the sea. The towering Big Buddha statue is also a top attraction, while Phuket's buzzing beach clubs and nightlife options hold appeal for those looking to let loose. What's more, like most destinations in Thailand, travelers can find relatively affordable lodging options here.

This Nepalese national park is famous for housing the behemoth that is Mount Everest, the highest point on earth, and promises a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. However, it is important to know that Sagarmatha is not just Everest. The UNESCO-listed park also offers several other sky-high Himalayan peaks, as well as sweeping valleys, scenic glaciers, deep gorges and incredible wildlife, including snow leopards and red pandas. Just note, seeing the park's top attractions typically requires at least two weeks of trekking, and due to Sagarmatha's high elevation and rocky, steep terrain, a trip here isn't for the faint of heart.

A British colony until 1997, Hong Kong's strong Western influence sets it apart from China's mainland metropolises. Beyond Hong Kong's sleek, towering skyscrapers (best admired from Victoria Peak), visitors can find natural and cultural gems on the more than 250 outlying islands, such as Lantau Island, or shop the city's bustling street markets. Dim sum is a must, but Hong Kong's robust dining scene also offers everything from street food to Michelin-starred fine dining. And when the sun goes down, watch the Symphony of Lights laser show dazzle the skyline along Victoria Harbor.

Tucked among lush mountains in northwest Thailand, Chiang Mai offers a sized-down version of Bangkok's buzz paired with a tranquil culture and natural beauty. Your urban itinerary should include tuk-tuk rides, tours of breathtaking temples like Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara and Wat Phra Singh, trips to night markets and a cooking class to try your hand at pad Thai. Then, step outside of the city walls to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary or two and a wander through beautiful Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.

History lovers and Instagrammers alike will revel in the sites of Kyoto. The city, which used to be Japan's capital until imperial times, is awash with centuries-old shrines and temples, including the gilded Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari Taisha, a shrine that dates back to A.D. 711. In addition to saving time for religious sites, be sure to visit the famous Philosopher's Path, preferably during cherry blossom season, and the mystical Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. When hunger strikes, treat yourself to kaiseki: a traditional multicourse meal native to Japan. For another essential Japanese experience, stay at one of the many ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) in Kyoto. 

From the moment you touchdown at Singapore Changi Airport (a tourist destination in itself), Singapore shows off its futuristic embellishment. But this Southeast Asia jewel is also unique for its amalgamation of cultures. This fusion takes form in the city's colorful neighborhoods, eclectic culinary scene and overall modern atmosphere. After shopping on flashy Orchard Road and chowing down in cultural enclaves like Little India or Chinatown, head downtown to take in the towering skyscrapers from Merlion Park, the Singapore Flyer or the sky-high Gardens by the Bay.

The island nation of Sri Lanka, located off the southern tip of India, boasts rainforests, beaches and ruins without the tourist crowds of other popular Asian destinations. Despite its small footprint, Sri Lanka features 26 national parks, many of which are ideal for a safari excursion to encounter elephants, leopards and sloth bears. Meanwhile, ancient sites like Sigiriya, a 600-foot-high fortress, and the temples of Polonnaruwa hold their own appeal, and the palm-fringed golden beaches that line the shores are never too far away for those seeking a more laid-back vacation.

Hanoi is perfect for first-time Vietnam visitors, with tranquil lakes offsetting its fast-paced bustle and darting motorbikes. The country's capital offers plenty in the way of history, culture, shopping, dining and natural splendor. Start your day off with a Vietnamese coffee, then head to Hanoi's central Old Quarter for a stroll through the many narrow, colorful streets and a taste of mouthwatering street food. After that, check out one of the city's many temples, including the ancient Temple of Literature, which dates back to the 11th century, or head to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a must-visit for history buffs.

Bali's natural beauty is so profound, travelers have been known to refer to the Indonesian destination as "heaven on Earth." Here, lush rainforests, picturesque mountains, sweeping valleys and scenic beaches all sit side by side. You'll also find a handful of serene temples in this Southeast Asia hot spot, including Uluwatu and Tanah Lot temples – both excellent places to catch a sunset. And no first-time trip to Bali would be complete without on a visit to Ubud, Bali's cultural capital and home of the region's famous rice terraces.

Whether you visit in spring (for cherry blossoms), summer (for climbing), autumn (for foliage) or winter (for nearby ski resorts), Japan's highest peak and imposing attraction is sure to capture your attention. Mount Fuji lies about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo, perfect for a daytrip from the city or a glimpse from a train ride, but this active volcano is also worthy of deeper exploration. Base yourself in the Fuji Five Lakes area to enjoy picture-perfect views at Arakurayama Sengen Park or from one of Lake Kawaguchiko's onsens (hot springs), and don't leave without sampling local hoto noodles.  

If you only have time to go to one beach in Thailand, make it Railay Beach, one of the world's most beautiful beaches . Located in the country's Krabi province, Railay Beach features glistening white sands and is surrounded by limestone rock formations (covered in leafy green vegetation) that jut out from the sea. If you're feeling adventurous, explore the area's natural wonders with a rock climbing excursion or go for a nighttime kayak trip to see bioluminescent plankton. As if this beach destination couldn't get more alluring, you're only able to reach it by boat. Daytrips from nearby Ao Nang are popular among travelers.

Siem Reap is the home of Angkor Wat, an ornate Buddhist temple built in the 12th century that is believed to be the largest religious monument in the world. The impressive landmark is just one of many must-sees within Cambodia's UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor. The complex also includes the equally detailed Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm Temple. Because of the immense popularity of Angkor (the site receives millions of visitors per year), you may want to travel during a shoulder month like March or November to avoid bumping elbows with fellow travelers.

Travel to the capital of Indian state Rajasthan to marvel at the "Pink City's" incredible architecture. Hawa Mahal, a pink sandstone palace that was modeled after Hindu god Krishna's crown, is Jaipur's biggest claim to fame. The property's astounding 953 honeycomb-patterned windows allowed the original ladies of the royal family to view the comings and goings of the Indian city without being seen. Other structures worth seeing are the Jaigarh Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund and Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that displays larger-than-life astronomical instruments.

Thailand's capital city is filled to the brim with eye-catching Hindu sites, nonstop nightlife and incredible Thai cuisine. Sacred sites like Wat Arun and Wat Pho are pockets of calm amidst Bangkok's skyscrapers. Shoppers can enjoy the Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world's largest street markets, or venture to one of the floating markets located outside the city. While in Bangkok, grab as much grub as possible from the street stalls, and at night, you won't want to miss the lofty views from one of the many rooftop bars.

This national park is so loved and respected, its image is featured on China's paper currency. Guilin and Lijiang River National Park is located in the Guangxi region in the southeastern part of China. The Lijiang River runs about 50 miles from Guilin to Yangshuo, passing stunning landscapes and towering green karsts (eroded limestone) along the way. The best way to take in the otherworldly scenery is by boat cruise, though you may want to splurge on a luxury option since the trip can take up to five hours. Tourists who prefer to travel on their own time can also hike or bike along the river.

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Asia - First Time

Any travelers out there who’ve explored Asia quite a bit? I’m curious as to know what everyone’s favorite places are and where you would recommend a first time Asia traveler go on their first trip.

Cathay Pacific Airlines often has special rates from west coasts cities. They may still have one that includes multiple cities for one basic price. It remains the best airline we've ever used. We flew to Hong Kong and then were able to select two more Asian cities for one price but returning to Hong Kong between each leg. We chose Singapore, where English is the standard language, and Bali (Denpasar). We stayed in Hong Kong for 6 days and took a day trip to mainland China and saw some of the terra cotta warriors. Nowadays many choose to go to Nha Trang, Vung Tau, or other beach cities in Viet Nam. I visited some of those Vietnamese cities long ago but had to be wary of an ambush or booby traps when I was there..... : ( You can't go wrong with Hong Kong for a first trip.

Well I most likely will be traveling solo and will probably go for a week during the Fall. 27 year old male, no budget constraints. I’ve been to 13 countries in Europe in the past 2 years so I’m looking to switch things up for my next international trip. I’m thinking my first trip might be one of Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, or Hong Kong. I like to be on my feet and on the move exploring cities. (A week on the beach in Florida or at a casino in Vegas is not my style of travel). I’m pretty open as to things I like to do, but for my first trip I would probably prefer a big city as opposed to a beach type city in Cambodia or Vietnam for example. Food, people watching, historical landmarks.

It really depends on what sort of experience you're looking for. For the minimum culture shock I'd suggest Singapore, with its modern infrastructure, English language and signage. It's a very comfortable experience for a first time traveler to Asia. Hong Kong would be my second choice for many of the same reasons. At the other end of the spectrum would be China, which can really be an assault on the senses if you're not prepared for it. The other destinations you list fall somewhere in between to varying degrees. Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo are modern, prosperous cities and getting around the respective countries is pretty straighforward. Other countries, ie Vietnam, Thailand,Cambodia, etc. - not so much. Keep in mind that distances between countries in Asia are much greater than in Europe, requiring flights to connect them, thus eating up at least half a day even between countries that appear to be easily "bundled" from scanning a map. Singapore to Bangkok, for example, takes about 2.5hours. There are low cost airlines in Asia too. Some are pretty spartan but will get you where you want to go cheaply enough.

We love Thailand but have also explored the Philippines, China, and Korea. They are all incredibly different from each other. I would recommend Thailand for your first trip. Most everything is cheap, the people are lovely, there is a ton of history, beautiful jungle, gorgeous beaches, and great food. It's a fun place to travel alone as it's easy to meet other travelers to hang out with, especially out on the islands. If you head south toward Phuket, the islands in the Andaman Sea, and the coast around Phang Nga Bay and Krabi, you'll get a great overview of the country. The Philippines are even cheaper but it's harder to get around as a westerner IMHO. Manila is interesting but there isn't much to do for more than a couple of days. Other than that the beaches there are just stunning and there is virtually no one on them. China is incredible and relatively cheap but you have to have a driver or use public transport in the cities. Westerners aren't allowed to drive but the train system between cities is very nice. Wherever you go though you won't be disappointed. Korea is full of history but isn't as cheap. I found it interesting but didn't stay in Seoul for more than a few days so can't really give too many recommendations. Asia is pretty addictive once you start going...still so many places on our list!

If you're thinking of combining Tokyo and Seoul, know that each has an older city airport separate from the international airports at Narita and Incheon - each of which is located quite distant from the respective city centers, thus making them a time consuming (and sometimes expensive) hassle to get to.

Haneda (Tokyo) and Gimpo (Seoul) are located much closer to the downtown areas, making connections between the two much more convenient. Point being that you could craft an open jaw flight plan that would enable you to visit both cities on a single trip without wasting an entire day just getting from one to the other.

I haven’t been to Asia in many years, but I don’t think you will find any of the cities you mention to be at all “difficult” as a solo traveler. I would choose Bangkok, Hong Kong or Tokyo. I have not been to Seoul and I think one week in Singapore is too much (a few days are enough and it’s a long trip from North America...I’m guessing that’s where you are starting. Do Singapore on the way to Indonesia.)

I adore Hong Kong. I’ve been there a couple times on my own. Food is superb. The city just buzzes. When you get tired of the buzz, you an take a day trip by ferry to an outer island and wander around.

Bangkok and Thailand were my first Asian adventure on my own. I spent 3 weeks traveling mostly by bus. I didn’t do beaches but headed north and had a lovely time. I’m not sure I would spend a full week in Bangkok, but you could easily combine Bangkok with another destination in Thailand or elsewhere.

Tokyo is great too. I spent a week there my first time. That said, I'm not sure I would spend a full week there. Go to Nikko or Nara or Kyoto. You could do Nikko as a day trip, but it is a long trip and it’s a nice place to spend the evening. Trains are superb in Japan. Fly to Tokyo, train somewhere and fly back from Osaka.

Distances are long. Look into flight times. It’s a long way from Tokyo to Singapore. You might want to just do Korea and Japan to save on travel time, esp since you only have a week.

I have done a three week tour (including a four night river cruise) of China.

Toured Japan for a week prior to a cruise that visited five Japanese ports, Shanghi, China, Okinawa, Tiawan, ending in Hong Kong.

Been to the Philippines, Hong Kong (3 times) and Thailand.

Been to Singapore, Bali, Indonesia and Malaysia as well as four ports in SW India.

Also, I lived in Saudi Arabia for 5 years working for the US government, traveling to places in the Persian Gulf and Middle East. Turkey is in Asia and another great place to visit.

We loved all the fascinating history of China with the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tinammen Square, Teracotta Warriors in Xian, Cruise on the Yangzee as well as the Li River with its Karst formations. Shanghai and other places are great. If you have time, China is amazing.

Japan is right up there with China. We loved the people of Japan. They are wonderful, helpful and very friendly. Lots to see in that country and Kyoto is a must see.

Hong Kong is amazing, a real mix of east and west. A thriving city, I visited in 1981 and later in 2012 and 2015, it has modernized and changed so much. It is still a unique place.

Singapore and neighboring Malaysia are worth a visit, but not quite in the class with Japan and China.

Bali was nice, but less nice than Singapore.

Zach, your profile doesn't say where you live, however, any trip from west coast North America to Asia in one week is going to eat up plenty of your time in the air (not to mention the adjustment for jet lag on arrival). To maximize your time, I would pick one major city of interest that you can (preferably) fly to non-stop and base yourself there. You will have about 5 days at best for exploring, given the time change, arrival and departure days.

Tokyo is a good example of a city with lots to experience, with good transportation networks, and some interesting day trips (beautiful scenery) if time permits. It has it all: - history, landmarks, culture, people watching, great food, and the most helpful people you will find anywhere. If you like cities, five to seven days will fly by in Tokyo! Hakone/Mt. Fuji, Yokohama, Kamakura are a few nearby day trips among many to choose from.

I’m thinking my first trip might be one of Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, or Hong Kong. Those are all great cities, but with only one week, I'd go for a 11-12 hours direct flight rather than 19 hours!

Thailand is my favorite, Bangkok and Chiang Mai would easily fill a week with stunning sights and great experiences. Winter is the best time to go. I didn't particularly enjoy Singapore, can't imagine what I'd do there for more than 2 days and it's very expensive. I love Hong Kong, spend a couple of days on Macau for something different (but avoid the casinos, go for the historical sights - charming. Vietnam is fine, I found my time out of the cities (Saigon, Hanoi) was what I most enjoyed.

Where do you live?

For many people, travel time to much of Asia is dramatically longer than a flight to most of Europe - how much longer depends on where you live and where you're going- but when you start talking about a trip to Asia that's "a week" some hard realities set up. Specifically, it takes about 2 days of travel time to get to many parts of Asia (up the 3 or 4 days to some corners of it) - and that's starting on the west coast of North America. Starting from a small town in the eastern US...add another flight or two. When you start looking at routings with multiple layovers, and you can't decide whether to go east, west or over the pole to get there...it starts to sink in that you're going a long, long way.

Personally, I don't think it's wise to go to Asia for "a week". You spend half (or more) of your trip just getting there and getting home.

OTOH, from where I live (Seattle) one can fly to Tokyo in less time than it takes to get to most of Europe -- although culturally, it feels like a much greater distance.

no budget constraints

Maybe no constraints financially speaking (lucky you). Time constraints will be worth considering.

Erie, Pa. I will most likely be using the Toronto airport. Yes, I’ve factored in travel time as well. I understand the first 2 days traveling over and the day traveling back are for travel only. I’ve already factored those in planning ahead. My trip would then potentially be 7 days on the ground, exploring. I know I said I would have about a week, but probably will actually have 10 days off based off my work schedule. I also know Toronto has nonstop, direct flights to Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong which certainly gives those 3 a leg up on the others.

Well, Hong Kong is a lot further than Tokyo (or Seoul). On such a short trip, that extra distance/time makes a difference.

I'd suggest Japan. Look for a nonstop to Tokyo and buy a rail pass, hit the Shinkansen . You wouldn't run out of great things to see/do in a year, never mind a week. Easy for foreigners, and a perfect first-trip to Asia. On the surface, Japan appears familiar, modern, efficient (and it is - makes coming back to North America feel like you're going to an undeveloped backwater). Japan is easy. But just below the surface, there's a huge cultural difference. Plenty of big cities. Ticks all your boxes in big ways.

The fall is a great time to go, reasonable weather, good stuff to see (just expect crowds for leaf-watching, it's a big thing).

Having traveled pretty extensively around Asia, I'd say that given your constraints and interests, Japan would be a no-brainer.

Given your time constraints and the other details you've provided I agree that Japan would be your best choice for an introductory trip to Asia. The availability of non-stop flights is a very big deal IMO. I noticed that at least one of the flights from Toronto goes into Haneda rather than Narita, which itself will help a bit with the logistics. September in Tokyo, and in Japan in general, is a great time to visit. The suggestion of flying open jaw - into Tokyo and out of Osaka - is a good one. Finishing up your week with a day or two in Kyoto would be a nice capstone to your visit to Japan before heading home.

I think Japan, South Korea or Hong Kong would all be excellent introductions to Asia. Hong Kong would probably be one of the easiest in terms of language since even though Cantonese is the first language, the British influence is still visible. English language signage is everywhere, and plenty of locals speak English. Even many of the place names are English, and by that I mean they are named after places or people from Britain such as Victoria Park, or Harlech Road or Prince Edward station. All three are pretty affluent, and one way this helps you is that public transport is excellent.

Somewhere like Vietnam is also worth visiting but a little more of a culture shock. In the case of Vietnam, I needed to get a visa, as well as get injections for Typhoid, Hepatitis A etc. Hepatitis A requires two injections, so I needed to start this a few months in advance. So there is more preparation, it is not just a matter of buying your airfare. Public transport is also not as well developed as in the other countries I mentioned. I still had a great time in Vietnam though.

I agree with the other posters that 7-10 days, especially from the US East Coast, really allows for only 1 or maybe 2 countries in Asia. You may want to pick between North Asia and South; they'll have totally different weather in the fall - cool or tropical. As a solo traveler, you might also consider that people in Japan, Korea, and even China are more reserved and it's easy to feel 'unstuck' if you don't know anyone and don't speak the language. In Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines the people are easier to approach and there are enough young, single foreign travelers to make it easy to meet people, eat alone in restaurants, etc. Also, English is more widely spoken in Southeast Asia. North Asia is more developed, wealthy, and business-like; Southeast Asia is more flexible and less developed. If I were you, I'd do either Japan (Tokyo + Kyoto + Nara) or Thailand / Malaysia / Singapore. And save the other for another trip.

Japan! For the time frame you posted, a couple of days in Tokyo followed by Kyoto and Nara. Definitely use the trains.

Japan is a great introduction. It is a developed country with every modern convenience (and beyond) a person could ask for, the people are friendly and helpful, it's safe, the food is delicious, and there's a life time of culture and nature to explore. There are also huge cultural differences, which I find fascinating.

Spam in which the clever writer failed to mention where the place is. In Asia somewhere, I guess.

Reported to Webmaster.

I’ve decided to do a Tokyo/Hong Kong combination trip with 4 nights in each city (possibly 5 and 3 too) sometime in late November-early December. Thank you all for your suggestions as these 2 cities seem to be the best fit for my first Asia experience.

Japan to really get you acquainted with the Asian culture. Don't miss out on the Philippines as well. It's not among the usual suggestions but it definitely has so much charm and beauty waiting to be discovered. Explore the places outside the city like the beautiful islands and beaches. Enjoy!

Do consider flying out of Haneda to Hong Kong versus Narita - much less hassle that way. Flight costs are very competitive and once you account for the cost involved just getting out to Narita airport it's usually cheaper overall.

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101 backpacking asia travel tips | based on 2 years’ experience.

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Southeast Asia is the place that first captured my heart and turned me into a traveller. While I know many of the countries well, there’s always more to do, see and experience in this captivating region. It’s fantastic for all types of travellers, but today I’m going to be sharing my Asia backpacking tips . Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most popular places for backpacking. It’s cheap, safe and beautiful with friendly people and delicious food. From pho to laksa, banh mi, pad Thai, massaman curry and chilli crab, you’ll never have your fill… Of Asia, or the food!

Related read: the ultimate Southeast Asia bucket list

SOUTHEAST ESSENTIALS Accommodation: Hostelworld / Booking.com Lonely Planet Southeast Asia Activities: GetYourGuide / Klook

What to know before backpacking Southeast Asia

Despite being safe and friendly, there’s still plenty to know before you embark on a Southeast Asia backpacking trip. Not only do you want to make the most of your trip and not miss anything, but most of the countries are different to the West in terms of attitudes, values, religion and customs. These Southeast Asia tips will help you make the best of your trip and ensure you don’t get in trouble or cause cultural offence. Then, there’s living out of a backpack for an extended period: a challenge in itself! I’ll share my packing tips for backpacking Southeast Asia including what to bring and what to bin.

I spent 11 months backpacking Asia between 2015-16, parts solo and parts with friends. It was a fun and carefree trip. The photos suck but the memories triumph. I drank too much, learnt a lot, took terrible photos, and generally dipped my toes into Southeast Asia. Then, when I started working remotely , I spent 14 months in Southeast Asia from 2018-19. I based between Vietnam, Bali, Thailand and Malaysia, getting to know cities like Hanoi , Hoi An , Ubud , Penang and Chiang Mai . Although I had more laptop days than late nights, I slowed down and got to know the locals. Both trips were wonderful in their own ways. After 25 months in Southeast Asia, I feel I’m still scratching the surface. A lifetime would be too short! (Then I buggered off to Mexico and fell in love all over again. So fickle!)

Here are my top travel tips for Asia…

Asia tips for planning and organisation

1. Plan your route right – you don’t want to end up going back on yourself and spending extra money on transport. I did this all wrong, learnt from my errors and put together this backpacking Asia route & itinerar y .  2. Spend enough time per country – this is another lesson I learnt the hard way. I didn’t spend nearly enough time in Cambodia or Laos. Research what you want to do and see in each country before deciding how long to spend.  3. But don’t over plan – this may sound contradictory but I’d advise keeping things loose enough that you can travel with new friends if / when you meet them. I’d suggest not booking your transport too far in advance. 

4. Vaccinations  – check which are required for the countries you wish to visit. 5. Visas  – suss out visa requirements before your trip. You can get in trouble for overstaying even if by accident. Some countries like Vietnam only allow entry for 2 weeks without a visa (for most nationalities). You can apply for a longer one in advance or ensure your travel itinerary fits into their requirements.

6. Get travel insurance! It’s not worth travelling without it. I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote . For other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing . 7. Ensure you have 6 months left on your passport – this is a rule for travel in general not just Southeast Asia.

8. Carry copies of your vital documents – this is an important tip for Asia travel (and travel generally). I keep a scan of my passport and insurance details close in case of emergency.

9. Avoid burning seasons – Northern Thailand turns into a land of polluted fog between February and April. I would time your trip outside this period. 10. Be aware of local holidays – for example, Vietnam shuts down for Tet on 1 February. You won’t be able to catch a bus or visit any attractions. Likewise, Nyepi in Bali (usually in March) is when bad spirits are thought to fly over. Shops are shut and everyone has to stay indoors. 11. Proof of onward travel – occasionally when entering a country, you’ll be asked to provide proof that you’ll exit before the end of your visa. One way to get around this is by booking a refundable journey on Expedia.COM (very important it’s the US site) and cancelling within the set period. 12. Don’t be scared to go solo – I can personally vouch for solo travel in Vietnam , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines . With hostels and public transport, solo travel won’t cost much more, either. Keep reading for my budget tips for backpacking Southeast Asia…

Read next: my solo travel guides

13. Get off the beaten track – as Asia backpacking tips go, this could be the best one yet. Since Southeast Asia is so safe, you don’t have to worry about staying on-grid (like you would in India for example). Make sure you escape the tourist hotspots in search of more peaceful places. 14. Download the right apps – some of the best apps for travelling Asia include XE (currency converter), Uber and Grab, Skyscanner , Google Translate, SplitWise (great for splitting bills with travel buddies) and Maps.me.

Travel tips for Asia

15. Use 12Go – this website and app is ridiculously useful. It shows transport options between any two destinations including bus, train, ferry and boat. Compare durations and price, and pay by card or PayPal. 

16. Get used to long bus journeys – you’ll be a pro by the end. Always bring a book / Kindle or download something to watch on your phone or tablet (but don’t flash around expensive devices). Keep your valuables close on night buses. 17. Know which border crossings are easy (and when to fly) – it’s usually easy to cross Asian borders but there are a few mammoth journeys where you’ll wish you flew. Here’s a quick summary:

• Thailand to Cambodia – easy. Take a 13-hour bus or 16-hour train from Bangkok to Siem Reap .
• Thailand to Laos – easy (although time-consuming) on the slow boat or bus . For the boat, travel from Huay Xai (easily reachable from Chiang Rai ) to Luang Prabang with an overnight stop in Pakbeng.
• Laos to Vietnam – this is a long bus journey between Luang Prabang and Hanoi lasting up to 28 hours. You may want to fly instead.
• Vietnam to Cambodia – easy. Take a 6-hour bus between Saigon and Phnom Penh (or a river adventure over the course of a few days ).
• Thailand to Malaysia – catch a ferry from Koh Lipe to Langkawi .

18. Agree taxi prices beforehand – or insist on using the meter. Keep an eye out for rigged meters that start shooting up by huge amounts. If this happens, get out. 19. Download the local taxi apps – countries often have their own version of Uber. I used GoJek in Indonesia and Grab in Vietnam and Thailand. As well as cars, you can call scooter taxis – these are a game-changer for travelling on a budget ! Your driver will provide you with a helmet.

20. Take public transport – don’t be shy. Journeys are often listed on Google Maps so use your phone to check you’re not headed in the wrong direction. Public transport is the cheapest way to get around.

21. Research how to get around in new cities – major cities in Southeast Asia often have efficient transport networks. For example: 

• Bangkok – Metro and Sky Train (pay with cash or card)
• Chiang Mai – songthaews (big red share taxis – just hail them and pay in cash)
• Hanoi – bus (pay the fares of 5-10k VND in cash)
• Kuala Lumpur – there are several trains: the Metro, LRT, monorail and KLIA airport express (pay with cash or card).

22. Learn to ride a scooter – providing you wear a helmet and your insurance covers it, riding a scooter is a great way to explore Asia on a budget, especially in Bali where there’s no public transport. Hire yours in advance . 23. Photograph them before leaving the rental store – snap any existing scratches or damage when you hire your scooter in case you get charged for it. 24. Download Maps.me – this is your best app for navigation. Download offline maps for whole countries.

Southeast Asia tips for staying connected

25. There’s usually Wi-Fi – I spent a whole year in Asia relying on Wi-Fi rather than buying a SIM card. Most hostels have Wi-Fi as well as many cafes and public places. 26. SIM cards – it’s easy to find affordable SIM cards should you want them. Ask staff at your hostel staff where to get one. Monthly data packages often cost $5-10. Check Klook for pre-ordered SIM cards delivered to your accommodation. Update – there’s a new eSim data package that works around most countries in SE Asia. Just scan the QR code to activate it!

27. Skype credit – I use FaceTime and WhatsApp to call friends and family but Skype is a godsend when I need to make a phone call home (for example to my bank or insurance company). Skype credit is a fraction of the price of making an international call via a SIM card. Use the web version or mobile app. 28. Get a Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot – these let you insert a SIM card and share the data between your devices. This can be handy for watching things in the evenings as often Wi-Fi is available in hostel communal areas but doesn’t stretch to the rooms. 29. Travel with a VPN – to browse the internet securely and ensure your personal details don’t get shared via public Wi-Fi networks, use a VPN. They also bypass countries’ restrictions so you’ll be able to watch shows from your home country.

Tips for Asia backpacking & hostels

The following backpacking Southeast Asia tips will help set your expectations for hostels & meeting people on the road.

Related read: how to meet people when travelling solo

30. Pick the right hostel for you – I’d describe myself as an extrovert who likes nightlife and even at 21, some of the Asia hostels were too much for me. You’ll meet people in party hostels who don’t seem to even like travel – they just want to drink and hook up! Which is fine, but just be aware what you’re letting yourself in for. 31. There are cosy hostels too – it’s easy to find family-run hostels that attract a friendly backpack crowd. Look at the photos and reviews on Hostelworld to make an educated guess.

Want to save money on accommodation? I use Trusted Housesitters , a website that connects travellers with homeowners who need their homes & pets sat. It means staying longer in a place but can be great if you’re not in a rush! Plus, you get to hang out with cute pets.

32. Be approachable  – don’t bring your book to communal areas. 33. Pack earplugs – especially in party hostels! Aside from people coming in drunk, hooking up or snoring, there’s always some noise in dorms whether it’s someone going to the bathroom or leaving for a flight. 34. Don’t be THAT dorm mate – pack the night before . This should really go in the ethical Asia tips below 😉 There’s nothing worse than being woken up at 6am by the sound of a dorm mate packing for their flight. 35. Join Facebook groups – search for backpacking Asia groups on Facebook. You may cross paths with the members or glean useful Southeast Asia travel tips. Those that identify as women can join Girls Love Travel . 36. Make friends with locals – don’t stick to socialising with other backpackers! Befriend tour guides and hostel staff. Get chatting to locals when you’re out and about. You’ll have a blast and learn a lot from them.

Related read: How to pick a great travel buddy

Cultural immersion tips

37. Get used to the bum gun – two words not usually used in the same sentence. This handy device is used in place of toilet paper in many Asian bathrooms. 38. Prepare for squat toilets – these aren’t everywhere but you’ll encounter them at some point. 39. Prepare for different health and safety standards – things are quite relaxed in comparison to Western countries but do always insist on helmets / life jackets etc. Your insurance may be void otherwise. Suggesting you’ll take your business elsewhere usually results in someone ‘finding’ a spare helmet…

Wellbeing backpacking tips for Asia

40. Know you might get homesick – it’s normal and not a sign of failure. Luckily, technology is good when you want to call people back home. You can usually find Western comforts when you need them, especially in major cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Nothing wrong with a mall day!  41. Plan rest days – I massively burnt myself out during my first Asia backpacking trip. I didn’t factor any rest days and almost stopped enjoying myself altogether. It’s worth booking a private room and having a few lazy days to do life admin, laundry etc. 

Tips for eating in Southeast Asia

42. Eat street food  – the food is about 60% of the reason I always return to Asia. It’s delicious! Check out some of my Asian food guides:

• Hanoi street food
• Hoi An street food
• Saigon street food
• Finding the best bahn mi in Vietanm
• Chiang Mai food guide
• Bangkok Chinatown food guide
• Kuala Lumpur Chinatown food guide
• Penang street food
• Where to eat in Melaka, Malaysia
• Singapore street food
• Best Ubud warungs
• Restaurants in Canggu, Bali

43. Bring reusable items  – sadly a lot of plastic in used in Asia. There are a few items I travel with and would recommend taking with you. These are:

• Metal straw kit with straw cleaner and cloth bag (pro tip – learn how to say ‘no straw please’ in local languages)
• Reusable coffee cup (collapsable) for hot takeaway drinks
• Reusable Tupperware box for takeaway and leftover food
• Reusable bamboo cutlery set for eating at markets.

44. Don’t drink tap water in Asia – it’s safe to drink bottled water (just make sure the lid is sealed) although not very sustainable. It’s best to bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up from large filtered units at your accommodation. Alternatively, pack a filtering water bottle that sterilises water for safe drinking.

45. Eat where it’s busy  – in terms of street food safety, this is one of the best Asia tips for staying healthy. Eat where it’s busy because there will be a quick turnaround of food meaning nothing has been sat around long. If locals are eating there, it’s a bonus.

46. Drink local beer – keep it cheap by keeping it local. Drink Chang in Thailand, Bintang in Bali and beer hoi (locally produced fresh beer) in Vietnam.

47. Take cooking classes – these are so much fun. I’ve taken them in most Southeast Asian countries now. Some of my favourites are Aroy Aroy Cooking School in Chiang Mai and Thuan Tinh Island Cooking Tour in Hoi An.

Safety tips for Southeast Asia

The following Southeast Asia backpacking tips will keep you safe. But remember you still need insurance however careful you are! 48. Watch out for pickpockets – Southeast Asia has little violent crime. Having your valuables stolen is as bad as it gets. While not life-threatening, you still want to avoid it. The following Asia tips will help you avoid sticky situations…  49. Split up your bank cards – for the love of god! If you ignore the other 100 Southeast Asia tips in this blog and just remember this, my work is done. Don’t lose them all once like I did.  50. Scooter snatchers – the most common way to get robbed is when you’re on foot and a couple of guys whiz by on a scooter, the one at the back grabbing your phone/bag. It happened to me in Vietnam. To stay safe… 51. Wear a crossbody bag – I usually wear the one below but you can go even safer with one that goes around your chest or waist . I have one I sleep wearing on night buses.

Packing tips for Asia

The following travel tips for Southeast Asia relate to luggage, clothes and useful travel gadgets and accessories … 52. Get a good backpack – you’ll be carrying it every few days so it’s worth getting a decent one. I recommend the Osprey Farpoint ( men’s ) ( women’s ). You won’t need more than 65L. In terms of day bags, I use a:

• Small rucksack for hiking (which I carry on my front during transit days)
• Crossbody bag for days/nights out
• Secure bum bag for night buses.

53. Packing cubes – these are a lifeline for organising your luggage. 54. Pack light – I’d suggest tops and bottoms that you can mix n match, underwear and swimwear, an extra layer for evenings/cooler places, and a raincoat. Laundry facilities are cheap so you don’t need many outfits. Bring 1 pair of comfy walking shoes (hiking boots not necessary unless you’re doing something extreme), 1 pair or sandals and 1 pair of flip flops.  55. Keep it casual for evenings out – you rarely need fancy going out clothes in SE Asia. I pack 1-2 ‘nice’ dresses for days and nights out. 56. Sarong – although you’ll look like a tourist, this is a handy Southeast Asia tip. I have a trusty sarong I use on the beach, to cover my legs at temples, and as a cover on bus journeys. Don’t worry if you leave home without one – you can buy them cheaply at markets in Asia. 

57. Don’t wear white – it’ll never stay clean. I don’t know if dust and mud is particularly stubborn in Southeast Asia or if it’s something about the laundry… Either way, just don’t do it. 58. Wear cool clothes – it’s better to have cool cotton clothes than synthetic materials which make you sweat in the heat. I often prefer to wear long (but thin) sleeves and pants that save you getting burnt. These are also better for visiting religious sites where revealing clothing may cause cultural offence. 59. Bring enough sunscreen – I’ve been burnt (literally) before. When you buy local Asian brands of sunscreen, it rarely works. Make sure to bring enough for your trip or buy it from a reputable store or mall in Asia. It’ll be pricey but worth it. 

60. Mosquito spray – the same goes for mosquito spray. Aim to bring enough for your trip as local brands may vary in quality. 61. Don’t bring designer items – no one else will have them and you’ll put yourself at risk of theft. 62. No need to worry about sunglasses – you will find $1 ‘Raybans’ on every street corner in Southeast Asia. 

63. Neck pillow – the holy grail of backpacker items! You won’t regret the space a neck pillow takes up.

64. Sanitary products – this is a useful Asia tip for people with periods. You can usually only buy pads not tampons. Either take a bunch with you or – the more sustainable option – pack a moon cup (or similar brand) . 65. Watch out for whitening products – it’s worth noting that body products in Asia commonly contain skin whitener. Scrutinise the packaging; I was usually able to find products without… Aside from deodorant. I spent a year with very pale underarms.

Money tips for backpacking Asia

The following travel tips for Asia will help you budget and – hopefully – travel for longer.. . 66. Know what to budget – generally, $1,000 a month is a good starting point for Southeast Asia backpacking although it’s worth noting that countries vary in price. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are the cheapest in my opinion. I’ll put together a big guide to do this topic justice but a few general costs (in USD) are:

• Bed in a hostel dorm – $3-10
• Private hostel room or budget guesthouse – $15-20
• Street food meal – $1-3
• Western-style restaurant meal – $5
• Bottled water – $1
• Intercountry bus journey – $10-20
• Day tours – $10-50
• Diving – $300 for a 3-day course inc accommodation in Koh Tao.

67. Learn to haggle – locals expect it so don’t pay the first price quoted, especially at crafts markets. 

68. Volunteer – in the past, I’ve volunteered in exchange for food and board using Workaway and Worldpackers . They have plenty of positions from hostel work to farming, language exchanges and helping with promotion. There are even a few paid positions.  Read next: which is better, Workaway or Worldpackers ? 69. Travel through the night – not only do you save the cost of a night’s accommodation, but you free up the next day (although this is hit-and-miss – I often end up napping if I’ve not slept well on the bus). 70. Have USD – since there’s no universal currency in Asia, it’s worth bringing some USD ($100 or so). You’ll thank me for this Asia travel tip when you need to buy a visa on the border but haven’t been able to withdraw local currency yet.

71. Always carry cash – you can rarely pay with card in Southeast Asia. Withdraw cash every few days so you’re not carrying too much. 72. Prepare for various currencies – if you have money leftover when entering a new country, exchange it at a reputable money changer (do a bit of research for example this article on the best places to exchange money in Hanoi ). Airports charge the worst rates and there are often scams at land borders. Use XE currency app to check you’re getting a decent rate. Main currencies in Southeast Asia :

• Vietnam – Dong (VND)
• Indonesia – Rupiah (RP)
• Cambodia – Riel (KHR) and USD
• Laos – Kip (LAK)
• Malaysia – Ringgit (RM)
• Singapore – Singapore dollar (SGD)
• Thailand – Baht (THB)
• Myanmar – Kyat (MMK)
• Philippines – Pesos (PHP).

73. Sign up for mobile banks with reduced fees – my three favourites for UK travellers are Monzo, Revolut and Starling. Wise (for all nationalities) is great for low-cost international money transfers. If you get one of their cash cards, there are no foreign transaction fees and you can withdraw $250 a month without fees.

Ethical tips for Asia

The following tips for travelling Southeast Asia will ensure everyone benefits from your travels! 74. Avoid unethical animal activities – the tiger temple is a truly despicable place in Thailand where tigers are drugged for tourist photos. Never go. Also, don’t listen to anyone who tells you it’s okay to ride elephants. Here’s why not . 75. Avoid human tourism – for example the Karen ‘long neck’ groups in Northern Thailand. Many are actually Burmese and have had their passports confiscated to keep them trapped for tourism purposes. Be wary and read reviews whenever people are involved in tourist activities. 76. Give tips  – if you’ve had good service, tip your tour guide/waiter at least 10%. 77. Learn a bit of local lingo  – even if it’s just hello, thank you and goodbye, people will appreciate it.

Tours in Asia

78. Know you rarely NEED them – although I often enjoy taking tours to learn from local guides and support their livelihoods, it’s easy to do Southeast Asia independently. The ones I would recommend however are an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay and a trekking tour in Sapa (both in Vietnam). 

79. Multi day / week tours – again, you don’t need to take these but if you’re lonely or burnt out from organising everything, they can be a worthwhile investment. G Adventures are great for getting off-the-beaten-track while Contiki are more of a young, social company. Consider taking one in the middle of your trip if you need a break.

80. Day tours – if I can’t be bothered with organisation or I’m visiting somewhere tricky to access by public transport, I browse Viator , GetYourGuide and Klook to see who has the best offer on day tours.

81. Asian food tours are great! Yes, you can go it alone and eat like a king/queen BUT I love taking food tours because you get to try so many things by splitting them with the group, plus the guides always know best. My favourite food tour operator in Asia is A Chef’s Tour . So far I’ve taken their Chiang Mai Northern Food Tour by Truck and their Bangkok Chinatown tour .

What to know before backpacking Asia: country-specific tips

Now I’ve shared my general travel tips for Asia, here are a few country-specific tidbits…

Tips for Vietnam

• 82. Get the sleeper bus all down the coast – since Vietnam is so long and thin, it’s easy to travel without going back on yourself. The journeys are often long but the buses are comfortable with individual beds. Buy a book of tickets in any Hanoi or Saigon travel agents or individually on 12Go .
• 83. Spend enough time in Northern Vietnam – I’d suggest 3 days in Sapa and a 2-night Ha Long Bay trip. Since you’ll need to connect through Hanoi (where I’d also recommend spending 3 days), you’ll want to dedicate at least a week to Northern Vietnam. 

Essential reading: 2 week – 1 month Vietnam itinerary | 3 x North Vietnam itineraries | 3 day Hanoi itinerary | Hoi An itinerary | Saigon itinerary

Tips for Thailand 

• 84. Time your trip around festivals – Songkran water festival in April is a blast wherever you spend it. Yi Peng and Loy Krathong are lantern festivals held in November in Chiang Mai.
• 85. You can only spend 30 days in Thailand without a visa – consider exploring Bangkok and the north then heading through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before returning to Thailand for another 30 days to do the islands justice.

Related reads: Solo travel in Thailand | 2 day Bangkok itinerary | 3 day Chiang Mai itinerary | things to do in Chiang Rai

Tips for Cambodia

• 86. Prepare for heartbreak at Phnom Penh’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. Although it’s difficult to see and learn about, it’s important to understand Cambodia’s recent history.
• 87. You only use Cambodian Riel for small purchases like local buses. For everything else, use USD. You can withdraw this from Cambodian ATMs.

Tips for Laos

• 88. Don’t stick to the north – Four Thousand Islands in Southern Laos are beautiful and a convenient place to cross into Cambodia.
• 89. The capital isn’t great – there’s not much to do in Vientiane from a tourist perspective although there is good food.
• 90. Visit Vang Vieng for ecotourism – now the dangerous tubing bars have closed, the region is ripe for exploring spectacular nature.

Tips for Myanmar

• 91. Be aware of the political situation – in 2023, it’s not safe to visit Myanmar. I’ll update this section as things develop.

Tips for Indonesia

• 92. Don’t stick to Bali – there are 17,000 islands in Indonesia so it would be a shame to only see one. I spent time on Java Island and want to visit Komodo and Flores. 
• 93. Taxi apps are banned in Bali – there’s also no public transport so unless you hire a scooter , you’ll spend a lot of money on (overpriced) government taxis.  Full-day private taxi tours with companies like GetYourGuide are often more affordable.
• 94. Get your vegan fix! The cuisine in most Asian countries is heavily meaty; this is your place to indulge in plant-based Balinese food .

Related reads: 2 week Bali itinerary | 3 day Ubud itinerary | Hidden gems in Bali | top places in North Bali

Tips for Malaysia

• 95. Unlike most Asian countries, Malaysia has an efficient train network – or you can take the bus between destinations. When travelling within cities, there are no taxi scooters (only Uber cars) so budget a little extra.
• 96. Penang is food heaven ! Save all your stomach room for a trip to George Town.
• 97. In Kuala Lumpur, stay in Chinatown – there’s great food in KL Chinatown and most of the attractions are nearby.

Related reads: 2 week Malaysia itinerary | How to spend 2 days in Kuala Lumpur | Things to do in Ipoh | Things to do in Melaka | Things to do in Penang

Tips for Singapore

• 98. Singapore CAN be done on a budget – I ate at hawker markets (hardly a problem as the food is delicious!), stayed in hostels and took the Metro. You might want to splash out on the Cloud Forest and a Singapore Sling cocktail, though.
• 99. Check prices before ordering – I got tricked into paying $50 for chilli crab at a street stall because I hadn’t checked the price first. I later learnt this is a common scam: everything else on the menu will be $5 apart from the crab which is ‘priced by weight’. You then get charged a ridiculous figure and can’t argue because you already ate it!

Related reads: 2 day Singapore itinerary | Best Singapore street food guide | Koon Seng Road | Singapore street art

Tips for the Philippines 

• 100. Budget time and money for getting between islands – it’s not easy to island-hop by boat. Islands like Palawan and Cebu are a flight apart usually with a stop in Manila.
• 101. Get outta Manila ! This is one of my least favourite cities in Southeast Asia. It’s polluted, not especially safe and the traffic is ridiculous.

Related read: Complete guide to backpacking the Philippines | the best islands to visit in the Philippines

Phew, 101 travel tips for Asia all wrapped up! Did you learn anything new?

Use my Southeast Asia bucket list and my Southeast Asia itinerary & route planner to help plan your adventure.

For more travel content, follow me on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and YouTube .

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Rose is a solo traveller from the UK who has been on the road since 2015. She wants to show other women that solo travel isn't scary and doesn't have to be expensive! Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes!

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What 6 Months of Traveling in Southeast Asia Cost Me (2023 Update)

09/25/2022 by Kristin Addis 210 Comments

2022/23 update: Since first traveling to Southeast Asia in 2012, I’ve revisited the region nearly yearly, logging over 2.5 cumulative years. Over that time some prices have changed, and this post reflects those numbers.

Back in 2012, I spent a glorious 8 continuous months backpacking in Southeast Asia on a long-term traveler’s budget. This meant staying in dorms, taking local transport, eating street food, and generally traveling on a shoestring budget.

In 2016, I returned with a more middle-of-the-road budget, and since then, have experienced the luxurious side of the region as well.

Over that time I’ve learned that whether you’re on a tight budget or have a bit more money to play with, your money will take you further in Southeast Asia than almost anywhere else in the world. Today, let’s answer the question – what does it cost to travel in Southeast Asia?

Table of Contents

On a Budget

I personally spent $7,958 USD (without SCUBA diving – $6,095) for six months in Southeast Asia, with a month each in Cambodia, Laos, northern Thailand, southern Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. With flights and pre-trip expenses, it added up to $11,000. Adjusted for today’s inflation, that would be about $15k.

Some guide books will swear that $30/day or less is sufficient for traveling in Southeast Asia – this is generally not realistic.

So how much will you need to budget to travel in Southeast Asia in 2022/2023? I wanted to give you the most up-to-date budgeting guide, and make calculations even easier with the addition of 1-month or 3-month breakdowns. With my recent trips back to Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, a bunch of online research and the help of a BMTM team member who lives in Southeast Asia, here’s how much you should budget for an extended trip in Southeast Asia:

Pre-trip Expenses:

1. travel insurance.

This is one of those costs that’s annoying, but necessary should the worst occur.  I went with World Nomads travel insurance which happened to be cheaper than any other company I could find for US citizens.

Saving tip: If you know for sure how much time you’ll be away, buying more months upfront is definitely cheaper than extending periodically.

2. Flights: $1500

Flights might be totally different depending on where you’re coming from, but I usually end up spending about this much including flights from home and any inter-country flights once in the region. The first time I went, I bought two one-way flights to get from LAX to Southeast Asia and back. In hindsight, this may not have been the cheapest way to travel (I could have saved a couple hundred dollars by booking round-trip), however, I was unsure of my dates and departure city. Sometimes, the penalties and restrictions on moving flights ends up making a RT flight too much of a hassle.

Other ways to save are by making your itinerary logical, so that you can take overland transport most of the time and don’t have to cover huge distances all at once.

Saving tip: To reduce your flight costs, subscribe to flight deals like this one , especially if you are flexible on the traveling dates. Flights are also cheaper during shoulder and rainy seasons. You can also travel hack like I do to save money. Here are my best tips on making your economy long haul flights more comfortable.

3. Immunizations: $350

You’re out of luck if you’re an American when it comes to travel immunizations, because chances are you’ll be covering them out of pocket. I personally elected not to take malaria pills nor get rabies vaccinations because of costs associated and unlikelihood of either becoming a real issue.

Saving tip: In order to get immunized the cheapest way possible, visit the travel specialist at your local county healthcare clinic, or get the immunizations at one of the Bangkok hospitals, which is the name of a premier hospital chain with multiple locations, in Thailand.

4. Travel Gear: $400

My backpack alone cost me over $200, but was worth every penny as nothing ever broke and I’m still using it over 10 years later!  I also invested in Pacsafe products  to keep everything protected, which I do not regret! Check my guide out for essential travel items.

Saving tip: Limit your luggage to carry-on only , so you can save on check-in luggage. Southeast Asia is generally hot and humid year-round, so you will only need thin and breathable clothes. Things are also incredibly affordable so you can always buy things you need as you go.

I am all about winging it when it comes to a backpacking trip, especially in Southeast Asia. However, if you are on a budget, it’s best to decide on your length of stay in each country to avoid unnecessary visa fees. Here’s a complete breakdown for most nations:

On-trip Expenses:

1. food: $10-$15/day.

Eating local delights and choosing street food when possible are the best ways to keep food costs down. The food tastes better and costs much less when it’s a local dish vs. a western dish. Why order a disappointing burger for $4 when you could have amazing steamed pork buns, papaya salad, coconut soup, pad thai (the list is endless!) in Thailand for less than $1? If you are staying at a place with a kitchen, you can get groceries for cheap from the local market and make your own food. Note that at certain places, like Bali and Kuala Lumpur, eating out can sometimes be cheaper than cooking.

Saving tip: Check with your hostel receptionist for local recommendations. Eat where the locals eat. Don’t fear street food. It’s cooked right in front of you and may even be fresher and less processed than food available at home.

2. Accommodation: $5-$30/day

This really varied depending on high/low season and country, and whether or not your’e willing to stay in dorms. Cambodia and Laos were the cheapest while Indonesia and Malaysia tended to be more expensive and provided less value for the money.

Here’s how much you should expect to pay per night, if you were to book a hostel bed a week in advance, and pick one that’s clean and strategically located:

3. Transportation: $2-$10/day

Land transportation is generally very cheap in all of Southeast Asia. Taking an intercity bus typically costs about $10. The cost of renting a bike is around $8-$15/day. On the islands like the Philippines, public boat trips take ages but they are extremely cheap at about $2/ride.

4. Activities:

Diving: If you are a diver, you will be thrilled to find many, many affordable diving spots all over Southeast Asia. Prices go as low as $100 for a 3D2N stay with 3 dive trips, though when I returned to Southeast Asia in 2018, I went on a glorious 11-day liveaboard diving trip in Raja Ampat which now costs over $6000.

Island Hopping: An island hopping trip with 5-6 stops for less than $30? Only in Southeast Asia. Your negotiation skills will decide how much you pay for your island hopping trip, so negotiate away, and if the price offered does not make sense to you, walk away – there will be 5 more agents down the same street. Generally, you should expect to pay about $15-$30 for a full-day (typically 9am-3pm) trip that you share with others. For a private trip, it will be over $100. Read my comparison of El Nido boat trips here.

Group Tours: A walking tour is often the best way to get to know a new city. There are many tip-based, free walking tours available, and some of them are actually really insightful and fun. It’s the best way to meet new friends too. Paid tours typically cost about $8-$15.

Hiking: I love that this activity is mostly free, save for the occasional entrance fee! Even some popular hikes, like Mount Bromo , can be affordable if you do it independently.

Cooking Class: This delicious activity runs about $20-$40 for a class. Consider the skills you will gain and the free food you will make. I’d say it’s pretty worth it, especially if you’ve fallen in love with the local cuisine.

Popular Tourist Sites: Angkor Wat costs a whopping $62 for a 3-day pass, getting to the sky bridge of the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia requires $20, and the beautiful Gardens by the Bay in  Singapore  also requires $20 to enter. Pick and choose what you’d really want to see and factor the entrance fees into your overall budget.

5. Shopping:

Toiletries: If you can, buy from the small local stores instead of the big chain drug stores. They are likely to cost less, and you get to help the locals out. If you want to stick with familiar brands like Pantene and Nivea, the cost is similar to what you’d pay back home, if not slightly cheaper. Local brands cost less.

Clothes: They’re so cheap and awesome! You can get a funky top for $3, cliche but must-have pair of elephant pants for less than $5, and a beautiful silk scarf for less than $8.

Outdoor gear: There are many “counterfeit” hiking gear options available in Vietnam and Indonesia for a fraction of the original cost, but the quality is lacking, too. You can get a legit waterproof jacket for as low as $12, but if you bring it from home, it’ll last longer.

First Name:

Why couldn’t I travel on only $30/day?

The $30/day benchmark does not take into account gear, insurance, flights, and immunizations.  It’s also easy to forget that things like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen , batteries, adapters, mosquito repellent, medication, and visas all need to be periodically purchased on the road. The cost seems small but when budgeting only $30 for one day, $4 on a small bottle of shampoo can really add up.

The $30 benchmark is more than realistic, if not a little rich, when staying in one place for an extended period of time in one of the cheaper countries.  I was able to spend $3/night on accommodation and around $10/day on food and drink in Otres Beach, Cambodia , for example.  I didn’t spend a dime on activities because the beach was free.  But what about the days when I moved around?  What about the times I had to spend $40 on a visa, $9 on a bus ride, and $3 on a water taxi?  My budget was blown before I even bought food or a bed for the night.

What about the days that I wanted to visit Angkor Wat, go SCUBA diving, or jungle trekking?  An extremely low budget is only feasible if you hardly move around and never spend anything on activities, but why travel to the other side of the world only to miss out on these things?

If I had not SCUBA dived, climbed  Mt. Kinabalu , or gone trekking in Bukit Lawang or  Mt. Rinjani , I would have shaved over $3000 off of my trip, easily. I also never spent more than a week in any one place.  Had I moved more slowly, I could have saved a lot more.

More saving tips:

• All hope is not lost if you have a smaller budget to work with.  To keep costs low, use services like Couchsurfing for free accommodation. Not into it? Stay in dorms.  They are a great way to meet people and save some cash. House sitting is also a possibility though less so in Southeast Asia.
• Always travel local instead of by private or tourist coach, even if that means travel days are longer. If you’re rich in time but not in funds, this is the best way to do it.
• Eat local foods and abstain from alcohol. The biggest budget eater is partying, by far.  If you never buy drinks, you’ll literally save thousands .  Really, thousands!
• Use a debit card that doesn’t charge fees and refunds the ATM fees assessed by other banks. The only one I’m aware of is Charles Schwab.

For a country-specific budget guide on each place mentioned above, I go into more detail in each of these posts:

Malaysian Borneo

Philippines

How much do you usually spend on traveling?  Do you have any budget travel tips to share? 

Best Places in Southeast Asia for Solo Travelers

The ultimate southeast asia itinerary, what to pack for backpacking in southeast asia.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links for products and services we personally use and love. Any purchase you make through them supports us at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much!

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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09/04/2013 at 9:18 am

Great resource! Thanks for sharing that with us!

Kristin says

09/04/2013 at 11:58 am

Glad you find it helpful!

Anonymous says

10/11/2017 at 2:03 pm

Thanks! Without the scuba diving, it would come right on budget with $30.45.

09/04/2013 at 9:19 am

I can’t wait for my trip to SE Asia after the World Cup in Brazil. I need to start saving!

Good luck! I’m loving how travel-focused we Gauchos are!

OCDemon says

09/04/2013 at 3:13 pm

I definitely thought this title was going to be more personal, like, the answer was going to be “MY SOUL.” Oh well though. Info is great too!

09/04/2013 at 3:53 pm

Hahahaha! Well that too! More like my heart.

TammyOnTheMove says

09/04/2013 at 9:50 pm

I think you budget is more realistic. If you are traveling in a country and not take part in certain tours, then you might as well not bother (i.e. Angkor Wat). Love Otres beach. So stunning!

Jo (The Blond) says

09/05/2013 at 3:46 am

I think $11,000 for 6 months travel, including everything is not bad at all considering that you did trekking, scuba diving and things like that.

09/05/2013 at 10:44 pm

Yeah and when one really adds in the extras like flights, immunizations, and insurance, that’s a pretty realistic budget.

Joanna says

09/05/2013 at 6:22 pm

I loved how you broke everything down! I get some frustrated looks when I can’t give one price tag for any one of my trips because it really depends on how you travel and what you do!

As much as it’s great to get advice on how to stay on budget, some experiences are priceless and would be a waste to pass while you’re RIGHT THERE.

Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says

09/05/2013 at 6:36 pm

Awesome breakdown!! I love how sometimes it’s just way better to separate the ‘real cost’ from the ‘I have an expensive scuba habit’ cost 🙂

09/05/2013 at 10:45 pm

Hahaha! Exactly. I had to state that hey, a lot of this was due to this habit I have of spending a lot of time under water. I’m a bit of a junkie. I know you can relate!

09/06/2013 at 2:47 am

Awesome 😀 , I always envy reading your blog :'(

I hope some day, I will take my own journey same like you do 😀

thak’s for the “VIRUS” hahahah

09/06/2013 at 11:22 pm

Awesome and you’re welcome 🙂

09/06/2013 at 6:38 am

Great breakdown. I wish I had the discipline to do that. Did you have any issues with the one way tickets and the airlines wanting you to have proof of departure from the destination country?

I have a way around that 😉

Chris Fitz says

05/11/2016 at 12:26 pm

I’m planning on traveling soon, and being only my 2nd time out of the country, don’t want to run into any unnecessary issues 🙂 what is your way around this?

Kayleigh says

09/06/2013 at 3:42 pm

Here I am sitting behind a desk bemoaning every hour of ridiculous corporate america. For the past year, I got away with playing the game my way. Was always on the ball with my work so I took advantage of countless travel opportunities and unpaid vaycay because I could care less about the money so long as I have enough to travel. Well for regulatory reasons I can no longer escape dreaded weeks, nor escape for an hour or 2 during the day for a yoga sesh when there is not work to do. 🙁 talk about killing my soul. Anyway, I can’t tell you how many people I tell about your blog and right you are, people just don’t get it. I guess taking the safe, traditional road (the road too highly traveled IMO) is what people feel comfortable with and so they stick with what they know. So here I am, trying to balance holding a job, saving the dough until I can take off on the trip of a lifetime! So glad I stumbled upon your site-absolutely love it!

09/06/2013 at 11:26 pm

Aww thanks so much for your comment. Hang in there, you’ll be back on the road and it’ll all be worth it.

Michelle | Lights Camera Travel says

09/08/2013 at 5:22 am

Thanks for sharing Kristin! It’s always helpful to see these posts. I generally budget the same, $1000 for ground expenses, and things like flights, visas, expensive activities (i.e scuba diving) on top and that usually works for me!

09/08/2013 at 11:56 am

1k is a great budget for the extra stuff.

Arianwen says

09/08/2013 at 10:36 pm

This is a really useful overview! I’m pretty bad at keeping a close eye on exactly what I’ve spent so when people ask me about my trip to South America, it’s a very rough estimate! Nice one keeping track!

09/09/2013 at 4:18 pm

I had a lot of going back through my bank account withdrawals to do!

Turner says

09/09/2013 at 10:00 pm

Not too bad. I would be about spending $30 a day too, as per Lonely Planet suggestions, that is if all that weed and hookers didnt get in way. Sigh.

09/11/2013 at 12:41 pm

It’s the ping pong shows and lady boys that really kill my budget.

Morgan says

09/10/2013 at 9:54 am

This is amazing! Thanks for putting it together. I’m also an American and just started vaccinations – the rabies and japanese encephalitis will probably be put on the back burner due to prices (It’s outrageous!). Do you think you went the correct route skipping those?

09/10/2013 at 12:31 pm

I couldn’t even find Japanese Encephalitis when I was getting my vaccinations. I understand it’s kind of important if you’re spending a large chunk of time in SE Asia though, as it’s a pretty serious disease. You can definitely find it in Thailand, although I’m not sure how much it would cost. I personally don’t have that immunization and, well, I’m still alive and kicking!

09/10/2013 at 3:05 pm

Great story and thank you for laying out your expenses like that. Helps those of us who are looking into long trips some very valuable info

09/10/2013 at 8:13 pm

Glad you found it helpful!

Jennifer says

09/11/2013 at 1:35 am

I love your breakdown and it’s really realistic. Just did the same and I’ve come to pretty much the same conclusions. It’s easy to be on the cheap in SEA, but not everywhere and all the extras add up really fast!

09/11/2013 at 11:12 am

Thank you! Yes the extras do add up.

Joey Rana says

09/12/2013 at 1:14 pm

please visit the philippines. plenty of places to visit and part of south east asia. many travelers often neglect the philippines and hope you can make an exception.

09/12/2013 at 8:20 pm

I will. Next year!

09/24/2013 at 1:53 am

Brilliant post, thank you so much! My trip is rapidly approaching and this has really helped.

09/25/2013 at 7:55 am

Hello! I came across your blog and found it really inspiring! I am planning a 3 week trip to HK and maybe Thailand in October. I will attempt to blog my journey and looking for blogs to follow as well as increasing my number of followers so feel free to explore and please join my site while you are at it!

09/25/2013 at 1:15 pm

Thanks Vera! HK is awesome

Simon Lee says

10/08/2013 at 12:00 am

Hi Kristin, Dropping by for the first time. I am from Malaysia.

I am surprised that you spent the most money for accommodation in Borneo as there are quite a number of budget accommodation in the area.

Did you checked out some of the islands off the coast of Semporna? Widely known as a scuba diver paradise and i am sure you will like it as diving is what fascinating you:)

Cheers, Simon

10/09/2013 at 8:08 am

Well, it had more to do with the fact that I had been spending closer to $5 in most other countries. Yes, Borneo has budget accommodation, especially in the cities, but it’s not as cheap as other places in Southeast Asia – Malaysia in general is not as cheap. I went diving in Sipadan and it was amazing!

Manfred says

11/27/2013 at 8:44 pm

We just finished 6-7 months around SE Asia as a couple and spent an average of just under $30 each. We started and finished in Bangkok though, so didn’t have the additional cost of flights to/from SE Asia. We also didn’t get any immunizations, as our doctors here didn’t recommend any. We also didn’t need to buy any travel gear, as we both already had suitcases. I think this would be the case with most travelers. We wrote a book about our experiences if anyone is interested. See our blog.

11/27/2013 at 8:51 pm

Oooh Yikes I would DEFINITELY suggest everyone at least get the Hepatitis vaccines and Tetanus. Very important!

12/25/2013 at 4:26 pm

hi, i wanna go to Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. but i am confused how to get a visa to Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. can you help me out?

12/25/2013 at 10:41 pm

It really depends on where you’re from! You should check your country’s travel advisory website for more info. If you’re from the US , Canada, or EU, you can get a visa on arrival for all of those countries.

12/26/2013 at 12:19 am

What country are you from. If from US, UK, etc, you don’t need visa for Malaysia or Singapore, and can get visa on arrival for Indonesia. For Indonesia you need to have a flight booked to leave the country before arriving.

12/27/2013 at 5:17 am

That’s helpful info because I actually got a two month visa for Indonesia prior to going there while I was in Kuala Lumpur. I was told I needed proof of an onward flight but they never asked, and I didn’t have one!

01/20/2014 at 8:24 am

Maybe it’s different if you have a visa in advance. Also, sometimes people need onward flights and sometimes they don’t check. But I know people that haven’t be allowed on their flight because they didn’t have onward tickets. I wish they had proper rules, but it’s all a bit hit and miss.

01/20/2014 at 8:32 am

You don’t *really* need anything booked onward. There are ways around that but I know what you’re saying. Thailand and Indonesia are often that way and the Philippines is as well.

01/19/2014 at 11:17 pm

This is awesome as I’m planning my next adventures. Im currently in New Zealand but i just wondered in which currency was your budget for Asia?

01/20/2014 at 8:15 am

Ah I should note that on the post. USD 🙂

01/21/2014 at 9:26 pm

Looking to do a 6 week trip this Summer with a friend starting with a week in Thailand and ending with a week in the Philippines. Unfortunately can’t visit every country you described – did you have any personal favorites or must-sees!? My friend and I are both scuba certified as well – any great scuba spots would be much appreciated! Thanks, love the website!

01/25/2014 at 9:00 am

Sipadan in Borneo is the best diving I’ve done. You must book that kind of far in advance. Komodo in Indonesia is also amazing but the current is strong and you need at least AOW certification. I loved Cambodia and Laos but in 6 weeks I wouldn’t try to rush too much. A lot of people do and they miss a lot. Northern Thailand is great!

03/09/2014 at 5:26 pm

This was a really helpful post. Thank you for all the details. I’m trying to decide where to visit on my way back from Australia to the UK. Cambodia and Vietnam are looking like they might come out top, although I really want to see the Philippines too! I see this trip extending…!

03/09/2014 at 6:13 pm

I just did a budget post on the Philippines and it’s more expensive than I thought it would be. I have one on Vietnam going up today so check that one out! I really loved Vietnam!

03/19/2014 at 8:53 am

I love your helpful breakdown, but I do think that hostels eat up a lot of the travel budget, so I almost always try to couchsurf or stay somewhere as a Workaway volunteer whenever I travel in Asia or Europe. I think hostels are my last resort because I’ve had a couple negative experiences in hostels, but also, when you CouchSurf (which doesnt always mean you sleep on a couch btw!) or stay as a volunteer with a local, first of all, it’s FREE–plus you get free meals as a Workaway volunteer, and your CS host may also invite you to join him/her or their family for a meal or two. And second of all, you are gaining a truly authentic experience and perspective of the lifestyle, and you have a local to help you and offer you excellent advice for your stay! 🙂

03/20/2014 at 7:55 pm

Great suggestions and agreed, especially in more expensive countries. I’ve couch surfed in Europe and in China.

Sidney says

03/23/2014 at 2:36 pm

Thanks this helped alot!

03/23/2014 at 8:15 pm

I’m currently planning my trip for this summer, and just wanted to say this post/site is extremely helpful! I just got all my vaccines last week. Japanese Encephalitis set me back $500 alone. Yikes! I’m now on to gear. Taking your advice w/ a 40L pack. As for travel insurance, I just got a quote online from World Nomad that says it’ll be $386 for 6mo. coverage. Why was yours so much more expensive? Was it the timing? Or maybe $793 is for a full 10 mo?

03/24/2014 at 12:54 am

I got the adventure plan which covers SCUBA diving, etc., and that was for the full ten months as well. I wish I had just bought it all at once upfront because it’s actually cheaper that way. Oh well! You live and learn 🙂

Allen Espy says

03/24/2014 at 6:04 am

I did a similar trip in 2000. 6 months, about eight countries. Semi-backpacking. $12,000

03/28/2014 at 9:08 pm

Did it cost money to get visas’ to these countries? Were visa’s even required if you’re not working?

03/28/2014 at 9:24 pm

Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia are free. Cambodia ($20), Laos ($35 but depends on where you’re from), and Indonesia are all visa on arrival but they cost money. Vietnam must be procured before you land and it’s expensive. I paid $20 and then $45 for a stamping fee.

04/21/2014 at 11:13 pm

Hey Kristin – thanks for sharing this! I will say that traveling as a couple makes the cost a lot better. Rob and I did six months in SE Asia and with all flights and a lot of scuba, we came out to a bit over $30/day per person. We always stayed in private rooms with private bathrooms, although we did do a fair amount of haggling.

When you add in shots and flights to Asia, the costs do go up. But that’s what frequent flier miles and pre trip health insurance are for :o)

05/05/2014 at 1:17 am

Splitting taxis is a huge help. The months that I did most of my traveling with friends were definitely cheaper.

Christopher K says

05/02/2014 at 12:38 pm

Hey Kristin!

I’m getting ready for my trip to SEAsia in mid-June, arriving in Bangkok on a one-way ticket as well, and I just wanted to ask you about your experience flying with such a ticket.

Apparently one of the requirements for Thailand’s free 30-day tourist visa is to have proof of “an onward or return airline ticket within 30-days of arriving.” I’m planning on flying to Bangkok and staying there until my 30 days expire, at which point I’ll heading to Cambodia –> Vietnam –> Laos via LAND transport however (i’m planning on buying my bus and train tickets when I get there).

My question is: Did you happen to have another airline ticket (out of thailand within 30 days) purchased and ready to show to the immigration officials and/or airline when you arrived? How’d it go for you? Do you think the airline could bar me from getting on the plane if I show up to the airport in new york with nothing but the one-way ticket to bangkok and my passport?? :S

It’s just one of my scruples at this moment!

Hope that all made sense! Thanks so much!

05/05/2014 at 12:55 am

Sometimes the agent at the check in counter will ask for onward travel proof and if you don’t have it they won’t let you check in. I’d suggest editing an old e-ticket from a different airline with a future travel date and printing that to bring with you.

05/21/2014 at 3:03 pm

Thailand also has (or had 5 years ago) cheap rooms. I got a single or double bed room for 3-4€ outside of bangkok on different occasions. I plan for round trip with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos now and it is great to hear that I won’t be completely broke at the end of it. 🙂 Also one hint: An Indonesian friend showed me some Indonesian booking sites and they seem a lot cheaper than the American/European ones. Try tiket.com for instance.

Barbora says

05/28/2014 at 9:28 pm

Your website is freaking awesome! No nonsens lifestyle generic scribbling, but actual useful practical advice. Big thank you!

05/31/2014 at 3:09 am

Wow. THANK YOU!

matthew says

06/01/2014 at 2:05 am

I just got home from a 18 month trip all over SE Asia, Singapore 3x, Malaysia 6x, Indonesia 1x, Thailand 2x, Philippines 1x, and did the whole 18 months on $8200 USD including my separate 1 way flights back and forth from the US. It helps to make friends on the way, lots of free food and places to sleep.

06/02/2014 at 4:13 am

Couchsurfing and staying with friends definitely helps a lot. I tend to buy meals or pay my share or bring a gift, though, which does increase my costs. To me, it seems like the right thing to do.

06/22/2014 at 6:00 pm

Hey, I love your post and have found it particularly useful whilst planning my own trip, I’ve got a question about currency.. How did you handle money over there? Did you have lots of different currency on you at all times or did you literally just withdraw money in each country when you needed it? Also, how did you cross from each country to the next and have you got rough prices for them? Thank you 🙂

06/23/2014 at 2:45 am

I just withdrew money when I needed it. I crossed overland for the most part and typically you want to pay visa fees in US Dollars so always have some of those on you.

06/23/2014 at 11:08 am

Travelling is enjoying the different food: should be careful as paying too low …you might be fed with rat meat instead of pork… especially in poor country, meat is still expensive. If the meal is a buck, I’m not sure it’s pork or rat….? A 3 to 4 dollar meal should be very satisfying… if your budget could not afford that then I was wondering what would you enjoy in your travel? My idea is to save a bit more before your trip and really enjoy the time there …. if you find yourself penny-pinching then wait for another season and build those extra bucks…The worst thing is to see something that your friends enjoying while you couldn’t afford.

Wd you sleep in a place where rats came out at night to say hi? It is much more enjoyable to stay at a 5.00 or 10.00 room and enjoy the night rather than sleepless because of those vermins….

06/23/2014 at 5:43 pm

That’s absolutely ridiculous. You can see the meat before you eat it, usually raw, at the street stall. I think we all know that beef ribs look nothing like rat meat, and it’s possible to just go vegetarian as well. I also eat food locals eat and take pride in making. It’s insulting to them to claim they’re cooking rat’s meat.

$1 streetside soup in Vietnam (with a giant pork shank in it, I might add) is delicious.

Lastly, most rooms I stayed in that year were around $5-$10 per night. I now often spend a bit more but I wanted to see if it could be done for $30/day back then.

Kaylin says

07/24/2014 at 5:28 pm

After doing some number crunching, it looks like you spent about $34/day not including the scuba (which wouldn’t necessarily be something alot of people would do on such a trip) or the flights (which most people don’t include in their daily budget). So really it’s not so far off the $30/day recommendation! Either way, this is a great article showing real expenses on your trip. I have been to Thailand and Cambodia before for 2 weeks, but I want to go back and do a much longer trip to more countries in the next couple years, so I will definitely keep this budget in mind 🙂 You are so right that not drinking saves SOOOOO much money. I feel like half my budget in Cambodia was for those $5 buckets LOL.

07/29/2014 at 5:27 am

That’s true, but I think a lot of people have one or two expensive activities they just really want to try, so it’s worth budgeting that in. Cutting out drinking would actually make it much cheaper than $30/day considering where I was staying and the types of transport I was taking.

07/30/2014 at 4:04 am

Hey Kristin,

Great blog!! I was wondering if you had any advice on obtaining visas on your travels?? I have a one way ticket to thailand this upcoming November, and I was honestly just going to wing it as far as determining my length of stay in certain countries/areas. Any help would be appreciated!!

07/30/2014 at 7:36 am

I did the same. Most countries, except for Vietnam, you can just get a visa on arrival (depending on which country you’re from, of course), and it can be pretty easy to extend.

Ian Limbonis says

08/10/2014 at 11:12 am

Im on my 111th day today, and so far spent <1500$. Tracking all my expemses daily to meet the least possible expensiture, though i must say coffee, cigarette, and seldom beers can help lower this doen further.

08/11/2014 at 1:05 am

Wow you’ve done a great job then!

08/11/2014 at 1:59 am

Not as much as how you organized your expenses ;-). Im glad how quite basic i’m becoming

Michael says

08/25/2014 at 11:23 pm

Wow thats cheap.. good for you!

09/02/2014 at 10:54 pm

I tried! Could do it even cheaper and certainly more expensively as well.

Paul Durano says

08/27/2014 at 9:11 pm

If your in Cebu, Philippines by mid Jan – May 2015, I help you find a place for $20 per day. Living with local family.

Samantha says

08/29/2014 at 4:45 pm

Hey Kristin, HUGE fan of your blog and the advice you give. You have really helped me out as I plan for my backpacking trip to SEA, Australia, and New Zealand (leaving in 65 days!!–but who’s counting?!). Quick question: did you get a credit card for this trip? I opened up a Charles Schwab account for the ATM card, but I wanted to get a credit card with 0 foreign transaction fees as well, just as a precaution. Do you have any banker recommendations? :). Thanks again!

09/02/2014 at 10:43 pm

Glad to have your readership! I use a Capital One Venture card and would also suggest having some kind of back up as well. Airline mileage cards also often are transaction-fee-free.

09/18/2014 at 1:01 pm

Hi Kristin,

For your southeast asia travels you got immunizations for Hepatitis A and Tetnus?

Did you get any for: Fly or Typhoid or Hepatitis B or Japanese Encephalitis or Rabies?

Also, you mentioned you chose not to take medication for Malaria? Any concern why?

My mother wants me to inoculated for every conceivable transmittable/contagious disease but to save both money and side effects I want focus on the truly most necessary vaccinations.

Thank you! Haley

09/18/2014 at 10:21 pm

I got Tetanus and Hep A, already had B, as well as Typhoid. Did not get rabies and Japanese Encephalitis wasn’t even available at my clinic. I have never taken anti-malaria medication. I’m in that part of the world for way too long for that.

Stephanie Be says

10/03/2014 at 10:58 pm

I just wrote an article on tips for Thailand, and one of my tips was that it is NOT as cheap as people make it out to be. I couldn’t agree more with the misconception that it’s “easy” to live on a shoe string budget in developing countries. There are many costs, and chances are that most travelers WANT to experience things like an elephant reservation park or Angkor Wat.

Nice to hear it from you too!

10/04/2014 at 6:14 am

Southern Thailand is definitely more expensive than the middle and north as well!

Franca says

10/04/2014 at 1:33 am

I forgot how cheap SEA can be and after being traveling around Europe for more than 1 year, it seems like a dream being able to spend so little and still enjoying yourself so much! We spent a lot less than you have, but mainly because we didn’t do the activities you did and we took some extra vaccinations (rabies for instance because we volunteered in dog shelters) and malaria pills in some areas. Sometimes I miss these countries, maybe we should go back and explore the countries we haven’t been yet. There is too much of the world I want to see, my list gets longer instead of shorter 🙂

10/04/2014 at 6:13 am

Same here. I am over in Europe now, thankful that I now have a bigger budget but definitely do still love SEA, both for how cheap it can be and how amazing it can be.

Victoria says

10/04/2014 at 5:12 am

Definitely agreed $30 isn’t realistic if you want to see and do things, although I think as an American you have it way worse! In the UK immunisations are free, I go to TK Maxx for my travel gear so we’re looking at maybe £30-40 on a bag and then flights cost me about £400-£500 RETURN if I don’t care what day I travel on. When I did Phuket for a month it cost $400 US for my room ($13 per day) and then I spent roughly $10-$20 on food and I literally wasn’t doing ANYTHING except working on my computer and going to the beach. So really $30 is only do-able if you decide to do the ‘living somewhere’ option and do nothing.

10/04/2014 at 6:10 am

Definitely true. Moving around is expensive due to traveling costs, but living in one place or moving very slowly makes things much more affordable.

10/08/2014 at 8:00 pm

Hey Kristin, We shall be traveling Indonesia in June and we wondered if you had any tips on where to go? we figured we’d stop off in Bali (its the cheapest island to fly to) plus my friend works there as an instructor and I’m going to take my DM course there. Other than that we’ve seen that Sumatra and Flores look good, but we don’t really know anything about them. Also, how expensive is it to take a tour with the orang-utans? i’ve looked online and it said 20,000Rp… that seems pretty cheap to me, does that sound about right? Finally, how expensive is it to island hop? we traveled south thailand via boats and busses and it work out pretty cheap but will it be the same in Indo?

Thanks for your advice and your amazing travel blog! Keep up the awesome work! Emily 🙂

10/09/2014 at 11:41 am

Definitely I wrote a lot about it in the Indonesia https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/category/destinations/southeast-asia/indonesia/

Here’s the info on Orangutans https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/bukit-lawang-trekking/

Here’s info on island hopping local style https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-get-from-flores-to-lombok/

whitney says

10/16/2014 at 2:28 am

what backpack did you buy for $200 and what do you do for income (or has the initial funds from liquidating your assets not run out yet)? also do you still maintain and contribute to a retirement plan? lastly, i assume travel insurance makes up for not having employer sponsored health benefits? i too am a banker and im wondering how i can make this a reality for myself.

10/16/2014 at 8:04 am

Yes I contribute to a retirement account, which was pretty heavily invested in with my old job. I make money off of this blog and freelance writing. Check out my series on how to start a travel blog if that interests you! https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/category/travel-prep/how-to-start-a-travel-blog/

11/05/2014 at 4:04 pm

i wanna backpack for 6- 8 months in Asia , and is like 10.000 dollar enough ??

11/06/2014 at 4:07 am

Well you can see how I laid out my expenses here, so I’d say that no, it is not, if you add in things like flights, gear, and insurance. It is if you don’t party much and don’t do expensive activities and stay in dorms, eat street food, and take local transport. It boils down to your way of traveling.

TeachingTravel says

11/24/2014 at 8:25 am

You really missed out by not spending as much time in Vietnam! Vietnam is extremely cheap. However I didn’t spend as much time in Cambodia, this time i’ll make sure to check out the beaches! Last time I just hit the temples of Cambodia and skipped right through!

Also traveling with someone else would really bring these costs down!

11/24/2014 at 8:53 am

I ended up returning to Southeast Asia and spending a month in Vietnam after writing this post. Traveling with someone else would definitely cut the costs down but I’m a solo traveler and that’s the focus of this blog 🙂

Claire says

08/28/2016 at 1:08 am

I’m so curious, why and what would all the reasons traveling with a partner cut the costs down??

09/07/2016 at 3:24 pm

You split cabs and private rooms

Muzammil says

12/17/2014 at 2:11 pm

Hey! Amazing article and love your website!

Can you please let me know how many flights did you have to take in your 10 months Oceania & SE Asia trip? And what were those flights?

Thanks! Muzammil

12/17/2014 at 3:19 pm

I probably took around 6-8. If you just stayed in Southeast Asia you can do almost all of it overland. You can get very cheap last minute ones on local airlines and on Air Asia. I really like Bangkok Airways in Thailand, and Tiger is also good.

12/17/2014 at 3:26 pm

Thanks for the response! When you say overland, are you referring to taking ferries/boats between countries like Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, etc.?

12/18/2014 at 2:14 am

You could do that but it takes a VERY long time and in that case I’d just fly.

12/29/2014 at 9:18 pm

Wow , I really want to do this how do you find all the places to sleep and not end up paying for hotels

12/31/2014 at 12:50 pm

Stay in hostels/guesthouses and especially dorms to save money.

Lesh @ NOMADasaurus says

01/03/2015 at 9:48 pm

What an awesome breakdown Kristin. I know what you mean about $30 a day. Sometimes it happens but most of the time not. There are so many awesome activities to do all over South East Asia and we were not missing out on them. Love your tips for cheap travel. We love eating locally and traveling locally too. It is not just cheap but such a great experience. We have met some wonderful people on some journeys. We have been taking a budget daily so we can keep track of our spendings. The fact it is there on paper has really helped us budget. Over spend one day, lay low the next day. It is crazy how much alcohol can add up too and how many stories I have heard of people spending all their money partying and have not enough to see the rest of the country. The country always comes first for us. Thank you.

01/04/2015 at 2:04 pm

Thanks Lesh. I definitely agree it’s better to buy experiences than beers, but if you can do both, even better! 😉

01/04/2015 at 6:29 pm

Hey Kristin, great breakdown – I’ve managed on $30 in Asia, but on the basis it was covering food and accommodation only and no sightseeing. Also, these kind of simple ‘figures’ just don’t work in places like Singapore, Tokyo, etc. It annoys me when I see guides/books/etc. encouraging this as an ‘option’ because there must be so few people who manage on something like $30 a day and still get to see and do everything they wanted! Bring more – see and do more.

01/05/2015 at 4:52 am

True Singapore is a lot more costly and I actually haven’t been there yet. If any guide books are suggesting $30/day is doable in Tokyo I’d toss that right out the window!

01/12/2015 at 6:26 am

How am I only just finding this blog? Good stuff

01/13/2015 at 1:23 am

Aw thank you.

01/25/2015 at 10:42 pm

Never tried this myself, but I would imagine $30 (3000 yen) in Tokyo is possible. Well, I am in Tokyo now working (I am from Canada) but will travel abroad in November.

3000 yen breakdown possibility (if not relied on heavy tourist travel-style) – of course, it all depends on what you want to do that day; the list of what to do is endless:

1. Yamanote Line (most of the touristy places are on this line): 730 (day pass; it is even less that if you want to stay in places that require less than 730 yen) 2. Food ~1000 a day IF cheap, healthy, and convenient food places (i.e. Sukiya) –> much less required if rice balls and other smaller foods bought at convenience stores or McDonalds (100 yen options) 3. Accommodation – Couchsurfing! (0 yen) 4. Others (museum fee, drinking, whatever you choose)

Total: 1730yen plus additional

I do not know how much travel insurance is needed. Nor visa. However, when sites that say $30/day is possible, I do not believe that cost includes visa, insurance, etc. I think it means just travel expenses (food, accomodation, and such).

And for visa, I have never bought it before. But according to my Japanese passport Visa requirement for travel in Europe, I can travel in Europe for 3 (or 6) months at maximum without visa, so I am sure Visa is not required if less than 3 (or 6) months?

01/27/2015 at 7:28 am

Thanks for that! I had no idea it could be so cheap since Japan is always thought of as so expensive. You can get a VOA for fewer than 3 months in Europe, yes. You can only stay for 3 out of every 6 months.

02/06/2015 at 1:55 am

I went for a month in December/January of last year and found it expensive, probably because I wasn’t able to find as many dorms and it was over the holidays which is an understandably expensive time.

sashlah says

02/22/2015 at 8:06 am

We are spending around 15/20$ a day in two in North Thailand. We rented a huge house with 3 bedrooms for little more than 150/month. We always cook at home buying stuff at the market.

02/23/2015 at 1:40 am

Northern Thailand is really nice and cheap. Cooking at home is cheaper than street food? That’s my favorite part of Thailand!

02/23/2015 at 9:11 pm

Thanks for the great advice! One thing to add, when I was traveling for 6 months through Western Europe, I got charged about $5 per ATM withdrawal– I have Chase. BUT, I called and asked them, and kind of sweet talked them, into refunding me the charges! It wasn’t a lot since I went to the ATM as few times as possible but every dollar counts!

02/23/2015 at 10:16 pm

I’d suggest Charles Schwab which refunds all ATM fees and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. I really think they’re the best option. Great customer service, too. Wow I sound like an ad but honestly I love them.

01/14/2016 at 6:05 am

do you by any chance know how this works for Europeans? Can, say a Belgian guy, get an Charles Schab account? 🙂 Have you met Europeans troughout your trip who managed to solve or eliminate these fees?

01/16/2016 at 1:01 pm

I believe Schwab is only in the US, these are some good suggestions: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/avoid-paying-bank-fees-traveling/

03/07/2015 at 6:08 pm

First off I want to say I’m a huge fan of your blog! Your posts are always great and so interesting! I’m very grateful for this post in particular. I’m considering homeschooling my son for a year and spending the time traveling SE Asia. So I have a few questions for you: what is the point of travelers insurance? Is it health insurance? We have health insurance and I cover my electronics through my homeowners insurance (it’s very cheap btw) so I don’t think I need travelers insurance, right? Did any areas seems unsafe at all? My son is 13 so he’s not a baby but I still don’t want to put him directly in danger of course. When you reference “dorms” is that the same thing as hostels? What is high season in SE Asia? What language is most widely spoke? I was thinking about spending a few weeks in one spot to take courses on a foreign language. Anything else you think I should know? Thanks and keep up the great work!

03/11/2015 at 7:03 am

Hey Kristin! Depends on which country you’re in regarding which language is spoken the most widely. In Thailand that would be Thai, Malay in Malaysia, etc. However, most places you’ll find you’ll be fine communicating as locals speak at least some English and much communication isn’t verbal anyways, as I’ve learned through the years. I also don’t think a few weeks is enough time to learn much of a language, though I wouldn’t want to discourage you!

As for insurance, you can check if your health insurance covers you abroad. Mine didn’t. I have travel insurance so that I’m always covered and if I need to be flown home for medical care, I’m still covered. Hope that helps.

03/11/2015 at 9:35 am

Yes that helps a lot! Thank you!

05/07/2015 at 7:40 am

I find your post realistic! And refreshing knowing that I’m not able to always stick to $30/day either. Currently traveling in Northern Thailand and doing my best with level of comfort, while staying cheap. Probably the biggest money saver as you mention is indeed when I go a week or so without drinking. 🙂 Thanks for the honest post and keeping up with your site. Inspiring!

05/07/2015 at 7:32 pm

Thanks Erin! Yep the biggest budget killer is alcohol, even though each drink individually is cheap, it adds up!

05/29/2015 at 5:41 am

Awesome! I got to understand on how much should I be needing and what do I really want before exploring outside my country in SEA!

Very informative post! 😀

Liem @ Holiday Bays says

06/20/2015 at 10:28 pm

Hey Kristin, when will you visit Vietnam? We can go for coffee and eat some local food. I live in the Mekong Delta area. Love your blog by the way! 🙂

06/22/2015 at 4:10 am

I spent one month there in 2014 but would love to return. I love the food and the coffee so much!

07/18/2015 at 3:40 pm

Good write-up

The Wife & I traveled SE Asia for 3 months last year and are hooked! On seeing more. We did things a different way financially so are kinda setup now but it meant foregoing this earlier on. But also means work is almost optional now. We spent about $8k across 7 Countries and that’s staying in Hotels ranging from $50-$100 per night. Everything is cheap there and most things are just so much better. They live a good life and we now see that Western world has it all wrong

07/19/2015 at 2:16 am

Can definitely see where you’re coming from with that. Wouldn’t say they all live a good life though. It’s easy for us to do so because we were born with privilege, a passport that provides mobility, and the ability to earn in a strong currency.

Jasmine says

08/09/2015 at 6:49 am

My main question in all of this was how did you go about traveling to these countries once you started in Thailand? Are there cheap (significantly cheap) flights available from one to the next or are you able to cross the border in a local bus? *I’m trying to convince my friends of a southeast Asia tour and the only way I can persuade them is if this factor is relatively inexpensive lol.*

08/10/2015 at 5:01 am

Hi Jasmine, I generally crossed overland though I flew to Malaysian Borneo and did a few flights in Indonesia as well. For the most part busses and trains are the method of getting around, and they’re cheap! So are Air Asia flights so I’d suggest signing up for their newsletter and taking advantage of sales. I scored a flight for $18 with them previously.

Charmaine says

09/30/2015 at 12:52 pm

Thanks for all your tips! I’m looking to do some backpacking soon and one thing I’m concern about are bank fees! You mentioned Charles Schwab doesn’t have any fees, can you elaborate more on this? Were you always banking with them or only as a travel account? Is it only available to US citizens (I’m from Canada).

10/12/2015 at 6:38 am

Hi Charmaine, I don’t know if it’s available in Canada but I don’t think so. This post is a pretty good resource: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/avoid-paying-bank-fees-traveling/

Izy Berry says

11/26/2015 at 2:30 pm

Is not that expensive !! Incredible is very economic

KeepCalmAndWander says

12/27/2015 at 7:44 am

Going back to Cambodia soon and I hope the country is still cheap! 🙂

12/27/2015 at 1:10 pm

It’s still cheap.

Christian Vielma says

12/29/2015 at 10:54 am

Nice post! My wife and I traveled this year around Asia, including SEA. We also find the $30 limit not very realistic unless you stay for long time and live more like a local (preparing your own food instead of restaurant)

12/31/2015 at 4:18 am

I feel like eating street food is superior to cooking your own when traveling in Asia. It’s fresh, cheap, and lots of it is healthy.

Darren Bush says

01/11/2016 at 11:06 pm

Hey Kristine, I just want to thank you. As your blog is super helpful for me. I will keep all your points in my mind as i am thinking of visiting few countries in southeast asia.

Oliver Mortimer says

01/13/2016 at 6:07 am

Great article, Myself and my girlfriend are travelling on the 10th of February for 167 days. We will be going to Thailand Laos Malaysia Indonesia and Cambodia. We will be taking with us just over 9000 euro and have our flights booked travel insurance bought and vaccinations done.

I’m wondering if you think this will be enough money? We would like to see and do as much as we can and will be mostly eating street food but will be staying in our own rooms and not in dorms.

01/13/2016 at 8:41 am

If you take local transport and don’t party too much it could work. You might have to stay in dorms sometimes but the main thing that eats a budget quickly is partying for sure.

01/14/2016 at 3:25 am

Thanks for the reply. We’re not going over to party, so hopefully we’ll be ok with the budget we have….

robbie says

01/20/2016 at 4:03 pm

is it best to book hostels and such before or just go on the go

01/22/2016 at 3:27 pm

I generally do it on the go unless it’s a holiday in which case they can book out for months ahead of time.

Natasja Trujillo says

01/25/2016 at 6:54 pm

Love your blog. What would you say this budget would be for 2 people?

01/28/2016 at 10:49 am

That was just for me. For two double the food costs and add for busses and flights too. I stayed in dorms as well so I paid a single amount but for a private room or a dorm for two you’ll pay double. It’s not entirely double the cost but I’d budget as much for cushion.

yuyazz says

02/03/2016 at 8:03 am

Hello i’m sorry but i really need to write on maximum english blogs because after 6 months of travel in South East Asia, it is my duty to prevent the maximum person from countries such england or australia Everywhere we went, thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Burma, Malaysia, and Laos, we encountered the same type of travelers, loud, arrogant, completely disrespectful of other travelers and local poeple or places..A on several occasions we had to change guesthouse to find a more quiet place, especially away from you english people. You have a tendency to shout rather than speak, to make noise, in couple or group, always acting as if you were alone in earth..Even if you know that the owner of the guest house sleeps just next door, even if his childrens have to sleep to go at school the next morning, it will not matter, you continue until late at night yelling like pigs, in total disrespect of your neighbors .I therefore ask you this: learn to respect your neighbors, cease to believe you higher because the whole world must understand you and speak your language when you do not speak any other language except yours..the local bad feel towards overseas is due in large part to your behavior..Vang Vieng but the Thai islands are the best examples of your behavior incredibly bad.English women love to put almost naked, where the local dress head to toe in all sacred places or elsewhere, you English women you absolutely not respect the modesty of local people, in bikini everywhere..we thing that you really behave badly, the whole world hates you for that, but you don’t care and continue..if ever someone notice it to you, you laugh..You, English, you must to know it, please, SHUT UP, and respect local cultures and your neighbors..your culture based on easy friendship, nudity in public places, and “shouting” must stop!!!.Please be respectful and forget your huge egos!!! … you are the shame of Western europe to abroad …you have to know and to behave in consequence please..if some of you think that i’m exagerating, just look and listen, everywhere in South asia, and certainly everywhere in the world..you are in holidays, ok..but maybe your neighbors or the local people around you are NOT in holidays!!! -so 1 : be quiet -2 : stop wearing bikinis and show your muscles to the whole world.. if people comme here to read these comments, be adise that you are not really appreciated in the world…especially because of young travellers who just care about themselves, and just think about making party… I had no bad idea about english or autralian before, not at all..now after six month travelling, i just hate you, and can’t stand anymore your fucking behaviour..

02/05/2016 at 6:41 am

I wasn’t going to approve because it’s racist this but then again, there are some nuggets of wisdom in here. People who travel elsewhere only to behave badly and disrespect the locals but partying like crazy are the scourge of Southeast Asia and a big reason why I tried to get away from the Thai islands and find other places that weren’t ruined yet.

Also, I’m not English. Not Australian either. Your problem is with the bad eggs, not the entire race of people. Calm down.

Brennan says

02/07/2016 at 7:04 pm

Hey Kristin, this is a great site and very helpful…kudos to ya for setting it up and providing all of the valuable information! I have been pondering leaving my job for some time now to travel Southeast Asia for a year. I have been fortunate that I can travel twice a year while still having my job, and I have been to a few countries so far (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) but I really want to spend more time there than just a few weeks per year. What are your thoughts on being there for a year? Do you think it’s too long? Also, after your 8 month trip and you returned to the States what was your takeaway from it and are you more motivated to travel now or less? What would say was the best part of the trip?

02/10/2016 at 12:39 pm

Altogether I’ve spent 3 years of my life in Asia and I STILL feel like I haven’t seen it all so there’s no way that a year is too long. I loved the interactions with locals when they happened. Have fun!

03/29/2016 at 2:36 am

This blog is friggin amazing! Thanks for all the great advice. I’ve been saving for the last two years and I’m about to embark on an across the globe backpack journey, living on 20 dollars a day.

04/04/2016 at 4:43 am

Thanks a lot for sharing!! I’m planning a trip to Southeast Asia and this is the first article that actually helped me to calculate expenses. Thank you for all the helpful information

A Pin on the Map says

05/23/2016 at 10:36 am

Thanks so much for the invaluable info! Thinking of heading to Vietnam and Cambodia next summer and this post will be perfect to re-visit before I book my trip. Thanks for sharing!!

Julie Rog. says

05/24/2016 at 4:08 am

Thanks for all the great advice! I want to travel now ^^

NickPomata says

05/26/2016 at 4:40 am

i think 11.000$ is too expensive i also paln a 6 months travel, in southeast asia but probably 4000/5000 will be my budget

07/29/2016 at 2:47 am

Hi NickPomata, are you still traveling? And how about yourt target 4000/5000 per 6 months? Thank you!

Steeve says

07/08/2016 at 6:33 am

I am always amazed on how much expenses keep piling up when I am on vacation… Even when I don’t do anything fancy. I now try to do some volunteering work. I receive accommodation and meals and in return I do some work. It is the best way to travel with minimum expenses and to get to know some local people and the local culture. I did it last year in a yoga ashram in India called Arhanta Yoga. It was the best experience ever. I am now looking for a place in Cambodia, if any body has any suggestions… I would love to know!

Emilia @ mythicalasia.com says

07/13/2016 at 10:29 pm

Southeast Asia is a wonderful destination for the families with kids. Also for many travelers, this region is their first introduction to Asia.

Maddie says

07/23/2016 at 12:03 pm

Took my first trip to Southeast Asia summer of 2015 and spent 10 days in Thailand going through Ayutthaya, Lopburi, and then finally Bangkok. Even spent my 18th birthday in Bangkok and stayed on Khaosan Road! Best experience of my life, planning another trip summer 2017 with my dad that takes us to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and finally Thailand. We both want to hopefully move somewhere in SE Asia in the next few years and this breakdown of costs and your experience helps with the planning process!

07/25/2016 at 4:18 am

That’s wonderful! So glad that you had such a great time 🙂

Naciholidays says

09/12/2016 at 2:57 am

Vietnam is also a good suggestion, I visited Ha Long Bay is very beautiful there and Nha Trang, Sai Gon … Maybe you’ll like it

James Crosby says

08/22/2016 at 11:32 am

If you really put young urban mind to it $30 a day overall is very realistic. I did that ciircuit as part of a larger trip and it can be done on around $18 a day. Couchsurf, hitchhike, and that’s your two biggest costs wiped out. As far as food, you can easily eat breakfast for $1 and evening meal for $3. Use a steripen so you can drink tap water, never drink alcohol. Also don’t take tuktuks unless you really need to. Wake up early and walk everywhere. Some days I would walk in excess of 20km to explore places. Keeps you fit and it’d free.

08/22/2016 at 4:56 pm

I’d say the biggest part of that advice that helps with costs is not drinking (and for the sake of argument, not doing activities that cost money). Eating local and sleeping cheap are great ways to save but I also think most people can’t resist indulging when they travel, in all of the fun stuff, so I’d rather spend a bit more to have more fun.

10/13/2016 at 2:06 am

My Partner and I are planning a 6 month trip to South East Asia with our 16 month old son.

We want to do it as cheap as possible and we’re thinking of buying a van and decking it out with a mattress etc.

Do you think this would be safe and efficient way to travel South East Asia? We are planning on going to Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia.

10/13/2016 at 11:07 am

I don’t really think that’s necessary. Busses and private rooms at hostels are so cheap, and I never really saw anyone self-driving there except for on a motorbike.

10/21/2016 at 1:44 pm

So true about the $30 a day and just totally going over with even just a visa fee or transport! Transport prices are what surprised us! I did not get any immunizations though and I flew from Australia so my flights were much less as well. Love your honest breakdown. Very helpful for first-timers to SEA 🙂

Äventyrsresenär says

12/11/2016 at 6:11 am

Hi there Kristin,

Just stumbled on your blog and as a former expat in Asia I’m glad to see you covered some useful tips and advice when traveling around this region. I haven’t read all of your posts for this particular adventure… you mentioned some stuff you did in the south of thailand and indonesia and malaysia, was it scuba diving? Would love to know more, did you write a post about these travel experiences as well?

Have a great weekend, Sam aka “Äventyrsresenären”

12/11/2016 at 11:15 am

Sure did! Scroll down to SCUBA diving on this active adventures page and you can see what I wrote about: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/outdoor-travel-blog/

12/13/2016 at 3:22 am

I am going away for 6 weeks on boxing day to Thailand, Vietnam & Cambodia. What would you say is the best way to carry money as i will need three different currencies.

12/15/2016 at 8:59 pm

get it from ATMs

Agness of a TukTuk says

02/14/2017 at 12:39 am

Wow, this is great! I learned a thing or two I could’ve done better when I was in SEA. It’s affordable travel, but it could even be made more affordable. There’s something about the people in SEA that totally makes me want to go back.

02/22/2017 at 9:29 pm

Hi Kristin, Thank you for the tips, I have traveled around the world but most of them were with the US Marine Corps. I am just finishing up grad school this May and will travel for the first time that is not work related. I will be traveling for 3 months and want to start with Thailand, and end in Australia. I don’t drink (I am hoping that will save me some money) and I don’t have any other habits that will cost me more (want to get a scuba license though). I like the couchsurfing idea (do you know any other option if I don’t find accommodations for free?). What safety advice would you give me (specially if I was in military in my past life) and i believe I have most of the immunization done through military deployments. Where would I be able to learn to surf for cheap or even free in any of these countries that you have visited in SE asia? Thank you, Michael

02/22/2017 at 11:50 pm

There’s no surf except for in Indonesia, I’m fairly certain. As for safety, just be smart. If you don’t drink then that’ll help a lot with money and with not getting into trouble. Dorms are so cheap, if you can’t couchsurf then go for those.

Therie says

03/12/2017 at 7:35 am

You really can’t miss scuba diving in SE Asia. It’s a must and the experience is absolutely worth the money. Thank you for putting this together Kristin! Your blog is so awesome, great tips and recommendations, keep it up!

03/14/2017 at 6:48 am

Glad you liked it! I totally agree, I wouldn’t have wanted to experience SEA without the diving. It was worth every penny!

06/15/2017 at 11:43 am

Has anyone tried camping in South Asia or have any experience with it? I’m considering that 🙂

Piotr Kowalski says

09/26/2017 at 4:53 am

This is a very good post and I definitely was looking for something like this. I’m planning a long term trip to Asia next year and the information you have put here will make me change my plans a little. I didn’t know that Laos and Cambodia are so damn cheap, $2 for a bed is nearly like for free or to put it into perspective, I couldn’t even buy a nice sandwich in Europe for that amount. Which place/country you liked the most from them all that you’ve seen in south east Asia?

09/26/2017 at 7:03 am

I like them all for different reasons! Laos was pretty special, though, as was Cambodia, because they were a little less popular.

Abdulrahman Ameen says

11/26/2017 at 7:44 am

This is what I was just searching for. I’m planing to go to a trip to Southeast Asia soon but I have already visited Malaysia, So now I’m Planing to go to Cambodia,Vietnam,Indonesia, Philippines ,Thailand and Myanmar. But a lot of people told me Laos, Vietnam And Cambodia are much similar and they told me you can just go to Cambodia so what do you think of that? and how long should I take to visit these countries with how much budget like estimating ?

11/26/2017 at 9:26 am

I don’t think they’re similar at all. Each has its own unique culture and landscape and things to see. I think a month in each country is good if you can.

Valentina Greene says

07/28/2019 at 1:11 pm

Love reading your posts. Thanks for sharing.

07/31/2019 at 8:44 am

Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed reading your post, and it is very helpful for me to plan my next trip.

08/02/2019 at 4:46 am

Great post! It will be very helpful to those who are planning to the trip and the pics are very nice.

Daniel Gallo says

08/30/2019 at 12:20 am

Where do you get the money to do this if your on Min. Wage? im lucky if after all the bills are paid i have 100$ left. like a 1k a year. it take me over a decade to do something like this?

09/02/2019 at 9:53 am

You might find this helpful https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-afford-solo-female-travel/

Brendon says

11/16/2019 at 5:27 pm

Great article. I always save up and pay for insurance and the main flight ahead of time and then just pretend that money vanished ? And then I budget from there with my remaining money. Fortunely I’m Canadian and don’t have to pay for immunization. But again the CAD dollar is much weaker thanks USD. Stay in places longer and travel slower saved me hell of alot more money ?

Mary Smith says

01/03/2020 at 2:39 am

Great post! it will be very helpful for planning any trip to Aisa.

01/21/2024 at 11:11 pm

Great article. I’d also suggest a good tip on money in SE Asia. Atms are a good way of getting cash and you can use apps like ATM Fee Saver – it helps finding the fee-free and lower fee Atms in the region along with withdrawal limits for foreign card holers. worth adding to your list of tricks!

20 Best Places in Asia you Must Visit

So you’re planning a trip to Asia? How exciting! I still get butterflies whenever I think about my adventures throughout the continent. It has more life, vibrance and chaos than any other region in my eyes. From the kind hearts of Thailand to the island way of life in Bali, these are the best places in Asia you must visit.

Whether you’re soul searching or just looking for a place to unwind and ditch reality, Bali is a spiritual oasis. Bali is the kind of place you don’t just visit once. I have been a handful of times thanks to Bali’s proximity to Australia. You can read our full guide to Bali here .

Kyoto was once the capital of Japan and as such has a great amount of history and culture to discover. You’ll need at least a few days to discover all this city has to offer. From the Bamboo Forrest to the famous Fushimi Inari shrine which features a seemingly endless line of torii gates.

The capital of Japan, Tokyo , has built a name for itself as one of the quirkiest capital cities in the world. From cat cafes to robot dance parties, there really isn’t anything that hasn’t been thought of. What’s more, the crazier the idea, the more popular it becomes!

There is no other city in Asia that blends the East and West quite as seamlessly as Hong Kong. You will only need 48 hours in Hong Kong to get a taste of what the city has to offer. More time is of course recommended, but I have still had a fun time in fleeting visits.

First time visitors could easily pass a week in this vibrant city. Indeed, the first time I visited Hong Kong I stayed for nine days. There are endless Buddhist temples to explore, Mongkok’s famous street markets, Hong Kong’s island impeccable views from the Peak! And you can even add a short day trip to China (Shenzhen) for some retail therapy.

Phuket, Thailand

The mountainous island of Phuket has quickly become one of Asia’s most sought after travel destinations and for good reason. Crystal blue waters, epic day hikes and incredible Thai cuisine make Phuket a dream destination for many. Phuket is full of luxury villas with epic views over the Andaman sea. All of them are within arms reach of the beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife of Phuket.

This once sleepy resort town in Cambodia became a tourist hot spot with thanks to the Tomb Raider film. You may remember the scene where Lara Croft runs through these very temples. Angkor Wat is the most famous of the temples, however there are a handful to explore. You can easily spend a day wandering through all of them.

I still think the Maldives is the most romantic destination I have been in my life. It is everything you would expect and more. With crystal clear waters and some of the best snorkelling I have seen the world over! There are endless hotels to choose from and many of them are floating on private islands.

In recent years Bhutan has been building a name for itself as one of the world’s bucket list destinations and one look at this epic scenery will leave little to the imagination as to why this is a photographer’s dream destination. This is one of the few remaining countries with no Western influence (i.e. no McDonalds or Starbucks) and is known as the last of the Himalayan Buddhist kingdoms.

One of Asia’s most popular small towns that has somehow managed to retain its culture and charm despite the influx of tourism, Hoi An is hands down one of the prettiest destinations in Asia to visit.

Situated in the North of Thailand, Chiang Mai has become a traveller’s favourite destination for visitors to Thailand. Known for its incredible cultural sights and thriving coffee shop scene, Chiang Mai has become a quick favourite for young travellers backpacking Asia looking for a cultural experience beyond the beautiful beaches of Phuket or Koh Samui.

Tourism in Sri Lanka is undergoing a major revival as travellers make their way to the small island country to experience what has been dubbed “India lite”. Here you can enjoy an Asian safari, board a train to the beautiful tea plantations in Kandy or spend your days on a beach learning to surf at one of the many recently emerged surf and yoga schools.

The capital of South Korea, Seoul has become a hot spot for young travellers looking to experience a thriving city of skyscrapers, subways, K-pop culture and incredible food.

Dubai has become on of Asia’s most popular stopover cities for travellers heading across the globe from one side to the other, thanks to its unique location in the centre of travel paths. The city itself is a thriving metropolis but a short drive out of the city you will find tranquility in the sand dunes.

Renowned for its authenticity, mountainous terrain and friendly locals, Laos has quickly become a must visit destination on traveller’s itineraries throughout Southeast Asia. The location of Laos makes it a great combination to visit with neighbouring Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Pangkor Laut, Malaysia

If you’re looking for an Asian honeymoon destination that is a little more budget friendly (over say the Maldives), then look no further than the idyllic Pangkor Laut in Malaysia. Here you can score an overwater bungalow for a fraction of the price you would pay in the Maldives or where the phenomenon began in Bora Bora, Tahiti.

India is a dream destination for many and if you were to travel all that way, you absolutely could not visit without stepping foot in Jaipur and marvelling at the incredible architecture.

Another must visit on any traveller’s India itinerary would be to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra – an ivory-white mausoleum commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Known most famously for the mesmerising Grand Mosque , Abu Dhabi is another of Asia’s most popular stopover cities. Located on the Persian Gulf, the city is also a popular spot for expats, making it a lively city to explore over a few days and nights.

Boracay, Philippines

If white sandy beaches and endless shades of blue are what you have in mind for your romantic getaway then look no further than Boracay in the Philippines. This area is renowned for its resorts and water activities, making it one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in Southeast Asia.

Ha Long Bay, Hanoi

Known for its limestone islands topped by wild rainforests, Ha Long Bay is a must visit in Asia for those seeking the surreal. The area is populated by many junk boats each day touring around the epic scenery, but if you want something a little more adventurous you can also consider a kayak tour, rock climbing or hiking in the area.

Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.

Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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I live in Asia and have not been to most of these places! Thank you for sharing these fantastic places we can visit. I will save it for future!

I only went to seven of the places listed above. I hope to visit more places in the near future.

Hunza valley is worth visiting as well.

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What to Bring to Asia

Simple Items to Supplement Your Asia Packing List

There is no one packing list for Asia travel that works for everyone; the goal is to get into the right mindset.

Packing for lots of unknowns can contribute to pre-trip stress. Most items can be purchased inexpensively once you arrive. You'll inevitably take advantage of cheap shopping opportunities in Asia , so your bags are guaranteed to grow. Leave room — being overpacked isn't fun and will certainly make getting around a lot less enjoyable.

Unless you'll really be  going into the wild , chances are that you can buy whatever you forgot to pack. There are, however, a handful of items that may be tougher to locate, more expensive, or unavailable altogether in Asia.

Consider Bringing These Items With You

Although there are exceptions, these items are best brought from home:

• Deodorant: The deodorants in Asia rarely contain antiperspirant; many are just sticky perfumes. Others contain whitening agents — check ingredients carefully if they're listed in English. Western brands are sometimes available but may by expensive when you find them.
• Sunscreen:  Although whitening creams are common, locals may prefer to cover skin or carry an umbrella rather than apply sunscreen. Much of the sunscreen that you find will either be expired, will contain whitening cream, or will be expensive and less effective.
• Insect Repellent: Despite the prevalence of mosquitoes and dengue fever in tropical parts of Asia, the local insect repellent may or may not work effectively.
• Condoms: Condoms in Asia can sometimes be expired or unsafe because of improper storage in hot climates.
• Passport Photos: Some countries require one or two passport photos when you apply for visas, permits, or mobile phone SIM cards . Bringing your own official-sized photos will save the time, hassle, and expense of having photos made on the spot. Any printing shop at home can duplicate a few sheets of passport photos for cheap.
• Small Padlock: If you intend to stay in hostels or budget hotels, bring along a padlock for securing your valuables in the lockers provided. Also, some rooms in budget hotels can be locked via a padlock on the outside; bringing your own provides an extra layer of security .
• Tampons: Women should bring tampons from home; they can be difficult to find outside of big cities in Asia.
• Small Compass: No need for anything fancy, just a small ball-style compass will do fine when your smartphone maps aren't available or reliable. Sometimes directions come in the form of "turn west at the end of the road."
• U.S. Dollars:  No matter the current state of the economy, the dollar still works well as a source of emergency funds in much of the world. The dollar is used frequently in Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam , and Laos.
• Vitamins:  Public transportation and jet lag can be tough on the immune system until your body readjusts. Consider bringing vitamins or supplements to boost the immune system, or better yet, take advantage of the delicious fruit in Asia.
• Drink Mixes:  The tap water in many countries in Asia isn't safe. Drinking bottled water to replace fluids lost in Southeast Asia's heat gets boring. Many of the choices in minimarts are full of sugar. Consider bringing drink packs with electrolytes that can be added to bottled water.
• Point-It Book:  The Point-It book by Graf Editions  is useful in places such as rural China and India where communication can be a challenge . The smartphone app is an alternative.
• Rain Cover:  Luggage is sometimes put on top of buses and on the decks of ferries. A pop-up storm could leave your stuff soaked, even if you're not traveling during the monsoon season. A lightweight rain cover comes in handy for protecting backpacks. If nothing else, consider lining suitcases with a plastic garbage bag .

Toiletries in Asia

Although toothpaste, shampoo, and other toiletries are relatively cheap in Asia, you may not find the familiar Western brands you prefer.

Check lotions, creams, and deodorants for whitening agents before you buy them.

Medicines and First Aid

Pharmacies can be found throughout Asia, but your prescription medications may be sold under different names and labels. For convenience, bring a few medical essentials along .

If carrying a lot of pills on an extended trip, bring along copies of a prescription or doctor's order. Many prescription medications can be purchased directly over the counter in Asia.

Items to Carry at All Times

• Toilet Paper: Many countries in Asia do not provide it in public toilets. Always keep some handy for encounters with squat toilets . Don't flush toilet paper unless you're certain doing so won't cause a problem. Although there are a few exceptions, the sewer systems in many countries cannot process paper. Instead, put the toilet paper into the bin beside of the toilet.
• Hand Sanitizer: Those same public toilets that do not have toilet paper also will not have soap for washing your hands afterward.
• Smartphone or Small Camera: The most random things can be seen when wandering the streets of big cities in Asia — be prepared! Although a larger camera such as an SLR will help you to capture great pictures , you may not always have time to get it out fast enough.

Stuff to Leave at Home

Travelers end up packing a lot of things they don't need. These items should be left at home:

• Voltage Converter: Most electronic chargers can operate between 120 and 240 volts; look on the power adapter for the operating range. Unless you carry devices that specifically only work on the U.S. standard of 120 volts, you do not need to bring a heavy power converter . USB chargers for most modern devices are typically dual voltage.
• Phrase Books:  Although guidebooks may be somewhat useful and most have limited language guides in the back, phrase books are becoming a remnant of the past. Smartphone apps will better help with pronunciation, or better yet, ask a local to teach you one or two new words daily. At least you'll learn the right usage and pronunciation with human help.
• Personal Protection:  Pepper spray, stun guns, and other weapons that are legal in Western countries may not be legal where you are going. You could get yourself into trouble when crossing borders with such items. Don't worry: with crime lately far lower than expected in big cities, it's easy to stay safe in Asia.

Should You Bring a Smartphone?

Many U.S. mobile phones will not work in Asia. Unless your phone is GSM compatible (T-Mobile and AT&T) and will work with SIM cards, it will not work for making calls in Asia. On the other hand, a smartphone can be used solely for internet access and to make internet calls with services such as Skype and WhatsApp. There are many options to  call home from abroad . Find out if you can use your  cell phone for international travel .

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Best & Worst Times to Visit Southeast Asia 2024/2025, Rainy Season...

Southeast Asia lies within the tropics, with southern areas close to the equator, and so it's warm all year round. Average temperatures are around 27°C (80°F).

The climate varies significantly across the region of Southeast Asia. This makes it a year-round travel destination. The best time to visit will really come down to which country you would like to visit and what you want to do.

Generally speaking, the best time to visit most places in Southeast Asia is from November to February when the weather is dry (driest) and warm (on average) . Wet-season monsoon rains fall from June to October in most SE Asian countries.

• Weather Guide
• Best Times for Beaches
• Worst Times to Visit
• Travel Guide by Country
• Travel Guide by Month

Southeast Asia Weather Guide

Not all countries in Southeast Asia share the same seasons at the same time. There are some regional differences. They are roughly divided into two weather patterns.

There are three main seasons in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines :

• Dry season: November to February
• Hot season: March to May
• Rainy season: June to October

There are two main seasons in Malaysia, Indonesia (Bali), and Singapore :

• Dry season: April to September
• Rainy season: October to March

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Most travelers choose to visit mainland Southeast Asia during its dry season as it's not so hot with little rain. During this time, go to the busy places as early or late in the peak season as you cann to avoid the crowds, such as the Grand Palace in Thailand and Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

The weather in the hot season, consistently getting to around 38°C (100°F). But it is a good time for the water fun at the beach. 

The rainy season is not so good, but you will find fewer crowds and lower prices for flights and accommodation. Travel to Southeast Asia in Summer: Places to Go, Costs, Weather

Check out how to plan a family trip to Southeast Asia >>>

Best Times for Beaches in Southeast Asia

• Thailand and Vietnam : November to early April
• Indonesia and Malaysia : April to October

If you hope to enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the sea , generally speaking, the best time to visit Southeast Asia's beaches is from November through early April when the weather is usually sunny and dry, and it's not too hot or too cool. The beaches in many countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, are at their best during this period.

But if you would like to enjoy your beach vacation in Indonesia (like in Bali) or Malaysia's east coast (like on the Perhentian Islands or Tioman Island), the best time to go is between April and October .

If you're traveling to the beaches during the wet season, you should expect some rainy days, but there will also be days where it only rains for a short while and then the sun comes out. You'll find that hotel and resort prices are considerably cheaper during the rainy season .

Suggested read: Itinerary ideas for 10 days , 2 weeks , 3 weeks , 4 weeks , 5 weeks & 6 weeks in Southeast Asia>>>

Worst Times to Visit Southeast Asia

June to October is the rainy season and is generally considered to be the worst time to visit Southeast Asia. There will be some discomfort or inconvenience if you travel during these months. 

However, these worst times for the travel trade have benefits. You can enjoy very reasonable price and less-crowded beaches and temples. In addition, as  the rain in Southeast Asia is so predictable (it usually rains in the afternoon and at night) , it's easy to plan around the weather. This means there's not so much of a problem in traveling to Southeast Asia during the off-season, as long as you know what to expect and plan well.

If you are visiting northern Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Philippines) and particularly concerned about the weather, we would like to suggest you avoid April (the hottest month) and September (the wettest month). For dry experiences, you could visit Singapore and Bali  instead, which enjoy the best time from April to October.

Further reading:  How to Plan a Trip to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore >>>

Best Times to Visit Different Countries in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a large region. It is warm all year round. No matter when you visit, you will find a place that matches your interests and preferences.

Click the country name below to check the best travel time.

Best Times to Visit Thailand

Generally, the most popular time to visit Thailand is between November and early April when it is the cool and dry season. Northern and Southern Thailand experience different climates.

Southern Thailand :Southern Thailand is a perfect destination if you are looking for an excellent vacation on beautiful beaches, such as Krabi, Phuket, and Phi Phi on the west coast, or Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui on the east coast. The best time to visit Southern Thailand is from February to April when the weather is nice and sunny.

Northern Thailand :If you are going to visit Northern Thailand – including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, and Pattaya – you can consider visiting from October to January .

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Best Times to Visit Vietnam

The weather varies in northern, central, and southern Vietnam. Although the best time for travel depends on the region you visit, November to April are the best months to travel in most places of the country. See more about the Vietnam weather .

North Vietnam : North Vietnam includes Halong Bay, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, and other great destinations. The best time to visit is from October to April when the weather is warm and dry. In the mountainous regions, it can be covered in ice from December until January.

Central Vietnam : If you are planning to visit Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Hue in Central Vietnam, you can travel in the period from January to April . You can expect perfect beach weather — blue skies, warm sun, and gentle sea breezes.

South Vietnam : If you are traveling to South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet, and Mui Ne), the ideal time is from November to March . It can be hot from March to May, with an average temperature of up to 32°C/90°F.

Best Times to Visit Singapore

Singapore is a wonderful year-round destination with good weather. Unlike many destinations in Southeast Asia, there isn't that much of a difference between the wet season (October to March) and the slightly drier summer season (April to September).

You might find it strange that the peak season is from November to early January even though there is some rain and it is a little wet. Singapore is crowded with travelers, particularly during Chinese New Year.

If you want to avoid the crowds, you can visit between February and May when the country is not overloaded with too many tourists and the weather is slightly hot. June to August is the driest time although it is unavoidable to encounter flash thunderstorms and stifling humidity.

Best Times to Visit Cambodia

Weather-wise, the best time to go to Cambodia is between November and April when it is sunny and dry. It is perfect if you are going to spend some time on a beach or hike through the jungles of Cambodia.

If you want to experience the country's fresh and lush greenery and quiet temples , the wet season (May to October) can be a good time. Heavy rains can occur but they only last for 1 or 2 hours in the afternoon.

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Best Times to Visit Myanmar (Burma)

The best time to visit most of Myanmar is from November to February when there are warm and dry days.

If you intend to visit areas in and around Mandalay and Bagan , which are the hottest and driest regions of Myanmar, you'd better avoid March to May as temperatures can rise to over 40°C/104°F. The wet season from June to October is considered a good season even though there is a bit of rain and it is good to avoid the winter crowds.

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Best Time to Visit Laos

Laos, a small and landlocked country in Southeast Asia, has a dry season (October to late April) and a wet season (May to late September).

If you are looking for warm and dry weather and want to enjoy outdoor activities, the ideal months to travel in Laos are from November to January , with temperatures ranging from 14–26°C (57°–79°F). This is also an excellent time for exploring the Mekong River.

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Best Times to Visit Malaysia

Malaysia has a classic equatorial climate with plenty of sunshine, high temperatures, and wet months throughout the year.

The best month to visit Malaysia depends on which side of the country you are going to visit. The seasons on each side of the peninsula are different.

The best time to visit the western islands is from December to February, while the perfect time to visit the east coast is from June to August.

• 32-Day Grand Southeast Asia Expedition: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia Tour

Best Times to Visit Indonesia

Indonesia is a year-round destination with warm tropical temperatures averaging 28°C/82°F throughout the year. The dry season in Indonesia spans from May to September and the wet season is between October and April.

If you plan to dive off the coast of Bali, Lombok, and Komodo National Park or want to plan to climb one of Indonesia's many volcanoes, the dry months from April to September are a great time.

If you are looking for good weather as well as fewer crowds, you can visit Indonesia in May, June, and September.

>>>Read about how to plan a trip to Thailand, Singapore and Bali

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Southeast Asia Travel Guide by Month

Click the sign of each month to check the travel guide information.

January Travel in Southeast Asia

January is one of the most popular travel periods for Southeast Asia. It's warm and dry in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Philippines, with temperatures hovering between 20°C (68°F) and the low 30s °C (86+°F) in most places.

Many visitors choose to spend their Christmas and New Year holidays on the sunny beaches. Diving and snorkeling are at their best during this period. Avoid the east coast of Malaysia and Bali, though, as it's the rainy season peak there.

You might like to join in Lunar New Year celebrations in (the Chinatowns of) these countries. In 2024, Lunar New Year is observed on February 9nd.

Reveal the top January destinations in Southeast Asia >>>

February Travel in Southeast Asia

Explore lively Bangkok in Thailand, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam in February before the heat of March. The temperature ranges between 20°C (68°F) and the low 30s °C (86+°F) in most places.

You are likely to experience rainfall only every four or five days, so you can spend the rest of your time trekking in the national parks, tasting yummy foods in the night markets, or listening to the holy chanting in the temples.

Book your hotels and flights 2–3 months in advance to ensure their availability and for better prices. Contact us for hotel recommendations.

Discover the must-visit spots in Southeast Asia this Febuary >>>

March Travel in Southeast Asia

The hot season arrives in March. Good deals for hotels and flights and fewer crowds make March a good month to travel for some.

With temperatures hitting the mid-30s °C (the 90s °F) on most days , March is a good time to swim in the sea, bath the elephants in a sanctuary or cruise on Halong Bay.

Start your touring/activities in the early morning to find some coolness.

Check more weather details, best places to go and costs in Southeast Asia in March >>>

April Travel in Southeast Asia

April is the hottest month in Southeast Asia. In some places, afternoon temperatures can reach 40°C (104°F).

A welcome chance to cool down comes with the water fights of Songkran Festival in Thailand from April 13th to 15th.

Laotians also celebrate their New Year from April 14th to 16th. It is a good opportunity to soak in Laos traditions, including washing Buddha statues, painting temples, candlelight processions around the temples, and splashing water on each other.

If you can handle the hot weather, April travel in Southeast Asia is full of traditional festivities. Find more weather details, best places to go and costs in Southeast Asia in April >>>

May Travel in Southeast Asia

May is the last month before the rainy season in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Temperatures in many areas are 35–40°C (95–104°F) . But, compared to April, May sees a welcome drop in temperature in some regions.

Rainfall starts to increase towards the end of the month, with more than half of the month seeing short thunder showers that last for about an hour. For most of the day touring is not affected.

For sunny beaches, Indonesia and the east coast of Malaysia are great options.

Find more travel-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia in May >>>

June Travel in Southeast Asia

June is the shoulder season in mainland Southeast Asia as it's in the monsoon season. The average daily maximum reaches around 33°C (91°F) and the average daily minimum is around 26°C (79°F) .

Thailand can expect an average of 15 to 22 days of rain in June. However, the rain is usually short-lived, occurring in short bursts in the afternoon or evening.

Indonesia and Malaysia provide visitors more dry days and ripe fruits in June.

Compared with the summer holiday crowds in July and August, June is still a good time to go.

July Travel in Southeast Asia

Though still in the rainy season, in mainland Southeast Asia, you will encounter more visitors in July than in June , as July is school holiday time for many countries.

The short-lived rains usually occur in the afternoon or evening. The average temperature is around 29°C (84°F) , and there is not a big temperature difference between day and night.

July is the peak season for Malaysia's east coast and Indonesia because of their dry (drier) weather and the summer holidays.

Typhoons happen frequently in Halong Bay in Vietnam . Your cruise might be canceled for safety. Always get insurance if you wish to cruise at this time.

Get some ideas about the best destinations to go in Southeast Asia in July >>>

August Travel in Southeast Asia

Like July, August is still in the rainy season in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The rains can be sporadic and unpredictable. The average temperature in August is 29°C (84°F) . Indoor activities are more advisable.

You're suggested to buy insurance if you plan to take a Halong Bay cruise in Vietnam as typhoons are likely to stop some cruises.

Indonesia and Malaysia's East Coast could be a better choice if you are seeking boat trips on the sea and sunny beaches.

Make tour reservation at least 3 months in advance for better deals.

See the best destinations to go in Southeast Asia in August >>>

September Travel in Southeast Asia

September is the wettest month in most areas of Southeast Asia. Heavy downpours are expected in the afternoon and evening with daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F) and nighttime temperatures about 25°C (77°F) .

You will see much lower traveler numbers in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand in September as the rainy season peaks and the summer crowds have gone. The harvesting of the terraced rice fields in Sapa in north Vietnam begins. The golden yellow views and farmers working in the fields make a Sapa trek even more rewarding.

It is still hot and dry in Indonesia. With better hotel deals than in July and August, September is good time to relax on the sunny beaches of Bali.

October Travel in Southeast Asia

From October, the rain starts to increase in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, while northern Southeast Asian countries are ready to welcome their dry season. The average daily maximum and minimum temperatures in October for most areas are around 31°C (88°F) and 24°C (75°F) respectively .

The cooler temperatures, clearer views, and fewer travelers make October one of the best times to visit Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

November Travel in Southeast Asia

From November, the rainy season sets in for Indonesia, while the dry season really begins in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. November sees the start of Thailand's cool (warm) season. Days are usually hot (but not too hot) with balmy evenings. The average daily maximum is 31°C (88°F) and the average daily minimum is 24°C (75°F) .

Because of the pleasant weather and the Loy Krathong Festival (November 27th to 28th, 2023) , Thailand's peak travel season starts in November.

Avoid Koh Samui if you prefer sunny beaches. Unlike in Krabi or Phuket, November is the peak rainy month in Koh Samui and its side of the peninsula.

Unlock the best places to explore in Southeast Asia during November >>>

December Travel in Southeast Asia

December is good time for a trip to reward yourself for a year's hard work (before your accrued holiday is left untaken).

The temperature range is 24–32°C (75–89°F) on average . Pleasant weather and the Christmas and New Year holidays make travel businesses in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia reach their busiest point in December. You're suggested to make reservations 3 months in advance for better prices and to ensure availability.

Near to the end of the year, hotel/flight rates will increase a lot (1.5 times or even double) based on the large demand. Christmas or New Year dinners are usually fully booked in popular hotels/restaurants. Book that early too!

Singapore and Thailand are two best places to experience the atomaspheric festivals. Check how to plan a trip to Singapore and Thailand

For more weather details, check Southeast Asia Weather in December

Travel in Southeast Asia Your Way

Southeast Asia is a beautiful year-round destination and you're bound to have a good time no matter when you visit. We take everything, including the weather, into consideration when designing the best possible itinerary for you.

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• 19-Day Highlights Tour of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
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• How to Plan a 2024 Trip to Southeast Asia With Itinerary & Cost
• Southeast Asia Itinerary for 2 Weeks 2024 (Tailored for Beginners)
• Southeast Asia Itinerary for 3 Weeks: Best 5 Ideas in 2024
• Southeast Asia Weather in January, Where to Go
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• Southeast Asia Weather in May 2024, Where to Go
• Southeast Asia Weather in June 2024, Where to Go
• The 6 Best Places to Visit in Southeast Asia in July (2024)
• The 6 Best Places to Visit in Southeast Asia in August 2024
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• Southeast Asia Weather in December 2024 & Best Places to Go

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When is Eid al-Fitr 2024 and how is it celebrated?

The three-day festival celebrates the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan by Muslims across the world.

As a new moon was not sighted on Monday evening after Maghrib prayers, Muslims in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries will fast one more day, completing 30 days of Ramadan. The first day of Eid will then be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10.

The first day of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of the month of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.

Keep reading

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Lunar months last between 29 and 30 days so Muslims usually have to wait until the night before Eid to verify its date.

Other countries follow independent sightings.

When the sighting has been verified, Eid is declared on television, radio stations and at mosques.

How do Muslims celebrate Eid?

Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country.

Muslims begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in a prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn, followed by a short sermon.

On their way to the prayer, which is traditionally held in an open area, Muslims recite takbeerat, praising God by saying “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is great”.

It is customary to eat something sweet before the prayer, such as date -filled biscuits known as maamoul in the Middle East. This particular festival is known as the “sweet” Eid – and the distribution of sweets is common across the Muslim world.

Muslims usually spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours and accepting sweets as they move around from house to house.

Each country has traditional desserts and sweets that are prepared before Eid or on the morning of the first day.

Children, dressed in new clothes, are offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Girls and women in many countries decorate their hands with henna. The celebration for Eid begins the night before as women gather in neighbourhoods and large family gatherings for the application of henna.

In some countries, families visit graveyards to offer their respects to departed family members right after the morning prayers.

It is common for Muslim-majority countries to decorate their cities with lights and hold festivities to commemorate the end of the fasting month.

Eid amid the onslaught in Gaza

For some 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza this Eid, this will be the first Muslim religious holiday after more than 33,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. With little food aid, and very limited water, Gaza’s Eid al-Fitr will be mired in destruction amid the continuing attacks.

What are common Eid greetings?

The most popular greeting is “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) or “Eid sa’id” (Happy Eid). Eid greetings also vary depending on the country and language.

The video below shows how people say Eid Mubarak in different languages around the world.