Asia travel guides

It depends on what floats your boat!

Southeast Asia offers lush jungle towns, magnetic mega-cities and tropical islands, and you’ll find great value accommodation, food and activities throughout the region.

Japan, South Korea and China all excel at efficient public transport and the fascinating combo of modern technology with ancient culture and traditions.

For wildlife experiences I rate Malaysian Borneo and Sri Lanka, and if you’re a scuba diver then you’ll find paradise in Indonesia, the Philippines, the Maldives, Thailand and Malaysia too.

Singapore is the ultimate stopover city, Bhutan is leading the charge for sustainable tourism, India is a sensory overload in the best way possible, and Central Asia is calling my name!

Timing your Asia trip is all about dodging monsoons, avoiding the sweltering heat and skipping the mega crowds, but the continent encompasses so many different climates that even within one small country you might have contrasting seasons on opposite coasts.

November to March/April is generally your sweet spot for most of mainland Southeast Asia, like Thailand (except the east coast), Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, but these months see the rainy season hit Indonesia and Malaysia so timing a multi-country trip can be tricky. Sri Lanka is especially complex, with completely different weather patterns happening simultaneously across the island.

Countries further north have four distinct seasons, with hot and humid summers and very chilly winters, so shoulder season travel is your best bet for mild weather.

For island destinations like the Maldives you’ll get the best conditions from December to April but resorts are priced accordingly, while countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan see extreme tourism levels during seasonal experiences like cherry blossoms or autumn foliage.

Always research specific destinations because the timing that perfectly suits one country might be a total disaster for its neighbour.

Transport infrastructure varies wildly across Asia, from record-breaking bullet trains in East Asia to bumpy bus rides through rural Laos where you pray your suitcase doesn’t fall off the roof racks. Speaking from experience 🙃

Japan, China and South Korea have efficient high-speed rail networks that will spoil you for anywhere else, many Southeast Asian countries have key train lines connecting major hubs but rely on low cost airlines for longer distances and buses for shorter trips, and island nations like the Philippines and Indonesia use boats and ferries to get around, though sea conditions and safety standards can be unpredictable.

City transport includes Singapore’s pristine and punctual metro system, Tokyo’s insanely complex train network, Bangkok’s tuk-tuks and Hanoi’s Grab bikes.

Your money stretches very differently across the continent, from $3 street food feasts in Vietnam to $40 cocktails at a Hong Kong rooftop bar to a $400 dinner in an underwater restaurant in the Maldives.

Southeast Asia remains very budget-friendly, with Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia offering particularly good value for accommodation, food, transport and activities, though quality can vary so it’s worth spending a bit extra for comfort and security.

Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are probably the next level up, but you’ll find better value outside of the touristy areas. Singapore, Hong Kong and the Maldives are pretty expensive across the board, and Central Asia can be cheap on the ground but added costs of visas, guided tours and unique experiences can hurt your wallet big time.

Japan is much more affordable right now for Western travellers than you might expect, the yen is historically weak so vs. the USD/EUR/GBP/AUD exchange rate means excellent bang for your buck.

I’m sounding like a broken record now but safety in Asia really (say it with me!) varies. by. region.

You’ll find some of the safest countries in the world here, like Japan and Singapore, as well as areas that are completely closed to tourism due to political instability.

You really need to look up the safety situation for the specific destinations on your list, rather than trusting sweeping generalisations or making assumptions based on stereotypes.