Asia Travel Guides: Temples, Street Food, and the Trip That Changes You
Cherry blossoms in Kyoto, night markets in Bangkok, sunrise over Angkor Wat. Asia is huge, wildly varied, and honestly the best value your travel money will ever get. Pick a country below and start planning.
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The Biggest, Boldest Continent on Earth
Here is the thing about Asia. You cannot really "do" it in one trip. It is nearly 50 countries, thousands of languages, and everything from neon megacities to islands where the only sound is the tide. I have watched the sun come up over Angkor Wat and eaten the best noodles of my life from a plastic stool on a Bangkok pavement. This hub is your jumping-off point. Real routes, honest costs, and the little lessons that save you time, money, and the odd bout of food regret.
- 10 countriesCovered on this hub
- eVisa mostlyQuick online entry
- £25 / $34 / ™29SE Asia daily, from
- Nov to AprDry-season sweet spot
- Street food kingMeals from £1 / $1.30 / €1.20
Best Time to Visit Asia
Asia is so big the seasons barely agree with each other. The one rule worth knowing? Dodge the monsoon, and everything else falls into place.
Dry Season
Nov to AprThe big one for Southeast Asia. Blue skies, low humidity, and beach weather across Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Also peak season, so book ahead and expect company.
Cherry Blossom
Mar to AprJapan goes pink for a few magical weeks. Worth planning a whole trip around, honestly. Prices spike and it books out fast, but the sakura is genuinely a bucket-list thing.
Monsoon
May to OctHeavy afternoon downpours, then it clears. Fewer crowds, lower prices, and lush green everywhere. Not the disaster people fear, just pack a poncho and stay flexible.
Shoulder
Oct & MayThe sweet spot most people miss. Weather is settling either side of peak, prices dip, and the crowds thin out. My favourite window for East Asia, especially the autumn colours.
What to Expect, Region by Region
Asia splits into a few very different worlds. Most first trips pick one and go deep.
Southeast Asia
The backpacker classic, and for good reason. Islands, street food, temples, and your budget stretches further here than almost anywhere on the planet.
East Asia
High-speed trains, ancient temples, and cities from the future. Pricier than the southeast, but the culture, food, and precision are second to none.
South Asia
Full-on, in the best way. Colour, chaos, incredible food, and history stacked everywhere you look. India alone could take a lifetime to explore.
The Middle East
Where old-world souks meet record-breaking skylines. Desert safaris, luxury stopovers, and warm winters when the rest of Asia is either baking or soaked.
Guides by Country
Every Asian destination we cover, from temple-strewn Cambodia to the skyscrapers of the UAE. Each card opens that country's full hub of guides, itineraries, and budgets.
Ready to Book the Big Stuff?
Two searches sort most of any Asia trip: where you'll sleep and how you'll get there.
Find Your Stay
Hostels from £6 / $8 / €7 a night in Southeast Asia, plus boutique hotels and beach resorts. Compare thousands of places in one search.
Search Hotels on Booking.comGrab a Flight Deal
Budget carriers hop between Asian cities from around £25 / $34 / €29 one way. Compare routes and dates before prices climb.
Compare Flight DealsTop 5 Things to See and Do in Asia
Famous for a reason. Here's our honest take on five experiences that live up to every bit of the hype.
Temples of Kyoto, Japan
Thousands of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari, golden pavilions, and moss gardens that feel like a held breath. Go early, before the coach tours, and Kyoto rewards you with something close to silence.
Explore our Japan guides →Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The largest religious monument on Earth, and somehow it still sneaks up on you at sunrise. Give it a full day, hire a tuk-tuk, and don't skip the jungle-swallowed ruins of Ta Prohm.
Explore our Cambodia guides →Thailand's Islands
Limestone karsts, bath-warm water, and beaches that ruin every other beach for you. Party on Koh Phangan or vanish to somewhere quiet like Koh Lanta. Both are the right answer.
Explore our Thailand guides →The Great Wall of China
Photos genuinely don't prepare you. It snakes over mountains as far as you can see. Skip the packed Badaling section and head somewhere wilder like Jinshanling for the wall almost to yourself.
Explore our China guides →Dubai, UAE
A city that basically dares you not to be impressed. The world's tallest building, indoor ski slopes, desert safaris at dusk, then a spice souk that's barely changed in a century. Gloriously over the top.
Explore our UAE guides →Latest Asia Guides
Our newest articles, itineraries, and city guides from across the continent.
Asia Travel Resources
The booking sites and tools we actually use on our own trips. No filler, just what works.
Hostels
Dorm beds and private rooms across every Asian city, with millions of traveller reviews.
Search Hostelworld →Hotels & Resorts
Our go-to for everything from £6 / $8 / €7 guesthouses to beach resorts.
Search Booking.com →Car Hire
Compare rental prices across Asia. Handy for road trips in places like Malaysia or the UAE.
Compare with DiscoverCars →Tours & Activities
Temple tours, cooking classes, and day trips in every major Asian city.
Browse GetYourGuide →eSIM Data
Land connected. One eSIM covers most of Asia from about £4 / $5.50 / €4.70.
Get an Airalo eSIM →Travel Insurance
Non-negotiable in Asia. Medical bills and stolen phones happen, and good cover is cheap.
Compare with VisitorsCoverage →Flight Compensation
Delayed or cancelled flight into or out of Asia? You might be owed money. Quick to check.
Check with CompensAIR →Airport Transfers
Pre-book a driver and skip the taxi haggle after a long-haul flight. Worth every penny.
Book a Transfer →When Travel Goes Sideways
Lost passports, dodgy tuk-tuk scams, cancelled flights. It happens. Here's how to handle it like a pro.
Travel Problems Hub
From missed connections to lost luggage, the fixes for travel's most common headaches.
Visit the Hub
Robbed Abroad?
The exact steps to take in the first 24 hours after a theft, from police reports to emergency cash.
Read the Guide
Health & Wellbeing
Jet lag, dodgy tummies, and staying healthy on the road. The stuff that keeps a trip on track.
Stay WellAsia Travel FAQs
The questions we get asked most, answered honestly.
Do I need a visa to travel around Asia?
It depends on the country, but most are easy. Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore are visa-free for a lot of nationalities on arrival. Vietnam, Cambodia, and India run simple eVisa systems you sort online in advance. Japan is visa-free for most Western passports for short stays. China and Saudi Arabia need a bit more paperwork. Always check the official government site before you fly, since rules shift.
When is the best time to visit Asia?
For Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia), aim for the dry season, roughly November to April. For Japan, spring (cherry blossom, March to April) and autumn (October to November) are magic. India is best November to March before the heat cranks up. The Middle East is most comfortable in winter. The one thing to dodge nearly everywhere is peak monsoon.
How much does Asia cost per day?
Southeast Asia is the budget champion. Backpackers get by on around £25 / $34 / €29 a day, and even comfortable mid-range travel runs about £60 / $80 / €70. Japan and Singapore are pricier, closer to £110 / $148 / €128 a day mid-range. The UAE swings on how much luxury you chase. Street food, local transport, and guesthouses are where the real savings live.
Is Asia safe for travellers?
Broadly, yes. Violent crime against tourists is rare across most of Asia, and places like Japan and Singapore are among the safest anywhere. The everyday risks are petty stuff: pickpockets in crowds, taxi and tuk-tuk overcharging, and the odd tourist scam. Keep your wits about you, agree fares upfront, and you'll almost certainly be fine.
Can I drink the tap water in Asia?
Mostly no, so don't risk it. Japan, Singapore, and parts of the UAE have safe tap water, but across most of Southeast Asia and South Asia you should stick to bottled or filtered. Better still, bring a reusable bottle with a built-in filter. Saves money, saves plastic, and saves you a very bad afternoon.
What vaccinations do I need for Asia?
It varies by country and region, so this is one to sort early. Routine jabs like Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended across much of Asia, and some areas suggest Japanese encephalitis or rabies cover. Malaria tablets matter in certain regions too. Book a travel clinic or GP appointment six to eight weeks before you go, and always check the latest official health advice for your specific route.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Take the pressure off. Our Start Here page walks you through planning step by step, or browse every destination we cover and see what grabs you.