Which countries does TalkTravel group under Asia?

27 countries in five subregions: nine in Southeast Asia, five in East Asia, five in South Asia, five in Central Asia and three in the Caucasus. Added to that are 15 islands, regions and special administrative zones such as Bali, Hong Kong or Palawan, which have their own pages.

Why are the Middle East and Myanmar missing from this page?

The Middle East — for example the Arabian Peninsula or Turkey — belongs to its own world regions on TalkTravel, as does the Asian part of Russia. TalkTravel does not treat Myanmar as a separate destination.

How does Southeast Asia differ from East Asia as a destination?

Southeast Asia is tropical, affordable and densely served for backpacking, with a rainy season instead of a winter. East Asia has four distinct seasons, is on average more expensive, and leans more toward cultural trips and city breaks.

When is the best time to visit Southeast Asia?

On the mainland, mostly November to February, when the dry season brings cooler temperatures. Bali and Lombok, south of the equator, run in the opposite direction and are driest between April and October.

When should you visit the Himalaya for trekking?

Before the monsoon (March to May) or after it (October and November), when trails are dry and visibility of the eight-thousanders is clearest. From June to September, rain and landslides make many trekking routes unattractive.

Do you need a visa for Thailand?

For most nationalities Thailand is visa-free for tourist stays, currently up to 30 days (as of September 2026). Anyone wanting to stay longer needs a visa in advance; the rules change, so check with the embassy before departure.

How complicated is entry to Turkmenistan?

The most complicated in all of Asia: a letter of invitation from an agency and a licensed guide for the entire trip are required, unless you stay exclusively in Ashgabat. Spontaneous travel is therefore practically ruled out.

How expensive is a trip to Bhutan?

In addition to flights and accommodation, a Sustainable Development Fee of 100 USD per person per night applies (as of September 2026). Booking must always go through a licensed operator as well.

What does admission to Angkor cost?

The official Angkor pass costs 37 USD for one day, 62 USD for three days within a week, and 72 USD for seven days within a month. Tickets from outside the official sales points are invalid.

What does a permit for the Everest Base Camp trek cost?

The Sagarmatha National Park permit costs around 23 USD, plus a similarly sized Khumbu-Pasang-Lhamu fee — around 45 USD together, not including guide, porter or accommodation.

Can Central Asia be visited without a visa?

Partly: Uzbekistan allows over 90 nationalities visa-free entry for up to 30 days, and Kazakhstan does the same for 54 nationalities, also for 30 days. Turkmenistan, by contrast, always requires a letter of invitation and a mandatory guide.

Which airports connect Asia most densely?

Seoul-Incheon with 158 international destinations, Hong Kong with around 220 destinations worldwide, and Singapore-Changi with roughly 170 cities in more than 100 countries are the three most connected hubs in the region.

Can Japan and South Korea be combined in one trip?

Yes, both countries are closely linked by multiple airports and ferry connections. Ten to 18 days is typical, split between Tokyo or Kyoto and Seoul or Busan.

How does the Caucasus differ from Central Asia?

The Caucasus is smaller in scale, milder in climate and simpler for entry — Georgia and Armenia are visa-free for most western nationalities. Central Asia is larger in scale, more continental, and ranges from easily accessible Uzbekistan to heavily regulated Turkmenistan.

Is malaria common in Asia?

Mainly in rural areas of Southeast Asia, India and parts of Central Asia away from the major cities, while dengue fever occurs year-round in tropical big cities. Major cities such as Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur are considered largely malaria-free.

From what altitude do altitude problems occur in the Himalaya?

Depending on constitution, from around 2,500 to 3,000 m, regardless of age or fitness. A slow ascent with acclimatization days therefore belongs in any trekking plan for Nepal, Bhutan or the high passes of Central Asia.

Where in Asia does English get you furthest?

In Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Philippines, English is an official or working language and therefore reliable in everyday life. In rural parts of China, Japan, Central Asia and the Caucasus it is barely spoken.

Which trip types suit Central Asia?

Above all Silk Road round trips between Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent, as well as trekking in Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan and Tajikistan's Pamir. Beach or seaside holidays are absent, since all five countries are landlocked or touch only the Caspian Sea.

Why is the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan closed?

Because of the decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, there is no open border crossing between the two countries. A round trip through the whole Caucasus therefore travels via Georgia as a hub.

Which Asian countries are considered especially affordable?

Laos, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan rank among the cheapest destinations worldwide. The most expensive, by contrast, are the Maldives and Bhutan with its mandatory fee, as well as Japan and Singapore for accommodation and daily spending.

Do you need a visa for the Maldives?

No, all visitors receive a free visa on arrival for up to 30 days, provided a return ticket and sufficient funds, or a hotel or resort booking, can be shown.

Asia: Best Time to Visit, Countries, Routes and Visas

What does Asia cover as a travel destination?

In short

This page covers 27 countries in five subregions: Southeast Asia (9 countries), East Asia (5 countries), South Asia (5 countries), Central Asia (5 countries) and the Caucasus (3 countries). Added to that are 15 islands, regions and special administrative zones such as Bali, Hong Kong or Palawan, which have their own pages because they differ markedly from their host country.

The continent is too large for a single trip: from Baku on the Caspian Sea to Tokyo it is roughly 7,500 km as the crow flies, and from Kathmandu in the Himalaya to Denpasar on Bali nearly 5,500 km. Five time zones, several dozen major national languages and climate zones ranging from tropical rainforest to semi-desert all sit within this area.

TalkTravel therefore groups the 42 destinations into five subregions, each with its own comparison page: Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Caucasus. This page compares the five subregions with each other and shows how a trip can be planned across national borders.

What isn't covered here

The Middle East (for example the Arabian Peninsula, Israel, Jordan, Iraq or Turkey) and the Asian part of Russia are geographically part of the continent, but on TalkTravel they belong to their own world regions not covered here. Myanmar is also missing, since TalkTravel does not treat it as a separate destination.

The order of subregions on this page follows no ranking; it simply follows a geographic logic from southeast to northwest.

How do Asia's five subregions differ?

In short

The five subregions differ more sharply than almost anywhere else: tropical Southeast Asia with a dense backpacker network, temperate East Asia with high culture and megacities, the Himalaya and island world of South Asia, the steppes and deserts of Central Asia along the Silk Road, and the mountainous Caucasus between the Black and Caspian Seas. Entry requirements likewise range from visa-free to a mandatory guide.

The five subregions compared; entry requirements as of 19 September 2026
Subregion	Character	Best months	Main trip types	Entry (examples)	Price level
Southeast Asia	tropical island worlds, Buddhist temple cities, ASEAN megacities	mainland mostly Nov.–Feb., Bali/Lombok mostly Apr.–Oct.	backpacking, beach, diving, city break in Singapore	mostly visa-free 30 days; Thailand visa-free 30 days	low to moderate
East Asia	megacities, temple and palace complexes, four seasons	spring (cherry blossom) and autumn	cultural trip, city break, culinary travel	Japan/South Korea/Taiwan visa-free; China e-visa or 240-hour transit	moderate to high
South Asia	Himalayan eight-thousanders, subcontinent, coral islands	mostly Oct.–Apr., Himalaya treks Oct./Nov. and Mar.–May	trekking, cultural trip to India, Maldives islands	India/Sri Lanka e-visa, Nepal visa on arrival, Bhutan only via operator	low (Nepal) to very high (Maldives, Bhutan)
Central Asia	Silk Road cities, steppe, Tian Shan and Pamir	Apr.–Jun. and Sept.–Oct.	Silk Road round trip, trekking	Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan largely visa-free; Turkmenistan letter of invitation + mandatory guide	low to moderate
Caucasus	wine growing, monastery and mountain villages between two seas	May–Jun. and Sept.–Oct.	Caucasus round trip, hiking, wine trip	Georgia/Armenia visa-free; Azerbaijan ASAN e-visa	low to moderate

Entry requirements vary the most: Georgia, Japan or Malaysia can be visited without any formalities, Bhutan requires a licensed operator, and Turkmenistan requires a letter of invitation together with a mandatory guide. In between sit e-visa countries such as Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, where the application takes just a few minutes online.

The price level also varies enormously: Laos, Cambodia or Kyrgyzstan are among the cheapest destinations worldwide, while Japan, Singapore and above all the Maldives rank among the most expensive in Asia.

Sources: VisasNews · National Immigration Administration of China · Tourism Council of Bhutan

When is the best time to travel to Asia?

In short

There is no single best time for all of Asia, because two monsoon systems, East Asia's temperate climate and the dry continental climate of Central Asia and the Caucasus overlap. The southwest monsoon brings rain to South and Southeast Asia from June to September, and the northeast monsoon reverses the wind direction from October to December.

Southeast Asia: two monsoon systems

On the mainland — Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos — the southwest monsoon brings rain from May to October, while the cooler dry season runs from November to February. South of the equator, in Indonesia, the pattern reverses: Bali and Lombok are drier from April to October, and the rainy season falls between November and March.

Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Denpasar and Kuala Lumpur

Bangkok	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	33	34	35	36	36	35	34	34	33	33	34	33
Low °C	24	25	27	28	27	27	26	26	26	25	25	24
Rainfall mm	16	14	47	75	164	165	169	181	278	203	39	10

Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	32	34	35	35	35	33	33	33	32	32	33	32
Low °C	23	23	25	26	26	25	25	25	25	24	24	23
Rainfall mm	11	6	13	41	155	212	207	191	190	215	100	32

Denpasar/Kuta	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	31	31	31	31	30	30	29	29	30	31	31	31
Low °C	26	25	26	26	26	25	25	25	25	25	26	26
Rainfall mm	317	252	201	123	82	53	40	24	38	57	134	272

Kuala Lumpur	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	33	34	34	34	34	34	33	33	33	33	32	32
Low °C	24	24	25	25	25	25	25	25	24	24	24	24
Rainfall mm	206	157	194	250	172	155	169	184	195	263	314	263

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BANGKOK METROPOLIS (8 km, 4 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station TAN SON NHAT INTL (7 km, 10 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BALI INTL / I GUSTI NGURAH RAI (10 km, 4 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH INTL (16 km, 27 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

East Asia: four seasons and typhoons

Beijing and Seoul have cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers; the rainy season (Meiyu in China, Jangma in Korea) falls in June and July. Southern Japan and Taiwan also sit within the typhoon season from July to October. Spring (cherry blossom) and autumn (foliage) are the most popular seasons, when rain and temperature extremes are less common.

Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul and Taipei

Tokio	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	10	10	14	18	23	26	30	31	28	22	17	12
Low °C	5	5	9	14	19	22	26	27	24	18	13	8
Rainfall mm	80	75	124	135	148	185	153	134	211	246	120	83

Peking	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	3	6	15	22	28	32	33	32	27	20	11	4
Low °C	-10	-7	0	7	13	19	22	21	15	6	-1	-8
Rainfall mm	2	6	9	24	38	84	151	109	64	30	14	2

Seoul	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	2	5	12	18	24	28	30	31	27	20	12	3
Low °C	-7	-4	2	8	13	19	23	23	18	10	3	-5
Rainfall mm	20	31	37	72	84	116	361	260	138	53	47	22

Taipeh	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	20	21	23	27	30	33	35	34	32	28	25	21
Low °C	14	15	16	20	23	26	27	27	25	23	20	16
Rainfall mm	99	92	131	126	228	262	162	263	252	116	115	100

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ICHIGAYA (3 km, 31 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BEIJING - CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (25 km, 35 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SEOUL CITY (2 km, 87 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SONGSHAN (4 km, 6 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Himalaya and South Asia: altitude and monsoon at once

In Nepal and Bhutan, the monsoon dictates the trekking windows: before the monsoon (March to May) rhododendrons bloom, after the monsoon (October and November) visibility of the eight-thousanders is clearest; from June to September rain, leeches and landslides make many trails unattractive. India's lowlands are most pleasant from October to March, while the Maldives, with a dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November, run slightly opposite to Sri Lanka's west coast.

Kathmandu, Delhi, Colombo and Thimphu

Kathmandu	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	18	21	25	28	28	29	28	29	28	27	23	19
Low °C	3	6	10	13	16	19	20	20	19	14	9	5
Rainfall mm	10	17	21	37	89	170	280	238	169	45	3	5

Delhi	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	20	25	31	37	40	40	36	35	35	34	29	23
Low °C	8	11	16	21	25	28	27	27	25	20	13	8
Rainfall mm	16	22	18	15	33	80	217	203	121	13	4	8

Colombo	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	31	32	32	32	32	31	31	31	30	30	31	31
Low °C	23	24	25	25	26	26	26	26	26	25	24	24
Rainfall mm	76	71	115	226	224	143	99	113	162	292	305	175

Thimphu	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	14	15	18	21	23	26	26	26	25	23	20	16
Low °C	-2	-0	4	8	11	16	17	16	15	9	2	-1
Rainfall mm	5	12	32	60	108	153	259	206	134	51	3	2

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station TRIBHUVAN INTL (4 km, 1338 m), auf 1400 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SAFDARJUNG (3 km, 215 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station COLOMBO (3 km, 7 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PARO (22 km, 2235 m), auf 2320 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Central Asia and the Caucasus: continental and dry

Tashkent, Almaty and Dushanbe have hot, dry summers above 35 °C and cold winters; the most pleasant travel windows are spring (April to June) and early autumn (September, October), before desert heat or the cold of the mountain passes make the routes harder going. The Caucasus is milder: Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan have warm, dry summers and cool but rarely severe winters, while mountain regions such as Svaneti see snow into May.

Tashkent, Almaty, Bishkek and Ashgabat

Taschkent	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	8	10	17	23	29	35	37	35	30	22	14	9
Low °C	-2	-0	5	10	15	19	21	19	14	8	2	-1
Rainfall mm	46	59	62	56	31	13	4	3	4	26	53	56

Almaty	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	1	3	12	19	24	29	32	31	25	17	8	2
Low °C	-7	-6	2	8	12	17	20	18	13	6	-1	-6
Rainfall mm	22	29	46	79	68	50	34	28	24	38	39	27

Bischkek	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	4	5	13	20	25	31	34	32	26	18	10	4
Low °C	-6	-5	2	8	12	17	19	17	12	6	-1	-6
Rainfall mm	24	30	42	61	48	29	20	13	15	36	38	30

Aschgabat	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	10	11	18	25	31	37	39	37	32	24	16	10
Low °C	-0	1	6	12	18	23	25	23	18	11	4	0
Rainfall mm	16	29	38	32	18	5	5	2	3	10	22	16

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station YUZHNY / TASHKENT ISLAM KARIMOV INTL (6 km, 432 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ALMATY (7 km, 851 m), auf 800 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BISHKEK (4 km, 760 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ASHGABAT (4 km, 211 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Tbilisi, Batumi, Yerevan and Baku

Tiflis	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	8	9	13	19	24	30	32	33	27	20	14	9
Low °C	0	1	4	9	14	18	21	21	17	11	5	2
Rainfall mm	18	17	28	49	58	49	27	27	25	38	25	17

Batumi	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	12	12	14	17	21	26	28	29	26	22	17	15
Low °C	5	5	7	9	14	20	22	23	19	15	11	8
Rainfall mm	115	88	96	68	61	70	68	72	121	140	139	127

Jerewan	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	3	7	13	20	25	31	34	34	29	20	12	5
Low °C	-7	-5	0	6	10	15	19	19	13	6	-1	-5
Rainfall mm	19	16	29	47	60	44	29	21	18	33	20	18

Baku	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	8	8	12	18	24	30	32	33	27	20	14	11
Low °C	2	2	4	8	14	20	22	22	18	13	8	5
Rainfall mm	16	15	16	13	10	6	3	4	13	22	25	17

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station TBILISI / LOCHINI AIRPORT (4 km, 427 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BATUMI (5 km, 11 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ZVARTNOTS (11 km, 865 m), auf 996 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station HEYDAR ALIYEV (21 km, 3 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Where to go when: a calendar by trip type

Where to go when in Asia, by trip type
Trip type	January to March	April to June	July to September	October to December
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos (mainland)	dry until February	hot, first rain from May	rainy season	dry from October/November
Bali, Lombok, Java	rainy season	drier from April	dry season, high season	rainy season from November
Japan, South Korea, China (coast)	cold, dry	cherry blossom, then Meiyu rains	hot, typhoon season from July	autumn foliage, dry
Nepal, Bhutan (trekking)	cold, clear visibility	pre-monsoon, rhododendrons	monsoon, trails often impassable	post-monsoon, best visibility
India, Sri Lanka	dry, cooler	hot before the monsoon	southwest monsoon	northeast monsoon on the east coast
Maldives	dry season	transition	rainy season, lower prices	transition, dry from December
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan	cold	mild, ideal travel season	hot, can exceed 35 °C	mild in September/October
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan	cold in the mountains	mild, green	warm to hot	mild in September/October

Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia

Which countries and regions belong to Asia, and what do they offer?

In short

The destinations can be grouped into five clusters: tropical Southeast Asia with nine countries, temperate East Asia with five countries and two special administrative zones, the Himalayan and island region of South Asia, the five countries of Central Asia along the Silk Road, and the three-part Caucasus. Nearly every destination has its own page, as do 15 islands and regions that differ markedly from their host country.

Southeast Asia: mainland and island world

On the mainland sit Thailand with Bangkok and the north around Chiang Mai, Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia with Angkor, and Laos along the Mekong. Maritime Southeast Asia includes Malaysia with the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo, the city-state Singapore, the Philippines with the islands Palawan and the Visayas, plus the small sultanate of Brunei.

Indonesia is a continent unto itself, made up of over 17,000 islands; Bali, Lombok, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Indonesian Papua with the reefs off Raja Ampat each have their own page. Every one of these islands has its own climate, its own culture and often its own regional language, which is why they are not folded into the country article for Indonesia on TalkTravel. The whole subregion is compared in detail on the Southeast Asia page.

East Asia: high culture and megacities

China links the Great Wall, Xi'an's Terracotta Army and Shanghai's skyline; Japan ranges from Tokyo and Kyoto to the islands of Hokkaido and Okinawa. South Korea and Taiwan are compact and easy to travel by rail, while Mongolia is instead a land of steppe and yurts. Added to that are the special administrative zones Hong Kong and Macau, both separate customs and entry territories of China. Details are compared on the East Asia page.

South Asia: Himalaya, subcontinent and atolls

India alone covers desert, coast, big cities and the Himalayan foothills; Nepal and Bhutan sit directly in the high mountains with Kathmandu, Pokhara, Thimphu and Paro. Sri Lanka links tea plantations, national parks and beaches over short distances, while the Maldives comprise around 1,190 coral islands across 26 atolls. The comparison is on the South Asia page.

Central Asia: the Silk Road

Uzbekistan with Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva is the tourist heart of the region; Kazakhstan is by far the largest of the five countries. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are mountain nations for trekking in the Tian Shan and Pamir, while Turkmenistan, with the Karakum desert and the ghost-town feel of Ashgabat, remains the hardest to access. Details on the Central Asia page.

Caucasus: between two seas

Georgia combines wine growing in Kakheti, mountain villages in Svaneti and the Black Sea coast around Batumi; Armenia is shaped by monasteries and the view of Mount Ararat from Yerevan. Azerbaijan ranges from Baku's old town on the Caspian Sea to the fire mountains. All three countries are small enough to link on foot, by rail or by rental car in two to three weeks, provided the route runs through Georgia as a hub. The comparison of all three countries is on the Caucasus page.

Sources: UNESCO

Which trip types suit which destination in Asia?

In short

Backpacking is most densely organized in Southeast Asia, cultural trips fit naturally in Japan and China, and trekking leads to Nepal, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Central Asia suits round trips along the Silk Road, the Caucasus suits compact three-country tours, and beach or diving trips are best found among the Philippines, Indonesia and the Maldives.

Backpacking and island hopping

Southeast Asia has Asia's densest backpacking network: night buses, budget airlines and a continuous chain of guesthouses connect Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Island hopping is just as possible in the Philippines between Palawan and the Visayas as it is between Bali, Lombok and the offshore Gili Islands.

Cultural trip and cities

Japan and China offer the densest sequence of World Heritage sites and megacities: Kyoto's temples, Xi'an's Terracotta Army or the Forbidden City in Beijing can all be linked by high-speed rail. City breaks also work well for Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo, all of which stand on their own as destinations for four to six days.

Trekking and altitude

The Himalaya remains the biggest trekking destination: from the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal to shorter day tours in Bhutan, always booked with a licensed guide. In Central Asia, trekking routes lead through Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan mountains and Tajikistan's Pamir, considerably less crowded than the Himalaya.

Silk Road and desert

The classic Silk Road route follows the caravanserais and madrasas from Khiva via Bukhara and Samarkand to Tashkent, often with a detour to Almaty or into the Kyzylkum desert. Turkmenistan's Karakum desert, with the burning gas crater of Darvaza, is reachable only with a mandatory guide.

Caucasus round trip

Georgia, Armenia and, partly, Azerbaijan can be combined into a round trip: wine tastings in Kakheti, monastery complexes near Yerevan and Baku's old town all lie within a few hours' drive of each other. Hiking in Svaneti and around Mount Kazbek rounds out the cultural stops.

Beach, diving and islands

For pure beach and diving holidays, Bali, Lombok, the Philippine Visayas and Palawan, and the Maldives are all good choices; Sabah and Indonesian Papua, with Sipadan and Raja Ampat, rank among the most species-rich diving areas on Earth. Less suited to beach holidays are the four landlocked states of Central Asia outside Kazakhstan's Caspian coast, where the nearest sea coast is often hundreds of kilometers away.

Which multi-country routes are classics in Asia?

In short

Proven routes are ones where neighboring countries make logical sense: the mainland Southeast Asia classic Thailand–Cambodia–Vietnam, Japan with South Korea, Nepal with Bhutan, the Silk Road through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and the Caucasus across three countries. Duration depends on the number of stops and the distances between them.

Cross-border routes in Asia
Route	Countries	Character	Typical duration
Mainland Southeast Asia	Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam	Bangkok, Angkor, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City	2 to 4 weeks
Japan and South Korea	Japan, South Korea	Tokyo/Kyoto and Seoul/Busan linked by flight or ferry	10 to 18 days
Himalaya combination	Nepal, Bhutan	Kathmandu, Pokhara, Thimphu, Paro	10 to 14 days
Silk Road	Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan	Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Almaty	12 to 16 days
Caucasus triangle	Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan	Tbilisi, Kakheti, Yerevan, Baku	10 to 14 days
Indonesian archipelago	Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Java)	temples, volcanoes, beaches, Gili Islands	10 to 16 days

Mainland Southeast Asia: overland or short flights

Between Bangkok, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, travelers alternate between overland buses, short-haul flights and, in Vietnam, the night train. The Thailand–Cambodia border at Poipet is considered cumbersome, so many travelers instead take a short flight to Siem Reap.

Nepal and Bhutan: independent first, then guided

Nepal can be traveled independently, while Bhutan requires a licensed operator and the Sustainable Development Fee. The usual sequence is therefore Nepal on your own first, followed by the flight from Kathmandu to Paro as part of a booked Bhutan program.

Silk Road: one route, two countries

Uzbekistan's three cities Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand sit on a continuous rail line; from Tashkent, Almaty in Kazakhstan is a natural detour across the border at Chernyayevka. Turkmenistan is hard to add spontaneously because of the mandatory guide requirement.

Caucasus: short distances, many borders

Georgia and Armenia are directly connected, whereas the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been closed for decades due to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh; anyone wanting to link all three countries travels via Georgia as a hub. Azerbaijan's western border with Armenia therefore also remains closed to through traffic, while the crossing between Georgia and Azerbaijan at Lagodekhi works without a detour.

Sources: Tourism Council of Bhutan

Which airports and hubs serve travel to Asia?

In short

The densest hubs are in East and Southeast Asia: Seoul-Incheon connects 158 international destinations, Hong Kong around 220 destinations worldwide, and Singapore-Changi over 100 airlines with roughly 170 cities. South Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus are served by smaller but growing hubs such as Delhi, Tashkent, Almaty and Tbilisi.

Major hubs in Asia (selection), as of September 2026
Hub	Subregion	Key figure	Note
Singapore-Changi (SIN)	Southeast Asia	over 100 airlines, roughly 170 cities in more than 100 countries	most important ASEAN hub
Seoul-Incheon (ICN)	East Asia	158 international destinations, 101 airlines	Asia's most connected airport, ahead of Hong Kong and Narita
Hong Kong (HKG)	East Asia	over 100 airlines, around 220 destinations worldwide	customs and entry territory separate from mainland China
Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (BKK)	Southeast Asia	Thai Airways headquarters, Bangkok Airways base	transfer point for mainland Indochina
Delhi (DEL)	South Asia	India's largest airport	main nonstop gateway to North India and the western Himalaya
Tashkent (TAS) and Almaty (ALA)	Central Asia	the region's central hubs	link Central Asia internally and with the Middle East
Tbilisi (TBS)	Caucasus	the region's main nonstop gateway	connects Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan with Europe

Within Asia, budget airlines such as AirAsia, VietJet, Scoot and IndiGo connect the major cities frequently and cheaply; for remote destinations such as the Maldives, Indonesian Papua or Bhutan, short-haul flights on smaller aircraft often remain the only option.

The time zones span five hours: the Caucasus sits at UTC+4 year-round, Central and South Asia mostly at UTC+5 to UTC+6, mainland Southeast Asia at UTC+7, maritime Southeast Asia and East Asia at UTC+8, and Japan, South Korea and Indonesian Papua at UTC+9. None of the countries covered here change their clocks during the year.

Sources: Wikipedia · Korea JoongAng Daily · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia

What applies for entry and health in Asia?

In short

Entry requirements range from visa-free to a mandatory guide: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Georgia and Armenia require no visa for holidays, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan offer an online e-visa, and Bhutan and Turkmenistan can only be visited through a licensed operator. On the health side, mosquito protection in the lowlands and altitude adjustment in the Himalaya are the main concerns.

Entry by subregion, selected countries

Entry rules by country or territory, as of September 2026
Country or territory	Rule for holiday travel
Thailand	visa-free up to 30 days for most nationalities
Vietnam	e-visa for all nationalities, up to 90 days, from 25 USD (single entry)
China	240-hour transit visa-free for 57 nationalities via 65 ports in 24 provinces; otherwise a visa is required
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan	visa-free for short tourist stays
India	e-visa from 25 USD for 30 days
Nepal	visa on arrival: 30 USD (15 days), 50 USD (30 days), 125 USD (90 days)
Sri Lanka	ETA 50 USD online, 60 USD on arrival; free for 30 days for around 40 nationalities
Bhutan	only through a licensed operator, plus a Sustainable Development Fee of 100 USD per night
Maldives	free visa on arrival for up to 30 days
Uzbekistan	visa-free for over 90 nationalities up to 30 days, otherwise e-visa from 20 USD
Kazakhstan	visa-free for 54 nationalities for 30 days
Turkmenistan	letter of invitation and a licensed guide mandatory for the entire trip
Georgia, Armenia	visa-free for most western nationalities
Azerbaijan	ASAN e-visa, 25 USD plus 5 USD service fee, up to 30 days

Health: mosquitoes, altitude, water

Malaria occurs mainly in rural areas of Southeast Asia, India and large parts of Central Asia away from the major cities, while dengue fever is possible year-round in tropical cities. No country covered here generally requires a yellow fever vaccination, but it is required on entry from a yellow-fever-risk area, for instance parts of Africa or South America.

In the Himalaya, altitude sickness can begin, depending on constitution, from around 2,500 to 3,000 m; on the way to Pokhara, Lhasa or high passes in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, a slow ascent belongs in the planning regardless of age or fitness.

Entry and vaccination rules can change at short notice, including the permitted length of a visa-free stay. The current information from the embassies and immigration authorities of the destination countries, together with pre-departure travel health advice, is always the authoritative source.

Sources: VisasNews · KPMG · Vietnam National Administration of Tourism · National Immigration Administration of China · Indian Visa Online, Ministry of Home Affairs · The Longest Way Home · Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization · Tourism Council of Bhutan · Maldives Immigration · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan (gov.uz) · Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Advantour · Wikipedia

What does a trip through Asia cost?

In short

There is no single price level, and this page deliberately does not quote daily budgets. What is documented are fixed items: the Angkor pass costs 37 to 72 USD, Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee is 100 USD per night, and the national park permit for the Everest region is around 45 USD (as of September 2026).

Selected admission fees and charges for foreign adults, as of September 2026
Item	Price	Note
Angkor Archaeological Park, 1 day	37 USD	access to over 50 temple complexes
Angkor Archaeological Park, 3 days	62 USD	usable within 7 days
Angkor Archaeological Park, 7 days	72 USD	usable within 30 days
Bhutan, Sustainable Development Fee	100 USD per night	as of September 2026, children aged 6–12 pay half the rate
Sagarmatha National Park (Everest region)	around 23 USD	plus the Khumbu-Pasang-Lhamu fee, together around 45 USD
Nepal, visa on arrival 30 days	50 USD	cash on arrival
Vietnam, e-visa	from 25 USD	single entry, up to 90 days
Azerbaijan, ASAN e-visa	25 USD plus 5 USD fee	up to 30 days

Price levels compared

Laos, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan rank among the cheapest destinations in the world; accommodation and local food there often cost a fraction of what is typical in Singapore, Japan or Hong Kong. The most expensive are the Maldives, where the transfer boats between airport and resort alone can cost several hundred USD, and Bhutan with its mandatory fee.

Currencies

Almost every country has its own currency, from the baht in Thailand to the yen in Japan to the som in Kyrgyzstan; Cambodia accepts US dollars alongside its own currency in many places. In Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and parts of Central Asia, card payments are rare outside the major cities, and cash remains the usual means of payment there.

Sources: Angkor Enterprise · Tourism Council of Bhutan · Travel Himalaya Nepal · The Longest Way Home · Vietnam National Administration of Tourism · Wikipedia

Which cultures, languages and religions shape Asia?

In short

Theravada Buddhism shapes mainland Southeast Asia, Islam shapes Indonesia, Malaysia, Central Asia and Azerbaijan, Hinduism shapes India and Bali, and Confucianism, Buddhism and Shinto overlap in East Asia. Added to that are Christian-influenced societies such as the Philippines, Armenia and Georgia, whose churches rank among the oldest in the world.

The linguistic diversity is as large as the continent itself: India officially recognizes more than 20 languages, Indonesia counts over 700 regional languages alongside the shared Bahasa Indonesia, and the Caucasus alone has three of its own writing systems for Georgian, Armenian and the neighboring languages.

World Heritage sites cluster in almost every subregion: Angkor in Cambodia, the old towns of Samarkand and Bukhara on the Silk Road, Kyoto and the Forbidden City in East Asia, Kathmandu's temple squares and the monastic landscapes of Armenia and Georgia. As of mid-2026, UNESCO listed 1,199 World Heritage sites worldwide, a large share of them in Asia.

Everyday life and etiquette

In Southeast Asia, the head is considered sacred and the sole of the foot an impure body part — neither should be pointed at with the feet. In Japan and South Korea a slight bow is the customary greeting, while in Central Asia and the Caucasus an extensive hospitality feast with many toasts is part of welcoming a guest. Religious sites almost everywhere require covered shoulders and knees, and mosques additionally require shoes to be removed.

English gets you different distances in different places: in Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Philippines it is an official or working language, while in rural parts of China, Japan, Central Asia and the Caucasus it is barely spoken, so a translation app or a few phrases of the local language make everyday travel easier.

Sources: UNESCO

What does Asia cover as a travel destination?

What isn't covered here

How do Asia's five subregions differ?

When is the best time to travel to Asia?

Southeast Asia: two monsoon systems

East Asia: four seasons and typhoons

Himalaya and South Asia: altitude and monsoon at once

Central Asia and the Caucasus: continental and dry

Where to go when: a calendar by trip type

Which countries and regions belong to Asia, and what do they offer?

Southeast Asia: mainland and island world

East Asia: high culture and megacities

South Asia: Himalaya, subcontinent and atolls

Central Asia: the Silk Road

Caucasus: between two seas

Which trip types suit which destination in Asia?

Backpacking and island hopping

Cultural trip and cities

Trekking and altitude

Silk Road and desert

Caucasus round trip

Beach, diving and islands

Which multi-country routes are classics in Asia?

Mainland Southeast Asia: overland or short flights

Nepal and Bhutan: independent first, then guided

Silk Road: one route, two countries

Caucasus: short distances, many borders

Which airports and hubs serve travel to Asia?

What applies for entry and health in Asia?

Entry by subregion, selected countries

Health: mosquitoes, altitude, water

What does a trip through Asia cost?

Price levels compared

Currencies

Which cultures, languages and religions shape Asia?

Everyday life and etiquette

Destinations in this part of the world

Frequently asked questions

Where this information comes from

Plan Asia with AVA