Best time to visit Asia

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Families Wildlife watching Top 10 walks Top 10 dishes On a budget Tips Responsible tourism All our Asia guides

Best time to visit Asia

Many people avoid August as they think it's still monsoon. In the north there isn't as much rain so it actually feels like a European summer.

The best time to visit Asia isn’t easily summed up – it’s a huge continent of different regions each with their own weather patterns and microclimates. So think about whether you prefer heat, or cooler weather; think about why you’re going – local culture, historical sights, trekking – and what the optimum conditions are to enjoy that (it’s likely you’d rather not appreciate the splendour of the Taj Mahal during the monsoon, for example). Consider crowds, too.

Call us for the best time to go to Asia

Kerala (India) Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

107

MAY

284

JUN

752

JUL

848

AUG

514

SEP

316

OCT

310

NOV

155

DEC

Our Asia Vacations

When to visit Asia & when not to

If you want to see blue whales in Sri Lanka, the beginning of March is the best time. But for other species, head there from October until April. January is an exceptional month in which to visit Cambodia - you can expect good weather conditions throughout the country, with blue skies, little or no rain and temperatures set at a balmy 26°C; likewise, Laos is a dream in February. During Nepal’s summer monsoon season (June, July, August, September), it doesn’t necessarily rain all day, but it does rain every day. More rain falls at night than during the day, so the mornings are often crisp and beautiful, but the season is sadly often avoided by trekkers – if you do want to trek then, avoid Nepal’s more popular circuits and head to Manang, Mustang or Dolpo, Himalayan areas that sit in rain shadows. China’s ‘Golden Week’, or National Day Vacation is held from 29th September to 10th October and everyone in the country – that’s 1.4 billion people – has this week off. Most travel to domestic cities causing logistical chaos. Avoid it, unless of course your idea of fun is getting caught in a confusion of camera straps. The rainy season in Southeast Asia runs from around May until late October, and can deter travelers. However, Borneo is a great Southeast Asian call during this time as it sits outside of the monsoon belt. The term ‘typhoon’ denotes a particular type of tropical storm that hits the northwest Pacific Ocean (pretty much all of Southeast Asia). A majority of typhoons happen between May and October, though they can strike year round. Towards the end of Southeast Asia’s dry season, starting in around March, temperatures begin to rise. By April, it can top 40°C, with high humidity – which is extremely uncomfortable and difficult to take in any sights or activities. If you want to go hiking in Kerala’s Western Ghats, the monsoon peak of July and August is not the best time to visit India. Houseboats aren’t much fun during this time either. Even though Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle is in a drier region, it does still get hit by the monsoon in November and December.

Responsible Travel recommends

Olly Permberton from our supplier, Exodus, shares his opinion on when is the best time to visit China: “Spring is a great time to visit China because it’s off-season for local tourists and the temperature is warmer; in the wintertime Beijing can get very, very cold with temperatures dropping to -20°C. If you want to visit the Great Wall, it gets covered in snow in December, which may make it a photographer’s dream, but also makes it quite dangerous to walk on. The height of summer is best avoided because temperatures soar, and the beginning of October is ‘Golden Week’, which is when the whole of the country is on vacation. I was there during that time and visited the Forbidden Palace in Beijing and I literally could not move for people; it’s easy to forget that China is huge and a lot of the Chinese had never been to Beijing, so we were all tourists together.”

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Asia or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.

Toll free 1-866-821-6866

Calling us from outside the US?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Toll free 1-866-821-6866

Calling us from outside the US?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Festivals & events

Songkran

A real benefit to visiting Southeast Asia on the cusp of the monsoon season is Songkran, the New Year celebrations that happen in April. It’s a huge, week-long street party celebrating the end of the dry season and the start of the rains. Everyone has a water gun, so there’s no hiding behind anyone to escape from getting wet; they’ll soak you through while belly laughing. A 90-year-old granny in the street? Don’t trust her.

More about Asia

Asia travel guide

Our Asia travel guide does its level best to provide responsible travelers with a balance of rated, underrated and completely overrated places to go and things to do in Asia.

Where to go in Asia

Make the most of your time in Asia as you study our map of favourite Asia highlights and read up on the countries and regions that we think are definitely worth visiting.

Things to do in Asia

This vast continent holds a wealth of temples, monasteries and religious monuments to encourage travelers to find things to do in Asia that they might never ever consider back home.

Budget vacations in Asia

Experiencing Asia on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to dust off your old backpack and dig out your 1980s hostelling handbook, far from it.

Top 10 Asian dishes

From the fattest of noodles, the stickiest of rice and the fun-nest of foodie tours to delicious dhal dishes and classic curries, our top 10 lifts the lid on Asian cuisine and take a big sniff.

Top 10 walking vacations in Asia

Our top 10 walks in Asia feature everywhere from Kyoto to Kerala alongside Everest Base Camp, the Great Wall of China and the hill stations and tea plantations of Sri Lanka.

Wildlife watching in Asia

Find out where to watch wildlife in Asia, as well as the benefits this has for local communities living around the habitat of endangered species.

Traveling in Asia with kids

Taking your family to Asia will be an absolutely enchanting experience as the locals will love your kids almost as much as you do.

Asia travel advice

Listening and learning from local people and travel experts is exactly what you should be doing to get the very best Asia travel advice around.

Responsible tourism in Asia

It's often the people you meet in Asia that form the most indelible memories, which is why it's so important to understand responsible tourism in Asia before, during and after you travel.