Asia is a continent with something for absolutely everyone – from lazing beside a turquoise sea and evening markets piled high with food to desert luxury and ancient temples. The two of us come back here again and again, and every single time we’re amazed at just how different one country is from the next. That’s exactly why we put together this hub: to help you pick the right country before you even start worrying about the details.
\n\nYou’ll find our guides to individual countries here – so far Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates – where we share hands-on experiences, maps and tips straight from the road. We’ve added a round-up of tours and themed articles too, so you can see at a glance what’s on offer where and for how much. Think of this page as a signpost: here you decide where to go, and the individual guides cover the how. ☺️

When to visit Asia
Asia is enormous, so there simply isn’t one universal “best time to visit” – it all depends on where you’re headed. For Southeast Asia (Thailand and much of Indonesia, for instance), the dry season is the most pleasant, roughly from November to March. That happens to be the heart of our winter, so escaping to the warmth makes perfect sense. Summer here tends to be humid and rainy (the monsoon), but that doesn’t mean all-day downpours – more like short afternoon showers and far fewer tourists.
\n\nTurkey, on the other hand, is best enjoyed in spring and autumn (April–June and September–October), when there’s no oppressive heat and it works equally well for the beach and for sightseeing. The United Arab Emirates work the opposite way to what you might expect – the ideal time to go is during our winter, from November to March, because summers there bring extreme heat. Our advice: pick your country first, then fine-tune the exact dates around it.
How to choose a country
Before you start sorting out flights and hotels, it’s worth asking yourself what kind of holiday you actually want. That alone narrows the choice of country down enormously:
\n\n- Sea and easy lazing about – a safe bet is Thailand with its islands and warm sea, or Indonesia if you want to combine beaches with atmosphere and nature.
- Cities, culture and sightseeing – Turkey fits the bill best, easily weaving history, food and the sea into a single trip.
- Luxury, comfort and a carefree first long-haul trip – go for the United Arab Emirates; it’s a brilliant introduction to Asia with minimal logistics.
- Nature, volcanoes and adventure – we’re drawn to Indonesia, which offers so much more than just beaches.
- A tight budget – your money usually stretches furthest in Thailand, where you can travel cheaply and comfortably alike.
If you’re torn between several countries, we’d suggest deciding based on flight length and how demanding the transfers are – for a shorter holiday, one country and one region makes more sense than frantically dashing across half a continent. You’ll find the details on each destination in our guides below.
−51 %
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−45 %How to save when planning
On a long-haul trip the biggest savings come from booking your flights early – for flights to Asia we’ve found it pays to book around 2 to 4 months ahead and keep an eye on flexible dates. It often helps to shift your departure by a few days, avoid school holidays and public holidays, and compare several arrival airports.
\n\nYour choice of season makes a big difference to the price too: in the shoulder season, accommodation and flights tend to be considerably cheaper and there are fewer tourists. What should you avoid? Last-minute booking in peak season, and paying unnecessary surcharges for things you can sort out more cheaply on the spot – transfers or day trips, for example. With package tours, always compare exactly what’s included (flights, meals, transfers), because the cheapest offer isn’t necessarily the best value in the end.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I go in Asia for the first time?
When is the best time to travel to Asia?
Is travelling to Asia expensive?
How far in advance should I book flights to Asia?
Which Asian country is best for beaches?
Is a package tour or independent travel better?
Do I need a visa for Asian countries?
Can you travel in Asia with children?
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
