Planning a Trip to Asia?

Asia is not one trip. It runs from tropical islands to high desert to cold northern cities, and two neighbouring countries here can differ more from each other than two countries at opposite ends of Europe. Choosing “Asia” is really choosing which part of Asia, and that decision drives everything that follows it.

There is no single best season for the continent. Much of South and Southeast Asia runs on a monsoon cycle rather than four seasons, and the wet months differ from country to country — sometimes within a single country, depending on which coast you are on. East Asia does have four distinct seasons, with humid summers and genuinely cold winters. Check the region you are actually going to, not the continent.

Entry requirements vary more across Asia than almost anywhere else, and they change more often. Some countries are visa-free for many nationalities, some issue a visa on arrival, some require an e-visa applied for in advance, and some need a full application before you travel. Confirm the rule for your nationality with that country’s official government source before you commit to anything non-refundable.

One more thing worth building into the plan: distances are longer than a map suggests, and overland travel between highlights can absorb a full day. Domestic flight networks are excellent in some countries and thin in others. Payment culture also varies sharply — some countries are effectively cashless while others still run largely on cash, so it is worth checking before you arrive rather than at a till.

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