On the road
Overland Border Crossings in Asia: How They Work
What to expect at land borders in South-East and Central Asia: visas, opening hours, exit and entry stamps, transport across the border, currency and common scams.
Plan the Asia trip you'll actually enjoy
When to go, how long to stay, what it costs and how to move between countries — practical planning without the hype, for first-timers and returning travellers alike.
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Practicalities
Travel Insurance for Asia: What to Check Before You Buy
The parts of a travel insurance policy that matter most for Asia: medical and evacuation cover, activities like diving, trekking and motorbikes, pre-existing conditions and how claims work.
Practicalities
SIM, eSIM or Roaming? Staying Connected in Asia
The three ways to get mobile data while travelling in Asia, how registration rules work, regional eSIMs for multi-country trips, and what to know about China's internet.
Planning
Best Times to Visit Asia by Region
A region-by-region guide to Asia's seasons: East Asia's spring and autumn, South-East Asia's dry seasons and monsoons, South Asia's winter, and Central Asia's shoulder seasons.
Planning
Budget vs Luxury Travel Across Asia: What You Actually Get
What backpacker, mid-range and luxury budgets buy in different parts of Asia, where spending more makes the biggest difference, and where it hardly matters.
Practicalities
Essential Packing List for a Multi-Country Asia Trip
What to pack for a multi-country trip across Asia's climates: clothing for heat and temples, a compact tech kit, health basics, documents — and what to leave at home.
Planning
How to Plan a Multi-City Asia Itinerary Without Burning Out
Rules of thumb for multi-city trips: how many nights per stop, how to count transit days, open-jaw flights, rest days and sample two- and three-week routes.
On the road
Common Tourist Mistakes When Travelling in Asia
The mistakes first-time visitors to Asia make most often — overpacked itineraries, ignoring seasons, renting scooters without a licence, temple etiquette, scams — and how to avoid them.
Asia trip budget calculator
Estimate the total cost of your trip from nightly, daily and one-off costs — with a safety buffer built in.
Questions readers ask
See allHow much does a two-week trip to Asia cost?
It depends far more on the destination and travel style than on Asia as a whole. Daily costs in Laos or Vietnam can be a fraction of those in Japan or Singapore. Use the budget calculator with your own estimates.
When is the best time to visit South-East Asia?
For much of mainland South-East Asia, the cooler dry season from about November to February is most comfortable. Islands and coasts have their own patterns. See best times to visit by region.
How many countries can I see in two weeks?
One or two, comfortably. More than that usually means more time in transit than in places. See multi-city itineraries.
Should I buy a local SIM or an eSIM?
An eSIM is convenient if your phone supports it; a local SIM is often cheaper for long stays. See SIM, eSIM or roaming.
Useful official resources
- Japan National Tourism OrganizationOfficial Japan travel information.
- Tourism Authority of ThailandOfficial Thailand travel information.
- Visit KoreaOfficial Korea travel information.
- IATA Travel CentrePassport and visa requirements by nationality.