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.
When to visit Asia & when not to
Kerala (India) Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
22
31
6
FEB
23
32
24
MAR
24
32
37
APR
25
33
107
MAY
25
31
284
JUN
24
29
752
JUL
23
28
848
AUG
23
28
514
SEP
23
29
316
OCT
23
30
310
NOV
23
31
155
DEC
22
31
42
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.”
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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.
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