Asia Travel Guide, Tours & Things to Do

Asia can be anything you want it to be: relaxing beach break, cultural mecca, historical haven, retail nirvana, or foodie’s paradise.

In northern Asia, discover the ancient customs and culture of China — the world’s emerging super-power. Capital city Beijing is packed with history, while Shanghai offers a generous slice of big city life. Watch the dazzling nightly Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong, or experience the frenetic energy of Tokyo — Japan’s 24/7 capital city. It’s a complete contrast to the gentle serenity of Kyoto.

Southeast Asia is always popular with Australian travellers. Explore Vietnam’s cultural centres of Hanoi, Hoi An, and Hue, and experience the electric pace of life in Ho Chi Minh City. Neighbouring Cambodia’s hub tourist town of Siem Reap offers easy access to the incredible temples of Angkor. Discover Thailand’s hedonistic resort islands of Phuket and Koh Samui, and spend at least a couple of days en route in bustling capital Bangkok. Admire Malaysia’s exotic flora and fauna, including inquisitive orang-utans, gibbons, and macaques. And last but certainly not least, the beaches of Bali beckon!

Top ten things to do in Asia

• Forbidden City Walking Tour, Beijing (China)
• Great Wall of China Day Tour from Beijing (China)
• Hong Kong Island Food Tour
• Shinjuku Bar Tour, Tokyo (Japan)
• Halong Bay Day Tour and Cruise from Hanoi (Vietnam)
• Cu Chi Tunnels Tour from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
• Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour from Siem Reap (Cambodia)
• Bangkok Bike Tour (Thailand)
• Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi (India)
•  Yala National Park Leopard Safari (Sri Lanka)

Over on the sub-continent, India is a maelstrom of sights and sounds. Spend at least three days getting to know Delhi — a fast-paced metropolis where old and new sit side by side in perfect contrast. Visit the historic city of Agra to see the Taj Mahal — the world’s most famous monument to love. Mumbai is India’s Bollywood capital and a cultural mecca for travellers. Head south from there to the beaches of Goa, which exude a bohemian vibe. One of the many highlights of a visit to neighbouring Sri Lanka is Yala National Park (situated on the island’s southern coastline). It has the highest density of leopards anywhere in the world.

Use this Asia travel guide to access destination information, and find tours and guided experiences. Enjoy your holiday! Browse Asia travel guides, tours, and things to do

Asia travel tips

1. Only got a limited amount of time to get to know a new city? Our Big Five City Guides can help. We break each destination down into culture, history, dining, shopping and relaxation must-sees and dos. Access our city guides here.

2. Check the Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website for travel advisories about your chosen destination.

3. There are huge variations in climate across Asia. Southeast Asia is generally temperate all year round, while North Asia can be extremely hot or cold. Check the average temperatures carefully for your travel dates and pack accordingly. Southeast Asia has high humidity in the wet season, which generally corresponds with summer in the middle of the year. Humidity can make touring and moving about while on holiday uncomfortable, so keep this in mind when planning your trip. The best times to travel to Southeast Asia are generally the beginning and end of the year during the cooler weather.

4. Avoid travelling to Asia during peak seasons if you can. Airfares and resort tariffs spike, and tourist numbers increase significantly. The key times to avoid are November to March in Southeast Asia, and the summer months of July and August in northern Asia.

5. Check with your doctor regarding immunisations required for Asia and pack a comprehensive First Aid kit. Generally the standard of food and food hygiene is good but always exercise caution. If you choose to eat at roadside stalls or markets, check the general standard of cleanliness and that a supply of clean water is present. Always ask for the food to be freshly cooked in front of you and avoid fresh fruits and salads as they may have been washed in contaminated water.

6. Always be highly respectful of the local customs and culture in Asia. When visiting temples, it is generally required that shoulders to knees are covered. Shoes must generally be removed. For ladies it’s a good idea to carry a sarong that can be used to cover up as necessary. Men should wear t-shirts and long shorts if planning a temple visit.

7. Shopping in Asia is lots of fun and Asian markets are always worth visiting. It’s a great way to engage directly with the locals. Be warned — the sights, sounds and smells at fresh food markets can be confronting. Morning is the best time to visit the markets and the first sale of the day is generally considered good luck so you may pick up a bargain. Haggling is expected, but keep a sense of humour. It’s only a couple of dollars to you but it might be dinner to someone else. Generally offer a third to half of the original asking price and take it from there.

8. While travelling in Asia be vigilant but not paranoid. Be open to experiences but be aware of your surroundings and personal safely at all times, particularly in crowds where petty crime can be a problem. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Trust your intuition!

Asia travel essentials

You can book many aspects of your holiday on the Top Oz Tours and Travel Ideas website, including hotels, car hire, travel insurance, and more. When you purchase a product or service using the following links from our partners, we receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay, and it enables us to continue to provide readers with amazing travel inspiration.

Flights

Compare airlines, flights, and fares in one place with Booking.com. They don’t charge any credit card fees and you can always see exactly what you’re paying for in the price breakdown. You can book one-way, round-trip, and multi-city flights, and change your travel dates with ease when you opt for a flexible ticket option (an additional cost applies). It all adds up to a great flight! Search for flights with Booking.com

Hotels

If you’re looking for a great deal on your next hotel or homestay, look no further than Booking.com. Their mission is to make travel affordable and accessible to more people, and to deliver seamless accommodation experiences that complement your holiday. Search for hotels and homestays with Booking.com

Car hire

Discover Cars is an award-winning (World Travel Awards) car rental comparison website, which helps customers find, compare, and hire cars at the most competitive prices globally. You’ll get access to meticulously maintained cars, 4WDs, and minibuses from the world’s leading brands, and at the best possible price. Search for hire cars with Discover Cars

Campervans & motorhomes

Make Jucy your first choice for campervan and motorhome hire. Since 2001, this progressive company has had a vision to be world-famous for enabling experience seekers to discover happiness on the road. The Jucy crew live and breathe their core values of passion, pride, family, and fun, and these values influence every one of their interactions with customers. They’re ready to help you find ‘your happy’! Search for campervans and motorhomes with Jucy

Day tours & experiences

Search and book day tours, guided experiences, and attraction tickets and passes worldwide with Top Oz Tours and Viator. There are no booking or credit card fees when you book through us, and you’ll have access to the widest choice of activities and most competitive prices. Browse day tours and experiences

Multi-day tours & trips

Travelling on an extended tour with a local guide is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the destination of your choice. Top Oz Tours has joined forced with Tour Radar to bring you a fabulous range of multi-day tours and trips from the world’s leading operators. Travel with like minded people and get the best possible price on the holiday of your dreams. Browse multi-day tours and trips

Travel insurance

World Nomads aims to be a part of every traveller’s journey by providing a reassuring range of travel insurance services. Travellers can buy insurance, extend their policy, and claim online, 24/7, on the road or from home. Travel insurance benefits include coverage for emergency medical and evacuation or repatriation, lost baggage, trip cancellation, and more than 150 adventure activities. Get an insurance costing from World Nomads

Do you have any tips to add to our Asia travel guide? We would love to hear from you. Please send us a message.

The information contained in this guide is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice in any way. We make every effort to ensure this content is accurate, but we do not guarantee it. You should do your own research and seek the advice of professionals before acting or relying on any of the information provided in this guide.

Additional images: Bigstock