Asia is made up of 48 countries, which can be divided into five regions: Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East. I personally love Asia and its diversity. It is an amazing continent that offers so much to whoever decides to explore it.
While exploring the continent, you can choose between a budget backpacking adventure and a luxury trip as most locations offer both options. Therefore, you will find a suitable adventure regardless of your travel budget. And of course, it is also easy to mix it up and get the best of both worlds.
With countries like Thailand and Indonesia, Southeast Asia is the most popular one for backpackers and solo female travelers. It is the perfect stepping stone for this continent as you get an incredible taste of the multitude of traditions, cuisines, and nature.
Here it is possible to stick to touristic locations, but at the same time, you can venture off the beaten track and explore hidden gems. As such, it is a perfect combination. It is a dream destination for every foodie, beach lover, diver, architecture fan, nature lover, and everyone in between.
But of course, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka in other regions of the continent are also not to be missed. After all, they offer so much in terms of natural beauty, culture, and history.
If you want an off-the-beaten-track adventure, you should opt for a trip through Central Asia or some areas of East Asia like Mongolia or regional China.
Once you have visited the continent for the first time, chances are, that you will fall in love with everything it has to offer. And it is safe to say that you will plan your next trip there the second you are back home.
My ultimate tip when it comes to exploring Asia: Take your time and have a slow travel approach for your journey. There is so much to see and you do not want to miss out on experience because you are rushing from one place to another! And be sure to visit less-touristic places to get a real feel for the countries.
Asian countries you have to visit
South Asia
The Best Time to Visit Asia
Asia is an amazing destination year-round, but the best time to visit individual countries and even regions varies. Some countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand are even affected by two different monsoon seasons. Therefore, you are best advised to look up the best time to visit the place for the individual locations you want to visit.
Every now and then, the weather can also be unexpected. I experienced this in central Sri Lanka when the monsoon season started a month earlier. But as transport in Asia is rather cheap, you can always adjust your plans and come back later. Especially, as it is often quite affordable to book transportation the day before you depart.
If you are traveling on a budget or want to avoid crowds, you should plan to travel in the shoulder seasons.
The Costs of exploring Asia
Exploring Asia is perfect if you want to explore the world on a backpacker budget. Especially, if you intend to travel in Southeast Asia. Japan and South Korea are more expensive.
If you want to plan your travel budget for your upcoming adventure, you can read more about the daily costs by reading my travel budget guides.
Daily Budget in Sri Lanka with and without a tuk tuk rental
Bucket List Adventures in Asia
Monuments
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Bagan, Myanmar
Great Wall of China, China
Taj Mahal, India
Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan
Borodudur, Java, Indonesia
nature
cruise Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
see the Cherry Blossoms in Japan
chase waterfalls in Bali, Indonesia
Zhangjiajie National Forest, China
explore Komodo, Indonesia
hike to Mount Everest Base Camp
trekking in Nepal
experiences
do an Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka
dive in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
go Island Hopping in Thailand
ride the Trans-Siberian Railway
see Orangutan in Borneo
Asia Travel Guides
Japan Rail Pass: Is the JR Pass Worth It After the Price Increase?
Using the Airalo eSim in Japan – Is it a reliable option?
Hiking Rebun and Rishiri Island – Far North Hokkaido Itinerary
Mount Io (Atosanupuri) – Hiking Between Fumaroles & Sulfur Mine Remains
Hakone Hachiri: Hiking the Old Tokaido Highway
The Most Beautiful Places in Sri Lanka
Scuba Diving near Tokyo: Izu Oceanic Park
