Best time to visit Asia

• “Cooler, drier months between November and March are often ideal” scottdunn.com
• “The best time to travel to South East Asia’s mainland countries, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam is between November and February” scottdunn.com
• “Dry season – November to February” southeastasiabackpacker.com

4 of the 7 travel guides we read name these months.

1. Best timeJanuary91°F / 74°F · 2 rainy daysChecking fares…Winter (Dec to Feb) is generally the best time for Southeast Asia's northern areas: lower humidity, pleasant temperatures, limited rain.The Ati-Atihan Festival is held in Kalibo, Philippines, along with Chinese and Lunar New Year celebrations in many countries.Laos and Cambodia are consistently dry and pleasant from October to February, with low humidity.Taebaek mountain snow festival · Macau lunar new year lion dance parade
2. Best timeFebruary93°F / 77°F · 2 rainy daysChecking fares…Winter (Dec to Feb) is generally the best time for Southeast Asia's northern areas: lower humidity, pleasant temperatures, limited rain.Canola flowers bloom across Yunnan's Luoping county from late February for a few weeks.In the Philippines, Feb and March in the dry spring months suit upcountry itineraries.Plum blossom season, Odawara · Setsubun
3. Best timeMarch95°F / 80°F · 3 rainy daysChecking fares…Peak cherry blossom bloom at Wuhan University in China is around mid-March.March to May: Bhutan blooms with rhododendrons; lighter rain makes Indonesia and the Philippines good before summer cyclones.Mainland Southeast Asia heat builds from March (the hot season is March to May).Hong Kong Arts Month · Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
4. April96°F / 81°F · 5 rainy daysChecking fares…Weather heats up from April to June, often exceeding 35C and sweltering in Bangkok.Cambodia's Buddhist New Year in April is marked by a huge water fight.The Mekong tends to dry up considerably in spring, making longer river cruises in Laos and Vietnam impossible.Fuji Shibazakura Festival · Bun Bang Fai rocket festival
5. May95°F / 80°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…Krabi, Thailand, is dry in May, right before the monsoon rains hit.China's Yunhe Rice Terraces are irrigated and mirror-like in May and June.Indonesia's east monsoon brings dry conditions from May to October.Sanja Matsuri · Gangneung Danoje
6. June93°F / 80°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Busan's beaches are good: warm but not sweltering, summer rains yet to arrive.Wet season starts in June for much of mainland Southeast Asia; June to October is the wet season.In Brunei, May and June are the height of fruiting season and the best time to see orangutans.Meigetsu-in Hydrangea Season · Seoul Gugak Festival
7. July92°F / 79°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Monsoon rains dominate the Philippines and Malaysia from July to October with occasional typhoons.Indonesia and Borneo are in the dry season in summer, the best time for wildlife.Brunei celebrates the Sultan's birthday on July 15 with two weeks of festivities.Boryeong Mud Festival · Yu Lan Hungry Ghost Festival
8. August92°F / 79°F · 16 rainy daysChecking fares…Sea turtles hatch on Borneo's beaches in August.Rainy season peaks across much of the region, with flooding possible especially in Cambodia and Vietnam.Pokémon World Championships · Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi
9. September92°F / 78°F · 18 rainy daysChecking fares…September and October are China's autumn, one of the best times to visit, with clear skies and foliage.September and October are Cambodia's wettest months, and rains can cause floods and landslides.Kinchakuda Red Spider Lilies · Andong Mask Dance Festival
10. October92°F / 77°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…National Week holiday in the first week of October in China is worth avoiding for the domestic crowds.Laos and Cambodia turn dry from October; Tonle Sap is at its highest at the start of October.Malaysia and Indonesia's wet season runs October to March.Nikko Autumn Colours · Naejangsan Autumn Leaves
11. Best timeNovember92°F / 77°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…November to March is the Philippines' 'cold season': little humidity and the least rain.Cambodia's dry season is the most comfortable time for tourists, driest and least humid.Rains ease off in November and December in most of Southeast Asia; Malaysia and Singapore stay wet.Tori no Ichi Rake Fair · Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue
12. Best timeDecember90°F / 74°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Winter (Dec to Feb) is generally the best time for Southeast Asia's northern areas: lower humidity, pleasant temperatures, limited rain.December starts the peak season for the Philippines.Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are best between November and April when dry and pleasant.Chichibu Night Festival · Jigokudani Snow Monkeys

Weather: Bangkok averages from NOAA (long-term averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

• Taebaek mountain snow festivalTaebaek, GangwonEvery January to February
• Macau lunar new year lion dance paradeMacauEvery January to March
• Chinese new year in ChinatownChinatown, SingaporeEvery January to March
• Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year)Seoul, South KoreaEvery January to February
• Plum blossom season, OdawaraOdawara, KanagawaEvery February to March
• SetsubunTokyo, KantoEvery February
• Hong Kong Arts MonthHong KongEvery March
• Yeouido Spring Flower FestivalYeouiseo-ro, SeoulEvery March to April
• Cherry blossoms in TokyoTokyo, JapanEvery March to April
• Fuji Shibazakura FestivalFujikawaguchiko, YamanashiEvery April to May
• Bun Bang Fai rocket festivalYasothonEvery April to May
• Ashikaga Great WisteriaAshikaga Flower Park, TochigiEvery April to May
• Nemophila HarmonyHitachi Seaside Park, IbarakiEvery April to May
• Sanja MatsuriAsakusa Shrine, TokyoEvery May
• Gangneung DanojeNamdaecheon Stream, GangneungEvery May to June
• Stanley Dragon Boat ChampionshipsStanley Main Beach, Hong KongEvery May to June
• Royal Ploughing CeremonySanam Luang, BangkokEvery May
• Meigetsu-in Hydrangea SeasonMeigetsu-in, KamakuraEvery June to July
• Seoul Gugak FestivalSeoul, South KoreaEvery June
• Torigoe MatsuriAsakusa, TokyoEvery June
• Boryeong Mud FestivalDaecheon Beach, BoryeongEvery July to August
• Yu Lan Hungry Ghost FestivalSham Shui Po and Victoria Park, Hong KongEvery July to September
• Singapore National Day ParadeMarina Bay, SingaporeEvery July to August
• Hungry Ghost getai seasonGeylang, SingaporeEvery July to September
• Pokémon World ChampionshipsSingaporeEvery August
• Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super YosakoiHarajuku, TokyoEvery August
• Kinchakuda Red Spider LiliesKinchakuda, Hidaka, SaitamaEvery September to October
• Andong Mask Dance FestivalAndong, Gyeongsangbuk-doEvery September to October
• Bryde's whales of the upper GulfBang Tabun, PhetchaburiEvery September to November
• Singapore Grand PrixMarina Bay street circuitEvery September to October
• Nikko Autumn ColoursIrohazaka and Lake Chuzenji, NikkoEvery October to November
• Naejangsan Autumn LeavesNaejangsan National Park, JeongeupEvery October to November
• Chonburi buffalo racesChonburiEvery October
• Deepavali in Little IndiaLittle India, SingaporeEvery October to November
• Tori no Ichi Rake FairOtori Shrine, Asakusa, TokyoEvery November
• Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo AvenueIcho Namiki, Aoyama, TokyoEvery November to December
• Seoul Kimchi FestivalSeoul Plaza, SeoulEvery November
• Orchard Road Christmas light-upOrchard Road, SingaporeEvery November to January
• Chichibu Night FestivalChichibu, SaitamaEvery December
• Jigokudani Snow MonkeysJigokudani Monkey Park, Yamanouchi, NaganoEvery December to March
• Garden of Morning Calm Lighting FestivalGarden of Morning Calm, GapyeongEvery December to March
• Pyeongchang Trout FestivalJinbu, PyeongchangEvery December to February

What's the best time to visit Southeast Asia?

Mainland Southeast Asia is best November to February when it is dry and not too hot; Indonesia and Borneo are best April to September. There is no bad time.

What's the best time to visit Southeast Asia?

One backpacker guide says there's no wrong time; the wet season can even be a good time to travel.

• Best Places to Visit in Asia20 places

• JapanApril and October to November
• IrelandApril to May and September
• IcelandJune to August
• ItalyApril to May and September to October
• Costa RicaDecember to April
• Puerto RicoDecember to April
• AlaskaJune to August
• PortugalMay to June and September to October
• CancúnDecember to April
• GreeceMay to June and September to October
• ThailandNovember to February
• The Grand CanyonApril to May and September to October
• DisneylandJanuary to February and September to October
• MiamiDecember to April
• Myrtle BeachApril to May and September to October
• PragueApril to May and September to October
• EcuadorJune to September
• BaliApril to June and September to October
• TokyoMarch to May and October to November
• MoroccoMarch to May and September to November
• MauiApril to May and September to October
• MontrealMonth by month
• VeniceApril to June and September to October
• The NetherlandsApril to May and September to October
• ArubaApril to May
• New OrleansApril and October to November
• ChinaApril to May and September to October
• NashvilleApril to May and September to October
• Disney WorldJanuary to February and September
• BangkokNovember to February
• PolandMay to June and September
• New YorkApril to May and September to October
• CroatiaMay to June and September
• RomeApril to May and September to October
• San DiegoSeptember to October
• FranceMay to June and September to October
• PhuketNovember to April
• FinlandJune to August
• VietnamMarch to April
• BrazilMonth by month
• BostonSeptember to October
• DubaiNovember to March
• CanadaJuly to September
• SeoulApril to May and September to October
• New ZealandFebruary to April
• GuatemalaNovember to April
• The PhilippinesDecember to March
• FloridaNovember to April
• LisbonApril to May and September to October
• AustriaMay to June and September to October
• Los AngelesMarch to May and September to November
• ChicagoApril to May and September to October
• ParisApril to May and September to October
• Las VegasMarch to May and October to November
• San FranciscoSeptember to October
• EdinburghMay to June and September
• NapaSeptember to October
• SydneyMarch and October to November
• HawaiiApril to May and September to October
• ScotlandApril to May and September to October
• Punta CanaDecember to April
• MexicoDecember to April
• SavannahMarch to April and October to November
• Washington, DCApril to May and September to October
• ChileMarch to April and October to November
• SwitzerlandJune to September
• Mexico CityNovember to April
• Zion National ParkApril to May and September to October
• The Dominican RepublicDecember to April
• Turks and CaicosDecember to April
• Puerto VallartaNovember to April
• HonoluluApril to May and September to October
• BanffMonth by month
• SpainApril to June and September to October
• YosemiteMay to June and September
• FijiMay to October
• ColombiaDecember to March and July to August
• IndiaOctober to March
• TulumDecember to April
• The BahamasDecember to April
• NorwayMay to September
• SedonaMarch to May and September to November
• SeattleJune to September
• GermanyMay to June and September
• SantoriniMay to June and September to October
• Buenos AiresMarch to April and September to November
• The MaldivesNovember to April
• EgyptMarch to April and October to November
• LondonMay to June and September
• CharlestonMarch to May and October to November
• TaiwanMarch to April and October to November
• Rio de JaneiroApril to May and September to October
• Palm SpringsOctober to April
• YellowstoneMay and September
• South KoreaApril to May and October
• AmsterdamApril to May and September
• TurkeyApril to May and September to October
• ArgentinaMarch to April and October to November
• TorontoMonth by month
• IndonesiaMay to September
• PeruMay to October
• BelizeDecember to April
• Key WestMarch to May
• South AfricaMay to October
• KenyaJune to October
• OrlandoMarch to May and October to November
• AustraliaMarch to May and September to October
• JamaicaDecember to April
• St LuciaDecember to April
• TahitiMay to October
• EuropeMay to June and September to October
• TanzaniaJune to October
• AustinMarch to April and October to November
• Machu PicchuApril to May and September to October
• Cabo San LucasMarch to May
• Niagara FallsJune to August
• ColoradoJune to September
• OregonMonth by month
• SingaporeFebruary to April
• ArizonaMarch to April and October to November
• Acadia National ParkSeptember to October
• GalapagosDecember to May
• Lake TahoeJune and September
• MontanaJuly to September
• KauaiApril to June and September
• AzoresApril to June and September
• OkinawaMarch to April and October to November
• PanamaDecember to April
• US Virgin IslandsDecember to April
• Amalfi CoastApril to June and September to October
• Santa FeMonth by month
• DestinApril to May and September to October
• BarbadosDecember to April
• CuracaoDecember to April
• UtahApril to May and September to October
• Joshua TreeMarch to April and October to November
• PatagoniaNovember to February
• SicilyApril to June and September to October
• St. ThomasDecember to April
• Florida KeysDecember to April
• Smoky MountainsApril to May and September to October
• Hong KongNovember
• CopenhagenMay to June and September
• Sri LankaDecember to March
• Death ValleyNovember to March
• MallorcaMay to June and September
• MadeiraApril to May and October
• AntiguaDecember to April
• Cape TownMarch to May and September to November
• El SalvadorNovember to April
• IbizaJune to August
• ZanzibarJune to October
• Lake ComoMay to June and September to October
• MadridApril to May and September to October
• OaxacaNovember to April
• MalaysiaMarch to September
• SeychellesApril to May and October to November
• New MexicoSeptember to October
• TennesseeApril to May and September to October
• VermontSeptember to October
• WyomingJune to September
• Bryce CanyonOctober
• OahuApril to May and September to October
• St. MartinDecember to May
• Hilton HeadApril to May and September to October
• TuscanyApril to June and September to October
• DolomitesJune and September
• Cape CodSeptember to October
• United KingdomMay to September
• SwedenMay to September
• ShanghaiMarch to May and September to November
• San AntonioMonth by month
• Rocky Mountain National ParkJuly to September
• MaltaApril to June and September to October
• GreenlandJune to August
• DublinSeptember to October
• Cayman IslandsDecember to April
• Catalina IslandMonth by month
• CartagenaDecember to April
• CambodiaNovember to February
• AthensApril to May and September to October
• AshevilleOctober
• TexasMarch to May and October
• South AmericaNovember to February
• SloveniaJune to September
• Shenandoah National ParkMay to June and September to October
• SardiniaMay to June and September to October
• RoatánMarch to May
• PhoenixMonth by month
• North CarolinaMonth by month
• NepalMarch to April and October to November
• NamibiaMay to October
• MontenegroMay to June and September
• MedellínDecember to March and July to August
• MauritiusMay to June and September to November
• MadagascarMay to October
• JordanMarch to May and September to November
• IsraelMarch to May and October to November
• French PolynesiaMay and September to October
• CairoOctober to April
• BudapestMay to June and September to October
• Arches National ParkApril to May and September to October
• ViennaApril to May and September to October
• UzbekistanApril to May and September to October
• TaipeiSeptember to November
• St. JohnDecember to April
• South CarolinaMarch to May and September to November
• ReykjavikJune to August
• NicaraguaNovember to April
• MykonosMay to June and September to October
• MilanMarch to May and September to October
• HoustonFebruary to April and October to November
• HanoiMarch to April and September to November
• GrenadaJanuary to April
• GhanaDecember to February
• Faroe IslandsJune to August
• Cook IslandsApril and September to November
• Canary IslandsMonth by month
• BoliviaMay to October
• Big Island of HawaiiSeptember to October
• BerlinMay to June and September
• BeijingApril to May and September to October
• AtlantaSeptember to November
• AlbaniaMay to June and September
• The CaribbeanDecember to April
• St. BartsMonth by month
• South DakotaSeptember
• SerengetiJune to October
• Rhode IslandMay and September to October
• New EnglandSeptember to October
• NassauDecember to April
• LimaDecember to March
• KyotoApril and September to November
• Koh SamuiJanuary to April
• DenmarkMay to June and September
• CreteApril to June and September to October
• Colorado SpringsMonth by month
• Chiang MaiNovember to February
• BelgiumMay to June and September
• UruguayNovember to March
• StockholmJune to August
• PortoMay to June and September
• PalawanNovember to May
• Montego BayDecember to April
• MichiganJune to August
• MelbourneMarch to May
• LouisianaMarch to May
• LaosNovember to February
• Kuala LumpurJune to August
• Kruger National ParkMay to September
• JejuMarch to May and September to November
• HondurasJanuary to April
• FlorenceMay and September to October
• DallasMarch to May and September to October
• Cape VerdeNovember to June
• BotswanaMay to October
• ZurichMay to September
• TunisiaApril to June and September to October
• TampaMonth by month
• St. KittsJanuary to April
• OsakaMarch to May and October to November
• OmanOctober to April
• MunichMonth by month
• MooreaMay to October
• KyrgyzstanJune to September
• KazakhstanMay to June and September
• Kailua-KonaApril to May and September to October
• GoaNovember to February
• EvergladesDecember to March
• Door CountySeptember to October
• DominicaJanuary to April
• CuscoApril to May and September to October
• CalgaryJune to August
• BoracayNovember to April
• BonaireMonth by month
• Swiss AlpsJune and September
• St. CroixMonth by month
• SevilleMarch to May
• San Juan IslandsMonth by month
• RomaniaApril to May and September to October
• PalauNovember to April
• New HampshireSeptember to October
• MinnesotaSeptember
• MazatlánMonth by month
• ManilaDecember to May
• KentuckyApril to May and September to October
• Isla MujeresDecember to March
• GuamJanuary to May
• French RivieraMay to June and September
• Fort LauderdaleMonth by month
• CubaNovember to April
• Cinque TerreMay to June and September
• AlgarveMay to June and September to October
• VirginiaMonth by month
• Trinidad and TobagoMonth by month
• TenerifeMarch to May and September to October
• TasmaniaDecember to March
• SapporoMonth by month
• RwandaDecember to February and June to September
• NormandyMonth by month
• NairobiJanuary to February and July to October
• MumbaiNovember to February
• The HamptonsMonth by month
• Grand Teton National ParkSeptember
• Finger LakesSeptember to October
• EthiopiaOctober to February
• CyprusApril to May and September to October
• CharlotteMonth by month
• BogotáDecember to February and July to August
• AucklandMarch
• MaineJune to September
• BermudaApril to June and September to October
• Bora BoraMay to October
• Olympic National ParkJune to September
• Redwood National ParkMonth by month
• Sequoia National ParkSeptember
• Big Bend National ParkNovember
• Mackinac IslandMonth by month
• BhutanMarch to May and September to November
• Sint MaartenDecember to May
• NantucketMonth by month
• Outer BanksSeptember to October
• CaliforniaApril to May and September to October
• Big SurMonth by month
• Crater LakeMonth by month
• AnguillaDecember to March
• ScottsdaleJanuary to March
• NiceJuly to September
• Mount RainierJuly to September
• MongoliaJune to September
• CozumelJanuary to April
• Badlands National ParkMonth by month
• Salt Lake CitySeptember to October
• DenaliJune to August
• PhiladelphiaApril to May and September to October
• TucsonMarch to April and October to November
• ProvenceJune
• GuadalajaraMonth by month
• AlbuquerqueMonth by month
• Upper PeninsulaMonth by month
• UgandaDecember to February and June to August
• SonomaMonth by month
• MemphisMonth by month
• IdahoMonth by month
• Da NangFebruary to May
• CotswoldsMonth by month
• ArkansasMonth by month
• St. LouisMonth by month
• CapriMonth by month
• British Virgin IslandsDecember to April
• Glacier National ParkJuly to September
• BarcelonaMay to June
• VancouverJuly to September
• Quebec CityJuly to August
• DenverJune
• IstanbulApril to May and September to October
• Riviera MayaMonth by month
• Carmel-by-the-SeaSeptember to October
• Victoria, British ColumbiaMonth by month
• Mérida, YucatánNovember to March
• Santiago, ChileMarch to April and September to November
• Naples, ItalyApril to May and September to October
• Central AmericaDecember to April
• MinneapolisMonth by month
• SarasotaMarch to May and October to November
• Halifax, Nova ScotiaJune and September to October
• PittsburghMonth by month
• HelsinkiJune to August
• PensacolaApril to May and September to November
• JohannesburgMarch to May and September to November
• BrisbaneMarch to May and September to October
• MálagaApril to May and September to October
• Phu QuocNovember to April
• PerthMarch and October to November
• DubrovnikApril to May and September to October
• Corpus ChristiMonth by month
• American SamoaJune to September
• EstoniaMay to July and September
• SenegalNovember to April
• MassachusettsSeptember to October
• OklahomaMonth by month
• Torres del PaineDecember to March
• Czech RepublicApril to June and September to October
• HungaryMay and September to October
• Ho Chi Minh CityDecember to April
• São PauloApril to May and September to October
• AnchorageJune to August
• BoiseMay to June and September to October
• Abu DhabiNovember to March
• LouisvilleMonth by month
• OsloMonth by month
• JuneauMay to September
• QuitoJune to September
• Bosnia and HerzegovinaMay to June and September
• LatviaJune to August
• QatarNovember to March
• RussiaMay to September
• SamoaMonth by month
• Saudi ArabiaNovember to February
• ZambiaMay to October
• ZimbabweMay to October
• West VirginiaSeptember to October
• WisconsinJune to October
• Canyonlands National ParkApril to May and September to October
• YucatánNovember to March
• Baja CaliforniaDecember to April
• Blue Ridge MountainsApril to May and October
• Fort MyersNovember to April
• DetroitMonth by month
• Kansas City, MissouriMonth by month
• KathmanduMarch to April and September to November
• RenoMonth by month
• CebuJanuary to April
• Durango, ColoradoMonth by month
• BrusselsApril to June and September
• GuangzhouOctober to December
• ChattanoogaApril to May and October
• AntalyaMay to June and September to October
• Daytona BeachMonth by month
• CorfuMay to June and September
• CairnsMay to September
• HiloApril to June and September to October
• ArmeniaMay to June and September to October
• BulgariaMay to June and September
• GuyanaFebruary to March and August to October
• AlabamaMarch to May and September to November
• ConnecticutOctober
• New JerseySeptember
• PennsylvaniaMonth by month
• Capitol Reef National ParkMonth by month
• LangkawiNovember to March