Planning for your first family vacation to Asia? Need an idea of what fun activities to do and how to save money on the trip? This Ultimate Asia Travel Guide will help you plan your next trip to Asia with your family and kids. You will find tons of inspiration and helpful information on the best places to visit, top things to do, kid-friendly hotels, how to go around, money-saving tips, how to stay safe, and more. Plus, get my FREE downloadable packing list for the whole family.
Asia is the largest continent on earth which comprises 48 countries. It’s impossible to put Asia as one specific destination due to its massive size. But in short, Asia has something to offer for any traveler and everyone in the family, including young kids. Asia has it all! If you’re traveling to Asia with the kids for the first time, I would suggest starting from East Asia and South-East Asia. Some of the best family-friendly destinations are Bali (Indonesia), Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.
With so many countries to choose from, Asia offers plenty of fantastic places to visit and endless things to do for family. From green rice terraces in Bali, stunning landscapes in Halong Bay Vietnam, and gorgeous beaches in Thailand to amazing Angkor Wat in Cambodia, rich cultural heritage, and modern cities in Japan. And the FOOD! Oh, how we love Asian foods.. sooo delicious and super affordable. We honestly could travel to Asia just for the foods alone, haha. Must-try foods are Indonesia’s chicken satay, China’s juicy dumplings, Vietnam’s steaming bowls of pho soup, South Korea’s bibimbap, and Thailand’s pad Thai. For more adventurous travelers, we dare you to try scorpions in skewer!
You could use this Asia Travel Guide whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, with friends, or with kids. Scroll down below for more travel tips, guides, inspirations, itineraries, safety tips, money-saving tips, and more. You could also use the table of contents to jump to specific sections. Happy exploring!
Asia at a Glance
So, let’s start with where is Asia exactly on the map? Above, I have included a pretty animated map of Asia, including major family-friendly destinations in each region. As mentioned earlier, Asia is a huge continent to discover. And trying to put all information on one page will make it a very long post. This ultimate guide to Asia will give you a better idea of each region’s looks. You will find some of the best places to visit, especially kid-friendly places.
However, if you plan to visit a certain region or country, I suggest exploring that specific destination where I cover the region more in-depth. You could find some direct links throughout this post, and you may also find them under the destinations page.
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as “The Stans,” is home to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan. Central Asia played an important role in the transportation of goods between China and Europe during the Silk Road trading era. Today, it is an upcoming travel destination and generally safe to explore. Although tourism is still new in the region, adventurous seeking off-beaten paths will find epic experiences across Central Asia. If you don’t feel comfortable exploring your own, joining local tours is a perfect solution, especially for family traveling with kids and solo females.
✮ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 are Uzbekistan’s ancient Silk Road (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva), the Pamir Highway traversing Tajikistan, the gas crater “Gate of Hell” in Turkmenistan, Song Kul and Issyk Kul mountain lake in Kyrgyzstan.
East Asia
East Asia is probably one of the most visited, the safest, and easiest to navigate region to travel in Asia. Throughout most of the region, public transportation is quick and very efficient. Countries in this region are China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, and South Korea. North Asia is your gateway to an affordable travel dream, exotic cuisines, endless market shopping, and many family-friendly destinations.
✮ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 are Mount Fuji and Kyoto’s temples in Japan, the Great Wall of China, and the Gobi desert in Mongolia. For cherry blossom lovers like me, visiting Japan in the spring when sakura blooms is a must-do. Or perhaps you are dreaming to hang out and interact with Giant Baby Pandas responsibly, then volunteering at Panda Reserve in China should be on your bucket list.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, Vietnam. This Asia region is not only a top-rated destination for backpackers and solo travelers, but it’s also an incredible destination for families and kids. Southeast Asia has something for everyone. There are countless things to see and do, and it’s hard to keep up with the bucket list in this region.
✮ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 are Bali and Raja Ampat in Indonesia, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Halong Bay and Hoi An in Vietnam, Bangkok and Krabi in Thailand, Georgetown Penang in Malaysia, Singapore, and Luang Prabang in Laos. And oh, the street food is probably one of the best treats in Southeast Asia, so don’t miss it for the world!
South Asia
South Asia consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, The Maldives. Also known as the Indian Subcontinent. It is a breathtaking triangular landmass bordered by the Himalayas in the north, the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Ganges and Indus river valleys in east and west. South Asia has the distinction of being the most densely populated area in the world. Exploring this region is relatively easy, though expect to be a little chaotic in terms of logistics.
✮ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 are stunning clear turquoise beaches in the Maldives, Taj Mahal in Agra in India, Mount Everest in Nepal, the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, Sigiriya and Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.
Best Time to Visit Asia
There is no bad time to visit Asia. Really. The best time to visit Asia isn’t easily summed up. It’s a huge continent of different regions, each with its own weather patterns and microclimates. The only big thing to keep in mind is the monsoon season, which varies from country to country depending on latitude and other factors.
Central Asia
Central Asia is a region that has an extreme continental and dry climate, with utterly hot summers and freezing winters. The best time to visit Central Asia is the end of summer and the beginning of Autumn, especially if you would like to explore all five Stans.
✮ 𝙎𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 (April to June) and 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡 (September and October) are considered the best time to visit the Stans. Temperatures are generally comfortable across the region at around 20°C (68°F)
✮ 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 (July and August) can be extremely hot, with temperatures soaring above 38°C (100°F). There are exceptions to the mountains of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where it’s always cold even in high summer. Also, in the Pamir Highway area where it’s never getting too hot either.
✮ 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 (January to March) are bitterly cold across Central Asia, and temperatures drop below freezing.
East Asia
East Asia region experiences four seasons like North America, Oceania, and Europe.
✮ 𝙎𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 (March to May) is mostly a good time to visit some countries in the East Asia region. It is the best season to witness sakura blooms across Japan and South Korea.
✮ 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 (June to August) is pleasantly warm across the region. It is also the busiest month of the year, so expect lots of crowds and higher prices across the board.
✮ 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣 (September to November) is shoulder season where summer crowds have gone, and the weather is pleasant. Early to mid-autumn is the perfect time for traveling across China, Japan, South Korea, and even Tibet.
✮ 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 (December to February) is when temperatures drop significantly, and many places experience snowfall. Crowds and prices also drop, making it an ideal time for budget-conscious travelers to visit the region.
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Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia are tropical countries due to its proximity to the equator line. So generally speaking, the weather is hot and humid with temperatures around 27°C (80°F). There are only two distinct seasons in Southeast Asia, the dry and the wet.
✮ 𝘿𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 (November to February) is the best time and perfect weather to travel Southeast Asia. The hottest months are March to June when temperatures skyrocketing to 36°C (97°F). There are exceptions for Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia where are drier from April to October.
✮ 𝙒𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 (June to September) is when many countries experience high rainfall and the vegetation blooms in verdant green. Always be prepared when traveling during the monsoon season because the weather can change with little warning. Additionally, wet conditions cause an increase in the mosquito population.
South Asia
Apart from the Himalayas where snow exists year-round, the general climate across South Asia is tropical, with dry winter and wet summer. And the region is greatly affected by the monsoon and seasonal winds.
✮ 𝘿𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 (October to February) is the best time to explore South Asia, with pleasant temperatures across the region. April and May are the hottest months, with mid-day temperatures of at 33°C (91°F) on most day
✮ 𝙒𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 (June to September) is when heavy rains and high temperatures rise across the region. There are some extremes in a few regions — monsoon in Western Pakistan is non-existent, while it lasts for six months in Southern India, Sri Lanka has two monsoons (May and October), and Bangladesh may experience cyclone (June to August).
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𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘴
𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘴
How to Get to Asia
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝘼𝙞𝙧 / 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 — Asia is dotted with major international airports, making traveling to countries in the region easy. Major countries and cities in Asia have direct flights, and if not, access to connecting flights is hassle-free. Asia’s largest airports by many intercontinental connections include Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Mumbai. With the absence of direct international flights to some Asian destinations like Phuket, you can always catch a connecting flight through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore, which is the major transit point. Suppose you are heading to Central Asia; Tashkent International Airport is the busiest and most central airport in Eurasia.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙖 — Although flights are the fastest way to reach destinations in Asia, you could get to Asia via water by ships and boats. The trip is an experience you won’t forget, particularly if you opt to take a luxurious cruise. Many cruises depart to/from Singapore, Hong Kong, or Tianjin/Beijing and may include ports in China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and India.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡 /𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 — If you come to Asia by train, you’ll likely go through Russia or Turkey, although other options may exist. The most usual and accessible route from Europe to China is via the classic Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR). A few different routes are available, but arguably the most interesting TSR route is between Moscow and China via Mongolia. The distance is 7,621 km (4,735 miles) long, and the journey takes six nights. An experience on the Trans-Siberian Railway should be on everyone’s bucket list. And Yes, TSR is perfectly safe (even for families and solo females), comfortable, and affordable.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙖𝙙 — Yes, it is possible to reach Asia from Europe overland. The most popular way to travel from Europe to China and Asia is by going through Turkey. There are several ways and routes to do it, some more straightforward and accessible than others. All require some caution, including required visas, border crossings, local customs, road conditions, safety, and dealing with obstacles. We don’t see this option visible for family traveling with kids, nor for solo females. In our humble opinion, it’s too complicated and too many obstacles.
How to Go Around Asia
Transportation throughout Asia is relatively easy in some regions like Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. But it’s a bit of mystery and challenging in other areas. In any case, it’s a great adventure.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝘼𝙞𝙧 / 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 — Travel around within Asia is most convenient by air, especially if you are on a tight schedule. Fares are lower compared to Europe or North America. Low-cost airlines in Asia are rapidly expanding their networks, particularly in Southeast Asia. Keep in mind that flights are not restricted to capital cities. It may be cheaper if you’re willing to be flexible with your destination and dates of arrival/departure. Also, sometimes it’s necessary to take roundabout routes to access specific destinations.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙖 — Almost every country in Asia has some form of water transport, from luxury cruise ships in China, longtail boats in Thailand to the narrow speedboats that zip along the Mekong River through Laos & Cambodia. Cruising is catching up tremendously in Asia. There are several cruise lines with different routes to travel within Asia throughout the year. Ferries and boats are also a popular way to get from island to island, especially in the Southeast Asia region. For a truly local experience, skip the tourist cruises and find a local guide to take you boating for the day or motor you up the river to a hidden local treasure.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡 /𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 — Train travel in Asia is very doable. In fact, it’s the best way to experience the destination. However, comfort and service vary significantly by country and sometimes by region within a country. Most countries in the Northeast Asia region have pretty intensive and reliable train systems. You can even experience super-fast bullet trains in Japan and China. Also, overnight sleeper trains connect major cities in some Southeast Asia countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Thailand has one of the best network rail systems globally, and there are often direct routes between major cities that make the best way to get and around the country. India has the third most extensive passenger rail network in the world, after Russia and China. Other regions in Asia also have train travel services. But there are many countries that trains don’t service at all.
✮ 𝘽𝙮 𝘽𝙪𝙨 — Bus is probably the easiest and cheapest way to travel around Central Asia and Southeast Asia. You can find frequent tourist buses easily throughout these regions. If you are adventurous, try local buses that are a fraction of the cost and may or may not be less convenient. Two organized hop-on and hop-off buses travel with set routes across Asia, mostly used by independent travelers and backpackers, Bamba Experience and Stray Asia.
𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵. 𝘜𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤 𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘰. 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵. 𝘜𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤 𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘰.
Where to Stay in Asia
Accommodation options are abundant throughout Asia. You can find some of the most luxurious and expensive resorts in the world, unique capsule and container hotels, scenic getaway in the mountains remotely, eco-friendly and sustainable resorts, traditional inns like ryokan and yurt, homestay with the locals, budget hostels that cost a mere buck or two, and anything else in between. It all depends on your destinations, personal choices, and budgets.
It can be overwhelming to decide which best hotel to stay on a massive continent, especially for your first family trip to Asia. Worry not. We are here to help and won’t let you hanging to dry. You are in the right place; we have made a list of some best-value family-friendly accommodation options at different budgets and categories. It will give you an idea and big picture to narrow down your choice.
Luxury Hotels & Resorts – FAMILY FRIENDLY
When in comes to quality and services, luxury and high-end hotels and resorts throughout Asia are generally comparable (or better) to hotels and resorts in Europe, North America and Oceania. Hotel staff will likely speak English well. The rooms can be very extravagant with wonderful views looking out the city, water, or mountain. The beds are very comfortable. The bathrooms are clean and modern with a nice shower and sink. You will even find very nice rooftop pools available for guests.
Mid-Range Hotels
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Budget-Friendly Hotels & Guesthouses
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XOXO
XOXO
All-Inclusive Resorts – Family & Kid Friendly
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Unique Accommodations in Asia
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Homestay With The Locals
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Airbnb & Vacation Homes
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𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵. 𝘜𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤 𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘰. 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵. 𝘜𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤 𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘰.
Best Foods to Eat in Asia
