Group tours to Asia

There is no single best time, since Asia spans many climates and the monsoons follow their own calendars. Fall (October-November) and spring (March-April) are ideal for most of East Asia, while for India and mainland Southeast Asia the dry season matters most. By area:

• Japan and South Korea: spring for cherry blossoms, from late March to early April in Tokyo and early April in Seoul, and fall for foliage, from late October in Hokkaido and the mountains and in November in Tokyo and Kyoto.
• Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos: dry season from November to April, and the same goes for southern Vietnam.
• India: the north and Rajasthan are at their best from October to March.
• Nepal: October-November for clear skies and March-May for rhododendron blooms are the best windows for trekking.
• Sri Lanka: the south and west coasts from December to March, the east and north coasts from May to September.

If your vacation falls in August, the driest options are Bali, Hokkaido, Ladakh in the Indian Himalaya, and the east coast of Sri Lanka. Central and southern Japan are hot and humid that month, and the monsoon is in full swing in parts of India.

For a single country like Japan or Thailand, 10-15 days are enough. For a multi-country itinerary, plan about two weeks if the countries are neighbors and at least 3-4 weeks for three or more, since distances on this continent are vast.

From the US, count the flight too: it is long, so add a day or two for the arrival, and a federal holiday weekend, such as Thanksgiving break, is rarely enough.

Here is a rough idea of how long each country takes:

• Japan: 10-12 days for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, with the Shinkansen keeping transfers short.
• Thailand: 12-15 days across Bangkok, the north, and the islands.
• Vietnam: 12-15 days from north to south.
• India: 12-14 days for the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan.
• China: 10-14 days for Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai, thanks to high-speed rail.
• South Korea: 7-10 days, and Sri Lanka 10-12.
• Nepal: 10-14 days with a trek.

Popular pairings are Thailand and Cambodia in 14-18 days, Vietnam and Cambodia in 16-20, and Japan and South Korea in 15-18. As a rule of thumb, plan at least 2 nights per stop, 3 in big cities.

It depends on the country, and the rules change often, so check each country's page on travel.state.gov and the government's own entry site before you book. US citizens need a passport for all of Asia, and a passport card is not valid for international flights. Most countries want at least six months of validity left and some blank pages.

Japan and Singapore are visa-free for short tourist stays, with a digital arrival card for Singapore. India offers a tourist e-visa and Sri Lanka an ETA, both requested online before departure. Bhutan always requires a visa arranged before the trip, together with a daily sustainable development fee.

Apply only through official government portals, since many third-party sites look official and add their own fees. Before you leave, you can also enroll your trip in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety alerts.

No specific vaccinations are required for most Asian countries, though hepatitis A and B and typhoid are recommended. For some rural areas of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, malaria prophylaxis is also worth discussing: it is a prescription medication, not a vaccine.

Talk to a travel health clinic before you go, check whether your health plan covers care abroad, and consider travel medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.

Asia has a lot to offer, and these are among the most popular stops:

• Japan: Tokyo and Kyoto, whose UNESCO-listed temples include Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, and Kiyomizu-dera.
• Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the islands, plus the historic city of Ayutthaya.
• Vietnam: Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago, and the old town of Hoi An.
• India: the Golden Triangle, with Delhi's Humayun's Tomb and Red Fort, Agra and the Taj Mahal, and Jaipur, the Pink City.
• China: the Great Wall.

Nepal and Bhutan are for mountain lovers: Nepal has the Kathmandu Valley and Sagarmatha National Park, home to Everest, while Bhutan limits access, with the visa and daily fee arranged in advance.

For a first trip, choose countries with a good transport network and a well-organized tourism offer, such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, and match the destination to the time you have.

Each country has its own currency:

• Japan: Japanese yen
• China: renminbi, whose unit is the yuan
• India: Indian rupee
• Thailand: Thai baht
• Vietnam: Vietnamese dong
• South Korea: South Korean won
• Nepal: Nepalese rupee, pegged to the Indian rupee
• Bhutan: ngultrum

In Cambodia the national currency is the riel, but US dollars are widely used.

It's best to exchange money or withdraw cash locally at each stop, carrying only small amounts, and to check your card's foreign transaction fees and tell your bank you are traveling. In China, Alipay and WeChat Pay accept international cards, which helps where cash is little used, while in Japan cash is still very common, even outside big cities.

Budgets vary enormously. Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia) is very affordable, while Japan, Singapore, and South Korea are pricier.

The flight from the US is a major part of the budget, and timing matters too: around big holidays such as Lunar New Year, flights and lodging are in high demand. Travel style makes a difference as well, from lodging and restaurants to the number of internal transfers. Keep in mind that Bhutan has a mandatory daily sustainable development fee, paid with the visa application.

Getting around is relatively easy, even though distances between countries are often considerable. The best option changes by area:

• Japan: the Shinkansen high-speed network is punctual and extensive.
• China: it has the world's largest high-speed rail network, with tickets on the official 12306 app or through agencies.
• South Korea: KTX trains link the main cities.
• India: seats on Indian Railways are booked online through IRCTC and often sell out, so book early.
• Southeast Asia: overnight trains in Thailand and Vietnam, long-distance sleeper buses, and cheap regional flights, while tuk-tuks, motorbike taxis, and apps like Grab are for getting around town.
• Islands: ferries are the main link in the Thai islands and Indonesia, and rough seas can pause service in the monsoon season.
• Domestic flights: they pay off on long distances, such as Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Driving yourself is usually not the easiest choice on a first trip. Traffic keeps to the left in Japan, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, and to the right, as in the US, in China, South Korea, and Vietnam. In most countries you need an International Driving Permit, issued in the US only by AAA or AATA.

Asia's climate is as varied as the continent itself: tropical monsoon in Southeast Asia and India, with a rainy season between May and October, temperate in East Asia, and continental and arid in Central Asia. In more detail:

• India and Sri Lanka: the southwest monsoon brings rain to India from June to September, while Tamil Nadu and eastern Sri Lanka also get rain between October and December.
• Indonesia: equatorial climate, with Bali's dry season roughly from April to October.
• Vietnam: the north has four seasons with a cool, damp winter, while the south is tropical.
• East Asia: four seasons, with hot, humid summers and winters from mild in Tokyo to freezing in Beijing and Seoul. The rainy season arrives in June and July, and Hokkaido has no true rainy season.
• Himalaya: the climate depends on altitude, and Kathmandu stays mild even in summer.
• Central Asia and Mongolia: hot, dry summers and harsh winters.