Culture guide
Bangkok · Thailand
Asia Travel Guide: The First-Timer's Map
The Asia guide: the regions, the seasons and the first-timer's arc.
9 min read · 14 days · Updated September 12, 2026
- asia
- travel guide
- Destination
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Duration
- 14 days
- Best time
- Nov-Feb
- Style
- Culture · Food · History
- Daily budget
- 50 USD
Asia is too big for a list, so this is a map: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia) is the value arc — $50–80/day, beaches and temples; East Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan) is the rail-and-city arc — $90–140/day, seasons and precision; South Asia and the Himalayas are their own trips.
First-timers should pick one arc and go deep: the Southeast Asia loop or the East Asia rail pair (Japan + Korea, two hours apart by air).
What this guide covers
The Southeast Asia Loop
The value arc, three weeks.
Day 1
Bangkok — temples
The Grand Palace trio.
Day 2
Bangkok — markets
Chatuchak and Yaowarat.
Day 3
Chiang Mai
The old city and the khao soi.
Day 4
Chiang Mai — elephants
The sanctuary day.
Day 5
Fly to Siem Reap
Pub Street and the tickets.
Day 6
Angkor — small circuit
Sunrise at Angkor Wat.
Day 7
Angkor — grand circuit
Beng Mealea or Banteay Srei.
Day 8
Fly to Vietnam
Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Day 9
Ha Long
The karst cruise.
Day 10
Hoi An
The lanterns.
Day 11
Hoi An — slow
The beach and the tailors.
Day 12
Fly to Bali
Ubud's arrival.
Day 13
Bali — temples
The water temples.
Day 14
Bali — beaches
The sunset coast.
The Two Arcs
Southeast Asia: Bangkok → Chiang Mai → the islands; or Vietnam north-to-south; or Cambodia's Angkor plus the coast. East Asia: Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Seoul → Busan. Both arcs are proven; mixing them wastes days in airports.
- Value arc: Bangkok 3 → Chiang Mai 3 → islands 4 (or Vietnam's S-curve).
- Rail arc: Tokyo 3 → Kyoto 2 → Seoul 3 → Busan 1.
- Islands-first: Bali 5 → Singapore 2 → Kuala Lumpur 2.
The Season Splits
Southeast Asia: November–February is the cool season everywhere (the Gulf islands run to September). East Asia: March–April and October–November are the blossom-and-foliage windows; the monsoon hits June–August in the south.
What to know before you go
Money
- Southeast Asia $50–80/day; East Asia $90–140.
- Internal flights $30–100 make multi-country arcs cheap.
When
- November–February suits Southeast Asia.
- March–April and October–November suit East Asia.
Turn this guide into a trip
The trip planner opens pre-filled with Bangkok — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.
Plan around this destination
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More guides
- Southeast Asia Travel GuideThe Southeast Asia guide: the value arc, the island seasons and the budgets.Bangkok · 9 min read
- Thailand Travel GuideThe Thailand guide: Bangkok, the two coasts, the temple etiquette and the season split.Bangkok · 9 min read
- Japan Travel Guide: The Country, HonestlyThe whole-country guide: routes, rail math, seasons and the etiquette that unlocks it.Tokyo · 10 min read
- Vietnam Travel GuideThe Vietnam guide: the S-curve route, the street-food curriculum and the season split.Hanoi · 9 min read
- Bangkok 2 Day Itinerary: The 48-Hour Temple SprintTwo days of Bangkok's essentials: temples at opening, a market marathon, and Yaowarat after dark.Bangkok · 5 min read
- Bangkok 3 Day Itinerary: Temples, Markets and the Chao PhrayaThree days of Bangkok arranged around the heat and the river: golden temples early, markets late, and the canal-side Bangkok tourists skip.Bangkok · 8 min read
Ready-made trips
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start in Asia?
Thailand — the easiest entry, the best tourism infrastructure, and the cheapest landing.
Japan or Southeast Asia first?
Southeast Asia for value and beaches; Japan for rails and precision. Both arcs are proven.
How long for an Asia trip?
Three weeks per arc minimum; two weeks if you pick one country deep.