Multi-country trips

Asia multi-country holidays aren’t just about seeing more. They’re about understanding and experiencing more than you'd ever expect from a single trip. From street food tours in Seoul to sunrise at Angkor Wat, they connect places, people, and histories that have always been intertwined – and yet are too often boxed in by borders.

Trip ideas

Top destinations in Asia

Asia’s cities and urban hubs make ideal anchor points for a multi-country holiday – each with its own rhythm, rituals, and reasons to linger. Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, topped the list as the world’s most visited city in 2024. But beyond the statistics, what really draws people in are the street-level experiences: night markets steaming with drunken noodles and crab fried rice, river ferries chugging past temples, and small family-run shops tucked behind shopping centres – tailors, herbalists, photo studios and snack stalls you’d miss if you didn’t know where to look. It's also a natural springboard to Thailand’s coastlines – from the craggy limestone cliffs of Krabi to the long, lazy sands of Ko Samet.

“These are some of my favourite trips to plan. Multi-country holidays let you see how deeply connected Asia really is – and how different places can be, even across short distances.

One of the best parts is getting to compare experiences. And food is a big one. Take pho in Vietnam and kuy teav in Cambodia – both rice noodle soups, both eaten for breakfast, but worlds apart in flavour and presentation. Pho is usually served with rare beef, clear broth and herbs like Thai basil and sawtooth coriander. Kuy teav is pork-based, often topped with fried garlic, pickled vegetables or minced meat, found at street stalls in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

And don’t forget to give yourself time – not just between flights or buses, but space to slow down. Some of the best memories come between the big sights.”

FAQs

Sometimes you need a specialist. Whether your question is about visas, domestic flight combinations or how vegan-friendly your destination is, we're here to help you.

Not everything – but we’ll help you see the right things for your interests and timeframe. We can adjust any itinerary: cut it down, build it up, or change pace as needed.

This is entirely up to you – but if you're splitting your time, we recommend giving each place at least a week. It’s the difference between ticking off a few lead destination highlights and really getting to know a place. A week gives you room to go beyond the obvious: to stay somewhere a bit more characterful, venture into the countryside, and try experiences you might miss otherwise. That said, if your heart’s set on a quick taste of somewhere new at the end of a longer trip, our travel experts will put together the holiday that’s right for you.

However long you have, we’ll build something that fits – and feels right for you.

Visa requirements vary by nationality and destination. Check in with your government guidelines on each country you plan to visit, to be sure.

Yes. None of our destinations share a currency, so plan ahead. Yen is useful in Japan, especially in markets and rural areas, but will be necessary when it comes to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, even in cities, where card is less widely used. In Malaysia and South Korea, on the other hand, card is favoured over cash, so make sure you check whether your bank charges for overseas transactions and make suitable arrangements. We also recommend carrying some US dollars as a backup float, which you can use to exchange should you need to top up.

Not always. In Southeast Asia, overland travel – including boats and trains – is often an option. Crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam, or from Thailand to Laos via the Mekong, is a popular alternative to internal flights (and, better for the planet).

You’ll need separate SIMs, eSIMS or a roaming package that covers multiple countries. Check with your phone provider before you go if you want to prepare before you fly. Otherwise, you’ll be able to pick up SIMs at the airport.

Vietnam and Cambodia are connected by land and short flights. Thailand and Laos pair well with river travel. Japan and South Korea are close by air (2–3 hours). Malaysia/Borneo and Singapore work well as a single holiday, or as a springboard into wider Asia.

Generally, yes – extra flights or transfers between countries add to the cost. But we’ll work within your budget to make it worthwhile, and sometimes ground transport or off-peak travel helps keep costs down. It’s cheaper in the long-run to extend your time in Asia than to come back with another set of international flights

Yes! You can reach places like Hakone from Tokyo in a couple of hours. Staying in a traditional ryokan inn is a great way to understand Japan’s traditions within a short visit.

There are a couple of overnight ferries which run between Busan (South Korea) and Fukuoka (Japan). While flights are quicker, a ferry trip between Japan and Korea can be part of a slower travel adventure.

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