How to plan an Asia trip from Canada
Two realities shape every Asia trip: the flights are long, and the region is enormous. A first instinct is to combine four countries in two weeks — but the internal travel alone would swallow the trip. A better approach is to give Asia more time than you would Europe (12–16 days or more), pick one country or two neighbouring ones, and build in a recovery day for the time difference at the start.
Routing is everything: which cities, in which order, with which internal flights, and where to slow down. Get it right and Asia feels like a series of unforgettable days; get it wrong and it's a blur of airports. This is exactly where a designed itinerary beats a self-booked one, and where Lisa's experience does the heavy lifting.
When to go: it depends on the country
Asia has no single best season — the right window depends entirely on where you're headed. Here's a quick guide for the destinations Canadians ask about most.
| Destination | Best months | Avoid | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Nov – Mar | Apr – Oct (hot/monsoon) | Dry, cooler season; ideal beaches |
| Bali / Indonesia | May – Oct (dry) | Jan – Feb (wettest) | Dry season; sunniest beaches |
| Vietnam | Nov – Apr (varies N/S) | Regional rains vary | Long country — timing differs by region |
| Japan | Mar – May, Oct – Nov | Jun – Jul (rainy), Aug (hot) | Cherry blossoms; autumn foliage |
| Cambodia | Nov – Mar | Apr – Oct (wet/hot) | Dry, pleasant for Angkor |
| India | Oct – Mar | Apr – Sep (heat/monsoon) | Cooler, dry classic season |
Where to go: Asia's headline destinations
Most Canadian trips centre on a handful of countries, each a very different experience.
- Japan — the most popular first trip: Tokyo's energy, Kyoto's temples and gardens, the bullet trains, the food, and a culture of effortless service. Safe, clean and endlessly rewarding.
- Thailand — the classic mix of beaches (Phuket, Krabi, the islands) and culture (Bangkok, Chiang Mai), with great value and famous hospitality.
- Bali (Indonesia) — rice terraces, surf, wellness, villas and honeymoon-ready resorts; a destination in itself or part of a wider trip.
- Vietnam & Cambodia — Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and the temples of Angkor Wat: rich history, scenery and value, often combined.
- Singapore & beyond — a polished, easy hub that pairs well with Bali or Thailand; gateways to the wider region.
- India, Sri Lanka & the Maldives — palaces and culture, tea country, and the ultimate beach finale; for second trips and special occasions.
Multi-country journeys & getting around
Asia rewards combining destinations, but the internal logistics are real: budget airlines, visas, currencies, transfers and very different transport standards from country to country. A well-built route uses the right internal flights, sequences stops to minimize backtracking, and books reliable private transfers and reputable internal carriers rather than leaving it to chance.
A combination like Japan in two regions, or Thailand-and-Bali, or Vietnam-and-Cambodia, is exactly where an advisor earns her fee — handling the flights, the visas, the transfers and the timing so you simply travel. Lisa specializes in these; see her custom itineraries service.
Honeymoons & luxury in Asia
Asia is a honeymoon and special-occasion dream: a Balinese villa with a private pool, an overwater suite in the Maldives, a traditional ryokan in Japan, or a luxury beach finale after a culture-rich tour. The region's high-end resorts and service are world-class, and often better value than equivalent luxury elsewhere.
For a milestone trip, the right resort, the right room category and the seamless transfers between culture and beach are what make it. Lisa designs Asia honeymoons and luxury journeys that balance wonder with rest; see her honeymoons and luxury travel services.
Practical tips: visas, health, money & connectivity
- Visa rules vary by country — some are visa-free for Canadians, others need an e-visa or visa on arrival. Lisa confirms the requirements for your exact route before you go.
- Check recommended vaccinations and travel-health advice well ahead; carry any medications in original packaging.
- Keep six months' passport validity beyond your trip — most Asian countries require it.
- Carry some local cash; cards are common in cities but less so in markets and rural areas.
- A travel eSIM (a Japan, regional or global plan) keeps you connected for maps, translation and ride apps from the moment you land — set it up before you fly.
- Travel insurance with strong medical and evacuation coverage is essential for a long-haul trip this far from home.
Why book Asia with a Montreal travel agent
Asia is the trip where the most can go wrong if it's self-booked — a punishing route, the wrong season in the wrong region, missed visa rules, unreliable internal connections, and no one to call from twelve time zones away when a flight is cancelled. The complexity that makes Asia daunting is exactly the complexity an advisor removes.
Lisa Salter does this for a living. Based in Montreal with 20+ years of experience and IATA-compliant, she designs the route, picks the right season for your destinations, handles the internal flights, visas and transfers, builds in rest, and is reachable if anything changes while you're away. For a far, expensive, once-in-a-lifetime journey, that expertise and support is the difference between an exhausting trip and the trip of a lifetime.
