18 Best Asia destinations in January of 2025

• January 1 – New Year’s Day (public holiday in most of the world)
• January 26 – Republic Day in India (major national public holiday)

Bangkok, Thailand

• January avg high: 90°F/32°C
• January avg low: 70°F/21°C
• January avg precip: 0.4″/1.0cm

January is the perfect month to visit Bangkok or pretty much anywhere else in Thailand for that matter. The city is almost always both scorching AND humid and January is one of the few months where it can feel at least bearable outside. This is one of the busier months, of course, but once you get here pretty much everything is cheap by international standards.

Bangkok is also the ideal starting point and hub for any exploration of southeast Asia. The large airport has cheap flights coming in from all directions, as well as cheap flights out to everywhere worthwhile in the region. Hotel rates are looking unusually cheap again for January of 2025 so this could be a great year to visit.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $19 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $38 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $7 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Bangkok
>>>Bangkok prices and travel tips

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Phuket, Thailand

• January avg high: 89°F/32°C
• January avg low: 74°F/23°C
• January avg precip: 1.2″/3.0cm

As the largest and most famous of Thailand’s islands, Phuket is justifiably popular in January, but there are many others to choose from with similar good weather. Perhaps Phuket’s biggest positive is that it’s got its own international airport so you can fly in directly from long distances rather than having to change planes in Bangkok as you do with other islands.

This month Phuket is mostly filled with Europeans and a few Aussies, with groups of men mostly focusing on the Patong Beach nightlife. Families usually feel more comfortable in Kata or Karon Beach, just to the south of Patong. Overall value is very good, but beachfront hotels are expensive and so are most tourist restaurants. Hotel rates are looking very appealing in January of 2025, even compared to the last few years. This could be a good year to combine Bangkok (above) and Phuket on a city/beach holiday.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $25 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $38 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $11 per person

>>>Check hotel and resort deals for Phuket
>>>Phuket prices and travel tips

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Chiang Mai, Thailand

• January avg high: 84°F/29°C
• January avg low: 57°F/14°C
• January avg precip: 0.3″/0.8cm

Those wanting to spend time on the beach will head south of Bangkok, but those who want to explore the country and culture usually head north to Chiang Mai. It’s north enough and a high enough elevation that evenings are actually cool in January. If you are on a longer trip around southeast Asia you’ll really appreciate that for at least this part of your trip.

Chiang Mai is also famously one of the world’s cheapest cities for tourists. Hotels are amazingly cheap for what you get, and it’s quite easy to find cheap meals and drinks as well. The city itself isn’t Thailand’s most photogenic, but the surrounding area has many great things to see and do, including some top notch trekking. As with so many Asian cities in warmer climates, the Night Market in Chiang Mai is one of the top attractions, even during the cooler months.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $17 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $40 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $7 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Chiang Mai
>>>Chiang Mai prices and travel tips

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• January avg high: 90°F/32°C
• January avg low: 73°F/23°C
• January avg precip: 6.7″/16.8cm

Not only is Kuala Lumpur hot and fairly humid every day of the year, but it also gets a good bit of rainfall every month of the year as well. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying arguably Asia’s most interesting city. It’s very well built for the heat, as well as for the quick downpours that can happen a few afternoons each week. In fact, you can get around much of the downtown area in elevated and air-conditioned walkways that shield you from the sun or rain.

This city is a very modern mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences, and since English is one of the official languages it’s much easier to visit than most others on this list. KL, as it’s called locally, is also a nice and exotic mix of what you will find in Bangkok and the more modern things you’ll find in Singapore, and at a surprisingly reasonable price as well. Alcohol in bars and restaurants can be expensive, but almost everything else feels like outstanding value.

Hotel rates in January of 2025 are looking even a bit cheaper this year than last year. Book carefully though because often the cheapest rooms in hotels here have no outside window and for most people it’s worth paying more for some natural light.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $28 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $45 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $8 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Kuala Lumpur
>>>Kuala Lumpur prices and travel tips

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Singapore

• January avg high: 85°F/29°C
• January avg low: 75°F/24°C
• January avg precip: 9.9″/24.8cm

As Singapore sits just a bit north of the equator, it’s yet another that is hot and fairly humid every day of the year. January is actually one of the slightly cooler months, although it’s not one of the drier months. Still, similar to Kuala Lumpur, this modern city is well built for the quick rain showers, so they are very easy to avoid.

As its popularity has steadily increased, Singapore has actually become the most expensive city for tourists in Asia, but it’s small enough to see in 2 or 3 days and once you have your hotel booked it’s possible to find great and cheap food. The airport is also so nice that it’s worth a visit all by itself. Hotel rates in 2025 are similar to last year, which is nice because they have been going up each year for a long time.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $92 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $135 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $23 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Singapore
>>>Singapore prices and travel tips

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Siem Reap, Cambodia

• January avg high: 89°F/32°C
• January avg low: 69°F/21°C
• January avg precip: 0.1″/0.3cm

While Bangkok might be the best place to start a southeast Asia visit, Siem Reap might end up being your favorite stop. This small town built at the entrance to the amazing Angkor Wat temple complex is mellow enough that it’s a pleasant place to hang out for a week or more, and things here are so cheap that you might have trouble leaving.

You’ll want to set aside at least one full day and probably the evening before to visit Angkor Wat (using a special one-day ticket), and the perfect January weather will make it all the nicer. You can get in by bus from Bangkok or Phnom Penh, but those in a hurry will probably want to fly in. Hotels are looking very cheap in 2025, but it’s still probably better to splurge for something nicer instead of booking one of the cheapest places. You can find hotels that are also spas for not much more than a normal hotel, so that is something to consider for an affordable splurge.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $18 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $28 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $5 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Siem Reap
>>>Siem Reap prices and travel tips

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Luang Prabang, Laos

• January avg high: 82°F/28°C
• January avg low: 58°F/14°C
• January avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm

Another town in the north of the region where January evening temperatures are actually pleasantly cool, Luang Prabang is the best stop to check Laos off your list. It’s a charming town with wonderfully low prices on most things, and the slow pace compared to most other Asian cities is also very welcome.

Some people arrive on the famous slow boat that takes 2 full days from the Thailand border, and that is an interesting experience by itself. But you can also arrive by a new high-speed train from Vientiane if you don’t want to fly.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $33 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $107 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $10 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Luang Prabang
>>>Luang Prabang prices and travel tips

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Hanoi, Vietnam

• January avg high: 66°F/19°C
• January avg low: 58°F/14°C
• January avg precip: 0.8″/2.0cm

If you are touring around southeast Asia any time of year you are bound to get tired of the relentless heat every day. Hanoi in January is a wonderful rest from that because it’s actually cool during the day and still mild at night, which gives it a very interesting and more European feel.

Hanoi is also the culinary capital of Vietnam, which has arguably the best cuisine in all of Asia. Things here are also amazingly cheap, so it’s a popular place for long-term travelers to stay for a while. The nearby Halong Bay is a must-visit, as you can take a 2-night or 3-night sightseeing cruise for next to nothing.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $16 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $26 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $5 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Hanoi
>>>Hanoi prices and travel tips

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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• January avg high: 89°F/32°C
• January avg low: 70°F/21°C
• January avg precip: 0.6″/1.5cm

You can see the huge difference in temperatures between Hanoi (above) in the north of Vietnam, and Saigon in the south. This city is much larger and more spread out, and a bit less charming for most of us as well. Still, it’s exciting and interesting, and in January the temperatures are at least pleasant most of the time.

Ho Chi Minh City has a large airport so you can fly in from any major city in the region and even some large cities from much farther away. Many people fly into Hanoi and then take the train south to Ho Chi Minh City, or the other way around. If you do that you’ll definitely want to stop for a few days in Hoi An on the way. Things here are a bit more expensive than in Hanoi, but still cheap by any other standards.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $18 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $35 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $5 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Ho Chi Minh City
>>>Ho Chi Minh City prices and travel tips

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Hong Kong

• January avg high: 66°F/19°C
• January avg low: 57°F/14°C
• January avg precip: 1.0″/2.5cm

A bit like Singapore, Hong Kong has grown so much in international prominence that it feels like it’s own world now. January is fairly cool here, but at least it’s also mostly dry. Those on longer trips around Asia to visit other places on this list can often get a cheap flight into Hong Kong and then cheap flights to smaller cities from here.

Hotels in Hong Kong are quite expensive for Asia, but it’s still possible to get reasonable deals at hotels with good locations on Hong Kong Island itself. It’s worth noting that many cheaper hotels in Hong Kong get poor reviews compared to other Asian cities. In other words, it’s important to choose a hotel carefully. The restaurant scene and nightlife here are also both among the best in Asia, though you do have to prepare to spend a bit to participate.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $87 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $93 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $23 per person

>>>Check current hotel promotions for Hong Kong
>>>Hong Kong prices and travel tips

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Boracay Island, Philippines

• January average high: 82°F/28°C
• January average low: 73°F/23°C
• January avg precip: 3.7″/9.3cm

In case you haven’t heard of it before, Boracay Island is one of the Philippines’ top holiday destinations, and January is the prime season. This is the kind of place that you visit once and then want to come back every year after because it’s friendly and far more mellow and pleasant than Phuket or most other larger resort areas.

Hotels on Boracay Island aren’t exactly cheap, but that’s partly because nearly every one of them is directly on the beach or only a 1-minute walk from the sand. This long and thin island has a gorgeous beach along most of its west coast, so when you look at it on a map you’ll discover that every hotel is very well located. The eastern coast is home to some of Asia’s best wind surfing, in case that appeals to you.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $47 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $48 for two people

>>>Check Boracay resort deals
>>>Boracay Island prices and travel tips

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Malé, Maldives

• January avg high: 84°F/29°C
• January avg low: 77°F/25°C
• January avg precip: 4.5″/11.3cm

Malé is the capital city of the Maldives, but honestly you don’t want to spend any more time there than you have to. The reason to visit the Maldives is for a holiday of a lifetime in a water villa on one of the Maldives 150 or so private islands. January is one of the busiest months, particularly for European visitors, and the weather is pretty much perfect.

Water villas in the Maldives start at around US$400 per night, but you can get a huge water villa with a private Jacuzzi on a private deck starting at around US$600 per night with all meals included at Meeru Island Resort. Those on tighter budgets can get island rooms at these same resorts starting at around US$100 and going way up from there.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $69 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $119 for two people

>>>Malé prices and travel tips

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Pokhara, Nepal

• January avg high: 61°F/16°C
• January avg low: 39°F/4°C
• January avg precip: 0.7″/1.8cm

Pokhara may be another town you’ve never heard of, at least up until you start researching a trip to Nepal. People generally fly into Kathmandu for a few days and then head to Pokhara by bus or plane from there. This is Nepal’s trekking capital, and January is a busy month in spite of the chilly evening temperatures.

If you just want to chill out and relax in a fun town, Pokhara is perhaps the cheapest city in the world to do that. The trekking adventures that most people come here for aren’t quite so cheap though, so it can balance out.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $25 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $35 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $6 per person

>>>Check current hotel promotions for Pokhara
>>>Pokhara prices and travel tips

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Colombo, Sri Lanka

• January avg high: 88°F/31°C
• January avg low: 72°F/22°C
• January avg precip: 2.3″/5.8cm

Similar to Malé, Maldives above, the capital of Sri Lanka is crowded and lacks charm for the most part. January is a perfect month to visit Sri Lanka and then explore the hill regions as well as the beaches along the southern coast. Those who are familiar with India will find some of this familiar, but the crowds even in Colombo aren’t so overwhelming.

The tourist infrastructure of Sri Lanka lags behind many others in the region, and that’s partly why there are very few hostels and cheaper hotels. The good news is that there are plenty of mid-priced hotels that offer good value, so it’s still a very affordable destination for most of us. The country has been going through some problems in the last couple of years with shortages and inflation, but tourists are now returning and early 2025 should be a good time to come with hotel rates being lower than usual. Check the news but this seems like a good year to go and they need the visitors.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $26 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $83 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $10 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Colombo
>>>Colombo prices and travel tips

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Taipei, Taiwan

• January avg high: 66°F/19°C
• January avg low: 56°F/13°C
• January avg precip: 3.4″/8.5cm

Another Asian city that actually has a bit of a winter, Taipei is sub tropical so the year-round weather is pretty nice. If you know much about Taipei you probably want to plan a trip here for the food alone, but there is a lot more going on than just that.

As a relatively rich country, Taiwan is a bit more expensive than most of China and many of its other neighbors, but it’s also very modern with a lot to see. The main museum here has more Chinese art and artifacts than any museum in China itself, for example.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $46 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $68 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $16 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Taipei
>>>Taipei prices and travel tips

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Delhi/New Delhi, India

• January avg high: 70°F/21°C
• January avg low: 43°F/6°C
• January avg precip: 0.6″/1.5cm

Delhi is one of the world’s largest and most crowded cities, and if you visit during the hot months it can seem even more overwhelming. So a visit during January, when days are nice and nights are a bit chilly, is actually a much better idea. There is a lot more to see here than in Mumbai, and of course this is also where most people come to do the day trip to Agra for the Taj Mahal.

Nearly everything here is cheap, although some hotels in the nicer parts of New Delhi are on the pricey side. The airport is new and modern, and the metro system is as well, making getting in and out and around much easier than just a few years ago. Quality at cheaper hotels in India is below the standards of some other countries so it’s important to find a place with a lot of positive reviews and do more research than usual.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $16 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $98 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $7 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for New Delhi
>>>Delhi/New Delhi prices and travel tips

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Goa, India

• January avg high: 89°F/32°C
• January avg low: 67°F/19°C
• January avg precip: 0.1″/0.3cm

As you can see above, the January weather in Goa is pretty much perfect for a beach destination. You can expect gloriously warm days and mild nights, with almost no chance of any rain. Of course January is also the busiest month here, so you won’t be alone.

Goa is actually a state rather than a city, and it has about a dozen different beach areas to choose from. Some are famous for beach parties and electronic music, while others are better for families. Choosing your actual area is key, but once you get there pretty much everything is fabulously cheap.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $46 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $77 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $6 per person

>>>Check current hotel promotions for Goa
>>>Goa prices and travel tips

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Mumbai, India

• January avg high: 87°F/31°C
• January avg low: 62°F/17°C
• January avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm

Mumbai is India’s financial center and also the center of its world-famous film industry, but it’s actually not a great tourist town. If you fly into Mumbai it’s probably worth spending two or three days looking around, though it’s not advisable to stay longer than that.

One challenge is that the tourist-friendly parts of the city are surrounded by water in the south, so real estate is limited and hotel prices are fairly high. At least January has fantastic weather, which helps take the edge off of the crowd situation.

• Good 3-star hotels in January from $59 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in January from $106 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in January from $17 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Mumbai
>>>Mumbai prices and travel tips