The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break

Spring is a glorious time of year to explore southern Thailand – especially if you’re looking for a beach break. The weather is heating up, but you’ll miss the winter crowds that flock here over Christmas. Visit in April and you can join the water fights of Songkran festival, too.

Spring is a unique time to explore Sri Lanka – while the southwest monsoon is just beginning, you’ll escape the crowds and see the country rejuvenated by rain. Whilst visiting, learn how to cook Sri Lankan curries in Kandy, visit the tea plantations of Ella and explore the south coast on a wildlife safari in Yala National Park.

Bali lies just south of the equator, so spring here is a transition between the wet and dry seasons – ideal if you want to beat the high season crowds and have cooler, drier weather for hiking and snorkelling. Look out for tours to the Island of the Gods, taking you on a sunrise hike to Mount Batur and visits to the underwater statues of the Gili Islands, not to forget the quirky cafes and bars of Canggu.

Along the way, you’ll learn how to cook Balinese curries, swim in wild waterfalls and learn about the nuances of Balinese religious ceremonies as you tour across the Indonesian island.

April 30 is Reunification Day in Vietnam, one of the most important holidays of the year. It’s also the spring season – when the weather is warming up before the summer rains arrive. It’s therefore a beautiful time to explore the northern rice paddies and karst scenery of Lan Ha Bay.

Try the street food in Hanoi, hike the countryside and take a cruise into the limestone bays along the coast. Jump onto trains south to the old Imperial capital of Hue, before heading further to see the of ancient beauty of Hoi An.

March until May is the spring season in Nepal – and the best time for trekking. Mix up your trip with Himalayan hiking and cultural excursions with wildlife safaris too. Take time to enjoy the distinct and delicious cuisine with a traditional Nepalese dinner in Kathmandu before exploring the Annapurna Range around Pokhara.

From here, you can head into the mountains for a momo cooking masterclass with Tibetan refugees, before travelling south to the rainforests of Chitwan National Park – where you might just spot a Bengal tiger.

Hot temperatures and sweltering humidity are standard during the summer months in Rajasthan – so visit India in the spring, before temps creep up. Be sure to take a trip to Agra for a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world and continue onto Jaipur, to see the city’s top sights. Experience traditional life in a Bishnoi village before a stop at the 15th-century Jain temple at Ranakpur. The finish your trip with a visit to Udaipur, known as the jewel of the Rajastan region.