Where to go in Asia in May

Japan

Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido

Mild, green and mostly dry once Golden Week ends, around the 6th. Wisteria, azaleas and fresh maple leaves replace the blossom. Hokkaido is just coming into bloom. A quieter, cheaper time to visit than April, with long days for walking.

South Korea

Seoul, Gyeongju, Jeju

Warm, green and mostly clear before the rains. Lotus lanterns decorate temples for Buddha's birthday. Hiking in the national parks is at its best. A calmer alternative to April, with fewer visitors at the palaces.

China

Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai

Warm and mostly dry, with long days. The Labour Day holiday in the first days of the month sends crowds to the sights, so aim for the second half. Good for Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, and a pleasant month for the Great Wall.

Bali and Indonesia

Bali, Komodo, Lombok

Dry, sunny and comfortable, with fewer visitors than in July and August. Bali's beaches, temples and terraces are all easy, and Komodo's sea is calm. One of the best months for Indonesia.

The Philippines

Manila, El Nido, Cebu, Bohol

Very hot and humid, with the first storms arriving late in the month. The sea is still calm in Palawan and the water is clear. A good month for the beach, and for early starts in the cities.

Nepal and Bhutan

Kathmandu, Pokhara, Paro, Thimphu

Warm and getting hazy, with the pre-monsoon storms beginning late in the month. Rhododendrons linger at altitude. Bhutan is still pleasant, and the high trails are free of snow. Mountain views are less clear than in autumn.

Taiwan

Taipei, Taroko, Tainan

The plum rains begin, bringing long spells of drizzle and humidity. Landslides can close mountain roads. Taipei is still fine with indoor stops, but the east coast and mountains are less reliable than in spring.

Vietnam

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Saigon

Hot and humid from the north to the south. The rainy season begins in the south and the centre stays dry. Hanoi is steamy. Good for Hoi An and the central coast, less so for the north and the Mekong Delta.

Cambodia and Laos

Angkor, Luang Prabang

Hot and humid, with the first rains arriving and clearing the haze. The landscape turns green. Storms come in the afternoon and evening. Angkor is quiet, and prices fall, but the heat is still heavy.

Thailand

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui

The rains begin, with afternoon storms and humid heat. The Gulf islands, including Samui, stay drier than the Andaman coast. Prices fall. A workable month for the Gulf and for cities, less so for the Andaman beaches.

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Borneo

Hot with regular afternoon storms in Kuala Lumpur. The east coast and Borneo are in good shape, with calm seas and bright days. A good month for the islands and the rainforests of Sabah and Sarawak.

Sri Lanka

Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Galle

The south-west monsoon arrives on the west and south coasts, with heavy rain and rough seas. The east coast around Trincomalee and Arugam Bay turns sunny and calm. The hill country is wet, but Sigiriya and the east stay workable.

Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, the Gobi, the steppe

Spring arrives slowly, with warmer days and cold nights. Some camps open late in the month. The Gobi can still be dusty and windy, and the steppe begins to turn green. Quiet, with low prices.

India

Rajasthan, Kerala, Delhi

The hottest, most punishing weather in the plains, with temperatures that can top 45 degrees in Rajasthan and Delhi. Hill stations and the Himalaya are the places to be. Kerala's pre-monsoon storms begin late in the month.