Where to go in Asia in November

November is the beginning of the main travel season across Asia. Japan and Korea are at their peak autumn colour. Cambodia, Laos and northern Thailand enter their cool, dry weather, and Sri Lanka's south and west are about to do so. India and the Himalaya have clear skies, and Taiwan and northern Vietnam are comfortable and dry.

The month rewards earlier booking, because several peaks arrive together. Kyoto's maples bring heavy crowds in the second half of the month, and Loy Krathong in Thailand and the Water Festival in Cambodia fill their cities. The central coast of Vietnam is flooding and the Philippines is at the end of its typhoon season. Most of Asia is at its best, and the crowds know it.

At a glance

Best time

Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, India, Nepal and Bhutan

Good

South Korea, Thailand, The Philippines

Hard going

Malaysia, Mongolia

Region by region

Japan

Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido

Best time

Peak autumn colour, usually reaching Kyoto and Tokyo in the second half of the month. Temple gardens such as Tofuku-ji are crowded at their best. Book rooms months ahead, and aim for early mornings. Cool, dry weather makes the long days worthwhile.

Japan in Autumn, 10 days

Taiwan

Taipei, Taroko, Tainan

Best time

Comfortable, dry and clear in most of the island, with cooler evenings in the mountains. One of the best months for hiking and for Taroko. Sun Moon Lake is calm, and the cities are pleasant for long walks.

Taiwan: Taipei and Taroko Gorge, 7 days

China

Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai

Best time

Cool, dry and clear, with the best autumn colour in Beijing. The air can be hazier as heating starts in the north. Crowds are far smaller than in early October. A good time for the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall.

Vietnam

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Saigon

Best time

Cool, dry and bright in the north, with excellent days at Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. The centre is wet, with flooding risk and typhoons, so skip Hoi An and Hue. The south is beginning its dry season.

Northern Vietnam in Five Days, 5 days Vietnam & Cambodia for Two, 10 days

Cambodia and Laos

Angkor, Luang Prabang

Best time

The start of the cool, dry season, with green landscapes and clear skies. The Water Festival in Phnom Penh brings huge crowds to the capital. Luang Prabang is lovely, and Angkor is comfortable before the winter rush.

Angkor, Unhurried, 5 days Luang Prabang, Slowly, 6 days

India

Rajasthan, Kerala, Delhi

Best time

Dry, clear and warm. Diwali, usually in October or November, lights up cities and temples, and travel is heavy around it. Rajasthan is excellent for forts and palaces, and Pushkar's camel fair takes place around the full moon.

Palaces of Rajasthan, Waters of Kerala, 10 days

Nepal and Bhutan

Kathmandu, Pokhara, Paro, Thimphu

Best time

Cool, dry and clear, with outstanding views of the Himalaya from Pokhara and from Bhutan's passes. Tihar, the festival of lights, falls in October or November. Prices and visitor numbers are high. Trails are busy.

Nepal: Kathmandu and Pokhara, 9 days Bhutan: Dzongs, Valleys & Tiger's Nest, 8 days

South Korea

Seoul, Gyeongju, Jeju

Good

Colour reaches Seoul and the south in early November, then the trees go bare. The air turns cold and dry. Kimchi-making season starts. Fewer crowds than October, and still good walking weather for the first half.

Thailand

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui

Good

The cool season begins. The north and Bangkok are pleasant, and the Andaman coast opens up. The Gulf, including Samui, has its wettest weeks. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng, the lantern festivals, fall in the full moon around now.

Thailand Unhurried, 11 days

The Philippines

Manila, El Nido, Cebu, Bohol

Good

The rains retreat and the dry season begins, though typhoons can still hit the east and the centre early on. By the end of the month, Palawan is calm again and the water clears.

Bali and Indonesia

Bali, Komodo, Lombok

Mixed

The rains return, mostly as afternoon storms. Komodo's season is ending. Bali is green, quieter and cheaper. It remains a workable month for a spa and culture trip, with indoor plans ready for the wet afternoons.

Komodo, by Private Boat, 6 days

Sri Lanka

Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Galle

Mixed

Rain continues in the east and the hills, and the south and west begin to dry out toward the end of the month. Whale season starts off Mirissa. Choose the south and west, and avoid the east.

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Borneo

Hard going

The northeast monsoon is in full force on the east coast, where resorts close and seas are rough. The west coast is wet before drier weather arrives. Borneo is also wet. Not a good month for the islands.

Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, the Gobi, the steppe

Hard going

Winter arrives, with snow and very low temperatures. Camps are shut. Ulaanbaatar is cold and the air quality worsens as heating starts. Few visitors, and most itineraries are not practical.

Building the trip

November is when many regions open at once, and Kyoto's maples, Thailand's lantern festivals and Cambodia's Water Festival all draw crowds. Book Japan five to six months ahead for the second half of the month, and Southeast Asia three to four. A route that combines Japan's autumn with a few days in Taiwan or Korea works well, as does Cambodia with northern Thailand or Laos. Central Vietnam and the Philippines are wet, so skip them. For a longer trip of two weeks, add Sri Lanka's south coast in the last days, when its dry season begins.

Dates to plan around

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in Thailand fall on the November full moon, in some years in late October. Diwali may fall in early November. Cambodia's Water Festival is held in Phnom Penh in November, subject to the year. Kyoto's foliage peak is usually in the second half of the month.

These are typical seasonal patterns, not forecasts. Rain, heat and the dates of blossoms and festivals move from year to year, so check a current forecast and your government's travel advice before you book.

Sample itineraries for November