Best destinations to visit in August in Asia
Best destinations to visit in August in Asia
August keeps the monsoon in full force across much of Asia, though a handful of regions stay clear and dry throughout the month.
India's monsoon continues through August, while Ladakh remains in its short travel season, protected from the worst of the rain by the mountains that surround it. Mainland Southeast Asia stays wet too, though many islands running on a separate dry season schedule keep their sunny weather well past the region's typical monsoon months. East Asia deals with its own seasonal risk in August, as typhoon season builds across parts of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Mountain regions elsewhere on the continent stay comfortable and largely untouched by the lowland rain, offering a reliable option for travelers hoping to avoid both the heat and the storms.
The destinations on our list for Asia lean into that drier side of the split, from mountain retreats to islands clear of the monsoon.
Lists by region
State/Prefecture in China
Hong Kong
Where East Meets West
On the south coast of China at the mouth of the Pearl River, Hong Kong is hot and humid in August, so air conditioned malls, museums and dim sum lunches fill many days. In the seventh lunar month families burn paper offerings in the streets for the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Island in South Korea
Jeju Island
Nature's Island Paradise
Women divers called haenyeo gather seafood by free diving without air tanks, a tradition recognised by UNESCO. Some sell fresh abalone and sea urchin at seaside stalls. In August the island is hot and green. Hyeopjae Beach has clear shallow water while Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea, is a shady hike.
Island in Indonesia
Java
Vibrant capital city and ancient temples
From May to September it is dry in Java, so skies are clear for sunrise at Mount Bromo and Borobudur temple. Hikers climb Ijen crater at night to see blue flames burn from sulphur gas before dawn. On 17 August villages hold pole climbing contests with prizes tied on top.
City in Vietnam
Da Nang
Beaches, Mountains and City Vibes
The Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, a footpath held up by two giant stone hands, is a big sight in August along with the long sands of My Khe Beach. Days are hot and sunny with warm water for swimming while typhoon risk rises later in the year, from about September.
Region in Indonesia
Bali
Tropical beaches, vibrant culture and adventure
Hindu priests and nobles from Java came to Bali in the 1500s as Islam spread across Indonesia. The island still keeps its own Hindu culture with daily offerings and temple festivals. August is dry and sunny with calm seas. Independence Day on 17 August has flags and parades in villages.
Town in Vietnam
Hoi An
Charming Lanterns and Timeless Streets
Hoi An was a busy trading port from the 1500s with Japanese, Chinese and European merchants. The Japanese Covered Bridge and yellow merchant houses remain from that time. August is hot with short showers while on full moon nights electric lights go off and lanterns float on the river.
Town in China
Dali
Ancient Charm by Erhai Lake
Much cooler than the hot lowlands of southern China, Dali sits at about 6,500 feet beside Erhai Lake, with the Cangshan mountains rising behind the old town. August has green rice fields and afternoon showers. The Bai people hold a Torch Festival with bonfires in July or August.
City in South Korea
Busan
Beaches, Markets and Culture
Locals cool off in summer with a trip to Haeundae Beach, then eat raw fish and grilled shellfish at the Jagalchi Fish Market, a custom shared by residents and visitors alike. The summer rains end by August, so beach days are sunny. The Busan Sea Festival has concerts and fireworks around the bay.
City in China
Beijing
Ancient history meets modern dynamism
Pink lotus flowers bloom on the lakes of the Summer Palace and Beihai Park in August, when the air is warm and humid and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Early mornings are the quiet time to walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu, before the heat and the crowds arrive.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
The smell of cut hay and sweet corn drifts across the farm fields of Furano and Biei in August, when sunflowers and late lavender bloom under big skies. The island is cool and dry compared with humid Honshu, so hiking in Daisetsuzan and Shiretoko is pleasant.
Island
Borneo
Wild rainforests meet unique wildlife
From June to September it is dry in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, so river trips are easy. In Tanjung Puting National Park, visitors sleep on wooden riverboats called klotoks and watch orangutans at feeding platforms along the Sekonyer River, deep in the rainforest.
City in Turkey
Bodrum
Sun, Sea and Ancient Ruins
On the Aegean coast of southwest Turkey, Bodrum has the Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights of St John in the early 1400s, beside a harbour full of wooden sailing boats called gulets. August is hot and dry with a warm sea, so swimming and boat trips to nearby coves fill the days.
City in China
Lhasa
A Spiritual Journey in Tibet
The Potala Palace was started in 1645 by the fifth Dalai Lama on Red Hill and its white and red walls still rise above the city at about 12,000 feet. The Shoton Festival in August has Tibetan opera and giant Buddha paintings at Drepung Monastery, but foreign visitors need a permit and a guide.
Mountain in Malaysia
Mount Kinabalu
Majestic peaks echo ancient jungle whispers
Climbing is possible all year, but the drier months from March to September give clearer sunrise views from the top. The climb takes two days, with a night in a mountain hut at about 10,700 feet and a start at 2 am to reach Low's Peak at 13,435 feet. Permits book out months ahead.
City in Sri Lanka
Kandy
Sacred Temples, Misty Hills, Tea Trails
Compared with a normal temple festival, the Esala Perahera is a huge procession of decorated elephants, drummers and fire dancers that moves through Kandy over about ten nights in July or August. It honours the Buddha's tooth relic kept at the Temple of the Tooth while dates follow the lunar calendar.
Island in Indonesia
Lombok
Untamed Beaches and Majestic Mountains
Cool mountain air and the smell of woodsmoke are part of dawn in Sembalun, where treks up Rinjani, an active volcano 12,224 feet high, begin in the dry months from April to November. August is sunny, so the pale beaches and surf breaks of Kuta Lombok and boat rides to the Gili Islands are easy.
Country
Mongolia
Land of endless steppes
Landlocked between Russia and China, Mongolia is green in August, when herders move cattle, sheep and horses across open steppe and visitors sleep in felt tents called gers. In the south, the Gobi has huge sand dunes at Khongoriin Els that make a humming sound on windy days.
Region in India
Ladakh
Himalayan Cold Desert of Contrasts
Pangong Lake, a long salt lake high in the Himalayas that changes from blue to green through the day, is a big sight of Ladakh along with monasteries such as Thiksey and Hemis. August is high season. The roads from Manali and Srinagar are usually open while the skies are clear and dry.
National Park in Sri Lanka
Minneriya National Park
Sprawling grasslands hosting majestic elephants
Unlike parks where elephants are scattered, Minneriya has the Gathering, when up to 300 Asian elephants graze on fresh grass beside the shrinking Minneriya tank, a huge reservoir built in the third century. It peaks from August to October in the dry season and jeep safaris go out in the afternoon.
Town in Sri Lanka
Arugam Bay
Sri Lanka’s Surf and Sunrise Haven
The point break at Main Point in Arugam Bay has long right hand waves that surfers ride from May to September, when the southeast coast of Sri Lanka is dry and sunny. Boat trips on the lagoon pass crocodiles and birds while elephants are often seen at nearby Lahugala National Park.
Region in Malaysia
Danum Valley
Untamed rainforest, rare wildlife sanctuary
In Danum Valley, every walk is led by a trained local guide, a rule that protects both wildlife and visitors in about 170 square miles of ancient lowland rainforest in Sabah. August is among the drier months, so hikers on night walks and dawn walks often see orangutans, gibbons and sometimes pygmy elephants.
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