Best destinations to visit in October in Asia
Best destinations to visit in October in Asia
October counts among the best months of the year across much of Asia, as the wet season eases and clearer skies take over.
India's monsoon has typically fully retreated by October, leaving behind lush landscapes and some of the most comfortable temperatures of the year for sightseeing. Mainland Southeast Asia follows a similar pattern, with the wet season winding down and drier conditions gradually spreading across the region. East Asia enters one of its best stretches too, as autumn foliage begins appearing in Japan and Korea, starting in the north and higher elevations before spreading further south. Typhoon season also eases considerably as the month goes on. Mountain regions across the continent remain comfortable and largely dry throughout, a reliable option even before the lowlands fully dry out.
The destinations on our list for Asia reflect that same shift into one of the continent's most reliable travel windows.
Lists by region
State/Prefecture in India
Rajasthan
Desert palaces and vibrant cultural tapestry
The Amber Fort near Jaipur, built of red sandstone and white marble from the late 1500s, has a Mirror Palace with ceilings set with tiny pieces of glass. October is when the long summer heat ends, so the tourist season starts and Dussehra festivals have giant effigies burned in towns and cities.
City in Thailand
Bangkok
The city of contrasts and chaos
Bangkok became the capital in 1782 when King Rama I moved the royal court across the Chao Phraya River, while the Grand Palace and Wat Pho still stand there. October is near the end of the rainy season, when showers are short and the Vegetarian Festival has yellow flags and meatless street food in Chinatown.
Country
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
At the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula just north of the equator, Singapore has a Formula One night race on the streets around Marina Bay in early autumn, with concerts and fireworks nearby. October has short afternoon thunderstorms followed by clear evenings, so rooftop bars and hawker centres are busy.
City in Turkey
Istanbul
Where East meets West in stunning contrast
Hagia Sophia, built in 537 as a church and now a mosque, has a huge dome that seems to float above the vast hall. October has mild sunny days and thinner crowds than summer, so ferry rides on the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia are pleasant.
Island in South Korea
Jeju Island
Nature's Island Paradise
Jeju was formed by volcanic eruptions about two million years ago, while Hallasan, a volcano 6,388 feet high, still stands in the centre of the island. In October silver grass waves on hillsides called oreum, which are small volcanic cones, while early tangerines ripen in the orchards.
City in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
After a humid summer, Tokyo in October is dry and mild, so walkers cross the city between the Senso-ji temple and its gardens. Cosmos flowers bloom pink and red in Showa Kinen Park while neighbourhood restaurants serve sanma, grilled Pacific saury, a fish that is in season in autumn.
State/Prefecture in India
Kerala
Verdant backwaters and serene spice gardens
On the southwest coast of India, Kerala is green in October as the monsoon retreats, with afternoon showers followed by clear spells. Ayurveda, traditional herbal medicine, is done in the monsoon months, so resorts have massage and treatment programmes at lower prices while houseboats on the Alleppey backwaters are quiet.
City in South Korea
Seoul
Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels
Gyeongbokgung Palace and its gardens turn red and gold in late October. Hikers climb Bukhansan, a granite peak at the edge of the city, for views of the autumn colour. Highs are in the 60s and the air is dry. Street stalls sell roasted sweet potatoes.
Country
Taiwan
Island of contrasts and culture
National Day on 10 October brings fireworks and parades to Taipei. Typhoon season fades, so cliff trails in Taroko Gorge are safer to hike. Silver grass sways on the Yangmingshan hills near the capital. Skies are blue and highs sit in the 80s for most of the month.
City in Taiwan
Taipei
A vibrant blend of old and new
10 October is Double Ten Day, the national day of Taiwan, with a flag ceremony, parades and fireworks in the capital. Autumn has comfortable weather after the humid summer, so people walk up Elephant Mountain for views of Taipei 101 and soak in the hot springs of Beitou.
City in Thailand
Chiang Mai
Ancient temples and mountain escapes
In the mountains of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is at the end of the rainy season in October, when the rice fields and hills are green and the waterfalls are full. Pilgrims and travellers climb the 306 steps of a dragon staircase to Doi Suthep, a gold temple on a forested mountain.
City in Vietnam
Hanoi
Where tradition meets modern vibrancy
Hanoians buy com, young green rice wrapped in lotus leaves, from vendors on bicycles in autumn and eat it with ripe persimmons. October has cool breezes and clear skies, so pushchairs walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and through the Old Quarter, where each street was once named for a trade.
City in Japan
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
Every 22 October a long parade winds through the city for Jidai Matsuri, the Festival of the Ages. Marchers wear costumes from different eras. That night villagers in Kurama carry flaming torches through the streets. Temples are calm before the November leaf crowds. Highs sit in the low 70s.
City in Uzbekistan
Bukhara
Ancient Silk Road Splendor
Pomegranates are piled in the covered bazaars and the smell of fresh bread rises from clay ovens near the Lyabi Hauz pond. October has mild clear days after the summer heat, so walkers visit the ancient fortress called the Ark and the blue domed madrasas, which are Islamic schools, without the crowds of spring.
Town in Japan
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
Autumn colour starts early here. Maples at Lake Chuzenji and the marshland of Senjogahara turn red in early to mid October. Kegon Falls drops about 320 feet from the lake. Toshogu Shrine, covered in gold leaf, glows beneath the changing trees. Cedar forests line the old stone paths.
Region in Turkey
Cappadocia
A surreal land of fairy chimneys
Hundreds of hot air balloons rise over the rock valleys at dawn. Fall air is calm and cool, so flights run on most mornings. Fairy chimneys, tall cones of soft volcanic rock, glow pink at sunrise. Highs in October reach the 60s, which is ideal for walking the valleys.
Country
Jordan
Ancient wonders meet desert landscapes
Summer heat at Petra drops from the 90s to the low 80s by October. That makes the walk through the Siq canyon to the Treasury far easier. Wadi Rum has warm days and cool nights for camping under the stars. Olive harvest begins in the northern hills.
City in China
Beijing
Ancient history meets modern dynamism
Red maple leaves cover Fragrant Hills Park west of the city in mid to late October. Skies are often clear and blue, with highs in the 60s. Walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu after the early October holiday crowds leave. Roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes steam on street corners.
City in Israel
Tel Aviv
Vibrant Beaches and Nonstop Energy
Sea water stays near 80 degrees in October. Beach crowds ease after the summer holidays. Walk the white Bauhaus buildings of the White City, a UNESCO site with about 4,000 structures. Carmel Market sells fresh figs, pomegranates and spices. Cafes along Rothschild Boulevard stay busy until late.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Weeks ahead of Tokyo and Kyoto, Hokkaido has autumn colour in October, with maple and ginkgo leaves red and gold in the Jozankei hot spring valley. Sapporo has a tree lined avenue at Hokkaido University, while hikers and onsen bathers enjoy cool crisp days without summer crowds.
Nature Reserve in Ha Long
Ha Long Bay
Vietnam’s Otherworldly Seascape
October is in autumn, when skies are clearer and the summer storms have passed, so cruise boats glide between about 1,600 limestone islands with a calm sea. Kayakers paddle into hidden lagoons and passengers visit Sung Sot Cave, where huge chambers are lit in many colours.
Nature Reserve in China
Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
Colorful lakes in Tibetan mountains
Red, gold and orange leaves reflect in the turquoise water of Five Flower Lake. Peak autumn colour usually comes in mid to late October. Visit after the early October holiday rush for smaller crowds. Boardwalks and shuttle buses link the lakes and waterfalls across the valley.
Town in Cambodia
Siem Reap
Gateway to Ancient Temples and Culture
Birdsong and the smell of wet earth are part of a morning at Ta Prohm, a temple where giant tree roots grip the old stone walls. October is at the end of the rainy season, so the moat around Angkor Wat is full while there are fewer visitors than in the dry months.
Town in Vietnam
Sapa
Snow‑kissed terraced rice paddies
The terraced rice fields of the Muong Hoa Valley near Sapa, built into steep hills by Hmong and Dao farmers, are golden in early October as the harvest ends, with clearer skies than in summer. Hikers walk past bamboo houses to Cat Cat village while Fansipan, 10,312 feet high, has a cable car.
City in Nepal
Kathmandu
Temples, chaos and Himalayan magic
Marigold garlands and incense are part of Dashain, the biggest Hindu festival in Nepal, which is held in autumn and often falls in October, when kites fill the sky above the valley. The rains have ended, so the Himalaya are clear from rooftops in Patan and Bhaktapur.
Country
Nepal
Land of Himalayan wonders
Skies clear after the monsoon, so October is the busiest month for treks. Trails to Everest Base Camp and around the Annapurna range stay dry with long mountain views. Eight of the 14 tallest peaks on Earth rise here. Teahouses serve dal bhat, a lentil and rice meal.
City in Kazakhstan
Almaty
Mountains, markets and modern spirit
The Kok Tobe cable car goes up to a hilltop with views over the city and the Zailiysky Alatau mountains, whose slopes turn red and gold in October. Mild clear days are good for walking in Panfilov Park, where the Zenkov Cathedral is a painted wooden Orthodox church finished in 1907.
City in Laos
Luang Prabang
Laid-back charm by the Mekong River
The end of Buddhist Lent is usually celebrated in October with boat races on the Nam Khan River and floating lanterns during the Festival of Lights. The rains have ended, so Kuang Si Falls are full and the hills around the old town are green.
Country
Mongolia
Land of endless steppes
Kazakh eagle hunters in fur hats gather in Ölgii in early October for the Golden Eagle Festival. Riders show golden eagles trained to hunt foxes and race on horseback. Larch trees turn gold in the northern forests. Nights are cold, so bring warm layers for the steppe.
City in Uzbekistan
Samarkand
The Silk Road’s Shimmering Gem
Ulugh Beg, a grandson of Timur, built an observatory in the 1420s where astronomers catalogued about 1,000 stars. October has mild sunny days and gold leaves in the parks, so visitors walk between the Registan, the Gur Emir tomb and the blue tiled tombs of Shah i Zinda.
City in Nepal
Pokhara
Lakeside Calm, Himalayan Adventure Gateway
Compared with the busy streets of Kathmandu, Pokhara has a calm lakeside where boats cross Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple on an island. October has clear skies after the monsoon, so paragliders fly from Sarangkot with views of Annapurna and Machapuchare, the fishtail peak.
Island in Indonesia
Nusa Penida
Bali's rugged island paradise
Families on Nusa Penida carry offerings of flowers and rice to Penataran Ped, a Hindu temple in the north of the island, as they have for centuries. From July to October giant sunfish, called mola mola, come up in the cool water at Crystal Bay, where divers go down to see them.
City in Bhutan
Thimphu
Himalayan Culture Meets Modern Life
Bhutanese families wear their best clothes, the gho and kira, to watch masked cham dances at the Thimphu Tshechu, a festival held in autumn at Tashichho Dzong, often in late September or October. Skies are clear and mountain views are sharp, so the weather is good for hiking to nearby monasteries.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
Rice terraces in the Paro and Punakha valleys turn gold in October. Harvest comes under clear skies with sharp views of Himalayan peaks. Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery, which clings to a cliff nearly 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Black necked cranes start arriving in Phobjikha late in the month.
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