Those who have been following our month-by-month guides to visiting Asia may have noticed how much we love the variety Asia has to offer – and July is another brilliant example!
How would you like to surf in Sri Lanka? Feast in Singapore? Explore the caves in Vietnam – or head to China for a festival? Don’t worry, we have recommendations for sun-seekers looking for a fly and flop on a pristine white beach too. So whether you’re headed on honeymoon, looking for a family-friendly break or plotting an adventurous getaway with friends – read on for more detail, and drop us a note if you have any questions.
Click to view: ‘Where to go in Asia in…’ JANUARY – FEBRUARY – MARCH – APRIL– MAY– JUNE
We’ll be back soon with our recommendations for where to go in August through to December. And as always just get in touch if you have any questions or need more tips…
Singapore
Singaporeans are obsessed with food and in July, they take it to a whole new level. The Singapore Food Festival is three weeks of feasts and festivities with demonstrations, special food tours, chef collaborations, and amazing bites on offer. Overlapping that is the 50 Cents Fest in Chinatown where iconic Singaporean dishes are served up for as little 50 Singaporean cents.
So whether it’s cutting-edge multicultural cuisine or classic street food, July is a great time to devour Singapore’s food-focused culture.
Maldives
July is an extra special time to visit the Maldives as you have a chance to catch turtle hatching season – right on the beach at your resort if you choose carefully!
We’d travel at the start of July to miss the increased summer-holiday prices, and consider adding on a few days in Sri Lanka at the end visiting the Cultural Triangle and heading out on safari. Browse our Sun & Safari Itinerary for some inspiration.
Sri Lanka
July is right in the middle of the high season over on the east coast of Sri Lanka so you can be sure of hot, sunny weather and calm seas – although if you’re looking to catch some waves head to Arugam Bay, one of Sri Lanka’s top surf destinations. The Hideaway is a lovely low-key and very welcoming guesthouse/resort for surfers and families alike. I would include a couple of days in the beautiful and tranquil Gal Oya National Park where you can go on boat safari, jeep safari or walking safari or visit the Veddha tribespeople. A stay at Gal Oya Lodge is a must! You can drive or fly to the east coast. We recommend a drive over, stopping off in Kandy, staying on a tea plantation then onto Gal Oya and Arugam Bay. A flight back to Colombo will save you the long drive back!
Vietnam
July is one of the best months of the year to visit Vietnam’s impressive cave network in the centre of Vietnam, which has a completely different climate to the rest of the country and is dry in July. What’s more there is a beach in the centre (hello Hoi An) and the ancient imperial capital of Hue. Phong Nha in the centre is home to the biggest cave in the world, Son Doong which is so big it contains its own rainforest with trees up to 30 metres tall, there are also caves with zippiness, mud baths and kayaking opportunities.
The centre of Vietnam is one of our favourite regions as it has so much on offer. Take a peek at our Avoid the Crowds itinerary for more inspiration.
Myanmar
July is a great time of year to explore northern and higher areas of Myanmar which have much lower rainfall than the southern part of the country. What’s more, not many people know that so there are very few crowds – honestly, you will barely see another tourist!
By happy coincidence the main country highlights including Bagan, Inle Lake and Mandalay all experience less rainfall so you can really see the best of the country in the summer months without missing out – we have devised a special summer itinerary here which is perfect in July. We do recommend skipping the beach at this time of year however as well as south of Yangon.
Philippines
Surfing, island hopping, and barefoot luxury are the keywords for the Philippines in July. While most of the country is lashed with rain and wind, Siargao is in dry season with plenty of sunshine and great waves to catch. The beautiful Nay Palad Hideaway is our top recommendation with its personalised service, gorgeous design, all-inclusive offerings, and unforgettable scenery. Surfing? Spa treatments? Yoga? Cooking class with the chef? Hobie cats, paddle-boards, and kayaks? Bicycles and a point in the right direction for a spin around the island? Films on the beach just for you and your loved ones? All included. Soft white sand beaches and jaw-dropping scenery? Also just outside your villa.
Borneo
As an island covered in rainforest, Borneo is one place where you need to be prepared for sunshine, clouds, and rain every day of the year. July is one of the drier months so the days are hotter and the rain showers don’t last as long – convenient that it times with school holidays, isn’t it? With families in mind, we suggest a Wildlife Adventure with a mix of chilled-out beach time, cultural activities, wildlife safaris on the Kinabatangan River, a stop at Sepilok to see baby orangutans in the nursery, walks in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, and time to snorkel the marine-protected waters around Gaya Island. It’s a summer holiday everyone will remember for years!
Thailand
Want to wake up to the sound of gibbons in the jungle, dive into an emerald green lake from your floating luxury tent, and see bits of Thailand that most visitors overlook? July is a great time to visit. The country is in green season which is just what it sounds like: lush, vibrant, and full of life. We love exploring the north at this time of year: trekking to visit hill tribes in the Golden Triangle, exploring an old opium trail, and checking out ancient temples without the crowds. Just as delightful is Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park. Here’s where you can get away from the internet, connect with nature, and marvel at the lack of people and sounds of the wild. This itinerary makes for a perfect 2-week holiday although you could add a few days in the Gulf of Thailand at the end for some of those famous Thai beaches.
Bali
High season is starting in Bali. It’s a great time to explore the island but also hop off to the nearby gems of Gili Islands and Lombok.
We suggest to plan the trip in the first part of July to avoid the crowds and head to less visited part of the island, like the northern area of Munduk or the quiet beaches on the eastern side. Our family island hopping is a great introduction what Bali, Gilis and Lombok have to offer.
Japan
By early July, the rainy season has either ended, temperatures and humidity rise steadily and summer gets into full swing. Popular pastimes include beach trips, baseball, beer gardens and mountain hiking. An island nation, Japan has endless island-hopping opportunities. Visit art islands in the Seto Inland Sea, healthy coral reefs and uninhabited islands in Okinawa , and Jurassic Park-esque volcanic islands south of Tokyo. Another great way to beat the heat is to head to one of Japan’s many mountain ranges. High altitude locations are much cooler than cities and offer popular forms of recreation like hiking, rock climbing, and canyoning. It’s well worth considering a trip to the Japan Alps .
China
July and August are perfect times to have a holiday in Tibet. Many minority festivals fall in July, including the Horse Racing Festival, when you can get a closer look at and experience Chinese ethnic culture. Apart from the festivals, you can relish the breathtaking natural scenery, including snow-capped mountains like Everest, and quiet lakes like Namtso. Trekking around the fabulous sights in Tibet is pleasant in warm July. Explore Chinese Minority Culture in Guizhou Province which is an ideal summer destination, as it is temperate and not very hot. You will discover places and diverse minority cultures that you’ve never heard of. Visit Mount Fanjing, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
Bhutan
Many think of July as the off-season for Bhutan with rain making some of the trekking paths impassable. Yet the flowers are in bloom and much of the country remains absolutely beautiful at this time of year. Fewer visitors make the trip this month so you could go days without seeing another foreigner which means more time for you to interact with your hosts. Bonus: the mandatory minimum daily spend drops in the summer months so it’s a great time to upgrade for a bit more luxury!
