12 places, each with its window to go.
Monsoon-Safe Asia: Where to Go From June to September
Summer is monsoon season across most of Asia. These places are dry, or at their best, while the rest of the region is soaked.
The straight answer
The best places in Asia to escape the monsoon from June to September are Bali and the rest of southern Indonesia, Sri Lanka's east coast, Ladakh and Spiti in the Himalayan rain shadow, Malaysia's east coast islands, Hokkaido, and Mongolia.
From about June to September, the southwest monsoon drenches much of South and Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, most of India, Nepal, and the Philippines all get their heaviest rain, while East Asia has its own summer rainy season and typhoons. For travelers with only summer holidays, that looks like a closed door.
It is not. Indonesia south of the equator, including Bali, Java, Lombok, and Komodo, is in its dry season. Sri Lanka's east coast is sheltered from the southwest monsoon. The high valleys of Ladakh, Spiti, and Upper Mustang sit in the rain shadow of the Himalaya. Malaysia's east coast islands and Sabah are between their wet seasons, and Hokkaido, Mongolia, and Central Asia are dry or nearly so.
Rain shadows and dry seasons still have exceptions. Short tropical downpours can happen anywhere in the tropics, and mountain roads in Ladakh and Spiti can close for landslides after unusual storms. But these places give you the best odds in Asia for dry summer travel.
01Bali and Lombok
Indonesia
Southern Indonesia's dry season runs roughly from May to September, bringing lower humidity, sunny days, and good surf on Bali's Bukit Peninsula. July and August are Bali's busiest months, so June and September are the sweet spots.
Komodo and Flores
East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Boat trips from Labuan Bajo to see Komodo dragons, climb Padar Island, and snorkel with mantas run through the dry season, when seas in the central park are generally calmer. Flores itself has the crater lakes of Kelimutu and traditional villages like Wae Rebo.
Yogyakarta and Borobudur
Central Java, Indonesia
The dry season is the best time for sunrise at Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and the Hindu temples of Prambanan nearby. Access to Borobudur's upper terraces is now limited by a daily quota, so book ahead.
04Sri Lanka's east coast
Trincomalee, Pasikudah, and Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
While the southwest monsoon hits Sri Lanka's west and south coasts, the east coast is in its dry season, with calm, clear seas. Arugam Bay is one of Asia's best-known surf spots in these months, and Trincomalee offers snorkeling at Pigeon Island.
05Ladakh
Leh, Ladakh, India
A high-altitude desert in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, where Leh sits at about 11,500 feet (3,500 m) and summer is the main travel season. Buddhist monasteries like Thiksey and Hemis, and the blue expanse of Pangong Tso, are at their most accessible now; allow a few days to acclimatize.
06Spiti Valley
Himachal Pradesh, India
A cold desert valley with villages and monasteries, including Key Monastery, perched above the Spiti River. The high road over the Kunzum Pass is generally open only in summer and early autumn, and the valley itself gets little monsoon rain.
07Upper Mustang
Mustang District, Nepal
Behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, the old kingdom of Lo sits in a rain shadow, so it is one of the few treks in Nepal that works during the monsoon. Entry requires a restricted-area permit and a licensed guide, which keeps numbers low.
Malaysia's east coast islands
Perhentian, Redang, and Tioman, Malaysia
These islands face the South China Sea and take the northeast monsoon in winter, when many resorts close. In summer, they are sheltered from the southwest monsoon, with clear water for snorkeling and diving with turtles and reef sharks.
09Sabah
Malaysian Borneo
Sabah lies south of the typhoon belt, which earned it the nickname Land Below the Wind. Summer is a good time to climb Mount Kinabalu, see orangutans at Sepilok, cruise the Kinabatangan River, and dive Sipadan.
10Hokkaido
Northern Japan
Hokkaido largely escapes the June and July rainy season that affects the rest of Japan, and summer highs in Sapporo are usually in the upper 70s F (about 25C). Lavender at Furano, hiking in Daisetsuzan, and the lakes of Shikotsu-Toya make it Japan's best summer region.
11Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, the Gobi, and the steppe
Summer is Mongolia's travel season, with open steppe, ger camps, and the Naadam Festival of wrestling, horse racing, and archery held every July 11 to 15. July and August bring most of the year's rain, but it falls as short showers, nothing like a tropical monsoon.
12Uzbekistan
Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva
Central Asia is dry all summer, and the tiled mosques and madrasas of Samarkand's Registan and old Bukhara are the heart of the Silk Road. July and August can reach 100F (38C) or more, so early summer and September are far more comfortable.
Quick answers
Where in Asia is dry in July and August?
Bali and the rest of southern Indonesia, Sri Lanka's east coast, Ladakh and Spiti in northern India, Malaysia's east coast islands, Sabah, Hokkaido, and Mongolia are all dry or at their best in July and August.
Is it worth traveling to Thailand during the monsoon?
It can be, with the right expectations. Rain usually comes in afternoon downpours rather than all day, prices are lower, and the Gulf of Thailand islands, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, get less rain in July and August than the Andaman coast. Expect rough seas and some closed marine parks on the Andaman side.
When is monsoon season in Asia?
The southwest monsoon brings rain to most of South and Southeast Asia from about June to September or October. The northeast monsoon brings a second wet season to places like Sri Lanka's east coast, Malaysia's east coast, and central Vietnam's coast around Hoi An and Hue from roughly October into the new year.
Is Bali good in August?
The weather is excellent, dry and sunny with lower humidity, but August is also Bali's busiest month, with the highest prices and crowds. June and September offer the same dry-season weather with fewer people.
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