9 Best Asia destinations in July of 2023

As of December, 2022, the COVID situation in Asia has improved substantially, but (unlike Europe) some Asian countries are still requiring proof of vaccination and/or a negative test before entry. It seems very likely that some of these restrictions will end before July of 2023, but of course it’s worth keeping up on the news before you actually book.

• July 28 – King Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday Holiday in Thailand.

Bali, Indonesia

• July avg high: 83F/28C
• July avg low: 76F/24C
• July avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm

With its location just south of the equator, Bali actually has its “winter” in July. In this case it just translates to the dry season and lower humidity in general, since temperatures are pretty much the same all year. In other words, Bali is one of the best places to go in south Asia in July, even though it’s part of high season.

Hotels in Bali are quite cheap by international standards, even in high season. But that said, you have to choose carefully because quality is uneven. The main tourist area of Kuta/Legian/Seminyak is now so over developed that we don’t really recommend it unless you only care about partying in large crowds. Head to Lovina on the north coast if you want something resembling the magic that Bali once had all over.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $34 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $87 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $13 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Bali
>>>Bali prices and travel tips

Tokyo, Japan

• July avg high: 84F/29C
• July avg low: 73F/23C
• July avg precip: 6.4″/16.0cm

July is fairly hot and steamy in Tokyo, and it can rain a bit here and there as well. Still, this city is so modern that it has air-con everywhere, and you don’t usually spend all that much time outdoors anyway. Hotel prices aren’t nearly as bad as you may have heard.

Tokyo is the obvious place to start a visit to Japan, but it’s easy to take high-speed trains to Kyoto and Osaka, which are also very interesting, not to mention a bit cheaper as well. Japan was one of the later countries to reopen to tourism after COVID and now it seems like visiting is fairly straightforward. The Japanese Yen is also at historic lows so the country is actually a bargain compared to years ago when it was one of the most expensive places on earth.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $84 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $132 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $21 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Tokyo
>>>Tokyo prices and travel tips

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• July avg high: 90F/32C
• July avg low: 74F/23C
• July avg precip: 5.0″/12.5cm

Similar to Bangkok (below), Kuala Lumpur is very hot every day of the year. Fortunately, July is one of the dryer months, even if the rainfall total mentioned above doesn’t seem too dry. The good news is that rain tends to come quickly and heavily, and is almost always over in 30 minutes or so. The downtown area also has long elevated and air-conditioned walkways so you can go between hotels, shopping centers, and attractions without being outside or getting wet or overheated.

Kuala Lumpur is truly one of Asia’s best tourist cities (and my personal favorite) because it offers so many different things from traditional to ultra modern, and it’s available in any price range. You can probably afford a 5-star hotel here, but bargains are available up and down the scale. If searching for a budget hotel room it’s common to find the cheapest rooms with no windows at all. I don’t recommend those for most people so be careful.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $45 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $58 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $9 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Kuala Lumpur
>>>Kuala Lumpur prices and travel tips

Singapore

• July avg high: 87F/31C
• July avg low: 78F/26C
• July avg precip: 6.7″/16.8cm

Singapore is only a bit south of Kuala Lumpur (see above) and so it has basically the same climate. That means that you might see a bit of rain, but it’ll be over quickly and you’ll be back outside or maybe still enjoying food and drinks at some of Asia’s best restaurants. Since the release of Crazy, Rich Asians, Singapore has become trendy with western travelers and the city generally lives up to the hype as long as you aren’t on a backpacker budget.

Some things in Singapore have become insanely expensive in recent years, with hotel rooms being the prime example. But if you can find a bed that you can afford, you can probably afford everything else. Excellent food is available for very cheap from hawker centers all over the city. Singapore also has many cheaper hotels with rooms with no windows, and those are best avoided by most people.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $119 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $153 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $17 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Singapore
>>>Singapore prices and travel tips

Colombo, Sri Lanka

• July avg high: 86F/30C
• July avg low: 77F/25C
• July avg precip: 4.8″/12.0cm

The entry here is for Colombo, which is the capital of Sri Lanka. In reality, it’s probably only worth stopping in Colombo for a day or two because Sri Lanka is all about the scenery and beaches and even wild life. You might get some rain, especially in some of the popular hill towns, but still July is one of the more pleasant months in Sri Lanka.

Many people divide their visit between the hill region for scenery and some of the beaches along the southern coast. In either area, things in Sri Lanka are pretty reasonably priced. They still don’t have many cheap hostels or 1-star hotels, but you do get good value up the scale from there.

As of 2023, Sri Lanka is still struggling with political turmoil and shortages, so it’s not really a good time to visit. We are leaving it on the list because it should be stable again soon and there is a lot to like under normal conditions.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $52 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $85 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $12 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Colombo
>>>Colombo prices and travel tips

Bangkok, Thailand

• July avg high: 91F/33C
• July avg low: 77F/25C
• July avg precip: 6.1″/15.3cm

Like everywhere in Asia in July, Bangkok is hot, although it’s not as hot as it is in April or May, believe it or not. You’ll get afternoon cloud covers on many days, and that actually cools things off enough to make it somewhat pleasant. And if you do get a thunderstorm, it’s usually over within 30 minutes or so. Since the storms usually happen in the late afternoon and you’ll see them gathering with plenty of notice, they are usually only a minor inconvenience for most visitors.

Bangkok is wonderful most of the year, and July is an ideal time to sample its amazing culture, food, and world-class shopping. Hotels here are quite cheap by international standards, and there is a great selection even in the bottom of the price range and hostels. This really is the best city to launch a multi-stop trip to Asia because they have the most well-developed tourist infrastructure in the region and it’s easy to get by speaking only English.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $29 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $42 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $13 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Bangkok
>>>Bangkok prices and travel tips

Chiang Mai, Thailand

• July avg high: 89F/32C
• July avg low: 75F/24C
• July avg precip: 6.3″/15.8cm

Chiang Mai is known most of the year as a place to escape the heat of Bangkok, but in July it’s pretty much the same weather. Again though, the storms tend to come and go pretty quickly, and they often leave behind a more pleasant feeling than just before the rain.

Bargain hunters adore Chiang Mai because it is one of Asia’s cheapest cities and possibly its best value. Hostels and hotels here are so cheap that the prices look like mistakes. The food and drinks are quite cheap as well, and there is plenty to see and do in the area. If you are looking for a place to just chill out for a few days or longer, this is a good one to consider. Even those on backpacker budgets can afford a nice and clean hotel room in a place with a swimming pool and plenty of affordable restaurants nearby. The Night Market here is a major highlight and it’s especially good in summer because most locals stay indoors all afternoon and are ready to enjoy things again after the sun goes down. You can shop, eat, and be entertained for very little money.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $35 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $68 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $7 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Chiang Mai
>>>Chiang Mai prices and travel tips

Malé, Maldives

• July avg high: 84F/29C
• July avg low: 79F/26C
• July avg precip: 5.9″/14.8cm

You actually don’t want to spend any more time than you have to in the capital city of Malé, but you might want to come to the Maldives anyway. You probably know that the Maldives is the water villa capital of the world. But you might not know that July is one of the cheapest months of the year at those resorts, so you can get some surprising deals.

July can be a bit wet, but it rarely rains for more than an hour or two here or there. And the temperature is pretty much exactly the same all year round. Even if you don’t want to book a water villa, there are some affordable hotels near nice beaches on the island attached to the airport, and many other modestly priced resorts on nearby islands.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $83 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $142 for two people

>>>Malé prices and travel tips

Nha Trang, Vietnam

• July avg high: 89F/32C
• July avg low: 79F/26C
• July avg precip: 1.7″/4.3cm

If you haven’t toured Vietnam, you probably have never heard of Nha Trang. It’s the country’s largest beach resort, on the southern coast just east of Saigon. Nha Trang gets very little rain itself, so it’s one of Asia’s rare beach destinations that isn’t in its wettest months in July. However, most of the rest of Vietnam is very wet in July, so it may not be the best time for a full tour.

Nha Trang is a relaxing beach town with a decent expat population so there are restaurants from many cuisines to go along with the ubiquitous and excellent local food. Again, if you just want a cheap beach city to relax in during July, this could be perfect.

• Good 3-star hotels in July from $21 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in July from $32 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in July from $6 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Nha Trang
>>>Nha Trang prices and travel tips