15 Best Asia destinations in October of 2023 from cheapest to most expensive

By Roger Wade

28 Apr, 2023 Comments (0) Add a comment

While some parts of Asia are still deep in their rainy season in October, quite a few of the most interesting cities have great weather this month. Below we have 15 of Asia’s best destinations including cities, islands, beaches, and combinations of those. There will be great choices for everyone, and hopefully you’ll be able to combine at least a few of them if you are flying a long way to reach Asia.

This year we have also ranked the destinations from cheapest to most expensive so you can have some idea of what kind of budget you’ll need. Believe it or not, the cheapest tourist cities in Asia are about a quarter of the price of the most expensive, and all of them are nice. We use our Asia Backpacker Index to rank the destinations, which is updated annually.

This article was updated in April, 2023.

Important October 2023 holidays in Asia

October 1 to 7 – China National Day and Golden Week (major public holidays)
October 2 – Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday in India (major public holiday)
October 29 – Republic Day in Turkey (major public holiday)

15 Best destinations in Asia for October from cheapest to most expensive

Luang Prabang, Laos – Cheapest

October avg high: 88F/31C
October avg low: 70F/21C
October avg precip: 4.2″/10.5cm

Luang Prabang highlights

Mekong cruises to waterfalls and caves
Old Quarter historic district is lovely
Luang Prabang Night Market for shopping and entertainment
Laid back and mellow feeling with riverfront restaurants
Surprisingly cheap hotels, good food, and drinks

Another northern city in the region is Luang Prabang, which is the main tourist hub of Laos. This is a lovely and very mellow town that is very affordable as well. You can famously take the 2-day slow-boat journey between Luang Prabang and the Thai border, and it’s highly recommended for those on longer trips.

Luang Prabang is another charming city where you can get hotel rooms for far less than you would expect once you see how nice the place is. The main challenge for some people is that it’s hard to get a cheap flight here, and the overland methods of bus and boat travel are a bit slow.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $29 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $51 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $8 per person

>>Check hotel deals for Luang Prabang
>>>Luang Prabang prices and travel tips

Luang Prabang Backpacker Index for 2023: US$19.84

Pokhara, Nepal

October avg high: 75F/33C
October avg low: 59F/23C
October avg precip: 2.2″/8.8cm

Pokhara highlights

Gateway to the Annapurna Circuit and world-famous trekking
Devi’s Fall, at least when there is enough water
Phewa Lake on your front doorstep
Pleasant and quiet town along a lake
Very cheap food and drinks as well as weirdly cheap hotels

If you haven’t heard of Pokhara you aren’t alone, and it means you probably haven’t started planning a trip to Nepal yet. Kathmandu is the capital of the country, but Pokhara is the place where people come for trekking and other outdoor activities.

Pokhara is actually one of the world’s cheapest cities if you just want a nice hotel room and 3 meals a day. It’s also very relaxed and friendly. October is one of only 4 great weather months each year, so this is part of the high season. If you want to go trekking into the nearby Annapurnas, it’s not quite so cheap however.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $25 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $66 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $7 per person

>>Check current hotel promotions for Pokhara
>>>Pokhara prices and travel tips

Pokhara Backpacker Index for 2023: US$20.89

Chiang Mai, Thailand

October avg high: 88F/31C
October avg low: 71F/22C
October avg precip: 4.8″/12.0cm

Chiang Mai highlights

Doi Suthep temple complex outside of town
Famous night market for shopping, dining, and entertainment
City walls and moat are unique in this area
Amazing, cheap food that is surprisingly different from Bangkok’s
Wonderfully cheap hotels and short-term rentals

If you go to the popular cities in southeast Asia such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, you are still likely to get rained on in October. But if you head a bit north to Chiang Mai you’ll have less chance of rain and you’ll also get much more pleasant temperatures in general.

In case you aren’t familiar with it, Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second city and it’s the main base for trekking and culture in the north. This is also famously a very affordable city, with posh hotels going for shockingly low prices. Nearly everything is cheaper in Chiang Mai than in Bangkok or the islands, so it’s a good place to hang around and enjoy the weather if you’ve got the time.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $18 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $34 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $7 per person

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

Chiang Mai Backpacker Index for 2023: US$22.05

Delhi/New Delhi, India

October avg high: 92F/33C
October avg low: 65F/18C
October avg precip: 0.7″/1.8cm

Delhi/New Delhi highlights

Red Fort complex – is unmissable
India Gate and Lotus Temple are amazing in person
Gateway to Taj Mahal in Agra (better than staying in Agra itself)
Excellent and cheap street food and restaurant food, but be careful!
Spice markets and other unique markets all over

Delhi has scorching summers and surprisingly chilly winters, so October is an ideal month when you actually get decent temperatures and very little rain. The sights around this huge city are some of the most interesting in Asia, and this is also the best place to start a trip to Taj Mahal, which is in Agra, and a popular day trip from here.

New Delhi is actually a small region within central Delhi where you find the capital and government buildings, along with many hotels and a few sights as well. Hotels here are very reasonably priced, although it’s wise to be careful of the cheapest places because the standards can be very low. Delhi now has some good hostels as well, but again it’s worth checking those reviews.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $32 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $95 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $12 per person

>>Delhi/New Delhi prices and travel tips

Delhi Backpacker Index for 2023: US$22.51

Goa, India

October avg high: 89F/32C
October avg low: 72F/11.2C
October avg precip: 4.6″/11.5cm

Goa highlights

Excellent and photogenic beaches
Old Goa historic area is unique even for India
Anjuna Flea Market – Famous hippie market, don’t miss it!
Great and cheap Portuguese-inspired cuisine
Famous beach parties and some of India’s cheapest alcohol

October is when the rainy season in Goa comes to an end, although you can still get some downpours early in the month. Most visitors from outside of India don’t start arriving until December, so October is a very good month if you prefer smaller crowds.

Goa is actually a state that is lined with various small beach towns, and each is different from the other. Some, such as Vagator and Anjuna, are famous for their beach parties and hippie vibe. But others are known for families or simple beach huts. Doing some research is essential if this is your first trip.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $42 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $68 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $7 per person

>>Check current hotel promotions for Goa
>>>Goa prices and travel tips

Goa Backpacker Index for 2023: US$28.31

Bali, Indonesia

October avg high: 86F/30C
October avg low: 77F/25C
October avg precip: 3.6″/9.0cm

Bali highlights

Great beaches and surfing in many areas
Stunning temples and monuments all over the island
Shockingly cheap hotels, with fairly cheap food and drinks
Fascinating Hindu culture and gamelan music
Excellent resorts in a secluded area called Nusa Dua

October is the last non-rainy month in Bali until April, so it’s a good time to come to enjoy the shoulder season. The weather is mostly dry and warm, and yet Bali isn’t overflowing with Australians or Europeans like it is in most of the other nicer months, and even the rainy months.

It’s worth noting that Bali has become so crowded and overdeveloped that some people no longer enjoy it, but if you stay in a large hotel with its own stretch of sand then you might not even notice that. If crowds do bother you you can always head to Lovina along the northern coast, or to nearby Lombok, which are both like Bali was 20 or more years ago.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $14 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $27 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $6 per person

>>Check current hotel promotions for Kuta, Bali
>>>Bali prices and travel tips

Kuta, Bali Backpacker Index for 2023: US$28.65

Mumbai, India

October avg high: 91F/33C
October avg low: 74F/23C
October avg precip: 3.5″/8.8cm

Mumbai highlights

Gateway of India monument in the harbour
Taj Mahal Hotel in the same area
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus – Stunning train station
Elephanta Caves and boat trip
Global Vipassana Pagoda

Similar to Goa, which is down the coast from Mumbai, the summer rainy season here can be overwhelming. But in October it’s usually quite dry and the temperatures are starting to get reasonable as well. Mumbai is India’s business and financial center, as well as the center of its film industry, but it’s not actually a classic tourist city. In other words, don’t plan on visiting Mumbai unless there are some specific things you have in mind to see.

Though still reasonable by international standards, hotels in Mumbai are very expensive for India. The popular tourist area in the south and the business district are both quite small, so real estate goes at a heavy premium here. Mumbai is worth seeing, but probably best for only a couple days before heading to a smaller town or a beach.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $66 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $115 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $14 per person

Mumbai prices and travel tips

Mumbai Backpacker Index for 2023: US$30.19

Xi’an, China

October avg high: 67F/19C
October avg low: 49F/9C
October avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm

Xi’an highlights

Terracotta Warriors tour, of course
City walls tour or walk
Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the center of town
Great Mosque of Xi’an and street food in Muslim Quarter
Nicely affordable hotels and food

Very few people would ever come to China for the first time and only go to Xi’an, but if you are already coming to see Beijing and Shanghai (see below) as well, you might as well pop over to see the famous Terracotta Warriors among other things.

Xi’an is a bit cheaper than the other two larger cities and it shows you a different side of modern China as well. You can take the bullet train from Beijing here in only about 7 hours, but flying is obviously faster and typically cheaper as well.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $61 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $64 for two people

>Check current hotel promotions for Xi’an
>>>Xi’an prices and travel tips

Xi’an Backpacker Index for 2023: US$39.61

Shanghai, China

October avg high: 73F/23C
October avg low: 59F/15C
October avg precip: 2.5″/6.3cm

Shanghai highlights

Probably the world’s coolest skyline
The Bund (riverside walk with skyline view)
Skydecks at a few different towers and skyscapers
Nanjing Road shopping district
Traditional Chinatown area (seriously!)

Far more modern than Beijing, many visitors prefer Shanghai even though it doesn’t have many historic sights. This coastal city is very hot during summer so October is an ideal month to visit and even do a group tour before it gets too cold in November.

Most things in Shanghai are a bit more expensive than in Beijing, and hotels in particular. But by international standards Shanghai is still pretty cheap, especially for such a modern city. There are many expats here so it feels fairly international in places.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $52 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $73 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $14 per person

>>Check current hotel promotions for Shanghai
>>>Shanghai prices and travel tips

Shanghai Backpacker Index for 2023: US$40.93

Malé, Maldives

October avg high: 84F/29C
October avg low: 77F/25C
October avg precip: 7.6″/19.0cm

Maldives highlights

Almost 100 private-island resorts with water villas
Sandy beaches on most islands and all resorts
Amazing weather and nightly sunsets
Excellent scuba diving and snorkeling
Very good all-inclusive resorts at reasonable prices

It’s sad to say, but Malé is one of Asia’s least charming and worthwhile capital cities. It’s also one of the most crowded, and the only place to get even a drop of alcohol nearby is a single hotel near the airport. The reason people come to Malé is to hop a speedboat or sea-plane to one of the hundreds of resort islands in this huge chain.

You may have heard that the Maldives home to most of the world’s water villas. Even though this is a non-wealthy Asian country, the water villas are as expensive as they are wonderful. They start at around US$300 per night, although you can get island rooms for closer to US$100 per night at some of the same resorts.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $86 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $113 for two people

>>Malé prices and travel tips

Malé Backpacker Index for 2023: US$45.62

Beijing, China

October avg high: 66F/19C
October avg low: 46F/8C
October avg precip: 0.9″/2.3cm

Beijing highlights

Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
Nearby sections of the Great Wall are easy to reach by bus or shuttle
Palace Museum – the best in China
Amazing food and drink culture
Hutongs (ancient alleyways)

Beijing has hot summers and then suddenly in October it cools down to where you need a jacket during the day. The winters here are quite chilly so October really is the best month in the second half of the year to enjoy this huge city when it’s reasonably warm and dry.

Most Westerners who visit China will typically book a package tour that includes Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. Unlike most other parts of the world, those package tours can be surprisingly good bargains, even for small-group tours of fewer than 20 people. But if you come on your own you can do it for even less, although having a guide can really help because not many people speak English. Here’s why you still probably want to visit China as part of a tour.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $77 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $79 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $11 per person

>>Check current hotel promotions for Beijing
>>>Beijing prices and travel tips

Beijing Backpacker Index for 2023: US$48.94

Seoul, South Korea

October avg high: 68F/20C
October avg low: 50F/10C
October avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm

Seoul highlights

Gyeongbokgung Palace
K-Star Road and pop culture sights
Day trip to the DMZ (reserve well in advance!)
Amazing food and trendy drinks
Myeong-dong shopping district

Seoul is yet another Asian city with scorching summers and winters that start sooner than we would like. October is a fine month to come and enjoy the excellent food culture here, not to mention the high-tech culture and pop culture as well. In fact, Korea has become so trendy with younger people that it’s one of the hottest destinations in Asia these days. It’s pretty easy to get by in Seoul only in English because all of the important signs and many menus are also in English.

Hotels in Seoul are good value in general considering the high standards that you get from the many chains and even independent places in the city center. As with most large Asian cities, the restaurants can range from very cheap to extremely expensive, depending on how much comfort and familiarity that you require.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $47 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $70 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $13 per person

>>>Check current hotel promotions for Seoul
>>>Seoul prices and travel tips

Seoul Backpacker Index for 2023: US$53.29

Hong Kong

October avg high: 82F/28C
October avg low: 74F/23C
October avg precip: 6.0″/15.0cm

Hong Kong highlights

Amazing skyline, especially at night
Victoria Peak and funicular
Some of the world’s best shopping
Star ferries – Historic and cheap with amazing views
Excellent Chinese and international food scene

Hong Kong is at the end of its rainy season in October, and temperatures are fairly reasonable most of the time as well. The later you come in the month the drier it is likely to be. Either way, this city is good at dealing with rainfall, so it’s not the problem it is in other places anyway.

You may have heard that Hong Kong has become insanely expensive in recent years, and that is true in some ways, but it’s still possible to enjoy this amazing city on a reasonable budget. There are plenty of 3-star and 4-star hotels with good locations and reasonable prices, and the more authentic local food tends to be cheap as well.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $74 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $140 for two people

>>Check current hotel promotions for Hong Kong
>>>Hong Kong prices and travel tips

Hong Kong Backpacker Index for 2023: US$54.47

Tokyo, Japan

October avg high: 71F/22C
October avg low: 59F/15C
October avg precip: 6.4″/6.0cm

Tokyo highlights

Imperial Palace, shrines, and gardens
Ginza shopping district
Tokyo feels like visiting the future
Harajuku District for fashion and trends
Some of the best and most varied food on the planet

Tokyo is another city that is extremely hot and also fairly rainy in summer, so October is a good month to visit when it’s still warm and it’s drying out. This city is so modern that dealing with the rain isn’t problematic in general, but still it’s better to not have to deal with it if you can avoid it.

This city and country have always been considered the most expensive in Asia, but prices here haven’t budged much in over 20 years and it’s now similar in price to a mid-range European city. In fact, Singapore recently surpassed Tokyo to become the most expensive Asian city for 3-star travelers in our recent study.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $47 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $68 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $22 per person

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

Tokyo Backpacker Index for 2023: US$66.20

Singapore

October avg high: 87F/31C
October avg low: 77F/25C
October avg precip: 8.2″/20.5cm

Singapore highlights

Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino in the basement
Orchard Road shopping district – one of the world’s best
Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel
Raffles Hotel (home of the Singapore Sling)
Hawker food centers for cheap and excellent food

We left Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur off the list for October because it’s still the rainy season in those huge cities, but Singapore has a rainy season that goes almost the whole year so it’s still a good choice this month. This is an extremely modern city that is used to dealing with the quick tropical rainstorms, so they really are nothing to fear.

Singapore has become Asia’s most expensive city for 3-star travelers, overtaking Tokyo, mostly because the hotels here are now so pricey. It’s still possible to get a reasonable deal if you can stay a bit away from the CBD or Orchard Road. Another way to save money is to book one of the many rooms here with no windows. If that doesn’t sound appealing to you either, then be careful when you book because the cheapest rooms in most hotels are window-free.

Good 3-star hotels in October from $117 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in October from $140 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in October from $21 per person

>>Check current hotel promotions for Singapore
>>>Singapore prices and travel tips

Singapore Backpacker Index for 2023: US$84.91