ASIA

ASIA

GEOGRAPHY, DESTINATIONS, AND TRAVEL TIPS ABOUT ASIA

The largest continent on Earth. A part of the physical continent Eurasia.

On the north, it borders the Arctic Ocean. On the east is the Pacific Ocean. Then, on the south is the Indian Ocean. And on the west, its border is not physical but only cultural- with Europe, defined entirely on a cultural and historical basis.

The southwestern part of Asia is again culturally defined as a part of the so-called Middle East, which is not a continent but a cultural region. So, here we define Asia as a cultural region, excluding the area of the Middle East.

Asia can be divided into the following regions and countries (this is a political division):

North Asia: includes the eastern (Asian) part of Russia- Siberia and the Far West of Russia.

Central Asia: includes Kazakhstan (without its westernmost part), Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

South Asia: includes Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

East Asia: includes China, Mongolia, North & South Korea, and Japan.

Southeast Asia: includes Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (excluding West Papua), Philippines, Brunei, and East Timor (Timor Leste).

Main geographical regions of Asia, with main destinations in each region:

Central Asian plains (the lowlands of Central Asia): the Aral Sea, the cultural and historical gems of Bukhara and Samarkand, the popular “Gate of Hell” in Darvaza (Turkmenistan), and the largest cities in this region: Ashgabat and Tashkent.

The western “Greater Ranges” are the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the ranges of Hindukush, Pamir, Karakoram, Tian Shan, and Taklamakan Desert. The main travel destinations here are the Pamir Highway and Karakoram Highway, Lake Issyk Kul, Karakol and Terskey Alatoo Range, Lake Sayram, the grasslands of Eastern Tian Shan, and Taklamakan Desert with Kashgar.

The eastern “Greater Ranges” are the mountains of Tibet, the Himalayas, Kunlunshan, and the ranges around them. The main travel destinations here include the Annapurna Circuit, the Mount Everest region, Lhasa, Mount Kailash, and the mountains in Western Sichuan.

Mongolia and Southern Siberia: Altay Mountains, Gobi Desert, Lake Baikal, the Mongolian grasslands.

Western Siberia includes the whole plain between the northern border with Kazakhstan, the Ural Mountains, and the Yenisey River. The main travel destinations here include the Ob River, the lowland taiga forest, and the Yamal Peninsula (Nenets lands).

Central Siberia. It includes the lands between the Yenisey River, Southern Siberia, and roughly the border with Yakutia (Russia). The main travel destinations here include Putorana Plateau, Tunguska River, and Taymyr Peninsula.

Yakutia (Eastern Siberia). It includes roughly the whole area of the Russian Sakha Republic. The main travel destinations here include: Yakutsk, Oymyakon (the coldest inhabited place on Earth), and the Chersky Hrebet.

Far East in Russia. It includes the Chukotka Peninsula, Kamchatka Peninsula, Amur River region, and Sakhalin Island.

Eastern China. It includes the lowlands of China east of Tibet and south of Mongolia. The main destinations here are the large cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and more, as well as famous places like Zhangjiajie (Avatar Mountains), Guilin Karst Hills, the cultural and historical villages and towns with canals, and more.

Korea and Japan. It includes the countries of North & South Korea, Japan, as well as Taiwan (geographically), and the Kuril Islands. The main destinations here include the big cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, and Pyongyang, as well as iconic places like Mount Fuji, Okinawa Islands, and more.

Hindustan (Indian sub-continent) and the Indian Ocean islands. This vast region includes Pakistan, India (excluding the Himalayan parts), Bangladesh, as well as Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. It also excludes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The main destinations here are: the big cities of Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, as well as places like the Taj Mahal, Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, the atolls of Maldives, and more.

Indochina. This region includes the Asia Mainland part of Southeast Asia. The main destinations here are: the cities of Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, as well as places like Angkor Wat, Halong Bay, Mandalay, the beaches of Thailand, and more.

Indonesia and the Philippines (with Bruney, Timor Leste, Andaman, and Nicobar Islands). This is the island part of Southeast Asia. The main destinations here include: Bali Island, Palawan and Koron (Philippines) Mount Bromo, Jogjakarta (Indonesia), Mount Kinabalu, Lake Toba, and more.

Main things to do in Asia (main ways to explore Asia)

Wandering the tallest mountains on the Earth. It includes ways to explore the mountains of the so-called Greater Ranges: visiting certain destinations, climbing mountain peaks, long-distance routes like Pamir Highway or Karakoram Highway, and more.

Enjoying the vast spaces of the empty grasslands and deserts. The best way to do it is by following long-distance routes crossing these regions.

Relaxation in the tropical paradise of South and Southeast Asia. Enjoy tropical beaches, coral reefs snorkeling and diving, island hopping, surfing, and more.

Wild adventures in the north, including experience of the coldest weather in the Northern Hemisphere. It includes expeditions in the taiga and tundra of North Asia, and visiting the coldest inhabited places on Earth in winter.

Cultural experience. Visiting the cultural and historical gems, mostly in South Asia (India), East Asia (China, Korea, and Japan), and more.

Seasons (best time to travel)

Central Asia lowlands: March to May, and October to December (summer is too hot)

Most of the Greater Ranges (without their southeastern part): May to October

Siberia: September to November, for those who want to experience extreme cold as a travel attraction- January or February (March to May is not too cold but wet and muddy due to snow melting, June to August is warm but mosquito-infested)

Most of South Asia (without its eastern part): Year round except June to August- it is too hot

Eastern China, Korea, and Japan: September to November is the best, spring is beautiful but often rainy. For those who are looking for snow- January and February are the best in northern Japan.

Southeast Asia, southernmost China, the southeast of the Greater Ranges, the east of South Asia: Monson area. The best time to travel there is from September (October) to April. Exception- the part of Indonesia south of the Equator: from April to October.

Useful tips

Some countries are more difficult to visit (require a visa in advance, a travel company, or more): North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Bhutan.

Some countries require a local driving license, special permits and a travel company for overland travel with own vehicle: China, Vietnam.

Some regions require special permits or can be completely closed for visiting: Tibetan Autonomous Region, Changtang Plateau in Tibet, border areas and disputed areas between China, India, and Pakistan, Chukotka in Russia, North Sentinel Island, and more.

In some countries traffic is on the left: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Some areas are difficult to access and require complex logistics: most of Siberia, the Changtang Plateau in Tibet, and some isolated islands in Southeast Asia.

Safety: in general, most of Asia is safe. Exceptions- the border areas between India and Pakistan, the civil war areas in Myanmar, and some isolated areas in the southern Philippines.