Why did I make a Southeast Asia climate guide?

I know from experience there are numerous blog posts and websites out there with extraordinarily detailed climate guides. However for me looking through it all is way too tedious a process to put up with if you need information quickly.

This type of information (the non exciting kind) is the kind that stays in your brain for all of twenty seconds, normally in response to some vague idea you had while you were researching. Then you forget it forever. My brain operates this way anyway.

So I figured all I needed was a cheat sheet of sorts. Simple enough to cover everything at a glance. If you’re here as well I’d say you want something similar?

However, let’s not discount the thorough detailed blogs, they’re extremely useful if you have the time to properly take the information onboard.

For those visiting specifically one country it’s especially important to make the most of your trip by reading a more comprehensive Southeast Asia climate guide. This way you’ll maximise the short amount of time you have by avoiding the worst conditions.

For some bed time reading with a LOT more detail, I’d suggest these pages:

• Southeast Asia backpacker
• Trip Savvy

Otherwise continue down to see the Southeast Asia Climate Guide Table, because tables make everything easier. Tables are sexy, sleek and rigid. Like me.

…so you must dig tables huh?

Feel free to have a gander at some other tables I’ve created. Tables are perfect for holding food and beverages, but also for displaying information for comparison.

• Southeast Asia Visa Guide Table
• South & Central America Visa Guide Table
• South & Central America Climate Guide Table
• Travel Insurance Guide Table

Not all tables have friends, some are alone like me.

*Disclaimers and other Handy Info:

Ok, so let’s be clear here. If you’re planning a specific journey, say a two-week holiday for example, then looking into the specifics of your destination is DEFINITELY recommended. Especially if you’re scuba diving, snowboarding (not necessarily in SE Asia of course), hiking or mountaineering. Or basically doing any activity that is weather dependant.

If though, you’re travelling the world without a set itinerary, or are trying to decide a vague action plan, then this guide will help! Often you don’t know where you’ll be at any given point, but to travel regions you may want to know roughly what you’re getting in to before you set out.

With all that being said, here’s a few things to keep in mind;

• Southeast Asia is hot 9 times out of 10, I don’t need to post temperatures, you should know this
• However, if you know you’ll be at altitude, the humidity disappears and layers will still be needed. Mostly applies to climbing volcanoes, but also in some highland areas
• It can rain at any time of year, just because it’s the dry season don’t assume you’ll have perfect weather every day
• China is obviously a big country and weather varies a lot, so do more specific research if need be
• Thailand and Vietnam especially will change from North to South as both countries are very narrow yet tall
• Don’t avoid this region because it’s “rainy season”. For the vast majority of the region the rains come in the afternoons, so wake up early and explore, then back to your hotel
• Wet season will also bring cheaper accommodation
• If conditons are seriously bad, roads may close and travel becomes difficult

Rule of thumb #2

• Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Dry Season = April – September

Wet Season = October – March

Typhoons !!!

Typhoons can hit at any time during the wet season but are most common August – October. This can lead to flash flooding, high winds, heavy rain and in the oceans dangerous rips will be present.

The Philippines and Vietnam are the worst effected by these systems rolling in through the east as they stand in the way geographically. Thailand and Cambodia can also be heavily effected by these weather systems.

Southeast Asia Climate Guide Table