July in Asia: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

9 Best Asia destinations in July of 2022

Visiting Asia in the month of July is very challenging due to a combination of extreme heat and heavy rain in so many of the most popular destinations the rest of the year. In fact, July has the smallest list of the year for places that have good weather and are interesting in general.

If you haven’t spent a summer in Asia you might be surprised to learn that even cities such as Beijing and Tokyo are sweltering most of the month. Unlike the big cities close to the equator, these other cities are not built for hot weather so it’s best to just avoid them in the peak of summer and find somewhere else to go. Fortunately we do have 9 great options below. Some are places that are hot all year round and are well designed for high temperatures, and others are beaches that you may have never heard of before.

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COVID-19 situation in 2022

As of March, 2022, the COVID situation is finally getting better and travelers have reason to be optimistic. Many of Asia’s most popular countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and South Korea, are opening for vaccinated visitors.

Obviously it’s important to check the situation before you actually book a trip, but this July it definitely looks like vaccinated travelers can visit Asia without long quarantines and other restrictions.

Important July 2022 Holidays in Asia

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

9 Best destinations in Asia for July

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 $29 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $86 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $12 per person

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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.

Good 3-star hotels in July from $96 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $167 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $24 per person

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.

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 $43 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $57 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $8 per person

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.

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 $111 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $149 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $16 per person

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.

Good 3-star hotels in July from $54 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $84 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $11 per person

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.

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.

Good 3-star hotels in July from $26 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $41 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $12 per person

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 tom 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.

Good 3-star hotels in July from $37 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $69 for two people
Hostel dorm beds in July from $6 per person

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 $79 for two people
Good 4-star hotels in July from $144 for two people

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.

July in Asia: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Greg Rodgers is a freelance writer and photographer from Kentucky. He’s been covering all things Asia for TripSavvy since 2010.

Asia in July

TripSavvy / Marina Li

Traveling for July in Asia pretty well guarantees you’ll be dealing with high humidity and rain, assuming you aren’t heading into the Himalayas or somewhere else the Southeast Monsoon isn’t saturating. July is hot—sticky, summer, three-showers-a-day hot—in many top destinations across Asia.

As Thailand and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, India, and East Asia deal with high temperatures and wet days, Bali along with other islands in Malaysia and Indonesia will be at the top of their high seasons.

High Season in Bali

The secret’s out: Bali is paradise. Indonesia’s most visited island stays perpetually busy, but July is the peak of peak season. Cold temperatures in nearby Australia, dry weather in Bali, and the fact many students are on summer break make July one of the busiest months of the year.

If you’re traveling to Bali in July, book ahead and expect extremely busy beaches in places such as Kuta. If the traffic jams are ruining your vacation vibes, consider going to a quieter island such as nearby Nusa Lembongan or Gili Meno.

Extreme Heat and Humidity in India

July is one of the hottest and rainiest months to be in India, particularly Delhi. Unfortunately, the abundant monsoon rain doesn’t provide much relief from afternoon temperatures that can easily hover over 100 F.

Heading higher into the Himalayas in North India will help, but even popular little Manali in Himachal Pradesh has an average temperature near 80 F; July is one of the wettest months there.

Extreme Heat and Humidity in Hong Kong

Hong Kong suffers the same fate as New Delhi in July. High temperatures and over 14 inches of rain for the month keep the air thick with humidity. Be prepared: Everyone is sticky within seconds of walking outside and leaving the sweet safety of air conditioning.

Asia Weather in July

(average high / low temperatures and humidity)

Bangkok: 93 F (33.9 C) / 79 F (26.1 C) / 76 percent humidity
Kuala Lumpur: 90 F (32.2 C) / 76 F (24.4 C) / 79 percent humidity
Bali: 84 F (28.9 C) / 75 F (23.9 C) / 78 percent humidity
Singapore: 89 F (31.7 C) / 78 F (25.6 C) / 79 percent humidity
Beijing: 88 F (31.1 C) / 72 F (22.2 C) / 74 percent humidity
Tokyo: 83 F (28.3 C) / 76 F (24.4 C) / 76 percent humidity
New Delhi: 97 F (36.1 C) / 81 F (27.2 C) / 73 percent humidity

Average Rainfall for July in Asia

Bangkok: 8.7 inches (221 mm) / average of 17 rainy days
Kuala Lumpur: 2.2 inches (56 mm) / average of 16 rainy days
Bali: 0.1 inch (3 mm) / average of 4 days with light rain
Singapore: 2.5 inches (64 mm) / average of 14 wet days
Beijing: 3.6 inches (91 mm) / average of 14 wet days
Tokyo: 1.4 inches (36 mm) / average of 8 wet days
New Delhi: 4.7 inches (119 mm) / average of 9 wet days

High heat and humidity pretty well sum up much of Asia in July. Monsoon season will be bringing frequent showers to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Indonesia will be much drier than Southeast Asian countries to the north.

East Asia will also be sizzling in summer. July is one of the hottest and rainiest months for visiting Beijing; Hong Kong is even more inundated. High heat and humidity trapped by urban pollution won’t be enjoyable as you explore the many things to do in Beijing. Xi’an (home of the terracotta warriors) is even hotter, but they get a few less rainy days during July.

July is the wettest month in Kathmandu, Nepal.

What to Pack

With tropical heat and humidity causing everyone to sweat, you’ll want to pack way more lightweight tops than usual; plan to buy some or do laundry locally. Have a good way (an umbrella won’t suffice) for waterproofing your phone, passport, and money during heavy monsoon showers.

Frequent rain bolsters local mosquito populations; bring your favorite repellent from home!

July Events in Asia

Big summer festivals in Asia are fun, but they can also cause prices to increase for airfare and accommodation. Arrive early to secure a spot or steer clear until the surge of visitors dissipates.

India has many festivals in July, some big and some small, celebrating the diversity of the subcontinent.

8 Best Asia destinations in August of 2022

Asia in August is not one of the better months for travelers, which is a shame because so many people have the month off work. The problem is that nearly all of the best holiday destinations in Asia are either scorching hot in August, or extremely rainy, and often both. Even most of the beach destinations are in the midst of the rainy season in August, so there are probably better places to go this month.

The good news is that there are still 8 great options that we have listed below. In a couple cases they are places near the equator that are hot all year round and August is actually one of the nicer months. The places on this list are generally well built for warm weather and even wet weather, and there are some options in the list below that you probably hadn’t even thought of.

COVID-19 situation in 2022

As of June, 2022, many of Asia’s most popular countries are open to vaccinated visitors, or preparing to open. This includes Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea. There may still be some restrictions in place, and things of course could get worse again, but it appears that the closed borders and long quarantine periods may finally be behind us. Mostly outside of Asia there are many countries that are open to visitors with no COVID or vaccination requirements.

Important August 2022 holidays in Asia

August 12 – Queen’s Birthday Holiday in Thailand (major public holiday)
August 15 – National Liberation Day of Korea (major public holiday)
August 15 – India Independence Day (major public holiday)