Which destination to prioritize in Southeast Asia in June/July/August/September?

Hi there, When it comes to the weather, a quick internet search would confirm that the boreal summer months (June, July, August, September) are the best time to visit much of Indonesia, which is in the Southern Hemisphere. Instead of asking the question, wouldn’t it be better to check out the many websites that cover the climate in the different countries you want to visit? Like "Where and When," for example. Or just Google "weather in Sulawesi in August" or "best month to visit Makassar"...

Hi there, thanks for your comment and for taking the time to write it!

You know, sometimes people do research online (and mention it in their post) but aren’t opposed to a direct human exchange.

I’d considered the Philippines too, but I’ve read mixed things—some say it’s okay during this period, others say it’s not.

Since I’ve never traveled to this part of the world, I’ve been told that the rainy season doesn’t necessarily ruin the experience either... Anyway, I just wanted to get some opinions/advice.

Sorry for the bother!

Hello,

What type of travel do you enjoy? Backpacking? Comfort? What activities would you like to do?

Thanks for trying to keep the human touch at the heart of planning your trip. We’re just trying to survive the bland itineraries churned out by AI, so it’s really great that you’ve come to this forum.

Would you have any advice? I was thinking of Malaysia or Indonesia, like Sulawesi for example (all countries and islands in Southeast Asia interest me except Bali).

I’ve been to Indonesia several times—first in adventure mode during my youth, far off the beaten path to isolated tribes (Mentawai in Siberut), then as a backpacker with my partner, and later in a more classic way with my kids. I think it’s a real shame to rule out Bali, even though this island has long attracted mass tourism. 1- Most tourists still stick to the same spots. There are plenty of places with few people and very pleasant to visit. Sometimes, just going 1 or 2 km off the main roads lets you find an authentic Bali, especially in its northern and western parts and in some corners of the smaller surrounding islands like Nusa Penida (for me, the best place to see manta rays and surprising landscapes, but not only that). 2- When you’ve been to other Indonesian islands, especially if you’ve ventured off the beaten path as a backpacker (I’m thinking of certain areas in Sulawesi, Sumatra, Nias, Sumba, etc.), you’re really happy to "recharge" in Bali. In terms of accommodations, but especially food... Balinese cuisine is much better and more varied than that of the other islands. 3- Bali is the only Hindu-majority island, and it has a very special atmosphere. Its temples, religious ceremonies, traditional music and dances (legong), shadow theater (Wayang), and varied performances are a feast for the senses.

because departure is in 3 weeks: choosing a destination, buying a ticket, formalities for 5.5 months—you really need to get moving...

Hi,

We know she wants to leave in the summer, but she didn’t specify if it was for this year ;) What I missed, though, is that after glancing at her profile, it turns out she’s already been to Bali!

Hi, thanks for your feedback!

I love simple and authentic experiences—I usually travel with just my backpack, and I don’t feel the need to do activities every day. Generally, I explore, enjoy observing landscapes and people, and take my time. I love cultural sites and history.

Thanks

Hi, thanks for your message even if I’m having trouble understanding it...

Why take the time to write this kind of thing? Giving moral lessons and judging instead of helping?

All this nitpicking? I think you should stop interpreting what I—or others—say... I didn’t come here to receive negative energy.

And yes, sometimes things happen last minute—I just lost my job, I wasn’t supposed to be available to travel...

So much negativity, good luck

Thanks so much for your kindness and for sharing your experiences!

I’ll keep looking into this!

Best wishes 🌴

Hi there! I’ll admit I’ve never really traveled in this part of the world. I mean, I went to Bali once for barely 8 days over 10 years ago before spending a year in Australia, which was my last big trip... and honestly, that’s not enough to say I know the region 😅

Hello, thanks for your message even if I had trouble understanding it...

Why take the time to write that kind of thing? Giving moral lessons and judging instead of helping?

This and that? I think you should stop interpreting what I or others say... I didn’t come here to receive negative energy.

And yes, sometimes things happen last minute—I just lost my job, I wasn’t supposed to be available to travel...

So much negativity, good luck

Your reply, along with the ones you give others, doesn’t change my mind at all.

For now, without meaning to offend anyone, no helpful recommendations or constructive advice related to your original question have come in yet, but hang in there—it’ll come...

When I was still working, I used to get flight tickets at 10% of the price, but I wasn’t allowed to make reservations. Sometimes I’d decide on my destination just a few days before departure—sometimes even the same day! That’s when I had my best trips—totally improvised! Since retiring (in 2009), I rarely—or rather, *we* rarely—decide on a destination more than 3 months in advance. If prices have gone up (which is rare), well, we just change destinations—simple as that. I even think the best deals are often just a few days before your planned departure, or at worst, 3 months ahead. So in my opinion, no problem at all! 😊 P.S.: I can’t give you any tips on guesthouses or hotels since my trips to Indonesia aren’t recent... If you’re heading to Sulawesi, I recommend the Toraja region (Rantepao)—overnight bus from Makassar. If you like quiet spots, snorkeling, or just relaxing on paradise beaches, keep going past Toraja to Ampana and take a ferry to the Togian Islands. I’ve got some great full-board addresses with very reasonable rates—it’s not luxury, but it’s comfortable. Just make sure you have time, as there are still no airports on these remote islands, and no internet either.

When I was working, I used to get flight tickets at 10% of the fare, but I wasn’t allowed to reserve in advance...

Wasn’t that the "AD90" rate for airline staff, where you had to sign up at the counter and could only board at the last minute if there was space left? I think there was also the "AD75" rate (25%) for travel agency employees, following the same principle, right?

I even think the best deals are just a few days before

Having often been forced to buy my ticket less than a week before departure, I’ve noticed the same. But in this case, you also need to plan for formalities since no country welcomes visitors for 5.5 months straight without a hard-to-get visa. The other option is to hop from one country to another, but you’ll often need an exit ticket upon arrival (Indonesia or the Philippines, regardless of stay duration). We all know how, in recent years, countries have been getting more and more annoying with long-term travelers...

Good evening, I’ve never heard of the “AD90” fares. For airline staff, there were R2 (90% off without reservation) and R1 (75% off with reservation). Since I wasn’t employed by an airline, I was eligible for N2: 90% off without reservation… I rarely took the N1 (75% off with reservation) by choice, and also because that fare wasn’t calculated the same way as R1, so it wasn’t very appealing. Back then, there was almost always space on planes, and the risk of not boarding was minimal—except for certain destinations. Things started to go downhill in the early 2000s. These days, I think N2 and R2 fares no longer exist. Without a visa, you can go to Indonesia for a month, I believe—then you buy a flight to another destination on the spot, like the Philippines, and so on. I think that’s still possible unless a return ticket is required, in which case there are workarounds… 😄

Hi Marie,

Not so long ago, I could only travel during school holidays since I was a teacher... So I ended up going to Southeast Asia quite often during the "off" season, in July and August. You have to deal with the climate quirks of that period—humid heat... But there are also lovely surprises with plenty of sunny days, and you eventually get used to it. This applies to southern China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines... I went back to these places in January, and the climate is, of course, much more favorable. It’s a whole different experience. In the summer, Indonesia is still a better option if you're looking for more pleasant weather. Bali is very crowded in some areas, that’s true, but the island remains charming and very easy to visit. Java is just as great. The volcanoes are amazing. Beautiful beaches in Lombok. There’s also plenty to do in Sulawesi... (I’m only talking about the islands I’ve visited. Flores is on my wish list for next year.) The climate is also favorable in Malaysia at this time. (I prefer Indonesia by a long shot.) You didn’t mention how long you plan to travel, so it’s hard to give you specific advice.

Hi,

You didn’t say how long you plan to travel

Actually, she did: between 3.5 and 5.5 months, depending on whether we go by the thread title or the original post—it’s up to us to decide. Note that 5.5 months is long enough that each country won’t just be in dry or wet season the whole time. For example, in August, Thailand is drenched, but by November it’s over, whereas in Indonesia it’s the opposite...

If she says it: from 3.5 to 5.5 months depending on whether you trust the subject line or the original post—it’s up to us to decide.

Oops... My bad

Hi there,

Here are some insights from my experience in Southeast Asia (around fifteen trips), if it’s not too late:

Weather

- This period is great for all of Indonesia. Despite its size, the climate is roughly the same with a few small exceptions: winds can be strong in the northern Moluccas and Raja Ampat in July-August, which might be annoying for diving and snorkeling. In Borneo (Kalimantan) and Papua, it can pour at any time of day, but the sun comes back quickly. In six trips to Indonesia (Java-Bali, Moluccas, Flores, Papua, Sulawesi, Sumba), I’ve never had bad weather for more than an hour or two (and rarely even that).

- For Malaysia, you’ll want to avoid the west coast (Penang area) where it’s the rainy season.

- Laos, Myanmar (though tourism is dead with the return of the dictatorship), and Cambodia have roughly the same weather: the rainy season ends in late August/early September. We got caught in a few downpours in September, but the sun dominates in these three countries during this period. There are very few tourists because most people want 100% sunshine. The upside? You can visit Luang Prabang and even Angkor almost alone!!!

- Vietnam is more complicated: floods in the south in summer when the north is sunny. In the center, typhoon season starts in September. So you’ll need to check the weather on the spot.

Culture

- Myanmar: the absolute best, but not possible right now as mentioned above.

- Indonesia: Balinese and Javanese culture is legendary. In Sulawesi, the Toraja region has a fascinating culture (villages and customs). In Sumba, the Marapu villages are very interesting, though the locals can be a bit standoffish. In Flores, you can discover Ngada and Manggarai villages. In Papua, the Wamena region is amazing for trekking. The Moluccas and Kalimantan? Not so great.

- Malaysia: Malacca, KL.

- Cambodia: Angkor, of course (go outside the dry season to avoid the 3 million Chinese tourists who visit every year, shouting). Phnom Penh.

- Laos: Luang Prabang is stunning (stay at least 4 days), Vientiane a bit less.

- Vietnam: cultural visits everywhere.

Diving/snorkeling:

- Raja Ampat (Indonesia): the world’s best, exceptional diversity (wildlife and coral) and quantity. - Komodo Archipelago, Bunaken, Wakatobi (Indonesia): top-tier, just below Raja Ampat. - Sipadan (Malaysia-Borneo): same level. - Other great sites: Perhentian in Malaysia, Pemuteran in Bali, etc.

Nature: rice fields, dream islands, tropical forests, volcanoes, etc. in many places.

In conclusion: Based on what I know, here’s my top pick for each category :) - Rice fields: northern Vietnam (golden in September, green from June to August). - "Robinson Crusoe islands": Togians in Sulawesi, Raja Ampat in Papua (remote and expensive), Banda in the Moluccas (but very hard to reach). - Culture: Toraja in Sulawesi. - Temples: Angkor. - Ethnic groups: northern Vietnam. - Cities: Luang Prabang in Laos. - Volcanoes: Bromo in Java is a must, despite the crowds. - Wilderness: Papua everywhere except Sorong. - Mythical and stunningly vast landscape: Lan Ha Bay (Halong’s twin) in Vietnam.

This summary is a bit long—it’s not easy to turn it into an itinerary, but I hope it helps! Feel free to ask questions about any specific region.

Hi Marie, Southeast Asia is a great idea! For a first trip under Asian skies, I personally think the Philippines are a great fit. English is widely spoken there, which makes communication much easier. The 7,000 islands offer an incredible diversity of landscapes, the marine life invites you to dive (with or without a tank), and the rice terraces on Luzon Island are stunning—worth a few hours on a bus to see them. Transportation can be time-consuming but is very diverse: planes, boats, tuk-tuks, jeepneys, scooters... It gives you a real sense of freedom and a strong "come-back-for-more" feeling since we ended up returning for a second trip! The cost of living is very affordable for us Europeans, which is definitely a plus!

A well-informed tip since we discovered this part of the world: Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam... Anyway, 4 months of travel will let you broaden your horizons!

Hi,

the Philippines (...) The cost of living there is very affordable for us Europeans, which isn’t insignificant!

For a traveler, is the general cost of living in the Philippines similar to, higher than, or lower than in Cambodia or Indonesia?

The trend may have reversed these days, but up until the 90s, the cost of living in Indonesia was slightly lower than in the Philippines.

Thanks for your reply. Back in the early 80s, life in the Philippines was more expensive than in Indonesia. How about these days? Does anyone know? Otherwise, a comparison between the Philippines and Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand would work for me too.

Thanks for your reply. Same in the early 80s—life in the Philippines was more expensive than in Indonesia. How about these days? Anyone know? Otherwise, a comparison between the Philippines and Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand would work for me too.

Our last trip to the Philippines was 10 years ago. At that time, the cost of living was higher than in Thailand, where I’ve been very recently.

Good evening, Back in 1980, life in the Philippines was more expensive than in Indochina... It's hard to answer because the former Indochina countries weren't welcoming tourists yet!!! My first trip to Vietnam was in 1992, Cambodia in 1995, and Laos in 1998. Thailand in Southeast Asia remains the cheapest with quality services. Continuing to explore this part of the world, I’d say many islands in INDONESIA are still cheaper than the Philippines—except, of course, the most touristy or remote ones. But I’m sure you’ve noticed that too! Have a good evening.

Hi,

My first trip to (...) Laos 1998

Same here.

@Nimou74 and Henon21

Thanks for your replies. Considering (in my opinion) that in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia (and also India, though not in Southeast Asia but nearby), the cost of living is roughly similar, what multiplier would you apply to roughly estimate the cost of living in the Philippines compared to the other countries mentioned—1.5x? 2x? Something else?

Good evening.

At this point, giving a rating would be presumptuous on my part. The political and military events in the Strait of Hormuz and their impact on oil prices and other fuels are skewing the data, and I haven’t been back since early 2026. There are claims that some Ha Long Bay excursions are shorter, etc. Sorry—I’d rather not respond since I don’t have enough information.

Eric

Hi, I’m not asking for "up-to-the-minute" or super-precise info—your experience from early 2026 and recent years will be more than enough, since it’ll still be way more current than Djalma’s, which is 30 years old, or mine, which goes back over 40 years.