A strong contender for the best month of the year to visit South Korea, May offers spring blossoms, very little rainfall and mild weather that avoids the humidity and downpours of summer. Temperatures are excellent all over the country, ranging from 8°C to a balmy 17°C in the capital of Seoul. What’s more, by travelling in May you not only miss the rains, but also avoid the crowds that summer can bring...
The good weather continues across the country, with temperatures likely to stay at their peak. Across the north and central regions of Thailand, the chance of rain is on the rise, especially towards the end of the month. On the beaches of the south, temperatures remain high however the chance of rain on the west coast increases with the rainy season just around the corner...
May is one of the most popular months of the year for a holiday in Tibet, with favourable springtime weather producing stunning mountain vistas. There are no end of trekking opportunities in Everest National Park, around the Holy Lakes, and at the base of Mount Kailash, where the annual Saga Dawa Festival is usually held in May. Daytime temperatures across the country are positively balmy, and the natural scenery at its most glorious. No wonder this is the start of Tibet’s peak travel season...
May is another excellent month of the year to visit Borneo, characterised by sunny days and minimal rainfall. Weather conditions are ideal for both trekking in the jungles of Sabah, and sun-bathing on the beaches - whatever takes your fancy!
May is one of the best months to visit Indonesia with dry, sunny weather expected across the entire country. Peak tourist season is still a couple of months away, meaning lower visitor numbers on the beaches, at the temples, watching sunrise from the mountain summits.
There is great weather in Japan throughout May. Trekking is now flavour of the month in the northern provinces of Hokkaido where Spring finally arrives and Cherry Blossom season has its last bloom. Elsewhere the great weather is continuing and as the tourists chasing blossoms have waned and many locals are heading home for golden week the smaller crowds make it an ideal time for touring and although there will be moments of rain on land, diving in the Okinawa Islands is opening up as a great option.
The good weather continues across the country, with temperatures likely to stay at their peak. Across the north and central regions of Thailand, the chance of rain is on the rise, especially towards the end of the month. On the beaches of the south, temperatures remain high however the chance of rain on the west coast increases with the rainy season just around the corner...
May is a good time of year to visit Bhutan, with comfortably warm weather, and rainfall still fairly low and sporadic. In the high-altitude north, the skies can be overcast, reducing visibility, and the air is becoming distinctly more humid as monsoon season approaches. Light showers should be expected in the afternoon and evenings, but they’re not especially troublesome. The monastic order depart Punakha in May to spend the summer in Thimphu.
May in Nepal is hot and sunny with temperatures in Kathmandu hovering around 30°C. The pre-monsoon rains cause occasional downpours in the late afternoons which bring refreshing coolness to the air and reinvigorate the lush plants and flowers. At higher altitudes the temperatures are ideal for trekking. Though some days the views can be a little hazy you should have plenty of chances to admire the epic mountain views...
As the monsoon winds start blowing from the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, they bring rain to the south-west corner of Sri Lanka: Galle, the southern beaches, the south-west coast and also into the hill country. Despite this, plenty of sunshine punctuates the short, sharp showers, especially during the first half of May…
May remains amongst the better months to travel in Vietnam despite it being a slightly mixed bag in terms of weather. The central region is close to its peak whilst the south slowly begins to slip towards its wet season, especially towards the end of the month bring with it a welcome relief from the steamy heat of the past few months. The north is also starting to see more rain although temperatures are rising as it heads into its hot, sticky summer. In truth all the beaches remain good options although we tend to favour the beaches of Hoi An, Danang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.
Whilst the key sites of Rajasthan and the centre are baking, and Goa and Kerala are getting very sticky, things are far more comfortable in the north and the south-eastern regions…
Early and mid-May can remain relatively dry in Cambodia, however by the latter part of the month the rainy season is all but guaranteed to be under way across Cambodia. Temperatures remain high, however the rains help break the humidity making life a little more comfortable...
Early and mid-May in Laos can be relatively dry, however by the latter part of the month the rainy season is all but guaranteed to be under way across the country. Temperatures remain high and because of this the rain is usually short lived and quickly replaced by blue skies and brilliant sunshine....
In May, the east coast peninsula of Malaysia (Tioman Island, Terengganu & Redang Island) enjoy plenty of sunny dry days, along with perfect sea conditions for snorkelling and diving. Over on the west coast (Penang, Langkawi & Pangkor Islands) the south-west monsoon begins, bringing with it a rise in humidity and slightly heavier rains.
Not much change from April, with May remaining very hot as the mercury reports frankly unnatural figures at times! Visitor numbers start to decline, making this month a very agreeable time of year to visit if you're a serious sun worshipper. Temperatures do tend to start to dip a little towards the end of the month (monthly range from 32 - 38°C), and for most travellers this is welcome.