Asia travel advice

Visit your GP or travel clinic at least 6-8 weeks before departure to ensure you have all the necessary vaccinations and that they are up to date.

Many travellers experience stomach upsets in Asia. These are not usually serious, but do be prepared, and bring medication including rehydration and diarrhoea remedies to ensure this disrupts your trip as little as possible.

Familiarise yourself with the dangers of altitude sickness, especially if you are trekking in remote areas.

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, or emergency medical evacuation. If you do need to receive medical treatment in Asia, up-front payment may be required even if it is covered by your insurance.

The quality of hospitals varies greatly from region to region – ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance, which covers emergency medical evacuation as you may not be able be treated locally. In Indochina for example, Thailand’s private hospitals are excellent, while Vietnam’s cities provide decent basic healthcare. If travelling in Cambodia or Laos, or in any rural area, health services are extremely limited.

If you will be travelling in rural areas, where getting hold of medicines can be difficult, it’s worth taking a first-aid kit with you. Include bandages, plasters, painkillers, rehydration sachets, medication for upset stomachs and antiseptic cream.

Only drink bottled water and avoid ice cubes. Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been peeled or cooked. Avoid cooked foods that are no longer piping hot, as well as undercooked meat and fish.

Apply insect repellent to skin and clothing to avoid being bitten: wear long sleeves, long trousers, hats and shoes (rather than sandals), and for rural and forested areas, boots are preferable, with trousers tucked in, to prevent tick bites.

The high levels of air pollution in some cities, including across China, Kathmandu and Indonesia, can aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma conditions. Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are usually the worst affected and it is worth buying an anti-pollution facemask if you’re going to be spending time in cities.

Don’t underestimate the strength of the sun during Asia’s spring and summer months. Temperature and humidity can take time to adjust to, so apply sunscreen regularly, wear loose clothing and drink lots of water. The sun is also particularly fierce at high altitude – even when the air is cold, making it especially dangerous.

Safety across Asia is not as bad as you might be led to believe, and issues vary per region. Petty theft is the most common, so you need to protect yourself from that. Padlock your luggage and keep valuables next to the skin.

It is the Buddhist belief to respect all forms of life, and this includes stray dogs – a problem in Bhutan, in particular. It’s best to avoid contact and not to feed them; they might look cute, but they may bite.

One of the most dangerous things you can do in many Asian cities is cross a road: many motorists pay little attention to pedestrian crossings and a green light for you to cross still means that cars are permitted to turn in to or out of the road, particularly in China. Add to this mopeds, rickshaws and loads of other people and you have dangerous combination – keep your wits about you.

Unexploded landmines are still found across the countryside in Cambodia, Laos and central Vietnam along the Laos border. Keep to marked pathways in rural areas and national parks, and always keep an eye on children. Be extremely careful in more remote regions – always consult a local guide before trekking in less-visited areas as mined areas are not always marked away from the tourist trail.

Politics is a very sensitive issue in Central Asia and it’s advisable not to involve yourself in conversations about or speak out against the government as it is considered a crime. Likewise with the Thai royal family who are highly revered.

For further information on health and safety in specific countries across Asia, please have a look at our detailed travel guides and visit the FCO or the CDC websites.