Asia’s Regions

Generally Asia is split up geographically into six regions:

• West Asia – 18 countries primarily in the Middle East, such as Iran and Iraq
• Central Asia – 5 nations including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
• South Asia –  8 countries, including Bangladesh and Afghanistan
• Southeast Asia – 11 nations, including Thailand and Cambodia
• East Asia – 6 countries, including Japan and South Korea
• North Asia – 1 country consisting of the Asian part of Russia

Thailand is renowned for its beauty and biodiversity.

Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Mongolia

The limestone cliffs in Thailand, the bustling streets of Tokyo, the remote grassland of Mongolia – There are so many things to see in Asia.

Rustic Pathways currently has summer travel programs in Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Mongolia.

China, India, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Vietnam

Rustic Pathways also has group travel programs in these nations. You can visit our page for school groups for more information.

What to Expect While Traveling in Asia

Geography – Remarkably Diverse Landscapes

The geographical diversity in Asia is enormous. The continent has extensive plateaus, including one that covers more than 1.4 million square miles across Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has the mountain with the highest altitude, Mount Everest.

Heading to Mount Everest

The continent also includes lush rainforests in Southeast Asia and the vast Gobi Desert in northern China and southern Mongolia. On top of that, Russia has the oldest and deepest lake in the world, plunging 5,315 feet. It could take a lifetime to see all the natural highlights across Asia.

On the globe, the continent stretches from the eastern border with Europe and the Mediterranean and Red Seas to the Pacific Ocean in the west. To the north it reaches the Arctic Ocean and the south, the Indian Ocean.

Climate – Hot, Cold and Everything in Between

As you can imagine, the climate varies greatly across the continent. It’s not just the range in latitudes that affects the temperatures. Mountain barriers and the movements across oceans affect the climate throughout Asia.

If you’re visiting popular locations like Thailand, you can expect a tropical climate. It has a long rainy season that lasts half the year. The winters are dry and cool and the summers are hot.

Southeast Asia is the perfect place to swim and relax.

Other travel locations like western Japan have similar weather with hot and humid summers and moderate cold winters.

If you go to places like Mongolia, you’ll have to bundle up for more cold weather.  That would also be the case if you headed north to Russia.

Farther west, you can leave your coat at home. In India and west to Middle East, the weather can be very hot.

The Birth of Many Religions

Most of the world’s major religions began in Asia. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all trace their roots to Middle Eastern countries on the continent. Buddhism and Hinduism originated in India.  Confucianism and Daoism started in China.

These religions remain active across the continent with wide variations per country. Islam is the largest religion on the continent. It is the key faith in many Middle Eastern nations, along with countries ranging from Uzbekistan to Indonesia and Bangladesh. Judaism is still primarily concentrated in Israel.

Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. Hinduism is the largest faith in India and Nepal.

Rustic Pathways students check out some temples and other sites in Nepal.

Christianity is the predominant in countries like Russia and the Philippines. Confucianism is mainly practiced in East Asia, including Korea and Japan. Taoism is also practiced in these countries.

 Other major religions on the continent include Jainism, Sikhism, and the Baha’i Faith.

Food – Bursting with Flavor

Many Asian foods are flavorful and spicy. Depending on the country, you may see dishes with curry, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and more.

Thailand is often recognized as one of the best countries in the world for food. There are about 5,000 varieties of rice in the country, so you’ll see rice in a new way after eating there. Plus, traditional options like pad thai are popular in the nation.

Pad Thai

Heading east sushi is a must-try item in Japan. You also can get your taste buds prepped for dishes where soy sauce plays a leading role. It’s a main ingredient in many dishes in Japan and China.

In South Korea, surprisingly one of the most commonly eaten dishes is fried chicken. And in Mongolia, the diet is very meat-heavy since it is difficult to grow produce in the nation.

Across the continent, food preferences have crossed borders as people have moved to different nations. So wherever you travel, you can try a diversity of food option