Viewed by locals as both a spiritual and life-nurturing time of the year, monsoon season has a history of provoking less positive reactions among travelers.

During Southeast Asia’s rainy periods, sharp rises in precipitation caused by changes in the winds facilitate crop-growth, breathe new energy into the continent’s lush forests and jungles and rehydrate previously parched earth.

While those who make their living from the land welcome such an essential injection of moisture, many visitors fear that their plans will be irrevocably hampered by soggy conditions and largely leaden skies.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. It is true that visitors to the region should allow for occasional heavy showers (mostly in the afternoons). But there’s also a host of advantages to travelling during the rainy season.

“Often overlooked or dismissed as a time to travel, the Green Season in Southeast Asia is a spectacular period to plan a trip,” explains Richard Ludwig, Director of Product at EXO Travel. “Not only are there fewer tourists and enticing hotel rates, but the landscape colors at this time of year are sensational and the relative absence of fellow travelers mean that those sought after photo opportunities are much easier to come by.”

Due to often vastly different weather patterns across Asia, peak season tends to vary from country to country. In fact, it is generally possible for visitors to plan an extended trip within the region without encountering much in the way of rain. However, savings of up to 20% on hotels and itineraries, allied to the visual splendor facilitated by the wetter conditions mean that smarter travelers are discovering a host of advantages to planning to visit countries outside the busier times.

While the monsoon period is generally not unpleasant anywhere, there are certain destinations in Asia that truly excel during the Green Season.

 

 

In Thailand, the spring rains following the dry season transform mountainous northern provinces such as Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai into a vibrant carpet of emerald hues.  Bisecting this impossibly lush landscape are deep valleys where powerful rivers charge through steep walls of limestone.

In addition to the visual manna, Green Season also gives guests the ideal opportunity to interact with the local ethnic communities that inhabit the remote northern provinces.

As well as hikes to remote caves and thrilling river journeys, guests can enjoy authentic cultural experiences at Shan and Lahu villages as well as visits to big-hitting tourist attractions such as Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, and the northern capital of Chiang Mai.

Next door in Laos, the mountains of the north are equally attractive following a few short, sharp bursts of rain. Luang Prabang, the jewel of the landlocked nation, and by far and away its most visited destination, is especially alluring during the off-season.

With the spring showers giving added urgency to nearby attractions such as the pretty Kuang Si Waterfalls and restoring the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers to a mighty girth, the scenery is at its most epic. Meanwhile, the absence of crowds makes the city and its surrounding caves, temples and traditional villages even more serene than usual.

 

 

Further south, Cambodia also hits a brilliant peak during Green Season when its rice-paddies turn a vivid shade of emerald and the crowds thin out at banner sights such as the temples at Angkor.

Heavy showers are generally confined to just a couple of hours in the afternoon. Therefore, there’s plenty of scope for cramming in activities such as temple hopping near Siem Reap or spotting Irawaddy dolphins on the Mekong River near the town of Kratie during the dry part of the day.

Urban attractions such as Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant capital and the artsy town of Battambang in the west of the country are eminently more manageable in the cooler weather. Also attractive are the coastal hotspots of the south coast where long periods of sunshine offer ample solace to beach-lovers while the jungles and rivers of wild provinces such as Koh Kong are even more impressive after some rain.

 

 

Beach breaks have traditionally been seen as incompatible with monsoon season. Therefore its long, snaking coastline means that Vietnam is perhaps not the most obvious green season destination. Nevertheless, compelling cultural sights and agreeable rates at some of the best hotels in the country allied to generous amounts of sun make beach favorites such as Danang, Nha Trang and the Gulf of Thailand island of Phu Quoc highly appealing off-season choices.

 

 

With infrastructure lagging behind other Southeast Asian destinations, the emphasis in Myanmar during Green Season is on luxury. There are easy transport connections between the capital Yangon and Bagan and Inle Lake, both of which possess sumptuous accommodations.  Also enlivening the monsoon season in Myanmar are unique cultural events such as the Shwe Kyun Pin Nat Festival on the Irrawaddy River and Taung Pyone Spirit Festival near Mandalay.

In other countries such as China and Indonesia travel during off-peak periods also reaps ample rewards. In Indonesia, the country’s vibrant scenery is brought to life during rainy season.

In China the arrival of autumn brings an abundance of color to the rolling hills of provinces such as Sichuan.

Green season in Asia does not necessarily have to correspond to rainy periods. Take Hokkaido in Japan for instance. In winter, skiing and snowboarding fanatics from around the world descend on the northern island to experience its wealth of world-class possibilities. During the summer, the beautiful Alpine landscapes open up a host of options ranging from mountain biking to river rafting.

Whether it is outdoor adventure or culture without the crowds, Asia excels during off-season. In fact, with an abundance of experiences available and a wealth of attractive benefits to take advantage of, there has never been a better time to go Green.