Expand Your View Across Asia This September

Make time for transformative travel

For experienced globetrotters, travel needs to offer more than scenic sights. It needs to provide experiences that expand your worldview and shift your perspective.

Asia in September opens up a world of possibilities to explore and grow, with cooler, quieter conditions in many destinations. From staying with Buddhist monks in Japan and exploring ancient healing traditions in India to helping conserve marine life in Thailand, tap into thousands of years of philosophical wisdom – and take a moment to appreciate what it can teach you on your travels.

Priority Pass tip: Take time to unwind along the way with guided meditations and breathwork from TrvlWell, available through the Priority Pass App.

Explore guided meditation through Trvlwell

Find stillness at Koyasan

Sometimes progress requires pause. Few places are better suited to slowing down than Koyasan in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Located high in the mountains, lined by stone paths and tall cedar trees, this monastic town is one of the country’s most important religious destinations and offers unique ways to engage with Japan’s deep Buddhist heritage.

While not far from the city, Koyasan is another world entirely. The birthplace of Shingon Buddhism, at its height from the 17th to 19th centuries, Koyasan was home to more than a thousand temples.

Today, 117 such temples remain, and travellers have the privilege of being able to stay in a wooden shukubo (temple lodges) among the Buddhist monks who live here.

Heading back home, or onwards, via Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, take some time in the peaceful environment of the Airport Café Lounge NODOKA to reflect upon the significance of this experience and ease gently back into real life.

Book the Airport Café Lounge NODOKA

Explore ancient wellness in India

The benefits of travel can be multifold: mental revival, physical rest, emotional fulfilment and an appreciation for the world’s diversity. But there are some destinations where wellness is woven into their very fabric.

Kerala, on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India, is one such place. It’s well known for its history and expertise in Ayurveda, a traditional healing system that aligns body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda taps into ancient wisdom to address all aspects of well-being, from sleep and diet to emotional stability and stress.

Unsurprisingly, Ayurvedic experiences are now among the primary reasons modern travellers are drawn to Kerala. Some of its most respected wellness retreats can be found along the tranquil backwaters of Kumarakom and Alappuzha, the palm-fringed beaches of Kovalam and the misty hills surrounding Munnar.

Whether you’re seeking a restorative massage, a multi-day, personalised wellness programme or a brief slowing down, Kerala’s serene settings provide the ultimate environment to pause and reset.

Discover Thailand’s travel trifecta

If your idea of a transformative journey combines time in nature with the opportunity to leave a place a little better than you found it, Koh Tao’s commitment to ocean conservation makes a visit to this tiny island a must.

Surrounded by warm, crystal-clear waters in the Gulf of Thailand, palm-fringed Koh Tao is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs, which see fewer visitors in September. Diving in Koh Tao can also bring you closer to the island's conservation work, with opportunities to join marine biologists and dive professionals to learn about reef ecology, assist with coral restoration and reef monitoring and gain a deeper appreciation of one of the world’s most remarkable underwater ecosystems. It’s a travel trifecta that blends adventure, conservation and meaningful travel – creating memories that last long after you’ve resurfaced.

Inspired to discover more? Explore Destination Deals for more ways to immerse yourself in cultural experiences across Thailand and make the most of your time.

Some of the best Asian countries to visit over September offer more than beautiful scenery. They invite a deeper connection with the people, places and environments that make them unique.

Discover Destination Deals