Compare fares for the trips in the guides. Prices come from airlines and booking sites in real time, and you book with them directly.
Search not loading? Some ad blockers block it. Search flights on Trip.com instead.
Flight search is run by a travel partner, and the Trip.com link is an affiliate link. If you book through either, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Which airport to fly into
Most of the countries in the guides have more than one international airport, and the cheapest fare is not always the best trip. A ticket into the wrong city, or into a second airport on the far side of town, can cost the saving back in transfers. These are the main gateways for each guide. Check the three-letter code on the fare you are looking at before you book.
| Guide | Main airports | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | BKK, DMK | Bangkok has two airports, Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK). Chiang Mai (CNX) and Phuket (HKT) also take international flights. |
| Malaysia | KUL | Kuala Lumpur is the main hub. Penang (PEN) and Kota Kinabalu (BKI) also have international routes. |
| Singapore | SIN | One main airport, Changi, which makes it the simplest country on this list to plan around. |
| Vietnam | SGN, HAN, DAD | Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang. The country is long, so pick the end you want to start from. |
| Laos | VTE, LPQ | Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Many itineraries connect through a larger hub in a neighbouring country. |
| Indonesia | CGK, DPS, YIA | Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta. Java and Bali are separate islands, so count the domestic flight if you want both. |
| China | PEK, PKX, PVG, SHA, CAN, CTU, TFU | Beijing and Chengdu each have two airports, and Shanghai has Pudong and Hongqiao. Confirm which one your ticket uses. |
| Japan | HND, NRT, KIX | Haneda and Narita serve Tokyo, and Kansai serves Osaka and Kyoto. |
| Turkey | IST, SAW, AYT | Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen are on opposite sides of the city. Antalya covers the south coast. |
| Kenya | NBO, MBA | Nairobi for most arrivals and safaris, Mombasa for the coast. |
| Uganda | EBB | Entebbe is the international airport. Kampala is around 40 km away by road. |
Seven habits that keep fares honest
- Compare the total, not the headline fare. Low-cost airlines often charge separately for a checked bag, a seat and sometimes a printed boarding pass. Add those before you compare.
- Move your dates by a day or two. Fares often change from one weekday to the next, and a flexible-date view will show it in seconds.
- Check both airports in a two-airport city. Bangkok, Istanbul, Beijing and Shanghai all have two. Price both, then add the cost and time of getting into town.
- Leave room on connections. On one ticket, the airline has to rebook you if the first flight is late. On two separate tickets, a missed connection is your cost, so leave a generous gap.
- Match your name to your passport. Spell it exactly as it appears on the photo page, in the same order. Fixing it later can cost money.
- Check entry rules before you pay. Passport validity, visas, e-visas and onward-ticket requirements differ by country and change often. Confirm them with the country's official immigration site. For one worked example, see the UAE visa guide for Ugandans.
- Decide where to book. Compare here first. Then choose between the booking site and the airline. The airline is often easier to deal with if your plans change, and a booking site can be cheaper for the same flights.
Prices on this page come from airlines and booking sites in real time, so a fare can change between searching and booking. Nothing here costs you extra: if you book through a link on this page I may earn a small commission, which is explained on the affiliate disclosure page.
Plan the rest of the trip
A ticket is only the start. Each country guide covers what a month costs, what to eat and what it costs, where to base yourself, and a route that works. Start with the country you are flying to: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, China, Japan, Turkey, Kenya or Uganda. Not sure where to go? Taste Match picks a country from six quick questions about heat, hunger, budget and season. The South-East Asia budget guide shows what a month of travelling actually costs.
Never Miss an Adventure
Weekly travel tips, new videos and exclusive guides — straight to your inbox.