Due to the huge distances involved with travelling around Asia, it’s quite likely that you’re not going to do it on foot, unless of course you’re feeling extremely energetic and you like blisters.

For the more sane amongst us, this will involve several different methods of transport, many of which you might not come into contact with on a daily basis in your own country.

Here are six of the most common.

Tuk Tuk

I love the sound of this, just the name brings up exotic images! Basically a tuk tuk is a small vehicle that is extremely handy for zipping around, and particularly good for getting through congested traffic. The name comes from the sound the engine makes, but it’s really just a small car with three wheels.  

Songthaew

Used regularly in Thailand, often for getting between the bus station and ferry ports, this is basically a large truck that is used to transport a large number of people. These can get very congested, with standing and sitting passengers and is used like a taxi, but much, much busier.  

Cheap flights

We all love a cheap flight, right? Domestic flights between Asian countries are plentiful and thankfully short whilst crossing large distances – does that make sense? It’s possible to grab a cheap flight with a local airline between popular islands and countries, so if you’re backpacking or hopping, then this is certainly the way to go.

Taxis/cabs

Regularly used by tourists in Asian countries to get to the bits they’re not sure how to transverse on their own, it’s always a good idea to set your price before you get into the taxi, otherwise you might find yourself going the scenic route. That being said, the taxi is probably one of the safer methods of transport if you’re new to the area.

Air conditioned buses/coaches

Whether crossing large distances on long-haul bus journeys or shorter trips, air conditioning buses make for a comfortable way to travel, especially in high heat.  

Ferries

Do I really need to explain this one? Regular, scheduled ferries offer a cheap and convenient way to cross bodies of water between mainland and islands, often for quite low price tags.   Getting around Asia isn’t difficult, and despite the size and often frenetic vibe about the various countries involved, you’ll find locals more than happy to help if you get stuck.

All that’s left to do is get out there and explore!