Visit Every Country In Asia

The adventure

Asia is the biggest continent and the most varied, and ticking off every country takes you from the ancient to the hyper-modern in a single flight. One week you are walking the tiled madrasas of Samarkand and Bukhara, the next you are in a capsule hotel in Tokyo or watching dawn break over the towers of Angkor Wat.

The landscapes are on the grandest scale on the planet: the Himalayas with all of the world's 8,000-metre peaks, the steppe of Mongolia, the deserts of Arabia and the limestone islands of the Philippines. The last countries on the list are the real adventures, the ones that need invitation letters, guided tours or patience, and the moment you finally get the stamp for a Turkmenistan or a Bhutan feels like a victory.

Why it’s epic

• All 14 of the world's mountains over 8,000 metres, including Everest at 8,849 metres, are in Asia.
• The Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan, such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
• Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the largest religious monument in the world.
• Bhutan, where every visitor pays a daily sustainable development fee and most travel with a licensed guide.

What it is

Asia has 48 countries on my list, including Turkey, Cyprus and the Caucasus, which the UN counts as Western Asia.

How to do it

Use the big hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Bangkok and Singapore to reach several countries on one trip, and the overland routes through Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Top tip

Leave the hardest ones, such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and North Korea, until last and keep an eye on the FCDO advice.

Need to know

• Some countries, such as Turkmenistan and North Korea, are only realistically visited on organised tours, and North Korea has been closed to most tourists in recent years.
• Visa rules vary widely; many countries now offer e-visas, but some still need letters of invitation, so research each one well ahead.
• Check the FCDO advice for Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and parts of the Middle East, which often advises against all travel.

Why it’s on my list

Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.