Thailand has emerged as the most budget-friendly holiday destination in Asia for September 2026, according to a comparative ranking published by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. Vacation packages to the Southeast Asian country start from 123,100 rubles for two travelers with round-trip flights included.
The Chinese tropical island of Hainan placed second in the cost ranking, with two-person tour packages starting from 124,100 rubles. Vietnam secured third place, offering September packages from 129,900 rubles for two people.
The study, published on the association website, evaluated minimum package prices across major Asian holiday destinations for the upcoming month. At the highest end of the price range, the island of Boracay in the Philippines proved to be the most expensive destination in the group, with prices starting from at least 232,000 rubles for a two-person trip including airfare.
Top Asian destinations for autumn travel
A wide range of other popular destinations across East, South, and Southeast Asia were also included in the industry ranking. The list featured Sri Lanka, the Indian coastal resort state of Goa, the Indonesian island of Bali, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Langkawi island in Malaysia.
Representatives from the tour association stated that September is a particularly suitable month for travel across Asia. They noted that tourists visiting during this time of year can take advantage of comfortable weather conditions, fewer crowds at major holiday spots, and attractive pricing on travel packages.
Shifting preferences for velvet season
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia, known as ATOR, is a trade group representing major commercial tour operators and travel agencies across the country. In Russian travel culture, early autumn is traditionally referred to as the velvet season, a popular post-summer vacation period characterized by pleasant weather and lower seasonal prices.
The ranking of Asian options comes as broader demand figures revealed key autumn travel trends among Russian tourists. Earlier reports indicated that Turkey, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Armenia emerged as the five most popular overall choices for trips during the upcoming velvet season.
These preferences mark a change from the prior year's demand patterns. In 2025, the top five velvet season destinations included Kazakhstan and Georgia alongside Turkey, Belarus, and Uzbekistan, before Thailand and Armenia replaced them in the top five rankings for 2026.
