Route notes
Why this routing works
This is a 5-week economy itinerary starting and ending in Chicago, built as a continuous westbound loop across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and back through East Asia. The routing begins with shorter stays in Taipei and Manila, then adds slightly longer stops in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and New Delhi before a 1-night placement in Kathmandu and a return to Southeast and East Asia for the final run home.
From a ticketing and pacing standpoint, the route mixes 1- to 4-night stays, which keeps the overall trip moving while still allowing longer ground time in selected hubs. New Delhi, Hong Kong, and Tokyo are the longest stops at 4 nights each, while Manila and Kathmandu function as brief stopovers within the broader sequence. Shanghai and Beijing are grouped back-to-back, which keeps the China segment consolidated before continuing to Seoul and Tokyo.
The routing order is efficient for a multi-stop fare because it avoids backtracking between the major regional clusters. After Southeast Asia and South Asia, the itinerary re-enters East Asia through Bangkok and Hong Kong, then continues north through Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo before the transpacific return to Chicago. For a trip with 12 stop cities in 5 weeks, this is a dense schedule with frequent flight days and relatively short stays throughout.
Pricing for this itinerary falls between USD 3,365 and USD 5,133 in economy, based on the provided route and timing in May within the April to June season. That makes it a complex but structured multi-stop ticket, suited to travelers who want many city pairs on one booking rather than arranging separate one-way flights across multiple regions.