Asia tours discovery guide
From the glittering blue waters of Thailand’s islands, to the muted greens of Japan’s bamboo groves, to the technicolor glow of South Korea’s cities, Asia’s sights are as diverse as the cultures that call the region home. Which countries will you experience first?
What to know before you go
COUNTRIES ON TOUR
Our Asia tours take travelers to Japan, India, and beyond, spanning snow-capped mountains and leafy rainforests. That’s right: India’s a part of Asia—as are Turkey, Jordan, and Israel.
MAJOR CITIES
Megalopolises like Tokyo and Seoul stun in scale and spirit, while gems like the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu bring big-city energy to epic natural surroundings. (It doesn’t get more epic than the Himalayas.)
CULTURAL QUICK TAKE
Whether shown in a Thai wai (a traditional, prayer-like greeting) or a Japanese bow, friendliness and hospitality are integral to the local culture—wherever your Asia trip takes you.
WHAT TO GO FOR
The terraced towers of Angkor Wat. The resplendent heights of Mount Fuji. The floating markets of Bangkok. There’s so much to see, no matter which Asia tour you choose.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON TOUR
Gaze out into North Korea at the DMZ and walk through Fushimi Inari’s mesmerizing orange gates in Kyoto—both on the same Asia tour package.
Grand Tour of Southeast Asia
Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand—and Laos on the extension? See the glimmering waters of Ha Long Bay, the towering cliffs of the Phi Phi Islands, and more of the continent’s highlights, all on one trip to Asia.
New Asia tours
Tokyo & Southern Japan
Yatai carts and gurgling onsen await on the island of Kyushu.
Explore the 12-day itineraryHighlights of South Korea
Stand at the intersection of royal history and modern pop culture.
Explore the 11-day itineraryA Week in Tokyo
Embed yourself in the Japanese capital and see what makes it tick.
Explore the 9-day itinerarySouth Korea & Japan
Visit sleepy villages and sleepless cities that typify these nations.
Explore the 15-day itineraryIntroducing Asia
Thailand’s white-sand beaches. India’s Bengal tiger refuges. “Asia travel,” and the moments that define it, mean something different depending on where you decide to visit. The one constant: the good times you’ll have.
Your trip to Asia begins here
You could wait for inspiration to strike—or find some with a little help from our team of experts.
Bali or Thailand: Which tropical paradise should you visit?
You’ll find serene beaches, breathtaking temples, and deliciously spiced dishes in both. (Talk about a win-win.)
20 amazing things to do in Japan and why you should go
Sipping sake in its homeland? Marveling at the delicate hues of cherry blossoms? There’s more where that came from.
Why visit Bhutan, one of the happiest places on Earth?
If temples that seemingly teeter atop cliffs isn’t reason enough, the infectious joy of the Bhutanese should do the trick.
Put the “I” in “Asia”
More friends. Less planning. Traveling solo doesn’t have to mean traveling alone—and these tours of Asia help you find community while on the road.
Signature experiences for your memory vault. Why don’t you...
Explore the slopes of Mount Fuji
Step into the Aokigahara Forest, the Narusawa Ice Cave, and more. Try it on our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour.
Try your hand at crafting kimchi
Learn how to make this Korean staple—and take some home as a souvenir. Try it on our South Korea & Japan: Seoul to Tokyo tour.
Visit a Laotian buffalo dairy farm
Interested in a true farm-to-table dinner? Try it on the extension of our Grand Tour of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand.
Snorkel off the Phi Phi Islands
Kick through the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. Try it on our Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket.
Experiential travel made easy
You dream it. We’ll take care of every last detail.
Pick your perfect trip
We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.
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Prep your packing list
While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about.
Go far (and get rewarded)
Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.
What travelers are saying about our Asia travel packages
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
Trip provided a great introduction to the country (Thailand). Travel in excellent arranged motor vehicles and provided great background material from the guide. Exposed to the...
Traveled in Dec 2024 on Thailand for Solo Travelers: Bangkok, Phuket & the Islands
5 out of 5 stars
3rd-time traveler Anonymous
I have taken many EF and GoAhead tours. I thoroughly enjoyed the Grand Tour of Southeast Asia. The tour group was a wonderful group of people to travel with and all three tour...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Grand Tour of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
5 out of 5 stars
3rd-time traveler Cynthia
I wanted to thank all the tour directors (Dang from Vietnam, Bunny from Cambodia & Chai from Thailand) for their warm hospitality, knowledge & thoughtfulness. The tour directors...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Grand Tour of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Carmen
After visiting Bangkok for many years, I never really got to really KNOW the true country of Thailand: the people, the culture, the beliefs, the heart and soul of the Thai people,...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Anonymous
This tour was one of the Best I’ve ever had . Kong was knowledgeable , made me feel safe ( solo traveler) , and the tour was a great sampling of the culture . Thank you to Kong...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Shirley
This was my first solo trip since becoming a widow 5 years ago. My husband and I traveled the world together, and I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy a solo trip. I decided to...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Japan for Solo Travelers: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Kyoto
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Harold
Thanks to Kong for being our tour director. He was organized, knowledgeable, caring, fun and always hoping to make our tour of his country memorable. He did that in a 10 star...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
This tour was amazing, and it was mostly because of our tour guide, Kong. I especially loved the cooking class, visiting the elephant sanctuary, and visiting Phuket. Kong was very...
Traveled in Nov 2024 on Grand Tour of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Julie
Was a lot of fun! Solo traveler but lucked out with my group and couldn’t have done it all without our tour director, Kong. He’s amazing! He really wanted to make the trip...
Traveled in Oct 2024 on Thailand for Solo Travelers: Bangkok, Phuket & the Islands
Broaden your horizons
From the Pacific Ocean, Asia stretches as far west as Turkey and Jordan. That makes it the largest continent on earth—and one whose facets sparkle, no matter which perspective you view them from.
Travel tips for Asia trips
While you can see the best of some countries, like Japan and Thailand, in around nine days, we recommend spending at least two weeks on an Asia tour. That should give you ample time to shake off your flight and truly dig into the local culture.
That depends on where you plan to visit. Requirements can change between neighboring countries—for example, Thailand doesn’t require tourist visas for stays shorter than 60 days, but Vietnam does—so double-check online well before taking off on your Asia tour.
The climate varies across the region. Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia and Laos are hot and humid year-round, while East Asian nations like Japan experience more temperate weather. And some places, like India, are so vast that they encompass multiple climate types! As always, look into the weather prior to departing on one of our Asia tours.
Roughly 2,300 different languages are spoken across the continent, ranging from Chinese and Korean to Hindi and Bengali. Before your Asia tour, spend some time preparing by learning basic phrases like “hello” and “thank you” in the local tongue.
Most of the countries we visit on our Asia trip packages have their own currency. Take Southeast Asia as an example: Cambodia uses the riel, Laos uses the kip, Thailand uses the baht, and Vietnam uses the dong. Look into the local currency ahead of time and try to have some on hand before touching down on tour.
From the delicate nuance of sashimi to the powerful flavor of curry, the region’s cuisines have something for every palate—and each country has its signature dishes. Embark on your Asia travel with an open mind and see if you come home with a new favorite!
The countries we visit on our Asia tours typically use Type A (with two flat prongs) or Type C (with two round pins) plugs. Check for specifics before departing and bring an adapter with you.