Best tours in Asia

1. Once-in-a-lifetime China

This two-week tour takes in the best of China, covering tonnes of destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. After a day of travelling, you’ll start your trip in Beijing, with a visit to the iconic Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City, before spending your evening in the Imperial Gardens. The big-name sights don’t stop on day two – it’s time to see the Great Wall of China. Your expert guide will take you off the beaten track to the Huanghuacheng section of the wall. The Summer Palace is on your list for today, too. Next up is a ride on a super-fast bullet train to ancient Xi’An to watch masked Tang Dynasty show. Traditional dumplings are on the menu for dinner. In the morning, you’ll have the chance to see the Terracotta Warriors that Xi’An is famous for. Your guide will clue you in about their history on a private tour of the city.

The next day will be off to a peaceful start with a traditional Tai Chi session, and a tasty finish with a Sichuan dinner. In between, you’ll travel on a bullet train from Xi’An to Chengdu. In the morning, it’s all about the pandas in the Dujiangyan Panda Base. This place works to protect pandas – it’s a conservation centre. On the next day, you’ll travel to Chongqing by bullet train to see the town of Ciqikou, before boarding a cruise ship which you’ll call home for the next three nights. As you sail the Yangtze River, you’ll tick off lots of sights, including the Shibaozhai Pagoda temple, the river’s famous gorges, and the Three Gorges Dam. A flight to see the sights of Shanghai’s next on the itinerary – you’ll spend two nights and one full day in this glitzy city, before driving to the water town of Zhujiajio. Keep an eye out for some picture-perfect water lilies. Then, you’ll head back to Beijing for your final day, finishing your trip with a Peking duck feast.

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2. Mekong Delta Unveiled

On this tour, you’ll get to tick off two countries on one trip – Vietnam and Cambodia. Your week will kick off with a beach day on Vietnam’s brochure-ready Phu Quoc island. On day two, you’ll fly to historical hotspot Can Tho. You’ll learn all about Vietnam’s chequered past – plus, you’ll get to explore the city’s markets, meet some monks, and see the French Quarter. Then, when you’re worn out from wandering, you’ll have an exclusive dinner on a boat in the harbour. Day three will begin with a boat trip around Cai Rang, a famous floating market on the Mekong River. Then, you’ll travel further down the river for a visit to the Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. You’ll hop on another boat for a tour through the sanctuary’s waterways – have your cameras at the ready for birds and fruit bats.

After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to say farewell to Vietnam, and hello to Cambodia. You’ll switch countries via a speed boat trip – James Bond style. The rest of the day will be spent taking in the sights on foot. On day six, you’ll hop on a flight to Siem Reap to see the famous Angkor Wat. This collection of ancient temples comes complete with its own resident monkeys. Later on, you’ll head to a night market for dinner. You’ll be back at Angkor Wat bright and early, though, to see the sunrise. The rest of the day will see you ticking off a whole lot of top Cambodian sights, including Angkor Thom, the Elephants Terrace, and Preah Khan temple. Then finally, you’ll finish your trip how you started it – with a chilled-out day on Phu Quoc’s beaches.

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3. India’s Golden Triangle

This whirlwind tour takes place over five nights. Your first day gives you a chance to chill, and get ready for the sights and sounds of India. On the following day, you’ll get on a flight to Jaipur, via Mumbai. Your afternoon will be spent on a guided tour of Jaipur, ticking off a whole host of sights including the Maharaja’s City Palace and the Jantar Mantar – the world’s biggest marble observatory. On day three you’ll get to see the Amber Fort which, as its name suggests, is made from terracotta-toned sandstone and marble. After you’ve explored inside the fort, you can opt to visit the Ladli social enterprise, which works to help local kids.

On the next day, you’ll see some truly iconic Indian sights. Fatehpur’s first on the list. This city was built in the 16th century, and it’s so well preserved that it’s earned the nickname ‘Ghost City’. Then, it’s time to see the big-name Taj Mahal. Learn about its history as you wander around its gardens, before heading over to the nearby Agra Fort. On your final day, you’ll travel to bustling Delhi to see a line-up of sights that include India Gate and the President’s Palace. Your tour might be over, but your holiday’s not. Hop on a domestic flight to sand-edged Goa, and spend a week relaxing on the beach.

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Tempted by our tours?

Get all the details on our range of escorted tours. Plus, discover our Multi-Centre holidays, take a look at our round-up of the best tour and sightseeing holidays, and find out how you can see the seven wonders of the world.

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Author: Hannah Stratton