Culture & History holidays

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As the home of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, Asia’s culture and history is deep, rich, and infinitely interconnected.

So, where to begin? It all depends on how you like your history. You could do it Indiana Jones-style, weaving through vine-strangled temple complexes in Cambodia’s ancient Angkor Wat temple complex at dawn – or if you’re interested in more modern history, you could learn about the darker moments in Southeast Asia’s recent past with a visit to the Bridge on the River Kwai. Looking for a more multisensory cultural experience? Then why not see how Vietnam really says “good morning” with a coffee tour of Saigon?

In a nutshell: if you're looking for an Asian holiday rich in culture, look no further. Here are our best Asian culture and history itineraries, top cultural destinations and the best cultural tours and excursions, all tried and tested by our country experts.

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Seoul Tower rises above beautiful cherry blossom trees agains vibrant sky background

Essential South Korea

From A$2,057 per person

While not East Asia’s cheapest destination, South Korea isn’t the most expensive either, and a visit to this dynamic and fascinating country doesn’t have to break the bank.

Image of a Korean city in the rain at night, with neon signs and people walkign

Korean Wave

From A$6,026 per person

When it comes to pop culture, South Korea punches well above its weight, exporting films, TV dramas, and music all over the globe in a phenomenon known as Hallyu, or “Korean Wave.” Over almost two weeks, you’ll see firsthand how this small country has turned into a global entertainment powerhouse.

Ornate gardens with skyscrapers in the background

Heritage Hong Kong

From A$2,685 per person

Delve beneath Hong Kong’s shiny surface to explore the rich Chinese and colonial heritage that shaped it.

Yellow tram travelling along tracks alongside advertisements at night

Classic Hong Kong

From A$1,770 per person

Dim sum, neon signs and stunning skyline views: indulge in the classic experiences that have made Hong Kong an icon.

Kingdoms of Thailand

From A$3,930 per person

How did Thailand become Thailand? Follow the threads of history back to the kingdoms and cultures that shaped Thailand today.

Thailand & Laos Explorer

From A$4,130 per person

Experience two unique but intertwined cultures as you cruise along the Mekong from northern Thailand to Laos.

Malacca

Malaysia

With a history stretching back through colonial rule and the Age of Exploration, Malacca’s Portuguese fortress and lantern-strung Chinese temples make it one of the best places to get a sense of Malaysia’s long and turbulent past.

Penang

Malaysia

World Heritage architecture, 130-million-year-old rainforest, world-class street art and a countryside peppered with spice gardens and durian groves: the island of Penang is an intoxicating medley of natural and cultural treasures.

Kuching

Borneo

A wide variety of indigenous and immigrant cultures combine to form Kuching’s unmistakable cultural mélange, expressed not only in its historic architecture and ethnic diversity, but in its legendary laksa, multicoloured cakes and freshly blended gourmet coffee.

Siem Reap

Cambodia

The laid-back, low-rise town of Siem Reap is the gateway to one of the most spectacular man-made sights on the planet: the sprawling, root-strangled ruins of Angkor.

Ho Chi Minh City

Southern Vietnam

The yin to Hanoi’s yang, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon to its friends) offers a more internationally minded counterpoint to that northern bastion of tradition — not to mention an exciting base from which to explore Vietnam’s most interesting war sites.

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Phnom Penh may no longer be the “Pearl of the Orient”, but don’t judge a book by its cover: beneath this chaotic exterior is a city alive with energy, art, and youthful verve.

Hanoi

Northern Vietnam

Combining canary-yellow French palaces with colourful and chaotic market streets dating back to the imperial dynasties, Hanoi is the place to soak up the atmosphere of old Vietnam.

Luang Prabang

Laos

Luang Prabang is Laos’s Shangri-La: sweeping golden roofs and colonial shophouses against a lush backdrop of jungle-covered mountains, and a laid-back atmosphere of peace and serenity.

Chiang Mai

In contrast to the mile-a-minute chaos of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is a breath of fresh air. Here, leafy boulevards and European architecture survive alongside temples dating back to the twelfth century.

Bangkok

Thailand

Bangkok is an assault on the senses. Clouds of aromatic steam battle with exhaust fumes, neon signs blink jarringly alongside confection-like temples, and 30-degree heat and humidity heightens the sensation that you’re simmering in a heady, spice-laden stew.

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Authentic Life of Hanoi

Hanoi

Hanoi is a maze of streets, a hotch-potch of eras, a tangle of stories.

Kings & khlongs: Half-day tour of the canals of old Bangkok

Bangkok

Before Bangkok became famous for its busy nightlife and glitzy malls, it was known as the “Venice of the East”: threaded through with hundreds of canals (or khlongs) and lined with teakwood homes and shrines.

Ancient streets of Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has seen numerous cultures come and go in its 1,500 years, but what makes it so special is the way it has fused those traditions together to create something completely new.

Saigon's coffee culture

Ho Chi Minh City

Sipping a sweet iced coffee at a street-side café is an unmissable Vietnamese experience — but there’s more to it than just a few ground beans and some condensed milk: these days, Vietnam is a bona fide, world-class, bean-brewing pro.

On this morning tour, you’ll start where coffee plays its most important role: fuelling the locals as they gear up for the day. After this, it’s time to dive deeper into the local coffee culture with a visit to an 80-year-old coffee warehouse, before concluding at a stylish “Coffee Studio”, where you’ll learn about expert brewing techniques, how to judge the quality of a blend, and maybe even try your hand at latte art.

Half day trip to Suwon

Suwon

The last walled city in Korea, Suwon is perhaps best known as the home of the World Heritage-listed Hwaseong Fortress.

Ipoh heritage walk

Ipoh

This half day tour is about getting a sense of Ipoh’s past while enjoying the delights of its present.

Saigon's back alleys

Ho Chi Minh City

To really understand what makes Saigon tick, you need to go beyond the gleaming skyscrapers and international hotels of District One — and that’s exactly what this tour is all about.

Learn how the city’s residents live as you rise early and take to the streets, where vendors whip up bun mam fish soup for commuters’ breakfasts. Visit hidden temples to learn about Vietnam’s five “mother goddesses”, and contrast chaotic markets with crumbling, French-era villas. With an expert guide to take you off the beaten track, this is your chance get to know a side of Saigon that outsiders rarely see.