Cycling in the countryside around Battambang

Our favorite active vacations in Asia

Forget lying on a sunlounger — if you’re the kind of person who likes to get their blood pumping and their hands dirty, you’ve come to the right place.

There are all kinds of ways to get active on vacation in Asia, from cycling in the countryside to mountain hiking in Vietnam, and we’ve collected a few of our favorite active trips and experiences below. They include snorkeling Malaysia’s coral reefs, swimming in the cool, blue pools of Kuang Si Falls, and kayaking on Tonlé Sap Lake — but they also encompass hands-on activities that don’t require you to work up a sweat, such as trying out traditional crafts with Cambodian artisans, or playing boules with the locals in Luang Prabang.

In the end, whether you’re stand-up paddleboarding or picking vegetables on an organic farm, what our activity-focused trips are really all about is getting to grips with culture and nature by getting involved.

Our top itineraries for active travelers

A selection of itineraries packed with active tours and hands-on experiences

From $3,113
Classic
Activity
Culture & History
Food & Drink
Hands on

This action-packed itinerary is all about full immersion: getting to grips with Malaysian culture by experiencing it first-hand.

From $1,260
Family
Activity
Culture

Overflowing with markets, theme parks and novel forms of transport, Hong Kong could have been designed for family vacations.

From $1,485
Activity
Activity
Culture & History

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.

From $4,351
Family
Classic
Activity
Culture
Hands on

This two-week Cambodia itinerary is jam-packed with adventure, learning and play for a vacation the whole family will treasure.

From $2,957
Classic
Activity
Adventure
Culture
Culture & History
Scenery

If you prefer country to city, we made this for you: packed with outdoors adventures in Vietnam’s most stunning scenery.

From $3,151
Family
Classic
Activity
Adventure
Culture
Scenery
Wildlife

Take the kids on a family adventure to Laos and discover a land of rivers, jungles and hidden caves.

Top destinations for active travel

Our favorite places in Asia to get the blood pumping

Northern Vietnam

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

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.

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.

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.

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is a true cultural melting pot, where jade-topped Chinese gates open out onto palm-lined squares, Indian restaurants serve banana leaf curries in marigold-scented alleyways, and old-fashioned Malay villages lie squeezed between the skyscrapers.

Central Vietnam

It may be best-known for its lantern festival and World Heritage architecture but, for us, Hoi An’s true appeal lies in its charming rural outskirts and mouth-watering foodie experiences.

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, multicolored cakes and freshly blended gourmet coffee.

Central Vietnam

As the former capital of the last royal dynasty of Vietnam, Hue is easily the best place in Vietnam to soak up a bit of imperial history – and it’s a great jumping-off point for visiting the war sites at the former border of North and South Vietnam.

Cambodia

With its crumbling colonial buildings, fertile countryside, vital contemporary arts scene and mellow, carefree ambiance, it’s very difficult not to fall in love with Battambang.

Cambodia

This former bolthole of Phnom Penh’s wealthy urbanites is now a chilled-out seaside escape, offering crab markets, crumbling villas, island day trips and unbeatable seafood.

Cambodia

World-famous for its tongue-tingling pepper, sleepy Kampot is the jumping-off point for adventures in Bokor National Park, and a wonderfully chilled-out place to relax for a few days.

Laos

Vang Vieng has shaken off its old party vibes and reinvented itself as Laos’s premier destination for outdoor adventuring – perfect for those who want to cave, climb and kayak in some of the world's most spectacular karst scenery.

Action-packed guided tours and excursions

Our favorite active tours and hands-on experiences

Japan
Culture
Hands on

More than a weapon, the Japanese sword is the symbol of loyalty between a warrior and his warlord, the ceremonial tool used in religious rites, and the physical manifestation of the owner’s soul.

Ipoh
Active
Adventure
On the water

Over-indulged on Ipoh’s foodie delights? This’ll blow the cobwebs away. Seven kilometers of adrenaline-fueled rafting through the jungle, with drops that’ll have your stomach in your shoes and maneuvers that’ll have your heart in your mouth.

Mekong Delta
Active
Culture & History
On the water
Responsible entreprise

This action-packed day tour is your chance to peep behind the curtain of daily life in the deeply traditional, rural Mekong Delta.

Japan
Active
Scenery

Hiking might not spring to mind when you think of Japan, but the Japanese are passionate hikers, and they never do anything by halves. That means the country’s trails are second-to-none.

Kuching
Active
On the water

On this tour, your guide will take you out of Kuching, through rice fields, rubber plantations and pepper farms, to the ancestral heartland of the Bidayuh: the second-largest minority group in Borneo.

Siem Reap
Active

Take a monkey’s-eye view of the jungle as you fly, climb and swing though the treetops on a mixture of ziplines, hanging bridges and platforms.

Chiang Mai
Active
Scenery

Hop on the back of a scooter, leave the crowds behind, and and discover Chiang Mai’s mountain scenery in style — on the back of a vintage Vespa!

Vietnam
Active
Food & Drink

Vietnam is notorious for its scooter-snarled streets, but we say — if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Kuching
Active
Adventure
Wildlife

Don’t be fooled by its petite dimensions: at just 27 square kilometers, Bako may be one of Borneo’s smallest national parks, but with seven different ecosystems it packs a massive punch when it comes to diversity.

Popular questions

Things we're often asked...

I like the look of one of your cycling experiences, but I can’t ride a bike. Is there another way I can participate?

In most cases, yes. We often recommend sightseeing by bike because it’s a great way to explore places that are difficult to access by car, but we can often offer some form of local transport as an alternative. Tuk-tuk, remorque, or riding pillion on a scooter are all possibilities, depending on the location. It might mean slight changes to your route, but you’ll still get to see the quieter, off-the-beaten-track bits of the countryside.

Are the included activities private or shared?

We offer a mixture of private and group activities, and most group activities can also be booked privately at an extra cost. However, for many of these experiences, joining in with fellow travelers is part of the fun!

Do you include insurance to cover these activities?

No, you’ll be required to obtain the correct travel insurance before you depart.

In South Korea, where we’ve included bike or car rental, insurance to cover the bike or car will be included.

How fit do I need to be?

That depends entirely on the activity. As a rule of thumb, we recommend a moderate level of fitness for all our activity themed trips, though many of the cycling and walking tours included are very gentle and flat. If you’re not sure from the description whether an activity is for you, chat to your travel consultant and they’ll be glad to advise.

Cycling along the banks of the Thu Bon River near Hoi An

Ready to plan?

Get in touch now and we will plan your perfect active vacation