Culture & History vacations

As the home of the world’s oldest continuous civilization, 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 vacation 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.

Our top itineraries for culture & history lovers

A selection of itineraries that offer a deeper insight into the country's heritage and traditions

Top destinations for culture & history lovers

Our favorite culture rich places in Asia

Malaysia

Malacca

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.

Malaysia

Penang

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.

Malaysia

Ipoh

Once a tin-mining boom town known for its seedy nightlife, Ipoh has remade itself. Stellar street-art, Western-Malay fusion cuisine, and a clutch of elegantly dilapidated galleries and cafes make this one of Malaysia’s trendiest cities.

Borneo

Kuching

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.

Cambodia

Siem Reap

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.

Cultural and historical guided tours and excursions

Our best cultural tours and excursions

Cochin • India

Dinner at the Chinese ‘fishing nets’

Eat dinner on the water at one of Kochi’s most iconic locations.

Siem Reap • Cambodia

Angkor Temples

Magnificent in both scale and artistry, half-supported and half-consumed by buttress-rooted silk-cotton trees, the temples of Angkor are among the most fantastic man-made sights on the planet.

Mekong Delta • Vietnam

Local life in the Mekong Delta

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

Suwon • South Korea

Half day trip to Suwon

The last walled city in Korea, Suwon is perhaps best known as the home of the World Heritage-listed Hwaseong Fortress. So where better to kick off a half-day history tour?

Ho Chi Minh City • Vietnam

Saigon's back alleys

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.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island tour

Where better to begin a tour of Hong Kong Island than its highest point?

Varanasi • India

Death & rebirth night walk

Get beneath the surface of India’s ‘City of Death’ on this philosophical walking tour.

Ipoh • Malaysia

Ipoh heritage walk

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

Hue • Vietnam

Hue's Imperial Tombs

Hue is best-known for its Citadel, but for us the imperial tombs offer an even more compelling insight into the lives and histories of Vietnam’s royal emperors.