Top Asia Unique Experiences

Get a taste for the unique flavors of Thai and ‘Akha’ cooking during this 6-hour cooking class in Chiang Mai. Discover the culture and cuisine of the Akha, an indigenous hill tribe of Southeast Asia, with the help of your native host. You’ll visit the local market to shop for ingredients (morning class only), and learn to prepare 11 different dishes. A souvenir cook book from your session is also included.

Gain a new perspective on the Asakusa of Tokyo. See maple and cherry tress and gardens juxtaposed next to soaring skyscrapers and businesses. This experience is customizable according to your interests, and the neighborhood is filled with retro, traditional, religious and cultural influences – enchanting those who pass through. Learn about the region's history while visiting landmarks such as the Ushijima Shrine and Honryuin Matsuchiyama Shoden.

See the highlights of the DMZ stress-free on a half-day sightseeing tour from Seoul. After comfortable transfer from convenient pickup locations, your group will visit Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuri Park and the Bridge of Freedom. Next, tour the DMZ, Third Tunnel, and Dora Observatory. From beginning to end, your guide will provide detailed commentary to ensure an immersive and informative experience. Return to Seoul with plenty of time to enjoy the evening as you wish.

Thai cuisine is delicious but, with the unusual ingredients and balance of strong flavors, trying to cook it yourself can be intimidating. Learn how to cook authentic Thai dishes just like a local during this small-group cooking class in Phuket. The menu is adapted to your preferences and dietary needs. If you take the morning class, you also visit a traditional market.

Experience two of Bangkok’s most famous traditional markets on this half-day tour. Benefit from a small group size as you ride the train to the Maeklong Railway Market, uniquely situated on a working railway track. After free time for shopping, continue to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and cruise around the stalls on a longtail boat.

Savor the after-dark pleasures of Bangkok’s legendary street food scene during this evening food and sightseeing excursion by tuk-tuk. Travel aboard one of these iconic 3-wheeled taxis, stopping to sample sizzling roadside favorites like charcoal-fried noodles and pad thai. You also experience attractions like the flower market and the famous Wat Pho temple illuminated at night.

Avoid the hassle of trying to find out where to grab a good meal while in Shanghai. This Shanghai food tour takes you off the beaten path as the sun starts to set so you can taste some of the most authentic regional dishes of the city. Pop into family-run eateries, and sample food, beer, and spirits well-liked by locals. Travel in a small group for a more intimate experience as you sample foods with a guide who also tells you about the city’s history and culture as you go.

See a different side of Mumbai on this 2.5-hour walking tour of the Dharavi slum. Visit the community center and tour the textiles, recycling, and leather tanning businesses run by the local residents. With numbers limited to six on this small-group tour, you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide and round-trip transport is available as an optional upgrade. Proceeds from your tour go back into the local community to support a variety of projects on education, health, and livelihood.

Don’t just eat Thai specialities, learn to cook the recipes yourself during a cookery class in Phuket, which provides the perfect introduction to Thai cuisine for first-time visitors. As you prepare local delicacies from scratch at your own personal cooking station, your guide shares insider tips guaranteed to improve your cookery skills. Plus, convenient hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you won’t waste any time looking for a meeting point.

Immerse yourself in samurai history and culture during this 2-hour samurai experience at a traditional Kyoto Samurai House. Under the guidance of an expert sword instructor, learn the philosophies of Bushido, the "Way of the Warrior" handle a real katana sword; and take part in a Zen meditation session.

Seeking out the well-concealed back-alley bars of Tokyo's Shinjuku district is notoriously tricky for outsiders. Take the guesswork out of your trip on this guided tour that takes you barhopping to Izakaya bars in two different alleyways—a small group of no more than eight people means that you can easily access tiny bars with just a few seats. Between drinks and snacks (included) your guide shares insights into local culture in this atmospheric part of the city.

Immerse yourself in Korean culture and enjoy an authentic home-cooking experience with a local chef at her home. Enjoy a guided visit to the local market to purchase fresh ingredients, sample tasty street food snacks, and learn about typical herbs and spices. Then, get hands-on as you create a selection of popular Korean dishes and master traditional cooking techniques. Finally sit down to enjoy a ‘Hanjeongsik’ dinner including your homemade dishes, along with additional side dishes and dessert.

Learn how to cook a traditional Korean meal with help from a local during this 3-hour, small-group cooking class in Seoul. Take a short walking tour through the city as you make your way to a nearby market to pick up some ingredients to use in your recipes. Then, head over to a traditional Korean house, and learn to cook Korean dishes. Once you’ve finished in the kitchen, enjoy eating your meal with the company of your group.

Made famous in South Korean TV shows including 'Winter Sonata,' Nami Island holds a special place in the hearts of Koreans—but overcoming the language barrier to reach it from Seoul by public transport is a challenge. On this full-day tour with entrance fees and air-conditioned coach transport from Seoul included, reach Nami Island in comfort with your guide and visit the nearby attractions of Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm.

Get an in-depth experience of the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai on this action-packed private half-day tour. Your guide is an actor who provides an insider's perspective of the industry during the studio tour, dance performance, and visit to the Bollywood museum. You might even see some filming on the studio sets. Top off the tour with lunch at a local restaurant. Your tour includes private guide and vehicle, snacks, entrance fees, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Beijing is a great place to sample typical Chinese cuisine, but most visitors only eat in the main tourist areas. This 3-hour small-group tasting tour will take you to Beijing’s atmospheric Hutong neighborhoods for a delicious dinner, including traditional treats such as donkey burgers, jianbing (crepes), steamed dumplings, and Mongolian-style hotpot.

See a spirited side of the South Korean capital you won’t find in the tourism brochures on this evening ghost tour in Seoul. Follow your guide on a meandering walk through Seoul’s hidden alleyways and hear tales to send shivers down your spine! Visit Gyeonghuigung Palace, the most haunted place in South Korea, discover hidden secrets in Pimatgol Alley, explore the birthplace of Korean independence at Tapgol Park and more.

Gain a better understanding of sake during this tour that explores the Fushimi Sake District of Kyoto. Visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, one of the largest sake breweries in Fushimi, and end your visit with a sake-tasting session. Not only will your guide be able to explain the basics of sake and introduce you to new kinds you may have never tried, but your tastings will also be paired with Japanese snacks that enhance the tasting experience. 

Master the basics of Thai cuisine on this tour, with a guided market visit followed by a cooking class with a professional chef in Bangkok. Shop for fresh ingredients at the Khlong Toei market and learn to make traditional Thai dishes like spicy coconut soup, "pad Thai" noodles, and red curry with chicken during a hands-on cooking class. Then sit down to feast on a delicious homemade lunch or dinner.

Venture off the tourist trail on this unique 3-hour walking tour of the Sanjay Colony and get a first-hand glimpse of life in a Delhi slum. Learn about the struggles of some of Delhi’s poorest inhabitants, and discover the rich culture and sense of community that has emerged among residents. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure, traveling by metro and spending time visiting the local homes, temples, schools and small businesses. This small-group tour has a maximum of six people, ensuring a respectful and non-intrusive visit.

Learn the complicated process of making sushi during this half-day master class in Tokyo aimed at beginner cooks. First, shop for ingredients at the new Toyosu Fish Market, then head to the site of the original fish market in Tsukiji. Head to a classroom and learn to prepare classic sushi with a sushi master before savoring your creatios.

This private tour of the floating markets of Damnoen Saduak offers travelers an up-close look at everyday life on Thai waters. Follow your guide along the backwaters of Bangkok canals on a motorized boat and check out the local vendors selling fresh produce, souvenirs and handmade sweets from their traditional canoes. This one-of-a-kind-experience is perfect for the traveler looking to get off the city streets and sample a bit of the culture and character this popular destination has to offer.

Soar across the Himalayas on a helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Mount Everest Base Camp, touching down for an optional breakfast at a hotel with spectacular mountain vistas. Along the way, you’ll get aerial views of glaciers, camps, mountaineering routes on the world’s highest mountain. A stop to refuel at Lukla offers a glimpse of the mountain town where trekkers set out for Mount Everest.

Take to the waves at one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches for a 2-hour surfing lesson at Kuta Beach. Master the basics with the help of an expert instructor, then head into the water to practice your newfound surf skills and perhaps catch your first wave! Lessons are suitable for complete beginners and are limited to four students per instructor.