7 Tour Companies Setting Inventive Itineraries In Asia

Asia is the largest continent in the world, both by population and land mass. Made up of more than fifty states and territories, it has an astonishingly rich array of sights, sounds, tastes, and smells to offer visitors. With this potentially overwhelming variety, it's lucky that there are a number of specialty travel operators offering tour packages throughout the region. This list, presented in no particular order, looks at some of the best.

The #1 entry is InsideJapan Tours, a travel specialist offering unique group itineraries, as well as tailored cultural experiences. Founding directors Simon King and Alastair Donnelly were inspired to create the company after teaching English in Japan for three years.

The group provides an array of different themed tours, with options for families, honeymooners, winter sports lovers, and those requiring accessibility accommodations, among others. InsideJapan also promotes experience packages that can be enjoyed as part of a tour or incorporated into a self-guided visit.

For #2, we have Vivutravel, founded in 2006 by Nguyen Minh Tuan. Beginning as a small tour operator, the company has grown to offer tour packages throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Offerings vary depending on the length of the trip, with options for those staying as many as ten days or as few as two. All include a guide knowledgeable about local culture .

#3 is All Points East, founded in 1999 with the aim of bringing small group tours from the UK to Thailand. Today, the company also plans trips to Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

The company promotes what it calls responsible and sustainable tourism, aiming for smaller group sizes, varying destinations, purchasing meals from small local producers, and supporting national parks. All Points East offers specialty packages for photographers, families, and private groups.

At #4, we have Expique, a tour company that aims to develop a range of amazing travel experiences in Bangkok and beyond. Operating since 2014, the group began with two different tours, one on foot and the other by tuk tuk, Thailand's iconic three-wheeled open vehicle.

Since then, the company has expanded to offer a range of different Thai travel experiences, including cooking classes and culinary workshops. It has also grown to recommend day trips beyond Bangkok city limits, highlighting sites like beaches and temples.

In the #5 spot, we have Druk Asia Tours & Treks, a travel specialist in the kingdom of Bhutan. Operating since the 1990s, the company's team of more than forty guides promises knowledgeable and professional assistance in exploring a country that was infrequently visited by westerners until recent years.

The company offers different packages, emphasizing themes such as culture, festivals, luxury, trekking, and adventure. It also helps with flight accommodations, via the national Drukair, and assists with the procurement of travel visas.

Coming in at #6, Experience Travel Group was established by two friends, Sam Clark and Tom Armstrong, with travel industry experience. The business was designed to offer the magical element of discovery the pair associated with their own travels, but which they saw lacking in other companies' packages.

The group provides trips to more than twelve countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Recognizing that there's no "one size fits all" approach, ETG tailors each holiday package to the specific customer.

Finally, at #7, we have Diethelm Travel. The provider has been arranging tours in Asia for decades, aiming to show visitors what the continent has to offer culturally, historically, and spiritually. Customers can choose from more than twelve destinations.

The company's vacation packages are organized to appeal to different travel styles. Some of the many options include "Live Like a Local" tours, which take tourists off the beaten path, and "Foodie's Delight" trips, emphasizing local eats.