Asia is welcoming adventure travellers once again and what better time to go than fall!
Here are over twenty of our favourite adventure travel holidays in Asia for fall.
Hike the famed Lycian Way, along Turkey's Turquoise Coast, a great way to discover a way of life that hasn't changed for centuries. Walk along spectacularly scenic trails, discover abandoned Greek villages and hamlets forgotten by time and explore ancient ruins dating back to the Romans and Byzantines. Along the route you will stay mostly in hotels but also in rural village guest houses where you enjoy home-cooked meals.
Walk the Lycian Way with us and find out why it is acclaimed as one of the world's top-10 long-distance walks.
Turkey, crossroads of culture and history. You experience it in the bazaars of Istanbul, the city founded by the Romans, cultivated by the Byzantines, conquered by the Ottomans and made cosmopolitan in the modern era. You feel it in the ancient ruins of Ephesus, the call to prayer five times a day and the medieval fortresses along the south coast. You taste it in the olive oil–lathered Aegean vegetables and the spicy Anatolian kebabs. Turkey truly is the place where East meets West and this adventure tour will let you get under the skin of the country, engage with its people and discover many of its gems.
See all the highlights of Jordan, the country made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. Visit the Roman ruins at Jerash, the mosaics at Madaba and the crusader castle at Kerak. Undisputed highlight of your holiday in Jordan will be your explorations of the rose-red city of Petra. But even after Petra there are more surprises: explore Wadi Rum's desert and camp out under the stars, before relaxing with a swim in both the Red and the Dead Sea.
This tour of Jordan and Israel will show you the highlights of each, including Jordan's Wadi Rum, the lost city of Petra, the Dead Sea and Jerash. Then it is off to Israel, the Holy Land, a country like no other. Explore Jerusalem, the clifftop fortress of Masada, Galilee and worldly Tel Aviv and many places in between.
Oman is a hidden gem in the Middle East, affected by neither instability nor oil wealth. The country boasts a rich cultural heritage, a fabulous past, traditional charms, and Bedouin values. This one-week tour of Oman shows you all the highlights. From Muscat's Grand Mosque to the dunes at the Wahiba Sands and from spectacular views of the Grand Canyon of Arabia to the cattle market and fort in Nizwa, this holiday will take you deep into the deserts. Drink coffee with a Bedouin family, sail a traditional dhow along the coast and enjoy a swim in the beautiful turquoise pools of the desert oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid.
Visit a country that for centuries has been inaccessible to Westerners. Starting in Riyadh we make our way into the desert, visit the largest camel market in the world, and continue to the spectacular rock-carved monuments of Alula.
From Medina, journey by high-speed train to Jeddah, then drive into the Sarawat Mountains and the forested Al Bahah Region
Finally, fly to Dammam on the Persian Gulf, and explore the old sea port of Al Uqayr and Al Ahsa Oasis, one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites the Saudi Arabia offers.
The ancient Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva conjure up images of unimaginably wealthy oases linked by caravans, of imperial politics and incredible architecture. Beautiful turquoise domes and towering minarets grace the skyline while down below everyday life goes on in markets and cafes from years gone by. This 11-day tour of Uzbekistan takes you to the cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva as well as to some more remote areas like the desert castles on the arid plains of Khorezm, a yurt camp near Aidarkul Lake and the ancient town of Nurata.
This trek through the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges will take you through villages, rice paddies and moss-covered Rhododendron forests, to Kopra Ridge with glorious views of Dhaulagiri and Kali Gandaki, the world's deepest gorge. From here ancient pilgrim trails lead to the sacred Khayer Lake, high up in the mountains. This trek takes you away from the crowds on little-hiked trails.
Nepal's Everest Base Camp has captivated the minds of trekkers around the world ever since the 1920's and the multi-day hike to basecamp offers some of the most breathtaking scenery you will see anywhere in the Himalaya. In addition, the fascinating culture and a personal sense of achievement will make this a once-in-a-lifetime trek.
In a land where the Buddhist tradition ensures a respect and reverence for nature, you will find soaring Himalayan peaks rising above deep ravines cloaked in untouched forest. Throughout the land you can visit fortress-like dzongs and monasteries, witness traditional dance festivals and meet the engaging people. Bhutan may not be 'Shangri La', but it's as close as it gets. This two-week cultural journey of Bhutan will take you from the capital Paro and its famous Taktsang 'Tiger's Nest' Monastery across high mountain passes to the Gangtey Valley. You will also travel and walk through the picturesque Haa Valley and the Bumthang and Punakaha regions.
Few are not moved to tears when they set foot inside the grounds of the Taj Mahal. Add to that the holy city of Varanasi on the Sacred Ganges, the palaces and fortresses of Jaipur and bustling Delhi and you have a tour not to be missed.
The moment you set eyes on the Taj Mahal, you know you are seeing an edifice unlike any other. India is like that - it stirs the soul, it challenges your conceptions, it changes you. It is a spectacular mix of people, traditions and landscapes and nowhere will you feel it more than in Rajasthan. It is a land of deserts and rivers, of palaces and forts, of wonderful food and incredible festivals. This tour will show you the highlights and take you behind the scenes. From bustling Delhi to the timeless Taj Mahal and the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, from the three must-see cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur to the desert fortress of Jaisalmer, you will remember your journey through this fascinating region long after you've left.
Between the hills of the Western Ghats and its rich wildlife, the backroads of Kerala with its serene countryside and the Indian Ocean coast with its splendid beaches, southern India is a wonderful place to explore by bicycle. Join us for the bike ride of a lifetime enjoying the region's wonderful food and exploring tranquil villages, elaborately decorated temples and the wildlife sanctuaries of India's deep south.
Lush rice paddies, tropical forests and ancient villages; hazy mountains with cascading waterfalls; craggy limestone cliffs rising from the land; gleaming temples and golden Buddhas; bustling cities and markets packed with people and produce. Welcome to Thailand, the Land of Smiles. This tour of Northern Thailand will show you all the highlights, including the capital Bangkok with tis Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Visit the Bridge on the River Kwai and the beautiful Erawan Waterfalls, followed by the ancient capitals of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai. Up north, spend some time at the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge before experiencing the markets and temples of Chiang Mai.
A breathtakingly beautiful country, Vietnam is at once incredibly exotic and utterly compelling; welcoming people and stunning landscapes make it a haven for adventure travellers. Combine it with Cambodia and you have the trip of a lifetime. There are few experiences on earth matched by the setting of the sun at Angkor Wat, the famous temple complex a stunning blend of spirituality and symmetry. This adventure tour of Cambodia and Vietnam lets you get under the skin of these countries, discover their cultures, enjoy delicious food, and mingle and laugh with the engaging locals.
From the Old Quarter of Hanoi to the Central Market in Saigon browsing around the many different markets in Vietnam is an experience to be had. Shop for fresh ingredients and during several cooking classes try your hand at some of the best recipes this country has to offer. Then, feast on your own creations! Vietnam is well known for its delicious food and nowhere will it be fresher than from a street-side stall. Try the ubiquitous phở noodle soups, banh khoai or some fragrant marinated pork. All the while this tour will also take you through some of the best this country has to offer - the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stunning Halong Bay, the Imperial Citadel in Hue, the alleys and streets of Hoi An and pulsating Saigon.
Vietnam's lush rice paddies, Laos' tropical forests and ancient villages; Thailand's hazy mountains and cascading waterfalls; Ha Long Bay's craggy limestone cliffs rising from the sea; Cambodia's ancient Angkor Wat. And everywhere gleaming temples and golden Buddhas, bustling cities, smiling people and wonderful food. Come and discover South East Asia on this Grand Tour of Thailand and Indochina.
Indonesia, with over 17,000 islands, is a land of contrast. Myriad cultures have spawned many languages, art forms and foods, while Christians, Muslims, Animists and Buddhists are all found in this sprawling tropical paradise. The natural diversity defies comprehension: from volcanoes to rain forests, home to orangutans, and from highland lakes to gorgeous beaches, the country's beauty is impossible to describe. Add to this ancient ruins, bustling cities and tribal villages and you have a country unique to this world.
This adventurous tour of Indonesia shows you Sumatra, Java and Bali in a three-week highlights holiday.
Volcanoes flanked by rice paddies, small villages, long sandy beaches and beautiful reefs - this is the island paradise of Bali, the island of your dreams. This adventure tour will immerse you in Balinese culture through street food, temples visits and engaging with local people. We take you to off-the-beaten track villages, hike to the summit of Mt Batur and offer plenty of outdoor activities. Welcome to Indonesia, welcome to Bali.
Borneo is endless deep green jungles and stunning mountains. On this tour you get to trek Mount Kinabalu, explore the rainforests on foot and spot wild orangutans and proboscis monkeys. In mainland Malaysia meanwhile we hike through the Cameron Highlands with its tea plantations and take a canopy and a night walk in Taman Negara National Park in search of wildlife and birds. This is Malaysia, a land for adventure-seekers.
Steeped in tradition yet ultra-modern, with a culinary history dating back many centuries, Japan is yours to discover. On this best of Japan holiday we will show you what makes this country so unique - from the neon lights in Tokyo to the temples in Kyoto, from ancient castles to historic villages, and, of course, a stay in a traditional inn, a ryokan.