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Asia Tours & Travel Guide
By far the world’s largest continent, Asia is as diverse as it is large. China, Siberia, Nepal and Jordan are all parts of Asia, as are Sri Lanka, Iran, Mongolia and Dubai. So a trip to Asia can encompass many regions, cultures, religions – and decisions.
Given its size and breadth, taking a guided tour can be an efficient way to experience a taste of Asia. From Indonesia to India to Israel, Asia is varied, intriguing, and endlessly fascinating - it's difficult to know where to start.
Asia is the largest continent on earth covering 30% of the world’s land. Asia is also home to 60% of humankind. The Asian continent stretches all the way from Japan in the east to Israel in the west, Indonesia in the south to Russia in the north. It includes every type of landscape and all levels of climate. However, grouping together parts of Asia can help keep it straight.
Asia is generally broken down into five different regions: Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Western Asia. Central Asia includes the countries around Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan; East Asia includes the countries near China and Korea, South Asia is the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan, Southeast Asia includes the tropical countries near Thailand and Indonesia, and Western Asia is Turkey and the region of the Middle East.
When looking for a tour to Asia, figuring out which region you want to visit should be your first option as traveling between regions of Asia can take a great deal of time and money.
Likely the region of Asia that most people think of when they start looking for tours is Southeast Asia. With countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, this is one region that attracts all.
Southeast Asia itineraries are full of stunning landscapes, historic temples, bustling cities, and laid back beaches. In each of these countries you will be able to find a wide variety of activities to enjoy like shopping through the floating markets of Vietnam, walking the hallowed temples of Angkor Wat, or enjoying a smoothie bowl in Bali.
While visiting Southeast Asia can be a nice reprieve from the harsh winters of Europe and North America, make sure to visit when the weather is good. Southeast Asia can get extremely warm and most of the countries have monsoon seasons that you’ll want to avoid
Each city in Asia is extremely different and has its own flavor to it. Cities in Saudi Arabia and Turkey are very different than cities in Vietnam and the Philippines. But these major hubs are often included on Asian guided tours in their own regions.
Considered one of the hubs for not only Southeast Asia but all of Asia, Bangkok is a wondrous combination of traditional Thai history, Asian culture, and modern life. Bangkok is steeped in royal Thai architecture with modern malls and business hubs and is a backpacker hub.
Heading to the far northern part of Asia, Moscow stands as a reminder of Imperial Russia’s former power. With its central Red Square with the Kremlin and uniquely designed St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow is a time capsule of Communist and Imperial rule.
3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Like many cities in Asia, Dubai originally was a small settlement and now has become a major business hub. Centered in the oil region of Asia, Dubai has grown to be an outpost for many of the world’s top companies, hotel chains, and high end products.
“India’s Venice” is one of the jewels of India’s northern region of Rajasthan with its combination of India life and European feel. While this region is known for its stunning forts and architecture, Udaipur stands out with its white buildings and canals centered around Lake Pichola.
Asia’s landscape ranges from quite river valleys in Vietnam to the towering Himalayan Mountains in Nepal. Asia is one of the best places to get out and see Mother Nature at her finest.
For those looking for an adventurous holiday, there are many hiking and trekking tours to Asia. Nepal and Bhutan have some of the best outdoor and rigorous treks you can imagine and Japan is known for cycling as well.
Even if you aren’t going on full hiking or trekking adventures in Asia, your tour may still be considered strenuous. Many Asian countries are mountainous and some of the best sites, like the Great Wall of China, are built over the mountains and the steps are very steep. When looking into Asia tour operators double check the physical level and itinerary.
If you are looking for a more relaxed outdoor experience, you can check out Asian river cruises as they will take you into parts of Asia that are less developed and more connected with nature.
While there are some wildlife tours in Asia, much of the animals in Asia you will be able to see on normal tours. The most common animal you will see when traveling Asia, especially South and Southeast Asia, will be monkeys. Additionally, there are Asia wildlife tours to countries like Borneo that include trekking and encountering wildlife like orangutans.
You can find any type of cuisine in Asia. With so many countries and different vegetation, Asia has a wide variety of food to choose from. This being said, Asia’s cuisine is tied to the different regions and countries. There are many similarities between some cuisines, but the produce and food is determined by the country.
In Central Asia you will find heartier dishes with meat and dairy. Much of this area has a similar cuisine to Russia with stews, stuffed breads, and Arabian flavors.
In Western Asia you’ll find a combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors as many of these countries sit on the Mediterranean Sea. Tahini, falafel, lamb, and hummus are commonly found in dishes in this region. This area of Asia is also based off of meze, or small dish meals.
South Asia has a large vegetarian feel as India and Sri Lanka are mostly Hindu and Hindus do not eat meat. However, cuisines of Nepal and Afghanistan use lamb and goat. Recipes of this region use strong chillies, coriander, cloves, and ghee in their dishes. Also, many of their meals are eaten with forks and spoons, but with roti or chapati (unleaved flatbread).
Southeast Asia is where you will find many of your curries, rice dishes, and fresh fruit. This area of Asia is often associated with East Asian cuisines, but has its own distinct flavor. These cuisines use soy sauces and spices of turmeric and lemon grass.
Eastern Asia dishes are based off of oils and soups along with noodles and rice. Fish sauce, fermented vegetables, dumplings, and sushi can all be found in dishes in East Asia.
A great option to see Southeast Asia, but the other Asian countries as well, is by river cruise. Many of the world's most famous rivers run through Asia including the Mekong and the Yangtze.
Mekong River cruises make their way through multiple countries in Southeast Asia. The river winds itself through Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Mekong River itineraries make sure to include stops of major sites on the river like Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City, while also taking you out into the backwaters of the Mekong River.
To see some of the best sites in China, a Yangtze River cruise is ideal. A Yangtze River cruise takes you through the famous Three Gorges where three large gorges converge on the river with stops at “The White Emperor City” and “The Ghost City.”
For travelers with disabilities or who have trouble getting around, note that Asian river cruises use smaller boats and dock at ports that are not at the same standards as European river cruises.
Much of Russia – from the Ural Mountains to eastern Siberia – lies in Asia, as does Mongolia, land of yurts and horsemen. Central Asia is a vast expanse of “stans”: Uzbekistan’s Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent were pillars along the old nomadic Silk Route from China. The ancient Babylonian and Persian empires live on in modern-day Iraq and Iran – an option for adventurous travelers. Parts of the Middle East are also troubled, though the United Arab Emirates – with its star attraction, Dubai -- and some other areas of the exotic Arabian Peninsula still beckon (even Saudi Arabia is starting to open up to non-Islamic tourism).
Israel and Jordan are at peace, offering the opportunity to visit both ancient Jerusalem and nearby Petra, Jordan’s wondrous rock city. Much of Turkey lies in Asia as well – including the unique cave dwellings of Cappadocia and the beaches of the Turkish Riviera.
While a quick overview can barely scratch the surface of Asian travel, Stride can ease the confusion with our easy-to-use comparison tools. After sizing up our plentiful offerings of guided tours, river cruises and active vacation packages, you can then decide which Asian region is the best fit for you. And chances are you’ll want to return again and again to sample more of all the cultural and adventurous discoveries that Asia has in store.
For travelers coming from North America or Europe, some culture shock may be experiences when traveling in Asia. The culture and way of life in many Asian countries are very different than in places like the U.S. Different values and traditions are followed in Asia that may not be as important or observed in other countries.
Honor and respect are extremely important in Asian cultures. “Saving face” or respecting someone is one of the most important things in Asia. Open confrontation, criticism, or disprecting elders are highly frowned upon. However, in certain countries like China, conversations about your income and family life are fair game as these topics are valued in Chinese culture.
Even if you are from New York or London, you will still feel like you are cramped in many Asian countries. With 60% of the world’s population in Asia, many of the major cities are overcrowded and you will not have personal space when visiting. Along with this, if you accidentally get bumped getting off your bus or train, don’t expect an apology as you may get in the U.S., personal space and accidental bumpings are just part of life in Asia.
When I was researching potential tours of Southeast Asia, I was looking for Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai specifically) and Cambodia (Siem Reap/Angkor Wat specifi...
My first time in Southasia, loved it. Enjoyed listening to the loc...
The experience we had on this trip was life changing. We learned so many things about the people and cultures in the 4 countries we visited that it gave us a new app...
Great overall trip, we were able to see the countries and learn a lot of the history in the areas. The highlights for me were the personal encounters with the local ...
SE ASia is a culture shock if most of your travel has been in N.A. Or Europe. It was one new experience after another. We were not that prepared for such large citie...
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