The Best Private Trips To Book In Asia

Whether you’re looking to book a private trip with family, friends or a social group, these are the best Culture Trip itineraries you can book in Asia.
There’s plenty of pros for going private. Obviously it means you can keep the guest-list locked down, but it also allows for far greater flexibility on travel dates, group sizes (minimum of 4) and even age requirements. Simply get in touch with our Travel Experts to organise your personalised Culture Trip adventure.

Train from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy among tea plantations in the highlands of Sri Lanka

Secrets of Sri Lanka by Train

Sri Lanka might just be the most underrated destination in all of Asia. This island nation, off the coast of India, is brimming with luscious natural beauty and remarkable ancient history, as well as some of the most scenic train routes on the planet. Those form the basis of this 10-day itinerary, which starts and ends in Colombo. On the natural beauty front, you’ve got the rolling tea plantations and green valleys of Kandy and Ella, the elephant herds of Udawalawe National Park and the coastline surrounding Galle. In terms of ancient history, you’ll explore the ruins of Polonnaruwa, visit the surreal rock fortress of Sigirya and stroll along the city walls of Galle Fort. All of this is connected by three train journeys, starting with Colombo to Habarana. The second, Kandy to Ella, is one of the most famously beautiful routes on the planet, while the seaside tracks tracing the west coast from Galle to Colombo aren’t bad either.

From US$1679

Next available from 9th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

ENDS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

12

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Winter Sale

View from a flowery field as the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) zooms past Mount Fuji in the Japanese countryside

Japan by Train: The Grand Tour

The rail theme continues in Japan, albeit the trains here are a little more futuristic. The high-speed and efficiency of the bullet train network allows us to cram an awful lot into just 12 days. We start in Osaka, before hopping onboard the train to Hiroshima. Having also explored nearby Miyajima Island, we’ll continue on to the gorgeous city of Kyoto, stopping off at a bamboo forest en route. Then it’s up into the Japanese Alps for sake tasting and on to Hakone for a stay in a traditional ryokan inn. We’ll detour to Lake Ashi for a cruise – with views of Mount Fuji – on the way to Tokyo, where sushi-rolling, taiko drumming and karaoke singing awaits.

From US$4119

Next available from 28th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Osaka, Japan

ENDS AT

Tokyo, Japan

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Winter Sale

Beautiful sunrise over famous Balinese landmark Tegalalang rice terraces. Magic sun rays, amazing light.

Blissful Bali

Southeast Asia feels like a continent itself, certainly when it comes to travel. Perhaps the best destination to soak up all of the tropical wonders of this region is the island paradise of Bali. Our 12-day itinerary combines outdoor adventure and unique cultural experiences with ultimate relaxation. You’ll hike through rice paddies, swim in waterfalls and summit Mount Batur at sunrise, as well as taking a cooking class, creating traditional offerings to place in a sacred temple and experiencing a Balinese blessing ceremony. We’ll round off the trip with a few days at a luxurious beach resort on the tiny island of Gili Trawangan – truly paradise personified.

From US$1929

Next available from 16th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Bali, Indonesia

ENDS AT

Bali, Indonesia

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Winter Sale

Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

Why stick to just one Asian destination? This border-crossing adventure combines three of Southeast Asia’s most wonderful countries to craft an itinerary full of natural splendour, ancient wonder and culinary delight. Start in Bangkok with ancient temples and a Tuk Tuk food tour, before hopping across into Cambodia for a Phare circus show, an urban forage trail in Phnom Penh and an ethereal sunrise visit to Angkor Wat. We’ll cross into Vietnam in style, zooming down the Mekong river on a speedboat. Once across, we’ll swap the speedboat for a gorgeous old river cruise – our home for the night. Explore the Mekong’s canals, villages and islets by traditional sampan row boat, before rounding off the trip in Ho Chi Minh City, where an authentic Vietnamese cooking class awaits. If you’re interested in seeing more of Thailand, check out our trips in Northern Thailand, Southern Thailand and a two-week Rail Trip in Thailand and Laos.

From US$2499

Next available from 25th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Bangkok, Thailand

ENDS AT

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Icons of China by Train

There are so many bucket-list sights to see in China, and this 10-day tour connects all the big hitters thanks to the nation’s high-speed rail network. You’ll start in Beijing with a guided tour of the city’s most significant sights, before hopping onboard a train to Badaling, our base to explore the Great Wall of China with two walks – one at sunset, one at sunrise. You’ll get a taste of ancient China in the beautifully preserved city of Pingyao and get face-to-face with the famous Army of Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. The trip ends in the country’s largest city, Shanghai, where you’ll get to take a spectacular sunset cruise past the city’s iconic skyline.

From US$2849

Next available from 24th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Beijing, China

ENDS AT

Shanghai, China

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Elderly woman in traditional Vietnamese hat carries baskets full of bananas along a sidewalk by a worn yellow wall

Vibrant Vietnam

If you’re looking to blend serene countryside with chaotic cities, then look no further than this eclectic 12-day adventure in Vietnam. Start with a tour of Hanoi, before escaping to the country in Mai Chau. Spend a day experiencing farm life with a rural White Thai community and master the art of bamboo weaving before hopping on an overnight cruise to Ti Top Island. Visit a pearl farm, go squid fishing and try tai-chi, before exploring the epic limestone karsts of Lan Ha Bay – Halong’s less-crowded sibling. We’ll return to civilisation with a street food tour of Hue city, as well as a cooking class and a royal tea ceremony, continuing the city experience in Hoi An, where you’ll discover striking landmarks and take an optional yoga class.

From US$1689

Next available from 17th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Hanoi, Vietnam

ENDS AT

Hoi An, Vietnam

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Holiday Sale

Soulful South Korea

From neon-lit city to luscious countryside, ancient temple to eery military tunnels, South Korea always has something different up its sleeve. This 10-day epic is full of surprises, starting in Seoul, where you’ll explore a palace, a traditional Hanok village and a karaoke bar (or two). Then it’s off to the notorious DMZ, or Demilitarised Zone, on the border with North Korea. You explore the luscious mountains of Seoraksan National Park and the landmarks of Gyeongju, before spending the night at a sixth-century Buddhist temple, where you’ll practice meditation and martial arts. Seafood, soju and a cooking class awaits in foodie Busan, while your final taste of Korea comes in the form of a hearty bowl of Bibimbap in Jeonju, its birthplace.

From US$3499

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Seoul, South Korea

ENDS AT

Seoul, South Korea

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.