Japan
Best late March to May, October to November
Ideal length: 10 to 14 days
Tokyo’s neon, Kyoto’s temples and gardens, and Mount Fuji, linked by the bullet train.
Plan a Japan trip
Asia
Guided routes and flexible packages across Japan, Southeast Asia, India and beyond, planned with specialists who live and work in the region.
How it works
I work with established tour companies and local specialists in each country. They provide your guides, drivers and help on the ground, and I design the trip around you.
Before I recommend one, I look at how long they’ve operated, what’s truly included, the size of their groups and how they handle problems mid-trip. You deal with me from your first question until you’re home, and if something goes wrong, text me and I’ll work with them to sort it out. Since most Asia trips are tours or packages, there’s usually no planning fee.
Destinations
Seasons vary a lot across Asia, so timing is one of the first things I check.
Best late March to May, October to November
Ideal length: 10 to 14 days
Tokyo’s neon, Kyoto’s temples and gardens, and Mount Fuji, linked by the bullet train.
Plan a Japan trip
Best February to April
Ideal length: 12 to 16 days
Hanoi’s old quarter, a night on Ha Long Bay, and Angkor Wat at sunrise.
Plan a Vietnam & Cambodia trip
Best November to February
Ideal length: 10 to 14 days
Bangkok’s temples and markets, the mountains around Chiang Mai, and island beaches.
Plan a Thailand trip
Best October to March
Ideal length: 8 to 14 days
Delhi, the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan’s palaces, plus wildlife and tea country on longer trips.
Plan an India trip
Best April to October
Ideal length: 8 to 12 days
Rice terraces, temples and beaches, easy to pair with Singapore or Thailand.
Plan a Bali trip
Best December to March
Ideal length: 10 to 14 days
Ancient rock fortresses, tea country and a few beach days on the south coast.
Plan a Sri Lanka tripSample itineraries
Most Asia trips work best as a package or guided tour: flights, hotels, transfers and key sights arranged, with some days left open.
Japan · 12 days
Tokyo · Hakone · Kyoto
Modern Tokyo, a night near Mount Fuji, then Kyoto’s temples.
Ask about this tripVietnam & Cambodia · 14 days
Hanoi · Ha Long Bay · Hoi An · Siem Reap
Cities, a bay cruise, an old trading town and the temples of Angkor.
Ask about this tripThailand · 11 days
Bangkok · Chiang Mai · the islands
City, mountains, then a few slow days on the coast.
Ask about this tripIndia · 8 days
Delhi · Agra · Jaipur
Palaces, forts and the Taj Mahal, with a private guide and driver.
Ask about this tripSoutheast Asia · 17 days
Vietnam · Cambodia · Thailand
The region’s highlights in one journey, often with a Mekong river cruise.
Ask about this tripEast Asia · 14 days
Tokyo · Kyoto · Seoul
Two very different cultures, a short flight apart.
Ask about this tripFirst trip to Asia?
For a first trip, I usually suggest a guided tour or a package with local guides on the key days. Language, distances and logistics can be a lot, and a good guide adds context you’d miss on your own.
It depends on the country. Japan doesn’t require a visa for short tourist stays by U.S. citizens. Most other countries in the region need something before you arrive, such as an e-visa, a travel authorization or an online arrival card, and many require a passport valid six months past your trip. Rules change often, so I’ll point you to what to apply for, and you can confirm the details at travel.state.gov.
Some destinations recommend them. Check the CDC’s destination pages and see your doctor or a travel clinic at least a month before you leave.
Long. Expect 11 hours or more to reach Asia, often with a connection. I plan an easy first day so you can adjust.
I strongly recommend it for every trip to Asia, including coverage for medical care abroad.
Not sure where to begin?
The Travel Matchmaker Tool can help you narrow it down, or just tell me the places on your list.