Cycling in the countryside around Battambang

Our favourite active holidays in Asia

Forget lying on a sunlounger — if you’re the kind of person who likes to get their blood pumping and their hands dirty, you’ve come to the right place.

There are all kinds of ways to get active on holiday in Asia, from cycling in the countryside to mountain hiking in Vietnam, and we’ve collected a few of our favourite active trips and experiences below. They include snorkelling Malaysia’s coral reefs, swimming in the cool, blue pools of Kuang Si Falls, and kayaking on Tonlé Sap Lake — but they also encompass hands-on activities that don’t require you to work up a sweat, such as trying out traditional crafts with Cambodian artisans, or playing boules with the locals in Luang Prabang.

In the end, whether you’re stand-up paddleboarding or picking vegetables on an organic farm, what our activity-focused trips are really all about is getting to grips with culture and nature by getting involved.

Hanoi

Northern Vietnam

Combining canary-yellow French palaces with colourful and chaotic market streets dating back to the imperial dynasties, Hanoi is the place to soak up the atmosphere of old Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City

Southern Vietnam

The yin to Hanoi’s yang, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon to its friends) offers a more internationally minded counterpoint to that northern bastion of tradition — not to mention an exciting base from which to explore Vietnam’s most interesting war sites.

Siem Reap

Cambodia

The laid-back, low-rise town of Siem Reap is the gateway to one of the most spectacular man-made sights on the planet: the sprawling, root-strangled ruins of Angkor.

Luang Prabang

Laos

Luang Prabang is Laos’s Shangri-La: sweeping golden roofs and colonial shophouses against a lush backdrop of jungle-covered mountains, and a laid-back atmosphere of peace and serenity.

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is a true cultural melting pot, where jade-topped Chinese gates open out onto palm-lined squares, Indian restaurants serve banana leaf curries in marigold-scented alleyways, and old-fashioned Malay villages lie squeezed between the skyscrapers.

Hoi An

Central Vietnam

It may be best-known for its lantern festival and World Heritage architecture but, for us, Hoi An’s true appeal lies in its charming rural outskirts and mouth-watering foodie experiences.

Kuching

Borneo

A wide variety of indigenous and immigrant cultures combine to form Kuching’s unmistakable cultural mélange, expressed not only in its historic architecture and ethnic diversity, but in its legendary laksa, multicoloured cakes and freshly blended gourmet coffee.

Hue

Central Vietnam

As the former capital of the last royal dynasty of Vietnam, Hue is easily the best place in Vietnam to soak up a bit of imperial history – and it’s a great jumping-off point for visiting the war sites at the former border of North and South Vietnam.

Battambang

Cambodia

With its crumbling colonial buildings, fertile countryside, vital contemporary arts scene and mellow, carefree ambiance, it’s very difficult not to fall in love with Battambang.

Kep

Cambodia

This former bolthole of Phnom Penh’s wealthy urbanites is now a chilled-out seaside escape, offering crab markets, crumbling villas, island day trips and unbeatable seafood.

Kampot

Cambodia

World-famous for its tongue-tingling pepper, sleepy Kampot is the jumping-off point for adventures in Bokor National Park, and a wonderfully chilled-out place to relax for a few days.

Vang Vieng

Laos

Vang Vieng has shaken off its old party vibes and reinvented itself as Laos’s premier destination for outdoor adventuring – perfect for those who want to cave, climb and kayak in some of the world's most spectacular karst scenery.

Aerial view of kayakers in Botum Sakor National Park

Wildlife hikes & kayaking in Botum Sakor National Park

Botum Sakor National Park

Cardamom Camp isn’t just an extraordinary glamping experience in the heart of an incredibly beautiful jungle.

Farming with buffalo in Triem Tay village, near Hoi An

Going Green in Hoi An

Hoi An

Triem Tay, on the rural fringes of Hoi An, is home to nearly 150 families whose livelihoods still revolve around traditional activities such as farming and sedge-weaving.

View from the top of the Dragon's Back Trail looking down at the sea

Hiking the dragon's back trail

Hong Kong

Snaking along the mountainous ridge of Hong Kong Island, the Dragon’s Back Trail was once named the best urban hike in Asia by Time Magazine — and it’s not hard to see why.

Rainforest kayaking

Kuching

On this tour, your guide will take you out of Kuching, through rice fields, rubber plantations and pepper farms, to the ancestral heartland of the Bidayuh: the second-largest minority group in Borneo.

Group cycling tour through rice fields of Hida, Takayama

Cycling tour of Hida

Japan

Our favourite cycling tour takes you out of old-town Takayama and into the slow-paced rhythms of the countryside.

Whitewater rafting

Kota Kinabalu

Whitewater rafting is one of the most exhilarating ways to see the Bornean jungle, whether you want heart-pounding drops and tricky manoeuvres, or a more relaxed ride through the forest.

I like the look of one of your cycling experiences, but I can’t ride a bike. Is there another way I can participate?

In most cases, yes. We often recommend sightseeing by bike because it’s a great way to explore places that are difficult to access by car, but we can often offer some form of local transport as an alternative. Tuk-tuk, remorque, or riding pillion on a scooter are all possibilities, depending on the location. It might mean slight changes to your route, but you’ll still get to see the quieter, off-the-beaten-track bits of the countryside.

Are the included activities private or shared?

We offer a mixture of private and group activities, and most group activities can also be booked privately at an extra cost. However, for many of these experiences, joining in with fellow travellers is part of the fun!

Do you include insurance to cover these activities?

No, you’ll be required to obtain the correct travel insurance before you depart.

In South Korea, where we’ve included bike or car rental, insurance to cover the bike or car will be included.

How fit do I need to be?

That depends entirely on the activity. As a rule of thumb, we recommend a moderate level of fitness for all our activity themed trips, though many of the cycling and walking tours included are very gentle and flat. If you’re not sure from the description whether an activity is for you, chat to your travel consultant and they’ll be glad to advise.