Introduction
Discover the unique cultures of Asia, from world-wonder temples in Thailand and Indochina to the monuments of the ancient Silk Road and great remnants of China's empirical past.
There's so much choice for history and culture holidays in Asia that you'll struggle to choose somewhere to focus on. The Khmer Empire covered Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam at its height. At the heart of the Empire stands Angkor Wat and the other temple complexes such as Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Kbal Spean. Capital cities such as Bangkok and Phnom Penh are full of temples and palaces, whilst cities such as Chiang Mai and Siem Reap are gateways to discover the past. Bagan's temples and ruins in Burma and the Plain of Jars in Laos are equally mysterious and worthy of exploration.
In China, the Qin Dynasty was short but had an enormous impact. Remnants of the empire include the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, which guards Emperor Qin's tomb. The Great Wall of China also stands as an historic monument to the achievements of ancient cultures, whilst the Forbidden City in Beijing showcases China's magnificent past, its opulent treasures and art.
The Silk Road stands as a living monument and the cities along its length trade on their past role as stop-off points for merchants and travellers; Samarkand in Uzbekistan and Almaty in Kazakhstan are full of spectacular sights and artefacts.
To meet the locals go in search of indigenous groups or hill tribes in Thailand and Vietnam in particular.
These are just some of the options available. You can also tailor-make your history and culture holiday in Asia by adding a city stay, Mekong River cruise, Yangtze River cruise or other excursion to your itinerary; talk to a destination specialist to see what we can do for you.
