Best Tours in Asia

The Borobudur Buddhist temple in Java is one stop on a cultural tour of Indonesia offered by Journeys International.
Indonesia: Sumatra Quest
New this year; good value; volunteer opportunity True to its name, the outfitter offers trips that are heavier on culture shock than coddling. Enter the island of Sumatra, where you’ll stay in a traditional Batak Karo village, climb the active Sibayak Volcano, and camp among the orangutans in the rain forest of Gunung Leuser National Park. Spend two days in Banda Aceh, an area recovering from civil war and devastation by the 2004 tsunami; at a nonprofit learning center, you can help local kids practice their English.Intrepid Travel: “Sumatran Highlights,”15 days; $1,825.
Thailand: Lending a Hand 
New this year; good value; volunteer opportunity Known to travelers for its beaches, Phuket is also home to some of the country’s neediest children, many of whom lost parents in the 2004 tsunami. Spend a day pitching in at a school near Kuraburi where they learn life skills. Then stay with a local family in Ban Talae Nok to see how the community is developing artisan cooperatives as a means of recovery. Finally, head north to the rolling hills of Chiang Mai for a hike through the countryside to visit hill tribes. Planeterra Foundation: “Volunteer with Children in Phuket,” 13 days; $1,249. 
China: Old-World Tradition 
This insider tour is an immersion into a rural culture that’s fast disappearing, from the traditional peoples of Longsheng, known for their longevity, to the Huizhou-style houses of Nanping, built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Big Five: “China: Captivating Visions & Timeless Horizons,” 15 days; $5,490. 
For more detailed information, please visit : http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/asia-tours-2011/ 
Have a Happy and Nice Journey !