Asia Local culture Trips

This truly is an excellent trip, and way to see beautiful Sri Lanka at a good pace. You cover so much in 2 weeks, and every day is different with sightseeing, walking, cycling, wildlife - there really is something for everyone. Sri Lanka is a fantastic country with wonderfully welcoming people. This trip really makes you feel you are benefitting the local communities that you are interacting with - spending time with local families, playing traditional games and getting a deeper understanding day-to-day life and traditions. You get a better understanding for the tougher and sadder side of the history of the country, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the joyful people who live there. It really is a wonderful trip, made better by a great group and leader!

Collette scored again with this tour! Our tour guide, An, was the ultimate professional. He was extremely knowledgeable and caring. We were apprehensive about visiting this part of the world but An made it a fantastic experience. This tour is chock full of experiences and really speaks to getting immersed in local culture. Be sure to include the Vespar tour in your planning!

The team organized a private two-week tour in Asia that included both well-known and off-the-beaten-path locations. Our accommodations, upgraded to four-star hotels, were excellent, and drivers and guides were always punctual. The tour operator checked in with us daily and was responsive to any questions or requests, like adding a sunrise visit.

Most favorable is our tour director, Huy. He made this trip. I would highly recommend this tour and I would also say anyone who gets Huy as the tour manager is promised a GREAT trip. He is the BEST Tour manager I have ever experienced. I learned so much from him about Vietnam...he was extremely organized, knowledgeable and funny. He cared about each and every one of us on the tour and added such a personal touch to our experience. We were all very sad when he left us in Bangkok to return to his home and family. Because of Huy, I will travel with Collette again soon. Thank you for hiring the BEST. As far as hotels, all were nice. I do think The Muse (Bangkok) was too dark. I need a brighter more contemporary environment. It was difficult to see in the lobby and rooms. The amount of cash required for tipping was way too much. It would be more pleasant if it was all included with an option of giving more if we felt the service was exceptional. (i.e. Huy was exceptional, Chan in Cambodia was also exceptional) The Vespa tour was great fun and a highlight of this trip. I always thought Vietnam was a one and done destination but because of Huy, I hope to travel there again and with Collette someday! I took 1000 photos and met the most wonderful people in our tour. Thank you...

First, I have to say that our tour guide John Phem was amazing. He always went above and beyond during the entire trip. We had several road trips and flights and all went smoothly. We were well fed and hydrated the entire time and were greeted daily with hand towels and bottles of water. I cannot say enough good things about John. Also, the local tour guides in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand were very good. Chen in Cambodia and Pat in Laos were very informative and thoughtful, and A in Thailand also went above and beyond. She helped us shop carefully in the local markets. My only critique is that we were a little over-programmed. I would have liked a little more free time at the hotels. We stayed in beautiful places but felt we could not enjoy the amenities because we were always on the go. I do like that Collette builds in impactful excursions and visits to local homes, however. They provide for an enriching experience. If there were a way to provide those and allow for a little more free time that would be perfect. Thank you for a special trip. I highly recommend it and Collette to family and friends.

This tour really exceeded all my expectations. I didn’t know what to expect with 3 countries in just 10 days, but it was honestly amazing. The itinerary was fast-paced but never stressful, and we still had time to enjoy each place. Thanks to the team who always checked and made sure everything went well. I highly recommend this trip!