Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
Our third time with Expat Explore, value for money heaps to see. A fast pace tour with some long days, but if you're up to it, I would highly recommend. An enjoyable way to travel to cover Japan.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
10-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Takayam
Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Takayama, Kanazawa, Shizuoka, Iga, Osaka
I have just completed the 17 day Japan tour and it has been an incredible trip. The itinerary is packed with a wide variety of experiences from an origami class, staying in a 1000 year old temple, seeing snow monkeys (if you are lucky!) and a Samurai class to name a few. There is also plenty of free time throughout the trip to shop and explore which I appreciated as there were a few things I wanted to do which weren’t part of the itinerary.
My group leader Dan is an absolute legend!! It is my second tour with him and he always goes above and beyond to ensure we all have the best experience possible. He truly cares about each individual in the group and ensures everyone feels included. When we had free time Dan gave us plenty of recommendations of things to see and do and took us to additional places. He has an extensive cultural knowledge of Japan and I learnt a lot about Japan which I didn’t know about prior to the trip. It was also my birthday on the second day of the trip and it will definitely be a birthday that I will always remember!
I highly recommend doing this tour, you will not be disappointed!
Thank you so much Dan! 😊
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay, Hostel
Age Range
18-55 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiros
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nagano, Hakone
Very passionate about making your experience as enjoyable as possible. My wife and I honeymooned in the Guilin and Yangshou area and again did a trip with this local travel specialist for our 10th anniversary.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Sleeper Train, Guest House
Age Range
6-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Xia
Beijing, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Xian, Yangshuo, Xi'an
Walking on the Great Wall far exceeded my expectations. The photos in magazines do not compare to the magnitude of actually seeing the Wall in person as it extends for hundreds of miles in many directions spanning numerous ridges. It is an engineering marvel. My guide, Olly was outstanding. His knowledge, sense of humor and overall company contributed to my excellent experience on this trip. If you decide to walk the Great Wall of China, you will not be disappointed.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
I really liked this trip, though I wish we stayed in Busan for at least another night. Both the Contiki and Korean guides were great, there were a few add-ons in each city to choose from and I definitely feel like I learned more about Korea than if I'd gone to the country without doing a Contiki tour. Thank you Joey and Lina!
I took this tour with my 26-year-old daughter as a belated graduation gift and it turned out to be one of the best things we've done together. We both love Asian food, history, and culture, but neither of us wanted to deal with figuring out trains or language barriers. This tour was the perfect solution.
Seoul was great. The subway system is clean and easy, and we loved how our guide gave us the confidence to use it ourselves. Seeing Deoksugung Palace and the tsunami-shaped City Hall was such a unique contrast. My daughter is into history, so the War Memorial really moved her. I was more fascinated by the traditional hanok homes in Jeonju.
Busan was cool and coastal. That view of the ocean behind the shrine was unforgettable. The ferry to Japan was surprisingly relaxing. We played cards, had snacks, and watched the sea.
Japan felt more spiritual to me. Miyajima and the Itsukushima Shrine were beautiful, and Hiroshima gave us a lot to think about. The hot springs at Dogo Onsen were so soothing after long days of walking. And I have to say that the bullet train ride to Tokyo? My daughter was giddy like a kid in Disneyland!
We both agreed that the night at Mount Koya’s monastery was something we’ll remember forever. Quiet, peaceful, and a total change of pace.
If you're thinking about bonding time with a loved one, this tour gives you experiences you’ll talk about for years.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Seoul, Tokyo, Mount Koya, Kyoto
Seoul, Tokyo, Mount Koya, Kyoto, Jeonju, Busan, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Kobe
Excellent!!The service delivered for our tour of China exceeded our expectations. We say that as we added additional days before and after the programmed tour. All the guides were excellent and oversaw all our check ins for hotels, flights and train journeys.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing, Guilin, Shanghai, Xian
Beijing, Guilin, Shanghai, Xian, Great Wall of China, Yangshuo