Heritage is described as "treasured items and aspects like ancient structures and customary practices that have been inherited from past ancestors." Consequently, it comes as no shock that many of the top-rated urban excursions and workshops designed for curious international travelers across Asia, much like in other parts of the world, revolve around exploring historical sites and indigenous customs.
1. Manila, the Philippines
A tour on a Bambike built by a Bambuilder and guided by a "Bambassador," the Filipino bicycle craftsman behind Bambike Ecotours might go overboard with wordplay, but there’s no denying that exploring Manila’s most historical district aboard a vehicle crafted from bamboo proves to be far more enjoyable.
Intramuros means "inside the walls" in Spanish. the Philippine capital The oldest neighborhood in the city was developed around Fort Santiago, which was founded by the Spanish in the latter part of the 16th century. During a 2.5-hour Bambike tour through Fort Santiago and broader Intramuros district, you can explore cobblestone lanes, lush plazas, secret courtyards, and residences from the colonial era. Key attractions include the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Agustin Church, the 18th-century Revellín de la Puerta Real de Bagumbayan fortifications, the 16th-century Puerta del Parian gate, along with statues honoring both Spain’s King Charles IV and Filipino national hero Dr. José Rizal.
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Group tours with five to ten participants cost $35 per person. bambike.com/ecotours
2. Singapore
On-A-Roll-Tours has mastered journeys using vehicles with wheels even tinier than those of a Bambike, offering their nighttime tours around Singapore Thanks to the kick scooter that lent the company its name, but it’s actually one of its walking tours that is receiving the most praise.
Led by lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Yeo Yen Ping, guests embark on a 3.5-hour Historic Chinatown Tour and discover how immigrants departed from China seeking improved fortunes, only to find them in Singapore, where they formed clans for mutual support. This tour encompasses various landmarks including temples and shrines, former locations of bustling Chinese opera houses, brothels, and opium dens, along with vibrant street art and buildings housing enduring traditional businesses.
The cost covers lunch, which you can enjoy at either of two classic soy sauce chicken eateries — Chiew Kee Noodle House or Chew Kee Eating House. These establishments have been competitors since 1949 and are located just steps away from each other on Upper Cross Street.
The price for the Historical Chinatown Tour is S$62.88 (HK$363) per participant. on-a-roll-tours.com
3. Kyoto, Japan
Sumo, geisha, Noh theater, woodblock printing, tea ceremonies...Japan provides ample opportunities for tourists seeking traditional culture—and many memorable experiences can be discovered via the online booking platform Wabunka. Nonetheless, certain historical figures continue to evoke strong patriotic sentiments among Japanese people. the samurai.
In the 12th century, the warrior class came into existence, guided by the bushido code that stressed the significance of loyalty and martial skills, thereby earning them an honorable status.
Visitors to Kyoto, a city renowned for its antiquity in Japan, , one might enroll in various samurai training programs, yet few offer insights comparable to those provided by YouTuber Shogo Yamaguchi’s course. Since 2016, Yamaguchi has been honing his skills with the katana sword. His two-hour session titled "Samurai Training with Modern-day Musashi" became immensely popular, prompting him to start hiring additional trainers from November onwards—all of whom have received direct instruction from Yamaguchi himself. If you’re curious about where he got the idea for this experience, it draws inspiration from Miyamoto Musashi, an iconic figure. kensei The "Sword Saint" from the 16th and 17th centuries renowned for his distinctive technique with a dual-wielded blade style.
A session conducted in English, where visitors don protective training attire and handle actual katanas at a dojo frequented by numerous regular students, starts at $135 per adult. Reservations for this experience can be made via TripAdvisor or Airbnb.
4. Seoul, South Korea
Check TripAdvisor for activities to enjoy in Seoul and you'll face numerous offers for tours leading you there DMZ The demilitarized zone separating South from North Korea serves as a historical boundary marked by tension. Upon revisiting recently, eight out of the ten highest-ranked entries under the "Historic & Heritage Tours" section in Seoul on the travel advice website feature trips to the DMZ—some including visits to the 220-meter-long Gamaksan Suspension Bridge—which provide insight into the seven-and-a-half-decade long conflict shaping the Korean Peninsula.
Nevertheless, item number 5 on the list — Creating a Korean Calligraphy Scroll at Jeongju in Insadong, Seoul — provides a distinct experience. Visitors learn about traditional Korean paper, brushes, and ink, as well as practice writing in Hangul script. The best part is being able to keep your finished scroll as a souvenir.
Lessons start at $42 per person and can be booked via TripAdvisor or Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities.
5. Shanghai, China
The region around Shanghai boasts several "watery towns" - historic communities known for their canals and waterways, often casually called the "Venices of the Orient."
The most famous one is Nanxun, located north of Hangzhou, but the easiest to reach from central Shanghai is Zhujiajiao.
Sunny Tours Shanghai provides half-day excursions to Zhujiajiao, featuring a stop at Kezhi Garden—a historic site encompassing gardens, residences, and rockeries from 1912—as well as a serene boat ride through canals flanked by structures from the Ming and Qing dynasties. For those opting for full-day tours, they explore Zhujiajiao during the morning session before shifting their focus to highlight key attractions within the bustling metropolis of Shanghai later in the day.
Half-day excursions to Zhujiajiao start at around $130 per person and can be reserved via privatetours-shanghai.com.
6. Jakarta, Indonesia
Tugu Hotels — a collection of boutique museum-hotels blending Indonesia’s rich cultural legacy with opulent guest experiences — unveiled the House of Tugu, Old Town Jakarta towards the close of last year. Alongside this opening, they introduced guided excursions through the historic sections of the city aimed at “reinvigorating the tales of ancient Batavia,” as referred to during the era when Jakarta was under Dutch colonial rule, highlighting the lives of merchants, nobility, and thriving local communities who once inhabited these lands.
Better known is the firm Tripedia, offering a top-rated private tour called the Jakarta Heritage of Old Batavia which encompasses exploring the historic district along with stops at landmarks such as Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta Cathedral, Monumen Nasional (Monas), Glodok (Chinatown), and Sunda Kelapa harbor. The itinerary also features visits to local museums and a shadow puppet theater.
A 6.5-hour exclusive city tour for two people exploring the heritage of Old Batavia in Jakarta starts at US$120 and can be reserved on tripediaindonesia.com.
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