InsideAsia Tours Reviews 109

Excellent and well tailored trip - over 3 weeks everything worked as expected

The pre tour organisation and information was of the highest quality. They ensured that the itinerary showed off South Korea at its best. The dates for the tour late March to early April worked very well. The weather was good almost every day and the Cherry Blossom was in bloom wherever we went. I have used many tour companies over 40+ years of travel and rate InsideAsia as one of the best I have ever travelled with.

Our travel advisor Aaron helped us to design an itinerary for our perfect holiday in Cambodia. The hotels were luxurious, the activities were designed to suit us personally and all the transport was organised efficiently. I'm sure we could have put together a holiday to Cambodia ourselves to see the major sites at Angkor Wat but it was the more personal activities which would have been much more difficult to organise ourselves. A birdwatching trip on Tonle Sap which was a true adventure accompanied by an expert on the local birds which made the holiday so memorable. Having our own personal guide to take us around the amazing sites and who taught us so much about Cambodia's current situation and about it's history in the 20th century.
We had emergency contact telephone numbers which were a reassurance and a help line via WhatsApp which we used to sort out a minor issue.
All in all, we were incredibly impressed by Inside Asia, we are more than happy to recommend them and will be looking forward to using them again for our next adventure

Personalised tour with friendly flexible guides in each location. Opportunity to see the most in the time allotted but never feel rushed or unempowered as consulted & listened to. Well chosen hotels. Office team very helpful & friendly. Would certainly use Inside Asia again. You get what you pay for 😁

Inside Asia listened to our requirements and planned a super trip which we completed without any problems whatsoever. All in all a great experience from start to finish.

The trop to Laos and Thailand was our 1st with Inside Asia. Superb. Planning and advice pre holiday with Rhys Dedden was excellent. He really listened to what we wanted. We stayed in 6 locations. The guides and tours were brilliant especially in Laos. Very interesting and informative and lovely people. The accommodation was very special the red prince's house and a balcony over a tumbling stream. Lots of different activities. 7 locations, 2 countries and for every tour and transfer our guide and driver were ready and waiting for us. The guides went above and beyond. Will definitely go with Inside Asia again.

The cultural experience to learn about how Vietnamese people live

Overall support, itinerary, documentation and attention to detail were excellent. Also, great customer service when I had to postpone my trip due to medical emergency.

Having done the outstanding South Korea tour with InsideAsea last year, we booked the Thailand tour this year. The travel arrangements like airport transfers, hotels and internal flights were top class. Our adviser Lily, was helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. We were disappointed with the tour guides in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. We could get lot more information by googling the sites and pictures that what the guides could provide.

Vietnam – Cambodia – Laos: Another Exceptional Journey with Grant Ekelund & Inside Asia

Grant Ekelund from Inside Asia delivered once again. As with our previous trip to Japan, Grant listened carefully to everything we hoped for and executed it flawlessly. Our 15-day journey was packed with adventure, history, and stunning scenery across three countries—Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia—with four flights, six hotels, and twelve expertly guided tours that flowed seamlessly.

Our journey began in Hanoi, Vietnam. From the moment we arrived, our guide was with us every step of the way—meeting us at the airport, settling us into our hotel, and introducing us to the beauty and energy of Hanoi. We gained deep insight into Vietnamese culture and history, including learning about what locals refer to as the American War. The Vietnamese people were warm, gracious, and eager to share their perspectives on life, art, and politics.

Traveling west to Luang Prabang, Laos, the highlight of our trip, we visited the MandaLao Elephant Conservation Center. Grant recommended Laos over Thailand for its authenticity and quieter charm, and he was absolutely right. We learned about the history of how elephants were used in farming, logging, and construction. The elephants were rescued from lives of abuse and cruel work. We made “sandwiches” which we fed to the elephants, then took a two-hour walk in the forest with them. The elephants were smart and gentle as they walked gracefully beside us among the trees. While in Laos, we also visited the Kuang Si Waterfalls and Buffalo Dairy Farm. The falls were spectacular, and we learned much about the animals on the farm.

Heading south, we next arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where we stayed at the magnificent Raffles Grand Hotel. Built by the French, it was a hub for explorers, archaeologists, and diplomats, all drawn to the ancient Khmer ruins - which was why we were here too. The temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Pre Run did not disappoint, especially seeing Ta Prohm with the trees growing up, down, and around the temple. Another favorite excursion was our trip to the floating fishing village of Tonle Sap Lake, Asia’s largest freshwater lake. After the rainy season, its waters can swell up to four times their normal size. We found houses built on stilts or floating on bamboo rafts.

Our next flight took us east back to Vietnam, to Hoi An and Hue. Here, we connected with local life—biking through rice paddies along the Thu Bon River, visiting carpentry, mat-making, and ceramic villages, and even helping a fisherman haul in his net. We finished the tour with a home-hosted lunch, learning to make rice pancakes. Our family also visited the tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh in the nearby countryside as our expert guide shared the history of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Our final flight took us south to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Our highlight here was a nighttime foodie tour. Expertly driven on the backs of Vespa scooters, our guides took us all over the city, sampling Vietnamese specialties of soup, pancakes, meat, fish, and ice cream. We were safely returned to our hotel with full, happy tummies.

If you’ve made it this far, you can see how I’ve briefly touched on what was an incredibly rich and expertly planned 15-day adventure. Once again, we were in outstanding hands with Grant Ekelund of Inside Asia. We couldn’t imagine traveling this region any other way.

I booked with InsideAsia Tours expecting a premium, stress-free experience, but the trip was overshadowed by major communication failures. I was not clearly informed about a required Vietnam visa and was denied boarding at the airport, forcing me to pay for an emergency visa and costly rebooking. Communication about guides and itinerary details was inconsistent, and some prepaid activities came with unexpected on-site fees. The overwhelming stress, disruptions, and lack of proactive support were unacceptable. For the price paid, I expected far better and proactive planning, transparency, and customer care throughout this trip. Do not use this company.

Inside Asia from start to finish was excellent from initial booking to return our needs were met and the company went beyond expectations super staff both here and in India Would highly recommended using this company again

Our travel consultant planned the perfect trip for my husband and me. The excursions and experiences planned were top notch and we felt very safe. We could not be happier! It was a truly life changing experience. The guides and drivers were professional, knowledgeable and so kind. We learned so much from them and enjoyed exploring their beautiful countries.

★★★★★ Absolutely unforgettable experience with Noom & Mr So
We’ve just spent eight incredible days travelling through Thailand, and the experience was made truly exceptional thanks to Noom, our guide, supported by Mr So, our driver.
From Bangkok to the floating markets, the train market, boat trips, and the unforgettable time on the River Kwai and floating hotels, everything was flawlessly organised. Noom was outstanding — his knowledge, warmth and genuine passion for Thailand brought every place to life. He explained the history, culture and local way of life in a way that was fascinating, easy to understand and never rushed. He was always attentive, thoughtful and made sure every day suited exactly what we wanted.
What really set Noom apart was his flexibility and dedication. He happily changed excursions to suit us and even added extra experiences that weren’t on the original itinerary at all. Nothing was ever too much trouble — whether adjusting plans, making spontaneous stops, or suggesting unique places we would never have found on our own.
Mr So was an excellent driver — calm, safe, punctual and incredibly kind. He made all the long journeys comfortable and stress-free, which allowed us to relax and fully enjoy the trip.
This never felt like a standard tour; it felt like travelling with someone who genuinely cared about creating an unforgettable experience. The balance of expert guiding, flexibility and personal attention was perfect.
If you are visiting Thailand and want a seamless, authentic and truly memorable journey, we cannot recommend Noom highly enough — supported by the wonderful Mr So. They were amazing, and we will treasure these memories forever.

Fantastic end-to-end experience. It started with brilliant planning, picking the right trip for my family. The experience in country was seamless and brilliant. Always getting beneath the surface. Our guide and tours in Bangkok were a highlight; we learnt so much from Paul. Our favourite hotel was the Lake Camp at Elephant Hills Khao Sok. It was magical.

Far from positive .

Great suggestions and recommendations for places to visit and stay in Japan. Useful tips, travel details, tickets and information provided. Being able to contact the organisers was easy and helpful when needed e.g. broken tooth and left behind items. The day guides we had in Tokyo and Kyoto were great explaining things, getting us around, checking we needed anything and making suggestions. Everything went well and we had a fabulous time.

Steph from Inside Asia planned an absolutely perfect honeymoon for us to Thailand. She really understood what we were looking for and made great recommendations. And then most importantly, everything was executed flawlessly and we had no issues while abroad. The tour guides were excellent and every experience was top notch and booked at a luxury level. Would recommend 10/10!

Well planned tour, hotels in good locations with easy transport links for sightseeing, charming small hotels in cities with gardens and pools, good value for money, internal transfers good and reliable, all staff we met very friendly and helpful

We’d travelled with Inside Asia before to Japan and were impressed, but Vietnam and Cambodia completely exceeded our expectations. The itinerary, hotels and experiences were outstanding – especially Pilgrimage Village and Sala Lodges in Siem Reap. Travelling from North to South Vietnam was an amazing way to experience the country.

Our guides were brilliant: Thong in Hue & Hoi An was incredibly knowledgeable, Som Ly in Cambodia shared fascinating stories from his time as a monk, and Trueng was wonderfully patient when we wanted extra photo stops. Transfers were seamless, any issues were were sorted efficiently and with care.

Highlights included the Sampan river trip, Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta with local industries and the beautiful Island Lodge. Huge thanks to Lucy for curating such a special trip – the Hanoi Vespa tour was something I’d never normally do and we absolutely loved it. We’d travel with Inside Asia again in a heartbeat