Destinations

Beautiful, misunderstood, and often overlooked, the splendors of Ilha Formosa (The Beautiful Island) were first brought to the world’s attention by Portuguese mariners in the 16th century. Since then Made in Taiwan, and an uneasy relationship with mainland China have taken center-stage, but did you know that the island is nearly 60% forested, holds East Asia’s highest mountains, the world’s deepest marble gorge and best collection of Chinese art, more temples per square mile than any other “country”, plus over 100 hot springs, beautiful beaches, indigenous tribal groups, and incredibly friendly people! As well as the taking in the island’s undisputed highlights, our Taiwan tours include: visits to orphanages, overnight stays at monasteries and aquariums, scooter rides around remote Pacific islands, morning tai chi sessions, cooking classes, and beaches, bike rides, hikes and hot springs galore…

The dragon has stirred and the race to see the Middle Kingdom is on. A country where skyscrapers appear overnight, whilst lost cultural customs re-establish themselves after half a century in the dark, China is the ultimate land of contrasts and unerringly challenges your perceptions. Whether it's a wizened monk chatting on a cellphone, a decrepit wooden hut sporting a satellite dish, or just a group of locals parading in pajamas on Shanghai's bustling Nanjing Dong Lu, China continually demands your attention. Lead by Frommer's China author Simon out tours head to some incredible off-the-beaten-track locations on journeys steeped in history. Every province in this continent-sized country has something to see, but our tours concentrate on hiking the sacred peaks, walking the wall, and trekking trails through remote rural regions.

The 7,107 islands of the world's second biggest archipelago have received scant attention until recently, but the Philippines offers volcanoes, picture-perfect beaches and colonial ruins at every turn, and is home to surely the friendliest people anywhere on the planet. Lead by Rough Guide Philippines author Simon, our tours here link the manifold treasures in compact, easily digestible trips, with varying degrees of physical, cultural and charitable activities.