Goway Trips Spotlight Asia’s Most Fascinating Destinations

Goway Travel’s group specialists can customize the perfect Asia trip. Thailand and Bali are two prime examples that will yield a lifetime of memories.

Asia may be halfway around the world, but more and more culturally curious North Americans are making the trek, fulfilling their dreams of exotic encounters far from home.

For some, certain religious and cultural landmarks may be high on their bucket list. Others may have their eyes set on plunging into the urban fray, seeking entertainment, culinary and shopping experiences in some of the most electrifying cities on the planet. Jungle retreats and pampering resorts also beckon travelers to Asia.

The team of Asia specialists at Goway GroupsOnly crafts tailor-made itineraries to 21 destinations, from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to China and Japan. Whether your group wants a cultural immersion, outdoor recreation or a tropical beach getaway—or a blend of all—Goway can provide the perfect package.

Bringing unmatched local insight and logistical expertise to every trip, North America’s largest group travel department has been customizing dream vacations for more than 50 years. Their travel experts know how to match the right itinerary to the right group.

For a look at Goway Travel’s Top 10 Picks for 2026-2027, see the sample itineraries described in the Goway Whitepaper, downloadable here.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple

Two of the top picks are in diverse parts of Asia: “Breathtaking Bali” and “Harmony of Thailand: Temples, Tides & Traditions.” For details on these irresistible itineraries, read more:

Harmony of Thailand: Temples, Tides & Traditions

As one of Goway Travel’s Top 10 Picks for 2026-2027, this 8-day itinerary is the perfect introduction to the cultural tapestry of Thailand.

Your group’s tour begins in bustling Bangkok, one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. Upon arrival at the airport, your guide will escort the group through customs and to a private transfer to Ariyasom Villa, home for the next two nights. The luxury boutique hotel, built around a 1940s Thai heritage house in the center of town, has 24 guest rooms, a restaurant and spa.

The next day is at leisure. Goway travelers can rest up at the resort or venture out into the city for shopping, sightseeing or experiencing street life. A canal cruise departing from a pier on the Chao Phraya River is an easy way to take in slices of daily life while passing temples, workshops and wooden houses on stilts.

On Day 3 of “Harmony of Thailand,” head to Chiang Mai in northwestern Thailand. In the afternoon, learn traditional meditation techniques at Wat Suan Dok temple, where a “monk chat” features insights into Thai spirituality and Buddhist monastic life. Return to your hotel, Rati Lanna Riverside Spa Resort, rejuvenated and inspired. The 5-star boutique resort, nestled serenely along the bank of the Mae Ping River, is close to the popular Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, a nightly affair where hundreds of vendors throng sidewalks, open-air plazas and covered spaces for block after downtown block.

Chiang Mai Night Market

Spend the next morning with monks for an awe-inspiring alms-giving ceremony at mountaintop Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple, whose terraces offer sweeping views of Chiang Mai. Continue to Wat Umong for a blessing ceremony with a monk, followed by a reflective meal of traditional khao soi noodles at a restaurant.

Day 5 is a full day at Kanta Elephant Sanctuary. Located about 50 minutes north of Chiang Mai, it is a retirement home for elephants that have worked in the tourism, entertainment and logging industries. In a natural, ethical environment, tour members will learn about their behaviors, bathe them in the river and feed them fruit and sticky rice. The number of wild elephants in Thailand has dropped by 70 percent in the last 60 years thanks to poaching and urban encroachment; fewer than 3,000 pf the endangered beasts remain.

Meeting members of the Hmong hill tribe and learning about the traditions of this ethnic group fill most of Day 6. One highlight is a coffee-tasting experience. The next day features the Yi Peng Lantern Festival with its cultural performances and breathtaking release of illuminated lanterns into the night sky.

After breakfast, enjoy a private transfer to the airport for your onward flight, departing Chiang Mai with memories of shared wellness and cultural experiences.

For information on Goway GroupsOnly and a look at other spotlighted itineraries for 2026-2027, download the Goway Whitepaper.

Bali rice fields

Breathtaking Bali: Peaks, Palaces & Pristine Beaches

On the first full day of Goway’s 12-day trip to Indonesia’s Island of the Gods, visit 11th century Uluwatu Temple, which is perched atop sheer cliffs that drop straight into the pounding surf. On the way back to your hotel (Sadara Boutique Beach Resort), catch a Balinese dance show at Garuda Wisnu Kencana park. The next morning, meet with villagers during a house visit and cooking class in Rumah Desa Bali. Continue to Jatiluwih, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its panoramic rice fields. Then visit Ulun Danau Bratan Temple. Set on the shores of Lake Bratan, it is one of Bali’s most photographed temples.

The next day is totally free for relaxing at Lovina Bali Resort, a slice of paradise in North Bali. Set between the Bedugul Mountains and Bali Sea, it has more than 650 feet of beachfront a short stroll from the center of town. An optional tour to Tamblingan Lake involves driving an off-road vehicle and paddling a log canoe. Rounding out the adventure is a rainforest walk and coffee plantation visit.

Next on the “Breathtaking Bali” agenda are four nights in Ubud, Bali’s heart of culture. On the way, stop at Besakih, the island’s largest and most important temple. Located on the western slopes of Mount Agung (Bali’s highest volcano), it is known as the “Mother Temple.” Afterwards, keep an eye on your valuables at Monkey Forest, a sanctuary and natural habitat of the Balinese long-tailed monkey.

Halfway through the trip, visit a shaman to learn about traditional healing techniques and blessings. Traditional healers play an important part in Bali’s culture by treating physical and mental illness, removing spells and channeling information from the ancestors. The shaman visit is combined with Tirta Empul, the holy public bathing pools believed to have strong curative powers. You may join the purifying blessing ceremony by jumping down into the pools for the ritual bathing. After lunch, visit the 11th century temple of Gunung Kawi, set amid lush rice terraces and featuring 10 rock-cut shrines carved into the cliff face. They combine ancient Hindu and Buddhist temple attributes.

A real trip highlight is a half-day rafting trip on the Ayung River just outside of Ubud. It traverses some of the most dramatic scenery on the island, including eight miles of deep mountain gorges, wild jungles, picturesque rice paddies and thundering waterfalls.

On the way to the Nusa Dua area, Goway travelers get an in-depth look at the Balinese art form of puppetry. Traditional puppet shows have been used for religious ceremonies of Hindu Bali for hundreds of years. In this hands-on session, you will create your very own puppet before watching it come to life in a private puppet performance.

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa is home the final two nights. Featuring all the elegance of a Balinese palace, it resides on 23 acres of sculpted gardens. The 381 guestrooms are suites with classical Balinese interiors, traditional artifacts, rich textiles and delicately carved wooden furnishings. From the hotel, a full-day excursion includes a catamaran cruise to WakaBeachClub on Lembongan Island, with a buffet lunch and time to swim in the pool or ocean.