You might have noticed the recent trend of bespoke adventure tours, but you might not be exactly sure of what that means. Read on for a breakdown of the topic, and to find out why bespoke tours are perfect for the adventure traveler – especially when it comes to touring Asia.

What is a Bespoke Tour?

Bespoke in this context simply means customized; the two words are interchangeable. To ‘bespeak’ something means to dictate how you want it – and with a bespoke tour, you tell us exactly how you want your tour to be, and we personalize it as closely as possible to your desires. All our tours are private, meaning you have your own tour guides, drivers and Travel Specialists dedicated to you and your holiday. When you tailor your own bespoke tour, you’re taking one of our suggested private tour itineraries and refining it to your specifications.

Adventure Travelers: Why Bespoke Tours are the Best?

If you’re an adventure traveler looking for the best adventure tours in Asia, your only option is to create your own bespoke tour. Don’t believe us? Here we give you a breakdown of all the reasons why private bespoke tours are best for adventure travelers.

Travel When You Want

Unlike group tours, bespoke tours give you the freedom to travel at your own convenience. You aren’t locked into any particular dates – and with the greatest flexibility for travel times, you can take off when you have free time, rather than waiting for your tour operator to be ready for you. Many tours only operate in the high season, but if you take a private, bespoke tour, you can take an off-season trip and enjoy your destination with fewer tourists. If you’re traveling with your family, you can choose a time that coincides with school holidays and semester breaks.

Keep Reading: What is a Tailor-Made Holiday? 

Tailored Experiences

In the age of experiential travel, you can now have your bespoke tour completely customized to your liking. You don’t need to settle for a mass tour that caters to the lowest common denominator, filled with generic experiences – you can opt for niche activities and one-of-a-kind experiences in a tour tailored to your passions and interests. This is especially important if you’re an adventure traveler with a higher skill level than most, or if you’re traveling with children and need to make rests longer, or the route easier.

Personalized Service

The best bespoke tours work closely with the individual from the very first step of planning to ensure all the guest’s desires and expectations are met. This one-on-one attention and open line of communication through all stages results in a bespoke tour that perfectly matches up with your dream trip. All elements can be crafted to your individual needs, from activities and experiences to accommodation and destination.

Location Experts

Any good bespoke tour will tap into destination experts who know their territory as if it were their hometown – and with Backyard Travel, it actually is. By having a travel specialist in the ground in your destination, you can access hard-to-find locales and activities, whether it’s skiing in Niseko backcountry, diving unnamed islands in the Andaman Sea or cycling through French-colonial towns in the Mekong delta.

What are Some Examples of Bespoke Adventure Tourism in Asia?

A popular type of bespoke adventure tour in China is the cycling tour. See Yangshuou on a family bicycle trip through Guangxi, one of Southern China’s most visually stunning regions. Cycle, kayak and rock climb, visit rustic villages and ethnic enclaves and scale the ‘dragon’s backbone,’ above karst mountains and terraced rice paddies.

Hiking and walking vacations are also popular types of adventure tours in Asia. The trend of ‘slow travel’ lets you savor your destination and really get to know every locale, its people and its cultural nuances. Whether you’re hiking in search of Shangri-La or headed for the summit of Mount Fuji, a bespoke adventure tour will let you tailor every element to your preferences.

Cycling holidays are also a popular when it comes to bespoke tours in Vietnam. The country’s long coastlines, scenic mountains and laidback Mekong towns give you plenty to explore on two wheels. Cycling gives you more flexibility with your itinerary, and puts you in closer connection with the people and places you visit. A bespoke cycling tour along the Mekong is a great way to see a side of Vietnam rarely covered in tour guides.

Keep Reading: Two Wheel Adventures

Want More Inspiration About Bespoke Asia Cycling Trips?

If you’re interested in a bespoke bike tour through Southeast Asia, you’ll find plenty of wild adventure in Borneo. Take an active trip that combines city exploration, jungle treks, river safaris and cycling through colorful Sarawak villages. See wildlife, engage with the island’s ethnic cultures and immerse yourself in Borneo’s uncommon natural beauty.

Myanmar is also a great place for a bespoke cycling tour. A two-week family vacation in Myanmar could take you through the UNESCO-listed temple site of Bagan, around the little craft villages surrounding Mandalay, along the Irrawaddy River and to the serene Inle Lake. Cycling days are interspersed with rest days so there’s plenty of time to relax while exploring Myanmar’s most indelible sights.

If you’re ready to start planning a bespoke adventure tour through Asia, get in contact with one of our Travel Specialists today. Or browse all our tours for active and adventure itineraries to get some inspiration.