Plan the Best Asia Shore Excursions
Asia Shore Excursions is your guide to top rated port tours across Asia. Whether you are arriving by ocean cruise or by river ship, you can step off the gangway and make the most of your day with smart routing, expert guides, and skip the line access where available. This in depth guide covers high value excursions in Japan and Korea, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, Southeast Asia highlights, and South Asia gateways, along with river ports on the Mekong, Yangtze, Irrawaddy, and Ganges.
Use this page to compare classic sightseeing routes, food and culture tours, beach and nature escapes, temple and heritage walks, and family friendly adventures. You will also find planning tips on timing, traffic, distance to sights, mobility access, and weather so your day ashore runs smoothly.
Japan and Korea Shore Excursions
Tokyo and Yokohama
Popular full day tours link the Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace area, Asakusa Sensoji Temple, and a Sumida River or Tokyo Bay cruise, with time for sushi or ramen near Tsukiji Outer Market. For culture seekers, add a tea ceremony or a stop in Harajuku and Shibuya for fashion and pop culture.
- Highlights tour with Skytree view stop and Asakusa walk
- Food tasting in depachika markets and backstreet izakaya lanes
- Kamakura and Enoshima coastal temples from Yokohama
Osaka and Kobe for Kyoto
From Osaka or Kobe, many guests head to Kyoto for Fushimi Inari gates, Kiyomizu dera, and the Golden Pavilion. Shorter options keep you in Osaka for Osaka Castle, Dotonbori food streets, and river cruising on the Okawa.
- Kyoto temples express with timed entry slots
- Osaka street food and castle grounds walk
- Nara deer park and Todai ji Great Buddha combo
Hiroshima and Miyajima
Spend the morning at Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then ferry to Miyajima for Itsukushima Shrine and the sea gate. Add a ropeway ride for views over Seto Inland Sea.
- Peace Park guided visit and survivor stories session when available
- Miyajima shrine and Mt Misen ropeway outlooks
Busan
Busan pairs seaside promenades with vivid markets. Popular routes include Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa seaside temple, and Jagalchi Fish Market tastings, plus a quick beach stop at Haeundae.
- Panoramic city drive with temple and market tastings
- Walking photo tour of Gamcheon art alleys
Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan Port Tours
Hong Kong
Classic shore days start at Victoria Peak, glide on the Star Ferry, and explore Man Mo Temple and Central to Sheung Wan heritage streets. Food lovers add dim sum in Sheung Wan or Sham Shui Po, with a quick market walk in Mong Kok.
- Peak tram plus Central heritage walk
- Kowloon markets and temple loop with local snacks
- Lantau Big Buddha and fishing village stilt houses
Shanghai and Surrounds
Balance skyline views from Pudong with a Bund promenade and a classical garden stop in Yu Garden or nearby Suzhou. Add a silk workshop or a canal town such as Zhujiajiao for old stone bridges and tea breaks.
- Bund and Old Town with riverfront viewpoints
- Canal town half day add on
Keelung for Taipei
See the National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai shek Memorial, and a night market tasting session in Raohe or Shilin. Short scenic detours add Yehliu Geopark or Jiufen hillsides.
- City highlights with museum timed entry
- Jiufen and Yehliu nature add on
Xiamen or Tianjin Gateways
Xiamen offers Gulangyu colonial streets and seaside walks. From Tianjin, longer transfers can reach Beijing for the Forbidden City and a Great Wall section on extended calls.
- Gulangyu island stroll and piano museum
- Beijing express from Tianjin on long calls
Southeast Asia Shore Excursions
Singapore
Compact and efficient, Singapore is ideal for a highlights loop: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay viewpoints, Chinatown and Little India heritage walks, and a hawker center tasting. Add a bumboat cruise on the Singapore River for history in motion.
- Iconic skyline loop with Gardens by the Bay timed entry
- Hawker food crawl and heritage walk
Bangkok via Laem Chabang
Bank on a long full day with timed entries for the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, a canal boat ride, and a street food tasting. Shorter options focus on Pattaya viewpoints and Nong Nooch gardens.
- Bangkok essentials with canal ride
- Pattaya and garden showcase for shorter calls
Phuket
Choose a beach and viewpoint loop with Promthep Cape, a longtail boat to nearby islands, or a cultural tour with Old Town Sino Portuguese shophouses. Island hopping to Phang Nga Bay or Phi Phi is possible on longer calls.
- Scenic viewpoints and Old Town walk
- Island hopping speedboat on long calls
Vietnam Ports
From Ho Chi Minh City, mix French era boulevards with a coffee tasting and a market walk; add Cu Chi Tunnels on extended calls. In Da Nang, combine Hoi An Old Town and Marble Mountains. In Ha Long Bay, a bay cruise with caves and a short hike delivers the essential views.
- Saigon highlights and market tasting
- Hoi An lantern streets plus marble steps
- Ha Long Bay day cruise with grotto stop
Cambodia and Gulf Calls
Sihanoukville offers beach breaks and countryside pagodas. Some itineraries route guests by road or air to Phnom Penh for the Royal Palace and riverside promenade on overnight calls.
- Beach and countryside pagodas
- Phnom Penh express on overnights
Bali and Indonesian Isles
From Benoa, pair Tanah Lot or Uluwatu temple with a clifftop sunset, or head inland for Ubud markets and rice terrace walks. Snorkel trips and beach clubs are easy add ons.
- Temples and sunset dance add on
- Ubud culture and rice terraces
South Asia Gateways
Mumbai and Goa
Mumbai tours blend the Gateway of India, Dhobi Ghat, and a heritage drive on Marine Drive. Food minded guests add a street snack tour. Goa pairs Portuguese churches with spice plantations and beach time.
- Mumbai city express with photo stops
- Goa Old Quarter and spice farm with lunch
Cochin and Sri Lanka
Cochin highlights include Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi lanes, and Kerala backwaters boat rides. In Sri Lanka, Colombo provides a city loop or a tea country dash on longer calls, while Galle offers fort walls and seaside cafes.
- Cochin heritage walk and backwaters
- Colombo city loop or Galle fort stroll
River Port Excursions in Asia
Mekong River
Lower Mekong calls include Cai Rang floating market at dawn, silk and rice paper workshops, Khmer pagodas, and Phnom Penh Royal Palace. Many programs add Angkor by land from Siem Reap. Expect calm water cruising and village to village stops with tuk tuk rides and craft demos.
- Floating market and canal sampan ride
- Phnom Penh palace and riverside walk
- Village handicraft immersion
Yangtze River
Three to five night segments feature the Three Gorges, the dam project viewpoints, Shibaozhai Pagoda, and Fengdu Ghost City. Add narrow gorge boat rides on tributaries for close up scenery.
- Three Gorges scenic transits
- Dam site viewpoints and museum
- Shibaozhai climb and river outlooks
Irrawaddy River
Between Mandalay and Bagan, enjoy sunrise temple views, artisan quarters for gold leaf and silk, and village monastery visits. Longer routes reach Yangon for the Shwedagon Pagoda.
- Bagan temple circuit with sunset
- Mandalay craft workshops
- Monastery visit and village walk
Ganges and Hooghly
West Bengal routes from Kolkata include Kalna temple clusters, Chandernagore riverside heritage, and Mayapur. Some programs add Sundarbans creek safaris for mangrove wildlife. Optional land links to Varanasi offer dawn aarti on the ghats.
- Kolkata city and riverfront markets
- Temple town loop and terracotta art
- Sundarbans creek safari on select sailings
Family, Food, and Adventure Options
Choose hands on cooking lessons, street food walks with hygiene smart vendors, cycling tours in flat historic districts, kayak or snorkeling add ons in island ports, and nature walks with local naturalists. Private vans help families with car seats and flexible nap time returns.
- Private guide and driver for custom pacing
- Skip the line entries where available
- Accessible routes with minimal stairs on request
Smart Planning Tips for Asia Port Days
- Distance and traffic vary. Allow buffers for Bangkok, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Hong Kong peak hours.
- Temple etiquette: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off where posted.
- Weather windows: Japan spring and fall, Southeast Asia November to March, India and Sri Lanka December to March, Yangtze April to June and September to October.
- Group vs private: groups cost less and include set routes; private tours fit special interests and mobility needs.
- Safety and comfort: bottled water, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes are essential.
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